Science Program Research Articles

Learners’ Attitudes and Practices towards Learning Communication Skills: The Cases of Mbeya University of Science and Technology and Arusha Technical College

This study investigated learners' attitudes towards learning communication skills as a fundamental module among ordinary diploma students of science programmes. The study involved a sample of 112 students. A cross-sectional research design was employed. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 20, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that diploma students have positive attitudes towards learning communication skills. By comparison, female students were revealed to be more positive than male students. Moreover, first- and third-year students showed more positive attitudes than second-year students. It is recommended that students be emphasised about the importance of communication skills as future professional engineers and for the competitive labour market. To make training sessions more interesting and facilitate the smooth acquisition of the necessary skills, efforts must be made to strengthen communication skills training at colleges and universities.

Nurses' Adherence to Infection Control Practices in Emergency Departments

Background: Follow-Up on Infection Prevention Measures It is an assortment of techniques intended to keep things free of microbes, Patient protection from diseases necessitates several actions. Preventing and controlling infections is one of the most crucial tasks for nurses. Using hand hygiene with personal protection equipment is a crucial step that can help prevent infections or their repercussions. The safety of patients and maintaining sterility and cleanliness in hospitals are the responsibilities of all nurses working there. Objectives: to evaluate the adherence of emergency department nurses to infection control protocols and recommendations. Methodology: This cross-sectional study selected a nonprobability (purposive) sample of 120 nurses working in emergency departments across three hospitals: Baghdad Teaching Hospital (50%), Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital (35.8%), and Sheik Zaydi Hospital 14.2%. The study was conducted from September 20, 2023, to 30 June 2024. collection tool, which consists of two parts: The first part is the demographic characteristics of the nursing staff (age, gender, level of education, years of experience in the emergency department, and participation in training courses related to infection control measures). Second part: Checklists were utilized for observation. The study instrument's reliability was assessed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Program (IBM SPSS) by applying Cronbach's Alpha. Results: The study finding shows that, based on the data, 66.7% of the respondents reported a fair level of practices about infection control measures. Sociodemographic factors such as qualifications notably impact nurses' practices regarding adherence to infection control practices. CONCLUSIONS: The researcher concluded that the nurses' practices were not at the level required (fair) to fit with the critical and special nature of the emergency department. Recommendations: Standard precautions are the basic level of the infection control process. The participants may possess satisfactory knowledge and compliance levels. However, more training programs and more focus on the standard precautions by educational institutes are needed for nurses to improve their knowledge and compliance with infection-control standard precautions.

Sustainable and inclusive; transforming residential undergraduate fieldtrips in an age of the climate crisis

ABSTRACT The Higher Education sector has a critical role to play in shaping our global response to “wicked problems” and nowhere is this more evident than in university research, teaching, and public engagement on sustainability that seeks to tackle the increasingly perilous environmental situation. However, despite this critical civic mission, the Global North HE sector faces growing scrutiny and critique over the mechanisms, cultural norms and practices in which staff, students, research partners, and others operate. This paper explores one facet of this scrutiny by focusing on the recent internationalisation of residential undergraduate fieldtrips within geography, earth, and environmental science programmes. Using a UK Department as a case study, it will document the significant carbon emissions and necessary offsetting costs associated with residential undergraduate fieldtrips, particularly those overseas. It will finish by discussing the Department’s revision to its fieldtrip design through the creation of a value-based fieldtrip framework grounded in the twin agendas of sustainability and Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI). This “sustainable and inclusive” fieldtrip framework becomes an important way for the Department to reduce the environmental impacts of this teaching activity and strengthen its accessibility and social justice work, thereby ensuring that the Global North HE sector leads by example.

Research Scholar Awareness with reference to Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Support, Research Services and Programmes

The study focuses on the level of awareness of ICSSR Services and Programs among research scholars at Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar. 218 questionnaires were distributed to research academics and 109 of them were completed. The data was collected through a questionnaire, covering areas such as program and service awareness, library usage, satisfaction with services, and awareness of current information on research in the social sciences disciplines. The results indicate that the majority of research scholars are knowledgeable about the services, resources, and programs offered by ICSSR.

Committing to diversity in participants, participation and knowledge production: place-based insights from the community science of Soilsafe Aotearoa

Researchers have an obligation to study aspects of our world that have meaning for society. This means recognising a place-based diversity of society, of potential participants, of types of participation and of knowledge production. Therefore, developing a successful community science (CS) programme that engenders a sense of ownership for a diversity of public participants requires the prioritisation of getting to know what diverse participants value and the context of that valuation. This paper describes the necessary rigour of considering the launch of the CS programme Soilsafe Aotearoa (SA) in 2021, and its subsequent implementation and evolution based on a project commitment to diversity of social values of soil in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ), delivering on public demand. We discuss how SA engages with the community by scientific screening soil metal contaminants in participants’ backyards, as well as through inclusive education and knowledge co-production in schools and community spaces. The objective in this work is to generate wider participation and dialogue on a diversity of soil value(s) so that communities in Aotearoa NZ are cognisant of what soil might represent to others, and to contextualise what a lack of soil care might mean for them and society more broadly. Here we argue that a diversity of participants and participation can support a more inclusive and contextual, place-based CS approach. We illustrate how that might be achieved through bridging arts, Indigenous knowledge production, and social, as well as conventional sciences. Through an approach that recognises that values about the world are tied to participants’ geographic, demographic and cultural contexts as well as the sectors of society they work and live with, we demonstrate the importance of researchers’ attention to not just scientific enquiry, but intersections of different knowledge production and communication for better societal and science outcomes.

Corrigendum: EGFR Mutation and FHIT Methylation: Inverse Relationship in Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma and Tuberculosis

Correction The funding in the original publication (https://www.doi.org/10.26689/par.v8i2.6444) is incorrect. The original funding was: The Ethnic Minority Science and Technology Program of Xinjiang Autonomous Region (201523122) The correct funding should be as follows: This project was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2020D01A107)

Metaverse: an Educational Tool in Business Science Programs

Metaverse: an Educational Tool in Business Science Programs

Students’ Life Skills with Reference to the Socio-Economic Status and Discipline of the Study in the Context of NEP-2020

Objective: The main aim of this paper was to examine the relationship between life skills and the socioeconomic status of the students enrolled in different disciplines of study in universities and colleges of Punjab State. Method: 600 students who were majoring in science, the arts, or business programs in the universities and colleges of Punjab State, India served as the sample. Modified Kuppuswamy (2022) Socio-economic scale (SES) was used. As per scale- families are placed into one of five categories: upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class, upper lower class, and lower class. A family’s total score can range anywhere from three to twenty-nine points, and it can only be determined by combining information about the members of the family’s education level, occupation level, and income level. Life skills were measured by self-developed tools. This test measures 10 life skills, including critical thinking, self-awareness, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving, effective communication, interpersonal relationships, empathy, stress management, and dealing with emotions. Each dimension has five statements, and a 5-point scale is used to rate each. Findings: It has been found in the present study that students of science disciplines have higher life skills in comparison to Commerce and Social science Streams. Similarly, students from higher SES backgrounds tend to have better Life Skills compared to those from lower SES backgrounds. Novelty: This research uniquely compares socio-economic status, academic discipline, and students' life skills within the NEP-2020 framework. It stands out by examining how these variables collectively impact life skills development, providing a nuanced understanding of their interdependence. By focusing on the diverse socio-economic backgrounds and varied academic disciplines, the study offers novel insights into tailoring educational strategies that foster essential life skills. In this research paper, an analytical approach has been applied to analyze the data as per NEP-2020's holistic and inclusive vision, aiming to bridge educational disparities and enhance student outcomes in a comprehensive manner. Keywords: Life Skills, Socio-Economic Status, Science, Social Science and Commerce Disciplines of study, NEP 2020

Global, regional, and national burden of retinoblastoma in infants and young children: findings from the global burden of disease study 1990–2021

Retinoblastoma is considered a lethal but curable malignancy often presenting in childhood. We investigated its global, regional, and national burden among infants and young children from 1990 to2021. We obtained data on retinoblastoma incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021. Trends were analysed using joinpoint regression to calculate annual percentage changes. Spearman's rank correlation and locally estimated scatterplot smoothing regression were used to assess the relationship between retinoblastoma burden and sociodemographic index. In 2021, the global incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs of retinoblastoma were 0.82 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 0.48-1.10), 7.46 (95% UI, 4.42-10.08), 0.37 (95% UI, 0.22-0.51), and 32.81 (95% UI, 19.9-45.21), respectively. From 1990 to 2021, the global incidence and prevalence rates of retinoblastoma increased, with average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) of 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.85] and 0.68 (95% CI, 0.50-0.86), respectively. Conversely, those of related mortality and DALYs decreased, with AAPCs of-0.64 (95% CI,-0.79 to-0.49) and-0.63 (95% CI,-0.78 to-0.48), respectively. Children aged 2-4 years and those in low-income regions exhibited the highest burden. Negative correlations were found between sociodemographic index and retinoblastoma burden. Advancements in retinoblastoma detection and treatment have increased its reported incidence and prevalence while reducing its mortality and DALYs. Nonetheless, substantial socioeconomic and geographic disparities persist. In low-income countries, the incidence has decreased, possibly reflecting challenges such as limited healthcare access and underreporting, necessitating targeted interventions and improved healthcare access. National Key R&D Project of China (2020YFA0112701), Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2024A1515013058), and Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou, China (202206080005).

Immersive citizen science experiences and their role in changing perceptions of coastal wetlands

Abstract Citizen, or community, science initiatives are increasingly recognised as an effective strategy to connect society with nature, science and environmental issues. However, different approaches to the delivery of the programmes can have different impacts on participant awareness, perceptions and behaviour change—especially when working with ecosystems perceived as less popular or uncharismatic, such as coastal wetlands, mangroves and saltmarshes. Using the HSBC Blue Carbon Citizen Science Programme as a case study, we compared two groups of corporate employees from Australia and New Zealand (N = 89) who participated in either: (a) a short duration citizen science experience including educational workshops and fieldwork in a local wetland; or (b) in educational workshops‐only. Questionnaires assessed the impact on participants' knowledge and perception towards wetlands, as well as their likelihood of adopting sustainable behaviours. Results revealed that participants' knowledge and understanding of environmental concepts increased, independent of the type of experience attended. However, the citizen science experience was more effective at fostering participants' intentions to make behaviour changes, with 64% of citizen science participants implementing sustainable changes at home or work, compared to 45% of workshop‐only participants. Our results highlight the importance of immersive citizen science experiences that, even of short duration, can have a valuable role enhancing participant knowledge, perception, and importantly, intention to make long‐term behaviour changes. With the increasing challenges faced by coastal systems globally, incorporating hands‐on, immersive experiences into educational programmes can be a strategic solution to improve ocean and climate literacy, while facilitating the actions required for a sustainable future. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

The JWST Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science Program. VI. Identifying Evolved Stars in Nearby Galaxies

We present an investigation of evolved stars in the nearby star-forming galaxy Wolf–Lundmark–Melotte (WLM), using Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) imaging from the JWST Resolved Stellar Populations Early Release Science program. We find that various combinations of the F090W, F150W, F250M, and F430M filters can effectively isolate red supergiants and thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch (TP-AGB) stars from one another, while also providing a reasonable separation of the primary TP-AGB subtypes: carbon-rich C-type stars and oxygen-rich M-type stars. The classification scheme we present here agrees very well with the well-established Hubble Space Telescope (HST) medium-band filter technique. The ratio of C to M-type stars is 0.8 ± 0.1 for both the new JWST and the HST classifications, which is within 1σ of empirical predictions from optical narrowband CN and TiO filters. The evolved star colors show good agreement with the predictions from the PARSEC + COLIBRI stellar evolutionary models, and the models indicate a strong metallicity dependence that makes stellar identification even more effective at higher metallicity. However, the models also indicate that evolved star identification with NIRCam may be more difficult at lower metallicities. We test every combination of NIRCam filters using the models and present additional filters that are also useful for evolved star studies. We also find that ≈90% of the dusty evolved stars are carbon rich, suggesting that carbonaceous dust dominates the present-day dust production in WLM, similar to the findings in the Magellanic Clouds. These results demonstrate the usefulness of NIRCam in identifying and classifying dust-producing stars without the need for mid-infrared data.

The GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program

We release fully reduced spectra obtained with NIRSpec onboard JWST as part of the GLASS-JWST Early Release Science Program and a follow-up Director’s Discretionary Time program 2756. From these 263 spectra of 245 unique sources, acquired with low (R = 30–300) and high dispersion (R ~ 2700) gratings, we derive redshifts for 200 unique sources in the redshift range ɀ = 0–10. We describe the sample selection and characterize its high completeness as a function of redshift and apparent magnitude. Comparison with independent estimates based on different methods and instruments shows that the redshifts are accurate, with 80% differing less than 0.005. We stack the GLASS-JWST spectra to produce the first high-resolution (R ~ 2700) JWST spectral template extending in the rest frame wavelength from 2000 Å to 20 000 Å. Catalogs, reduced spectra, and template are made publicly available to the community.

Citizen Scientists Discover “Asteroid in a Cometary Orbit” 2010 MK43 has a Comet Tail

We present the discovery of a short, diffuse tail on minor planet 2010 MK43 (alternate designation 2010 RA78)—an object previously identified as an asteroid in a cometary orbit—by volunteers of our Citizen Science program Active Asteroids. Our follow-up investigation revealed eight Dark Energy Camera images showing 2010 MK43 with a tail spanning UT 2024 February 12–UT 2024 February 18 when the object was outbound from perihelion. We now classify 2010 MK43 as a Jupiter-family comet based on its Tisserand parameter with respect to Jupiter T J = 2.888, though our dynamical simulations reveal that, due to frequent close encounters with Jupiter, 2010 MK43 was likely a quasi-Hilda within the last 10 kyr.

Machine learning identifies a 5-serum cytokine panel for the early detection of chronic atrophy gastritis patients.

Chronic atrophy gastritis (CAG) is a high-risk pre-cancerous lesion for gastric cancer (GC). The early and accurate detection and discrimination of CAG from benign forms of gastritis (e.g. chronic superficial gastritis, CSG) is critical for optimal management of GC. However, accurate non-invasive methods for the diagnosis of CAG are currently lacking. Cytokines cause inflammation and drive cancer transformation in GC, but their utility as a diagnostic for CAG is poorly characterized. Blood samples were collected, and 40 cytokines were quantified using a multiplexed immunoassay from 247 patients undergoing screening via endoscopy. Patients were divided into discovery and validation sets. Each cytokine importance was ranked using the feature selection algorithm Boruta. The cytokines with the highest feature importance were selected for machine learning (ML), using the LightGBM algorithm. Five serum cytokines (IL-10, TNF-α, Eotaxin, IP-10 and SDF-1a) that could discriminate between CAG and CSG patients were identified and used for predictive model construction. This model was robust and could identify CAG patients with high performance (AUC = 0.88, Accuracy = 0.78). This compared favorably to the conventional approach using the PGI/PGII ratio (AUC = 0.59). Using state-of-the-art ML and a blood-based immunoassay, we developed an improved non-invasive screening method for the detection of precancerous GC lesions. Supported in part by grants from: Jiangsu Science and Technology Project (no. BK20211039); Top Talent Support Program for young and middle-aged people of Wuxi Health Committee (BJ2023008); Medical Key Discipline Program of Wuxi Health Commission (ZDXK2021010), Wuxi Science and Technology Bureau Project (no. N20201004); Scientific Research Program of Wuxi Health Commission (Z202208, J202104).

Identifying skills required of new epidemiologists: a content analysis of Canadian job postings and master's programs.

The rise of emerging public health threats has increased the need for qualified epidemiologists in Canada. Our study aimed to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) required of epidemiologists entering the workforce and determine whether these align with those taught in graduate epidemiology programs. An inductive content analysis of Canadian job postings from May to December 2023 containing the keyword "epidemiology" and requiring master's degrees in epidemiology or related fields was conducted to identify the KSAs required in the workforce. Inductive content analysis of Master of Science (MSc) program descriptions and core course descriptions was completed to discern skills gained through Canadian graduate epidemiology and public health programs. Based on the 295 job postings analyzed, five KSA categories were identified: communication skills (n = 268, 90.8%), analytical skills (n = 267, 90.5%), soft skills (n = 254, 86.1%), research methodology (n = 217, 73.6%), and knowledge of epidemiological concepts (n = 170, 57.6%). Analysis of 18 MSc programs found that that all of them described analytical skills, research methodology, and epidemiological concepts within their curriculum. Communication skills were described in 94.4% (n = 17) of programs, while soft skills were mentioned in 50.0% (n = 9). However, only 66.7% (n = 12) of programs outlined learning objectives or specified the skills acquired from their programs in their descriptions. There was alignment between the needs of the Canadian epidemiology job market and MSc programs, particularly in analytical skills and research methodology. However, development of soft skills should be emphasized within graduate epidemiology programs to better prepare graduates for the job market. Future research should aim to develop competency statements for epidemiologists in training to ensure consistency across graduate programs and promote career readiness.

Hand Carriage of Yeast in Student of Medicine, Nursing, and Medical Laboratory Science: Impact of Infection Control Measures.

We studied yeast hand carriage of 260 healthcare students. We isolated yeasts in 27 students (10.4%), without differences between medicine, nursing, and medical laboratory science programs and gender. A significant lower prevalence of carriage was shown in the clinical cycle (2.7%) compared to the basic cycle (13.5%) (p = 0.022) and the preclinical cycle (13.5%) (p = 0.014). Increased handwashing frequency and the use of alcohol gel and antiseptic soap decreased yeast carriage. Students who applied moisturizing hand cream two or more times a day had a lower frequency of yeast carriage (3.4%) than those who did not use it or used it once a day (16.5%), showing a significant difference (p = 0.016). The most prevalent species was C. parapsilosis sensu stricto (81.5%), followed by Meyerozyma guilliermondii (C. guillermondii) (7.4%), Trichosporon mucoides (7.4%), and R. mucilagenosa (3.7%). One case showed mixed carriage of C. parapsilosis and C. albicans. All strains were sensitive to voriconazole, caspofungin, and anidulafungin. This study shows hand carriage of yeast in health students, mainly by C. parapsilosis, and the frequency of infection control measures and moisturizing hand cream is associated with colonization control.

Nonconvex Factorization and Manifold Formulations Are Almost Equivalent in Low-Rank Matrix Optimization

In this paper, we consider the geometric landscape connection of the widely studied manifold and factorization formulations in low-rank positive semidefinite (PSD) and general matrix optimization. We establish a sandwich relation on the spectrum of Riemannian and Euclidean Hessians at first-order stationary points (FOSPs). As a result of that, we obtain an equivalence on the set of FOSPs, second-order stationary points, and strict saddles between the manifold and factorization formulations. In addition, we show that the sandwich relation can be used to transfer more quantitative geometric properties from one formulation to another. Similarities and differences in the landscape connection under the PSD case and the general case are discussed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first geometric landscape connection between the manifold and factorization formulations for handling rank constraints, and it provides a geometric explanation for the similar empirical performance of factorization and manifold approaches in low-rank matrix optimization observed in the literature. In the general low-rank matrix optimization, the landscape connection of two factorization formulations (unregularized and regularized ones) is also provided. By applying these geometric landscape connections (in particular, the sandwich relation), we are able to solve unanswered questions in the literature and establish stronger results in the applications on geometric analysis of phase retrieval, well-conditioned low-rank matrix optimization, and the role of regularization in factorization arising from machine learning and signal processing. Funding: This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China [Grants 2020YFA0711900 and 2020YFA0711901], the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 12271107 and 62141407], and the Shanghai Science and Technology Program [Grant 21JC1400600]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoo.2022.0030 .

Forecasting Urban Traffic States with Sparse Data Using Hankel Temporal Matrix Factorization

Forecasting urban traffic states is crucial to transportation network monitoring and management, playing an important role in the decision-making process. Despite the substantial progress that has been made in developing accurate, efficient, and reliable algorithms for traffic forecasting, most existing approaches fail to handle sparsity, high-dimensionality, and nonstationarity in traffic time series and seldom consider the temporal dependence between traffic states. To address these issues, this work presents a Hankel temporal matrix factorization (HTMF) model using the Hankel matrix in the lower dimensional spaces under a matrix factorization framework. In particular, we consider an alternating minimization scheme to optimize the factor matrices in matrix factorization and the Hankel matrix in the lower dimensional spaces simultaneously. To perform traffic state forecasting, we introduce two efficient estimation processes on real-time incremental data, including an online imputation (i.e., reconstruct missing values) and an online forecasting (i.e., estimate future data points). Through extensive experiments on the real-world Uber movement speed data set in Seattle, Washington, we empirically demonstrate the superior forecasting performance of HTMF over several baseline models and highlight the advantages of HTMF for addressing sparsity, nonstationarity, and short time series. History: Accepted by Ram Ramesh, Area Editor for Data Science & Machine Learning. Funding: This research was supported by the Institute for Data Valorisation, the Interuniversity Research Centre on Enterprise Networks, Logistics and Transportation, the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 12371456, 72101049, 72232001], the Sichuan Science and Technology Program [Grant 2024NSFJQ0038], and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [Grant DUT23RC(3)045].

THE CORRELATION OF NOCTURIA INCIDENCE AND ANXIETY LEVELS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between nocturia and anxiety levels as precipitating factors in related study population. Material & Methods: This study used a survey facilitated via Google Form, using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Nocturia, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and a Demographic Data Questionnaire to obtain corresponding data. The descriptive-analytic method was applied, and Chi-square statistical analysis was performed. Results: From 270 participants, 240 exhibited normal anxiety levels, 28 demonstrated mild to moderate anxiety levels, and two presented severe anxiety levels. Furthermore, 148 participants reported experiencing nocturia, while 122 participants did not exhibit nocturia. Conclusion: This study showed no correlation between anxiety levels and nocturia in students from the Nutritional Science and Nursing Science Programs at Universitas Brawijaya, batches 2019, 2020, and 2021. Keywords: Anxiety level, nocturia, covid-19.

STEM Outside of School: a Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Informal Science Education on Students' Interests and Attitudes for STEM

AbstractThis meta-analysis explores the impact of informal science education experiences (such as after-school programs, enrichment activities, etc.) on students' attitudes towards, and interest in, STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The research addresses two primary questions: (1) What is the overall effect size of informal science learning experiences on students' attitudes towards and interest in STEM? (2) How do various moderating factors (e.g., types of informal learning experience, student grade level, academic subjects, etc.) impact student attitudes and interests in STEM? The studies included in this analysis were conducted within the United States in K-12 educational settings, over a span of thirty years (1992–2022). The findings indicate a positive association between informal science education programs and student interest in STEM. Moreover, the variability in these effects is contingent upon several moderating factors, including the nature of the informal science program, student grade level, STEM subjects, publication type, and publication year. Summarized effects of informal science education on STEM interest are delineated, and the implications for research, pedagogy, and practice are discussed.