Predictability of IELTS in a high-stakes context: a mixed methods study of Chinese students’ perspectives on test preparation

High-stakes language tests are used around the world as a gatekeeping tool under the internationalization of higher education. However, the predictable aspect of the high-stakes language tests is seldom discussed, especially from students’ perspectives. This study aims to address this gap by aiming to better understand how certain factors and conditions contribute to the predictability issue of IELTS from students’ perspectives within a high-stakes context. This study used a mixed method approach to investigate the views and experiences of students within a Sino-UK joint college. The data collection was in two concurrent strands: online survey and group interviews. Findings suggested that IELTS can impact students negatively by narrowing their English learning scope, driving them into self-isolated way of study, doing repeated test-taking and buying predicted answers. Implications related to language test preparation are discussed in light of the findings.

Teachers as a panopticon for smart class students during distance learning

The education sector is experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the implementation of the distance learning (PJJ) system to reduce the risk of virus transmission. This system, however, has several obstacles, including the internet network, social inequality, uncertainty in choosing the appropriate learning method, and the decline in student achievement. This problem is also faced by smart class students at Hang Tuah Senior High School 2 of Sidoarjo, forcing its teachers to be able to create innovative learning and act actively to discipline their students. This study aimed to determine the teachers’ role as a panopticon for smart class students during distance learning. The qualitative research method was implemented using Foucault’s genealogical approach and the research informants were determined using the snowball technique. The results of this study reveal that the teachers’ role as a panopticon for the students is carried out with a hierarchical observation, giving reward and punishment, and repeated test system. This study concludes that the role of the teachers as a panopticon during distance learning at Hang Tuah Senior High School 2 of Sidoarjo is particularly useful for disciplining smart class students to carry out their obligations and prevent a decline in academic achievement even though the activities are done virtually.

Sex-Dependent Signatures, Time Frames and Longitudinal Fine-Tuning of the Marble Burying Test in Normal and AD-Pathological Aging Mice

The marble burying (MB) test, a classical test based on the natural tendency of rodents to dig in diverse substrates and to bury small objects, is sensitive to some intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Here, under emerging neuroethological quantitative and qualitative analysis, the MB performance of 12-month-old male and female 3xTg-AD mice for Alzheimer’s disease and age-matched counterparts of gold-standard C57BL6 strain with normal aging unveiled sex-dependent signatures. In addition, three temporal analyses, through the (1) time course of the performance, and (2) a repeated test schedule, identified the optimal time frames and schedules to detect sex- and genotype-dependent differences. Besides, a (3) longitudinal design from 12 to 16 months of age monitored the changes in the performance with aging, worsening in AD-mice, and modulation through the repeated test. In summary, the present results allow us to conclude that (1) the marble burying test is responsive to genotype, sex, aging, and its interactions; (2) the male sex was more sensitive to showing the AD-phenotype; (3) longitudinal assessment shows a reduction in females with AD pathology; (4) burying remains stable in repeated testing; (5) the time-course of marbles burying is useful; and (6) burying behavior most likely represents perseverative and/or stereotyped-like behavior rather than anxiety-like behavior in 3xTg-AD mice.

Sniff Species: SURMOF-Based Sensor Array Discriminates Aromatic Plants beyond the Genus Level

Lamiaceae belong to the species-richest family of flowering plants and harbor many species that are used as herbs or in medicinal applications such as basils or mints. The evolution of this group has been driven by chemical speciation, mainly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The commercial use of these plants is characterized by adulteration and surrogation to a large extent. Authenticating and discerning this species is thus relevant for consumer safety but usually requires cumbersome analytics, such as gas chromatography, often coupled with mass spectroscopy. Here, we demonstrate that quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM)-based electronic noses provide a very cost-efficient alternative, allowing for fast, automated discrimination of scents emitted from the leaves of different plants. To explore the range of this strategy, we used leaf material from four genera of Lamiaceae along with lemongrass, which is similarly scented but from an unrelated outgroup. To differentiate the scents from different plants unambiguously, the output of the six different SURMOF/QCM sensors was analyzed using machine learning (ML) methods together with a thorough statistical analysis. The exposure and purging of data sets (four cycles) obtained from a QCM-based, low-cost homemade portable e-Nose were analyzed using a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classification model. Prediction accuracy with repeated test measurements reached values of up to 0%. We show that it is possible not only to discern and identify plants at the genus level but also to discriminate closely related sister clades within a genus (basil), demonstrating that an e-Nose is a powerful device that can safeguard consumer safety against dangers posed by globalized trade.

Validation of RANS Modelling for Wave Interactions with Sea Dikes on Shallow Foreshores Using a Large-Scale Experimental Dataset

In this paper, a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations solver, interFoam of OpenFOAM®, is validated for wave interactions with a dike, including a promenade and vertical wall, on a shallow foreshore. Such a coastal defence system is comprised of both an impermeable dike and a beach in front of it, forming the shallow foreshore depth at the dike toe. This case necessitates the simulation of several processes simultaneously: wave propagation, wave breaking over the beach slope, and wave interactions with the sea dike, consisting of wave overtopping, bore interactions on the promenade, and bore impacts on the dike-mounted vertical wall at the end of the promenade (storm wall or building). The validation is done using rare large-scale experimental data. Model performance and pattern statistics are employed to quantify the ability of the numerical model to reproduce the experimental data. In the evaluation method, a repeated test is used to estimate the experimental uncertainty. The solver interFoam is shown to generally have a very good model performance rating. A detailed analysis of the complex processes preceding the impacts on the vertical wall proves that a correct reproduction of the horizontal impact force and pressures is highly dependent on the accuracy of reproducing the bore interactions.

Should Items and Answer Keys of Small-Scale Exams Be Published?

This study aimed to examine the effect of using items from previous exams on students’ pass-fail rates and on the psychometric properties of the tests and items. The study included data from 115 tests and 11,500 items used in the midterm and final exams of 3,910 students in the preclinical term at the Faculty of Medicine from 2014 to 2019. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics related to the total test scores, item difficulty and item discrimination values, and internal consistency values for reliability. The Shapiro-Wilks test was used to evaluate the distribution structure, and t test were used to analyze the differences between groups. The findings showed that the mean item repetition rate from 2014 to 2019 ranged from 16.98% to 39.00%. The total score variance decreased significantly as the percentage of test items increased. There was a significant, moderately positive relationship between the percentage of repeated test items and the number of students eligible to pass their grades. Item difficulty values obtained from initial item use were significantly lower than those obtained from repeated item use. We conclude that test items and answer keys should not be published by test makers unless they have the means such as the infrastructure, budget, and personnel to develop new items in place of the ones previously published in test banks.

Profile Changes in Weight and Body Mass Index of Single Rod Levonorgestrel Implant Acceptor (Monoplant®)

Objective: To finding out the change of weight and body mass index (BMI) of single rodlevonorgestrel implant acceptor (Monoplant®).Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conductedusing data changes of weight and BMI obtained from series of measurement which is recorded in patients’ medical record in three years of Monoplant® placement in Raden Saleh Clinic, Jakarta. This method is the part of a research of a bigger phase two in clinical test.Results: From 21 subjects of this research, the average weight and BMI before and after 3 years of Monoplant® placement is gained, i.e. 53.1 (SD 11,0) kg and 22.4 (SD 4.5) kg/m2, and 54.8 (SD 9.4) kg and 23.1 (SD 3.9) kg/m2. Despite the tendency of increasing, statistically the increasing of weight and BMI, however, is meaningless (p=0.09) and (p=0.08). There is a difference of weight in series of measurement, particularly after the 12th month (Repeated test ANOVA p=0.024). Even though there is no difference in BMI average, there is a difference in subject's proportion based on BMI categories before and after Monoplant® placement (Marginal homogeneity test p=0.046). The increasing of levonorgestrel level occurs in the 6th month and subsequently followed by the increase of BMI in the 12th month.Conclusions: There is a tendency of increasing weight and BMI in Monoplant® users, specifically after one year despite statistically insignificant.Keywords: levonorgestrel, monoplant®, weight, body mass index. AbstrakTujuan: Untuk mengetahui perubahan berat badan dan indeks massa tubuh pada akseptor implan levonorgestrel satu batang (Monoplant®).Metode: Studi deskriptif dengan desain potong lintang mengambil data perubahan BB dan IMT diperoleh dari pengukuran serial yang tercatat dalam rekam medis pasien selama tiga tahun pemasangan Monoplant® di Klinik Raden Saleh, Jakarta. Penelitian ini merupakan bagian dari suatu penelitian uji klinis fase 2 yang lebih besar.Hasil: Dari 21 subjek penelitian ini, didapatkan rerata BB dan IMT sebelum dan setelah 3 tahun pemasangan Monoplant®yakni 53,1 (SB 11,0) kg dan 22,4 (SB 4,5) kg/m2, serta 54,8 (SB 9,4) kg dan 23,1 (SB 3,9) kg/m2. Meskipun ada kecenderungan naik, tetapi secara statistik kenaikan BB dan IMT tersebut tidak bermakna (p=0,09) dan (p=0,08). Terdapat perbedaan berat badan dalam pengukuran serial, terutama setelah bulan ke-12 (Uji repeated ANOVA p=0,024). Walaupun tidak terdapat perbedaan rerata IMT, terdapat perbedaan proporsi subjek berdasarkan kategori IMT sebelum dan setelah pemasangan Monoplant® (Uji Marginal homogeinity p=0,046). Peningkatan kadar levonorgestrel terjadi pada bulan ke-6 yang kemudian diikuti oleh kenaikan IMT pada bulan ke-12.Kesimpulan: Terdapat kecenderungan peningkatan BB dan IMT pengguna Monoplant®, khususnya setelah satu tahunmeskipun secara statistik tidak bermakna.Kata kunci: berat badan, indeks massa tubuh, levonorgestrel, monoplant®.

Assessment of PD-L1 expression in patients with urothelial cancer with contraindications to platinum based therapy

Background. Urothelial cancer ranks 7th and 17th of all the malignant tumors in males and females, respectively. Development of new immunotherapeutic drugs provides new possibilities in treatment of such patients, especially the patient population in whom platinum‑based therapy is contraindicated. Administration of immunooncology drugs requires determination of PD-L1, for which various diagnostic systems are used. The question regarding correlation of results of determination of PD-L1 expression remains of concern.Materials and Methods. The study was performed on 100 samples of surgical and biopsy samples of urothelial cancer. Two clones of 22C3 and SP142 with corresponding detection systems were used for the study. PD-L1 expression was assessed in tumor and immune cells.Results. The study demonstrated a high correlation of negative PD-L1 tumor status determined using both diagnostic agents (92 % and 97 %) and low correlation of results of positive PD-L1 status (67 % and 43 %).Conclusions. Thus, if a negative result of PD-L1 status of urothelial cancer is obtained using any of the diagnostic agents studied, repeated test with the other antibody is not required. If positive status is obtained in one test, the patient may have a negative status in the other test, which allows recommending a repeated testing in borderline cases using a test, recommended for the medicinal product untended for treatment.