The Effect of Industrial Practice Experience on Student's Work Readiness of Machinery Engineering Vocational School

This study aims to reveal the effect of industrial practice experience on the job readiness of vocational engineering mechinery students in Yogyakarta. This type of research is ex-post facto with a correlational approach. The subjects in this study were all students of machining engineering expertise program at Vocational High School Yogyakarta, with a total of 297 students. Determination of sample size using the Isaac & Michael table, obtained a sample of 247 students. Sampling with purposive sampling technique and data collection using a questionnaire. The data analysis technique used is descriptive statistics to describe the data of each variable and the regression analysis used for hypothesis testing. Based on the analysis and hypothesis testing, it can be concluded that the hypothesis has a positive and significant effect between industrial practice experience on the work readiness of students of Mechanical Engineering Vocational School in Yogyakarta. It can be seen from the regression results and the results of the significance of industrial practice experience on student work readiness, the correlation coefficient (r) is 0.677 and the coefficient of determination (r2) is 0.459. The results of this study indicate that the experience of industrial practice has a positive and significant effect on the work readiness of Mechanical Engineering students at Mechanical Engineering Vocational School in Yogyakarta

Gut colonization with methanobrevibacter smithii is associated with childhood weight development

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively investigate the presence and counts of archaea in feces of 472 children in association with weight development from 6 to 10 years of age. METHODS: Within the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, a single fecal sample from each child was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction to quantify archaea (Methanobrevibacter smithii, Methanosphera stadtmanae). Anthropometric outcomes (overweight [body mass index {BMI} >/= 85th percentile], age- and sex-standardized BMI, weight, and height z-scores) were repeatedly measured at ages (mean +/- SD) of 6.2 +/- 0.5, 6.8 +/- 0.5, 7.8 +/- 0.5, and 8.8 +/- 0.5 years. Generalized estimating equation was used for statistical analysis while controlling for confounders. RESULTS: Methanobrevibacter smithii colonization was associated with an increased risk of overweight (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-7.54) from 6 to 10 years of age. Children with high levels (>7 log10 copies/g feces) of this archaeon were at highest risk for overweight (OR = 3.27; 95% CI 1.09-9.83). Moreover, M. smithii colonization was associated with higher weight z-scores (adj. beta 0.18; 95% CI 0.00-0.36), but not with height. For BMI z-scores, the interaction (P = 0.008) between M. smithii and age was statistically significant, implying children colonized with M. smithii had increasing BMI z-scores with age. CONCLUSIONS: Presence and higher counts of M. smithii in the gut of children are associated with higher weight z-scores, higher BMI z-scores, and overweight

Successful implementation of teaching factory in machining expertise in vocational high schools

This research aims to (1) evaluate the application of the teaching factory (Tefa) in the field of machining expertise in Vocational High Schools (VHSs) and (2) identify the obstacles to the implementation of Tefa. The research uses the CIPP (Content, Input, Process, and Product) evaluation method. This research was carried out in four vocational schools on the competence of machining expertise with the criteria of having implemented Tefa for more than five years and as a pioneer in implementing Tefa. The four schools are Vocational High School (VHS) Mikael Surakarta, State  Vocational High School (SVHS) 1 Magelang, SMK Warga Surakarta, and SMK Karya Teknika Colomadu Karanganyar. The research respondents are principals, vice principals, heads of competency skills, and managers of Tefa. The data collection was through interviews, observation, and document scrutiny. The instruments used are an interview guide, observation sheet, and document analysis guide. The qualitative data analysis used qualitative data processing software. The results are as follows. (1) The application of Tefa in VHSs based on the evaluation is the context component 98%, the input component 89.25%, the process component 87%, and the product component 82.5 %. The percentage of evaluating the implementation of Tefa as a whole for the CIPP component is 89.2%, or very good; and (2) The obstacles faced in implementing Tefa in vocational high schools include rules for product sales, rules for working hours for public teachers, setting practicum schedules, working hours that were not flexible, rapid technological changes, understanding of block schedules, and lack of human resource competence. The results of this study imply that schools that implement Tefa are expected to be well-managed because it impacts the progress of VHS processes and products

Early Life Antibiotic Exposure and Weight Development in Children

OBJECTIVE: To examine the timing, frequency, and type of antibiotic exposure during the first 10 years of life in association with (over)weight across this period in a cohort of 979 children. STUDY DESIGN: Within the Child, Parents and Health: Lifestyle and Genetic Constitution Birth Cohort Study, antibiotic exposure record was obtained from general practitioners. Anthropometric outcomes (age- and sex-standardized body mass index, weight and height z-scores, and overweight) were measured repeatedly at 7 time points during the first 10 years of life. Generalized estimating equations method was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, children exposed to one course of antibiotics compared with none in the first 6 months of life had increased weight- (adjusted generalized estimating equations estimates [adjβ] 0.24; 95% CI 0.03-0.44) and height (adjβ 0.23; 95% CI 0.0002-0.46) z-scores; exposure to ≥2 courses during the second year of life was associated with both increased weight (adjβ 0.34; 95% CI 0.07-0.60), and height z-scores (adjβ 0.29; 95% CI -0.003 to 0.59). Exposure later in life was not associated with anthropometric outcomes. Associations with weight z-scores were mainly driven by exposure to broad- (≥2 courses: adjβ 0.11; 95% CI 0.003-0.22) and narrow-spectrum β-lactams (1 course: adjβ 0.18; 95% CI 0.005-0.35) during the follow-up period. Specific antibiotic used was not associated with body mass index z-scores and overweight. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated exposure to antibiotics early in life, especially β-lactam agents, is associated with increased weight and height. If causality of obesity can be established in future studies, this further highlights the need for restrictive antibiotic use and avoidance of prescriptions when there is minimal clinical benefit

Structure and in situ organisation of the Pyrococcus furiosus archaellum machinery

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The archaellum is the macromolecular machinery that Archaea use for propulsion or surface adhesion, enabling them to proliferate and invade new territories. The molecular composition of the archaellum and of the motor that drives it appears to be entirely distinct from that of the functionally equivalent bacterial flagellum and flagellar motor. Yet, the structure of the archaellum machinery is scarcely known. Using combined modes of electron cryo-microscopy (cryoEM), we have solved the structure of the Pyrococcus furiosus archaellum filament at 4.2 Å resolution and visualise the architecture and organisation of its motor complex in situ. This allows us to build a structural model combining the archaellum and its motor complex, paving the way to a molecular understanding of archaeal swimming motion.This project was funded by the Max Planck Society (BD, JV, WK), the University of Exeter Research Fellow’s Startup grant (BD), the ERC starting grant ‘ARCHAELLUM’ (511323; SVA) and the University of Regensburg (ReR, RaR, AB

Accumulation of lead and manganese in soil along the N1 highway in the City of Cape Town after the banning of leaded petrol in South Africa

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Environmental Health Faculty of Applied Sciences Cape Peninsula University of TechnologySoil contamination by metals is a serious environmental problem that has significant implications for human health. Roadside soils have been shown to have considerable contamination due to depositions of metals by vehicles. Metal pollution poses significant environmental concerns because most metals are not biodegradable and often have long half-lives, thus predicating far reaching effects on biological systems, including the soil. Unleaded petrol has been available in South Africa since 1996. The conversion from leaded to unleaded petrol has been a slow process. Leaded petrol has been totally phased out since January 2006. The manganese-containing fuel additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) that was introduced to automobile fuel formulae as an octane boosting and “anti-knock” agent, to replace or reduce the lead content in petrol, was officially approved in some developed countries. Despite the fact that metal contamination of soil has long been known, few studies have been carried out into its vertical distribution in the soil. The objectives of this investigation were: firstly, to assess the accumulation of lead and manganese in soil along the N1 highway; secondly, to determine the vertical distribution of lead and manganese in soil along the N1 highway; and thirdly, to compare the concentrations of lead and manganese in soil along the N1 highway, before and after the banning of leaded petrol in South Africa. Six soil samples were taken at each site approximately two meters from the road verges and at a depth of approximately 0-2cm of surface soil. The sampling period commenced on the 16th of February 2011 and ended on the 28th of December 2011. Once-off soil samples were also collected at sites 1, 5 and 6 at depths of 0-2cm, 30cm and 60cm, respectively. Samples were digested with 10 ml 55% nitric acid. Lead and manganese concentrations were determined by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP–MS). The mean concentrations of lead found in the roadside soils of the N1 highway ranged between 7.32mg/kg and 2068.31mg/kg and these were of high concentrations when compared to studies done in other countries. Results from the vertical distribution of lead investigation showed that lead concentrations ranged from 52.72mg/kg to 215.94mg/kg at surface level, from 15.80mg/kg to 164mg/kg at a depth of 30cm and from 14.06mg/kg to 216.07mg/kg at a depth of 60cm from the surface. It was also shown that there is a positive correlation between lead concentration and the amount of organic content (although not statistical), concluding that as the amount of organic content increases lead concentrations also increase. The mean manganese concentrations found in the roadside soils of the N1 ranged between 12.17mg/kg and 221.47mg/kg. The levels of manganese in the soil were found to be relatively low when compared to other studies an indication of mild to low metal contamination of the sampled soils. Results from the vertical distribution of manganese concentrations showed that concentrations in the soil ranged from 39.23 mg/kg to 63.32 mg/kg at surface level, from 14.4mg/kg to 310.86mg/kg for depths of up to 30cm, and from 4.42mg/kg to 343.96mg/kg for depths of up to 60cm. No relationships of manganese levels in the soil were found at any of the sites when sites were compared prior to the banning of lead and after the banning of lead despite the increased traffic volumes and, thus, increased MMT usage over the years, indicating that manganese contribution from MMT is very low and does not significantly increase soil contamination along the N1 highway. However, further investigations are needed into the future to monitor manganese contamination that may possibly occur

Design and implementation of a security communication system for a local area: case study the university of bamenda

The expensive, inefficient and unreliable nature of the existing communication systems, makes them inadequate for use in raising security awareness in local areas such as the University of Bamenda campus. With the current sociopolitical crisis in the region, there is a need for a reliable communication system which can be used to improve upon the security of staff and students on campus. This research project proposes a solution which is cost, time and power efficient. This system was analyzed and designed by following an evolutionary prototyping life cycle model which consists of developing a robust prototype in a structured manner which is constantly refined with user feedback to get a better end product. Mathematical analysis of the system components was used to determine the system specifications for the project. This solution has a low power requirement and does not depend on mobile networks. Simulation results showed our system is capable of receiving and transmitting information without any degradation of the signal within a 100m range when supplied with a 9V dc supply