Concept mapping for improving reading comprehension in second language education: a systematic review

Reading is an essential learning tool for students to achieve academic and career success, and the ability to read also has a significant impact on students lifelong learning. In the field of ESL/EFL reading teaching, concept mapping has attracted considerable attention as a technique that can be used. To enable researchers and teachers to understand the research focus and application trends of concept mapping in the teaching of ESL/EFL reading, this article provides a literature review of 33 studies published in peer-reviewed journals from 2012 to 2022 on the use of concept mapping in teaching reading comprehension for learners in diverse ESL/EFL contexts. It was found that concept mapping was primarily used and studied among ESL/EFL students at the undergraduate level, serving as an advanced organizer in the pre-reading stage, an instructional medium in the while-reading stage, and a summarizing and evaluation tool in the after-reading stage. It was also found that the application of Kit-Build concept mapping, either in a technology-supported learning environment or with a source connection function, seems to have a promising impact on reading comprehension. Based on these findings, suggestions are provided to ESL/EFL teachers and researchers for better implementation and future research of concept mapping

Rhythmic Music Training’s Effect on Syntactic Structure Processing among Malay Adolescents with Syntactic Specific Language Impairment

Background: Adolescents with syntactic specific language impairment (S-SLI) fail to comprehend which object questions. We hypothesised that rhythmic music training is more effective in treating this condition than conventional methods because music is often perceived as having a clear, isochronous beat or pulse. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effects of rhythmic music training on the syntactic structure processing of Malay which questions among native adolescents. Methods: In this research study, the participants were three groups of Malay adolescents aged 13 years old–15 years old: i) adolescents with S-SLI with music training, ii) adolescents with S-SLI without music training and iii) typically developing adolescents. Before and after music training, the participants were given a sentence-picture matching task. Accuracy measures and reaction times were captured using E-Prime 2.0. Results: The results indicated that with music training, the accuracy and reaction time associated with which object questions among the two SLI groups were significantly higher and lower, respectively. Conclusion: The implications of using rhythmic music training in enhancing syntactic structure processing are also discussed.Schmidt Biomedtech Sdn. Bhd. Research Grant and a Research University Individual Grant (1001/ PPSP/812149) from Universiti Sains Malaysia

Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007). Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of “total Al”assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2•−, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2•)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2• radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 • − and OH•. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Effect of different deposition techniques of PCDTBT:PC<inf>71</inf>BM composite on the performance of capacitive-type humidity sensors

The performance and hence pragmatic use of organic humidity sensors requires various factors to be addressed outside of progress in high-performance organic-based sensing materials. While important, evaluation of fabrication techniques also requires attention to optimise performance. Herein we report the effect of different application techniques on the humidity sensing performance of poly[N-90-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(40,70-di-2-thienyl-20,10,30-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) organic composites. Spin-coating, immersion and drop-casting techniques have been applied to prepare sensors. Field-emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM) analysis of the prepared films revealed different types of self-assembled nanorods and nanotubes to be formed. The morphological and self-assembled differences could be attributed to various crystallisation processes as a result of different deposition techniques. Capacitive responses of all three sensors have been studied as a function of relative humidity at room temperature. PCDTBT:PC71BM composites prepared through the immersion technique showed superior sensing performance including higher sensitivity (62.34 pF/%RH) than sensors prepared through the spin coating (0.2 pF/%RH) and drop-casting (7.5 pF/%RH) techniques. The superior sensing performance of the sensor prepared through the immersion technique can be ascribed to both the nanotube and porous morphology exhibited

Dust emissions from unpaved ground surfaces

ARPN Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences11169826-983