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A study on the effectiveness of engineering education in the development of industry-ready graduate engineers was conducted among academics and industry experts of engineering disciplines who have relevant experience in work-integrated learning in Australia. The hypothesis was that embedding enhanced work-integrated learning into all study semesters has the increased possibility of developing industry-ready graduate engineers. This paper outlines the research outcomes and an enhanced work-integrated learning framework that might be helpful for improving the industry-readiness of graduating engineers. Based on the research results, the researchers propose the allocation of an appropriate level of work-integrated learning for each indicator of attainment component from the elements of Engineers Australia's Stage I Competencies. The aim of this paper is to provide detailed recommendations for implementing an enhanced work-integrated model in Bachelor of Engineering programs in Australia. The authors also present the concept of curriculum development based on industry-integrated learning outcomes, as well as the campus and industry engagement model for enhanced work-integrated learning for the subjects of study in the Bachelor of Engineering program. This framework can be used globally as a reference for developing similar work-integrated learning models.

China's undergraduate engineering education is facing two significant challenges: passive learning and limited cross-cultural communication. In response, active learning methods such as project-based learning (PBL) and Sino-foreign cooperative education emerge as promising solutions. However, despite their potential, PBL's application remains constrained, and many Sino-foreign cooperative programs persist with traditional passive learning approaches. How to adeptly integrate the two, namely realizing active learning in Sino-foreign cooperative education, is the primary objective of this study. To this end, a sustainable strategy for cross-cultural transfer and the adaptation of active learning is proposed. Initially, a PBL-based active learning pedagogy is tailored for a course within a Sino-Australian cooperative undergraduate program. This approach integrates hands-on activities, teamwork, and the flipped classroom method. Moreover, to ensure implementation quality, an assessment method reliant on continuous student survey feedback is suggested. Subsequently, through the statistical analysis of students' survey data as well as final grades, both quantitative and qualitative results affirm the efficacy of the proposed strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

British crossbred steers (n =  3,072; initial body weight [ BW ] = 358 ± 37 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of chromium propionate supplementation to yearling steers in a commercial feedyard on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and health. Steers were blocked by initial BW; pens were assigned randomly to one of two dietary treatments within block. Treatments, replicated in 15 pens per treatment with 75 to 135 heads per pen, included 1) control, 0 mg supplemental Cr/kg dietary dry matter (DM) (CTL); 2) 0.50 mg supplemental Cr/kg diet DM (chromium propionate; KemTRACE Chromium 0.4%, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) (chromium propionate, CR). Final BW (638 vs. 641 kg), average daily gain (1.81 vs. 1.82 kg), DM intake (11.02 vs. 11.02 kg), and gain efficiency (0.164 vs. 0.165) did not differ between CTL and CR, respectively (P  ≥ 0.75). No differences among treatments for hot carcass weight (407 vs. 408 kg, CTL and CR, respectively), dressing percentage, longissimus muscle area, or yield grade were observed (P  ≥ 0.15). Twelfth-rib fat thickness tended (P  = 0.10) to be greater for CR vs. CTL (1.55 vs. 1.29 cm, respectively). A trend (P  = 0.10) for marbling score to be higher for CR vs. CTL was detected (452 vs. 440, respectively). Distribution of quality grade was similar between CR and CTL; 1.52% of carcasses graded prime (P  = 0.68), and 87.2% of carcasses graded choice (P  = 0.68). Respiratory morbidity was low (1.93%) and not different among treatments (P  = 0.20); likewise, there was no difference in respiratory treatment rates between treatments (P ≥  0.18). Supplementing Cr to high-performing yearling steers did not alter growth performance, carcass characteristics, or health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) was chosen as the woody biomass for the production of charcoal for use in a liquid fuel slurry. Charcoal produced from this biomass resulted in a highly porous structure similar to the parent material. Micronized particles were produced from this charcoal using a multi-step milling process and verified using a scanning electron microscope and laser diffraction system. Charcoal particles greater than 50 µm exhibited long needle shapes much like the parent biomass while particles less than 50 µm were produced with aspect ratios closer to unity. Laser diffraction measurements indicated D10, D50, and D90 values of 4.446 µm, 15.83 µm, and 39.69 µm, respectively. Moisture content, ash content, absolute density, and energy content values were also measured for the charcoal particles produced. Calculated volumetric energy density values for the charcoal particles exceeded the No. 2 diesel fuel that would be displaced in a liquid fuel slurry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

British crossbred steers [n = 3074; initial body weight (BW) = 358 ± 37 kg] were used to evaluate the effects of chromium propionate supplementation to yearling steers in a commercial feedyard on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health. Steers were blocked by initial BW; pens were assigned randomly to one of two dietary treatments within block. Treatments, replicated in 15 pens/treatment with 75 to 135 head per pen, included: 1) control, 0 mg supplemental Cr/kg dietary dry matter (DM) (CTL); 2) 0.50 mg supplemental Cr/kg diet DM (chromium propionate; KemTRACE® Chromium 0.04%, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) (CR). Final BW (638 vs. 641 kg.), average daily gain, (1.81 vs. 1.82 kg), DM intake (11.02 vs. 11.02 kg) and gain efficiency (0.164 vs 0.165) did not differ between CTL and CR, respectively (P ≥ 0.75). No differences among treatments for hot carcass weight (407 vs. 408 kg., CTL and CR, respectively), dressing percentage, longissimus muscle area, or yield grade were observed (P ≥ 0.15). Twelfth-rib fat thickness tended (P = 0.10) to be greater for CR vs. CTL (1.55 vs 1.29 cm, respectively). A trend (P = 0.10) for marbling score to be higher for CR vs. CTL was detected (452 vs. 440, respectively). Distribution of quality grade was similar between CR and CTL; 1.52% of carcasses graded prime (P =0.68), and 87.2% of carcasses graded choice (P = 0.68). Respiratory morbidity was low (1.93%) and not different among treatments (P = 0.20); likewise, there was no difference in respiratory treatment rates between treatments (P ≥ 0.18). Supplementing Cr to high-performing yearling steers did not alter growth performance, carcass characteristics or health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crossbred steers [British x Continental x Bos Indicus; n = 1844; initial body weight (BW) = 248 ± 28 kg] were used to evaluate the effects of chromium propionate supplementation to calf-fed steers in a commercial feedyard on growth performance, carcass characteristics and health. Steers were blocked by initial BW; pens were assigned randomly to one of two dietary treatments within block. Treatments, replicated in 15 pens/treatment with 57 to 62 head per pen, included: 1) control, 0 mg supplemental Cr/kg dietary dry matter (DM) (CTL); 2) 0.50 mg supplemental Cr/kg dietary DM (chromium propionate; KemTRACE® Chromium 0.04%, Kemin Industries, Des Moines, IA) (CR). Due to inadvertent oversight, during the final 30 days on feed, CR cattle did not receive trace minerals, vitamins, an ionophore, antibiotic, or ractopamine-hydrochloride. Final BW, average daily gain (ADG) and DM intake did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.25). Gain efficiency was greater (P = 0.03) for CTL than CR (0.16 vs. 0.15). Hot carcass weight and dressing percentage were similar among treatments (P ≥ 0.19). Yield grade was higher for CR than CTL (2.44 vs. 2.27; P < 0.01); 12th-ribfat tended to be greater for CR than CTL (P = 0.09), and longissimus area was greater for CTL vs. CR (P < 0.01). Marbling score tended (P = 0.10) to be greater for CR than CTL. Steers fed CR tended (P = 0.07) to have a greater distribution of prime carcasses than CTL (1.9% vs. 0.07%), and percentage choice carcasses was higher for CR than CTL (67.34% vs. 61. 71%, P = 0.01). Respiratory morbidity (12.20%), and retreatment rate did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.20). In the absence of a beta-agonist, CR steers had higher quality carcasses, and similar ADG and HCW to CTL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]