Students' Perceptions at Department of Art Education at Sultan Qaboos University towards Self-Assessment and Challenges of its Implementations in Teaching Fine Arts

هدفت الدراسة إلى الكشف عن تصورات طلبة قسم التربية الفنية بجامعة السلطان قابوس حول التقييم الذاتي، والتحديات التي تواجه تطبيقه في تدريس الفنون التشكيلية، كما هدفت أيضا إلى التعرف إلى أثر متغيرات السنة الدراسية في هذه التصورات، استخدم الباحثان المنهج الوصفي التحليلي. وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (167) طالبا وطالبة من قسم التربية الفنية بجامعة السلطان قابوس للعام الأكاديمي 2021- 2022م، وطُبقت أداة الدراسة في الفصل الدراسي الثاني (ربيع 2021). وتمثلت أداة الدراسة في استبانة تكونت من (42) فقرة؛ موزعة على (4) محاور، هي: أهمية التقييم الذاتي، وأهداف التقييم الذاتي، وأشكال وطرق التقييم الذاتي، وتحديات تطبيق التقييم الذاتي في تدريس الفنون التشكيلية، وقد وزعت الاستبانة على أفراد العينة بعد التأكد من صدقها وثباتها. أظهرت نتائج الدراسة وجود تصورات عالية لدى طلبة قسم التربية الفنية حول التقييم الذاتي، إذ جاءت التصورات عن التحديات التي تواجه تطبيق التقييم الذاتي في تدريس الفنون التشكيلية بدرجة عالية بحسب المتوسط العام لفقرات المحور، وكشفت النتائج عدم وجود فروق دالة إحصائيا تعزى إلى متغير السنة الدراسية في تصورات الطلبة حول التقييم الذاتي وتحديات تطبيقه في تدريس التربية الفنية. وبناءعلى هذه النتائج توصي الدراسة بإجراء دراسات أخرى مشابهة للكشف عن مدى استخدام معلمي الفنون التشكيلية للتقييم الذاتي في تدريس الفنون، والعمل على تغذية الحقل التربوي بالمزيد من المعارف والمراجع العربية التي تعنى بالتقييم الذاتي وأهميته في التدريس

Perspectives of Science Teachers in Sultanate of Oman for Grades five to eight about the Effectiveness of the application of “Google Classroom Platform” in Providing Students with Self-Learning and Problem-Solving Skills

ملخص: هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى رصد تصوّرات معلمي العلوم، للصفوف من الخامس إلى الثامن، لفاعلية تطبيق منصة جوجل كلاس روم (Google Classroom)، في اكتساب الطلبة مهارات التعلّم الذاتي وحلّ المشكلات. اشتملت عينة الدراسة على (104) معلماً، و(293) معلمة، في ثماني محافظات تعليمية في سلطنة عُمان، ولتحقيق أهداف الدراسة، تبنّت الدراسة المنهج الوصفي، من خلال بناء مقياسٍ مجزء إلى محورين رئيسين، هما: مهارات التعلّم الذاتي، ومهارات حلّ المشكلات، وبإجمالي (23) عبارة للمقياس كاملاً، وذلك بالاستعانة بالأدب التربوي والدراسات السابقة ذات الصلة بموضوع الدراسة. تأكّد الباحثون من صدق المقياس وثباته. أظهرت نتائج الدراسة فاعلية تطبيق منصة جوجل كلاس روم (Google Classroom) في اكتساب الطلبة مهارات التعلّم الذاتي وحلّ المشكلات، وفقًا لتصوّرات معلمي العلوم، وبمتوسط حسابي مرتفع للمقياس ككل. أوصت الدراسة بضرورة دمج التعلّم الإلكتروني في التعليم؛ لتعزيز العمل التعاوني والجماعي، وتوظيف منصة جوجل كلاس روم (Google Classroom) في تعليم العلوم، والمقررات الدراسية الأخرى.Abstract: The current study's main aim was to monitor science teachers' perceptions for grades five to eight about the effectiveness of the Google Classroom application in equipping students with self-learning and problem-solving skills. The sample of this study consisted of (104) male-teacher and (293) female teachers from eight educational governorates in the Sultanate of Oman. To achieve the objectives of this study, the study used the descriptive methodology by developing a questionnaire. This questionnaire was established based on educational literature and previous studies. It was divided into two domains: self-learning and problem-solving skills, including (23) items. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire were verified. The result revealed the effectiveness of the Google classroom platform in equipping students with self-learning and problem-solving skills according to the science teachers' perceptions with a high arithmetic average for the questionnaire. The study recommended the necessity of integrating e-learning into education to enhance collaborative and collective work and employing the Google classroom platform application in science education and other academic courses.&nbsp

Hot extrusion followed by a hot ecap consolidation combined technique in the production of Boron Carbide (B4C) reinforced with aluminium chips (AA6061) composite

A new and promising MMC approach to the reduction of pollution, greenhouse effects, and emissions is to develop a technology related to materials composite forming. Hot extrusion followed by hot ECAP is a combination of solid-state recycling method (direct recycling) that consists of chip preparations, cold compaction, and hot extrusion, followed by the ECAP process. The developed process is used to consolidate the chips for direct chip recycling purposes without the remelting phase. In this study, finished or semi-finished products from B4C-reinforced particles and AA6061 aluminium chips were produced. The samples made by hot extrusion were compared with samples obtained from hot extrusion followed by the hot ECAP process in terms of mechanical properties. Additional plastic deformation by hot ECAP after hot extrusion significantly increased the mechanical properties of the MMC compared with the samples obtained from the hot extrusion only. The density and microstructure of the samples were also determined

Development of Hot Equal Channel Angular Processing (ECAP) consolidation technique in the production of Boron Carbide(B4C)-Reinforced Aluminium Chip (AA6061)-based composite

The production of metal matrix composites (MMCs) through recycled materials is a cost-saving process. However, the improvement of the mechanical and physical properties is another challenge to be concerned. In this study, recycled aluminium 6061 (AA6061) chips reinforced with different volumetric fractions of boron carbide (B4C) were produced through hot equal channel angular processing (ECAP). Response surface methodology (RSM) was carried out to investigate the dependent response (compressive strength) with independent parameters such as different volumetric fractions (5-15%) of added contents of B4C and preheating temperature (450 – 550°C). Also, the number of passes were examined to check the effect on the mechanical and physical properties of the developed recycled AA6061/B4C composite. The results show that maximum compressive strength and hardness of recycled AA6061/B4C were 59.2 MPa and 69 HV respectively at 5% of B4C contents. Likewise, the density and number of pores increased, which were confirmed through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopes (AFM) analysis. However, the number of passes enhanced the mechanical and physical properties of the recycled AA6061/B4C composite. Therefore, the maximum compressive strength and hardness achieved were 158 MPa and 74.95 HV for the 4th pass. Moreover, the physical properties of recycled AA6061/B4C composite become denser of 2.62 g/cm3 at the 1st pass and 2.67 g/cm3 for the 4th pass. Thus, it can be concluded that the B4C volumetric fraction and number of passes have a significant effect on recycled AA6061 chips

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Effect of Elevated CO₂ on Biomolecules’ Accumulation in Caraway (<i>Carum carvi</i> L.) Plants at Different Developmental Stages

Caraway plants have been known as a rich source of phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, monoterpenoid glucosides and alkaloids. In this regard, the application of elevated CO2 (eCO2) as a bio-enhancer for increasing plant growth and phytochemical content has been the focus of many studies; however, the interaction between eCO2 and plants at different developmental stages has not been extensively explored. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the changes in growth, photosynthesis and phytochemicals of caraway plants at two developmental stages (sprouts and mature tissues) under control and increased CO2 conditions (ambient CO2 (a CO2, 400 ± 27 μmol CO2 mol−1 air) and eCO2, 620 ± 42 μmol CO2 mol−1 air ppm). Moreover, we evaluated the impact of eCO2-induced changes in plant metabolites on the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of caraway sprouts and mature plants. CO2 enrichment increased photosynthesis and biomass accumulation of both caraway stages. Regarding their phytochemical contents, caraway plants interacted differently with eCO2, depending on their developmental stages. High levels of CO2 enhanced the production of total nutrients, i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, fats and crude fibers, as well as organic and amino acids, in an equal pattern in both caraway sprouts and mature plants. Interestingly, the eCO2-induced effect on minerals, vitamins and phenolics was more pronounced in caraway sprouts than the mature tissues. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of caraway plants were enhanced under eCO2 treatment, particularly at the mature stage. Overall, eCO2 provoked changes in the phytochemical contents of caraway plants, particularly at the sprouting stage and, hence, improved their nutritive and health-promoting properties

PDZD8 Disruption Causes Cognitive Impairment in Humans, Mice, and Fruit Flies.

BACKGROUND: The discovery of coding variants in genes that confer risk of intellectual disability (ID) is an important step toward understanding the pathophysiology of this common developmental disability. METHODS: Homozygosity mapping, whole-exome sequencing, and cosegregation analyses were used to identify gene variants responsible for syndromic ID with autistic features in two independent consanguineous families from the Arabian Peninsula. For in vivo functional studies of the implicated gene's function in cognition, Drosophila melanogaster and mice with targeted interference of the orthologous gene were used. Behavioral, electrophysiological, and structural magnetic resonance imaging analyses were conducted for phenotypic testing. RESULTS: Homozygous premature termination codons in PDZD8, encoding an endoplasmic reticulum-anchored lipid transfer protein, showed cosegregation with syndromic ID in both families. Drosophila melanogaster with knockdown of the PDZD8 ortholog exhibited impaired long-term courtship-based memory. Mice homozygous for a premature termination codon in Pdzd8 exhibited brain structural, hippocampal spatial memory, and synaptic plasticity deficits. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the involvement of homozygous loss-of-function mutations in PDZD8 in a neurodevelopmental cognitive disorder. Model organisms with manipulation of the orthologous gene replicate aspects of the human phenotype and suggest plausible pathophysiological mechanisms centered on disrupted brain development and synaptic function. These findings are thus consistent with accruing evidence that synaptic defects are a common denominator of ID and other neurodevelopmental conditions

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population