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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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

/in /by

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.

Tax Risk Management: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Research Agenda

/in /by

The recent financial scandals (Enron, WorldCom…) have contributed to placing corporate governance at the heart of the productive organization and to presenting it as the new reality of management. Today, these initiatives are gaining ground in several countries. In this context, researchers emphasize the importance of and the need to develop an increased awareness of enterprise risk management and internal control. Although it is now identified as an integral part of corporate governance, tax risk management has received less attention than risk management in general, and research in this area is still very limited. The aim of this article is two-fold. First, it attempts to analyze the current state of the literature on tax risk management, and second, to propose some avenues for future research in this area. Using a systematic review process, we collected 57 articles published in highly regarded journals listed in the Web Of Science and Google Scholar databases. The review highlights that the results of this literature can be presented in two sections: (I) A discussion of current studies on TRM, including the conceptualization of tax risk, the determinants of the TRM implementation, its tools and mechanisms, and the adoption effects of its process; and (II) recommendations for future research programs. This article makes significant contributions to the academic literature, which can be used by researchers to explore gaps in TRM research. Not only that, practitioners can also draw on the findings presented to gain insight into the importance of a TRM process within their organizations.

Strategic HRM in Digital Transformation: Haier’s ‘Rendanheyi’ Model

/in /by

Digital transformation is a major challenge for many companies. They have clear strategies, but they fail to implement them in practice. This study explores how human resource management (HRM) can connect strategy and execution. It takes Haier as a case study. Haier developed the Rendanheyi management model to address the gap between strategy and execution. The study aims to clarify how strategic HRM turns digital strategy into actual results. It adopts a single case study method. Data is collected from public reports and in-depth interviews with six Haier employees. Two key findings are drawn. First, Haier’s HRM has undergone three stages of transformation. It started with basic digital tools for HR work, then shifted to improved digital services for employees, and finally developed into digitalized human capital operation. Second, the HRM transformation succeeds because it is closely aligned with Haier’s digital strategy. The HRM system acts as a bridge. It links the company’s top-level digital strategy with employees’ daily work. This study shows that HRM plays a key role in corporate digital transformation. It is not just a support function. It can drive corporate change in the digital age.

Evolution and Convergence of CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA: Is PVL Still a Discriminating Factor?

/in /by

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) remains a significant global pathogen responsible for both healthcare-associated and community-associated infections. Historically, the presence of Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) served as a key molecular marker distinguishing community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) from hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). However, increasing evidence of genetic convergence between these lineages challenges the reliability of PVL as a discriminating factor. Over time, the distinctions between community-associated (CA-MRSA) and hospital-associated (HA-MRSA) strains have become increasingly blurred. This is largely due to the ongoing exchange of genetic material, clonal expansion, and the dynamic nature of antibiotic resistance. In this review, we take a closer look at the molecular epidemiology of both CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA, with particular attention to the structure and pathogenic role of Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL). We also examine how the presence of PVL varies among different MRSA strains and discuss whether it still holds value as a marker in surveillance efforts. Given the rapid evolution of bacterial genomes, we reflect on the clinical implications of relying on PVL for classification. The review concludes by outlining future research priorities, especially the need for integrated genomic monitoring and more comprehensive typing strategies to enhance MRSA management and improve patient care.