bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sandwich‐structured dielectrics constructed from carbon nanotube and polyarylene ether nitrile composite layers demonstrating positive and negative permittivity
Authors: Song Dandan , Yang Cui , Lei Xiaowen , Hua Xiufu , Wang Lingling , Wei Renbo
Published: July 2024

Polymeric dielectric materials with high energy storage density have attracted plenty of attention due to their broad application prospects in electronic device fields. However, energy density of polymer dielectrics is limited originating from the difficulty in balancing permittivity and breakdown strength. Herein, we report fabrication of sandwich‐structured polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) composites with enhanced energy density by hot pressing single layered phthalonitrile groups modified carbon nanotube (Ph‐CNT) and PEN (Ph‐CNT/PEN) composite films demonstrating positive and negative permittivity. The Ph‐CNT/PEN composites exhibit positive permittivity at Ph‐CNT content lower than 6 wt%, while shows negative permittivity at a higher Ph‐CNT concentration. Attributing to the synergistic action of the positive and negative dielectric layer, the dielectric constant is enhanced to 90.9 at 200 kHz for sandwich‐structured PEN composite T‐6‐8‐6 at a thickness ratio of 1/0.5/1. Although the breakdown strength is decreased to 147.7 kV/mm, the 1/0.5/1 sandwich‐structured film T‐6‐8‐6 demonstrates an energy storage as high as 9.1 J/cm3, which is about 10 times to that of pure PEN. This boosted energy storage density presents a fresh approach to advancing high‐performance dielectric materials, offering wide‐ranging potential applications across electronic devices.

Highlights

Sandwich‐structured PEN composites with enhanced energy density are fabricated.

Sandwich‐structured films consists of positive and negative dielectric layer.

Ph‐CNT/PEN exhibit negative permittivity at a higher Ph‐CNT concentration.

Dielectric constant increases due to synergistic action of dielectric layers.

Sandwich‐structured film demonstrates an energy storage as high as 9.1 J/cm3.
The affinity of cellulose nanoparticle toward hydrogel based on chitosan/tragacanth for radiation protection: Study of pulmonary damages on rats
Authors: Akbari Lasboo Sepideh , Eslami Hossein , Razavi‐Tousi Seyyed Mohammad Taghi , Ansari Mojtaba , Afroozan Bazghaleh Atefeh
Published: July 2024

In order to overcome the harmful effects of radiation exposure on lung tissue in radiation therapy, a complete comparative analysis was performed between the injectable pure hydrogel and a novel composite hydrogel, taking into account the addition of cellulose nanoparticles in varying ratios. Initially, both chitosan and tragacanth hydrogels were chemically were modified, and then characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and rheology measurement. For in vivo studies, 42 rats were divided into seven groups. Rats in group 1, were not exposed to radiation, and no injection was done. Rats in group 2 were exposed to a radiation dose of 15 Gy without any injection. Rats in groups 3, 4, and 5 got injectable chitosan/ tragacanth hydrogel containing nanocellulose 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg BW, respectively, along with a radiation dose of 15 Gy. Rats in group 6 got a radiation dose of 15 Gy and an IP injection optimal dose of cellulose nanoparticle and PBS. Rat in group 7 got a radiation dose of 15 Gy and an IP injection of hydrogel containing only chitosan–tragacanth. The pathological results demonstrated that the 25 mg/kg BW dose of nanocellulose‐contained hydrogel possessed less inflammation, mucus secretion, bleeding in lung tissue, and air sac wall thickening than other groups. In addition, a biochemistry assessment was conducted by examining the activity of three enzymes of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxide (GPx), which findings confirmed the hydrogel incorporated with 25 mg/kg BW dose of nanocellulose decreased cell death in a lung tissue damaged by radiation which was 52 IU/mL, 37 IU/mL, and 10 μM in comparison with 63 IU/mL, 40 IU/mL, and 1 μM for the control sample.
Impact of Boron Atom Clustering on the Electronic Structure of (B,In)N Alloys
Authors: Nies Cara‐Lena , Schulz Stefan
Published: July 2024

Tailoring the electronic and optical properties of nitride‐based alloys for optoelectronic device applications in the ultraviolet and red spectral range has attracted significant attention in recent years. Adding boron nitride (BN) to indium gallium nitride (In,Ga)N alloys can help to control the lattice mismatch between (In,Ga)N and GaN and may thus allow to reduce strain‐related defect formation. However, understanding of the impact of BN on the electronic properties of III‐N alloys, in particular the influence of experimentally observed boron atom clustering, is sparse. This work presents first‐principles calculations investigating the electronic properties of highly mismatched (B,In)N alloys with boron contents between 2% and 7%. Special attention is paid to the impact of the alloy microstructure. While the results show that the lattice constants of such alloys largely agree with lattice constants determined from a Vegard approximation, the electronic structure strongly depends on the local boron atom configuration. For instance, if boron atoms are dispersed throughout the structure and are not sharing nitrogen atoms, the band gap of (B,In)N alloys is largely unaffected and stays close to the gap of pristine InN. However, in the case of boron atom clustering, i.e., when boron atoms are sharing nitrogen atoms, the band gap can be strongly reduced, often leading to a metallic state in (B,In)N alloys. These strong band gap reductions are mainly driven by carrier localization effects in the valence band. Our calculations thus show that the electronic structure of (B,In)N alloys strongly depends on the alloy microstructure and that boron atom clustering plays an important role in understanding the electronic and optical properties of these emerging materials.
ANN‐PID based automatic braking control system for small agricultural tractors
Authors: Pradhan Nrusingh Charan , Sahoo Pramod Kumar , Kushwaha Dilip Kumar , Bhalekar Dattatray G. , Mani Indra , Kumar Kishan , Singh Avesh Kumar , Kumar Mohit , Makwana Yash , V. Soumya Krishnan , T. N. Aruna
Published: July 2024

Braking system is a crucial component of tractors as it ensures safe operation and control of the vehicle. The limited space availability in the workspace of a small tractor exposes the operator to undesirable posture and a maximum level of vibration during operation. The primary cause of road accidents, particularly collisions, is attributed to the tractor operator's insufficient capacity to provide the necessary pedal power for engaging the brake pedal. During the process of engaging the brake pedal, the operator adjusts the backrest support to facilitate access to the brake pedal while operating under stressed conditions. In the present study, a linear actuator‐assisted automatic braking system was developed for the small tractors. An integrated artificial neural network proportional–integral–derivative (ANN‐PID) controller‐based algorithm was developed to control the position of the brake pedal based on the input parameters like terrain condition, obstacle distance, and forward speed of the tractor. The tractor was operated at four different speeds (i.e., 10, 15, 20, and 25 km/h) in different terrain conditions (i.e., dry compacted soil, tilled soil, and asphalt road). The performance parameters like sensor digital output (SDO), force applied on the brake pedal (), and deceleration were considered as dependent parameters. The SDO was found to good approximation for sensing the position of the brake pedal during braking. The optimized network topology of the developed multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) was 3‐6‐2 for predicting SDO and deceleration of the tractor with a coefficient of determination () for the training and testing datasets of the SDO and deceleration were obtained as 0.9953 and 0.9854, and 0.9254 and 0.9096, respectively. The Ziegler–Nichols (Z‐N method) method was adopted to determine the initial optimal gains of the PID controller and later these coefficients were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimized proportional (), integral (), and derivative () coefficient values were 4.8, 6.782, and 3.15, respectively. The developed integrated ANN, that is, MLPNN and PID‐based algorithm could successfully control the position of the brake pedal during braking. The stopping distance and slip of the tractor during automatic braking increased with an increase in the forward speed for the tractor from 10 to 25 km/h in all the selected terrain conditions.
Microcavity‐Enhanced Polarization Photodetection in Antimony Selenide Nanotube‐Based Near‐Infrared Photodetectors
Authors: Zhang Songqing , As’Ham Khalil , Wang Han , Pan Wenwu , Al‐Ani Ibrahim , Luo Huijia , Liu Junliang , Ren Yongling , Hattori Haroldo Takashi , Miroshnichenko Andrey E. , Faraone Lorenzo , Lei Wen
Published: July 2024

This study presents the polarization photodetection enhancement in Sb2Se3 nanotube (NT)‐based near‐infrared (NIR) photodetectors through simulation‐based and experimental investigations. High‐quality single‐crystal Sb2Se3 NTs are grown via chemical vapor deposition and characterized by using multiple techniques. The optical simulation reveals a remarkable difference in the light absorption ratio (specifically, absorption along the NT/nanowire (NW) against absorption perpendicular to the NT/NW) between Sb2Se3 NT and NW of the same size in the NIR region. The complementary photodetection experiments present that the fabricated Sb2Se3 NT photodetector demonstrates enhanced polarization photodetection in the NIR range, as indicated by a significantly increased dichroic ratio (3.03 at 850 nm) compared to that of similar‐sized NW counterpart (1.81 at 850 nm). Additionally, the Sb2Se3 NT photodetector exhibits exceptional performance, with a high responsivity of 4.18 A W−1 and specific detectivity of 8.94 × 1010 Jones under 830 nm light illumination. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the microcavity resonance effect and its role in polarization photodetection enhancement, highlighting the potential of self‐assembled Sb2Se3 NTs in high‐performance near‐infrared polarized photodetection and other relevant applications.
Research on privacy leakage of celebrity's ID card number based on real‐name authentication
Authors: Yue Hongzhou , Song Zebin , Zhao Mengli , Yang Lijia
Published: July 2024

The Internet real‐name system is widely implemented among Chinese Internet users, and many commonly used apps in China exist the functions of real‐name authentication. However, our study found that many apps do not have effective restrictions on user's operations of real‐name authentication, resulting in users being able to frequently perform unsuccessful real‐name authentication attempts. This vulnerability can help an attacker crack celebrity's ID card number by enumeration attacks, and a feasible cracking method was proposed in this paper. First, the information of birth date, birth place, and life experiences of a celebrity is collected from the platforms that display celebrities' personal information (e.g., Wikipedia, Baidu Baike, etc.). In this process, an information extraction method is used to infer permanent residences from life experiences. Then, the possible ID card numbers of a celebrity can be constructed by using the information of birth date, birth place, and permanent residences. Finally, these possible ID card numbers will be verified by sending requests to platforms that have vulnerabilities in the function of user real‐name authentication, until the real ID card number of a celebrity being cracked. This paper conducted cracking experiments on two groups of celebrities. The first group of celebrities is collected from the news events of privacy leakage that were publicly available online, and the second group of celebrities is randomly selected from two encyclopedia platforms. The experimental results showed that the success rate of cracking the ID card numbers of celebrities is 53.9%, which verified the effectiveness of the proposed cracking method. Besides, this paper proposed some security precaution suggestions to solve this security problem, and the implementation, feasibility, potential impact, expected effectiveness of these measures were also analyzed. To our knowledge, our paper is the first to point out the issue of privacy leakage of celebrity's ID card number caused by apps' real‐name authentication functions in China. We believe that our research will attract widespread attention from society regarding celebrity's privacy information protection.
Design principle of anti‐corrosive photocatalyst for large‐scale hydrogen production
Authors: Gonuguntla Spandana , Jaksani Bhavya , Jamma Aparna , Vennapoosa Chandra Shobha , Chatterjee Debabrata , Pal Ujjwal
Published: July 2024

With the most advances made so far in terms of photocatalyst design and preparation (inorganic photoredox nanoparticles), researchers of different expertise joined together to address sustainable energy conversion. Despite notable advancements in creating exceptionally active photocatalysts, the practical scalability of these innovations is hindered by issues such as ineffective utilization of solar energy and mass transport, recombination reactions, catalyst instability, and photo corrosion of the catalyst. In this roadmap review, we brief the fundamentals, latest progress, outstanding challenges, and novel design methodology for anticorrosive photocatalysts favorable to large‐scale hydrogen production. To enable the effective scaling of photocatalysis, beyond the inherent activity of photocatalysts, a range of additional factors are considered, with a primary focus on the design of photocatalytic systems. This review underlines the significance of well‐structured photocatalyst design and evaluation for achieving reproducibility and using dependable research methodology for conducting rigorous experiments. The recommendations are directed at reducing the uncertainty surrounding the optimism presented in published research, and we spotlight our recent research advancements. Importantly, the synergistic integration of design principles and research methodologies to enhance the anti‐corrosion properties of photocatalysts may pave the way for a practical technology to utilize solar energy for large‐scale hydrogen production efficiently.

This article is categorized under:

Sustainable Energy > Solar Energy
Bioenergy potential in Nigeria, how to advance knowledge and deployment to enable SDG 7
Authors: Okoro Prince Anthony , Chong Katie , Röder Mirjam
Published: July 2024

Biomass is currently the main energy source in Nigeria, but it is being used and managed unsustainably, resulting in significant health and environmental risks. To support Nigeria's transition to an affordable, reliable, and low‐emission future, there is a need to shift from traditional biomass use to modern bioenergy applications. The research reviews the existing knowledge on themes relevant to developing sustainable modern bioenergy for Nigeria in the context of agri‐residues. It synthesizes the key findings on the themes from 161 scientific literature published between 2010 and 2021 on Nigeria and Sub‐Saharan Africa. The findings show that most literature focused on agri‐residues potentially available in large amounts but highly disaggregated, such as cassava and palm residues. Furthermore, the literature highlighted the importance of understanding agri‐residue aggregation, technological, economic, socio‐economic, governance framework of bioenergy, and the interactions with other sectors to unlock the full potential of modern bioenergy. While research acknowledged that bioenergy could enhance energy security, economic growth, and social co‐benefits, there has been less focus on the benefits of novel bioenergy solutions co‐created by relevant stakeholder groups in Nigeria. Involving relevant stakeholders in developing novel bioenergy solutions would address the missing link between resource assessment, appropriate technology deployment, and end‐user demand. It would also enhance the analysis of the bioenergy market and nonmarket benefits and ensure that bioenergy solutions in Nigeria are aligned with community needs and foster inclusivity.

This article is categorized under:

Sustainable Energy > Bioenergy

Policy and Economics > Governance and Regulation
Prescribed fire in the Nelchina Basin: a case study for managing moose population
Authors: Anderson Katie L. , Spalinger Donald E. , Collins William B.
Published: July 2024

The Nelchina Basin, located west of Glenallen, AK provides important mooseAlces alceshabitat throughout the year. However, previous research in this area has shown that the moose populations appear to be nutritionally limited by the available forage. The Nelchina Basin was deemed an intensive management unit to increase moose populations through predator control efforts and prescribed fires to increase the amount of available forage, including the 2004 Alphabet Hills fire. We quantified the available digestible energy (DE) and digestible protein (DP) during the summer of 2018 and 2019, as well as the winter in between, and availability of forages for moose within the burn perimeter and the adjacent unburned forest during the summer of 2019. We found that total canopy cover of the primary forage species was lower in the burned areas than in the adjacent unburned forest habitats, but only by 1%. Summer DP was significantly impacted by burn/unburn, caused by a 6% difference between the burn (avg = 2.58%) and the forest (avg = 2.43%). We also found a significant difference in DE and DP across the two sampling years. Although others have shown a positive effect of wildfire for herbivore populations, we found that the Alphabet Hills fire may not have made as much of a positive impact as in other systems. This project highlights the importance of research that quantifies both the availability of and the quantity of available food resources for herbivores.
An N‐Heterocyclic Germylene and Stannylene with a 1,1’‐Ferrocenylene Backbone and Dimesitylboryl N‐Substituents
Authors: Jacob Hannes L. , Cramer Jan , Guthardt Robin , Bruhn Clemens , Siemeling Ulrich
Published: July 2024

The diaminoferrocene derivative fc[NH(BMes2)]2 (1H2; fc=1,1’‐ferrocenylene, Mes=mesityl) was prepared from fc(NH2)2 and Mes2BCl and used for the preparation of the N‐heterocyclic tetrylenes fc{[N(BMes2)]2E} (1E, E=Ge, Sn) via the sodium amide fc[NNa(BMes2)]2 (1Na2), which was obtained from 1H2 and NaN(SiMe3)2. 1H2 is inert towards LiN(SiMe3)2 or nBuLi. Its reaction with nBuLi in the presence of TMEDA afforded the TMEDA‐coordinated lithium amide 1Li2(TMEDA)2. Crystallisation of 1Na2 from THF furnished the adduct 1Na2(THF)3. The reaction of 1Na2 with Me3SiCl afforded 1(SiMe3)2. Attempts to obtain the thiourea fc{[N(BMes2)]2C=S} (1C=S) from 1Na2 and Cl2C=S were not successful. 1C=S is accessible from fc(NH3)Cl2, which is transformed to fc[(NH)2C=S] (2) by reaction with Cl2C=S and NEt3 (4 equiv.), followed by conversion of 2 to fc{[N(SiMe3)]2C=S} (3) with Me3SiCl and NEt3 (2 equiv.) and subsequent reaction of 3 with Mes2BCl. All new compounds except 1Na2 and 2 were structurally characterised by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The N‐boryl substituents of 1E compete efficiently with the EII atom for nitrogen π‐donation, causing comparatively long EII−N bonds and small EII bond angles. 1C=S contains a four‐membered BNCS ring due to intramolecular adduct formation involving the Lewis basic S atom and a Lewis acidic B atom.
Reliability and Validation of the PFIQ-7 and PFDI-20 in the Luganda Language
Authors: Jensen JaNiese Elizabeth , Ngobi Michael Derrick , Kiweewa Flavia Matovu , Fleecs Julia Diane , Vemulapalli Ramya , Steffen Haley Alaine , Wendt Linder Hagstrom , Jackson Jay Brooks , Kenne Kimberly Ann
Published: July 2024

Introduction and Hypothesis

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) impact women worldwide and are assessed using instruments such as the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20) and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7). There are no known valid PFD instruments in Uganda. This study’s purpose was to translate and test the reliability and validity of the PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 in Luganda. It was predicted that these instruments would be reliable and valid to assess the presence and impact of PFD in parous Luganda-speaking women.

Methods

The translated PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 were administered to parous Luganda-speaking women and readministered 4–8 months after. The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) examination determined the presence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and a cough-stress test (CST) measured urinary leakage. Analysis was completed using Cronbach’s α co-efficient for internal consistency and Spearman’s correlation coefficients and Wilcoxon rank sum tests for construct validity.

Results

Of the 159 participants, 93 (58.3%) had stage II POP or higher. The PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 demonstrated minimal bother and impact on activities of daily living respectively. The Urinary Distress Inventory 6 (UDI-6) scores on the PFDI-20 showed a strong positive association with the presence of urinary incontinence. When PFD was defined by responses to symptom assessment, the translated PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 could differentiate between individuals with and without PFD.

Conclusions

The UDI-6 section of the PFDI-20 was found to be valid in Luganda. The PFIQ-7 and the entirety of the PFDI-20 were not found to be reliable or valid, likely because of the low prevalence of PFDs in the study population.
Women’s Pornography Use Patterns and Sexuality Education in U.S. Public Schools
Authors: Fraumeni-McBride Julie , Willoughby Brian J.
Published: July 2024

This study investigated the relationship between sexuality education in U.S. public schools and women's pornography use. Utilizing quantitative methods, we examined a sample of women attending U.S. public schools who reported regular pornography use. Results revealed that, regardless of the type of sexuality education received, women exhibited similar rates of pornography use, with 60% reporting its use. A substantial portion (69%) of the women began using pornography during childhood or adolescence. Women who received abstinence only sexuality education reported higher frequencies of pornography use compared to their comprehensive sexuality education counterparts. About 79% of women using pornography perceived it as a source of sexuality learning, especially regarding sexual pleasure. However, they expressed reluctance in using pornography for sexual education and did not consider it a preferred method for learning about sexuality. The findings suggest the need for comprehensive sexuality education that addresses essential topics, such as sexual pleasure and sexual script development, to cater to women’s diverse learning needs, ideally taught by parents or primary caregivers, but may be necessary for public education in the absence of parental instruction. Policymakers and educators should bridge these gaps to develop more effective sexuality education curricula. This study contributes valuable insights, highlighting the importance of an inclusive approach to sexuality education in U.S. public schools. Future research should explore the implications of different sexuality education approaches on women's sexual development and well-being, emphasizing comprehensive education to foster healthy sexual behaviors among women.
Does montane meadow restoration influence the mineral association and stability of soil carbon?
Authors: Bagcilar Seren H. , Reed Cody C. , Poulson Simon R. , Verburg Paul S. J. , Sullivan Benjamin W.
Published: July 2024

Soil carbon (C) stability is an important consideration for management that aims to increase long-term C storage. The fraction of soil C allocated to physico-chemically protected mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) is a common soil C stability benchmark. However, the reality of soil C persistence is more complex than MAOM content alone—particularly in ecosystems such as meadows with high rates of belowground C inputs that can stimulate MAOM decomposition. Here, we combined three metrics of soil C persistence to characterize soil C stability across a meadow restoration chronosequence averaging belowground C gains of 330 g C m−2 y−1 for ~20 y. The metrics were: (1) the fraction of soil C in MAOM and particulate organic matter (POM), (2) the susceptibility of soil C to decomposition under varying temperatures, and (3) the utilization of MAOM-C by microbes. Two metrics suggested soil C stability may increase following montane meadow restoration. As soil C concentration increased with restoration, C storage in MAOM, but not POM, increased (metric 1). The susceptibility of MAOM-C to decomposition (microbial respiration relative to MAOM-C) decreased with increasing soil C concentration across temperatures (metric 2). Stable isotope results could not definitively determine the source of carbon dioxide efflux (metric 3) but generate hypotheses for future research to address. We posit that C sequestered following montane meadow restoration could be stable, with implications for regional C storage objectives. Further, our data point toward complex mineral-associated C dynamics including the potential importance of plant inputs for MAOM formation in meadow soils.
Initial Validation of the Self Experiences Questionnaire-2 in People with Chronic Pain
Authors: Yu Lin , Kioskli Kitty , McCracken Lance M.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The struggle with sense of self has a fundamental impact on health and wellbeing in people with chronic pain. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) particularly includes a process related to sense of self, called self-as-context (SAC). A measure of SAC, called the Self Experiences Questionnaire-8 (SEQ-8) has been developed in people with chronic pain. A brief version of the SEQ can facilitate more efficient assessment in clinical settings, and further research using intensive assessment to produce situation and time-sensitive information on SAC. The aim of the study was to establish a two-item version of the SEQ.

Methods

This study used secondary analyses of data from 453 people with chronic pain.

Results

The newly validated SEQ-2 demonstrated acceptable reliability, Cronbach’s α = 0.77, and performed well in assessing SAC, with 88.6% of the variance in the SEQ-8 explained by the SEQ-2. The construct validity of the SEQ-2 was supported by its associations with other theoretically-specified processes, r = .25-0.51, p < .001. and measures of functioning, |r|=0.18-0.40, p < .001. The incremental validity of the SEQ-2 was relatively limited, |β|=0.08-0.34. Conclusions: The SEQ-2 appears to be an acceptable measure of SAC. The brief version of the SEQ can facilitate the application of individualised research methods and personalised pain treatments, informed by intensive assessment.
Exploring Overlaps of Cultural Property Crime with Organised Crime in EU Policy Documents
Authors: Faraldo Cabana Patricia
Published: July 2024

In recent years the interrelation of the trafficking of cultural property with other forms of organised crime has gained prominence in EU policies on the protection of cultural heritage. This article analyses how the EU has conceptualized and operationalized this overlap in terms of describing the phenomenon and designing countermeasures. Through a content analysis, we evaluate the articulation and use of this connection in EU policy documents published from 1993 to 2023 that include both organised crime and trafficking of cultural property or similar terms (n = 58). The analysis demonstrates conceptual and organizational deficits and a correspondingly weak foundation for EU policy. Misunderstandings related to the organised nature of trafficking of cultural property and its overlaps with other forms of organised crime, particularly the financing of terrorism, may result in misguided policies with the potential to undermine law enforcement efforts. Conversely, the addition to the list of obliged entities and persons in the anti-money laundering framework of persons trading or acting as intermediaries in the trade of works of art opens new opportunities to disrupt the illicit financial flow in the art and antiquities market.
Building and communicating territorial brand values: The case of Destination British Columbia
Authors: F. J. Cristòfol Francisco Javier Cristofol. , Zamarreño-Aramendia Gorka , Cruz-Ruiz Elena , de San Egenio-Vela Jordi
Published: July 2024

In today's interconnected world, effectively communicating territorial values is paramount for regions seeking to distinguish themselves globally. Effective destination branding requires carefully synthesizing cultural, historical, natural, and socioeconomic elements to create an enticing identity for tourists, investors, and locals. How a region communicates its unique attributes is crucial in shaping its perception and attractiveness in a highly competitive global market. British Columbia is a prime example of successful destination branding, thanks to its remarkable cultural diversity and breathtaking natural landscapes. BC has effectively conveyed its values and appeal to a worldwide audience through various innovative strategies and platforms. This paper explores BC's communication efforts through its website and social media, analyzing how it conveys its essence to a diverse audience and positions itself on the world stage. Ultimately, BC's success in this domain highlights the critical role of effective territorial value communication in today's globalized world.
The Determinants of Countercyclical Job Satisfaction in the Public Sector
Authors: Ravid Oded
Published: July 2024

Job satisfaction is sensitive to economic fluctuations; it rises during economic growth and falls in recessions. Job satisfaction also depends on relative comparisons. For workers less affected by business cycles-as is typical in the public sector-job satisfaction may thus be countercyclical due to comparisons with other sectors. Previous laboratory results confirm this countercyclical trend. This study reports new results from the German Socio-Economic Panel confirming the overall countercyclical job satisfaction trend but also revealing this trend is present only among men, not women. We consider three possible drivers of this gender gap. Competitiveness and pro-sociality differ between men and women both in the laboratory and in the field and plausibly interact with job satisfaction countercyclicality. Another potential explanation of countercyclicality is that men are more commonly the primary household providers. We conducted an experiment to explore these three channels. The experiment replicated the countercyclical job satisfaction trend. While identifying a significant gender gap in competitiveness, pro-sociality, and job satisfaction, we found no difference in job satisfaction cyclicality between men and women, nor a correlation with these traits. Our findings suggest that the fundamental gender differences we identified in the laboratory do not drive the gender differences observed in the survey data.
Organic carbon-based amendments effectively reclaim post-tin mining site via modified soil organic carbon characteristics
Authors: Sae-Tun Orracha , Maftukhah Rizki , Susanto Sahid , Ngadisih Ngadisih , Murtiningrum Murtiningrum , Hood-Nowotny Rebecca , Mentler Axel , Bodner Gernot , Keiblinger Katharina M.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The complex process of post-mining land reclamation poses a great challenge in combatting land degradation and food insecurity. In this study, a field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different soil amendments on soil organic carbon (SOC) characteristics and plant biomass to reclaim a highly degraded soil after tin-mining.

Methods

Quantity and quality of SOC, annual plant biomass, and their relationships were determined over four years in post-tin mining soil that had been treated with six different soil amendments: control, dolomite, compost, charcoal, charcoal with compost and charcoal with sawdust.

Results

Charcoal-compost application led to the highest increase in SOC stocks, followed by compost application. It enhanced annual plant biomass to twice that of the control treatment. In contrast to organic soil amendments, dolomite tended to cause SOC stock losses over time. Dissolved organic carbon exhibited a highly dynamic pattern, with a tendency to decrease over time. Dolomite and charcoal application induced SOC chemical composition changes distinct from other treatments. The potential interactions between amendment materials and time as well as crop species were observed for SOC characterization.

Conclusions

Charcoal-compost combination with regular compost application was recommended to reclaim the soil for promoting SOC accumulation whilst sustaining crop production.
Chirped gray and singular optical solitons with generalized quadratic-cubic law of self-phase modulation and nonlinear chromatic dispersion
Authors: Al-Ghafri Khalil S. , Biswas Anjan , Alshomrani Ali Saleh
Published: July 2024

The objective of this study to investigate chirped gray and singular optical solitons with nonlinear chromatic dispersion. The proposed nonlinear effect is in the form of generalized quadratic-cubic (QC) of nonlinear refractive index. The temporal evolution of propagating pulses in the optical medium has a generalized expression. Based on an efficient mathematical technique, various structures of both gray and singular solitons are created with the existence conditions. The modulation instability of the discussed model is diagnosed by means of the linear stability analysis. The influence of generalized QC on the soliton evolutions is reported and it is noted that it enhances the amplitude of the gain spectrum.
Development of an acoustic fault diagnosis system for UAV propeller blades
Authors: Steinhoff Leon , Koschlik Ann-Kathrin , Arts Emy , Soria-Gomez Maria , Raddatz Florian , Kunz Veit Dominik
Published: July 2024

With the rapid growth in demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), novel maintenance technologies are essential for ensuring automatic, safe, and reliable operations. This study compares two fault detection systems that utilize the acoustic signature of UAV propeller blades for classifying their health state. By employing an acoustic camera with 112 microphones for spatial resolution of sound sources, datasets of acoustic images are generated in three differently reverberating environments for the third octave frequency bands of 6300 Hz, 8000 Hz, 10,000 Hz and 12,500 Hz. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained and evaluated with maximum F1-scores of 0.9962 and 0.9745 for two and three propeller health classes, respectively. Furthermore, we propose a second approach based on a linear classification (LC), which utilizes a rotating beamformer for comparison. This approach uses only two sound sources that are identified after the acoustic beamforming of a two-bladed propeller. In comparison, this algorithm detects propeller tip damages without applying a machine learning algorithm and reaches a slightly lower F1-score of 0.9441.
Heavy metal bioaccumulation in fish: ımplications for human health risk assessment in ten commercial fish species from Konya, Türkiye
Authors: Almafrachi H. A. A. , Gümüş N. E. , Çorak Öcal İ.
Published: July 2024

In this study, the concentrations of 9 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn) in the muscle tissue of 10 different fish species consisting of sea and freshwater fish of certain origin in local markets and the fish market in Konya were determined. According to the findings of the study, the highest mean concentrations of Al, Fe and Cr were found in Flathead grey mullet, As and Se in Gilthead seabream, Mn and Zn in European pilchard, Cd and Ni in Mediterranean horse mackerel. The estimated daily intake, target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI) and cancer risk (CR) risk values for inorganic arsenic were determined using human health risk assessment methods based on metal levels in muscle tissue of fish. THQ and HI results revealed that non-carcinogenic health effects from the intake of individual or combined metals in fish species are not expected for consumers. This situation indicates that there are no non-cancer health risks. However, consumption of red mullet and European anchovy fish exposes individuals to inorganic arsenic, increasing the risk of cancer as their CR values were found not to be in acceptable ranges. The results were compared with limit values specified in national and international quality criteria. Only the average Cd concentrations in Carp, European barracuda and Mediterranean horse mackerel were found above the limit values of MHPRC (MHPRC (2013) National food safety standard, maximum levels of contaminants in foods), TFC (2011) and EC (Commission regulation no. 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Official Journal of European Union, 20.12.2006).
When borders close: Social networks, resilience and food security among informal cross-border fish traders on the Ghana-Togo border
Authors: Rouillé Maïlys , Overå Ragnhild , Atter Amy
Published: July 2024

Cross-border fish trade contributes to regional food security and is a source of income for informal traders. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the activities of cross-border traders were severely affected. Lockdowns and border closures limited the movement of people and goods, hindering regional trade. The study builds on a survey using semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews conducted in Ghana in 2021 and examines the impacts of the Ghana-Togo border closure on informal cross-border female fish traders’ livelihoods and food security. The findings demonstrate that despite traders’ great efforts to keep their businesses afloat, the border closure affected the traders’ mobility, trade routes, trade volumes, and incomes, which in turn negatively affected the variety and quality of their households’ diets. However, the study also documents how traders were able to implement different strategies to cope with the difficult situation by activating and extending trust-based social networks crucial for trade. The authors therefore conclude that the social embeddedness of fish traders’ informal economic activities was decisive for the resilience of the cross-border trade system during the pandemic, which at least to some degree mitigated the negative effects on traders’ livelihoods and food security.
Exploring the impact of entrepreneurial experience on future entrepreneurship aspirations
Authors: Bozward David , Rogers-Draycott Matthew
Published: July 2024

This paper evaluates how different types of direct and vicarious experience in entrepreneurship determine the perceived entrepreneurial intention in short, medium, and long-term horizons. The paper concludes with a discussion of the importance of considering both personal experiences and social influences in designing curriculum. A survey was conducted on four types of entrepreneurial experience and four intention horizons. Two of the experiences were direct experiences: current and previous, whilst two were vicarious: family and knowing someone. The four intention horizons were now, short-term, long-term and no intention. The study looks at 679 agricultural students from universities in both China and the United Kingdom. The paper uses the integrated model of entrepreneurial intentions together with a temporal horizon model of intention as the theoretical underpinning for this approach. The study’s results reinforce the positive relationship between family experience and long-term intentions, thus supporting the idea that familial exposure to entrepreneurship can shape individuals’ long-term entrepreneurial aspirations. The lack of a significant association between current direct experience and long-term intentions deviates from previous research and may be attributed to other factors influencing individuals’ long-term intentions, such as changing circumstances or evolving entrepreneurial opportunities. The cohorts available, whilst from China and UK, as participants were limited which presents several opportunities to expand upon this work and challenge its central premise. An understanding of the role of family in shaping long-term entrepreneurial intention has widespread social implications. The discovery that individuals with entrepreneurial experience, be it direct or through vicarious means, generally show heightened entrepreneurial intentions, coupled with the insight that knowing an entrepreneur correlates with shorter-term intention horizons, whereas family-influenced experiences align with longer-term venture creation ambitions, offers valuable new perspectives for those involved in entrepreneurial education and support.
Spent coffee grounds enhanced compressive strength of cement mortar: an optimization study
Authors: Yee Jia Jun , Khong Sheh Ching , Tee Kong Fah , Jolius Gimbun , Chin Siew Choo
Published: July 2024

This paper presents an optimization study of spent coffee grounds (SCG) as cement mortar additives to enhance mortar strength. In recent years, sustainable materials have begun finding their way into cement mortar, with SCG being one. There is limited optimization study on the SCG addition in mortars, hence this study was performed to optimize the curing time and SCG addition in cement mortar to achieve the highest compressive strength through response surface methodology. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization was carried out on the SCG particles to identify their physical properties. An Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was carried out to identify its chemical properties. Simultaneously, a workability test, the flow table test, is conducted to study the effect of SCG on the flowability of the cement mortar mixes. The synergistic effect between SCG content in cement mortar mixes and the curing period was statistically studied and analyzed. Both parameters were then optimized to obtain the best performance mix of SCG in cement mortar. It was found that 1.1% SCG and a curing day of 68 days produced the highest compressive strength (33.4MPa) of cement mortar. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM)-optimized cement mortar mix presented at least a 12.62% improvement in compressive strength from control cement mortar without SCG additives (28.77MPa). Experimental validation of the optimum condition showed a good agreement with a deviation of 3.12% in three replicates, thus indicating that the optimum model in this work can be used to model the compressive strength of the SCG-cement mortar mixture.
Sustainable pathways: understanding the interplay of environmental behavior, personal values, and tourist outcomes in farm tourism
Authors: Hassan Thowayeb H. , Fazia Celestina , Abdelmoaty Mostafa A. , Bekzot Janzakov , Gozner Maria , Almakhayitah Muhanna Yousef , Saleh Mahmoud I. , Aleedan Mona Hamad , Abdou Ahmed H. , Salem Amany E.
Published: July 2024

The burgeoning growth of farm tourism necessitates a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationships between environmental behavior, personal values, and visitor outcomes, emphasizing the imperative for sustainable practices and stewardship within these settings. The current study seeks to develop an integrative model to understand how power conservation and eco-logically aware behavior influence visitors’ ecological vision, sense of responsibility, well-being, and attachment outcomes, encompassing both place and product. Employing a structured questionnaire, data were gathered from farm tourists in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia, and the structural model was analyzed using regression and mediation analyses to unravel the complex interactions among key variables. Results revealed that power conservation practices significantly contribute to visitors’ sense of responsibility for environmental protection, while ecologically aware behavior predicts a profound ecological vision. However, the structural equation model did not reveal significant mediation effects on well-being. The findings suggest the importance of targeted energy-saving initiatives and experiential activities to enhance ecological awareness. Integrating well-being considerations into sustainability programs and adopting transparent communication strategies can enrich the overall visitor experience, fostering a sustainable and fulfilling form of tourism.
Influence of large scale climate drivers on hydro-climate variability in Dwangwa River Basin, Malawi
Authors: Chirwa Aubren C. , Ngongondo Cosmo , Vunain Ephraim
Published: July 2024

Large-scale climate processes such as the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) have significant roles in modulating rainfall and hydrological systems. Understanding such processes can inform adaptation measures for climate change and variability, as well as water resource management and planning. This study investigated the impact of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) on rainfall and discharge variability in the Dwangwa River Basin (DRB) in Malawi, a key inflow to Lake Malawi. Specifically, the study analysed annual rainfall variability trends from 1985 to 2015 using the Coefficient of Variation (CV) and the annual Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI). The significance and direction of rainfall and discharge trends were quantified using the Mann–Kendall trend test at α = 0.05 significance level. To evaluate the association between rainfall and IOD, the Pearson product moment used three IOD phases: positive, negative, and neutral. Simple linear regression was utilised to check the response of the river during the concerned IOD phases. The study found CVs between 20 and 30%, typical of climates with moderate monthly rainfall variability. The PCI ranged from 20 to 30%, suggesting a strongly seasonal and highly variable temporal intra-annual rainfall distribution in the DRB. Moreover, the Mann–Kendall test statistics showed insignificant decrease in annual rainfall trends. Further, the findings demonstrated an insignificant negative correlation between rainfall and positive IOD, with rainfall increases associated with negative IOD, whereas positive IOD is associated with decreased river discharge. Consequently, El Niño and a positive IOD could cause DRB to have low water availability. Therefore, the study demonstrates that rainfall is experiencing a decreasing trend, which is driven by large-scale mechanics.
Neurological evidence for the context-independent multisensorial semantics of ideophones in Pastaza Kichwa: an fNIRS study in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Authors: Dewey Dan P. , Green Jeffrey J. , Nuckolls Janis , Nygaard Auna , Swanson Todd D.
Published: July 2024

Ideophones – imitative words using the stream of speech to simulate/depict the rise and fall of sensory perceptions and emotions and temporal experiences of completiveness, instantaneousness, and repetitiveness – have been characterized as semantically empty and context-dependent. The research reported here tested a simple schematic for the semantic categories of Pastaza Kichwa ideophones by tracking neurological responses to ideophones categorized as VISUAL, MOTION, and SOUND. Seventeen native speakers of Pastaza Kichwa listened to audio clips of ideophones extracted from sentential contexts. Subjects’ neural activity was assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Results demonstrate that these posited semantic categories activate areas of the brain associated with visualization, motion, and sound processing and production, respectively. This suggests that these ideophones convey semantic information related to these concepts, independent of context. This contrasts with what would be expected by theories suggesting that ideophones on their own are semantically empty. The data give rise to questions regarding whether any language contains only sound ideophones that do not carry additional sensory information and whether ideophones in previous studies treated strictly as sound ideophones might require greater specification of their semantics, specifically from a multisensorial perspective.