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Current teacher attrition in Australia and globally has created an untenable situation for many schools, teachers and the profession. This paper reports on research that examined the critical issue of teacher attrition from the perspective of former classroom teachers and school leaders. Although there is extensive national and global research related to teacher shortages and intentions to leave the teaching profession, minimal research has sought insights from those who have left the profession in Australia, including ascertaining what they are doing now. Using an online survey, data were collected from 256 former teachers from all states and territories, sectors and career stages who had left the profession between 2016 and 2022. Using descriptive statistical and thematic analysis, this study highlights the potential loss to teaching and the education profession more broadly due to teacher attrition. For these participants, the reasons for leaving were often multifaceted and the process of leaving was often protracted. Many of these former teachers have maintained links to the education profession occupying various associated roles and positions. We call for a reconsideration of the ways that strategies to ameliorate teacher attrition are conceptualised and implemented.

This study examines a cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) network utilizing an energy-constrained unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) relay (UAVR) to expand coverage and improve network throughput. In order to provide energy to the UAVR, we consider the hybrid simultaneous wireless information and power transmission (SWIPT) method, which allows the UAVR to harvest energy from the source (i.e., sink node) signal. Herein, a hybrid time switching (TS)-based and power splitting (PS)-based relaying scheme is applied to improve the UAVR’s energy harvesting (EH) efficiency and the system performance. Given this context, we derive the closed-form expression of the outage probability (OP) for the sensors to evaluate the network performance. Based on the achieved analytical results, we apply the bat algorithm optimization (BAO) method to determine the optimal working point (as a fraction of received power and power allocation coefficients, and the 3-D positions of the UAVR) for the system such that the OP is minimized. The numerical analysis indicates that BAO is effective in both exploring and exploiting solutions, making it a suitable choice for similar non-convex optimization problems in continuous search spaces for cooperative NOMA IoT networks.

Abstract Bloodstream infection (BSI) poses a global health problem, with diverse organisms and rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we characterized trends in BSI prevalence, AMR, and antibiotic use at a Vietnamese infectious diseases hospital from 2010 to 2020. Among 108,303 cultured blood samples, 8.8% were positive, yielding 7995 pathogens. Of 7553 BSI cases, 86.4% were community-acquired. BSI prevalence varied from 17 to 35 cases/1000 admissions/year, highest in HIV/hepatitis wards and patients >60. The in-hospital mortality or hospice discharge outcome was 21.3%. The top three pathogens, E. coli (24%), K. pneumoniae (8.7%) and S. aureus (8.5%) exhibited increasing prevalence and multidrug resistance. Pathogens like Cryptococcus neoformans (8.4%), Talaromyces marneffei (6.7%), and Salmonella enterica (6.5%) declined. E. coli and K. pneumoniae were prevalent in older adults with community-acquired BSIs. Antibiotic use reached 842.6 DOT/1000 PD and significantly reduced after an antibiotic control policy. Enhanced surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship are crucial for managing BSIs in Vietnam.

This conceptual paper puts forward the construct termed "teacher curriculum competence," which is an amalgamation of theoretical or formal and personal practical teacher knowledge and orientations in relation to curriculum. We situate the competence in institutional, political, and philosophical contexts. Drawing on research related to mathematics curriculum at different stages (i.e. the official, intended, and enacted curriculum) and teacher competence frameworks, we elaborate on how a teacher interacts with curriculum informed by their knowledge and orientations. When working with curriculum, teacher curriculum competence refers to "what" teachers attend to and "how" they interpret curriculum, as well as "why" they make decisions, including "when" to introduce particular concepts or skills, based on their local students' needs. In addition, we argue that the process of interacting with curriculum helps shape teacher knowledge and orientations. This article is significant for the contribution it makes to conceptualizing teacher curriculum competence in a centralized curriculum system, that is a nationally mandated. Although we use the mathematics discipline as an example, implications for research in promising areas for future studies in this space are also discussed.

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research • Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified major components of the essential oil, including (Z)-β-Farnesene (24.02%), neral (15.06%), geranial (15.02%), and β-ocimene (13.61%). • Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly improved the survival rate, feed conversion ratio, and feed efficiency. • Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly improved the weight parameters (average weight; weight gain; percentage weight gain; percentage specific growth rate; daily weight gain). • Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly improved the length parameters (average length; length gain; percentage length gain; percentage specific growth rate; daily length gain). Abstract Vietnamese balm (Elsholtzia ciliata) is a prominent herb in Vietnamese traditional medicine. This study investigated the impact of Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils on the growth of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in the juvenile stage. Essential oils were extracted using steam distillation, following European Pharmacopoeia guidelines. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified the essential oil components. The experiment encompassed three treatments: 0% (control), 3%, and 5% of Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils in a completely randomized design. The results demonstrated a time and dose-dependent modulation of striped catfish growth by the essential oils. Diets enriched with 5% Vietnamese balm leaf essential oils significantly enhanced survival rate and growth, indicating potential as a fish feed additive. The essential oil yield was 0.83% dry weight, with major components including (Z)-β-Farnesene (24.02%), neral (15.06%), geranial (15.02%), and β-ocimene (13.61%). Additionally, the study emphasized the growth-promoting effects of herbal extracts on various growth parameters. Further investigations should explore the impact of Vietnamese balm essential oil on catfish immune response and disease resistance, providing a comprehensive understanding of its potential benefits.

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming more common due to the overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture. Alternative antibiotic solutions are fascinating and under the consideration in many countries. This study's objective was to isolate and identify certain actinomycete isolates with inhibitory action against the hemorrhagic disease-causing Aeromonas hydrophila in intensively cultivated catfish. This investigation isolated ten actinomycete isolates from sediment and water samples of catfish ponds in Vinh Long province. Using the diffusion well method, the study identified all isolates with antogonisttic activity against A. hydrophila. In particular, two isolates, BCA1.2 and BCA1.5, presented the highest inhibitory activity with inhibitory diameter zones of 11±1.0 mm and 10±1.0 mm, respectively. Two actinomycete isolates, BCA1.2 and BCA1.5, had their growth affected by pH, temperature, and NaCl. The findings revealed that two of these isolates showed optimum growth in a pH range of 7.0–8.0 and at 37°C. Two isolates, BCA1.2 and BCA1.5, survived well on medium containing a high salt concentration of NaCl ranging from 3% to 7% and were able to utilize different sources of carbon. They produced a wide range of hydrolytic extracellular enzymes, such as cellulase, amylase, protease, lipase, and chitinase. Isolates BCA1.2 and BCA1.5 were identified as Streptomyces based on morphological, cultural, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

In 1672, the English East India Company set up factories in Taiwan and Tonkin. The Taiwan factory lasted only for 11 years (1672 – 1683), but the Tonkin branch operated for 25 years (1672 – 1697). Both factories had a similar role in the English East Asian commercial strategy as they served as intermediaries for trading indirectly with mainland China and Japan. Initially, the two factories were established to support English trade in Japan. However, when that plan failed, they mainly helped the English to collect Chinese products indirectly, and they were used as gateways to trade with mainland China. This article argues that the English factories in Taiwan and Tonkin played a noticeable role in maintaining the English East Asian trade in the late seventeenth century. They worked as intermediaries to maintain the Company’s position and expansion in East Asia by connecting with the key markets of Japan and mainland China. Additionally, the English used small factories such as Taiwan and Tonkin in this period as a way of adapting to the special trading conditions in East Asia, where key markets were difficult to access. Moreover, the article also presents the ways in which the EIC used its overseas factories in East Asia to maintain and expand its trade there.

The effectiveness of FRP in retrofitting/strengthening existing steel reinforced concrete (SRC) structures has been widely recognized. However, investigation on the performance of CFRP band-confined square SRC (CFRPBC-SSRC) columns are still limited. This paper compares the performance of SSRC columns without and with different CFRP bands to examine the effect of the location and width of CFRP bands on the performance of CFRPBC-SSRC. The test results exhibited that SSRC columns obtained a considerable enhancement in the ductility and load-bearing capacity (LBC) by strengthening with CFRP bands. At the same amount of CFRP employed, SSRC columns confined discontinuously with CFRP bands placed in between lateral ties under concentric and eccentric compression obtained higher LBC and ductility than their counterparts confined discontinuously with CFRP bands without taking into account the location of lateral ties. The axial-flexural interaction diagrams of CFRPBC-SRC columns were established based on two codes of FIB-Bulletin-14 and ACI-440.2R-17.

AbstractThis study investigates the impact levels of determinants on Vietnam’s coffee exports by applying the Spatial Gravity Model and panel data to consider the spatial dependence in the gravity model. The Spatial Gravity Model was employed to spatially examine influencing factors among trading partners by means of spatial econometric approaches, based on Vietnamese coffee export data for 20 countries from 2005 to 2019. The results reveal that the export of coffee products is influenced by many determinants such as the gross domestic product (GDP) of the importing country, population, exchange fluctuations, free trade agreement (FTA), non-tariff barriers to trade, and tax rate. Among these determinants, GDP growth and population growth have a positive impact on coffee exports. On the other hand, tariffs, non-tariff barriers and exchange rate variables are factors that negatively affect coffee exports. In addition, the distance between countries has a negative impact on exports overall.

In this study, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Light Gradient Boosting (LightGBM) algorithms were used to model-predict the drying characteristics of banana slices with an indirect solar drier. The relationships between independent variables (temperature, moisture, product type, water flow rate, and mass of product) and dependent variables (energy consumption and size reduction) were established. For energy consumption, XGBoost demonstrates superior performance with an R2 of 0.9957 during training and 0.9971 during testing, alongside minimal MSE of 0.0034 during training and 0.0008 during the testing phase indicating high predictive accuracy and low error rates. Conversely, LGBM shows lower R2 values (0.9061 training, 0.8809 testing) and higher MSE of 0.0747 during training and 0.0337 during testing, reflecting poorer performance. Similarly, for shrinkage prediction, XGBoost outperforms LGBM, evidenced by higher R2 (0.9887 training, 0.9975 testing) and lower MSE (0.2527 training, 0.4878 testing). The comparative statistics showed that XGBoost regularly outperformed LightGBM. The game theory-based Shapley functions revealed that temperature and product types were the most influential features of the energy consumption model. These findings illustrate the practical applicability of the XGBoost and LightGBM models in food drying operations towards optimizing drying conditions, improving product quality, and reducing energy consumption.

The study examined the dual-fuel engine performance employing acetylene gas as primary fuel and diesel as pilot fuel. The engine's operational parameters were adjusted using the Box-Behnken design, and the results were recorded. The best operating settings were yielded as 81.25 % engine load, 4.48 lpm acetylene gas flow rate and the compression ratio were 18. At this optimized setting the BTE was 27.1 % and the engine emitted 360 ppm of NOx, 56.2 ppm of HC, 104 ppm of CO. The experimental data at optimized setting was compared to the optimized results, and the percentage of errors was within 7 %. Two advanced machine learning methods, LightGBM and Tweedie, were used to predict engine efficiency and emissions. Tweedie-based models had an R2 value of 0.89–1, while LightGBM-based models had an R2 value of 0.38–1. The mean squared error was 0.24–45.04 for Tweedie-based models and 8.5 to 153.89 for LightGBM-based models. On the basis of R2 and MSE, it was observed that Tweedie was superior at making predictions than LightGBM. The study demonstrated the efficient functioning of a dual-fuel engine using acetylene as an alternative fuel for increased performance and lower emissions.

Statistics in the 2018 Vietnam General Education Curriculum for Mathematics is emphasized from Grade 2 to Grade 12, helping develop students’ competences and qualities. However, students still struggle to connect and apply statistical concepts to real-life situations. This study used a flipped classroom model to teach 10th-graders statistics to develop their statistical literacy. Using a quasi-experimental design, we evaluated how the students’ statistical literacy developed as they participated in the flipped classroom. The results show that the flipped classroom improves students’ statistical literacy. All four categories of statistical literacy increased statistically significantly, including graphical displays, measures of central tendency, measures of variability, and using statistical knowledge to solve problems. The results are explained by the opportunities embedded into the program. Time outside of class was used for the students to review content and access new concepts, along with questions to demonstrate their statistical knowledge and reveal shortcomings. The students spent the most of their interaction time in class on activities to understand concepts and applied them to real-life situations. Some lessons learned from the study are discussed.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition is a significant strategy for preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, a dereplication system was utilized to rapidly identify and characterize acetylcholinesterase-interacting compounds by comparing UPLC-MS/MS profile screening approach and molecular docking analysis, derived from the extracts and fractions of the stem of Glycosmis parviflora (Sims) Little. Eleven potential AChE inhibitors were isolated and identified from the ethyl acetate extract of G. parviflora, including an undescribed alkaloid (9), namely glybomine D, eight known alkaloids (1−8), a flavonoid (10), and a phytosterol (11). The inhibitory potential of these compounds against AChE was assessed, with O-methylglycosolone (6), 1,3-dimethoxy-2-hydroxy-10-methyl-9(10H)-acridinone (1), skimmianine (4) and arborine (2), regarded as effective inhibitors, yielding IC50 values of 39.81 μM, 41.53 μM, 49.40 μM, and 59.92 μM, respectively. Notably, O-methylglycosolone exhibited the highest potency. Four of these potent AChE inhibitors exhibited mixed-type inhibition. However, O-methylglycosolone (6), 1,3-dimethoxy-2-hydroxy-10-methyl-9(10H)-acridinone (1), and arborine (2) were first reported modulating with acetylcholinesterase activity. Furthermore, molecular docking revealed O-methylglycosolone (6) superior binding affinity (–23.749 kcal/mol) compared to other compounds, mainly by interacting with the peripheral anionic site of AChE, which forms hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces may play an important role, interaction with amino acid residues such as Tyr341, Tyr72, Ser293, and Arg296 in the active cavity, which is crucial for effective and selective inhibition of AChE activity. ADMET predictions suggest that arborine (2), skimmianine (4), and O-methylglycosolone (6) demonstrate favorable permeability across the blood–brain barrier, while 1,3-dimethoxy-2-hydroxy-10-methyl-9(10H)-acridinone (1) exhibits comparatively reduced permeability. These findings highlight the potential of these compounds as natural AChE inhibitors for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Background and Purpose: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) bears a poor prognosis, with a 30-day mortality rate of 35%–52%. The mass effects of hematoma and surrounding edema in larger supratentorial SICH lead to an increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and subsequent brain herniation. Multiple trials have failed to prove the superiority of surgical evacuation over conservative methods. However, surgery in a carefully selected set of patients is beneficial in reducing mortality and limiting disability. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) with hematoma evacuation for treating patients with larger supratentorial SICH. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at our hospital between December 2016 and April 2020. A total of 55 patients with large supratentorial SICH treated with DHC and hematoma evacuation during this period. Patient characteristics and clinical information were analyzed, including age, sex, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), stroke severity (e.g. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), computed tomography (CT) scan data (signs of herniation, side and size of hematoma, midline shift), the time interval between ictus and surgery, surgical characteristics, and time of ventilation. Outcome was assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at six months after surgery. Results: Fifty-five patients (82% males) were treated with DHC. The mean age was 55 years. The median NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) score at admission was 26 (range 9–32). Approximately two-thirds of the patients (69.1%) had hematoma located within the basal ganglia, while 30.9% had lobar hematomas. The median midline shift was 10.9 mm (range 4–20 mm). Intraventricular extensions were observed in 23 patients on the pre-operative CT scan. At discharge, the median mRS score was 5 (range 4–6), and 5 patients (9.1%) died. Six months after surgery, 17 patients (31%) had favorable outcomes (mRS scores 0–3), while the remaining patients had poor outcomes (mRS scores 4–6). The mortality rate was 25.5% (n = 14 patients). In comparison to the poor outcome group, those with favorable outcomes had a significantly higher GCS score (mean, 9.5 [SD = 2.5] vs 8.0 [SD = 1.9]; p = 0.013). Conversely, those who had poor outcomes were more likely to be older (mean 57.2 [SD = 10.4] vs 49.7 [SD = 10.7]; p = 0.017) and had a larger hematoma volume (mean 95.8 [SD = 32] vs 71.6 [SD = 33.0]; p = 0.018). Conclusions: Decompressive hemicraniectomy with hematoma evacuation could be beneficial for a selected group of young patients with large SICH.

Abstract This study aims to investigate the effect of organically modified zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (m-Zr[O.sub.2] NPs) on the mechanical properties, morphology, and weather stability of fluoroethylene/vinyl ether copolymer (FEVE). To [...]

The study aims at investigating the impact on relationships among visual appeals of products, sales promotion programs, and instant gratification factors on consumers’ impulsive buying behavior. The study comprises two stages using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. In detail, qualitative research is applied in the first stage to explore the factors that might influence consumers' online impulsive buying behavior and examine the relationship among the factors. The quantitative research is conducted in Vietnam. The 362 Vietnam-collected valid questionnaires were analyzed using Cronbach alpha, exploring factor analysis (EFA), confirmed factor analysis (CFA), and structural equal model (SEM) to check the measurement values and test the proposed hypotheses. The result shows that product visual appeal and sales promotion programs have a positive impact on instant gratification factors and impulsive buying behaviors. Moreover, the research proved the direct influence of instant gratification factors on consumers’ impulsive buying behavior. The findings contribute to expanding measured values and provide several suggested solutions for the practical management of business strategy. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-01-021 Full Text: PDF

The design, numerical simulation, manufacturing, and physical experimentation of Tesla's bladeless centripetal turbine for electrical power production are the topics of this research project. The turbine generates rotational motion in the discs by directing pressurized air and water tangentially across parallel smooth disc surfaces. The fluid speed parameter at the nozzle inlet determines the power generated. To ensure optimal mechanical design parameters, SolidWorks design software, fluid dynamics concepts, and machine element design were employed. The numerical simulation software ANSYS CFX was used. The numerical and qualitative findings of the models and physical experiments coincided well. The study revealed that the power production and turbine efficiency were regulated by the input sources and blade size. Variations in the fluid composition between the discs may additionally have an impact on the outcomes. The researchers investigated the connection between input fluid pressure and turbine efficiency, as well as the number of discs and turbine power. The prototype could generate 76.52 W of electricity at 50 bar pressure and 1.01e+05 Reynolds number. The operation was efficiently simulated using CFD, with only a 9.3% difference between experimental and simulated results. Overall, this research provides an in-depth assessment of Tesla's bladeless centripetal turbine. It verifies the design and numerical simulation methodologies used, as well as identifies the essential aspects impacting turbine performance and efficiency. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the turbine's behavior and give ideas for improving its performance.

This study explored and measured the influence of corporation social responsibility (CSR) on consumers' re-purchase intentions through the mediators of brand identification and word of mouth (WOM). The quantitative method was applied in the research, and there were 287 valid respondents who had purchased something from the retailer store brands. The collected data was checked for reliability, convergence, and discriminant validity among the constructs before testing the hypothesis and the theoretical research model. In particular, the Cronbach alpha reliability, exploring factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation model (SEM) were used to analyze the research data under the support of SPSS and AMOS software. The results indicate that CSR has significant effects on brand identification, WOM, and consumers' re-purchase intentions. Brand identification has a positive impact on consumers' repurchase intentions, whereas WOM has not. The findings have significant contributions to the marketing theory and provide management implications for managers, especially in retail store brands. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-06-021 Full Text: PDF

Abstract Background The use of 3D-printed Patient-Specific Instruments (PSI) has been investigated to enhance the postoperative functional results in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and has been recognized as an innovative approach for the optimal alignment of hip implant components. Point-of-care production is gradually becoming the norm for PSI manufacturing. The purpose of this article is to assess the accuracy and safety of PSI for total hip arthroplasty performed at the point-of-care in Vietnam. Methods 34 THA cases were assessed in this prospective study. A template for the size and orientation of the implant and the design of the PSI was generated using data from preoperative 3D computed tomography (CT) scanning of the lower limb. The principal surgeon determined the implants’ position and PSI design directly using the software. The PSI is then produced using a 3D-compatible resin printer in our manufacturing hospital. The PSI, consisting of an acetabulum and a femoral component placed press-fit on the bony surface, guided surgeons to precisely ream the acetabulum and cut the femoral neck according to the pre-planned plane. Postoperative CT scanning was obtained and superimposed onto the 3D model of the implant to evaluate the accuracy of the procedure by comparing the orientation values of the cup and the alignment of the stem between the planned and the actual results. Intra- and postoperative clinical parameters of surgery, including surgical time, intra-operative blood loss, complications, and the first ambulation, were also recorded to evaluate the safety of the surgery. Results The preparation for PSI required an average of 3 days. 94% of cup size and 91% of stem size were correctly selected. The mean values of postoperative inclination and anteversion were 44.2° ± 4.1° and 19.2° ± 5.6°, respectively. 64.7% of cases deviated from planned within the ± 50 range and 94.1% within the ± 10° range. There was no significant statistical difference between the planned and the achieved values of stem anteversion, osteotomy height, and leg length discrepancy (p > 0.05). The average surgical time was 82.5° ± 10.8 min, and the intraoperative blood loss was estimated at 317.7° ± 57.6 ml. 64.7% of patients could walk on the day of surgery. There were no complications reported. Conclusions The point-of-care manufactured PSI is a useful solution for improving the accuracy of total hip arthroplasty surgery, especially in restoring implant orientation and reducing leg length discrepancy. However, long-term clinical follow-up evaluation is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this approach.

Xanthine oxidase (XO) has been widely recognized as a pivotal enzyme in developing hyperuricemia, primarily contributing to the excessive production of uric acid during purine metabolism in the liver. One of the standard treatment approaches involves reducing uric acid levels by inhibiting XO activity. In this study, the leaf extract of Dolichandrone spathacea, traditionally used in folk medicine, was found to inhibit XO activity in the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions at a concentration of 100 µg/mL, their values were 78.57 ± 3.85 % (IC50 = 55.93 ± 5.73 µg/ml) and 69.43 ± 8.68 % (IC50 = 70.17 ± 7.98 µg/ml), respectively. The potential XO inhibitory components were isolated by bioactivity assays and the HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectra system. The main constituents of leaf extracts of Dolichandrone spathacea, six compounds, namely trans-4-methoxycinnamic acid (3), trans-3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid (4), p-coumaric acid (5), martynoside (6), 6-O-(p-methoxy-E-cinnamoyl)-ajugol (7), and scolymoside (17), were identified as potent XO inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 19.34 ± 1.63 μM to 64.50 ± 0.94 μM. The enzyme kinetics indicated that compounds 3–5, 7, and 17 displayed competitive inhibition like allopurinol, while compound 6 displayed a mixed-type inhibition. Computational studies corroborated these experimental results, highlighting the interactions between potential metabolites and XO enzyme. The hydrogen bonds played crucial roles in the binding interaction, especially, scolymoside (17) forms a hydrogen bond with Mos3004, exhibited the lowest binding energy (−18.3286 kcal/mol) corresponding to the lowest IC50 (19.34 ± 1.63 μM). Furthermore, nine compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. In conclusion, Dolichandrone spathacea and its constituents possess the potential to modulate the xanthine oxidase enzyme involved in metabolism.

Statistical reasoning (SR) is an essential skill for students in studying statistics. This study aims to develop SR for university students through an appropriately designed course in statistics. Employing a quasi-experimental design, this study evaluated students' SR changes as they participated in a research-informed statistics course, designed to integrate statistical reasoning. The results showed that the course helps students improve their SR, with their scores increased by 23% from the pre-test to the post-test. Specifically, the SR scores on measures of central tendency of the experimental class increased by 8%; while the SR scores on the measures of variability of the experimental class increased by 34%. Suggestions about curriculum and teaching are included, such as offering opportunities for statistical investigations with real data; going deeper into building and understanding formulas; and training lecturers to teach statistics using approaches that are different from traditional teaching methods, as well as evaluating students' statistical learning with reliable tools.

Xylanases, key enzymes for hydrolyzing xylan, have diverse industrial applications. The bioprocessing of agricultural byproducts to produce xylanase through fermentation approaches is gaining importance due to its significant potential to reduce enzyme production costs. In this work, the productivity of Streptomyces thermocarboxydus TKU045 xylanase was enhanced through liquid fermentation employing wheat bran as the sole carbon source. The maximum xylanase activity (25.314 ± 1.635 U/mL) was obtained using the following optima factors: 2% (w/v) wheat bran, 1.4% (w/v) KNO3, an initial pH of 9.8, an incubation temperature of 37.3 °C, and an incubation time of 2.2 days. Xylanase (Xyn_TKU045) of 43 kDa molecular weight was isolated from the culture supernatant and was biochemically characterized. Analysis through liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry revealed a maximum amino acid identity of 19% with an endo-1,4-β-xylanase produced by Streptomyces lividans. Xyn_TKU045 exhibited optimal activity at pH 6, with remarkable stability within the pH range of 6.0 to 8.0. The enzyme demonstrated maximum efficiency at 60 °C and considerable stability at ≤70 °C. Mg2+, Mn2+, Ba2+, Ca2+, 2-mercaptoethanol, Tween 20, Tween 40, and Triton X-100 positively influenced Xyn_TKU045, while Zn2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+, and sodium dodecyl sulfate exhibited adverse impact. The kinetic properties of Xyn_TKU045 were a Km of 0.628 mg/mL, a kcat of 75.075 s−1 and a kcat/Km of 119.617 mL mg−1s−1. Finally, Xyn_TKU045 could effectively catalyze birchwood xylan into xylotriose and xylobiose as the major products.