A mixed-methods study of exploring and explaining the impact of the use of educational blogging on Saudi EFL students' writing development

The dominance of technology in many learners’ lives is inescapable and is an opportunity upon which educators could capitalize. Using educational blogging in language teaching, this study aimed to explore and explain the nature impact of the use of educational blogs on EFL students’ writing development. The study used a mixed-methodsdesign to analyse the impact of the educational blogging. The first phase was a quasi-experimental study with an intervention and comparison group, with 90 participants in total (45 in each group). Participants were undertaking an English Language writing course during the Preparatory Year Programme at a higher education institution in Saudi Arabia. The comparison group was taught using traditional teaching methods and the intervention group was taught by using educational blogs both individual and class blogs. Both groups had the same course materials and teaching hours. The sentence variety, syntactic complexity, vocabulary, paragraph organisation and the coherence and cohesion of student pre and post writing tests were measured in order to compare the groups. Mann-Whitney tests were used to investigate whether there was a significant difference. In the second phase, a sequential mixed-methods case study focused on the intervention group was developed to explore and explain the participants’ attitudes towards the use of educational blogs. Attitudes were measured using a closed questionnaire, and then this data was supplemented by open-ended questions, focus group discussion and semi-strucured interviews designed to explain the nature of the impact of the intervention in more detail. This phase also investigated the first blog and last blog entries on the class blog using the same procedure used in investigating the pre and post tests. Statistical findings reveal that the intervention group outperformed the students in the comparison group who were given similar lessons but using traditional methods (pen and 4 paper). Qualitative findings suggest that the use of educational blogging seems to have increased these students’ motivation to practise writing, and that this resulted in more sophisticated and syntactically complex texts after the intervention. The study supports the theory of using educational technology as a pedagogical teaching method in English classes, based on the socio-cultural and cognitive theory of social interactional learning. In so doing, it extends the relation of educational blogging affordances and writing development context, particularly in the context of HE students taking a non-English major, who might be expected to be possibly less motivated or invested in developing their English writing skills than those students who have typically formed the sample for similar previous studies. This study is significant in investigating the pedagogical use of blogging a new context, revealing how educational blogs can be used in a context which traditionally hinders pedagogical approaches which are collaborative or student-centered: one with large class sizes, a tradition of transmission-style teaching and limited opportunities for peer interaction. The findings suggest how and why blogging can be an effective pedagogical approach for supporting writing development in similar context

Experiences and perspectives of adults on using opioids for pain management in the postoperative period : A scoping review protocol.

Funding The main reviewer (DA) is funded by Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in London, UK. This review will be part of DA’s PhD study at the University of Aberdeen.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Numerical simulation of two-phase fluid flow

We simulate two-phase fluid flow using a stress–strain relation based on Biot’s theory of poroelasticity for partial saturation combined with the mass conservation equations. To uncouple flow and elastic strain, we use a correction to the stiffness of the medium under conditions of uniaxial strain. The pressure and saturation differential equations are then solved with an explicit time stepping scheme and the Fourier pseudospectral method to compute the spatial derivatives. We assume an initial pressure state and at each time step compute the wetting- and non wetting-fluid pressures at a given saturation. Then, we solve Richards’s equation for the non wetting-fluid saturation and proceed to the next time step with the updated saturations values. The pressure and saturation equations are first solved separately and the results compared to known analytical solutions showing the accuracy of the algorithm. Then, the coupled system is solved. In all the cases, the non-wetting fluid is injected at a given point in space as a boundary condition and capillarity effects are taken into account. The examples consider oil injection in a water-saturated porous medium.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Numerical simulation of two-phase fluid flow

We simulate two-phase fluid flow using a stress–strain relation based on Biot’s theory of poroelasticity for partial saturation combined with the mass conservation equations. To uncouple flow and elastic strain, we use a correction to the stiffness of the medium under conditions of uniaxial strain. The pressure and saturation differential equations are then solved with an explicit time stepping scheme and the Fourier pseudospectral method to compute the spatial derivatives. We assume an initial pressure state and at each time step compute the wetting- and non wetting-fluid pressures at a given saturation. Then, we solve Richards’s equation for the non wetting-fluid saturation and proceed to the next time step with the updated saturations values. The pressure and saturation equations are first solved separately and the results compared to known analytical solutions showing the accuracy of the algorithm. Then, the coupled system is solved. In all the cases, the non-wetting fluid is injected at a given point in space as a boundary condition and capillarity effects are taken into account. The examples consider oil injection in a water-saturated porous medium.Fil: Carcione, Jose M.. Instituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale; ItaliaFil: Picotti, Stefano. Instituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale; ItaliaFil: Santos, Juan Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto del Gas y del Petróleo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Qadrouh, Ayman. King Abdulaziz City For Science And Technology; Arabia SauditaFil: Almalki, Hashim S.. King Abdulaziz City For Science And Technology; Arabia Saudit

Practice of wound closure techniques among emergency physicians and surgeons in Makkah City Hospitals in Saudi Arabia

Background: Wound suturing is a procedure performed by medical and surgical specialists. While there are many different suturing techniques and materials used to treat patients, the choice of which to employ depends on different variables that affect the outcome of the procedure.Design and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted to provide descriptive data regarding the practice of wound closure techniques, and to develop an awareness of scar formation factors. A total of 172 general surgery (GS) surgeons and emergency (EM) physicians in Makkah city hospitals in Saudi Arabia participated in the study.Results: More than 50% of the practitioners favored the simple interrupted technique for the treatment of all types of studied wounds. The other most common techniques among participants were the subcuticular and vertical mattress methods, respectively, while the use of a stapler was limited to certain wound types. Regarding suturing material, polyglycolic acid was the most frequent material used by 50.1% of participants, whereas only 22% of the participants selected nylon material for wound suturing. However, this study showed a good level of awareness among participants, with significant p-values (p<0.05) of strongly agree and agree regarding the essential factors affecting wound healing and scar formation.Conclusions: The result provides insight into the most common suture techniques and materials used in wound closure. There are wide variations in selecting these techniques and materials among the participants. Also, we found that there is good awareness among participants about factors that lead to scar formation

Conceptualizing life competencies: EFL teachers' qualitative perspective

Purpose – Meeting the 21st century skills is critically significant to ensure success in today's world, collegiate context and neoteric careers. This qualitative study turns attention to teachers' mindsets, dispositions and perceptions concerning 21st century life competencies required to meet the current, emerging and future needs of learners. Design/methodology/approach – One-to-one structured interviews were conducted with English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers (N = 8), where open-ended questions were asked in order to determine the participants' perception of, support to, and integration of the life competencies into an EFL classroom setting. In addition, teachers' performance and implementation of life competencies (males and females) was observed in the classroom over a long time. Findings – The results showed that teachers' practices contradict their conceptions of the life competencies. Critical thinking was seen as a priority from teachers' perspectives. Teachers perceived learning to learn and critical thinking as the most important competencies for students to learn. Findings of the study indicated that teachers hold positive attitudes toward integrating life competencies into EFL context; however, they lack a clear vision about how to incorporate them. Research limitations/implications – This study recommends equipping teachers with professional training and customized orientations offering new insights into how life-competency-oriented instruction might be designed. Originality/value – Career readiness should be a prominent aim of education where students are equipped with life skills or competencies. EFL practitioners need to understand, support and implement life-competency-instruction

Microbial surfactants : A journey from fundamentals to recent advances

Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Pardhi, Panchal, Raval, Joshi, Poczai, Almalki and Rajput.Microbial surfactants are amphiphilic surface-active substances aid to reduce surface and interfacial tensions by accumulating between two fluid phases. They can be generically classified as low or high molecular weight biosurfactants based on their molecular weight, whilst overall chemical makeup determines whether they are neutral or anionic molecules. They demonstrate a variety of fundamental characteristics, including the lowering of surface tension, emulsification, adsorption, micelle formation, etc. Microbial genera like Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Candida spp., and Pseudozyma spp. are studied extensively for their production. The type of biosurfactant produced is reliant on the substrate utilized and the pathway pursued by the generating microorganisms. Some advantages of biosurfactants over synthetic surfactants comprise biodegradability, low toxicity, bioavailability, specificity of action, structural diversity, and effectiveness in harsh environments. Biosurfactants are physiologically crucial molecules for producing microorganisms which help the cells to grasp substrates in adverse conditions and also have antimicrobial, anti-adhesive, and antioxidant properties. Biosurfactants are in high demand as a potential product in industries like petroleum, cosmetics, detergents, agriculture, medicine, and food due to their beneficial properties. Biosurfactants are the significant natural biodegradable substances employed to replace the chemical surfactants on a global scale in order to make a cleaner and more sustainable environment.Peer reviewe

Numerical simulation of two-phase fluid flow

We simulate two-phase fluid flow using a stress–strain relation based on Biot’s theory of poroelasticity for partial saturation combined with the mass conservation equations. To uncouple flow and elastic strain, we use a correction to the stiffness of the medium under conditions of uniaxial strain. The pressure and saturation differential equations are then solved with an explicit time stepping scheme and the Fourier pseudospectral method to compute the spatial derivatives. We assume an initial pressure state and at each time step compute the wetting- and non wetting-fluid pressures at a given saturation. Then, we solve Richards’s equation for the non wetting-fluid saturation and proceed to the next time step with the updated saturations values. The pressure and saturation equations are first solved separately and the results compared to known analytical solutions showing the accuracy of the algorithm. Then, the coupled system is solved. In all the cases, the non-wetting fluid is injected at a given point in space as a boundary condition and capillarity effects are taken into account. The examples consider oil injection in a water-saturated porous medium.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Dermatological Lesions of Cholesterol Embolization Syndrome and Kaposi Sarcoma Mimic Primary Systemic Vasculitis: Case Report Study

Primary systemic vasculitis can present with a wide spectrum of manifestations ranging from systemic non-specific features such as fever, malaise, arthralgia, and myalgia to specific organ damage. We describe two cases of cholesterol embolization syndrome and Kaposi sarcoma mimicking primary systemic vasculitis, both of which were characterized by features such as livedo reticularis, blue toe syndrome, a brown, purpuric skin rash, and positive p-ANCA associated with Kaposi sarcoma. Establishing the right diagnosis was challenging, and thus we aim in this study to highlight the possible ways to distinguish them from primary systemic vasculitis. Keywords: Dermatological lesions, Cholesterol embolization syndrome, Kaposi sarcoma, vasculitis mimic

Electron affinity of metal oxide thin films of TiO2, ZnO, and NiO and their applicability in 28.3 THz rectenna devices

The holy grail of achieving efficient operation of infrared (IR) rectennas continues to be the realization of a high performance rectifier. In this paper, we have fabricated metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diodes based on TiO2, ZnO, and NiO thin films using shadow mask evaporation, photolithography, and sputtering. The electron affinities of oxides have been measured by a combination of variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as deduction from the extraction of metal/oxide barrier heights of Fowler–Nordheim tunneling plots. Our results confirm a low value for the electron affinity of NiOx of ∼2.1–2.5 eV, which correlates with the high zero-bias dynamic resistance (RD0) of ∼500 kΩ of an associated MIM diode. These values render NiOx to be unsuitable for use in a rectenna device. Better performance has been observed from diodes based on TiO2 and ZnOx films. The best rectification performance was achieved for a Au/2.6 nm ZnOx/Cr diode, scaled down to 1 μm2 device area, showing a zero-bias dynamic resistance of RD0 = 71 kΩ, zero-bias responsivity β0 = 0.28 A/W, and a coupling efficiency of ηc = 2.4 × 10−5% for rectification at 28.3 THz. The main significance of this study is that it employs a methodology whereby key parameters of the MIM stack are derived from physical measurements, which are then used to assist in the fitting of electrical current–voltage data to produce a reliable appraisal of diode performance in an IR rectenna.</jats:p