Technological University Research Articles

Building Energy Optimization using BIM: A Study on Institutional Building

Abstract: In many facets of the construction industry, including energy management to encourage the development of green buildings, Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the contemporary data information platforms and management technologies that is widely employed. The goal of this study was to optimize an institutional building's energy consumption by analyzing and evaluating its energy performance using BIM-provided capabilities. The Civil Engineering block of Sree Vidyanikethan Engineering College in Tirupati, was taken into consideration for the investigation. The 2D blueprint was obtained from the engineering department and BIM technologies were used to create the necessary building model. The Green Building Studio (GBS) tool and Autodesk Insight 360 were utilized to conduct an energy analysis and derive the energy usage figures. The structural elements that are contributing to the high energy demand, such as the area between windows and walls, the width of the chajja relative to the height of the window, etc., were identified, and the BIM model underwent the required alterations to optimize the energy consumption. Comparing the data obtained in the two aspects, it was found that there was a 30% reduction in energy costs and a roughly 29.76% drop in energy use.

Investigating academic researchers' perceptions of a recommender system for mentor-to-mentee matching

The importance of mentoring among researchers cannot be overemphasized, and to this effect, several recommender systems have been presented in the literature to find experts for collaborations. However, matching researchers as mentors to their respective mentees has not been looked into. Earlier works suggest that expert-finding recommender systems primarily use metadata from experts' publications for making recommendations. Meanwhile, when matching for mentorship, more emphasis should be placed on the areas and major areas of both the mentors and mentees as intended in our proposed system. It is observed that many authors co-author in some areas in which they are not major, which may not certify them as experts in such areas. This research attempts to investigate the views of researchers about mentoring and also to determine the perceptions of the researchers on the need to develop a recommender system that can match researchers for mentorship. The study was conducted in two universities in south-western Nigeria, namely; Federal University of Technology, Akure, and Federal University, Oye-Ekiti. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaires using both online and paper surveys. The collected data were analyzed using frequency tables and charts. The results show that 99% strongly agreed and 1% agreed that mentorship is essential among researchers in academia. 98% strongly agreed and 2% agreed that there is need for tools that can help users get personalized items in all areas of life. 56% strongly agreed, 42% agreed, and 2% were indifferent that building a recommender system for matching researchers for mentorship is important. As can be seen from the results, the majority of the respondents acknowledged the importance of mentorship among academic researchers and the need to develop a recommender system to match these researchers for mentorship.

Factors Influencing E-learning Adoption when Teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Disciplines at a Science and Technology University in Ethiopia

eLearning technology in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) instruction may positively impact the quality of education in preparing a competent 21st-century workforce in developing countries. Adopting eLearning technology in higher education institutions' STEM departments in developing countries is critical in allowing its graduates to compete in the global workforce. Information technology integration into STEM disciplines in higher education in developing countries may have two purposes: course access and technology skill development. Training this labor force with skills to use eLearning integrated into STEM disciplines increases their technical competencies. However, using eLearning to teach STEM disciplines in higher education institutes in developing countries still needs improvement. Understanding the factors influencing eLearning adoption and use is critical to understanding this phenomenon. This case study explored factors influencing eLearning adoption when teaching STEM disciplines. The study occurred at a mid-sized science and technology university in Ethiopia. A qualitative research approach examined how faculty members describe factors influencing eLearning technology adoption and use in the STEM departments on campus: the data collection method combined semi-structured individual interviews, focused group interviews, and document reviews. Seven faculty members and department heads participated in the personal interviews, and three participated in focus group interviews. An inductive method was used to analyze data collected from participants. Five themes emerged from qualitative data analysis: nature of the course, technology, institution, user's attitude, and environment. Challenges related to technology infrastructure, lack of training and technical support, the course nature, and lack of eCurriculum design were significant factors in adopting and using eLearning. The concerted effort of stakeholders, specifically faculty members, institutional leaders, and technical support teams, to adopt and use eLearning in STEM instruction positively impacts the quality of education in preparing a competent 21st-century workforce in developing countries.

Effect of Substrate on Growth and Development of Ganaderma Lucidum Karst Cultivation in Bao Loc - Lam Dong - Vietnam

Purpose: The study of "the influence of substrate on growth and development of Ganaderma lucidum cultivation in Bao Loc - Lam Dong" was conducted at the Technology College of economy and technology of Bao Loc from May to September 2023 with the aims of selectingsuitable substrates for growth and development in Reishi, completed the processes of Reishi artificial cultivation in Bao loc. Methodology: Database involved nine treatments: rubber tree sawdust 75% + rice bran 25% supplemented urea 0,25%; rubber tree sawdust 95% + rice bran 5% supplemente urea 0,25% and DAP 0,25%; rubber tree sawdust 100% supplemented SA 0,5% and DAP 0,25%; rubber tree sawdust 96% + 2% maize powder + 2% rice bran; rubber tree sawdust 90% + maize powder 10% ; rubber tree sawdust 75% + maize powder 10% + rice bran 15%; rubber tree sawdust 95% + rice bran 5% supplemented DAP 0,2% , SA 0,2% and urea 0,1%; rubber tree sawdust 70% + rice bran 30%; control treament (rubber tree sawdust 90% + rice bran 5% + 5% maize powder). Experimental design was a Completely Randomized Design with 3 replications. The data were analyzed by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and group means were compared by Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMR) using the SAS 9.1 program. Means separation were computed following Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Findings: Results were achieved: Significant difference was observed in biological yield, dry yield and biological efficiency of Reishi (Ganaderma lucidum) on differences substracts .The highest biological yield (52,11 g/packet) and biological efficiency (15,79%) was obtained from mixed rubber sawdust 70% + 30% ridce brain Unique Contribution toheory, Policy and Practice: Complete the process of growing Ganoderma mushrooms in Bao Loc, orienting the development of Lam Dong into a large medicinal mushroom production area in Vietnam, creating Ganoderma mushroom products for export to the world.

Examination of undergraduate students’ physics expectations

A body of beliefs based on previous knowledge, attitudes, and experiences creates physics expectations of students about what they will learn and which skills they will use in physics lessons. Previous research indicated these views about knowledge and learning influenced physics learning by affecting their learning approaches. This research aims to investigate the physics expectations of undergraduate engineering and education students, who take various and different numbers of physics courses in Türkiye. The physics expectations of students were examined due to certain variables and they were compared with experts' ideas. In the study, the Turkish version of the Maryland Physics Expectations Survey II (MPEX II) was given to 831 engineering and education students in different universities. The results indicated the statistical differences in the physics expectations scores according to the department that was registered, the number of physics courses taken, and the reading of popular physics books. However, no significant difference was observed in the physics expectations scores according to gender, being an engineering student or education student, the year of the program, and the instructional approach of physics courses. The mean of the percentages of students who thought like experts in item by item was around 2/5; however, when expert-like thinking was considered for the overall scores, almost 12% of students answered at least half of the items like experts.

A journey from nuclear engineer to higher education: A conversation with Pingchien Neo

Pingchien Neo is the director of international engineering programs at the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering at the University of Florida. Previously, she taught nuclear engineering courses as a lecturer at UF. Neo discusses what inspired her to pursue nuclear engineering and how that led her toward higher education.

Assessing the Benefits of Electrification for the Mackinac Island Ferry from an Environmental and Economic Perspective

Ferry electrification has gained attention in the last decade as a potential path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study, conducted by APS LABS at Michigan Technological University for the Mackinac Economic Alliance (MEA) and funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), looked at the feasibility and potential benefits of electrification of a particular vessel that is part of a ferry service from Mackinaw City, Michigan, USA, to Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA. The study included a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of retrofitting the current configuration of the ferry into an all-electric ferry based on the availability of components in today’s market. A life-cycle assessment was conducted to compare the emissions between the baseline ferry rebuilt with new internal combustion engines and an all-electric ferry to understand the potential environmental benefits of ferry electrification and find the most sustainable solution for propulsion. The final prong of the three-pronged approach to this project consisted of estimating the difference in expenditures and profits for a rebuilt internal combustion (IC) engine versus electric configurations for a company operating the ferry. The analysis indicated that in the current scenario, electrification of the Mackinac Island ferry is not beneficial, and replacing the ferry’s current diesel engines with modern diesel engines is the preferred solution.

Effect of Garcinia Kola Consumption on Lipid Profile and Body Weight of Rats Fed with High Fat Diet

Aims: Bitter kola (Garcinia kola) is commonly consumed as a snack in many localities in Cameroon and is considered to have health properties including weight-reducing agent by many people. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of bitter kola in weight management and prevention of obesity. Study Design: An experimental full 3×3 factorial design was used for this study, with the main responses being the anthropometric and biochemical parameters of the albinos Wistar rats. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Food Science Laboratory of the Department of Nutrition, Food and Bioresource Technology of the College of Technology, The University of Bamenda, Cameroon, between February and July 2023. Methodology: Three bitter kola cultivars (Bafia, Penja, Widikum) were collected from their production areas, and their phytochemical content and antioxidant activity were analysed. The effect of their dry powder consumption on body weight and lipid profile was investigated on male Wistar rats consuming a high-fat diet. The rats were allocated to 10 groups of 6 rats including one control with the feed containing 0 g/kg of bitter kola powder, and 3 test groups per cultivar having 5 g, 10 g, and 15 g of bitter kola powder per kg of feed respectively. Results: Results revealed that antioxidant activity varies with cultivars and Widikum cultivar has the highest antioxidant activity and the highest phytochemicals content. Consumption of Penja and Widikum bitter kola powder induced the highest fat excretion in rat faeces. The effect of bitter kola consumption on body weight varies with cultivars and incorporation rate, and the highest anti-obesity effect was observed with the consumption of the Widikum cultivar at 10 g/kg of rat feed. The increase in bitter kola powder proportion in rat feed was negatively correlated with the atherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient. Conclusion: From the overall results, the consumption of feed with 15 g/kg of Widikum bitter kola cultivar had the best anti-obesity activity and hypolipidemic effect. Thus, bitter kola powder can be used to prevent obesity and cardiovascular diseases in high-fat diets.

Student services in higher education: impact on academic success amid and after the pandemic

The influence of student support services on academic success cannot be overstated, as they play a pivotal role in shaping student performance and overall well-being. In response, educational institutions have established dedicated student affairs offices to cater to the diverse needs of students, ensuring their welfare and holistic development. In particular, during the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, these support services have emerged as even more vital, prompting adaptation and innovation within student affairs offices to uphold student well-being and academic progress. This study delved into the experiences of students from the College of Education at Rizal Technological University, specializing in various fields, such as a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s degree in technical vocational teacher education. These students, who hailed from campuses in Mandaluyong City and Pasig City were selected based on their exposure to student support services before, during, and after the pandemic. Having completed the requisite coursework, they provided valuable insights into their competencies and experiences with support services. Utilizing a descriptive quantitative approach, this study explored students' perspectives on support services before the pandemic, shedding light on the challenges encountered and issues faced during their utilization. Furthermore, it assessed students' satisfaction levels regarding the efficacy of support services in addressing their welfare and development needs. Finally, the study examined post-pandemic changes and enhancements in student support services, offering valuable insights for ongoing improvement and adaptation in the face of evolving circumstances.

The Impact of Quizlet on Vocabulary Achievement among Non-English Major Students at Dong Nai Technology University

This research aims to investigate the impact of Quizlet, a digital learning tool, on vocabulary achievement among non-English major students at Dong Nai Technology University. Vocabulary acquisition is a crucial aspect of language learning, particularly for non-English major students who often face challenges in mastering vocabulary. Quizlet, an online platform offering various interactive learning activities, has gained popularity as a supplementary tool in language learning contexts. This research aims to explore the effectiveness of Quizlet in enhancing vocabulary acquisition among non-English major students and its implications for language education at the university level. A quantitative analysis of pre-test/post-test scores is employed to provide comprehensive insights into the impact of Quizlet on vocabulary achievement. The findings contribute to understanding the potential of digital learning tools like Quizlet in supporting language learning and informing pedagogical practices for non-English major students.

Problems and Employability of Architectural Drafting Technology Students of Surigao Norte State University

This article entails the problems meet and employability of architectural drafting students of Surigao Norte State University (SNSU) under the College of Technology (COT). The faculty members in architectural drafting courses are more experienced and qualified to teach in this field. The enrolment in architectural drafting courses is increasing. On the other hand, the partners of SNSU in the OJT of the students are much established companies in the field of architecture and engineering. Instructors are having problems concerning facilities and acquisition of teaching materials. Students are considering facilities as their most problematic concern. The architectural drafting students in SSCT possess the necessary skills to be employed in architectural engineering works. Female architectural drafting students are more employable in terms of work ethics and technical skills compared to males. As problems on either facilities, curriculum, teacher, or administration/supervision become more prevalent, the employability of the students are affected..

Effect of Planting Geometry and Inorganic Fertilizers with Nano Urea on Growth Indices of Rice Crop (Oryza sativa L.)

An experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm of Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India during Kharif season 2022 and 2023 to find out the effect of planting geometry and inorganic fertilizers with nano urea on growth indices of rice crop. All the growth indices parameters viz. Crop growth rate (g m-2 day-1) Relative growth rate (g g-1 day-1x 10-3), Net Assimilation rate (g m-2 day-1) and yield were significantly higher with the treatment P1 (20 cm × 10 cm) and F2 [100% RDF + foliar spray of nano urea @ 3000 ml ha-1(Tillering and Panicle initiation stage)] at par with treatment combination P1 (20 cm × 10 cm) and F3 [75% RDF + foliar spray of nano urea @ 3000 ml ha-1(Tillering and Panicle initiation stage)] and significantly higher than the other treatments. It can be concluded that treatment C1 (20 cm × 10 cm) with the application of F2 [100% RDF + foliar spray of nano urea @ 3000 ml ha-1 (Tillering and Panicle initiation stage)] proved better during both the year for all growth indices to achieve higher yield and remuneration of rice crop.

Effect of Different Sources and Levels of Sulphur in Sesame on Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Soil Fertility in Acid Alfisols of Odisha, India

Aims: To examine the impact of different sources and levels of Sulphur on yield and oil content of sesame in acid Alfisols of Dhenkanal district of Odisha. Study Design: Randomized Block Design with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: During 2018 and 2019, this experiment was carried out at the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology's Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station, which is located in Mahisapat, Dhenkanal district, Mid Central Table Land Zone, Odisha. Methodology: The treatments were T1- STBFR (S control), T2- STBFR + 30 kg ha-1 S from Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate, T3- STBFR + 40 kg ha-1 S from Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate, T4- STBFR + 30 kg ha-1 S from Gypsum, T5- STBFR + 40 kg ha-1 S from Gypsum, T6- STBFR + 30 kg ha-1 S from SSP, T7- STBFR + 40 kg ha-1 S from SSP. Results: Among seven treatments, T7 (STBFR along with 40 kg ha-1 S from SSP) was superior among all the sources and doses w.r.t. yield components and yield. The quality parameters like oil content under different sulphur fertilization was found to be maximum with STBFR along with 40 kg ha-1 S from SSP. Highest total nutrient uptake in terms of N, P, K and S of 55, 26, 37 and 5 kg/ha was recorded with the same treatment. Conclusion: Sulphur fertilization (T7) in the acid Alfisols of Odisha exhibited improved yield, oil content and nutrient uptake in sesame.

Effect of Growing Media and GA\(_3\) on Germination and Growth of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) c.v. Tiwan-7

A field experiment entitled Effect of growing media and GA3 on germination, growth and establishment of papaya (Carica papaya L.) c.v. Tiwan-7 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and 10 (9+1 Control) treatments. The experiment consisted of germination, growth of Papaya. Among the various treatments, application of GA3 @ 150 ppm dipping for 12 hrs. + Soil + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1) took shortest days to seed germination (13.15) and germination percentage (85.44 %) respectively. With respect to seedling growth parameters viz. sapling height 38.44 cm at 75 DAS, number of leaves 18.89 at 75 DAS, stem diameter (mm) 7.05 at 75 DAS, leaf area cm2 (51.48 cm2) was obtained best under of GA3 @ 150 ppm dipping for 12hrs. + Soil + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1). From the successful germination and development of growth performance of papaya seedlings, it can be concluded that papaya seeds treated with GA3 @ 150 ppm dipping for 12hrs. + Soil + Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1:1) significantly increased the various seed germination parameters along with seedling growth parameters as compared to other treatments and hence, termed as best treatment, while the poorest and inferior among all was observed under T0-Control.

Abstracts of 29th International Conference „Information Society and University Studies“ IVUS2024

29th International Conference „Information Society and University Studies“ IVUS2024 is the continuation of the annual conference series organized in succession by three universities: Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty, Vytautas Magnus University and Kaunas University of Technology. The event was started in 1995. In 2017, the conference became an international event. For the reason of a long history of this conference, we left conference acronym according to it's Lithuanian title "Informacinė visuomenė ir universitetinės studijos" – IVUS.

Reforming higher education in South Africa by addressing gender inequalities

Introduction: South Africa has a unique history of racial inequality, which in turn contributed to gender inequalities in the country – also within higher education. Gender equality is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Higher education can contribute to this SDG by setting an example in the community for creating healthy and socially just conditions for their female staff and students. Methods: Female employees from all staff components (academic, support services, and operational staff) of a South African University of Technology participated in focus group discussions to determine their gender equality experiences. Facilitating questions were used to guide the conversations. Thematic analyses of the transcribed focus group discussions were conducted, and emerging themes were explored. Results: Some male colleagues prefer to work solely with other male colleagues, resulting in women being sidelined and feeling voiceless. Female employees reported being harassed by students and having difficulty managing professional and family life. They were also concerned about their future based on their gender. Services staff had positive experiences engaging with male students, staff, and supervisors. Conclusion and implications: It is imperative for higher education institutions’ growth and development and fulfilling their role in contributing to the SDGs that gender equality be prioritised. The unique traditional and cultural burdens of South African women in higher education should be taken into consideration when re-imagining gender equality. By aligning their efforts with the SDGs, universities can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future, paving the way for transformative change within society.

Development and Validation of Instruments for Assessing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Students in Higher Education

<p style="text-align:justify">The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education remains incompletely understood, demanding further evaluation and the creation of robust assessment tools. Despite previous attempts to measure AI's impact in education, existing studies have limitations. This research aimed to develop and validate an assessment instrument for gauging AI effects in higher education. Employing various analytical methods, including Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Rasch Analysis, the initial 70-item instrument covered seven constructs. Administered to 635 students at Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology – Gabaldon campus, content validity was assessed using the Lawshe method. After eliminating 19 items through EFA and CFA, Rasch analysis confirmed the construct validity and led to the removal of three more items. The final 48-item instrument, categorized into learning experiences, academic performance, career guidance, motivation, self-reliance, social interactions, and AI dependency, emerged as a valid and reliable tool for assessing AI's impact on higher education, especially among college students.</p>

A New Machine-Learning-Driven Grade-Point Average Prediction Approach for College Students Incorporating Psychological Evaluations in the Post-COVID-19 Era

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence in recent years, intelligent evaluation of college students’ growth by means of the monitoring data from training processes is becoming a promising technique in the field intelligent education. Current studies, however, tend to utilize course grades, which are objective, to predict students’ grade-point averages (GPAs), but usually neglect subjective factors like psychological resilience. To solve this problem, this paper takes mechanical engineering as the research object, and proposes a new machine-learning-driven GPA prediction approach to evaluate the academic performance of engineering students by incorporating psychological evaluation data into basic course scores. Specifically, this paper adopts SCL-90 psychological assessment data collected in the freshman year, including key mental health indicators such as somatization, depression, hostility, and interpersonal sensitivity indicators, as well as professional basic course scores, including mechanical principles, mechanical design, advanced mathematics, and engineering drawing. Four representative machine learning algorithms, Support Vector Machine (SVM), CNN-CBAM, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) that include deep and shallow models, respectively, are then employed to build a classification model for GPA prediction. This paper designs a validation experiment by tracking 229 students from the 2020 class from the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering of Henan University of Science and Technology, China. The students’ academic performance in senior grades is divided into five classes to use as the prediction labels. It is verified that psychological data and course data can be effectively integrated into GPA prediction for college students, with an accuracy rate of 83.64%. Meanwhile, this paper also reveals that anxiety indicators in the psychological assessment data have the greatest impact on college students’ academic performance, followed by interpersonal sensitivity. The experimental results also show that, for predicting junior year GPAs, psychological factors play more important role than they do in predicting sophomore GPAs. Suggestions are therefore given: the current practice in existing undergraduate teaching, i.e., only conducting psychological assessments in the initial freshman year, should be updated by introducing follow-up psychological assessments in each academic year.

Characteristics and Risk Factors for Pediatric Sepsis.

Sepsis is considered a major cause of health loss in children and had high mortality and morbidity. Currently, there is no reliable model for predicting the prognosis of pediatric patients with sepsis. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of sepsis in children and assess the risk factors associated with poor prognosis in pediatric sepsis patients to identify timely interventions and improve their outcomes. This study analyzed the clinical indicators and laboratory results of septic patients hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021. Risk factors for sepsis were identified by logistic regression analyses. A total of 355 children with sepsis were enrolled, with 333 children (93.8%) in the good prognosis group, and 22 children (6.2%) in the poor prognosis group. Among them, there were 255 patients (71.8%) in the sepsis group, and 100 patients (28.2%) in the severe sepsis group. The length of hospital stay in the poor prognosis group was longer than that in the good prognosis group (P<0.01). The levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group (P>0.05), and the platelet (PLT), albumin (ALB), and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were lower in the poor prognosis group (P<0.01). The IL-8 levels in the severe sepsis group were higher than those in the sepsis group (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that lower Hb levels, ALB levels, peak PLT counts, and higher IL-1β levels were independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with sepsis. Lower Hb, ALB, and PLT counts and elevated IL-1β are independent risk factors for poor prognosis in children with sepsis.

Simulation of a Pulsed Metastable Helium Lidar

Measurements of atmosphere density in the upper thermosphere and exosphere are of great significance for studying space–atmosphere interactions. However, the region from 200 km to 1000 km has been a blind area for traditional ground-based active remote sensing techniques due to the limitation of facilities and the paucity of neutral atmosphere. To fulfill this gap, the University of Science and Technology of China is developing a powerful metastable helium resonance fluorescent lidar incorporating a 2 m aperture telescope, a high-energy 1083 nm pulsed laser, as well as a superconducting nanowire single-photon detector (SNSPD) with high quantum efficiency and low dark noise. The system is described in detail in this work. To evaluate the performance of the lidar system, numerical simulation is implemented. The results show that metastable helium density measurements can be achieved with a relative error of less than 20% above 370 km in winter and less than 200% in 270–460 km in summer, demonstrating the feasibility of metastable helium lidar.