“Mandarin AR” : An Augmented Reality Application for Mandarin Vocabulary Self-Directed Learning

The demand of foreign language learning such as Mandarin has increased globally. More efforts have been taken up especially in the tertiary level to further improve learning experience in line with the increasing demand and needs of students in learning. Since technology has been the key element in the journey to deal with language courses, Augmented Reality (AR) is seen as a transformative tool that has shown a promise in self-directed learning of foreign language, particularly in vocabulary acquisition. However, the potential of AR in this context is less explored in Malaysia. Therefore, this study addresses the gap by concentrating on a self-developed "Mandarin AR" application (app), used as a supplementary tool for introductory Mandarin courses. This study focused on the self-developed “Mandarin AR” app as an additional instructional tool for Introductory Mandarin courses.   The aim of this study was to explore the feasibility of the “Mandarin AR” app for improving students’ vocabulary with visual-verbal-auditory features, and to create a flexible, enjoyable, flipped, and self-regulated learning environment for students. This study used the quantitative method involving 238 students who enrolled in a course namely Introductory Mandarin 1. The data analysed using a descriptive analysis, revealed that the design, content, and presentation of the “Mandarin AR’ app were suitable for them to learn Mandarin vocabulary in the self-directed learning environment. It is hoped that the finding of the research could be a guideline for practitioners venturing into the AR integration in language education. Keywords: Augmented reality, Instructional tool, Mandarin, Self-directed learning, Vocabulary DOI: 10.7176/JEP/14-33-12 Publication date: November 30th 202

Meningkatkan keputusan ujian Bahasa Mandarin melalui inovasi aplikasi "e-Kosa Kata" / Teh Hong Siok, Goh Chin Shuang and Noor Aizah Abas

Bahasa Mandarin merupakan salah satu daripada tujuh bahasa ketiga yang ditawarkan di UiTM dan mempunyai bilangan pelajar yang paling ramai. Di sesetengah fakulti di UiTM, keputusan ujian bahasa Mandarin adalah lemah berbanding di fakulti lain. Justeru, projek ini dijalankan untuk meningkatkan keputusan bahasa Mandarin Asas 1 di sesetengah fakulti di UiTM. Kajian projek ini dilaksanakan di kampus UiTM Selangor, iaitu kampus Shah A lam, kampus Puncak Perdana dan kampus Puncak A lam. Berdasarkan analisis daripada Student Information Management System (SIMS) di UiTM, keputusan ujian bertulis bahasa Mandarin Asas 1 adalah yang paling lemah berbanding dengan ujian mendengar, ujian membaca dan projek bahasa. Selain itu, peratusan pelajar yang mendapat gred A di fakultiyang dikaji adalah kurang daripada 15% dan pelajar yang mendapat gred C adalah melebihi 30%. Sehubungan itu, aplikasi e-Kosa Kata yang menggunakan Microsoft Sway telah dibangunkan untuk membantupelajar menghafal dan mengingati kosa kata melalui peranti digital. Borang soal selidik turut diedarkan untuk mendapat maklum balas pelajar terhadap keberkesanan e-Kosa Kata tersebut. Seramai 228 responden daripada empat fakulti mengambil bahagian dalam kajian ini. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa terdapat peningkatan markah ujian bertulis dan pertambahan peratusan pelajar yang mendapat gred A setelah menggunakan e-Kosa Kata. Aplikasi e-Kosa Kata juga memberi manfaat kepada alam persekitaran, pelajar, pensyarah, jabatan dan universiti. Aplikasi ini juga berpotensi digunakan secara meluas dalam kalangan pelajar danjuga orang awam yang berminat untuk mempelajari bahasa Mandarin asas

Using multimedia e-learning materials to suplement teaching and learning of Mandarin Chinese language / Goh Chin Shuang … [et al.]

The research sought to define the usability of Conversational Mandarin Chinese 1 as an interactive multimedia e-learning supplementary instructional tool in the teaching and learning of Elementary Mandarin (I) in UiTM, Shah Alam. Discussions regarding the characteristics of Conversational Mandarin Chinese 1 were derived from its contents, its relevance to the teaching and learning of language, its general design elements and students' motivation to learn, as well as the strengths and weakness of Conversational Mandarin Chinese 1 and the suggestions of improving multimedia e-learning instructional materials. This multimedia e-learning materials Conversational Mandarin Chinese 1 was a pilot prototype project and it was a selfdeveloped product by the researchers of this project to supplement conventional teaching and learning method of the Elementary Mandarin learning program in UiTM. Besides, it was offered as a self-helped learning instruction for the students, in view of the limitation of contact hours for third language classes in the university

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Developing a Mandarin learning podcast for flexible learning / Tan Teow Ghee, Lim Teck Heng and Chin Shuang Goh

Learning by means of mobile devices is becoming more popular. Efforts are being made in all academic disciplines, including foreign language teaching and learning to provide learning opportunities anywhere and anytime. This paper reports the attempt of a foreign language class which utilized Web 2.0 tools to create a flexible learning environment which could also be used to encourage mobile learning. The development of a series of podcasts to be used as a supplementary tool in learning Mandarin is the main concern of this paper. The students who were involved in this study were asked to evaluate the content and suitability of the podcasts. They were asked to complete a set of questionnaire and some of them were also randomly selected for an interview session. The findings showed that the use of podcasts as a learning tool was beneficial and podcast-based learning can be implemented as one of the creative ways to teach or learn a foreign language

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in children : an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study

Introduction Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, there is a lack of data available about SSI in children worldwide, especially from low-income and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SSI in children and associations between SSI and morbidity across human development settings. Methods A multicentre, international, prospective, validated cohort study of children aged under 16 years undergoing clean-contaminated, contaminated or dirty gastrointestinal surgery. Any hospital in the world providing paediatric surgery was eligible to contribute data between January and July 2016. The primary outcome was the incidence of SSI by 30 days. Relationships between explanatory variables and SSI were examined using multilevel logistic regression. Countries were stratified into high development, middle development and low development groups using the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI). Results Of 1159 children across 181 hospitals in 51 countries, 523 (45 center dot 1%) children were from high HDI, 397 (34 center dot 2%) from middle HDI and 239 (20 center dot 6%) from low HDI countries. The 30-day SSI rate was 6.3% (33/523) in high HDI, 12 center dot 8% (51/397) in middle HDI and 24 center dot 7% (59/239) in low HDI countries. SSI was associated with higher incidence of 30-day mortality, intervention, organ-space infection and other HAIs, with the highest rates seen in low HDI countries. Median length of stay in patients who had an SSI was longer (7.0 days), compared with 3.0 days in patients who did not have an SSI. Use of laparoscopy was associated with significantly lower SSI rates, even after accounting for HDI. Conclusion The odds of SSI in children is nearly four times greater in low HDI compared with high HDI countries. Policies to reduce SSI should be prioritised as part of the wider global agenda.Peer reviewe

Genome-wide association study identifies five new susceptibility loci for primary angle closure glaucoma.

Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is a major cause of blindness worldwide. We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) followed by replication in a combined total of 10,503 PACG cases and 29,567 controls drawn from 24 countries across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. We observed significant evidence of disease association at five new genetic loci upon meta-analysis of all patient collections. These loci are at EPDR1 rs3816415 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.24, P = 5.94 × 10(-15)), CHAT rs1258267 (OR = 1.22, P = 2.85 × 10(-16)), GLIS3 rs736893 (OR = 1.18, P = 1.43 × 10(-14)), FERMT2 rs7494379 (OR = 1.14, P = 3.43 × 10(-11)), and DPM2-FAM102A rs3739821 (OR = 1.15, P = 8.32 × 10(-12)). We also confirmed significant association at three previously described loci (P < 5 × 10(-8) for each sentinel SNP at PLEKHA7, COL11A1, and PCMTD1-ST18), providing new insights into the biology of PACG