Preparing students for the world of work : the benefits of education : business partnerships

Many of today's work opportunities require appropriately trained and skilled workers. Employers in different countries complain that schools are not preparing students adequately to face the present work challenges. In order to overcome such problems. it is recommended that educational institutions should establish closer links and meaningful ways ol collaboration with the business community with the aim of bridging the gap between education and the world of work. One way of doing this is by creating effective education-business partnerships.peer-reviewe

The doctor and the stage

This is a slightly abridged version of the St. Luke's Day Lecture delivered to the Malta Branch of the British Medical Association on the 17th October 1970 at the Medical School of the Royal University of Malta. The various scenarios related to the doctor`s representations on stage is well presented throughout the different historical periods, as depicted by the 17th century dramatist John Lacey, as portrayed by G.B. Shaw`s outrageous preface to his play, “The Doctor`s dilemma”, as seen in the prologue to “The Canterbury Tales” of Geoffrey Chaucer – who gives a balanced characterization of a Doctor of Physic, whom he praises for his knowledge of etiology and all of all the classical literature on medicine. The medical profession is also depicted through Nicolo`s Machiavelli`s “La mandragola”, as well as in Christopher Marlow`s play “Tamburlaine”, whereby in the latter play the doctor is in fact being presented with all the dignity which a royal physician acquires by reflection from his illustrious patient. In the second half of the seventeenth century, the greatest dramatist interested in the medical profession is not an Englishman but the French Jean Baptiste Moliere. Coming to the eighteenth century, we meet one of the most genial of Italian dramatists, Carlo Goldoni, who learned much from Moliere but does not seem to have shared his views about the medical profession.peer-reviewe

Connecting authentic educational leaders and their followers

The success of organizations, including those of an educational nature, is inextricably intertwined with their leadership. The economic and financial woes which plagued the world in recent years have triggered the need for a new generation of leaders. There are various leadership models and styles which may be adopted, including authentic leadership. This may be considered as an emerging leadership model which, however, is quickly gathering momentum. It is a style of leadership which can contribute significantly to the success of an organization, leading to improved work-engagement and performance. One of the reasons for this is that it offers a connection between the leader and the followers, that is, those who are being led. It is not easy to define authentic leadership; very often it is defined as promoting a positive ethical climate, fostering self-awareness, an internalised moral perspective, balanced processing, and relational transparency (Walumbwa et al., 2008). This paper explores and summarizes the main characteristics and traits of authentic leaders, provides a short critique, as well as recommends how authentic leadership can be put into practice.peer-reviewe

Investigation by laser doppler velocimetry of the effects of liquid flow rates and feed positions on the flow patterns induced in a stirred tank by an axial-flow impeller

The (ow patterns established in a continuously-fed stirred tank, equipped with a Mixel TT axial-(ow impeller, have been investigated bylaser Doppler velocimetry, for a high and a low value of mean residence time—mixing time ratio. The pseudo-two-dimensional axial– radial-velocityvector plots, as well as the spatial distributions of the tangential velocitycomponent and the velocitypro;les around the impeller, show that the interaction between the incoming liquid and the liquid entrained bythe agitator rotation cause the (ow pattern in the vessel to become stronglythree-dimensional, especiallyin the region between the plane, where the feeding tube lies, and the 180◦-downstream plane. The increase in the liquid (ow rate and the location of the feed entryboth a$ect the (ow pattern, with the latter having a more pronounced e$ect. The overall process, in this mode of operation, depends upon the appropriate con;guration and choice of parameters: for conditions corresponding to high liquid (ow rates, the (ow patterns indicate the possibilityof short-circuiting, when the liquid is fed into the stream being drawn bythe agitator and when the outlet is located at the bottom of the vessel

In situ assessment of the setting of tricalcium silicate–based sealers using a Dentin pressure model

Introduction EndoSequence BC Sealer (Brasseler, Savannah, GA) is a premixed tricalcium silicate–based root canal sealer that requires moisture from the root dentin to hydrate. The aim of this study was to investigate the setting of EndoSequence BC Sealer and other sealers in contact with human dentin in a simulated clinical environment. Methods EndoSequence BC Sealer, MTA Fillapex (Angelus, Londrina, Brazil), Septodont Sealer (Septodont, Saint Maur-des-Fosses, France), and Apexit Plus (Ivoclar, Schaan, Lichtenstein) were assessed. Caries-free lower premolars extracted for orthodontic purposes in patients aged 13–16 years were standardized to a 10-mm root length and were filled with test sealers and set up in a dentin pressure model for 14 days. In addition, set sealers immersed in physiologic solution for 14 days were also assessed. The set materials in solution and materials retrieved from the dentin pressure setup were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The setting time and radiopacity were assessed using ISO 6876:2002 specifications. Furthermore, mineral ion leaching was evaluated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results All the sealers tested exhibited formation of a calcium phosphate phase when in contact with physiologic solution. Septodont Sealer and Apexit Plus did not exhibit the formation of a calcium phosphate phase in the dentin pressure setup. The fluid in the system was enough to allow the setting of EndoSequence BC Sealer, which did not set in a dry environment. All materials leached calcium with the Septodont Sealer, exhibiting double the calcium ion leaching compared with EndoSequence BC Sealer. Conclusions Using the dentinal fluid pressure system resulted in an adequate flow of dentinal fluid that allowed EndoSequence BC Sealer to set inside the root canal. Although the sealers tested were tricalcium silicate based, the hydration reaction and bioactivity in the presence of dentinal fluid were different to hydration in vitro. Thus, clinically, material bioactivity cannot be assumed.peer-reviewe

The Impact of Imperfect Timekeeping on Quantum Control

In order to unitarily evolve a quantum system, an agent requires knowledge of time, a parameter which no physical clock can ever perfectly characterise. In this letter, we study how limitations on acquiring knowledge of time impact controlled quantum operations in different paradigms. We show that the quality of timekeeping an agent has access to limits the gate complexity they are able to achieve within circuit-based quantum computation. It also exponentially impacts state preparation for measurement-based quantum computation. Another area where quantum control is relevant is quantum thermodynamics. In that context, we show that cooling a qubit can be achieved using a timer of arbitrary quality for control: timekeeping error only impacts the rate of cooling and not the achievable temperature. Our analysis combines techniques from the study of autonomous quantum clocks and the theory of quantum channels to understand the effect of imperfect timekeeping on controlled quantum dynamics.Comment: 5 + 7 pages, 2 figure

Intelligent approaches for anomaly detection in compressed air systems : a systematic review

Inefficiencies within compressed air systems (CASs) call for the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies for financially viable and sustainable operations. A systematic literature review of intelligent approaches within CASs was carried out, in which the research methodology was based on the PRISMA guidelines. The search was carried out on 1 November 2022 within two databases: Scopus and Web of Science. The research methodology resulted in 37 papers eligible for a qualitative and bibliometric analysis based on a set of research questions. These aimed to identify specific characteristics of the selected publications. Thus, the review performed a comprehensive analysis on mathematical approaches, multiple machine learning (ML) methods, the implementation of neural networks (NNs), the development of time-series techniques, comparative analysis, and hybrid techniques. This systematic literature review allowed the comparison of these approaches, while widening the perspective on how such methods can be implemented within CASs for a more intelligent approach. Any limitations or challenges faced were mitigated through an unbiased procedure of involving multiple databases, search terms, and researchers. Therefore, this systematic review resulted in discussions and implications for the definition of future implementations of intelligent approaches that could result in sustainable CASs.peer-reviewe

Photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide nanotubes following long-term aging

Anodic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were found to be active photocatalysts. These photocatalysts possess a high surface area, even when supported, rendering them potential candidates for water treatment. In this work, photocatalytic surfaces were produced by anodizing commercially pure Ti plates using two different electrolyte compositions and correspondingly diverse process parameters. Changes in the physical and chemical stability as well as photocatalytic activity were studied over a fifty-two-week aging process. During this period, the nanotubular surfaces were exposed to flowing synthetic greywater, solar irradiation, and the natural environment. The physical and phase stability of the materials anodized using the organic electrolyte were found to be outstanding and no degradation or change in crystalline structure was observed. On the other hand, materials anodized in the aqueous electrolyte proved to suffer from light-induced phase transition from anatase to rutile. Surfaces synthesized in the organic electrolyte were more resistant to fouling and showed a better tendency to recover photocatalytic activity upon cleaning. In conclusion, the nanotubes produced in the organic electrolyte proved to be stable, rendering them potentially suitable for real-life applications.peer-reviewe