Visibilization of Graduating Student Employability Skills via ePortfolio Practices

Embedding employability skills into the core of higher education is a priority worldwide to reduce the skills gap and better equip graduates for entering or progressing in the workplace. This chapter presents an innovative solution based on high impact e-portfolio practices developed within the H2020 EPICA project oriented towards making employability skills visible. It also reports on the implementation of a new methodology for assessing and micro-credentialing employability skills tested in three East African universities. The pilot carried out in a variety of study programs is described along with the measures taken to address the spread of COVID-19. Lessons learnt, transfer possibilities, and organizational implications are also reported as a final note on the experience. This high impact learning experience aims to inspire academic institutions to innovate by integrating e-portfolio and micro-credentials along with fresh pedagogical practices and strategies that better align the future workforce with societal and economic demands.

Opportunities for development of elevated electric transport in a large city

Modern large cities include both historically developed central parts and rapidly developing peripheral neighborhoods. Today, transport flows are formed not only by traditional bus, trolleybus, and tram routes, but also by significant fleets of taxis and private vehicles. An increase in traffic load and a shortage of parking spaces significantly reduces the capacity of roads and negatively affects the environmental situation. Ensuring transport accessibility based on the development of underground urban transport, the metro, is accompanied by great labor intensity, time and financial costs. Residents of large cities try to use bicycles, electric scooters, monowheels for intra-city movements. However, in winter in Russia this type of ecological personal transport becomes less accessible. A promising option for the development of public transport for large cities with a significant length of the street network in the absence of the technical possibility of expanding the roadway, can be an elevated electric transport (monorail). Using the example of the city of Samara, where the level of automobilization in 2019 reached 344 cars per 1000 people, the possibilities of developing the transport system of a large city with the inclusion of a monorail transport section in such a system are considered. This innovative solution will improve transport accessibility and reduce the negative impact on the urban environment. The average payback period of the project will be 4.4 years.

The Effectiveness of Problem Based Learning (PBL) Based Socioscientific Issue (SSI) to Improve Critical Thinking Skills

The purpose of this research was to see how effective the Problem Based Learning (PBL) based Socioscientific Issues (SSI) is at improving critical thinking skills. The sample used was grade seven in SMPN 4 Lamongan with 2 classes and each class contains 15 students. The design of the learning materials trial used One-Group pre-test post-test design. Tests of critical thinking skills and student answer sheets were used to collect data. Techniques of data analysis used N-gain, paired t-test, and independent t-test. The result of this research is as follows: The effectiveness in terms of the critical thinking skills test the category increase is high, there is a significant difference between the test before and after learning with PBL based SSI and there is no difference N-gain in the two group classes and students' responses are classified as very good. Based on data analysis, it can be concluded that PBL with SSI is effective to improve critical thinking skills. The implications of this study are PBL-based SSI has the potential to be an innovative solution and alternative for improving critical thinking skills.

Modern combustion-electric PowerPack drive system design solutions for a hybrid two-unit rail vehicle

The article presents an innovative solution of a two-unit rail vehicle system for passanger transport with a dual-drive, diesel engine and electric motor. The vehicle was designed as a combination of two units, one dedicated to each of the two drive systems, where one unit provides electric drive while the other a combustion engine. The selection of engine and drive components was presented along with the aftertreatment systems used in the design. The provided solution was created in response to the dynamic needs of rail vehicle operators in the European Union who aim to reduce exhaust emissions without compomising the reach of the existing rail networks.

USE OF SMART 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY IN CONVENTIONAL ENGINEERING PRODUCTION TO DETECT AND PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF DEFECTS

This article aims to show how to effectively use innovation in the form of 3D printing to create simple, smart, and cheap products, which will lead to more efficient product control, reveal defects in conventional engineering production, and prevent blemishes. The article is focused on the detection and prevention of defects in classic Czech engineering manufacture using an innovative solution, which connects conventional production and SMART technology of 3D printing. The motivation of this article is to show how using SMART 3D printing technology in combination with the Poka-Yoke methodology is possible to cleverly streamline conventional engineering production and thus achieve higher productivity, which results in increasing the company's competitiveness in the market in the context of Industry 4.0.

Case Study of a Novel Autonomous Real-Time Monitoring, Control and Analysis System, to Maximize Production Uptime on Sustained Annulus Pressure Wells, While Improving HSE and Compliance with Double Barrier Well Integrity Policies

This paper describes an innovative solution for the safe and effective management of wells with unplanned sustained annulus pressure (SAP). The solution restores double barrier integrity in the well and provides reliable real time annulus pressure and temperature data. It also has the functionality to autonomously bleed-off the annulus pressure at a pre-determined set point. As a result, the nature and severity of the SAP can be better understood, and in many cases wells that would otherwise have been closed in awaiting workover can remain in production.

Blockchain Technology in Life Cycle Assessment—New Research Trends

Environmental protection is currently one of the key priority areas of the European Union (EU). The search for precise tools to assess the impact of the economy, industry, or the production of individual products or services is crucial for an effective and efficient policy in environmental protection. Blockchain technology, originally related to the financial sector and cryptocurrencies, is an innovative solution that is increasingly being implemented by other areas of the economy and industry sectors. The authors reviewed the literature and based on it presented the possibilities and effects of using blockchain technology in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), which is in line with the current development trends of this method. The analysis of the research conducted in this area also allowed to present not only the advantages of blockchain in LCA, but also the limitations of this technology and the potential directions of further research.

Antituberculosis Therapy and Gut Microbiota: Review of Potential Host Microbiota Directed-Therapies

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern with millions of deaths every year. The overlap with HIV infections, long treatment duration, and the emergence of drug resistance are significant obstacles to the control of the disease. Indeed, the standard first-line regimen TB treatment takes at least six months and even longer for the second-line therapy, resulting in relapses, drug resistance and re-infections. Many recent reports have also shown prolonged and significant damage of the gut microbial community (dysbiosis) from anti-TB drugs that can detrimentally persist several months after the cessation of treatment and could lead to the impairment of the immune response, and thus re-infections and drug resistance. A proposed strategy for shortening the treatment duration is thus to apply corrective measures to the dysbiosis for a faster bacterial clearance and a better treatment outcome. In this review, we will study the role of the gut microbiota in both TB infection and treatment, and its potential link with treatment duration. We will also discuss, the new concept of “Host Microbiota Directed-Therapies (HMDT)” as a potential adjunctive strategy to improve the treatment effectiveness, reduce its duration and or prevent relapses. These strategies include the use of probiotics, prebiotics, gut microbiota transfer, and other strategies. Application of this innovative solution could lead to HMDT as an adjunctive tool to shorten TB treatment, which will have enormous public health impacts for the End TB Strategy worldwide.