Technology Program Research Articles

ANALISIS PEMBIASAAN NILAI - NILAI AKHLAKUL KARIMAH SEBAGAI UPAYA PEMBANGUNAN KARAKTER PADA ANAK USIA DINI DI DAERAH TERDEPAN, TERLUAR DAN TERTINGGAL (3T) KABUPATEN ROTE NDAO

The phenomenon of a character crisis resulting in moral decline in the nation's generation should be overcome through the role of education as an effort to familiarize oneself with moral values. Schools and teachers have an important role in forming children's morals apart from family and parents in educating them, especially during the learning process. Facilitating the akhlakul karimah (noble character) needs of children in underdeveloped, outermost and frontier areas is an important and urgent challenge. This research uses a qualitative descriptive research approach. The aim of this research is to collect as much factual data as possible on the subject naturally in implementing the practice of akhlakul karimah values as an effort to build character in early childhood in frontier, outermost and disadvantaged areas (3T). Efforts to facilitate children's moral and moral needs are often not a top priority. Nevertheless, the importance of character and morality formation in children should not be ignored. To overcome this challenge, a collaborative approach between various parties, inclusive education that integrates moral values in educational programs, parent training, use of technology, community strengthening, and social skills development programs can be an effective solution.

Development of the “Digihet” Multimedia Education Program to Improve Health Quality in the Setara Community Group

The digital divide and low health quality are challenges faced by the Setara South Sempaja community group. The impact of flooding is a health problem frequently experienced by this community group. The Technology and Health Education Program (Digihet) is designed to address this issue by providing education on the use of digital technology and clean and healthy living patterns to vulnerable groups affected by health problems. This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the Digihet program in improving digital literacy, specifically in clean and healthy living patterns, and the quality of life of the community. The Digihet program is developed using multimedia development techniques, starting from the concept design stage to distribution. The Digihet program teaches about 10 clean and healthy living skills for households, including childbirth assisted by healthcare professionals, exclusive breastfeeding for babies, weighing babies and toddlers, using clean water, washing hands with clean water and soap, using healthy latrines, eradicating mosquito larvae at home, eating fruits and vegetables every day, engaging in physical activity every day, and not smoking indoors. Data were collected through beta testing, and the research results showed that the Digihet program is effective in increasing digital literacy in forming clean and healthy living patterns. The results of this study are expected to serve as a basis for developing multimedia health education programs and contribute to enhancing the understanding of the relationship between digital literacy, public health, and information technology in the context of household health quality.

The e-Walls of Brexit: Digital Adjustments in Customs Programs Between France, Belgium and the United Kingdom

ABSTRACT Contemporary border wall policies are characterized by digitization of control procedures to filter out mobilities and adjust control to trade flows. This digitization has been mostly studied in terms of technology deployment and usages by state and non-state actors to deal with migration. When applied to control of trade flows, “smart bordering” also involves functional adjustments between public and trade actors, as well as customs cooperation. The bordering at stake with Brexit provides a revealing case study. Brexit entailed supply chain security for goods crossing the UK–France/Belgium border. For companies, transporters, and customs, avoiding physical controls at ports became imperative. Each country generalized data sharing and pre-lodgment through “smart bordering” models and various Information Technology (IT) programs. This paper examines such digitization programs and the adjustments between public and private actors confronted with IT programs and the mutation and cooperation of customs agencies in this process. It concludes that the UK lacked anticipation, while France and Belgium were proactive in accordance with EU harmonization. The digitization of control also reveals changes in identity-making of customs, emphasizing its autonomy as a border agent and its role as a trade supporter, on top of traditional policing or taxation duties.

Enhancing English and accounting skills through a VOCABING-based technology program for MSMEs in Kediri

Digital economic transformation which is the impact of technological development changes the perspective of Indonesian on economic behavior. The use of technology in economics activity is increasing nowadays. It impacts on the development of the economic sectors. Macro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) one of the business roles in Indonesia have to do some innovation for its existing in today's trading world. The strategy that can be implemented for facing that case is by adapting the technology use and enhancing the quality of human resources through increasing competence and skills. Considering that the performance of an organization is determined by the human resources it has. Community service program through Integrated Training; Vocabulary Building & Accounting (VOCABING)-Based Technology needs to be held for MSMEs in Kediri. These activities include training in English and the Use of Accounting Technology for improving MSMEs skill. it is based on vocabulary mastery which influence the ability to understand the complex information and instructions. The activity held two days series through four steps; planning, implementation, evaluations, and reporting. For proving the training’s goals, it used tests and assessment. The results showed that there was an increase of 12.5% in the final English test score and participants completed the work instruction assessment correctly.

Stanford's Pediatric Immersive Technology Program Reduces Pain Perception, Anxiety

Stanford's Pediatric Immersive Technology Program Reduces Pain Perception, Anxiety

Ways for Female Students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University to Acquire Skills through the Use of Learning Strategies. An Applied Study on the Islamic Studies Program and Communication and Media Technology Program From August to June 2023

Ways for Female Students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University to Acquire Skills through the Use of Learning Strategies. An Applied Study on the Islamic Studies Program and Communication and Media Technology Program From August to June 2023

DMGM: deformable-mechanism based cervical cancer staging via MRI multi-sequence * *This work was financially aided by the Natural Science Foundation of China (U1934221, 61773323), and Sichuan Science and Technology Program (2019YFG0345, 2019YJ0210).

Objective. This study aims to leverage a deep learning approach, specifically a deformable convolutional layer, for staging cervical cancer using multi-sequence MRI images. This is in response to the challenges doctors face in simultaneously identifying multiple sequences, a task that computer-aided diagnosis systems can potentially improve due to their vast information storage capabilities. Approach. To address the challenge of limited sample sizes, we introduce a sequence enhancement strategy to diversify samples and mitigate overfitting. We propose a novel deformable ConvLSTM module that integrates a deformable mechanism with ConvLSTM, enabling the model to adapt to data with varying structures. Furthermore, we introduce the deformable multi-sequence guidance model (DMGM) as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for cervical cancer staging. Main results. Through extensive testing, including comparative and ablation studies, we validate the effectiveness of the deformable ConvLSTM module and the DMGM. Our findings highlight the model’s ability to adapt to the deformation mechanism and address the challenges in cervical cancer tumor staging, thereby overcoming the overfitting issue and ensuring the synchronization of asynchronous scan sequences. The research also utilized the multi-modal data from BraTS 2019 as an external test dataset to validate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology presented in this study. Significance. The DMGM represents the first deep learning model to analyze multiple MRI sequences for cervical cancer, demonstrating strong generalization capabilities and effective staging in small dataset scenarios. This has significant implications for both deep learning applications and medical diagnostics. The source code will be made available subsequently.

Development And Utilization of An Innovative Industrial Automated PLC Electro-Pneumatic Feeder and Pick and Place System: An Industrial Process Simulator for Teaching Electrical and Electronics Courses

The main purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate an innovative industrial automated PLC electro-pneumatic feeder and pick-and-place system to improve technical instruction and address the inadequacy of electrical and electronics training equipment in the BS Industrial Technology program of Isabela State University, City of Ilagan Campus. Likewise, this study was conducted to evaluate the functionality, durability, safety, and instructional applicability of an innovative industrial automated PLC electropneumatic feeder and pick-and-place system. The descriptive method of research was used, with sets of questionnaire checklists supplemented by unstructured interviews and observations as the main gathering instruments. A five-point Likert rating scale was used to determine the descriptive meanings of the indicators of the variables used. The study respondents were third-year electronics and electrical students of the Industrial Technology program, electrical and electronics teachers, engineers, and industry experts. The statistical tools used in the study were percentage and weighted mean. The developed project mean was 4.82, which suggests that the project is “highly acceptable.” This implies that the developed instructional equipment is highly suitable for instruction and simulation in industrial automation processes, and is highly preferred by evaluators. It can also be said that the constructed industrial automated PLC electro-pneumatic feeder and pick-and-place system is well designed, durable, functional, safe to use, and easy to maintain.

Pendekatan Formula: Strategi Peningkatan Kemahiran Penulisan Karangan Bahasa Melayu Pelajar Kolej Vokasional

The acquisition of essay writing skills holds compulsory significance for all Malaysian Vocational Certificate (SVM) students at Vocational Colleges (KV), as these skills are embedded within the SVM Malay language course curriculum. Generally, students at KV exhibit a range of weak to moderate mastery levels in essay writing, particularly in terms of structuring and organizing essays in a systematic manner. Evidently, lackluster student performance was accentuated when a subset of students failed to respond adequately to essay prompts during the End of Semester Assessment, emerging as a substantial contributor to the failure rates within the Malay language subject. A survey unveiled a deficiency in systematic essay writing proficiency, resulting in student hesitancy and disinterest in addressing essay-related queries. In response, the researcher introduced a formulaic approach to essay writing with the aim of elevating student performance. A sample of 24 students from the Electronics Technology Program was selected randomly to participate in this study. Consequently, a study was conducted employing pre-test and post-test assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the introduced formulaic approach within the study sample. The gathered data revealed a notable shift in student achievement levels, evidenced byimprovements in grades post-intervention and alignment with the prescribed scoring criteria. Initially absent in pre-test outcomes, the attainment of an 'A' grade by the study sample became evident following the post-test, wherein the formulaic approach was integrated into the teaching and learning process. This study establishes that students are capable of proficiently and systematically honing their Malay essay writing skills. Through the implementation of a structured methodology, it becomes apparent that learners can effectively bridge identified gaps, thereby enhancing their overall mastery of the subject matter. Consequently, this research holds implications for pedagogical practices geared towards fostering heightened competency in essay writing among SVM students

AAV-mediated gene delivery to the cardiac conduction system

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NWO open technology program Biopace #18485 Background Gene therapy for cardiac arrhythmias has so far mostly focused on modifying the arrhythmogenic substrate in working myocardium or on creating biological pacemakers with viral vectors that did not selectively target the cardiac conduction system (CCS). As a result, CCS targeting by viral vectors is a relatively unexplored area. Aim In the current project, we explored the basic requirements for CCS targeting using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Methods Regular AAV9 and AAV-Myo4A capsid-pseudotyped AAV2 vectors (hereafter called AAV2/9 and AAV2/Myo4A vectors, respectively) expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) from a CMV or TNNT2 promoter, respectively, and an AAV2/9 vector expressing eGFP from a human GJA5 regulatory element were systemically injected in mice. After 4 weeks, hearts were harvested, fixed with paraformaldehyde and stained for TNNT2, eGFP, HCN4 and DNA to determine CCS transduction. Results Transduction of the sinoatrial and atrioventricular (AV) node using AAV2/9 vectors was very poor, while transduction was visible in the atrioventricular (i.e. His) bundle and working myocardium. In contrast, the transduction rate of the AV node and bundle using AAV2/Myo4A vectors were similar to that of the working myocardium. The human GJA5 regulatory element was able to restrict eGFP expression by AAV2/9 vectors to the AV bundle in 2/3 animals but the transduction efficiency was low. A third animal showed no transduction of any tissue, either indicative of the low transduction efficiency or of a failed injection. Conclusion This study not only provides proof-of-principle for CCS-targeted gene therapy but also shows that CCS transduction can be improved through AAV capsid engineering and be restricted to (parts of) the CCS by using specific transcriptional control elements.

Tantangan dan Peluang Partisipasi Masyarakat Menengah ke Bawah dalam Proses Politik dan Pemerintahan di Bandung

Community participation in political and government processes is the main pillar in building a healthy and sustainable democracy. Participation of the lower middle class in the political and government process in the city of Bandung is an important focus in efforts to build a democratic and inclusive government. Challenges such as limited access to information and economic factors have hampered their participation, but there are also opportunities that can be exploited, such as advances in information technology and community empowerment programs. The type of research used is qualitative through literature study and field study. Qualitative research methods are research methods used to explain a phenomenon in depth. Through literature research and field surveys, it was found that local governments, NGOs and communities need to work together to overcome these challenges and take advantage of existing opportunities. Therefore, increasing the participation of the lower middle class community in Bandung is not an easy thing, but is an important step to build a more inclusive, competitive and just society. Through continued cooperation, Bandung has the potential to become an inspiring example of how to strengthen community participation in political processes and governance and create a better future for all citizens.

Management strategies for POSEIDON patients with poor ovarian response to ovarian stimulation: а literature review

A poor ovarian response to ovarian stimulation is a factor that significantly reduces the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization programs. Managing these patients remains an unresolved issue in assisted reproductive technology programs. The difficulties are largely determined by the heterogeneity of groups of patients with a poor ovarian response and the need for a personalized approach to ovarian stimulation. This review covers the data from the global literature on the management tactics of patients with a poor ovarian response according to the POSEIDON classification, with the aim of increasing the quantity and quality of retrieved oocytes and clinical pregnancy rates.

Performance Analysis of Multi-Tote Storage and Retrieval Autonomous Mobile Robot Systems

Multi-tote storage and retrieval (MTSR) autonomous mobile robots can carry multiple product totes, store and retrieve them from different shelf rack tiers, and transport them to a workstation where the products are picked to fulfill customer orders. In each robot trip, totes retrieved during the previous trip must be stored. This leads to a mixed storage and retrieval route. We analyze this mixed storage and retrieval route problem and derive the optimal travel route for a multiblock warehouse by a layered graph algorithm, based on storage first-retrieval second and mixed storage and retrieval policies. We also propose an effective heuristic routing policy, the closest retrieval (CR) sequence policy, based on a local shortest path. Numerical results show that the CR policy leads to shorter travel times than the well-known S-shape policy, whereas the gap with the optimal mixed storage and retrieval policy in practical scenarios is small. Based on the CR policy, we model the stochastic behavior of the system using a semiopen queuing network (SOQN). This model can accurately estimate average tote throughput time and system throughput capacity as a function of the number of robots in the system. We use the SOQN and corresponding closed queuing network models to optimize the total annual cost as a function of the warehouse shape, the number of robots, and tote buffer positions on the robots for a given average tote throughput time and throughput capacity. Compared with robots that retrieve a single tote per trip, an MTSR system with at least five buffer positions can achieve lower operational costs while meeting given average tote throughput time and tote throughput capacity constraints. Funding: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72372088] and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program [Grant GJHZ20220913143003006]. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0397 .

To Test or Not to Test? The Graduate Record Examinations: Predictive Validity toward Graduate Study Success on Research Masters’ Programs in a Large European University

Graduate admissions committees in Europe have a challenging task of selecting students from an increasingly large pool of candidates with diverse application files. Graduate standardized testing can ease the comparison of application files. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is predictive of several dimensions of graduate success on English-taught research masters’ programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at a large European university. The data from 167 masters’ students were collected. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. All GRE scales predicted Graduate Grade Point Average. Individual GRE scales predicted internship grade and supervisors’ assessments of students’ research performance and the content of their research report. None of the individual GRE scales predicted supervisors’ assessments of students’ practical skills, but the three GRE scales taken together improved the explanatory power of the model. The structure and style of students’ research reports was not predicted by the GRE. All relationships were held after accounting for socioeconomic status. Overall, the GRE appeared as a reasonable predictor of graduate study success. Both the benefits and drawbacks of the implementation of the GRE in European masters’ programs are discussed, as well as the legal limitations.

A review of talent management and human resource practices in the context of small and medium enterprises

In the dynamic environment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the expertise of Talent Management (TM) and Human Resource (HR) practices is important. These include a comprehensive approach for identifying, nurturing and retaining qualified workers, which define the core structure of SMEs' organizational strength. It represent an inclusive strategy to workforce development, including recruiting, upskilling, performance optimization, and developing a working culture that is well matched to the unique subtleties and challenges that SMEs encounter. This review provides a comprehensive examination of TM and HR management (HRM) methods in the context of SMEs. It starts by stressing the significance and specifics of SMEs, emphasizing their critical role in fostering growth as well as the unique obstacles they confront as a result of resource restrictions and enterprising dynamics. The importance of TM in SMEs is highlighted its crucial role in generating organizational success and innovation. Despite the inherent difficulties of TM in SMEs, such as limited resources and talent acquisition hurdles, there are exciting opportunities for advancement. Innovations in technology, strategic collaborations and talent development programs provide opportunities for SMEs to improve their competitiveness and sustainability. By addressing these significant difficulties, this summary gives a complete review of TM and HRM practices in SMEs, emphasizing the need for specialized solutions to assist SMEs with managing the complexity of recruitment and achieving sustainable success.

Regarding repeated implantation failures coupled to assisted reproductive technologies

Embryo implantation is the first key step in successful pregnancy, but implantation failures remain quite common in patients undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) programs. The main known factors of repeated implantation failures (RIF) in patients undergoing ART are unhealthy lifestyle, genetic factor and low gamete quality, uterus pathology, endometriosis and adenomyosis, thrombophilia as well as male factor and embryonic factors. RIF factors and ways to overcome them have received much attention. Despite multiple RIF causes being identified, the underlying etiology and management remain poorly investigated. In clinical practice, studies and interventions providing no clear scientific rationale or convincing evidence on their effectiveness due to the lack of standardized diagnostic and treatment methods that are often used. An effective strategy for treating RIF risk factors is necessary to increase chances for successful pregnancy in ART programs.

Fair Funding Decisions: Consistency of the Time Horizons Used in the Calculation of Quality-Adjusted Life Years for Therapies for Very Rare Diseases by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in England uses quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) to assess the cost-effectiveness of treatments. A QALY is a measure that combines the size of the clinical benefit of a treatment with the time the patient benefits from it, i.e., the time horizon. We wanted to know how consistently QALY gains are calculated at NICE. Therefore, we have analysed information on the time horizons used for the QALY calculations of the concluded evaluations conducted under the Highly Specialised Technologies programme for treatments of very rare diseases at NICE. For treatments with final guidance published by December 2023 (n = 29), a time horizon of median 97.5 years (range: 35 to 125 years) was used to calculate the QALY gains. For most QALY calculations, the accepted time horizon was longer than either the expected treatment duration or the estimated life expectancy. In contrast, for the only technology with a final negative funding decision, i.e., afamelanotide for treating the lifelong chronic disease erythropoietic protoporphyria, a time horizon that was shorter than the expected treatment duration was used. The fairness and consistency of the evaluation process of treatments for very rare diseases at NICE should be reviewed.

Employability challenges of vocational college graduates in the state of Johor

The purpose of this research is to determine the difficulties experienced by Vocational College (VC) graduates in selecting a job, aligning their study program with the career, and figuring out the abilities that employers want depending on factors such as gender, study program, and VC after graduation. 234 graduates of Electrical Technology, Electronic Technology, Welding Technology, Construction Technology, and Automotive Technology programs from 2020 to 2022 VC in Johor participated in the study. This study used a quantitative survey research approach, utilizing a questionnaire and simple random sampling to analyze data both descriptively and inferentially against a sample representative of the total population. The findings demonstrated that graduates have significant difficulties selecting a vocation, determining if their study program is suitable, and determining what qualities companies are looking for. The results of the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests showed that there is gender-based variations in the abilities and problems associated with choosing a vocation. The degree of difficulty in matching studies with jobs, compatibility of studies with careers, and the abilities employers want depending on the study program did not change based on a person's gender. Finally, depending on VC, notable variations were discovered in the degree of career choices, program fit, and skills needed by employers.

Socio-cultural practices and improved cooking stove technology choices among agro-pastoral communities in Arumeru District, Tanzania

This study assessed the socio-cultural factors influencing the choice of improved cooking stove technology among agro-pastoral communities in Arumeru District, Arusha region. The study used a cross-sectional research design and was conducted in four villages. Two categories of respondents were involved in the study. The first category consisted of 37 participants interviewed as Key Informants (KIs) and through focus group discussions (FGDs). The second category who responded to the questionnaire involved 92 respondents who had benefited from the alternative cooking energy technologies programme. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected, with a greater emphasis on qualitative data. Content analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data, while the quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) computer software. The study found the persistence of certain socio-cultural practices that encourage the use of traditional three-stone stoves over improved stoves. These practices include preferences for food cooked using traditional three-stone stoves and the tradition of formally handing over the traditional cooking stoves to a newly married woman in the household, among others. It is concluded that while some community members consider these practices positive and valuable, they largely contribute to high biomass consumption and, therefore, the likelihood of environmental degradation. It is recommended that serious sensitisation and training programmes, among other recommendations detailed in this study, be conducted.

Impact of tumour stroma-immune interactions on survival prognosis and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in bladder cancer

The tumour stroma is associated with unfavourable prognosis in diverse solid tumours, but its prognostic and predictive value in bladder cancer (BCa) is unclear. In this multicentre, retrospective study, we included 830 patients with BCa from six independent cohorts. Differences in overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were investigated between high-tumour stroma ratio (TSR) and low-TSR groups. Multi-omics analyses, including RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and single-cell RNA sequencing, were performed to study stroma-immune interactions. TSR prediction models were developed based on pelvic CT scans, and the best performing model was selected based on receiver operator characteristic analysis. Compared to low-TSR tumours, high-TSR tumours were significantly associated with worse OS (HR=1.193, 95% CI: 1.046-1.361, P=0.008) and CSS (HR=1.337, 95% CI: 1.139-1.569, P<0.001), and lower rate of pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). High-TSR tumours exhibited higher infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, including Tregs and tumour-associated neutrophils, while low-TSR tumours exhibited higher infiltration of immune-activating cells such as CD8+ Teff and XCR1+ dendritic cells. The TSR prediction model was developed by combining the intra-tumour and tumour base radiomics features, and showed good performance to predict high-TSR, as indicted by area under the curve of 0.871 (95% CI: 0.821-0.921), 0.821 (95% CI: 0.731-0.911), and 0.801 (95% CI: 0.737-0.865) in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. In patients with low predicted TSR, 92.3% (12/13) achieved pCR, while only 35.3% (6/17) of patients with high predicted TSR achieved pCR. The tumour stroma was found to be significantly associated with clinical outcomes in patients with BCa as a result of tumour stroma-immune interactions. The radiomics prediction model provided non-invasive evaluation of TSR and was able to predict pCR in patients receiving NAC for BCa. This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82373254 and 81961128027), Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 2023A1515010258), Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (Grant No. 2023B1212060013). Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (SL2022A04J01754), Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital Clinical Research 5010 Program (Grant No. SYS-5010Z-202401).