A Framework to Achieve Quality and Excellence in Higher Education: A Literature Review

Educating large numbers of people to a high standard and disseminating knowledge can be considered as the main objectives of today’s higher education sector. An effective framework for delivery mechanism by enhancing the functional responsibility and its effective execution will help the nation in achieving quality and excellence in higher education. Present paper tries to explore framework for achieving quality and excellence in higher education by analysing the various functional aspect of higher educational system in the country. After extensive literature survey and analysing the research work of eminent researchers and thinkers, it is concluded that higher education has become larger and more central to society and individuals; hence, there a need to develop framework including different functional components for performance indicator and measurement. It is suggested that various enhancement function should be executed primarily in systems of high trust, whereas the accountability function has to be developed to prevent bad quality of institutions and programs, and thus to protect the beneficiaries i.e. students and society. Universities need to be consciously and explicitly managing the processes associated with the creation of their knowledge assets and to recognise the value of their intellectual capital to their continuing role in society and in a wider global marketplace for higher education

ANN Modeling of Thermal Conductivity and Viscosity of MXene-Based Aqueous IoNanofluid

Research shows that due to enhanced properties IoNanofluids have the potential of being used as heat transfer fluids (HTFs). A significant amount of experimental work has been done to determine the thermophysical and rheological properties of IoNanofluids; however, the number of intelligent models is still limited. In this work, we have experimentally determined the thermal conductivity and viscosity of MXene-doped [MMIM][DMP] ionic liquid. The size of the MXene nanoflakes was determined to be less than 100 nm. The concentration was varied from 0.05 mass% to 0.2 mass%, whereas the temperature varied from 19 °C to 60 °C. The maximum thermal conductivity enhancement of 1.48 was achieved at 0.2 mass% and 30 °C temperature. For viscosity, the maximum relative viscosity of 1.145 was obtained at 0.2 mass% and 23 °C temperature. After the experimental data for thermal conductivity and viscosity were obtained, two multiple linear regression (MLR) models were developed. The MLR models’ performances were found to be poor, which further called for the development of more accurate models. Then two feedforward multilayer perceptron models were developed. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm was used to train the models. The optimum models had 4 and 10 neurons for thermal conductivity and viscosity model, respectively. The values of statistical indices showed the models to be well-fit models. Further, relative deviations values were also accessed for training data and testing data, which further showed the models to be well fit

Effect of silica (SiO2) filler on thermal stability of polysiloxane composites

Thermal stability of composites are influenced by the types and properties of filler used. In this study Silica (SiO2) namely CS was used to improve the thermal stability of Polysiloxane (PoS) panel. The PoS/CS composites were fabricated by mixing PoS and CS with filler loading of 2wt% to 12 wt%. PoS/CS composites are then cast using close mold technique and cured at room temperature (RT), 65˚C and 100˚C. The CS were characterized for X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technique. The thermal stability of PoS/CS composites were identified via Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). It was found that, CS improved the thermal stability of PoS by increased decomposition temperature and decreased relative mass loss percentage. CS as a filler, replaced and reduced the hydroxyl group in the composites panel to significantly improved the thermal stability. Hence, the good thermal stability of CS also helps to improve PoS composites thermal properties. The interference of hydroxyl crosslink during curing was also found to affect the thermal stability. Thus, the high temperature curing (65˚C and 100˚C) were indeed unstable due to disruption of cross link process and thus affect the filler dispersion and cause aggregations. PoS/CS/RT composites were found to show the stable and linear profile of thermal stability compare to PoS/CS/65˚C and PoS/CS/100 ˚C. Thus the thermal stability of polysiloxane had improved by using CS as a filler and cured at RT

The Cholecystectomy As A Day Case (CAAD) Score: A Validated Score of Preoperative Predictors of Successful Day-Case Cholecystectomy Using the CholeS Data Set

Background Day-case surgery is associated with significant patient and cost benefits. However, only 43% of cholecystectomy patients are discharged home the same day. One hypothesis is day-case cholecystectomy rates, defined as patients discharged the same day as their operation, may be improved by better assessment of patients using standard preoperative variables. Methods Data were extracted from a prospectively collected data set of cholecystectomy patients from 166 UK and Irish hospitals (CholeS). Cholecystectomies performed as elective procedures were divided into main (75%) and validation (25%) data sets. Preoperative predictors were identified, and a risk score of failed day case was devised using multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to validate the score in the validation data set. Results Of the 7426 elective cholecystectomies performed, 49% of these were discharged home the same day. Same-day discharge following cholecystectomy was less likely with older patients (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), higher ASA scores (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.15–0.23), complicated cholelithiasis (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.48), male gender (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.74), previous acute gallstone-related admissions (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.48–0.60) and preoperative endoscopic intervention (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.34–0.47). The CAAD score was developed using these variables. When applied to the validation subgroup, a CAAD score of ≤5 was associated with 80.8% successful day-case cholecystectomy compared with 19.2% associated with a CAAD score >5 (p < 0.001). Conclusions The CAAD score which utilises data readily available from clinic letters and electronic sources can predict same-day discharges following cholecystectomy

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Fundamentals of compressible flow/ Yahya

ix, 356 hal. : ill. ; 21 c

Fundamentals of compressible flow/ Yahya

ix, 356 hal. : ill. ; 21 c