Augmenting efl vocabulary learning and reading comprehension through mobile phone-based vocabulary learning tasks and computer-based reading activites

EFL reading is a crucial input that is central to one’s academic progress, work environment, and social interactions. EFL reading is a complex process because there are many factors that play their part in successful reading experience. EFL vocabulary is one the most important factors in reading process as it provides the basis for the interaction between the text and the reader. Experts have been hard at work to devise means and ways to improve EFL reading comprehension. Since technology has permeated our lives, they have turned to technology to assist in the process of EFL reading. The use of technology in EFL reading instruction has been through two platforms: computers and mobile phones. The present study seeks to combine the affordances of these two platforms to augment EFL vocabulary learning and reading comprehension of students in Preparatory Year Programme (PYP) at a public university in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also aims to study the students’ attitude towards EFL in general and towards the combined usage of these platforms to enhance EFL reading comprehension and EFL vocabulary learning in particular. The participants were students (N = 131) divided into four preformed groups, (n = 65) male and (n = 66) female students. The study spanned a period of six weeks and had a mixed methods design. One group of males (n = 32) and one of females (n = 34) formed the control group while the other two groups of males (n = 33) and females (n = 32) were given the treatment. Research instruments used for data collection were an achievement test, two questionnaires and a semi-structured interview protocol. All data collection instruments were developed by the researcher and were piloted, for reliability and consistency. The treatment comprised of two strands that were vocabulary instruction and reading comprehension. The subjects in the treatment condition received multi glossed vocabulary through mobile phones using WhatsApp tool while computer-generated reading activities made with Hot Potatoes tool were administered in language laboratory. The control groups were taught through traditional classroom method which follows a presentation, practice and production model. Pre-test and post-test data and data from questionnaires were analysed through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Data from the semi-structured interviews was discussed qualitatively. Findings of the study revealed that the treatment groups outperformed their counterparts in the control groups both in vocabulary and reading comprehension components of the achievement test. Results of the questionnaire for the treatment group showed that the treatment had positive impact on attitudes and perception of the participants towards EFL reading in general and they reported positive attitudes towards the use of WhatsApp and Hot Potatoes as learning platforms. The findings also indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the performance of male and female groups in treatment group on the basis of gender. The results of the study highlighted yet again that technology can be used as an effective assistive tool to augment vocabulary learning and to enhance reading comprehension skills of EFL learners. The findings of the study also suggested that simple computers and mobile phones can be used as learning platforms

Equivalent Malay-Arabic data corpus collection

This paper aims to introduce a search strategy and collecting comparable sentences of Arab-Malay corpus data. This method was introduced for the use of students, researchers and amateur translators to search and compare the structure of sentences in Arabic and Malay. The first stage is to collect data corpus with high impact titles from the press and must be able to enlarge the scope of study as stated by Maia (2003). The second stage is to search using the specified key words based on selected high-impact titles such as the Football World Cup year 2010 and 2014. Data search is by using Webcorp engine http://www.webcorp.org.uk/live/ corpus and also open database Google https://www.google.com. The third stage is to filter the data by using Aker et.al (2012) and Braschler's (1998) method based on similar story, related story and similar aspects. At the fourth stage every category is measured by Guidere's (2002) equivalence strength which is strong comparability (SC), medium (MC) and weak (WC). At the last stage comparable sentences between the two languages are compiled in parallel according to Mona Baker’s (1992) level of grouping which are sentence level, combination of words, grammatical, pragmatic and textual level. The result from data analysis based on Mona Baker and Vinay - Darbelnet’s (1995) comparable theory proved the existence of some sentences in large quantities are on the same level of comparability from the point of information delivery. This can be used as the basis of additional evidence concerning the validity of 'universal theory.' in the science of translation

The Effect of an Augmented Reality App on a Learner’s Desire to Use Electronic Resources During the COVID-19 Epidemic

An innovative tool in the field of e-learning, augmented reality applications help students learn more quickly inside of online classrooms. Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19, conventional methods of instruction had to be put on hold at the outset of the pandemic. In light of the recent COVID-19 epidemic in Asia, this research explores college students perspective on online education using augmented reality software. Based on the idea of planned behavior, this research developed a conceptual model to investigate the attitudes and intentions of college students about the use of an augmented reality app for course-related e-learning. Information from 135 Asian college students was analyzed using structural equation modeling. Students attitudes and a sense of agency over their own actions had the greatest impact on their propensity to embrace augmented reality applications for e-learning, whereas subjective norms had a very little role, as seen by the studys findings. These findings validate students interest in and acceptance of cutting-edge education methods like augmented reality applications

Raised D-dimer levels in acute sickle cell crisis and their correlation with chest X-ray abnormalities

Objective: Quantitation of D-dimer level during a sickling crisis and its correlation with other clinical abnormalities

Evaluation of Side Effects of Anti-Seizure Drugs Among Sudanese Children with Epilepsy in Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital

Abstract: Background: Treatment of epilepsy with anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) for 2-5 years is important to control epileptic seizures.  Side effects of ASDs are well recognised and affect treatment outcomes if ASDs are severe. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive hospital-based study was conducted on 67 children with epilepsy on follow-up visits at a neurology referral clinic in Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Central Sudan, from February 2022 to July 2022.  Side effects of ASDs were measured using the Pediatric Epilepsy Side Effects Scale (PESQs).  Data were entered into the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20, and descriptive analysis was done to calculate frequencies and percentages and chi-square test for association.  The P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Gender assessment showed that 36 (53.7%) of study patients were male.  43(64.2%) of participants had low severity of side effects, 14(20.9%) had low–moderate severity, and 8(11.9%) had no side effects. Significant associations were found between age and cognitive side effects (P-value .008); epilepsy type and cognitive side effects (P-value .026); seizure frequency and behavioural side effects (P-value .018); Type of ASD and behavioural side effects (P-value .000) and; type of ASD and neurological side effects (P-value .004)

Adherence to Anti-seizure Drugs and Associated Factors among Children with Epilepsy in central Sudan

Background: Epilepsies are the most common neurological disorder in children worldwide. They result in disability or even death. Adherence to anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) is challenging for children with epilepsies. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 67 children with epilepsies age between (2-16 years of age) on follow up visits at neurology refer clinic at Wad Medani Pediatric Teaching Hospital; Central Sudan from February to July. 2022. Adherence to ASDs was measured using Morisky’s Medication Adherence Scale eight – items (MMAS-8) translated to the local language. Descriptive analysis was conducted to calculate frequencies and percentages for categorical data, chi-square test for associated factors with adherence. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.  Results: Gender analysis showed that 36 (53.7%) of patients were males. Forty-eight (71.6%) had good adherence to their medications. Thirty-three (49.3%) had 1-12 seizures/year. Thirty-nine (58.2%) of participants had generalized seizures while 22 (32.8%) had focal seizures. Sixty-six (95.5%) of study patients on poly therapy had good adherences. Adherence was not found to be associated with sex, age, parental education, employment status, ASDs, duration of epilepsy, type of epilepsy, seizures frequency or monotherapy versus poly therapy (p value > 0.05)

Identification of Phytoconstituents as Potent Inhibitors of Casein Kinase-1 Alpha Using Virtual Screening and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Casein kinase-1 alpha (CK1α) is a multifunctional protein kinase that belongs to the serine/threonine kinases of the CK1α family. It is involved in various signaling pathways associated with chromosome segregation, cell metabolism, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, autophagy, etc. It has been known to involve in the progression of many diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, obesity, and behavioral disorders. The elevated expression of CK1α in diseased conditions facilitates its selective targeting for therapeutic management. Here, we have performed virtual screening of phytoconstituents from the IMPPAT database seeking potential inhibitors of CK1α. First, a cluster of compounds was retrieved based on physicochemical parameters following Lipinski’s rules and PAINS filter. Further, high-affinity hits against CK1α were obtained based on their binding affinity score. Furthermore, the ADMET, PAINS, and PASS evaluation was carried out to select more potent hits. Finally, following the interaction analysis, we elucidated three phytoconstituents, Semiglabrinol, Curcusone_A, and Liriodenine, posturing considerable affinity and specificity towards the CK1α binding pocket. The result was further evaluated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, dynamical cross-correlation matrix (DCCM), and principal components analysis (PCA), which revealed that binding of the selected compounds, especially Semiglabrinol, stabilizes CK1α and leads to fewer conformational fluctuations. The MM-PBSA analysis suggested an appreciable binding affinity of all three compounds toward CK1α

Decolourisation of Acid orange 7 in a microbial fuel cell with a laccase-based biocathode: Influence of mitigating pH changes in the cathode chamber

Biocathodes may be a suitable replacement of platinum in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) if the cost of MFCs is to be reduced. However, the use of enzymes as bio-cathodes is fraught with loss of activity as time progresses. A possible cause of this loss in activity might be pH increase in the cathode as pH gradients in MFCs are well known. This pH increase is however, accompanied by simultaneous increase in salinity; therefore salinity may be a confounding variable. This study investigated various ways of mitigating pH changes in the cathode of MFCs and their effect on laccase activity and decolourisation of a model azo dye Acid orange 7 in the anode chamber. Experiments were run with catholyte pH automatically controlled via feedback control or by using acetate buffers (pH 4.5) of various strength (100 mM and 200 mM), with CMI7000 as the cation exchange membrane. A comparison was also made between use of CMI7000 and Nafion 117 as the transport properties of cations for both membranes (hence their potential effects on pH changes in the cathode) are different