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This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using a virtual patient (VP) software program in increasing clinical reasoning skills confidence among medical students.

A quasi-experimental design was used to compare the outcomes of students’ confidence levels on clinical reasoning between problem-based learning (PBL) and VP program with 122 pre-clinical Year 2 medical students. History taking, physical examination, clinical investigations and diagnosis was investigated using four PBL cases in the oncology block. Pre- and post-differences in mean confidence scores between the arms were compared, as well as mean difference by type of case and skill category.

A total of 122/156 (78.2%) students participated; n = 55 were from 7 VP groups and n = 67 were from 13 control arm groups. For the primary outcome, the VP arm showed a statistically significant increase in confidence measures among 11/16 (4 cases × 4 skills) categories, compared to 4/16 for the control arm. The proportion of the students who indicated an improved confidence was statistically significant for the cervical cancer case for physical examination (60.0% improved in VP vs 12.5% in control), investigation (60.0% VP vs 18.8% control) and diagnosis (60.0% in VP vs 25.0% in control). Finally, analysis by case showed an increment in overall mean scores from the start to end of the case within the VP arm while the pattern was erratic in the control arm cases.

The study results showed that incorporating the VP into PBL was more effective in increasing students’ clinical reasoning confidence levels compared to the usual PBL. As the study utilized existing PBL cases, it demonstrates how medical schools can incorporate digital VP tools into pre-clinical years before students' transition to learning from actual patients in the clinical years.

Researchers have been trying to identify different psychological attributes which influence entrepreneurial intention (EI) and role of entrepreneurial education and training programs to develop these attributes among women. Therefore, the purpose of this study is twofold: firstly, to evaluate the difference among psychological attributes before and after an entrepreneurial education and training program. Secondly, to examine the effects of psychological attributes on EI among female students in Saudi Arabia.

A detailed program was designed with the combination of entrepreneurial education and training program throughout a 14-week semester. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 310 female university students studying in a Saudi university and participated in this program. SPSS, version 20, was used to analyze the data.

Entrepreneurial education and training programs based on active learning and learner-centered approaches play an important role to significantly improve the level of psychological attributes and EI of female students. Furthermore, findings of this study also suggest that psychological attributes (training retention, self-confidence, tolerance of ambiguity, innovativeness and achievement motivation) positively influence EI.

Previous studies only focused on relationship testing among psychological attributes and EI. This research proposes strategies to design entrepreneurial education and training program to improve psychological attributes and EI which can be considered practical version of EntreComp conceptual model.

The purpose of this study is to develop green/natural corrosion inhibitors. Adina cordifolia leaves extract (ACLE) was screened for its corrosion inhibition potential for mild steel (MS) corrosion in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ medium.

Adina cordifolia (AC) leaves were subjected to cold ethanol extraction and concentrated after refluxed with double distilled water. The resultant concentrate was screened for corrosion inhibition studies using sequence of standard corrosion monitoring techniques, namely, gravimetric analysis, electrochemical studies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Gravimetric analysis provided evidence that the prepared ACLE showed dose dependent corrosion inhibition; impedance study revealed that the ACLE increases the charge transfer resistance and decreases double layer capacitance while polarization curves indicated that ACLE acts as a mixed-type inhibitor. Further studies over MS surface/test solutions through SEM and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy evident the formation of ACLE protective film protects MS.

AC’s methanol extract developed in this work can be used as a green corrosion inhibitor over industrial applications.

For the first time, AC leaves were tested as corrosion inhibitors for MS corrosion in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ medium. The results evidenced that ACLE will be a promising corrosion inhibitor, which could be usable in industries as a green corrosion inhibitor.

This study aims to clarify the relationship between the coefficient of friction (COF) and temperature of aluminum-based brake discs.

Three friction blocks with different COFs are examined by a TM-I-type reduced-scale inertial braking dynamometer. On this basis, the thermo-mechanically coupled model of friction pairs is established to study the evolution of brake disc temperature under different COFs using ADINA software.

Results indicate that the calculated disc temperature field matches the experimental well. The effect of COF on the peak temperature is magnified by the braking speed. With the COF increasing, the rise rate of instantaneous peak temperature is accelerated, and the dynamic equilibrium period and cooling-down period are observed in advance. The increase in COF promotes the area ratio of the high-temperature zone and the maximum radial temperature difference. When the COF is increased from 0.245 to 0.359 and 0.434 at 140 km/h, the area ratio of high-temperature zone increases from 12% to 44% and 49% and the maximum radial temperature difference increases from 56°C to 75°C and 83°C. The sensitiveness of the axial temperature difference to the COF is related to the braking time. The maximum axial temperature difference increases with COF in the early stages of braking, while it is hardly sensitive to the COF in the later stages of braking.

The effect of COF on the aluminum-based brake disc temperature is revealed, providing a theoretical reference for the popularization of aluminum-based brake discs and the selection of matching brake pads.

This article examines the experiences of women leaders and their challenges in Brunei Darussalam. Globally, women are underrepresented in leadership positions. Though the Brunei government does not discriminate against any gender in delivering free education, medical facilities and healthcare, women in leadership positions are as well underrepresented. I try to understand the factors that challenge as well as motivate women to become leaders in Brunei. For this research, I conducted qualitative interviews with some respondents selected purposively. The study results show that women leaders in Brunei face challenges in obtaining financial support and accessing resources. Despite the challenges, there are some women who have been assuming and excelling in their leadership roles. The study identified that personal strengths have also been critical in contributing to their successful leadership.

This study aims to analyze the temperature difference between aluminum-based brake disc (ABD) and cast steel brake disc (CSBD) for rail vehicles in the braking process, which is related to the popularization and use of ABD.

Two friction pairs composed of ABD, CSBD and copper-based powder metallurgy brake pad were studied in this paper. The temperature characteristics of the two friction pairs were compared by 1:1 braking test and simulation calculation.

When the speed is 160–250 km/h and the braking pressure is 18 and 29 kN, the calculated maximum temperature of CSBD is 574°C and 681°C, respectively, which is higher than that of ABD 49°C–148°C and 73°C–217°C. Under the test conditions, the maximum temperature of CSBD is 487°C and 624°C respectively, which is higher than that of ABD 63°C–95°C and 63°C–188°C. The temperature difference between ABD and CSBD increases with the increase of braking pressure and speed. The surface temperature distribution of CSBD is “three-peak,” whereas that of ABD is “single-peak.”

This paper reveals the temperature difference between ABD and CSBD and provides data support for promoting the use of ABD.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2024-70320/

With this special edition, “Women and Gulf Cities”, we collect scholarly contributions to the ongoing discourse on the impact of women on architectural and urban developments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The discussions offered in this issue highlight the various implications, ranging from gender-inclusive urban planning, educational and professional development, sustainability and heritage to global frameworks of innovative and practical solutions for achieving inclusive and integrated urban practices that promote the full and equal participation of women in architecture and city-making.

The increasing involvement of women in these sectors play a pivotal part in their development and success. It can also be recognised as essential for promoting individual and family well-being, fostering social cohesion and driving economic development. Women play essential roles in sustainable solutions, evolving green economy and sustainable development. Moreover, collaborations initiated by women in the Arab region are instrumental in advancing sustainable development to pave the way towards a sustainable future.

This special edition offers a comprehensive exploration of various facets, ranging from gender-sensitive urban design (GSUD) to the educational and professional development of women in architecture and design, particularly in the Gulf region. The originality of this research lies in its focus on the multifaceted and integral role of women in shaping the architectural and urban landscape of the Gulf region, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities for GSUD and the potential for creating more inclusive, equitable and sustainable built environments in the Gulf.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the Malay children’s information needs from their experience with parental cancer using information behaviour techniques to elicit sensitive information that provided an indication of what children were thinking.

Data collection adapted the participatory action research method and used participatory-based techniques that included drawings, essays and interviews. Data explication used an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. Social constructionism, learning theory and cognitive theory were used to analyse the data. In total, 32 participants took part, ten mothers with breast cancer at different stages of their cancer journey, and 32 children between 6 and 18 years old.

There are shortcomings in the provision of cancer information for Malay children. Unlike verbose and difficult to digest medical definitions and descriptions about cancer and its treatment, the Malay children defined cancer as having components made from their experiences and observations about how cancer affected their parent. The findings explain the relationship between children participants’ reaction to a health situation and the subsequent processes they undergo to resolve their state of information need.

It highlights the importance of determining information needs and the combined methods used to gain and interpret the experience children face with a parental cancer diagnosis. The findings about ethnic-based information problems, needs and provision for dependent children of cancer patients are one of the original contributions of this research. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is believed to be the first in-depth qualitative and highly participative study of the implications of cancer for dependent children of Malay cancer patients.

The purpose of this study was to improve the quoting, scheduling, invoicing and paying for campus office moves at a university. The Lean Six Sigma project goal was to improve the campus office move process by making it less complicated, free-up program managers’ time and pay the vendor on time.

The team used the Lean Six Sigma Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control methodology to improve the process.

The average time from the campus move to when the invoice was paid improved by 27%, with an improved median of 16%. The standard deviation was greatly reduced by 51%. The average invoiced date to paid date remained statistically the same, and the median increased from 20 to 30 days, due to a policy change to move the target from 20 to 30 days. The standard deviation of the invoice to paid date was greatly reduced by 38%. This was a successful project because the sponsors were on-board from the beginning and included the process owners in the improvement effort.

Other higher education institutions or other industry areas with a similar process can implement this methodology and processes outlined in this case study to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness and as a guide for improving other processes within institutions.

This study aims to examine the effect of accreditation on higher education performance, directly and indirectly, through the quality culture as a mediator in the context of higher education, based on the perceptions of administrative and quality managers.

This is a quantitative study using stratified random sampling techniques to collect data through a nationwide survey of universities in Pakistan. Of the 150 questionnaires distributed, 105 are found to be valid, while the data are analyzed by partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

The results provide interesting insights, including significant effects of accreditation on quality culture and higher education performance, significant effects of quality culture on higher education performance and the mediating role of quality culture in relation to accreditation and higher education performance.

Limitations of the study include a relatively smaller sample size and the selection of administrative managers as the sole respondents. This study extends the theoretical understanding by introducing several linkages, including the link between accreditation and higher education performance, accreditation and quality culture, and by introducing quality culture as a mediator. Furthermore, the study also provides empirical evidence for all proposed links in the university setting. This study has implications for administrative and quality managers, in terms of effectively implementing accreditation standards by cultivating a quality culture at their respective universities, resulting in improved university performance.

This study is the first to introduce quality culture as a mediator between accreditation and higher education performance and examines the effect of accreditation and quality culture on higher education performance in the university context. Also, the interdisciplinary nature of the study makes it relevant and interesting to administrative and quality managers in the fields of higher education and quality management.