Bringing the American College Model to the Arabian Gulf: New Challenges for Intercultural Education

1. The Arabian Gulf education sector appears to be eager to emulate the American model of higher education in pursuit of the observed success of Knowledge economies. American institutions of higher education have been producing employable graduates, successful businessmen and entrepreneurs, and competent professionals, teachers, and researchers who are the productive force behind the massive amounts of highly sophisticated research, publications, and creative works. 2. For successful implementation of the American model in non-American environment, educators and higher-education authorities need to be clear about the salient features of existing local systems of education, the salient features of American higher education, where the gaps and differences are and how they impact the outcomes. 3. Some of the major aspects of American higher education are not being replicated in the Arabian Gulf institutions aiming to emulate the American college model. Educators need to explore the value and applicability of specific institutional frameworks and academic and pedagogical approaches practiced by American colleges and universities in achieving the desired outcomes in a different cultural and social context.Peer Reviewe

Nb–Al–N thin films: Structural transition from nanocrystalline solid solution nc-(Nb,Al)N into nanocomposite nc-(Nb, Al)N/a–AlN

Structures and mechanical properties of thin films of the Nb–Al–N system produced by magnetron sputtering of targets from niobium and aluminum in the Ar–N2 atmosphere have been studied. It has been shown that as the aluminum concentration increases, the structure of a thin film transforms from the nanocrystalline into the nanocomposite one, which consists of nanocrystallites of solid solutions in a matrix of amorphous aluminum nitride. Hardness, elastic modulus, and yield strength of Nb–Al–N thin films have been studied by nanoindentation in the mode of continuous control of the contact stiffness. It has been found that the transition of the structures of Nb–Al–N thin films from the nanocrystalline to the nanocomposite structures results in an increase of hardness and decrease of elastic modulus due to the for mation of a thin amorphous interlayer between grains of nanocrystallites. A high hardness to elastic modulus ratio of Nb–Al–N nanocomposite thin films indicates that the films are a promising material for wear resistant coatings.

International Migration & Economic Development: The Case of EU Countries

The globalization of the modern world strengthens the role of migration flows in the socio-economic development of countries and regions. The European Union, and Italy in particular, are among the main centers attracting migrants due to their geopolitical transit position and relatively favorable environment. The consequences of the explosive growth in migration flows are ambiguous. To clarify the direction and power of such effects, we perform correlation and regression analysis according to a number of parameters. The paper presents relevant data on the demographic and socio-economic situation in Italy for 2001–2017. In the literature review section, we examine the substance of international migration and identify the factors affecting the trends in economic dynamics as well as changes in migration flows. The research results confirm that the most significant determinants are employment, the GDP growth rate and the labor cost index. The study also finds that there is a positive correlation between GDP growth and inflow of remittances. The empirical data provided indicate the coherence between migration and particular macroeconomic indicators. A comprehensive analysis of the factors presents a promising pathway for improving migration policy

Ways to Minimize Volume (Weight) and Increase the Bearing Capacity of Rigid Pavement

The objective of research is finding of a possibility economy of rigid pavement weight and volume of material. The subject of the research is a mathematical model of rigid pavement in the form of a multilayer structure on an elastic foundation. The method of a research consists in modeling the behavior of rigid pavement in the form of a set of equations. These equations reflect the change in the stress-strain state of such structures. The system of equations takes into account the geometric nonlinearity of the work of materials and makes it possible to investigate the influence of various parameters on the values of stresses and displacements. Critical force coefficient and stress of shells are calculated by Bubnov-Galerkin. The formation way of the elastic foundation allows modeling the spreading layers with various characteristics. Use of two-layer model allows considering of a surface course and base course of road pavement designing (for example concrete and crushed stone). The graphs show the patterns of change of the stress of rigid pavement when changing the characteristics. The form of rigid pavement allowing to maintain big loadings is exposed to improvement. Findings shows the possibility of optimizing the geometric parameters of the design and achieving the savings in weight and volume of the consumable material.

Method of calculating the separation flow with dust par icles at the entrance to round suction pipe in conditions of the approach flow

Modeling the separation flows at the entrance to suction ducts is necessary to determine the efficient intake area, jet contraction coefficient and the velocity fields in their radius of action. The simplest and the most thoroughly researched one is the separation flow at the entrance to the round thin-walled suction pipe, which is a part of many process facilities; simulation of flows in its range of action is considered in many scientific works. For the numerical modeling of such flows the boundary element method [1], the numerical solution of Navier-Stokes equations for viscous incompressible fluid [2] and the discrete vortex method were used. In the paper [3] there was developed a method of mathematical modeling of flow separation at the entrance to suction ducts with the use of stationary discrete vortexes. On the free surface of the flow the free vortexes circulation was set, after which the average velocity in the suction duct and the velocity field were approximately determined. The approach flow should be taken into account only if its velocity is lower than the intake velocity in the pipe. Modernization of this method seems to be of interest, as it would allow calculating the separation flow characteristics for both high-velocity and low-velocity approach flows. This can be obviously achieved if the intake velocity in the pipe is set, and the circulation on the free vortex sheet is determined in the process of the problem solution. The purpose of this work is developing the method of mathematical modeling of separation flow at the entrance to round thin-walled suction pipe at the presence of an approach flow using stationary discrete vortexes, as well as its verification. The developed method of mathematical modeling of separation flow at the entrance to suction pipe at the presence of an approach flow allows building the appropriate velocity field f an air flow, the limit trajectories of dust particles and determining the aspiration coefficient

Silencing of Transgene Expression: A Gene Therapy Perspective

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