The Predictive Role of Language Proficiency and Non-Cognitive Skills on Mathematical Competence among Maritime Students

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Mathematical competence is a fundamental requirement in the maritime industry, as it supports essential functions such as navigation, vessel operations, safety management, and data-driven decision-making among maritime professionals. This study examined the predictive role of language proficiency and non-cognitive skills on the mathematical competence of maritime students at Capitol University in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Using a causal research design, data were collected from 88 third-year maritime students using stratified random sampling and adapted research instruments. Data were collected through face-to-face administration, and prior to conducting the linear regression analysis, several critical assumptions were carefully examined. Descriptive statistics revealed that students demonstrated high levels of language proficiency, non-cognitive skills, with reading comprehension and social skills obtaining the highest mean scores. Also, mathematical competence was generally rated as high with applied maritime mathematical skills obtaining the highest mean score. However, only non-cognitive skills significantly predicted mathematical competence with academic behavior emerging as the only significant dimension. The findings highlight the critical role of behavioral and attitudinal factors in strengthening mathematical performance in maritime education and suggest that enhancing students’ study habits, engagement, and responsibility may be more impactful than focusing solely on language proficiency.

The Research Design on the Management of Students’ English Learning Assessment Activities at High Schools in Tien Giang Province, Vietnam

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This paper investigates the research design on the management of students’ English learning assessment activities at high schools in the approach of PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Art). It employed Kumar’s (2011) eight-step format in designing the research process and manipulated Taro’s (1973) formula to calculate its sample size. The sampling for two groups of administrators, teachers of English and students was randomly taken from 10 out of 38 high schools in Tien Giang province, Vietnam. As a result, there were 418 educators and 1829 students chosen, which was much higher than its required sample sizes of 213 administrators, teachers and 397 learners in two groups. Besides, the study exploited a mixed research method to effectively collect quantitative data through questionnaires and qualitative ones through in-depth interviews. Additionally, the study applied SPSS 27.0 software for calculating exploratory factor analysis (EFA), total variance explained and Cronbach’s alpha, and then compared them with three accepted values of 0.3, 50.0% and 0.7, accordingly, for confirming their connection and reliability within each group. The findings indicate that all items in questionnaires met the requirements in this research.

Scrub Typhus in Sri Lanka: Assessing the Burden and Spatial Distribution Using National Surveillance Data, 2020–2024

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Background and aim: Scrub typhus is an acute zoonotic infection caused by Orientis tsutsugamushi and transmitted through the bite of infected chigger mites. It is increasingly recognized as a major cause of acute undifferentiated febrile illness across the Asia–Pacific region. In Sri Lanka, scrub typhus has re-emerged as an important public health concern, yet comprehensive national-level analyses describing its epidemiological trends and distribution remain limited. This study aims to assess the burden, geographical distribution, and temporal trends of scrub typhus in Sri Lanka over a five-year period from 2020 to 2024.

Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted using secondary surveillance data obtained from the Weekly Return of Communicable Diseases (WRCD) published by the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. Reported scrub typhus cases from January 2020 to December 2024 were extracted and analyzed. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages to describe annual trends and district-wise distribution of cases.

Results: A total of 5,947 scrub typhus cases were reported nationally during the five-year study period. The annual trend demonstrated fluctuations, with a temporary decline in reported cases in 2021, likely influenced by disruptions to healthcare services and disease surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, case numbers increased again in the subsequent years, indicating a persistent endemic presence. The geographical distribution of cases showed marked heterogeneity, with the northern district of Jaffna accounting for more than 53% of the total national burden. Other districts reported relatively lower case numbers, suggesting possible variations in ecological exposure, diagnostic capacity, and clinical awareness.

Conclusion: Scrub typhus remains an important public health concern in Sri Lanka with a sustained burden and notable geographical clustering. Strengthening laboratory diagnostic capacity, enhancing clinician awareness, improving surveillance systems, and implementing targeted preventive measures for high-risk occupational groups are essential to improve early detection and reduce the disease burden. Geographically stratified surveillance and focused interventions in high-risk districts are recommended to strengthen control efforts.

Enhancing EFL Academic Writing through E-Portfolios: An Assessment for Learning Approach in Higher Education

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This study examines the use of e-portfolios as an assessment for learning approach to improve academic writing in English as a foreign language and explores students’ perceptions of this method. The study involved 30 first-year university students in Vietnam. A mixed-methods design was used, including a writing pretest and posttest assessed across task achievement, organization, vocabulary, and grammar, along with interviews. The results showed clear improvement in overall writing performance, especially in task achievement and grammar, with moderate gains in organization and vocabulary. Students reported that e-portfolios helped them reflect on their work, track progress, and take more responsibility for learning. Despite some initial challenges with reflection and peer feedback, students viewed the approach positively. Overall, e-portfolios are an effective tool to support writing development through continuous practice and feedback.

Configuration of Long Bone Fractures in Canines – Clinical Study of 151 Cases

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Fractures in dogs can be categorised based on clinical information and radiographic appearance of the fracture. Fracture classification systems like AISF /AO serve as an integral role in elucidating fracture biomechanics, predicting associated soft tissue trauma, and formulating an optimal fixation plan. Based on  non-weight bearing lameness on affected limb, aberrant angulation of the limb at the site of fracture, oedema and crepitation at the site of fracture and pain on palpation fracture configuration is done. This is important for the selection of treatment modality.

Digitalization of Performance Measurement Systems and Employee Performance: The Mediating Role of Trust in Supervisors

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This study examines the role of digitalized performance measurement systems in influencing employee performance, with trust in supervisors as a mediating mechanism. The increasing adoption of digital technologies in management control systems has transformed traditional performance evaluation processes, enabling organizations to generate more transparent, timely, and data-driven performance information. However, prior research has reported mixed findings regarding the behavioral consequences of performance measurement systems, highlighting the need to explore underlying psychological mechanisms such as trust.

Using a quantitative survey approach, data were collected from 146 managers working in the banking sector in Indonesia. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that performance measurement technology has a significant positive effect on trust in supervisors, and trust significantly improves employee performance. However, performance measurement technology does not have a significant direct effect on employee performance.

Further analysis reveals that trust fully mediates the relationship between performance measurement technology and employee performance. These findings suggest that digitalized performance measurement systems influence performance primarily through psychological and relational mechanisms rather than through direct effects.

This study contributes to the management accounting literature by integrating digitalization and behavioral perspectives, demonstrating that the effectiveness of performance measurement systems depends not only on technological capabilities but also on their ability to foster trust within organizations.

Dual-Pathway Transformational Leadership and Civil Servant Performance: The Mediating Role of Work Motivation

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This study is grounded in Transformational Leadership Theory and Social Exchange Theory, which explain that leadership behaviors influence employee performance through reciprocal relationships and motivational mechanisms. The research aims to examine the effect of transformational leadership on civil servant performance, both directly and indirectly through work motivation, within the Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning and the Department of Housing, Settlement Areas and Land Affairs of Dharmasraya Regency. A quantitative explanatory design with a cross sectional approach was employed. The population consisted of 56 civil servants, and a census technique was applied to include all respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaires measured on a five point Likert scale and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling based on Partial Least Squares. The results indicate that transformational leadership has a positive and significant direct effect on civil servant performance and a positive and significant effect on work motivation. Work motivation also significantly influences performance and mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and performance through complementary mediation. The coefficient of determination shows moderate explanatory power, while predictive relevance values confirm adequate model prediction. Furthermore, transformational leadership is validated as a second order construct formed by inspiration, admiration, and empowerment, with inspiration demonstrating the strongest contribution. The novelty of this study lies in modeling transformational leadership as a higher order construct and explaining its dual pathway mechanism in improving performance within regional public sector institutions.

Rethinking Nigeria’s Education: A Philosophical Analysis of Transforming the Education System to Meet 21st Century Compliance

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Rethinking Nigeria’s education system is imperative to meet the demands of the 21st century. This philosophical analysis examines the need for transformation in Nigeria’s education system, highlighting the gaps between current practices and 21st-century compliance. The analysis reveals that the existing system prioritizes rote memorization over critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills, rendering it ineffective in preparing students for an increasingly complex world. This study argues that a paradigm shift is necessary to align Nigeria’s education system with 21st-century requirements. It proposes a student-centered approach that emphasizes competency-based education, technology integration, and community engagement. By adopting this approach, Nigeria can develop a more inclusive, effective, and resilient education system that prepare students for success in an interconnected world. The analysis draws on philosophical perspectives, including existentialism, phenomenology, and critical theory, to critically examine the underlying assumptions and values that shape Nigeria’s education system. It also explores the implications of these perspectives for transforming the system, highlighting the need for a more nuanced understanding of knowledge, learning, and education. Ultimately, this study contributes to the ongoing conversation about education reform in Nigeria, offering a philosophical framework for rethinking the education system. By challenging existing assumptions and proposing alternative approaches, this analysis aims to inspire policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to work towards creating a 21st-century compliant education system that unlocks the full potential of Nigeria’s citizens.

Vat Leaching and Box Leaching in Hydrometallurgy: Process Principles, Industrial Applications, and Future Perspectives

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Vat leaching and box leaching are proven percolation-based hydrometallurgical methods that provide a controlled alternative to traditional heap and tank leaching. Unlike heap leaching, which works under large-scale, low-control conditions, and tank leaching, which involves fine grinding and intensive agitation, vat and box leaching systems process crushed ores in confined reactors. This allows for better distribution of solutions, faster recovery rates, and a smaller environmental impact. These methods are widely used to extract gold, copper, uranium, and, more recently, rare earth elements from both primary ores and secondary resources. Their main benefits include greater control over leaching parameters (such as residence time, irrigation rate, and solution chemistry), reduced reagent losses, and improved handling of effluents and emissions. However, limitations such as low throughput, the need for prior crushing and sizing, potential channeling effects, and higher capital costs per unit capacity hinder wider adoption. This review explores the fundamental principles of fluid flow, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics in vat and box leaching systems, assesses their industrial use across different commodities, and discusses recent technological developments, including modular setups, hybrid flowsheets, and digital process monitoring. It also highlights key knowledge gaps related to scale-up, modeling multiphase flow in packed beds, and integrating sustainable resource recovery strategies, providing a guide for future research and industry implementation.

Deep Learning as a Transformative Pedagogical Model for Critical Thinking Development in Indonesian Vocational English Education

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The integration of critical thinking in vocational English education is increasingly urgent for 21st-century workforce preparation. However, vocational schools in developing countries like Indonesia struggle to move beyond rote memorization toward reflective learning. This study investigates how deep learning is enacted to develop critical thinking in English classrooms and identifies implementation challenges in Indonesian vocational education. Using a qualitative design, in-depth interviews were conducted with five English teachers at vocational high schools in Tana Toraja, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using Miles and Huberman’s interactive model. Findings reveal that teachers enact deep learning through contextualized materials aligned with students’ vocational fields, higher-order questioning, collaborative activities (project-based learning and discussions), facilitative teaching roles, and supportive classroom climates. These practices foster students’ ability to analyze problems, question information, defend arguments, and transfer critical thinking beyond the classroom. However, implementation faces significant challenges: teacher-level factors (time limitations, conceptual gaps, administrative burden); student-related challenges (mixed abilities, low confidence, unpreparedness for independent learning); institutional barriers (limited technology, assessment complexities); and cultural factors where respect for authority hinders questioning. The study implies that sustainable critical thinking development requires multi-level interventions: context-specific professional development, reduced administrative workload, improved infrastructure, curriculum reforms prioritizing depth over breadth, and culturally responsive pedagogies.