Online course design: taking a right turn!

Guided by Nation and Macalister’s (2010) eight-step language curriculum design model, a 5-week online course was designed to teach critical thinking skills for foundation students at the Arab Open University (Oman). The course was conducted with 11, level two foundation students, after which it was evaluated by the participating students, the course instructor and three course reviewers using three different research instruments (an end-of-course evaluation form, semi-structured interviews and a course evaluation rubric), the analyses from which revealed that most were satisfied with the course design, but some modifications and additions were needed. The reflection on the online course design process along with the course evaluation results led to several amendments to the course design to make it more conducive to online delivery. The study provides course developers with an evidence-based, enhanced online course design model that will help create online courses

Preparing teachers for emergency remote teaching: A professional development framework for teachers in higher education

COVID-19 has significantly impacted teaching and learning in higher education, leading institutions to embrace Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) in response to school and university closure. A systematic review research methodology was used to identify, analyse and synthesise literature on professional development in higher education published between 2010 and 2020. Following an inductive thematic analysis, the authors identified four themes that represent the literature: learning approaches, delivery modes, design features and institutional support. Based on the emerging themes and the analysis of the selection of studies, a framework for professional development is proposed to prepare teachers in higher education for ERT. The use of the framework is recommended to guide higher education institutions in best assisting their academic staff during an ERT context

Relación entre la maduración vertebral cervical y el desarrollo dental en una muestra de niños y adolescentes Yemeníes.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between dental development and cervical vertebral maturation stages in a group of Yemeni children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: The study included digital panoramic radiographs and lateral skull cephalograms obtained from 207 Yemeni subjects—122 females and 85 males aged between 8 to 18 years. Dental maturity was evaluated according to the method of Demirijian et al.,6 calcification stages of the left mandibular canines, first and second premolars and second molars were assessed. Skeletal maturity was assessed by the cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) stages according to the method of Baccetti et al.10 Correlation between CVM and dental maturation was evaluated by Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (SROCC). Results: CVM and dental calcification stages were highly correlated (p<0.001) in both genders, ranging from 0.686 to 0.873 for females and 0.787 to 0.871 for males. Calcification stages of the second molars showed the strongest correlation with CVM. Conclusion: Calcification stages of the second molar may be used as a reliable maturation indicator. Dental maturation may be applied to determine the skeletal maturity status of Yemeni children and adolescents.Objetivo: Este estudio se realizó para investigar la relación entre el desarrollo dental y las etapas de maduración vertebral cervical en un grupo de niños y adolescentes yemeníes. Material y Métodos: El estudio incluyó radiografías panorámicas digitales y cefalogramas laterales del cráneo obtenidos de 207 sujetos yemeníes: 122 mujeres y 85 hombres de entre 8 y 18 años. La madurez dental se evaluó de acuerdo con el método de Demirijian et al.6 Se evaluaron las etapas de calcificación de los caninos mandibulares izquierdos, primer y segundo premolares y segundos molares. La madurez esquelética se evaluó mediante las etapas de maduración vertebral cervical (CVM) de acuerdo con el método de Baccetti et al.10 La correlación entre la CVM y la maduración dental se evaluó mediante el coeficiente de correlación de orden de rango de Spearman (SROCC). Resultados: Las etapas de CVM y calcificación dental estuvieron altamente correlacionadas (p<0.001) en ambos sexos, con un rango de 0.686 a 0.873 para las mujeres y 0.787 a 0.871 para los hombres. Las etapas de calcificación de los segundos molares mostraron la correlación más fuerte con CVM. Conclusión: las etapas de calcificación del segundo molar pueden usarse como un indicador de maduración confiable. La maduración dental puede aplicarse para determinar el estado de madurez esquelética de los niños y adolescentes yemeníes

Twitter sentiment analysis to understand students\u27 perceptions about online learning during the Covid\u2719

In 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic led to emergency changes in the educational sector as a precautionary measure to limit the spread of the Covid-19 virus and protect the health and safety of students. Educational institutes couldn\u27t escape this havoc; by April 2020, 189 countries had suspended school, affecting 89 percent of the world\u27s students. Since the epidemic began, online learning has completely taken over the educational industry, leaving students with no choice but to adapt to the brand-new virtual learning environment. Consequently, people turned to social media, such as Twitter, to express their feelings, opinions, and concerns about online learning as an alternative to traditional physical classes. The new online learning platforms, associated technologies, and procedures have been widely discussed on Twitter. In the proposed study, we have presented a systematic approach to analyze the public opinions and perceptions about online learning using Twitter sentiment analysis (TSA) through Twitter\u27s API and term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) technique. Further, we classified the sentiments into certain clusters, such as positive, negative, and neutral, using a text mining approach (i.e., lexicons). Moreover, we have uncovered these sentiments and visualized the clusters using visualization techniques such as word clouds and bar charts. Additionally, by using TF-IDF, we measured the strength of words that people use to express their opinions about online schooling and explored to what extent it affects the overall results of our analysis

Preoperative Diagnosis of Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis

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Functional role of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin during Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm interaction with the innate immune system.

Synthesis of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA), accumulation associated protein (Aap) and extracellular matrix binding protein (Embp) are major mechanisms used by Staphylococcus epidermidisto evade immunity through biofilm formation. These evasion strategies are particularly suited for colonisation of medical devices such as heart valves, joint prostheses and central venous catheters resulting in significant patient morbidity. Two biological activities of PIA, Aap and Embp contribute to their role as an evasion molecules. Firstly their ‘barrier’ function limiting penetration of immune cells and antibiotics. Secondly, their ‘immunomodulatory’ properties which influence cytokine responses. At present little is known about these functional activities in physiological media and biological fluids.This thesis uses a cell biology approach to study the environment necessary for PLA production. Specifically in vitromodelling of biofilm formation, PIA production and S. epidermidisleukocyte co-culture experiments have been used to assess conditions that are conducive for PIA production.This thesis has identified that:• Specific cell culture media cause unique profiles of biofilm accumulation with differential production of PIA, Aap and Embp.• Fetal bovine serum and pooled human serum support S. epidermidisgrowth but differentially affect biofilm formation by PIA, Aap and Embp.• Large scale production of PIA (~20mg) can be achieved by culturing in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Media which has allowed streamlining of current isolation procedures.• PIA induction of cytokines, including IL-8 and TNF is dependent on being tethered to the bacterial membrane.• Macrophages can penetrate into a S. epidermidisproduced PIA ‘barrier’.• Immunosuppression of whole blood with dexamethasone unmasks the pathogenic advantage of PIA in S. epidermidisexpressing PIA compared to negative controls.• Whole blood killing of S. epidermidisis dependent on CD1 lb/CD 18.• PIA induces whole blood killing dysfunction which is likely related to C5a production.• PIA can be produced in a whole blood environment.• Inocula of -1 0 colony forming unit of S. epidermidisare required to form biofilms in whole blood.This study suggests the importance of studying clinically important biofilm production mechanisms under conditions that closely resemble those in human disease

Note sur l’inventaire des figurines en terre cuite dressé par Robert du Mesnil du Buisson pour le site de Mishirfeh/Qaṭna et sa région

Présentation d’une synthèse sur le matériel coroplastique documenté dans les publications et les archives de R. du Mesnil du Buisson conservées au musée du Louvre (Département des Antiquités orientales). Il s’agit de 39 figurines en terre cuite qui présentent des catégories variées : anthropomorphes, zoomorphes, roues, éléments de chars et trépied, datées selon les cinq périodes suivantes : Bronze ancien IV, Bronze moyen, Bronze récent, Fer II et Fer III. L’ensemble de ces catégories confirme la présence à Mishirfeh/Qaṭna et sa région d’un style iconographique des figurines anthropomorphes et zoomorphes au Bronze moyen largement attesté en Syrie intérieure. Les mêmes représentations féminines et masculines était répandues dans presque toute la région de l’Oronte, particulièrement à Tell Mardikh/Ebla, Hama, Khan Sheikhoun.Synthesis upon the coroplastic material documented in the publications and in the archives of R. du Mesnil du Buisson kept in the Louvre (Department of Eastern Antiquities). That is to say 39 terracotta figurines with various types: anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, wheels, pieces of chariots and tripod, dated from five periods: Early Bronze IV, Middle Bronze, Late Bronze, Iron II and Iron III. All these types confirm the occurrence in Mishirfeh/Qaṭna and in its surroundings of an iconographical style of human and animal figurines during the Middle Bronze, which is widely attested in central Syria. The same female and male figurines were wide-spread in almost the whole area of the Orontes, particularly in Tell Mardikh/Ebla, Hama, Khan Sheikhun.تقديم خلاصة تحليلية لمجموع الدمى الطينية التي وثقها روبيرت دي مسنيل دو بويسان ونشر بعضها في مطبوعات علمية والبعض الآخر محفوظ في أرشيف متحف اللوفر (قسم الشرق القديم) تم جمع وإعادة دراسة 39 دمية طينية تنتمي للأنماط التالية: الدمى الإنسانية، الدمى الحيوانية، العربات والدواليب ومجسمات لطاولات ثلاثية الأرجل. أرخت هذه الدمى في الفترات التالية: البرونز القديم الرابع، البرونز الوسيط، البرونز الحديث، عصر الحديد الثاني وعصر الحديد الثالث. تأكد هذه المواد وجود نمط فني سائد للدمى الإنسانية والحيوانية خلال فترة البرونز الوسيط تنتمي إلى تقاليد معروفة في مناطق سوريا الداخلية و العاصي في مواقع مثل تل مرديخ - إبلا وحماه وخان شيخون..

Cross-cultural impacts of COVID-19 on higher education learning and teaching practices in Spain, Oman, Nigeria and Cambodia: A cross-cultural study

Adapting new learning and teaching practices during COVID-19 pandemic has impacted students’ learning in higher education. Using a cross-sectional research methodology, the study attempted to understand the cross-cultural impacts of COVID-19 on higher education students in Cambodia, Nigeria, Oman and Spain to determine the changes that COVID-19 has brought about in higher education students; examine how students\u27 learning behaviour and attitudes have changed during COVID-19; identify the challenges they have experienced; and identify the changes that have taken place in learning and teaching in the selected countries. A total sample of 242 students was randomly selected from four higher education institutions in each of the selected countries. The study provided a cross-cultural understanding of how COVID-19 has affected students’ well-being, behaviors and learning. The results show that COVID-19 had adverse effects on the well-being of students in the four countries. Students received inadequate social support and security protection from others and instructors when they needed it. Omani students received less social support compared with the other three countries. COVID-19 had the worse effect on students’ employment in the four countries. The effect pressed much concern on Nigerian students who experience a great job loss. Students from the four countries were required to put a lot of effort and energy to fulfil the requirements in the program