Enhancement of critical thinking in curriculum design and delivery: A randomized controlled trial for educators

Critical thinking is an important outcome criterion of higher education in any discipline including nursing. If nursing programs envisaged preparing graduates who are equipped with critical thinking, then the educators who plan and deliver the programs must exhibit higher level thinking in their teaching practices. This paper presents finding of the 1st phase of a National level research study that aims to assess, develop and enhance educators’ critical thinking capacity

Enhancing Educators’ skills for promoting Critical Thinking in their classroom discourses: A randomized control trial

The literature reveals that educators find it challenging to foster critical thinking (CT) in their students if they have not learned how to use CT in their educational system or training. This paper reports findings from a national research project that was undertaken to enhance the educators’ ability to promote CT in their teaching practices. Using a randomized control trial design with a pre- and post-test, 91 educators from 14 of the 17 schools of nursing in Pakistan consented to enroll in the study and 72 completed the study. The intervention included 40 hours of learning experience during two workshops that focused on CT. Data were collected, pre- and post-intervention, via observations and audiotaping of the participants teaching sessions for 60-90 minutes. The data obtained was assessed for the educators’ level of questioning, teaching strategies, and facilitation skills. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Compared with the pre- intervention data, findings from the post-intervention data in the experimental group revealed positive changes in their pedagogical skills, including a significant increase in the number of higher order questions that are considered important for developing students’ CT skills. This study affirms that educators must have structured training to use and foster CT in their teaching practices

Soret-Dufour effects on the waterbased hybrid nanofluid flow with nanoparticles of alumina and copper

The two-dimensional mathematical model of water-based hybrid nanofluid, where the nanoparticles of the model are alumina (Al2O3) and copper (Cu) is analyzed in this article. It describes the heat and mass transfer which are induced by concentration and temperature differences, respectively. The current mathematical model extended the works by implementing both directions of moving sheet in the boundary conditions: stretching and shrinking, and use the exponential variations of the sheet velocity, temperature, and concentration of the hybrid nanofluid at the sheet. The final numerical solutions can be obtained by implementing Matlab bvp4c, which involves the step of choosing the most reliable solution in an actual fluid situation. This selection technique on numerical solutions is known as stability analysis and only needs to apply when more than one numerical solution appears in the Matlab bvp4c program. Finally, the controlling parameters such as nanoparticle solid volume fraction, suction, shrinking/stretching, Soret and Dufour cause an increment or decrement in the flow, heat and mass transfer in the hybrid nanofluid. For the stable solution, fluid velocity becomes slower whereas temperature and concentration of the fluid increase when the percentage of Cu, as well as Al2O3, rises into the water. Moreover, in case of local Nusselt number and local Sherwood number it is proved that Soret effect is the opposite phenomenon of Dufour effect

Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK (C-MORE): a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study

Introduction: The multiorgan impact of moderate to severe coronavirus infections in the post-acute phase is still poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities after hospitalisation with COVID-19, evaluate their determinants, and explore associations with patient-related outcome measures. Methods: In a prospective, UK-wide, multicentre MRI follow-up study (C-MORE), adults (aged ≥18 years) discharged from hospital following COVID-19 who were included in Tier 2 of the Post-hospitalisation COVID-19 study (PHOSP-COVID) and contemporary controls with no evidence of previous COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibody negative) underwent multiorgan MRI (lungs, heart, brain, liver, and kidneys) with quantitative and qualitative assessment of images and clinical adjudication when relevant. Individuals with end-stage renal failure or contraindications to MRI were excluded. Participants also underwent detailed recording of symptoms, and physiological and biochemical tests. The primary outcome was the excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities (two or more organs) relative to controls, with further adjustments for potential confounders. The C-MORE study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04510025. Findings: Of 2710 participants in Tier 2 of PHOSP-COVID, 531 were recruited across 13 UK-wide C-MORE sites. After exclusions, 259 C-MORE patients (mean age 57 years [SD 12]; 158 [61%] male and 101 [39%] female) who were discharged from hospital with PCR-confirmed or clinically diagnosed COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and Nov 1, 2021, and 52 non-COVID-19 controls from the community (mean age 49 years [SD 14]; 30 [58%] male and 22 [42%] female) were included in the analysis. Patients were assessed at a median of 5·0 months (IQR 4·2–6·3) after hospital discharge. Compared with non-COVID-19 controls, patients were older, living with more obesity, and had more comorbidities. Multiorgan abnormalities on MRI were more frequent in patients than in controls (157 [61%] of 259 vs 14 [27%] of 52; p<0·0001) and independently associated with COVID-19 status (odds ratio [OR] 2·9 [95% CI 1·5–5·8]; padjusted=0·0023) after adjusting for relevant confounders. Compared with controls, patients were more likely to have MRI evidence of lung abnormalities (p=0·0001; parenchymal abnormalities), brain abnormalities (p<0·0001; more white matter hyperintensities and regional brain volume reduction), and kidney abnormalities (p=0·014; lower medullary T1 and loss of corticomedullary differentiation), whereas cardiac and liver MRI abnormalities were similar between patients and controls. Patients with multiorgan abnormalities were older (difference in mean age 7 years [95% CI 4–10]; mean age of 59·8 years [SD 11·7] with multiorgan abnormalities vs mean age of 52·8 years [11·9] without multiorgan abnormalities; p<0·0001), more likely to have three or more comorbidities (OR 2·47 [1·32–4·82]; padjusted=0·0059), and more likely to have a more severe acute infection (acute CRP >5mg/L, OR 3·55 [1·23–11·88]; padjusted=0·025) than those without multiorgan abnormalities. Presence of lung MRI abnormalities was associated with a two-fold higher risk of chest tightness, and multiorgan MRI abnormalities were associated with severe and very severe persistent physical and mental health impairment (PHOSP-COVID symptom clusters) after hospitalisation. Interpretation: After hospitalisation for COVID-19, people are at risk of multiorgan abnormalities in the medium term. Our findings emphasise the need for proactive multidisciplinary care pathways, with the potential for imaging to guide surveillance frequency and therapeutic stratification

Acoustic and Thermal Insulation of Nanocomposites for Building Material: Improvement Of Sound And Thermal Insulation Properties Of Nanocomposite

يهدف البحث الى تعزيز خصائص العزل الحراري والصوتي لمادة متراكبة بوليمرية، مصنعة من خليط من (الأيبوكسي+بولي استر) كمادة أساس ,ومدعمة بكلا من الصوف الصخري والاطيان النانويه. تم استعمال طريقه القولبه اليدويه لتصنيع المصبوبات، حيث تم خلط الأيبوكسي والبولي أستر بنسب مختلفة تبدأ من (50:50) % لتصل الى  (100-90) للايبوكسي والبولي استر على التوالي. بالاعتماد على اختبار الصدمه للعينات التجريبيه تم اختيار افضل نسبة خلط وهي نسبة (80-20) للأيبوكسي والبولي أستر على التوالي حيث حصلت على اعلى مقاومة صدمة،وبناءا عليه تم أختيارها كمادة أساس. تم بعد ذلك تدعيم المادة الأساس بالأطيان النانوية (كاؤلايت) بكسر وزني (7.5- 5) % ، هذه العينات تم تصنيعها بصورة هجينة ايضا بعد اضافة الصوف الصخري بكسر حجمي (10) %. اوضحت نتائج اختبار العزل الصوتي  ان الخليط المدعم بالأطيان النانوية بكسر وزني (7.5) % يمتلك اعلى قيمة للعزل الصوتي حيث كانت (99.8) db عند تردد 100 Hz وصلت إلى (101.3)db عند 10000Hz، وهو أقل بكثير من القيم التي تم الحصول عليها من العينات الغير مدعمه، والتي بدأت كثافة الصوت عند(107.2)db  ووصلت إلى (108.7)db، في نفس النطاق من الترددات. تُظهر نتائج الموصلية الحرارية أن الخليط المثالي التي يحتوي على (7.5) %wt، يمتلك اقل قيمة للتوصيل الحراري التي هي (0.443)W/m.C°  This work aims to enhance acoustic and thermal insulation properties for polymeric composite by adding nanoclay and rock wool as reinforcement materials with different rations. A polymer blend of (epoxy+ polyester) as matrix materials was used. The Hand lay-up technique was used to manufacture the castings. Epoxy and polyester were mixed at different weight ratios involving (50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20, and 90:10) wt. % of (epoxy: polyester) wt. % respectively. Impact tests for optimum sample (OMR), caustic and thermal insulation tests were performed. Nano clay (Kaolinite) with ratios ( 5 and 7.5% ) wt.% , also hybrid reinforcement materials involving (Kaolite 5 & 7.5 % wt.% + 10% volume fraction of rockwool ) were added as reinforcement materials to the optimum sample. Results of impact test prove that the optimum sample has (80:20) wt. % of mixing ratio of (epoxy: polyester) wt. % for using as matrix materials. Moreover, the adding of nanoclay (Kaolinite) with ratio (7.5 wt.%) leads to the highest sound insulation. The sound intensity started at (99.8) db at 100 Hz, and reached to (101.3) db at 10000 Hz., which is much lower than the values obtained from the un-reinforced blend, of which the sound intensity started at (107.2) db and reached to (108.7) db., at the same range of frequencies. Thermal conductivity results show that the optimum matrix with (7.5 %) wt. % has the lowest value about (0.443 k.w\m .c).         The results show that the blend reinforced with nano clay in a weight fraction (7.5)% has the best sound insulation, so that the sound intensity started at (99.8) db at 100 Hz., and reached (101.3) db at 10000 Hz., which is much lower than the values obtained from the unreinforced blend, of which the sound intensity started at (107.2) db and reached (108.7) db., applying the same range of frequencies. The same casting (blend+7.5% nanoclay) showed the lowest value of thermal conductivity (xxxx) W.m°C in comparison with castings that were made of unreinforced blend and those  hybridized with rockwool

Journal of Natural Fibers

Not AvailableAn attempt was made in the present study to elucidate the (co)variance components and genetic parameters of fiber traits in Kashmir Merino sheep population using multivariate animal model. The data pertained to a total of 6836 sheep lambs born over a period of 21 years (1997?2017) and included information on different fiber traits [greasy fleece weight at first (GFW1) and second (GFW2) clips; and fiber diameter (FD) and staple length (SL) at second clip]. Genetic analysis was undertaken using average information restricted maximum likelihood (AI-REML) algorithm in WOMBAT program. The model incorporated six fixed (sex of lamb, season and period of birth, farm of origin, breed and type of birth) and two random effects (direct additive genetic and maternal genetic effects without any covariance between them) in it. The additive genetic heritability estimates for fiber traits were 0.300 ? 0.031; 0.289 ? 0.022; 0.254 ? 0.029 and 0.189 ? 0.028 for GFW1, GFW2, FD, and SL, respectively. The maternal genetic heritability estimates were very low for all traits under study. The genetic correlation between different traits was positive and estimates ranged from moderate to high. The results from present study imply that the variation in these traits has genetic basis which can be exploited in the selection programmes for their improvement. The correlation between different fiber traits was found to be favorable, which can lead to indirect selection response upon formulation of efficient breeding programmes

Transport and retention behavior of carbonaceous colloids in natural aqueous medium: Impact of water chemistry

Carbon based materials are emerging as a sustainable alternative to their metal-oxide counterparts. However, their transport behavior under natural aqueous environment is poorly understood. This study investigated the transport and retention profiles of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) through column experiments in saturated porous media. CNPs and GOQDs (30 mg/L) were dispersed in natural river water (RW) and passed through the column at a flow rate of 1 mL/min, which mimicking the natural water flow rate. After every 10 min, the column effluents were collected and the mass recovery and retention profiles were monitored. Results indicated that the transport of both carbonaceous colloids was predominantly controlled by surface potential and ionic composition of natural water. The CNPs with its high surface potential (−40 mV) exhibited more column transport and was less susceptible to solution pH (5.6–6.8) variation as compared to GOQDs (−24 mV). The results showed that, monovalent salt (NaCl) was one of the dominating factors for the retention and transport of carbonaceous colloids compared to divalent salt (CaCl2). Furthermore, the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) increased the transport of both carbonaceous colloids and thereby decreases the tendency for column retention

Advances in genome editing for improved animal breeding: A review

Since centuries, the traits for production and disease resistance are being targeted while improving the genetic merit of domestic animals, using conventional breeding programs such as inbreeding, outbreeding, or introduction of marker-assisted selection. The arrival of new scientific concepts, such as cloning and genome engineering, has added a new and promising research dimension to the existing animal breeding programs. Development of genome editing technologies such as transcription activator-like effector nuclease, zinc finger nuclease, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats systems begun a fresh era of genome editing, through which any change in the genome, including specific DNA sequence or indels, can be made with unprecedented precision and specificity. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity of intensification in the frequency of desirable alleles in an animal population through gene-edited individuals more rapidly than conventional breeding. The specific research is evolving swiftly with a focus on improvement of economically important animal species or their traits all of which form an important subject of this review. It also discusses the hurdles to commercialization of these techniques despite several patent applications owing to the ambiguous legal status of genome-editing methods on account of their disputed classification. Nonetheless, barring ethical concerns gene-editing entailing economically important genes offers a tremendous potential for breeding animals with desirable traits

Emotional Stability and Perception of Job Security in the Services Sector in Malaysia

Research pertaining to the perception of job security has focused primarily on attitudinal (e.g. job satisfaction), behavioral (e.g. employee turnover), and health outcomes, while research in the area of emotional stability has largely focused on attitudinal and social consequences. However, there appear to be no reported studies that have examined the relationship between emotional stability and the perception of job security in different industries within the Malaysian context. Data from 255 employees in the information technology, financial services and education industries were collected and analyzed. Results suggest that respondents in the education industry are more stable in the emotional dimension compared to those in the finance industry and that respondents in the education sector perceive job security to be higher compared to those in the finance and IT industries. In all three industries, emotional stability was significantly associated with perception of job security (r=0.403). There is strongest correlation between emotional stability and perception of job security scores in the financial services industry. This suggests that in an industry that is unstable, respondents with higher emotional stability tend to perceive the same environment as more stable than those who have lower emotional stability.