Visualization of Academic Quality Assurance Metamodel Through the Creation of Academic Quality Assurance Metamodel Information System

Academic quality assurance metamodel information system (AQAMIS) is a mobile-web-friendly system designed to manage academic quality assurance (AQA) knowledge structure for higher education using the AQA metamodel structure. This research describes the development and functionality of AQAMIS, as well as how it visualizes the AQA metamodel on a system-based level. The AQAMIS system transformed the metamodel class diagram design into a user-friendly design, making it easier for any non-technical user to understand the metamodel design. The AQAMIS is composed of two major parts: the AQA metamodel and the knowledge repository system. The metamodel addresses the issue of managing knowledge for quality assurance in higher education. While the system resolves the issue of sharing best practices in higher education AQA. The AQAMIS system assists in ensuring that academic quality assurance systems are implemented more efficiently and effectively in higher learning institutions (HLIs). AQAMIS is also a one-stop center for respective users such as HLI top management, policymakers, auditors, and quality assurance personnel to access their expertise and share best practices in AQA endeavors

The effect of solid-State processes and heat treatment on the properties of AA7075 aluminum waste recycling nanocomposite

Direct solid-states, such as hot extrusion and equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), are alternative and efficient solid-state processes for use in recycling aluminium scrap. These processes utilise less energy and are eco-friendly. Ceramic particles such as ZrO2 are suggested as alternatives in the production of metal composites. This study investigated and optimised the effects of various parameters of reinforced ZrO2 nanoparticles on the mechanical and physical properties via response surface methodology (RSM). These parameters were the volume fraction (VF), preheating temperature (T), and preheating time (t). The effects of these parameters were examined before and after the heat treatment condition and ECAP. Each parameter was evaluated at varying magnitudes, i.e., 450, 500, and 550 °C for T, 1, 2, and 3 h for t, and 1, 3, and 5% for VF. The effect that process variables had on responses was elucidated using the factorial design with centre point analysis. T and VF were crucial for attaining the optimum ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and microhardness. Reducing VF increased the mechanical properties to 1 vol% of oxide. The maximum hardness of 95 HV was attained at 550 °C, 1.6 h, and 1 vol% ZrO2 with a density of 2.85 g/cm3 and tensile strength of 487 MPa. UTS, density, and microhardness were enhanced by 14%, 1%, and 9.5%, respectively. Additionally, the hot extrusion parameters and ECAP followed by heat treatment strengthened the microhardness by 64% and density by 3%. Compression pressure and extrusion stress produced in these stages were sufficient to eliminate voids that increased the mechanical properties

Can students' emotional states influence their assessment of lecturers' performance?

The Student Evaluation Form (SEF) is commonly used to assess lecturers’ teaching performance in the classroom. However, there are concerns that events that elicit emotion, such as students’ grades, could influence their assessment of their lecturers’ performance. Thus, we conducted a study to explore the effect of emotion-eliciting events on students’ emotional states and their assessment of lecturers’ performance. A random sample of 69 low- and high-ability students (26 control-group students and 43 experimental-group students) from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Johor, participated in this study. Two sets of questionnaires were used: the Positive and Negative Affect Scale and the SEF. The findings of the study indicate that especially for those with low ability, emotion-eliciting events affected students’ emotional states and their assessment of their lecturers’ performance

The use of information and communication technology in teaching and learning operation by academicians at higher education institution

Teaching and learning (T&L) delivery method is a main focus that every higher education institution needs to consider in their strategic planning. This is to ensure the academicians have clear teaching direction thus will result in more effective and clearer reception of knowledge by the students. T&L techniques have gone through several phases of revolution to be in line with current needs. Table 3.1 shows the comparison of education 1.0 to 4.0 as stated by Harkins (Harkins, 2008). The education revolutions show the changes of teaching and learning style from the teacher-centered learning to student-centered learning which influence the methods and technologies in T&L. Education 1.0 used traditional concept of T&L without being influenced by any technology. In education 2.0, students and academicians have been exposed with the Internet technology in T&L but it is not used widely in teaching and learning delivery method. In the education 3.0 era, the student-centered learning concept has evolved with an emphasis on the concept of constructivism. The constructivism concept encourages students to develop their knowledge from experiences with supported technologies such as Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). This concept also encourages interaction between students and educators and it supports students to share their views with educators’ intervention

Photocatalytic nanofiber-coated alumina hollow fiber membranes for highly efficient oilfield produced water treatment

Cost-effective purification technology of oilfield produced water (OPW) is becoming a global challenge for future petroleum exploration and production industry. Energy-efficient operation of membrane separation is potentially promising. However, severe fouling problem of oil droplets demands new robust and fouling-resistant membranes with high permeability and rejection efficiency. Here, we propose a photocatalytic nanofiber-coated inorganic hollow fiber membrane suitable for OPW treatment. The membrane was fabricated by coating polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber incorporated with graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) photocatalyst on an alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) hollow fiber membrane. While the highly porous coating made of smooth hydrophilic nanofibers facilitated water permeation, the coating effectively captured oil droplets in its opening, resulting in a better rejection efficiency of oil contaminants. Its sparse mesh morphology prevented oil contaminants to form dense fouling film on the membrane surface and maintained high permeate flux even after 180 min filtration. The best permeate flux of 640 L·m −2 ·h −1 and oil rejection percentage of 99% were recorded for 180 min crossflow filtration of OPW at 2 bar along with the highest pure water flux of 816 L·m −2 ·h −1 . The photocatalytic activity of GCN enabled the coating to degrade the captured oil contaminants under UV irradiation, demonstrating permeate flux of 577 L·m −2 ·h −1 and oil rejection of 97% after three cycles of 180 min filtration. The excellent fouling resistance and cleaning performances of the membrane are considerably beneficial for a long-term repeated filtration operation. This work will motivate researchers to develop nanofiber-coated hollow fiber membranes for future membrane separation technology

Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity

Background The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries.Methods The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Univariate and multivariable analysis of contributing factors for mortality were assessed by country group (HICs vs LMICs) as defined by the World Bank criteria.Results A total of 12 860 children (3819 from 21 HICs and 9041 from 15 LMICs) participated in this study. Of these, 8961 were laboratory-confirmed and 3899 suspected COVID-19 cases. About 52% of LMICs children were black, and more than 40% were infants and adolescent. Overall in-hospital mortality rate (95% CI) was 3.3% [=(3.0% to 3.6%), higher in LMICs than HICs (4.0% (3.6% to 4.4%) and 1.7% (1.3% to 2.1%), respectively). There were significant differences between country income groups in intervention profile, with higher use of antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids, prone positioning, high flow nasal cannula, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation in HICs. Out of the 439 mechanically ventilated children, mortality occurred in 106 (24.1%) subjects, which was higher in LMICs than HICs (89 (43.6%) vs 17 (7.2%) respectively). Pre-existing infectious comorbidities (tuberculosis and HIV) and some complications (bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and myocarditis) were significantly higher in LMICs compared with HICs. On multivariable analysis, LMIC as country income group was associated with increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 4.73 (3.16 to 7.10)).Conclusion Mortality and morbidities were higher in LMICs than HICs, and it may be attributable to differences in patient demographics, complications and access to supportive and treatment modalities

Empagliflozin in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background The effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease who are at risk for disease progression are not well understood. The EMPA-KIDNEY trial was designed to assess the effects of treatment with empagliflozin in a broad range of such patients. Methods We enrolled patients with chronic kidney disease who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of at least 20 but less than 45 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) of body-surface area, or who had an eGFR of at least 45 but less than 90 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (with albumin measured in milligrams and creatinine measured in grams) of at least 200. Patients were randomly assigned to receive empagliflozin (10 mg once daily) or matching placebo. The primary outcome was a composite of progression of kidney disease (defined as end-stage kidney disease, a sustained decrease in eGFR to < 10 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2), a sustained decrease in eGFR of & GE;40% from baseline, or death from renal causes) or death from cardiovascular causes. Results A total of 6609 patients underwent randomization. During a median of 2.0 years of follow-up, progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes occurred in 432 of 3304 patients (13.1%) in the empagliflozin group and in 558 of 3305 patients (16.9%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64 to 0.82; P < 0.001). Results were consistent among patients with or without diabetes and across subgroups defined according to eGFR ranges. The rate of hospitalization from any cause was lower in the empagliflozin group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.95; P=0.003), but there were no significant between-group differences with respect to the composite outcome of hospitalization for heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes (which occurred in 4.0% in the empagliflozin group and 4.6% in the placebo group) or death from any cause (in 4.5% and 5.1%, respectively). The rates of serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. Conclusions Among a wide range of patients with chronic kidney disease who were at risk for disease progression, empagliflozin therapy led to a lower risk of progression of kidney disease or death from cardiovascular causes than placebo

Characteristics and outcomes of an international cohort of 600 000 hospitalized patients with COVID-19

Background: We describe demographic features, treatments and clinical outcomes in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 cohort, one of the world's largest international, standardized data sets concerning hospitalized patients. Methods: The data set analysed includes COVID-19 patients hospitalized between January 2020 and January 2022 in 52 countries. We investigated how symptoms on admission, co-morbidities, risk factors and treatments varied by age, sex and other characteristics. We used Cox regression models to investigate associations between demographics, symptoms, co-morbidities and other factors with risk of death, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Results: Data were available for 689 572 patients with laboratory-confirmed (91.1%) or clinically diagnosed (8.9%) SARS-CoV-2 infection from 52 countries. Age [adjusted hazard ratio per 10 years 1.49 (95% CI 1.48, 1.49)] and male sex [1.23 (1.21, 1.24)] were associated with a higher risk of death. Rates of admission to an ICU and use of IMV increased with age up to age 60 years then dropped. Symptoms, co-morbidities and treatments varied by age and had varied associations with clinical outcomes. The case-fatality ratio varied by country partly due to differences in the clinical characteristics of recruited patients and was on average 21.5%. Conclusions: Age was the strongest determinant of risk of death, with a ∼30-fold difference between the oldest and youngest groups; each of the co-morbidities included was associated with up to an almost 2-fold increase in risk. Smoking and obesity were also associated with a higher risk of death. The size of our international database and the standardized data collection method make this study a comprehensive international description of COVID-19 clinical features. Our findings may inform strategies that involve prioritization of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have a higher risk of death

The value of open-source clinical science in pandemic response: lessons from ISARIC

International audienc