Search

In the dynamic academic landscape of the 21st century, the imperative to equip engineering students with robust critical reading skills, in tandem with their technical expertise, has come to the forefront. Recognizing the intrinsic value of critical thinking and reading in cultivating an ethos of lifelong learning among future engineers, this study endeavors to shed light on efficacious methodologies for augmenting critical reading competencies, grounded in the lived experiences of students. Utilizing a phenomenographic methodology, this research aims to explore the mechanisms through which engineering students from Malaysia and Vietnam develop their critical reading skills. The study engaged eight engineering students from both Malaysia and Vietnam, selected based on their demonstrated proficiency in critical reading, as evidenced by scores from a critical reading assessment aligned with the PISA Reading Framework. Through in-depth, phenomenographic semi-structured interviews, the research sought to uncover the strategies and practices these students employ to bolster their critical reading abilities. The findings illuminate a diverse array of approaches to enhancing critical reading skills, including the adoption of specific reading strategies, engagement in extensive and collaborative reading practices, and the maintenance of a positive reading disposition. Notably, the study also identifies that variations in the application and effectiveness of these strategies are influenced by factors such as students' academic progression, cultural contexts, and educational backgrounds. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of critical reading skill development among engineering students, offering valuable perspectives for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers aiming to foster critical analytical skills in STEM education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study primarily examines the influence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Digital Financial Consumer Protection (DFCP), utilizing a dataset spanning 88 countries globally from 2014 to 2018, within the context of consumer welfare under diverse socioeconomic conditions. The research confirms a positive relationship between information and communication technology (ICT) evolution and digital finance consumer protection (DFCP) in OECD countries with inclusive institutions, competitive markets, and solid educational foundations. Conversely, a negative correlation is observed between ICT growth and DFCP in countries with moderate gender inequality. The study further confirms that ICT development positively influences DFCP due to contextual conditions (i.e. cybersecurity index, political stability, higher educational level, and market quality). Policy implications emphasize the need to address information inequality and protect consumer rights in the digital era. Measures to curb market monopolies of major tech companies and combat unauthorized data usage are recommended. Additionally, enhancing digital literacy is crucial for harnessing the benefits of ICT and promoting financial consumer welfare. Establishing a practical code of conduct aligned with market needs is also essential for ensuring consumer protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article applies the thermodynamic theory built by statistical moment method (SMM) to determine numerically the temperature and pressure dependences of the thermal expansion coefficient, the heat capacity constant pressure and the Gruneisen parameter of MgSiO3 perovskite in the temperature range from 0 to 4000 K and in the pressure range from 0 to 135 GPa. Our SMM numerical results for MgSiO3 perovskite are compared with that for CaSiO3 perovskite, experimental data and results calculated by other methods. Our SMM numerical results are new and predictive of experimental results. This is the first application of SMM to study the thermodynamic characteristics of cubic MgSiO3 perovskite under extreme conditions of the Earth’s lower mantle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the use of agricultural biomass as a promising resource for renewable energy production, e.g., bio-oil and biogas via pyrolysis and catalysis, among other technologies. In order to prevent the accumulation of agricultural biomass, most countries still use traditional disposal or processing methods, e.g., burning in the field, which not only has a low energy conversion rate, but also releases harmful gases, e.g., CO2, CO, and NH3. These traditional methods are regarded as inefficient with respect to the low utilization of waste; they also pose a threat to human health. The energy conversion of agricultural biomass makes full use of resources and accelerates the development of green energy. In particular, agricultural biomass can lead to the production of high-quality renewable fuels and chemical raw materials through catalytic pyrolysis technologies. The fuel produced using catalytic pyrolysis has a low sulfur and alkali metal contents and techno-economic analysis shows that catalytic pyrolysis greatly reduces the production cost and improves the utilization rate of agricultural biomass. The production of bio-oil and gas via catalytic pyrolysis and agricultural biomass are environmentally friendly and economically feasible for clean energy production. Therefore, additional research is needed to enable the upscaling of renewable energy products.

This study was conducted to compare the genetic gain per sow per year of Duroc pigs in twelve scenarios. These scenarios were based on the number of traits used such as average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), intramuscular fat content (IMF) and were also based on the number of records of phenotype for these traits from the individual animal and its relatives. The values of all relevant genetic and economic parameters were selected from the literature and applied to the magnetotail (MT) index model to calculate the index selection accuracy and response per trait. Genetic gain per sow per year was calculated based on a farm with 400 Duroc sows. The results showed that the economic value of FCR was much larger than the economic value of ADG and IMF. The selection response in units of ADG was higher when using phenotypes measured using ADG and FCR only while selection response per unit of IMF was the opposite. The economic weight of the response for IMF using three traits (ADG, FCR, and IMF) information was doubled when using ADG and FCR trait information. The standard deviation (SD) index and genetic gain per year when using information from the three traits were higher than those when using information from ADG and FCR. Within the same number of traits measured, the genetic gain per sow per year was highest at $568.05 when using information of the three traits from the individual animal’ s phenotype and their progeny . It was the lowest at $473.06 when using ADG and FCR information from only the animal itself.

Regenerative endodontic procedure is an emerging alternative to traditional therapies for immature teeth with necrotic pulp with or without periapical lesions. This innovative approach, also known as revitalization procedures, is aimed at enhancing canal wall thickness, stimulating root lengthening, and promoting apical closure. The regenerative endodontic procedures involve minimally invasive cleaning to preserve stem cells, stimulation of bleeding and clot formation within the canal, and the use of biomaterials to stimulate differentiation. This method is the first choice in biologically based treatments for immature permanent teeth. We present two successful clinical cases in which regenerative endodontic procedures were performed on permanent premolars with necrotic pulp with symptomatic apical periodontitis and chronic apical abscess due to dens evaginatus. The same procedure was employed for both cases, utilizing two differential materials: ProRoot MTA (Dentsply Tulsa Dental Specialities, USA) and Biodentine™ (Septodont, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France). Both cases exhibited positive clinical and radiographic outcomes after an 18-month follow-up period including periapical healing, increased dentin thickness, root lengthening, and apical closure.

Pseudoaneurysm rupture in patients with pancreatitis is a rare but fatal etiology of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. We report a rare case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a patient who presented simultaneously with two pseudoaneurysms, a potential cause of severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Angiography was successfully performed with coil embolization of the target arteries and both pseudoaneurysmal sacs. The patient was discharged 9 days after admission without further events within a 3-month follow-up period.

OBJECTIVE: Microscopic residual disease following complete cytoreduction (R0) is associated with a significant survival benefit for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Our objective was to develop a prediction model for R0 to support surgeons in their clinical care decisions. METHODS: Demographic, pathologic, surgical, and CA125 data were collected from GOG 182 records. Patients enrolled prior to September 1, 2003 were used for the training model while those enrolled after constituted the validation data set. Univariate analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of R0 and these variables were subsequently analyzed using multivariable regression. The regression model was reduced using backward selection and predictive accuracy was quantified using area under the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) in both the training and the validation data sets. RESULTS: Of the 3882 patients enrolled in GOG 182, 1480 had complete clinical data available for the analysis. The training data set consisted of 1007 patients (234 with R0) while the validation set was comprised of 473 patients (122 with R0). The reduced multivariable regression model demonstrated several variables predictive of R0 at cytoreduction: Disease Score (DS) (p