Practical Ability Research Articles

The Quest for the Transition of Inalienable Rights from Humans to Intelligent Machines

Intelligent machines (IMs), which have demonstrated remarkable innovations over time, require adequate attention concerning the issue of their duty–rights split in our current society. Although we can remain optimistic about IMs’ societal role, we must still determine their legal-philosophical sense of accountability, as living data bits have begun to pervade our lives. At the heart of IMs are human characteristics used to self-optimize their practical abilities and broaden their societal impact. We used Kant’s philosophical requirements to investigate IMs’ moral dispositions, as the merging of humans with technology has overwhelmingly shaped psychological and corporeal agential capacities. In recognizing the continuous burden of human needs, important features regarding the inalienability of rights have increased the individuality of intelligent, nonliving beings, leading them to transition from questioning to defending their own rights. This issue has been recognized by paying attention to the rational capacities of humans and IMs, which have been connected in order to achieve a common goal. Through this teleological scheme, we formulate the concept of virtual dignity to determine the transition of inalienable rights from humans to machines, wherein the evolution of IMs is essentially imbued through consensuses and virtuous traits associated with human dignity.

The Effectiveness of a Pap Smear Screening Practical Skills Training Program for Nurse-Midwifery Students

Pap smear screenings effectively reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. However, the effectiveness of practical teaching strategies for this procedure is seldom discussed. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Pap smear screening training approach using the two strategies of classroom simulation and practical community screening demonstrations. Convenience sampling was used to recruit undergraduate students enrolled between 2021 and 2023 in the nursing midwifery department of a national university. Data were collected between September 2023 and June 2024 and analyzed using a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The learning outcomes considered included self-directed learning ability and practical ability performance in cervical smear procedures. Self-directed learning ability was assessed using a self-reported questionnaire, while practical ability performance was separately evaluated by two instructors using direct observation. Fifty-two students were enrolled as participants. Over time, and with the changes in teaching strategies, significant improvements were observed in self-directed learning ability in terms of mean total and subscale scores. In addition, DOPS scores showed a significant increase in practical ability performance. Integrating clinical hands-on training into classroom-based simulation teaching can enhance autonomous learning, improve skill proficiency, and foster future self-directed learning and practical abilities in students to promote women's health.

An Expert-Based Analysis of ESG Reporting in the context of the Circular Economy

Existing literature has highlighted how Environmental Social Governance (ESG) reporting enables companies to drive their Circular Economy (CE) practices. However, current approaches to ESG reporting do not specifically consider how company activities and decisions about CE contribute to sustainable development. Indeed, CE has a great potential to ensure that companies actively participate in the achievement of the United Nations 2030 Agenda Goals although a more effective way to link CE and sustainability reporting processes is necessary. The present paper recognizes the importance of developing a standardized approach that aligns ESG metrics with CE practices to enhance both transparency and accountability. To this end, taking into consideration the relevance of the GRI guidelines to make the ESG performance of companies more transparent, an expert-based analysis of the importance of GRI topics to capture the ability of CE practices to create circular value is proposed. Creating circular value through CE improves the company’s profitability and resilience while reducing costs for customers, and benefits society and the environment. The use of the fuzzy AHP (F-AHP) method ensures that the relevance of the economic, environmental, and social performance is estimated to make ESG reporting more informative about the company's commitment to a restorative and regenerative business. The findings offer guidelines for using CE reporting information to compare the companies’ contributions to SDGs Keywords: ESG reporting, GRI standards, Circular Economy (CE), Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F-AHP), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), circular value.

Research on the application of collaborative teaching between ultrasonographers and vascular surgeons in the training of vascular surgery residents.

This study aims to explore the significant role of collaborative teaching between ultrasonographers and vascular surgeons in the training of vascular surgery residents in China. By comparing and analyzing the learning outcomes, clinical practice abilities, and patient feedback data of vascular surgery residents under traditional teaching methods versus collaborative teaching methods, combined with questionnaire surveys and statistical analysis, it was found that collaborative teaching significantly improved the training effect of vascular surgery residents. The results of this study provide new insights for medical education training, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaborative teaching in the training of vascular surgery residents.

Expert consensus on visualized tele-round and quality control management based on the improvement of clinical practice ability

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor's professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.

Research on the Reform of Architectural Acoustics Education Based on Noise Measurement and Simulation

This paper aims to enhance students' comprehensive practical abilities in the field of architectural acoustics through teaching reforms, especially in terms of how to effectively apply acoustic knowledge to the entire process of site planning and architectural design. In response to the disconnect between theory and practice in traditional architectural physics courses, this paper proposes the introduction of a combined experimental teaching model that integrates field noise measurement and simulation. Through this model, students can not only master the basic theories and principles of architectural acoustics but also deeply understand the impact of noise on the functional quality and environmental quality of architectural spaces through on-site noise monitoring and digital simulation technologies. The course content covers noise control and management from the early stages of building planning, design optimization, to later stages of building renovation, with a focus on the application of architectural acoustic simulation techniques in practical design. This approach not only helps students improve their practical application of architectural acoustics knowledge but also cultivates their ability to address noise issues effectively during the design process, ultimately promoting the organic integration of architectural design and environmental sustainability. The teaching reform proposal put forward in this paper seeks to enhance students' ability to solve practical problems by combining theory and experimentation and provide theoretical and technical support for acoustic optimization in future architectural designs.

Active Thermal Field Integration for Marangoni‐Driven Salt Rejection and Water Collection

AbstractUsing solar energy to drive seawater desalination via solar steam generation (SSG) is a sustainable strategy for clean water supply. The weak efficiency and poor durability due to salt deposition severely restrict practical SSG operation. Traditional solar evaporators are difficult to simultaneously guarantee efficient evaporation and long‐term salt rejection due to increased salinity. Herein, to tackle this dilemma, a thermal gradient fabric (TGF) evaporator with an auxiliary active thermal field is constructed. Different from traditional works where additional energy resources with improved evaporation rate exacerbate salt accumulation, the auxiliary active thermal field is well integrated with external solar energy to boost ion circulation through moderate Marangoni flow, leading to a continuous salt rejection and superior energy utilization under high‐salinity desalination. The accelerated evaporation rate (2.42 kg m−2 h−1) and superior salt resistance (30 days of desalination in 10 wt.% brine) are simultaneously achieved through optimized thermal field construction. An outstanding water collection rate (5.84 kg m−2) is observed during high‐salinity outdoor desalination, which proves the practical purification ability. This study provides new insight into the construction of active thermal fields for efficient and sustainable clean water production, is believed.

Skills-Based Curriculum is an Innovative Way to Respond to the Demands of Globalization

Skills-based Curriculum is an educational approach that focuses on developing students' practical abilities and soft skills, which are highly relevant in the era of globalization and the Industrial Revolution 4.0. By emphasizing applicative skills such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication, this Curriculum aims to prepare students for the challenges of the world of work and everyday life. This study aims to explore the benefits, challenges and strategic steps in implementing a skills-based curriculum. The study also highlights best practices at SMAN 10 Tasikmalaya that successfully integrate vocational programs in the skills-based Curriculum, such as cosmetology, automotive, and online business classes. This research uses a literacy study method that involves collecting, analyzing and synthesizing data from various sources, such as scientific journals, policy reports, books and related articles. Through this method, researchers were able to gain a deeper understanding of the theories, concepts and practices that have been applied in various educational contexts. The research also compared the implementation of skills-based Curricula in various schools, including SMAN 10 Tasikmalaya, to identify the supporting and inhibiting factors. The results show that although this Curriculum improves students' work readiness, challenges such as limited infrastructure, teacher readiness and evaluation systems still need to be overcome. Therefore, cooperation between the government, schools and industry is needed to ensure the successful implementation of the skills-based Curriculum.

Integration and Innovation of Traditional Skills and Modern Design in Art Education

With the rapid development of socio-economic conditions and the acceleration of globalization, the art education community is continually exploring methods to integrate traditional techniques with modern design education, thereby fostering innovation. This study selects representative traditional Chinese craft techniques, such as paper-cutting, blue calico printing, and ceramic painting, and examines how these skills are applied and their innovative significance in modern design teaching. The research employed in-depth interviews and case study methods, involving teachers and students from 20 renowned art institutions, and conducting detailed case studies on 5 exemplary student design works. By comparing traditional teaching models with modern design teaching models that incorporate traditional skills, this study explores the new applications and possibilities of traditional crafts in modern design education. The results indicate that the introduction of traditional crafts not only enhances the cultural significance and aesthetic value of design works but also inspires students' innovation and practical abilities. In teaching practices, the combination of traditional crafts and modern design technologies, through creative transformation and adaptation, can effectively enrich the content of art education and provide students with new means of expression and ways of thinking. This study calls for art educators to focus on the protection and inheritance of traditional craft skills and to organically combine their wisdom with modern design education to achieve cultural innovation and the modernization of education.

Research on the Construction and Teaching Application of the STEP Engineering Education Model in Cultivating Excellent Engineers

Objective: To address the urgent demand for high-level engineering talents in the new era, and in response to engineering education reform trends and accreditation requirements, this paper focuses on the educational philosophies of world-class universities, particularly drawing from the globally recognized CDIO (Conceive, Design, Implement, Operate) framework. Based on the characteristics and practical experiences of a university’s engineering education, we propose the STEP education model (i.e., Software, Theory, Experiment, Project) to achieve systematic enhancement in engineering education and effectively cultivate the comprehensive abilities of engineers. Methods: The STEP model is structured around project-driven learning, seamless integration of theoretical and experimental teaching, and a curriculum structure supported by software tools. It aims to enhance students’ learning outcomes through innovative teaching approaches, including science-education integration, virtual-real fusion, and competition-driven learning. Results: Practical applications of the STEP education model in several course systems at the university demonstrate its effectiveness in enhancing students' engineering practice abilities and innovative thinking. Conclusion: Providing strong support for the cultivation of excellent engineering talent, the STEP education model has proven effective in enhancing students' engineering practice abilities and innovative thinking, which are essential for meeting the demands of the new era and the trends in engineering education reform and accreditation requirements.

The application of multidisciplinary team combined flipped classroom teaching model in oral general course for clinical undergraduates

BackgroundOral general course (OGC) is a basic subject of medical education. The implementation of multidisciplinary team (MDT) meets the individual needs of patients. Based on the concept of MDT, this study combined the theory and practice of flipped classroom teaching method to evaluate the teaching effect, so as to provide a basis and reference for the thinking transformation of medical students to clinicians.MethodsThe participants of the study were 760 clinical undergraduates in OGC training in Hainan Medical University from 2021 to 2023. A total of 760 students were divided into a control group and an observation group of 380 cases, each using the random number table method. The control group used traditional teaching methods, the observation group adopted the MDT combined with flipped classroom teaching model and organized dental postgraduates team to participate in the teaching task. A unified assessment of the teaching outcomes was conducted after 1 semester study duration.ResultsThe basic theory, independent learning ability and case analysis scores of the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Except there was no statistically significant difference in literature searching ability between the two groups (P > 0.05), the other indicators of teaching satisfaction in the observation group were higher than those in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The postgraduates team gave relatively good feedback to the MDT combined flipped classroom teaching model.ConclusionMDT combined flipped classroom teaching model had outstanding effect in OGC, this student-centered teaching method was a beneficial supplement to their clinical thinking and practical ability, and worth further promotion.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Strategies for the Sustainable Development of Industry-Education Integration in Higher Vocational Colleges in Guangdong Province

In order to find strategies for the sustainable development of industry-education integration in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province, this paper takes 384 students and 361 teachers from 5 higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province, seven senior education managers from 5 higher vocational colleges, and three senior business managers from 3 enterprises as the research subjects. This study designed a questionnaire for students and teachers to analyze the factors affecting the development status of industry-education integration at four levels: the government, higher vocational college, enterprise, and student levels. The results show that although students and teachers of higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province believe that the overall development status of industry-education integration is at a high level in all four aspects, there are still deficiencies in government policy support, higher vocational colleges in teacher talent construction, enterprises in capital investment, and students in practical ability. In order to bridge these gaps, this study used SWOT-PEST analysis and TOWS analysis and proposed a set of targeted strategy drafts, which cover four aspects and a total of 37 measures. Finally, 25 senior education managers conducted focus group discussions on the draft strategies. Eventually, they formed a strategy covering four aspects and a total of 19 measures, including five measures at the government level, five for higher vocational colleges, five for enterprises, and four measures for students. In order to verify the feasibility and adaptability of the strategy, 25 experts from 5 higher vocational colleges were invited to evaluate the strategy. The strategy evaluation experts believed that the overall feasibility and adaptability of the sustainable development strategy of industry-education integration in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province were at the highest level (x̄=4.51) and (x̄=4.68), respectively. These strategies provide feasible methods for the sustainable development of industry-education integration in higher vocational colleges in Guangdong Province. These can help higher vocational colleges improve the quality of talent training, enhance students&amp;#39; employment competitiveness and adaptability, and promote industrial development and social progress.

Nomogram as a novel predictive tool for postoperative pneumonia after endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal carcinomas: a multicenter retrospective study.

Adverse events, such as postoperative pneumonia, can occur in some patients after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, few studies have investigated it. As such, we aimed to develop a nomogram to evaluate the progression of postoperative pneumonia after esophageal ESD. Between January 2014 and November 2023, this multicenter retrospective study enrolled patients received esophageal ESD. Data from 492 patients who underwent esophageal ESD were collected for model development. Clinical features and procedure-related characteristics were analyzed. A novel nomogram was constructed based on the results of multivariable logistic regression analysis. Besides, data from 226 and 101 patients were collected for internal and external validation, respectively. Subsequently, the discrimination, calibration, and clinical practice ability of the nomogram were evaluated. The incidence of postoperative pneumonia after esophageal ESD was 18.6%. Female (OR 1.770, P = 0.027), older age (OR 1.729, P = 0.044), low serum albumin level (OR 2.115, P = 0.003), long operative duration (OR 6.853, P < 0.001), muscular layer damage (OR 1.507, P = 0.136) and comorbid pulmonary disease (OR 1.206, P = 0.594) were found to be statistically or clinically significant factors to predict postoperative pneumonia after esophageal ESD, based on which a nomogram was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.76 and 0.89 in the internal and external validation cohort, respectively. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis exhibited favorable results both in the two validation cohorts. This is the first nomogram built, including sex, age, serum albumin level, operative duration, muscular layer damage, and comorbid pulmonary disease, to predict postoperative pneumonia after esophageal ESD.

Collaborative Research on the Construction of Teaching and Employment Internship Bases for Accounting Major Courses

The rapid development of intelligent technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and AI modeling poses new challenges to the training of accounting professionals. To make up for the defects of the traditional teaching evaluation system that neglects the cultivation of practical ability and improves students' adaptability to employment, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for the teaching of accounting courses and internship bases according to the idea of system theory and the use of the coupled coordination degree model, and based on the principles of scientificity, significance, subjectivity, and independence. It is concluded that: (1) the evaluation of the teaching ability of the accounting profession in colleges and universities needs to comprehensively examine the two dimensions of the teaching of accounting professional courses and the construction of employment internship bases, to realize the organic combination of theoretical and practical education; (2) the synergistic development of the accounting professional courses and employment internship bases is an important part of the evaluation of the teaching ability of the accounting profession in colleges and universities; (3) it is difficult to keep up with the pace of the times for the lack of practical feedback of the theoretical innovations. At the pace of the times, colleges and universities must incorporate the construction of internship bases into the rating system of the teaching ability of accounting and finance to realize the two-way interaction between theory and practice and to grasp the opportunities of the development of digital intelligence technology.

Research on the integration of project-based teaching design and academic competitions in architectural education under the background of new engineering

This study addresses the reform of architectural education under the new engineering background, exploring the integration strategies of project-based teaching design and academic competitions, aiming to enhance the practical and innovative abilities of architecture students. The paper analyzes the connection between architectural professional education and academic competitions, as well as the interplay between project-based teaching and academic competitions, focusing on improving students' innovative abilities, teaching quality, participation, and fairness. The research constructs a comprehensive evaluation system framework to ensure the consistency of evaluation criteria with teaching and competition objectives and proposes implementation steps to optimize teaching and learning experiences.

Evaluation of Intelligent Auxiliary Information Presentation Mode for Collaborative Flight Formation

Collaborative flight formations represent a promising operational model, but the integration of multi-source information in manned interfaces often results in cognitive overload and reduced situation awareness. This study evaluates the effectiveness of intelligent auxiliary information presentation modes in enhancing personnel capabilities. Using a simulation-based collaborative flight formation system, four presentation modes with varying levels of information and dynamics were experimentally tested and evaluated across subjective dimensions (cognitive workload, situation awareness, and interface design) and objective dimensions (design task flow information load and operational task flow information load). The results indicate that Level 3 and Level 4 modes significantly reduced mental workload and improved practical operational ability compared to the original mode. Level 3 achieved the highest interface evaluation scores, while Level 4 demonstrated the lowest design task flow information load. Both modes significantly enhanced situation awareness. Altogether, Level 3 and Level 4 resulted in the most significant improvements in personnel capabilities. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing interface design and improving situation awareness in collaborative flight formation tasks.

Teacher Academic Training Systems in Greece and Serbia

This study examines the teacher preparation paradigms of Serbia and Greece, two countries with similar histories and religions but different educational ideologies influenced by their social and cultural backgrounds. The study aims to determine the effect of various settings on teacher preparation, with a particular emphasis on pedagogical approaches and curriculum designs. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study assesses how each system affects student results and teacher effectiveness by combining quantitative data from educational tests like PISA with qualitative views from educators and policymakers. Concerns have been raised regarding the influence of Greece’s reliance on a centralized curriculum on developing critical thinking and practical application abilities in aspiring teachers. On the other hand, Serbia’s adaptable strategy incorporates contemporary teaching approaches, boosting students’ capacity for analysis and practical problem-solving. The report emphasizes the value of stakeholder participation, highlighting Serbia’s successful interactions with parents and educational institutions, which help create a climate conducive to educational change. The study emphasizes the integration of cutting-edge pedagogical approaches and standardized assessments, underscoring the necessity for systemic transformation in teacher training processes to satisfy contemporary educational demands. It also asks for fair resource distribution and sufficient funding to enable enhanced teaching approaches that comply with European standards. Ultimately, our research aims to promote international understanding and cooperation, increase teacher preparation programs, and raise education standards globally.

Construction of Curriculum Ssystem of Port and Shipping Logistics Specialty Group Driven by New Quality Production

In order to enhance the professional adaptability of port and shipping logistics talents, this paper analyzes the impact of new quality productivity on the port and shipping logistics industry, and proposes a construction plan for the course system of the port and shipping logistics professional group based on new quality production. The aim is to integrate and optimize the course content, improve the professional literacy and practical ability of port and shipping logistics talents, and meet the new needs of industry development. The study elaborates in detail on the principles, objectives, content, and implementation paths of curriculum system design, in order to provide useful references for the teaching reform of port and shipping logistics majors in universities.

Comparison of Perceived Achievement of Complex Thinking Competency Among American, European, and Asian University Students

Despite the growing focus of educational institutions on students’ practical abilities beyond theoretical knowledge, the perception that students have of their competencies is crucial for their effective application in professional contexts. Accordingly, this paper reports a study of 435 university students attending ten universities in eight countries in the Americas (Chile, Colombia, Mexico), Asia (Pakistan and the Philippines), and Europe (Spain, Finland, and Serbia). The goal was to measure their perceptions of their achievement of complex thinking competency and its sub-competencies. The intention was to identify how cultural, educational, and socioeconomic differences among countries account for the variances in the students’ self-assessment of competencies, impacting their professional preparedness. The study focused on the competency of complex thinking, considering its critical importance in solving current environmental problems. The analysis employed the non-parametric Brown–Forsythe statistical test and Bonferroni correction, given the non-normality and heteroscedasticity of the data. It was found that (i) there is no statistically significant difference by gender; (ii) there are statistically significant differences in all types of thinking per country, geographical area (continent), and Human Development Index (HDI).

Interdisciplinary problem-based learning model for standardized dental residency training: from theory to practice in dental trauma management.

Enhancing clinical skills and quality of dental residents is critical for standardized training. Conventional standardized training falls short in exposing residents to diverse scenarios and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, essential for dental trauma management. To address these issues, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University introduced an interdisciplinary problem-based learning (IPBL) model to improve residents' professional quality and practical abilities. Based on the specific needs of dental residents, the hospital established a PBL framework supported by an interdisciplinary collaborative teaching team with a focus on dental trauma diagnosis and treatment. A comprehensive assessment followed the IPBL course, which informed subsequent course modifications. In a preliminary study, 134 students voluntarily chose whether to participate in the program. At the end of the study, the scores of both groups were compared. The IPBL model significantly improved the professional ability of dental residents in the diagnosis and treatment of dental trauma, and obtained positive evaluations from residents and mentors. For the quantitative analysis, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed an overall improvement in participants' scores after completing the course. This teaching model provides a new way for the standardized training of dental residents, and helps to cultivate dental professionals with high professional and practical abilities.