Showing papers by "Higher College of Technology published in 2020"
08 Dec 2020
TL;DR: The directional pattern of CO VID-19 cases has moved from northeast to northwest and southwest, with the total impacted region increasing over time, and the results indicate that the rate of COVID-19 infections is higher in the most populated areas.
Abstract: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a worldwide challenge effecting millions of people in more than 210 countries, including the Sultanate of Oman (Oman). Spatiotemporal analysis was adopted to explore the spatial patterns of the spread of COVID-19 during the period from 29th April to 30th June 2020. Our assessment was made using five geospatial techniques within a Geographical Information System (GIS) context, including a weighted mean centre (WMC), standard deviational ellipses, Moran’s I autocorrelation coefficient, Getis-Ord General-G high/low clustering, and Getis-Ord $$G_{i}^{*}$$
statistic. The Moran’s I-/G- statistics proved that COVID-19 cases in datasets (numbers of cases) were clustered throughout the study period. The Moran’s I and Z scores were above the 2.25 threshold (a confidence level above 95%), ranging from 2274 cases on 29th April to 40,070 cases on 30th June 2020. The results of $$G_{i}^{*}$$
showed varying rates of infections, with a large spatial variability between the different wilayats (district). The epidemic situation in some wilayats, such as Mutrah, As-Seeb, and Bowsher in the Muscat Governorate, was more severe, with Z score higher than 5, and the current transmission still presents an increasing trend. This study indicated that the directional pattern of COVID-19 cases has moved from northeast to northwest and southwest, with the total impacted region increasing over time. Also, the results indicate that the rate of COVID-19 infections is higher in the most populated areas. The findings of this paper provide a solid basis for future study by investigating the most resolute hotspots in more detail and may help decision-makers identify targeted zones for alleviation plans.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the desorption characteristics of previously adsorbed hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and divalent lead [Pb(II)] ions on groundnut husk were tested by various desor-ption eluents such as tap water, de-ionized water, NaOH, HCl and H2SO4.
Abstract: The desorption characteristics of previously adsorbed hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and divalent lead [Pb(II)] ions on groundnut husk were tested by various desorption eluents such as tap water, de-ionized water, NaOH, HCl and H2SO4 Among them, HCl and H2SO4 were chosen as the best desorbing agents for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions, respectively, due to their high desorption efficiency The desorption efficiency of HCl and H2SO4 for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions was about 761% and 821%, respectively, at a concentration of 01 M for both elution agents The exhausted groundnut husk was regenerated up to five cycles, and the removal efficiency of Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions on the recycled groundnut husk could be maintained at 535% and 546%, respectively, in the third cycle The successive regeneration cycles resulted in the reduction of the desorption efficiency by 200% and 267% for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions, respectively, after the third cycle The results show that groundnut husk could be recycled when used to remove Cr(VI) and Pb(II) ions from Cr(VI) and Pb(II)-polluted water and wastewaters
35 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a deterministic model was developed to study the transmission dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 with two categories of the susceptible (i.e., Immigrant Susceptibles and Local Susceptible) and the model was shown to have a globally stable disease-free equilibrium point whenever the basic reproduction number R 0 is less than unity.
Abstract: COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), starting from Wuhan city of China, plagued the world in the later part of 2019. We developed a deterministic model to study the transmission dynamics of the disease with two categories of the Susceptibles (ie Immigrant Susceptibles and Local Susceptible). The model is shown to have a globally stable disease-free equilibrium point whenever the basic reproduction number R 0 is less than unity. The endemic equilibrium is also shown to be globally stable for R 0 > 1 under some conditions. The spread of the disease is also shown to be highly sensitive to use of PPEs and personal hygiene ( d ) , transmission probability ( β ) , average number of contacts of infected person per unit time (day) ( c ) , the rate at which the exposed develop clinical symptoms ( δ ) and the rate of recovery ( ρ ) . Numerical simulation of the model is also done to illustrate the analytical results established.
30 citations
TL;DR: The present review suggests that only GJB2 and GJB3 are recognized and validated HI genes, and calls for an extensive investigation of the other connexin genes in many populations to elucidate their contributions to HI, in order to improve gene-disease pair curations, globally.
Abstract: Mutations in connexins are the most common causes of hearing impairment (HI) in many populations. Our aim was to review the global burden of pathogenic and likely pathogenic (PLP) variants in connexin genes associated with HI. We conducted a systematic review of the literature based on targeted inclusion/exclusion criteria of publications from 1997 to 2020. The databases used were PubMed, Scopus, Africa-Wide Information, and Web of Science. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, with the registration number “CRD42020169697”. The data extracted were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 25 (IBM, Armonk, New York, United States). A total of 571 independent studies were retrieved and considered for data extraction with the majority of studies (47.8% (n = 289)) done in Asia. Targeted sequencing was found to be the most common technique used in investigating connexin gene mutations. We identified seven connexin genes that were associated with HI, and GJB2 (520/571 publications) was the most studied among the seven. Excluding PLP in GJB2, GJB6, and GJA1 the other connexin gene variants (thus GJB3, GJB4, GJC3, and GJC1 variants) had conflicting association with HI. Biallelic GJB2 PLP variants were the most common and widespread variants associated with non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI) in different global populations but absent in most African populations. The most common GJB2 alleles found to be predominant in specific populations include; p.Gly12ValfsTer2 in Europeans, North Africans, Brazilians, and Americans; p.V37I and p.L79Cfs in Asians; p.W24X in Indians; p.L56Rfs in Americans; and the founder mutation p.R143W in Africans from Ghana, or with putative Ghanaian ancestry. The present review suggests that only GJB2 and GJB3 are recognized and validated HI genes. The findings call for an extensive investigation of the other connexin genes in many populations to elucidate their contributions to HI, in order to improve gene-disease pair curations, globally.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, it was proved that a Lorentzian manifold endowed with a semi-symmetric metric connection is a GRW spacetime and characterized the Ricci semisymmetric manifold.
Abstract: We set a type of semi-symmetric metric connection on the Lorentzian manifolds. It is proved that a Lorentzian manifold endowed with a semi-symmetric metric $$\rho $$
-connection is a GRW spacetime. We also characterize the Ricci semisymmetric Lorentzian manifold and study the solution of Eisenhart problem of finding the second order parallel (skew-)symmetric tensor on Lorentzian manifolds. Finally, we address physical interpretation of some geometric results of our paper.
28 citations
TL;DR: A new combined steganographic and cryptographic scheme using the operators of genetic algorithm such selection, crossover and mutation, and some properties of the residue number system (RNS) with an appropriate fusing technique in order to embed encrypted text within images.
Abstract: Over the years, Steganography and Cryptography have been complementary techniques for enforcing security of digital data. The need for the development of robust multi-layered schemes to counter the exponential grow in the power of computing devices that can compromise security is critical in the design and implementation of security systems. Therefore, we propose a new combined steganographic and cryptographic scheme using the operators of genetic algorithm (GA) such selection, crossover and mutation, and some properties of the residue number system (RNS) with an appropriate fusing technique in order to embed encrypted text within images. The proposed scheme was tested using MatLab
®
R2017b and a CORE™i7 processor. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme can be deployed at one level with only the stego image containing the encrypted hidden message and at another level where the stego message is further encrypted. An analysis based on standard key metrics such as visual perception and statistical methods on steganalysis and cryptanalysis show that the proposed scheme is robust, is not complex with reduced runtime and will consume less power due to the use of residue numbers when compared to similar existing schemes.
22 citations
TL;DR: This study provides proof of concept methods that classify UM and SM from nMI, showing that the ML approach is a feasible tool for clinical decision support.
Abstract: Malaria is still a major global health burden, with more than 3.2 billion people in 91 countries remaining at risk of the disease. Accurately distinguishing malaria from other diseases, especially uncomplicated malaria (UM) from non-malarial infections (nMI), remains a challenge. Furthermore, the success of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) is threatened by Pfhrp2/3 deletions and decreased sensitivity at low parasitaemia. Analysis of haematological indices can be used to support the identification of possible malaria cases for further diagnosis, especially in travellers returning from endemic areas. As a new application for precision medicine, we aimed to evaluate machine learning (ML) approaches that can accurately classify nMI, UM, and severe malaria (SM) using haematological parameters. We obtained haematological data from 2,207 participants collected in Ghana: nMI (n = 978), SM (n = 526), and UM (n = 703). Six different ML approaches were tested, to select the best approach. An artificial neural network (ANN) with three hidden layers was used for multi-classification of UM, SM, and uMI. Binary classifiers were developed to further identify the parameters that can distinguish UM or SM from nMI. Local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) were used to explain the binary classifiers. The multi-classification model had greater than 85% training and testing accuracy to distinguish clinical malaria from nMI. To distinguish UM from nMI, our approach identified platelet counts, red blood cell (RBC) counts, lymphocyte counts, and percentages as the top classifiers of UM with 0.801 test accuracy (AUC = 0.866 and F1 score = 0.747). To distinguish SM from nMI, the classifier had a test accuracy of 0.96 (AUC = 0.983 and F1 score = 0.944) with mean platelet volume and mean cell volume being the unique classifiers of SM. Random forest was used to confirm the classifications, and it showed that platelet and RBC counts were the major classifiers of UM, regardless of possible confounders such as patient age and sampling location. The study provides proof of concept methods that classify UM and SM from nMI, showing that the ML approach is a feasible tool for clinical decision support. In the future, ML approaches could be incorporated into clinical decision-support algorithms for the diagnosis of acute febrile illness and monitoring response to acute SM treatment particularly in endemic settings.
17 citations
28 Nov 2020
TL;DR: Simulation of optimal control of the model suggests that the most cost-effective strategy to combat SARS-CoV-2 is to reduce contact through use of nose masks and physical distancing.
Abstract: A deterministic ordinary differential equation model for SARS-CoV-2 is developed and analysed, taking into account the role of exposed, mildly symptomatic, and severely symptomatic persons in the spread of the disease. It is shown that in the absence of infective immigrants, the model has a locally asymptotically stable disease-free equilibrium whenever the basic reproduction number is below unity. In the absence of immigration of infective persons, the disease can be eradicated whenever . Specifically, if the controls , are implemented to 100% efficiency, the disease dies away easily. It is shown that border closure (or at least screening) is indispensable in the fight against the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Simulation of optimal control of the model suggests that the most cost-effective strategy to combat SARS-CoV-2 is to reduce contact through use of nose masks and physical distancing.
13 citations
TL;DR: A ANN supported Fuzzy logic controller is developed for SEPIC converter fed DC drive that acts as the prediction unit in the hybrid system.
11 citations
TL;DR: A mathematical model is developed to study the impact of hyper-Susceptibility on the dynamics of Ebola virus disease outbreak and is shown to have a globally stable disease-free equilibrium point whenever the basic reproduction number R 0 is less than unity.
Abstract: The Ebola Virus Disease is a zoonosis whose reservoir is fruit bats among other primates. Once the virus enters a human population from its supposed zoonotic reservoir, it can then spread through contact with infected persons or their body fluids. The people that are most susceptible to infection are close relatives of infected persons, healthcare givers and those dealing with deceased persons. We classify these people as being hyper-Susceptible and develop a mathematical model to study the impact of hyper-Susceptibility on the dynamics of Ebola virus disease outbreak. The model is shown to have a globally stable disease-free equilibrium point whenever the basic reproduction number R 0 is less than unity. The model is also shown to exhibit forward bifurcation, which suggests the possibility of eradication through keeping R 0 below unity. Disease spread is also shown to be highly sensitive to contact rate, transmission probability, death rate and hyper-Susceptibility. Numerical simulation of the model is also done to confirm the analytical results established.
10 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the dielectric properties of a set of glasses having the composition (70-x)%V2O5 - x%ZnO − 10%SrO − 20%FeO was studied in terms of their permittivity and electric modulus.
Abstract: Dielectric properties of a set of glasses having the composition (70-x)%V2O5 - x%ZnO − 10%SrO − 20%FeO is studied in terms of their permittivity and electric modulus. The dielectric data are collec...
TL;DR: In this article, a decision-making framework that enhances our understanding of how Do-It-Youself (DIY) laboratory entrepreneurs execute ethical standards by dismissing fraud is presented.
TL;DR: Examination of the effects of methylmercury in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells and the rat hepatocyte cell line BRL establishes that neuron-like PC12 cells are more sensitive to MeHg than non-neuronal BRL cells and HIF-1α plays a similar role in MeHG-induced toxicity in both cell lines.
31 Dec 2020
Abstract: The aim of this study is to address the following questions:(1) Is there a gap between the curricula taught in tourism and hotels faculties and the knowledge and skills required in the tourism labour market?, and (2)Do the students' knowledge and skills acquired during their study in a tourism and hotels faculties qualify them to join the tourism labour market. A qualitative approach is employed in the current study to answer the research questions. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were used in the present research. The study findings revealed the existence of a gap between the curricula that have been taught in tourism faculties and the tourism labour market requirements. Furthermore, the curricula have not met the requirements of the tourism labour market and graduates' needs. Some managerial implications were provided in this research so that tourism education in Egypt can use them as a guide when developing the curricula of educational tourism to meet the requirements of the tourism labour market. The research contributes to the existing knowledge by employing an approach to in-depth examine to what extent there is a gap between the curricula taught in the tourism educational faculties and the knowledge and skills required in the tourism labour market.
TL;DR: In this paper, a wide range of benefits from teacher research engagement in the advancement of pedagogy, teacher's personal growth and their professional development are discussed. Focusing on an Omani Engli...
Abstract: Research has shown a wide range of benefits from teacher research engagement in the advancement of pedagogy, teacher’s personal growth and their professional development. Focusing on an Omani Engli...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reviewed the hydrocarbon prospectivity of the unexplored Mesoproterozoic-Early Paleozoic Voltaian basin relative to global Neoproglobal sedimentary basins.
Abstract: Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins are increasingly gaining hydrocarbon exploration attention globally following results of significant discoveries in these basins as a result of long, consistent and focused research and exploration efforts. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the unexplored Mesoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic Voltaian basin is reviewed relative to global Neoproterozoic basins. Like the Voltaian basin of Ghana, global Neoproterozoic basins have experienced similar geological event of glaciation with accompanying deposition of marginal–shallow marine carbonates and associated siliciclastic argillaceous sediments. These carbonates and argillaceous sediments coupled with deep anoxic depositional environments, favored the preservation of organic matter in these sediments and carbonates globally making them source rocks and in some cases the reservoir rocks as well, to hydrocarbon occurrence. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Voltaian is highly probable with Neoproterozoic basins of similar geologic analogies, Amadeus basin, Illizi basin, the Tindouf and Taoudeni basins of the WAC, having proven and active petroleum systems with some listed as world class oil/gas producing basins together with other Neoproterozoic basins like South Salt Oman basin, Barnett shales and giant gas reserves of southwestern Sichuan basin of China.
01 Nov 2020
03 Dec 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used the assigned examination approach in the exploration to dissect the advantages and disadvantages of AI and the result of the examination is certain, and the examination work is finished with the chatbots, which can be reserved to test the utilization of information, aptitude advancement, and data maintenance.
Abstract: A chatbot, which could be a computer program outlined to recreate a discussion with a human, particularly over the web, will change essentially each trade work from marketing to deals to clients back within the close future. A chatbot can be very much characterized as Artificial Intelligence (AI) grounded PC program that mimics human visits. The examination work is finished with the chatbots. This article aims to recognize the ramifications of chatbots in the cutting edge period. This novel technique directs the current HR executives to examine the candidates by utilizing a graphic position. The assigned examination approach has been utilized in the exploration to dissect the advantages and disadvantages of AI and the result of the examination is certain. The chatbots can be reserved to test the utilization of information, aptitude advancement, and data maintenance in a basic, consistent, and non-meddlesome way. It can be utilized to gamify the learning experience by adopting dynamic levels and ceaselessly captivating workers with pioneer sheets and updates on their advancement. HR chatbots can likewise give quick criticism on the viability of preparing modules, along these lines, helping in ideal recognizing what's working and what isn't. This assists the managers with comprehension and examines the conduct of their representatives. Detailed applicable learning strategies are considered for better requirements.
TL;DR: Experimental results showed that the proposed SNN model yielded significantly higher classification performance when compared to a Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) trained and tested using the collected datasets and classification models reported in existing studies.
07 Oct 2020
TL;DR: The test bed framework is designed and developed with open-source boards to achieved heterogeneity, reusability, interoperability and scalability, and has demonstrated with the help of conditional probability techniques enhancement in performance andReusability.
Abstract: Internet of Things (IoT) test beds are widely used by developers predominantly. Off late, Test beds are being used by data analysts, academicians, industrial persons and hardware ardent. The real purpose of test beds, is to achieve accurate testing results, mimicking the real time environment to the extent possible which is otherwise not possible to reproduce using simulators. As predicted by many industrial giants IoT based devices will reach the scale of billions by 2015. The applications and opportunities they create will also be innumerable. This has created a huge demand for such testing grounds, because a system deployed without proper testing may be vulnerable and sometimes disastrous. Thus our research aims to explore the qualities of test beds, the services they offer and how to enhance the performance of test beds. Our test bed framework is designed and developed with open-source boards to achieved heterogeneity, reusability, interoperability and scalability. This framework would like to be addressed as a utility, with “X” as service: data, sensor client, actuator client, and platform. To achieve this, APIs which is platform and language independent has been developed and provides third-party developer support. The APIs developed have shown considerable improvement in terms of data transfer rate, database upload and retrieval, and user responsiveness. Thus, our framework is capable of offering services through our API. And have demonstrated with the help of conditional probability techniques enhancement in performance and reusability, visualized the same in terms of graphs and datasets.
01 Sep 2020
TL;DR: The Tanga onshore basin has the potential of adding to the hydrocarbon reserve of the country, although further research is needed to validate this assumption as discussed by the authors. But, the basin has suitable thickness to provide the needed temperature and pressure for thermal maturity.
Abstract: Tanzania, like other East African countries, is seeking to increase its hydrocarbon discoveries from both onshore and offshore sedimentary basins. Although the Tanga onshore basin has the potential of adding to the hydrocarbon reserve of the country, it has very scanty literature to guide preliminary investigations into the basin prospectivity. This review seeks to highlight the petroleum system elements within the basin and how worthy it is exploring for its hydrocarbons potential. The general geology of the basin seems to have characteristics of a complete petroleum system with dolomitic limestone as source rocks and an obvious shale source rock and evidences of fossils and oil seepage around Kivundo River, although further research is needed to validate this assumption. Feldspathic sandstones are present to serve as a reservoir to economic hydrocarbon reserves. The basin has suitable thickness to provide the needed temperature and pressure for thermal maturity of any existing organic matter (OM) and to expel them from their various ‘kitchens’. Brittle structures are available to facilitate the migration of expelled kerogens. Structural straps are available via micro-folds and faults, to ensure accumulation of economic quantities that could be explored and exploited at profit. Also, the Tanga onshore basin has geological analogies that are similar to other basins’ hydrocarbon discoveries including that in Rovuma, Morondava and Songo Songo basins which are to the south of Tanga onshore basin.
05 Nov 2020
TL;DR: In this article, a software segmentation for the NEMS marketplace is broadly divided into three groups; Design, Measurement system and solid-state electronics, each of the packages is divided into level two packages such as microscopy, automotive, clinical, sensors, and memories.
Abstract: The semiconductor enterprise will continue to be a critical motive force inside the international prevalent financial system as society turns into an increasing number of relaxation on cell gadgets, the Internet of Things (IoT) emerges, enormous quantities of statistics produced need to be stored and analyzed, and excessive overall performance computing develops to care vital interests in Science, Medicine, Engineering, Technology and Industry. The miniaturized Nano gadgets are the most important element inside the modernized automation which can be speaking with themselves to present answers in a better manner for the technical issues. Thissort of introduced characteristic makes it to create novelty over various fields using downscaling their dimensions near or underneath 1 $\mu$ m. The software segmentation for the NEMS marketplace is broadly divided into three groups; Design, Measurement system and solid-state electronics. Each of the packages is divided into level two packages such as microscopy, automotive, clinical, sensors, and memories. Our analysis mainly focuses on the overall performance and functionalities of the NEMS era utilized in the Internet of Things.
31 Dec 2020
TL;DR: The authors explored the effect of residents' motives in strengthening the thread that binds tourism value cocreation (TVCC) pursuits and sustainable tourism development practices (STDPs), in the context of nature-based destinations.
Abstract: This study explored the effect of residents’ motives in strengthening the thread that binds tourism value cocreation (TVCC) pursuits and sustainable tourism development practices (STDPs), in the context of nature-based destinations. Drawing on the multi-motives toward environmental protection model and the stakeholder engagement approaches, we developed a combined framework examining the interactions between six residents’ motives (namely, altruistic, normative, hedonic, biospheric, and egoistic) plus a ‘constraints to motives’ construct and their influence on residents’ motivational tendencies to participate in TVCC and STDPs. A mixed-method approach—encompassing structural equation modelling and fuzzy-set analysis—was employed to establish the genuineness of the collected data. Using data collected from 587 residents—living in Egypt’s Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh—we show that all of the intrinsic motives of the residents have a positive influence on their tendency to participate in TVCC, except for gain motives. The findings also show a positive influence on STDPs from well-informed resident-centered motivational interactions. Besides, three distinct configurations of motives are likely to result in TVCC. These results provide in-depth knowledge of how scholars and destination business executives may consolidate collaborative residents' engagement frameworks to improve TVCC in the future.
18 Dec 2020
TL;DR: A smart city is defined as a one that provides solutions to rapid urbanization, exploding population, scarce resources, congested traffic, and energy management through the effective and integrated use of information and communication technology.
Abstract: A smart city is defined as a one that provides solutions to rapid urbanization, exploding population, scarce resources, congested traffic, and energy management through the effective and integrated use of information and communication technology. The conceptualization, integration, and implementation of smart cities have been recognized and seen as a means to optimize the limited resources and improve the quality of human lives. The smart cities planning, designing, and development have been affected due to big data storage, big data governance, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. The smart cities’ solutions cover different themes of varying importance such as smart health, smart education, intelligent transportation, smart energy, smart governance, etc. The emerging technologies are the one which are presently under development or might be developed in the future, and which can have a wide impact on research, business, and social lives. The emerging technologies are the groups of technologies that have been partially explored, continuously evolving, and under development such as, IoT, big data, machine learning (ML), social network, and cloud computing. The emerging technologies have created renewed interest in smart cities’ solutions. The smart cities’ progress and advancement are the results of the successful exploitation of emerging technologies.
06 Nov 2020
TL;DR: An overview of the Pailiar cryptosystem is presented and the security vulnerabilities in the cryptos system are evaluated through mathematical theorems and inductions to present some open issues for further research to propose and implement a more robust security system based on thePailiar homormophic encryption scheme.
Abstract: In modern days of information security, much attention is drifted towards achieving the major security triad of privacy, authentication and availability. Pailiar homormophic encryption is one of the most widely area of pubic key encryption schemes researchers are exploring to enhance information security. In this paper, we presented an overview of the Pailiar cryptosystem. We further evaluated the security vulnerabilities in the cryptosystem. This was achieved through mathematical theorems and inductions. This is to present some open issues for further research to propose and implement a more robust security system based on the Pailiar homormophic encryption scheme.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: In this paper, the type and functions of communication strategies employed by EFL learners in L2 oral communication were investigated and a new classification of CSs functions was revealed in a series of group discussions and interviews.
Abstract: This chapter investigates the type and functions of communication strategies employed by EFL learners in L2 oral communication. Adopting a qualitative approach, the researcher invited a group of 13 students from the departments of English literature and translation in two Iranian universities to take part in a series of group discussions and interviews. A new classification of CSs functions in L2 oral communication was revealed in this study. Participants used CSs not only to create meaning but to promote their language knowledge and to establish, maintain and develop interpersonal communication in their L2 oral communication, too. Most of the CSs were employed in situations in which the meaning was clear and unproblematic.
TL;DR: The Awled AL Manajim musical group was forced to go underground under Ben Ali (1987-2010) as the consequence of regime censorship and restrictions on engaged artists as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Awled AL Manajim musical group was forced to go underground under Ben Ali (1987-2010) as the consequence of regime censorship and restrictions on engaged artists. The post-Ben Ali era experienced t...
20 Dec 2020
TL;DR: In this article, a machine learning approach is used to predict the faces of Indian freedom fighters from any video stream given as an input, provided that particular video stream must contain only one specific freedom fighters images of different stages and different styles.
Abstract: Face Recognition is an automated process implemented by using various tools and techniques, which is capable of detecting and identifying human faces from any image or video stream. Machine learning is an approach, which involves in training a machine for prediction and decision making. It simulates the function of a brain through proper training. In this paper, a machine learning approach is used to predict the faces of Indian freedom fighters from any video stream given as an input. To accomplish this task, the system must be trained before with an appropriate and adequate numbers of facial dataset. The training dataset is also created from a video stream, which is named as training video. Provided, that particular video stream must contain only one specific freedom fighter’s images of different stages and different styles. From the training video stream, image frames consist of their face were identified, extracted and stored for each person. Then these frames of faces were used to train the machine. After proper training, a model was created and this model was used for prediction. In this work, Indian freedom fighters’ images were used for training and prediction. The same approach could be utilized for the prediction of any person or list of persons from a video stream after procuring proper training.
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: This chapter introduces global challenges of oral communication in a target language (L2) in EFL contexts and introduces a novel approach for defining and classifying breakdowns in L2 communication within foreign language contexts.
Abstract: This chapter introduces global challenges of oral communication in a target language (L2) in EFL contexts. Bringing together several lines of isolated studies on current literature, the chapter provides a coherent description of the complex and multidimensional nature of oral interaction problems in EFL contexts. Using these studies, interpersonal communication theories and models, this chapter then introduces a novel approach for defining and classifying breakdowns in L2 communication within foreign language contexts. In this view, L2 communication is constructed by interrelationship among communicators (i.e. speaker & listener), meaning creation, and context, the interruption of which can cause breakdowns in communication. The chapter continues with the current challenges of effective oral communication, leading readers to go beyond the traditional linguistic approaches to the breakdown in L2 oral communication. Finally, the breakdown in L2 communication will be discussed within the systematic approach to communication as a socially constructed phenomenon.