Yaffa: a school of their choice?

This article is a product of in‐depth research in Yaffa, The Arab Democratic School that was carried out in 2004/05, as part of a study on alternative Arab education in Israel. Its aim, beyond telling the story of Yaffa, is to explicate the motivations that underlay this initiative, and to examine parental choice amongst the disadvantaged. We ask how the Arabs’ parental choice is affected by their (marginalised) social location, by how far they are from the dominant culture, and by their (in)capacity to make a difference. Apparently, to make a choice is a multidimensional act, reflecting the Palestinian citizens’ resistance to their marginalisation and unwillingness to be subjugated through non‐democratic educational perceptions. Their positionality resonates in Yaffa, as an act of intervention, and their search for an alternative reality where democratic education is not and cannot be separated from the Palestinian citizens’ need to imagine themselves as Arabs.     

Does performance in progressive assessment influence the outcome in final examination? An Australian experience

This paper investigates whether performance in progressive assessment necessarily influences the outcome in the end-of-semester final examination using the experience of an introductory postgraduate statistics course at a large Australian university. The average score on progressive assessments was higher than that of the final examination. Students attaining a higher distinction (HD) at the progressive assessment had a 37% chance of securing the same grade in the final examination, while students securing just a pass grade at the progressive assessment had 54 percent chance of failure in the final examination. Multiple regression analysis revealed that students’ performance in progressive assessments had a significant positive impact on final examination, so has the impact of learning diary. Mid-semester tests based exclusively on multiple choice questions (MCQs), more weights in progressive assessment and class-size appeared to have significant negative impact on the performance in the final examination. Focus group discussions suggest that (a) the final examination under timed conditions; (b) competing demands on time for final examination in other courses due contemporaneously; and (c) weaker motivation to sustain the momentum due to pass or near pass based on progressive assessments were the main hurdles in achieving better performance in the final examination.     

Performance improvement of complementary feeders using static transfer switch system

The performance of complementary feeders, running in parallel, can be significantly improved by installing static transfer switches （STSs） at critical locations. We develop the STS control logic, which transfers the critical load from the preferred feeder to the alternate feeder when a voltage sag or a fault occurs on the preferred feeder. A forced commutation technique is proposed and implemented to turn off the preferred feeders＇ thyristor, thus avoiding cross current to flow and minimizing the transfer time. Simulation results show that the forced commutation technique is more effective as compared to the recently proposed time delay technique for STS operation. Two different feeders, namely New Exchange, the preferred feeder, and Sector 1-10/2, the alternate feeder of Islamabad Electric Supply COmpany （IESCO）, Pakistan, have been selected for case studies. The software PSCAD/EMTDC professional package has been used for simulation.     

A new fabrication technique to form complex polymethylmethacrylate microchannel for bioseparation

Recent studies show that reduction in cross-sectional area can be used to improve the concentration factor in microscale bioseparations. Due to simplicity in fabrication process, a step reduction in cross-sectional area is generally implemented in microchip to increase the concentration factor. But the sudden change in cross-sectional area can introduce significant band dispersion and distortion. This paper reports a new fabrication technique to form a gradual reduction in cross-sectional area in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microchannel for both anionic and cationic isotachophoresis (ITP). The fabrication technique is based on hot embossing and surface modification assisted bonding method. Both one-dimensional and two-dimensional gradual reduction in cross-sectional area microchannels were formed on PMMA with high fidelity using proposed techniques. ITP experiments were conducted to separate and preconcentrate fluorescent proteins in these microchips. Thousand fold and ten thousand fold increase in concentrations were obtained when 10 × and 100 × gradual reduction in cross-sectional area microchannels were used for ITP.     

Prior knowledge and information-seeking behavior of PhD and MA students

Information seeking and its dimensions have been analyzed and measured in different disciplines and contexts and the relationships to other variables, such as gender, task, knowledge, personality, experience, and expertise, have been measured by researchers and have yielded helpful results. In this study, the relationships between information-seeking behavior and prior knowledge of graduate (MA and PhD) students at Tehran University were tested and analyzed. Results show positive and strong relationships between these two variables. Moreover, some dimensions of information-seeking behavior and some aspects of prior knowledge (expertise, familiarity, and past experience) had positive and significant relationships.     

Robust adaptive finite-time stabilization control for a class of nonlinear switched systems based on finite-time disturbance observer

The problem of adaptive global finite-time stabilization control for a class of nonlinear switched systems in the presence of external perturbations and arbitrary switchings has been addressed in this research study. The proposed scheme has been designed based on a finite-time estimation technique in which during the control procedure, unknown imposed perturbations are accurately estimated by means of the designed finite-time disturbance observer (FTDO). Due to the exact estimation of the external disturbances within a given finite time, the encountered complications and adversities from loss of information in the Lyapunov parameter estimation (LPE) methods have been solved which are caused by the persistent switchings in the system. Furthermore, a new solution for the problem of chattering phenomenon in nonlinear switched systems has been presented by utilizing the designed FTDO, which can counteract the malfunctioning responses of the system caused by external disturbances and unmodeled dynamics. In this paper, an acknowledged class of nonlinear switched systems has been taken into account which is in the general form of canonical structure. In addition, the established design strategy is formulated for the control of perturbed nonlinear switched systems with one and only input and assures that the system states through the finite-time convergence characteristic, reach the equilibrium point of origin. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out on a mass-spring-damper (MSD) dynamical system to indicate advantages and superior efficiency of the suggested method.     

Type-2 fuzzy consensus control of nonlinear multi-agent systems: An LMI approach

This paper considers a class of nonlinear fractional-order multi-agent systems (FOMASs) with time-varying delay and unknown dynamics, and a new robust adaptive control technique is proposed for cooperative control. The unknown nonlinearities of the systems are online approximated by the introduced recurrent general type-2 fuzzy neural network (RGT2FNN). The unknown nonlinear functions are estimated, simultaneously with the control process. In other words, at each sample time the parameters of the proposed RGT2FNNs are updated and then the control signals are generated. In addition to the unknown dynamics, the orders of the fractional systems are also supposed to be unknown. The biogeography-based optimization algorithm (BBO) is extended to estimate the unknown parameters of RGT2FNN and fractional-orders. A LMI based compensator is introduced to guarantee the robustness of the proposed control system. The excellent performance and effectiveness of the suggested method is verified by several simulation examples and it is compared with the other methods. It is confirmed that the introduced cooperative controller results in a desirable performance in the presence of time-varying delay, unknown dynamics, and unknown fractional-orders.     

A novel prediction model for educational planning of human resources with data mining approach: a national tax administration case study

Education and Information Technologies - Human resources training is considered an effective solution in empowering human resources. Organizations try to have effective educational planning for...     

Analysis of Feasibility and Acceptability of an E-Learning Module in Anatomy

Recent advance in medical education is in correlation with the advances in information technology and thus computer-based learning is being increasingly employed. The objective of the present study was to design and evaluate an e-learning module in anatomy and assess the perceptions of students and faculty about this e-learning module. The participating students were randomized into three groups by block stratified randomization and Google groups were created for each of the three groups. The e-learning module was implemented in three sessions by rotating the three groups. Validated questionnaires were sent to faculty and participating students via Google forms to obtain feedback. The results of ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference among the groups in terms of marks obtained with conventional (F = 2.403, P = 0.103), online (F = 6.050, P = 0.005), and blended (F = 5.801, P = 0.006). Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test, about the gain of knowledge, indicated that the results were insignificant when comparing the conventional group with the online group, but were significant when comparing the blended group with the conventional and online group. The qualitative data regarding the perception of students toward e-learning were analyzed using thematic analysis. The introduction of an interactive e-learning module in anatomy was effective and well received by the students and faculty. The study showed that blended learning has a positive impact on the students' learning by improving cognitive gain and receptive perception for e-learning.