Advanced Level Research Articles

Application of Posture Recognition Model Based on Improved CORDIC Algorithm in Spatial Health Monitoring of the Elderly Living Alone

In an aging society, accidental falls are highly likely to occur due to external factors or the incidence of diseases in the elderly. Serious consequences can arise when an elderly person living alone falls and is unable to get up to call for help. To address the issue of automatic assistance for elderly individuals living alone when they fall by accident, and the problem of behavioral analysis in daily life, this paper designs and develops an elderly monitoring system through the study of feature extraction algorithms and posture recognition algorithms. Furthermore, this paper has also developed a set of three-dimensional spatial angle calculation methods suitable for implementation on a microcontroller. The CORDIC algorithm can compute two-dimensional spatial angles through simple addition, subtraction, and bit shifting operations. Through careful study of the CORDIC algorithm, it was found that applying the CORDIC algorithm twice can achieve the calculation of three-dimensional spatial angles. Through experimental testing, we can see that the algorithms proposed in this paper have achieved good experimental results in terms of computational accuracy and operation time, reaching a relatively advanced level.

Teaching literature for the 21st century: ‘Mirrors and Windows’ prism to critical cultural literacy

Over the last three decades, in an atmosphere that is quintessentially super-diversified and hyper-active, teaching culture is being celebrated as the emblem of a state-of-the-art branch of teaching and research. Therefore, social activists are today expediting an extraordinary era of multiculturalism, in which the bottom line is to foster cultural literacy and critical literacy as a capstone for social democracy and academic change. Given its ascendency in literature teaching, the current study endeavors to probe into the effectiveness of using literature for promoting critical cultural literacy by adopting a ‘windows and mirrors’ teaching framework. To fulfill this target, research has invested in pre/post-tests as instruments for data collection and analysis, and opted for 30 participants among second-year English as a Foreign Language learners as target randomized sampling. The study findings have revealed that ‘windows and mirrors’ readings of rhetoric have helped to stimulate learners’ empathy, tolerance, and inclusion in others’ cultures, expanded the breadth of their cultural content knowledge, and sharpened advanced critical level literacy. Keywords: Cultural literacy, empathy, inclusion, tolerance, ‘windows and mirrors’ framework.

ChatGPT: Literate or intelligent about UN sustainable development goals?

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, are progressively transforming numerous sectors, demonstrating a capacity to impact human life dramatically. This research seeks to evaluate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) literacy of ChatGPT, which is crucial for diverse stakeholders involved in SDG-related policies. Experimental outcomes from two widely used Sustainability Assessment tests-the UN SDG Fitness Test and Sustainability Literacy Test (SULITEST) - suggest that ChatGPT exhibits high SDG literacy, yet its comprehensive SDG intelligence needs further exploration. The Fitness Test gauges eight vital competencies across introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. Accurate mapping of these to the test questions is essential for partial evaluation of SDG intelligence. To assess SDG intelligence, the questions from both tests were mapped to 17 SDGs and eight cross-cutting SDG core competencies, but both test questionnaires were found to be insufficient. SULITEST could satisfactorily map only 5 out of 8 competencies, whereas the Fitness Test managed to map 6 out of 8. Regarding the coverage of the Fitness Test and SULITEST, their mapping to the 17 SDGs, both tests fell short. Most SDGs were underrepresented in both instruments, with certain SDGs not represented at all. Consequently, both tools proved ineffective in assessing SDG intelligence through SDG coverage. The study recommends future versions of ChatGPT to enhance competencies such as collaboration, critical thinking, systems thinking, and others to achieve the SDGs. It concludes that while AI models like ChatGPT hold considerable potential in sustainable development, their usage must be approached carefully, considering current limitations and ethical implications.

E036 Rheumatology nurses’ perceptions of undertaking a postgraduate education programme: a qualitative study

Abstract Background/Aims Rheumatology nurses practising at an advanced clinical level are encouraged to undertake postgraduate study to provide an evidence base to their role. This study explored the perceptions and experiences of clinical nurse specialists (CNS) undertaking a Master’s programme in Rheumatology Nursing, including perceptions of impact and future educational needs. Methods CNS, in the United Kingdom and Europe, who had completed a Masters programme in Rheumatology were recruited to take part in semi-structured telephone and video interviews between 17th March 2021 - 17th May 2021. Interviews were digitally-recorded and data was analysed by two researchers and two public contributors. Results 10 CNS participated in the study including 9 Females and 1 Male and worked in a variety of different geographical locations including England, Wales, Scotland and Malta. The duration of the interviews was 23-50 minutes. Four themes related to the experiences of CNS undertaking an MSc programme were identified: i) Increased confidence and the development of new skills, ii) Perceived impact on the CNS’ organisation, iii) Benefits of face-to-face learning, and iv) Future educational needs. All CNS reported increased confidence with physical examination skills and the interpretation of clinical symptoms. New skills gained included assessing the psychosocial impact of inflammatory arthritis in the clinical consultation and the ability to appraise research evidence. Undertaking postgraduate study not only had an identifiable impact on the CNS’ own practice, but also benefited members of their organisation with the sharing of clinical examination skills, evidence based practice and enhanced communications with team members including managers and commissioners. Implementing learning was dependent on time and managerial support. CNS found the ability to interact in person with other students increased engagement in learning and the creation of professional supportive clinical networks that continued after the course had finished. Modules which developed physical skills, including musculoskeletal examination, were perceived to be better suited to face-to-face teaching whilst those with a greater theoretical component such as critical appraisal could be delivered remotely. Some participants also valued the opportunity to be away from the workplace, which enhanced their learning experience by being able to focus solely on their studies. Future education needs identified by the CNS focused on developing diagnostic skills and greater involvement in supporting self-management. There was consensus that all CNS should be prescribers as this was a major component of providing a telephone advice line service. Conclusion CNS identified that completing a face-to-face Masters in Rheumatology increased their knowledge and confidence in delivering new clinical skills, fostered peer networks whilst also benefiting their employing organisations. Postgraduate provision may need to consider how the benefits of face-to-face learning can be transferred to remote learning to ensure that clinical confidence and new clinical skills can be obtained. Disclosure S. Ryan: None. A. Hassell: None. Z. Paskins: None. K. Rule: None. M. Brooks: None. G. Tajuria: None.

PECULIARITIES OF TEACHING COLORONYMS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STUDYING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of teaching coloronyms at different levels of foreign language learning in institutions of higher education. The article notes that color is an important element of nature that affects the result of a person’s perception of the external world. An interpretation of the color terms at the modern stage is provided. The definition of the term “coloronym” is given separately and it is stated that this definition is the most appropriate for conveying the emotional and mental state of a person, his character traits, social and cultural aspects of life. Three groups of coloronyms are studied by meaning: initial, extended and abstract meaning. The article indicates that most color adjectives are represented by nouns that mean food, materials, plants, animals, birds, and natural phenomena. It is noted that learning color vocabulary is not only about recognition; it’s a fun way to learn a language that offers opportunities to practice grammar, expand vocabulary and have meaningful conversations. Particular attention is paid to the peculiarities of learning coloronyms for students with different levels of knowledge of a foreign language. It suggests that students should be introduced to the pronunciation and spelling of the primary colors at an early stage and use visual materials such as color cards, real objects or even presentations to effectively associate the colors with their names. When working with intermediate students, it is necessary to expand their language skills while delving into the subtleties of color perception. At this stage of learning, it necessary to develop roleplaying scenarios that require students to solve problems related to color. At the advanced level students already have a good understanding of color vocabulary and can explore complex concepts related to color. At this stage, thought-provoking activities and discussions are needed that promote students’ critical thinking. The article indicates that when teaching the vocabulary of colors, the teacher must choose the most effective method according to the goals and take into account the level of language proficiency of the students and the tasks set before the students, especially if they are learning a foreign language for special purposes.

The potential impact of digital economy on energy poverty in the context of Chinese provinces

This study focused on exploring the impact of the digital economy (DE) on energy poverty (EP) across Chinese provinces from 2004 to 2018, motivated by the critical need to understand how technological advancements in the digital sector influence energy accessibility and sustainability. Conducted against the backdrop of global digital transformation, the research aimed to dissect the nuanced ways in which the DE contributes to mitigating EP, employing dynamic panel threshold and indirect effect models to capture both the direct and nuanced, and intermediate effects of digital progress on energy deprivation. Key findings revealed a significant reduction in EP attributed to the advancements in DE, with the most notable improvements observed in Eastern China where strategic energy policies and management practices enhanced the positive impacts of digitalization. The study highlighted the DE's role in improving energy access, efficiency, and environmental sustainability, although it also pointed out the potential for regressive effects in areas with lower levels of technological advancement. These findings are of substantial value as they offer empirical evidence of the DE's capacity to alleviate EP, underlining the importance of integrating digital strategies into energy policy planning. The research provides critical insights for policymakers, stakeholders in the energy sector, and scholars interested in the synergies between digital innovation and energy security, suggesting that leveraging digital technologies could accelerate efforts towards achieving sustainable energy access and combating energy poverty in China and potentially in other contexts facing similar challenges.

The sudden disruptive rise of generative artificial intelligence? An evaluation of their impact on higher education and the global workplace

This paper evaluates the rise of “Generative Artificial Intelligence” (GAI) in its myriad forms, with the highest profile being the “Large Language Models” (LLMs). More importantly, it analyses the potentially disruptive impact of this ascendant technology on higher education and the global workplace. The findings of this paper indicate that students pursuing higher education tend to perceive GAI favourably, as it frees them from the toil of rote-learning. However, the view is rather mixed in the case of educators, who are still coming to grips with this seemingly disruptive technology. In the case of the global labour market, GAI has the potential to decimate legions of white-collar jobs once it eliminates inherent issues of biases, security and misinformation. Despite the media’s constant labelling of GAI as a disruptive technology that has suddenly burst onto the technological scene, it is evidenced in this paper that the technology has taken nearly eight decades to reach today’s level of technological advancement. Further, it is far from reaching its full potential, as it is still incorporating advances in pattern recognition, planning and problem solving, and quantum computing technologies. This study also warns of concentrating the power of this game-changing technology in the hands of a few major corporate titans.

The use of drama in A Level chemistry: a study into the effects of simulation-role-play on the quality of learning of organic reaction mechanisms

ABSTRACT Background Much of the research into the use of drama in science education has been qualitative, with its primary focus being on its affective value amongst students aged 6–14 years, with a smaller fraction on effectiveness in terms of academic achievement and understanding of chemistry amongst older school students (16–18 years). Purpose This article reports on a study that compared the effectiveness of drama, as a pedagogy, with a didactic practice-examinations-questions-based approach on students’ understanding of chemistry organic reaction mechanisms as measured by examination question scores. Sample Data were collected in seven 11–18 schools and a Further Education (FE) college in England, with a total of 236 students, aged 16–18 years, studying Advanced (A) Level chemistry. Each institution had two different classes studying chemistry concurrently. Design and methods The research was a quasi-experimental intervention with one class of A Level chemistry students in each institution being taught an aspect of organic reaction mechanisms using drama and the second, non-drama, class being taught the same material using practice examination questions. Post-intervention, all students completed previously unseen A Level examination questions and, in one phase of the study, a diagnostic question designed to probe deeper understanding. The responses were subject to statistical analysis. Results In all cases there were no statistically significant differences between the test scores of the two groups for the answers to the examination questions. However, answers to a diagnostic question, probing deep level understanding, showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups in favour of the drama group. Conclusions Whilst drama is at least as effective as the use of practice examination questions in the teaching and learning of organic reaction mechanisms it was statistically significantly more effective in terms of the development of deeper level conceptual understanding.

Immediate traceability of ash based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy and machine learning

This article reports on an advanced level physical laboratory experiment designed for college level undergraduate education and for scholars who need specialized training on using and interpreting Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. The technical principle, experimental operation and sample preparation of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy are introduced in detail. A presentation and discussion of the use of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in the traceability of four common samples is emphasized. Combining Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with Machine Learning, two distinct datasets are constructed through the extraction of spectral features. Dimensionality reduction of spectral data is performed using Linear Discriminant Analysis, while the Random Forest model is employed for provenance classification. Finally, the interpretability of the Random Forest model is leveraged to explore the contributions of different spectral elements to provenance tracing. Results demonstrated the system’s effectiveness in not only accurately identifying ash types but also in elucidating the influential chemical components, offering significant implications for material analysis and environmental monitoring. On an educational standpoint, this paper will allow any reader, in particular, undergraduate and graduate students, to gain a better understanding of the theory and practice of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and machine learning.

Ten years of hand hygiene excellence: a summary of outcomes, and a comparison of indicators, from award-winning hospitals worldwide.

Hand hygiene is a crucial measure for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The Hand Hygiene Excellence Award (HHEA) is an international programme acknowledging healthcare facilities for their leadership in implementing hand hygiene improvement programmes, including the World Health Organisation's Multimodal Improvement Strategy. This study aimed at summarising the results of the HHEA campaign between 2010 and 2021 and investigating the relationship between different hand hygiene parameters based on data from participating healthcare facilities. A retrospective analysis was performed on datasets from HHEA forms, including data on hand hygiene compliance, alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) consumption, and Hand Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework (HHSAF) scores. Descriptive statistics were reported for each variable. The correlation between variables was inspected through Kendall's test, while possible non-linear relationships between hand hygiene compliance, ABHR consumption and HHSAF scores were sought through the Locally Estimated Scatterplot Smoothing or logistic regression models. A tree-structured partitioning model was developed to further confirm the obtained findings. Ninety-seven healthcare facilities from 28 countries in three world regions (Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America) were awarded the HHEA and thus included in the analysis. HHSAF scores indicated an advanced hand hygiene promotion level (median 445 points, IQR 395-480). System change (100 [95-100] points) and institutional safety climate (85 [70-95] points) showed the highest and lowest score, respectively. In most cases, hand hygiene compliance was above 70%, with heterogeneity between countries. ABHR consumption above 20 millilitres per patient-day (ml/PD) was widely reported, with overall increasing trends. HHSAF scores were positively correlated with hand hygiene compliance (τ = 0.211, p = 0.007). We observed a positive correlation between compliance rates and ABHR consumption (τ = 0.193, p < 0.001), although the average predicted consumption was stable around 55-60ml/PD for compliance rates above 80-85%. Logistic regression and partitioning tree analyses revealed that higher HHSAF scores were more likely in the high-ABHR consumption group at cut-offs around 57-59ml/PD. Ten years after its inception, the HHEA proves to be a valuable hand hygiene improvement programme in healthcare facilities worldwide. Consistent results were provided by the different hand hygiene indicators and the HHSAF score represents a valuable proxy measure of hand hygiene compliance.

Standardization of Mock Scores in Advanced Level Mathematics and Its Influence on Students Grades in Douala IV Municipality

The study investigated the effect of standardization of mock advanced level mathematics scores on students’ grades in Douala IV Municipality in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Four specific research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The study used the ex-post facto design since the data collected already existed in the various schools. A sample of 300 students’ scores were randomly sampled from three institutions. The instrument used was the raw mock scores of the students who wrote the Littoral Mathematics Teacher Association (LIMTA) mock in the 2022/2023 academic year. Mean scores, standard deviations, Z-scores and T-scores were used to describe the data while the independent T-test was used to test the mean difference between the raw scores and the transformed scores. The results showed that students’ academic performance greatly improved when their raw scores were standardized. There was also significant difference between the standardization of mock advanced level mathematics scores and the raw scores implying that students’ grades improve when raw scores are standardized. Based on these findings, it was recommended that national examination bodies like the GCE and BAC boards should be standardizing student scores so that the academic performance of the students would improve. Also, seminars should be organized for teachers to improve on their scoring and grading skills.

Building an Idiomatic Data System Teaching Vietnamese for Foreigners

Vietnamese idioms are a "special synthetic form of folk knowledge" (Cao Huy Dinh), which contains elements of language, culture, and customs imbued with national identity. For teaching Vietnamese to foreigners, teaching idioms is considered a quite difficult category, and one of the basic reasons is that teaching this vocabulary unit has not been given due attention. To help learners master and use idioms fluently in communication activities, thereby understanding Vietnamese most deeply and essentially, the report raises the issue of building an idiom corpus system to Teach Vietnamese to foreigners at intermediate and advanced levels. This is an important and necessary step to help instructors choose idioms appropriate to the cognitive level of foreign learners.

Healthcare Integrated Information System in Indonesia

The United States (US), leads the world in medical science and technology. Lead by clear definitions in almost all sectors of clinical research, training and governance practices. Likewise, the pharmaceutical and medical device (medical equipment) manufacturers are considered one of the leading in the world. Therefore, many of the definitions and rules have also been adopted into global regulations by the world health organization, the World Health Organization (WHO). Currently, these rules have been implemented into the health information system (HIS), which further rapidly being adopted and used in many countries. Nowadays, health facilities (HF) around the world have used HIS, which are basic or have reached an advanced level. This paper will describe how the development of HIS and applied products from utilization of information technology (IT) in Indonesia, along with the opportunities and challenges in the future.

Методический подход к оценке экономической эффективности рисоводства

Domestic rice growing is characterized by a high level of capital intensity and technological advancement of the industry. The high deterioration of irrigation and drainage structures, the imperfection of the organizational and economic mechanism, and low investment attractiveness have led to a decrease in the rice planting area, gross yield and economic efficiency. In this regard, there is a need to develop methodological approaches to assessing the economic efficiency of the industry. The purpose of the article is to present a methodological approach to assessing the economic efficiency of rice farming, based on the calculation of an integral efficiency indicator. Theoretical methods of semantic analysis and synthesis, abstract-logical method and comparison method are used in the study. The article presents a methodology for assessing the economic efficiency of rice farming based on the compatibility of indicators that reflect all aspects of the economic activities of rice-growing organizations. An assessment of the current state of the rice growing industry in the Krasnodar region is given. Rice-growing organizations in the region are ranked according to a comprehensive integral index. The proposed approach will enable to obtain reliable information about all parameters of the production process in the industry, adapted to the rice growing characteristics and natural and climatic conditions of the region, as well as to justify priority directions for increasing the economic efficiency of rice growing in the region.

Wdrażanie różnojęzycznych studentów filologii regionów do czytania literatury francuskojęzycznej. Refleksja glottodydaktyczna nad wstępną koncepcją kursu

The current paper is a reflection on introducing plurilingual students of Regional Language Studies to the reading of francophone literature. The paper first discusses the didactic background for the reflection and emphasizes the plurilingualism of students. Next, the author presents how the autonomization approach to learning and teaching could be applied in an optional course of French focused on developing plurilingual learners’ reading comprehension of francophone literary texts, even before they reach the advanced proficiency level in French. The initial course concept will be illustrated with didactic analysis of the francophone novel – “L’ignorance” by Milan Kundera.

Możliwości wykorzystania metafor konwencjonalnych w nauczaniu słownictwa i frazeologii języków obcych na przykładzie języka polskiego jako obcego

The article discusses the use of conventional metaphors, proposed by G. Lakoff and M. Johnson, as a tool for teaching vocabulary and phraseology at advanced levels of language proficiency in the context of learning Polish as a foreign language. As this methodology is insufficiently represented in teaching materials, the article highlights the advantages of a systematic and long-term approach to teaching metaphors. Such advantages include deepening knowledge of vocabulary by a consideration of metaphorical meanings, understanding the role of metaphors in mental processes; providing insights into Polish culture and mentality as well as into the students’ own cultures, as expressed through their native languages; and stimulating students’ mediation skills. The article also provides examples of exercises to aid the discovery of different types of conventional metaphors and establish an understanding of their function. It concludes by emphasizing the importance of developing collections of exercises and projects – in both printed and interactive forms — to support language learners. Overall, the article promotes the use of conventional metaphors as an effective method for improving linguistic and communicative competence in foreign language learning.

Real-time task parameter selection method of accounting system based on multi-objective optimization and genetic algorithm.

The progress of the digital economy has promoted the enterprise accounting system. To accelerate the update and evolution of accounting systems, we propose a parameter selection method based on multi-objective optimization and genetic algorithm. Firstly, this article proposes an accounting feature extraction method based on multimodal information embedding. The dual-branch structure and feature pyramid network are used to realize the feature extraction of the information involved in accounting. Then, this article proposes a multi-objective parameter selection method based on a parallel genetic algorithm. By embedding a genetic algorithm in the process of dual-branch model training, the model's ability to sense accounting information is improved. Finally, using the above two methods, an accounting system evaluation method upon recurrent Transformer is proposed to improve the financial situation of enterprises. Our experiments have proven that our approach attains a remarkable performance with an 87.6% F-value, 83.5% mAP value, and 83.4% accuracy. These results position our method at an advanced level globally, showcasing its capability to enhance accounting systems.

FATORES DE RISCO ASSOCIADOS AO DESENVOLVIMENTO DA DEPRESSÃO EM IDOSOS/AS ONCOLÓGICOS: Uma revisão integrativa da literatura

FATORES DE RISCO ASSOCIADOS AO DESENVOLVIMENTO DA DEPRESSÃO EM IDOSOS/AS ONCOLÓGICOS: Uma revisão integrativa da literatura

Psychological Skills in Relation to Academic Achievement through Swimming Context

This study aimed to investigate: (1) the level of psychological skills among students enrolled in swimming courses at the Physical Education faculties in the Jordanian Universities. (2) the relation between their psychological skills and academic achievement. (3) the differences in these psychological skills according to gender. The descriptive approach was used to conduct this study. The study sample consisted of (260) male and female students enrolled in intermediate and advanced level swimming courses at the School of Sport Sciences/ University of Jordan. Students’ final academic achievement records in addition to the “Life skills through swimming context” scale was used to collect required data. The results of the statistical analysis revealed an average level of psychological skills, significant differences in psychological skills level in favor of female students, A level students, and JU students, and a positive significant relation between psychological skills and academic achievement. In conclusion, it is important to design comprehensive psychological skills-based study plans for swimming courses and in different sports fields. Also, to conduct specified training and guidance courses in this domain to improve psychological skills, teaching competencies, and academic achievement.

Nurse leaders' interpersonal communication competence: A mixed-method systematic review.

To identify and synthesize evidence available on nurse leaders' interpersonal communication competence. Systematic mixed-methods review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis checklist. The data were collected following predefined inclusion criteria. Two authors independently performed the study selection using Covidence software. Three authors assessed the quality using Joanna Briggs' Institute's critical appraisal tool and the mixed-methods appraisal tool. The data-based convergent synthesis design and narrative synthesis were used. CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Business Source Elite, Academic Search Premier, Communication & Mass Media Complete, PsycInfo, Web of Sciences, Medic and Finna.fi were searched and the screening of citations in relevant articles. The final searches were performed on 17 October 2022. A total of 26 studies-15 quantitative, 9 qualitative and 1 of both mixed-method and multi-method-met the inclusion criteria. The nurse leaders' interpersonal communication competences described in the extant literature were categorized into three themes: message competence, relational competence and task competence. There were considerable differences in the levels of competence, as some competences were considered basic communication skills, while others required more advanced level competences. Furthermore, three competence levels were identified: novice, competent and expert. This study unravels a unique hierarchical description of communication skills across competence categories, supported by the assumption that communication skills are structured hierarchically. The studies reviewed herein had a narrow perception of nurse leaders' interpersonal communication competence and indicated a transmissional understanding of communication. This is the first mixed-methods systematic review that describes and synthesizes the evidence on nurse leaders' communication competencies hierarchically and across competence levels. The study suggests that further research should focus on a broader and more analytical understanding of the cognitive and affective aspects of interpersonal communication competence. CRD42023385058. No patient or public contribution.