bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPLEMENTATION OF ROBOTIC AND ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PATIENTCENTERED PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
Authors:   Institute of Robotics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tanev Tanio , Dachkinov Pancho , Valayil Tony , Dimitrova Maya , Kostova Snezhana , Lekova Anna
Published: April 2024

There is a necessity for a consistent framework for the integration of the robotic and assistive technologies for the purposes of the rehabilitation which covers the entire spectrum (preventative, restorative, supportive, palliative rehabilitation) and explores all aspects of the of the recovery process – physical, emotional, and mental while allowing for real-time adjustments and flexibility based on the individual patients’ needs. In this paper we propose a set of tools for a rehabilitation solution that provides personalized care for the patients from the diagnose to the process of active recovery while measuring and evaluating the individual’s condition after surgery, injury or a trauma to restore and maximize the previous function. The main objective for implementing the assistive technologies into the physical therapy is to personalize the process of recovery based on the specific requirements of the patients. To achieve this, physical, emotional, and virtual devices are utilized mitigate and improve the physical and emotional challenges for the patients. In parallel with the implementation of the robotic technologies, custom-made 3D printed devices are also introduced and explored. To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, a 3-step methodology is applied – 1) diagnose of the patient, 2) implementation of the assistive technologies, 3) tracking the progress and making the necessary adjustments to the process and/or the devices.
GROWTH OF GIANT MICELLAR AGGREGATES: QUANTITATIVE THEORY VS EXPERIMENTS
Authors:   Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Danov Krasimir , Radulova Gergana , Georgiev Mihail , Kralchevsky Peter
Published: April 2024

The concentrated surfactant solutions have a wide application in industry, oil recovery, drug delivery, turbulent drag reduction, etc. The competition between the companies-producers has led to use of new kind of formulations to improve: washing action; skin and eye irritation; stability and durability; biodegradability; tolerance to hard water. Here, we present a review on the state of the art and our contributions to the molecular thermodynamic theory and experiment on the growth of giant micellar aggregates. Despite the considerable advances in theory and computer simulations, agreement with experimental data has been achieved only in isolated cases. Our predictive molecular thermodynamic approach accounts for the different contributions to the micellar scission energy in the case of nonionic, zwitterionic and ionic surfactant solutions and their mixtures. Excellent agreement was achieved between the theoretical model and experimental data for wormlike surfactant micelles at various concentrations of salt and temperatures. At high salt concentrations, the model also predicts loss of chemical equilibrium, which implies a transition to self-assemblies of other morphology or the onset of crystallization and phase separation. The results have applications for the design of new products and nanostructured materials.
INVESTIGATION OF CATIONIC SURFACTANTS ADSORPTION BEHAVIOUR ON SILICON WAFERS USING IMAGING ELLIPSOMETRY
Authors:   Sofia University, Georgiev Mihail , Konstantinov Boris , Marinova Krastanka , Petkov Jordan , Danov Krassimir
Published: April 2024

The research paper explores the adsorption properties of cationic surfactants on silicon wafers through imaging ellipsometry. The objective of this research is to shed light on the layer structures formed by cationic surfactants, specifically those based on dimethyl ammonium chloride, on silicon wafers. The study involved the deposition of three distinct cationic surfactants on the wafer's surface, followed by the measurement of the adsorption layers formed. The findings reveal the creation of thin, smooth, and irregular adsorption layers. Interestingly, no correlation was found between the thickness of the adsorption layer and the surfactant tail's chain length. The research underlines the significant role which the imaging ellipsometry can have for studying surfactants' adsorption properties on surfaces, contributing to their optimal usage in various fields.
MORPHOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF THE UNIVERSAL ROTARY WELDING DEVICE
Authors:   National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sykorsky”, Kuznietsov Yurii
Published: April 2024

The analysis of known and proposed approach to the search for new universal rotary devices that can be used in subtractive and additive technologies is performed. It is emphasized that the use of the modular principle allows to significantly reduce the time and costs of creating universal rotating devices as part of a multifunctional smart mini-factory
Literasi Digital dalam Pengelolaan Keuangan Rumah Tangga Masyarakat Desa Massamaturu Kabupaten Takalar
Authors: Lukman Siti Diva Syarifah , Anggerwati Andi Indah , Rifani Riza Amalia , Machmud Mulyana , Hartati Hartati
Published: April 2024

Tujuan dari kegiatan pengabdian kepada masyarakat (PKM) ini adalah untuk menilai literasi digital masyarakat Desa Massamaturu Kabupaten Takalar tentang pengelolaan keuangan rumah tangga. Metode pelaksanaan yang digunakan adalah dengan memberikan penyuluhan langsung kepada masyarakat Desa Massamaturu Kabupaten Takalar oleh tim PKM. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan sesi diskusi. Kegiatan PKM ini dilaksanakan di Aula Kantor Desa Massamaturu pada hari Kamis tanggal 13 Juli 2023 dan diikuti oleh 20 peserta yang didominasi oleh ibu-ibu rumah tangga dan remaja putri yang merupakan warga asli Desa Massamaturu Kabupaten Takalar. Kegiatan PKM ini berhasil meningkatkan pemahaman tentang makna dan tujuan inovasi literasi digital dalam pengelolaan keuangan rumah tangga. Namun para peserta PKM masih memerlukan bimbingan lebih lanjut dalam proses pemasaran usaha yang akan mereka tekuni atau yang sudah mereka tekuni. Diharapkan para peserta PKM dapat mengaplikasikan ilmu dan informasi yang diperoleh dari kegiatan tersebut.
English Is Easy at SDN 45 Parepare
Authors: Mada Ali Syahban , Hasanah Nurul , Jayanti Citra , Rahma Nur , P.I Andi Athaya
Published: April 2024

Program Pengabdian Masyarakat dengan tema "English is Easy at SDN 45 Parepare" merupakan inisiatif yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan penguasaan bahasa Inggris pada siswa Sekolah Dasar Negeri 45 Parepare selama periode enam bulan. Metode pengajaran yang beragam dan interaktif digunakan untuk mencapai tujuan ini, termasuk pembelajaran berbasis permainan edukatif, penggunaan cerita dan dongeng, tugas proyek, kolaborasi kelompok, serta pemanfaatan media dan teknologi. Program ini juga menerapkan pendekatan diferensiasi untuk memenuhi kebutuhan individu peserta. Hasil dari kegiatan ini mencakup peningkatan signifikan dalam kemampuan berbicara, mendengar, membaca, dan menulis bahasa Inggris. Selain itu, peserta juga mengalami peningkatan rasa percaya diri dalam menggunakan bahasa Inggris dan aktif berpartisipasi dalam kegiatan kelas. Program ini memberikan fondasi yang kuat bagi pengembangan kemampuan bahasa Inggris di masa depan dan mendorong semangat belajar siswa.
Penyuluhan Hukum Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak Terhadap Dating Violence
Authors: Ichsan Nursyamsi , Attas Nasrah Hasmiati , Saputra Tri Eka , Nasir Citra , Fausiah Rafikah
Published: April 2024

rogram pengabdian masyarakat dengan tema penyuluhan hukum perlindungan perempuan dan anak terhadap dating violence, sebagai upaya pencegahan secara preventif dari ketentuan hukum positif yang ada di Indonesia. Kegiatan ini diharapkan secara bertahap dan menyeluruh mencegah dan menimilasir terjadinya korban dating violence pada kalangan remaja di lingkungan masyarakat lokasi pengabidan. Tujuan pelaksanaan kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kesadaran hukum masyarakat dan pemerintah daerah setempat dari segala bentuk akibat dari perilaku dating violence dan metode pencegahan Luaran Kegiatan ini adalah Peningkatan kesadaran hukum pemerintah daerah dan masyarakat.
Langkah Cerdas: Membangun Keberlanjutan Bisnis dengan Peningkatan Keterampilan Pembukuan Keuangan pada Octa Laundry
Authors: Suwandi Suwandi , RM Saripah A
Published: April 2024

Masalah utama yang dihadapi mitra Octa Laundry adalah kurangnya pemahaman tentang pembukuan keuangan, yang mengakibatkan pembukuan yang tidak efisien dan tidak akurat. Kondisi ini menciptakan ketidakpastian dalam penilaian kinerja, perencanaan pertumbuhan, dan pengambilan keputusan strategis. Oleh karena itu, perlu meningkatkan pemahaman dan implementasi sistem pembukuan keuangan. Metode yang digunakan adalah praktik langsung, dimulai dengan penyampaian materi dan dilanjutkan dengan praktik dan evaluasi. Hasilnya adalah pemahaman yang lebih baik tentang pembukuan keuangan dan penerapannya dalam operasi bisnis, yang meningkatkan kejelasan keuangan, perencanaan pertumbuhan, dan keuntungan bisnis. Selain itu, pembukuan membantu manajemen dalam pengambilan keputusan berbasis data.
Pendampingan Budidaya Penanaman Pohon pada Desa Kamiri Kab. Barru
Authors: Falaq Tiara Nurul , Sarina Sarina , Pantong Devi Harianti , Phireri Phireri , Syahril Muh. Akbar Fhad
Published: April 2024

Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi program pendampingan budidaya penanaman pohon di Desa Kamiri, Kabupaten Barru. Metode kegiatan yang digunakan, ialah menggabungkan pendekatan kualitatif dan kuantitatif. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa program ini berhasil meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat terhadap pelestarian lingkungan dan mendorong partisipasi aktif dalam pelatihan dan penanaman pohon. Sejumlah pohon yang ditanam memiliki potensi untuk meningkatkan kualitas lingkungan dan ekosistem lokal. Terbentuknya kelompok peduli lingkungan juga memberikan harapan untuk pemeliharaan berkelanjutan. Implikasi dari penelitian ini adalah pentingnya pendidikan lingkungan dan partisipasi masyarakat dalam menjaga keberlanjutan lingkungan. Rekomendasi mencakup perluasan program, pelatihan berkelanjutan, dan dukungan jangka panjang untuk kelompok peduli lingkungan. Program ini memiliki potensi untuk pengembangan lebih lanjut, seperti diversifikasi jenis pohon yang ditanam, inovasi dalam pemeliharaan, dan kolaborasi dengan pihak eksternal yang peduli lingkungan. Penelitian ini memberikan landasan penting untuk upaya menjaga keberlanjutan lingkungan di Desa Kamiri dan daerah sekitarnya.
Pengembangan Marketing UMKM Pada Usaha Bawang Goreng di Desa Pekalobean Kab. Enrekang
Authors: Fatmala Fatmala , Umar Fahruddin Andi
Published: April 2024

Usaha Mikro Kecil Menengah (UMKM) memiliki peran penting dalam pertumbuhan perekonomian sebuah negara dan memiliki sebuah kesempatan untuk menyerap tenaga kerja sehingga perlu untuk dikembangkan. Mitra UMKM kami adalah seorang ibu rumah tangga yang tidak ingin selalu bergantung kepada suaminya sehingga termotivasi untuk membuat usaha rumahan yaitu bawang goreng. Bawang goreng yang dijual oleh mitra kami memiliki rasa yang gurih dan berlokasi di Dusun Marena Desa Pekalobean Kec. Anggeraja Kab. Enrekang Sulawesi Selatan. Masalah yang dihadapi UMKM bawang goreng yaitu pemasaran produk masih tradisional, pemasaran produk masih mencakup wilayah tertentu dan belum adanya promosi produk. Solusi dari masalah yang dihadapi adalah pembuatan branding, membuatkan akun media sosial, memposting produk dan pengemasan produk. Metode penyelesaian masalah dalam program PKM dengan penyelesian berupa pelatihan dan pendampingan tentang pengembangan pemasaran. Kegiatan PKM ini sangat membantu pelaku usaha UMKM bawang goreng dalam memasarkan produk usahanya. Pelatihan dan pendampingan dilakukan secara intensif untuk memastikan UMKM bawang goreng tetap berjalan maksilmal sesuai dengan luaran PKM.
Melonjaknya Kasus HIV Dikalangan Remaja Indonesia
Authors: Hasibuan Alsanawi , Maulana Muhamad Farhan Zaqie , Mauliah Sitriatul
Published: April 2024

Permasalahan HIV pada remaja di Indonesia merupakan keprihatinan serius. Menurut Kementerian Kesehatan tahun 2022, sekitar 1.929 remaja berusia 15-24 tahun diperkirakan terinfeksi HIV, meningkat 3,8% dari tahun sebelumnya. Penyebab utamanya adalah kurangnya pengetahuan tentang HIV/AIDS dan perilaku seksual berisiko. Program ini bertujuan memahami mekanisme infeksi dan mengembangkan obat serta vaksin untuk pencegahan, pengobatan, dan penyembuhan HIV/AIDS. Metode kualitatif digunakan dengan pengumpulan data dan wawancara di rumah sakit Bandung. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan peningkatan kasus HIV disebabkan rendahnya pengetahuan, perilaku seksual berisiko, dan akses terbatas ke layanan HIV. Penelitian ini berkontribusi pada pemahaman dan penanganan kasus HIV di kalangan remaja Indonesia, memberikan dasar untuk tindakan lebih efektif. Kolaborasi antara pemerintah, lembaga kesehatan, dan masyarakat diperlukan untuk mengurangi jumlah kasus HIV di kalangan remaja Indonesia.
Healthcare and genocide: BDS as an entry point to health justice
Authors: Moolla M S , Jacub A
Published: April 2024

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Influence of microstructure on thermal fatigue effect of laminated tungsten based plasma-facing material
Authors: Qi Chao , Ma Yu-Tian , Qi Yan-Fei , Xiao Shan-Qu , Wang Bo ,   College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China,   Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China,   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
Published: April 2024

The response of tungsten (W) to thermal shock loading, as the best candidate for plasma-facing material (PFM), is an important issue in the research of future fusion devices. Under thermal loading, thermal irradiation damage, including brittle cracking and fatigue cracking, occurs on the surface of tungsten based plasma-facing material (W-PFM). In this work, a new scheme to suppress the thermal irradiation damage to W-PFM, i.e. the laminated structure W-PFM scheme, is proposed. Thermal fatigue experiments of laminated structure W composed of W foils with different thickness and heat treatment processes are carried out by using an electron beam device. The samples are subjected to thermal pulses with a power density of 48 MW/m2 for 5000 cycles. The results indicate that the crack damage to the surface of the laminated structure W decreases with the decrease of the thickness of W foils under the same heat treatment conditions. The main cracks are produced on the surface of laminated structure W after cyclic thermal loads have been all approximately parallel to the foil thickness direction. Only the main cracks appear on the surfaces of W foils with a smaller thickness, while crack networks develop on the surfaces of W foils with a larger thickness , in addition to the main cracks with a larger width. In the rolled state, the laminated structure W has the lowest degree of surface plastic deformation for the same thickness. The thermal fatigue crack damage to the surface is quantitatively analyzed by using computer image processing software and analysis software, and scanning electron microscope images of the thermal damage area are finally selected. It is found that the de-stressed state W has the smallest crack area and the smallest number of cracks for the same thickness, indicating that the de-stressed state W has the strongest resistance to irradiation damage. The experimental results also show that in addition to the effect of microstructure, both the uniaxial stress state and the crack-blocking mechanism of the laminated structured W-PFM contribute to the improvement of its thermal fatigue performance.
Substrate evaporation drives collective construction in termites
Authors: Facchini Giulio , Rathery Alann , Douady Stéphane , Sillam-Dussès David , Perna Andrea
Published: April 2024

Termites build complex nests which are an impressive example of self-organization. We know that the coordinated actions involved in the construction of these nests by multiple individuals are primarily mediated by signals and cues embedded in the structure of the nest itself. However, to date there is still no scientific consensus about the nature of the stimuli that guide termite construction, and how they are sensed by termites. In order to address these questions, we studied the early building behavior of Coptotermes gestroi termites in artificial arenas, decorated with topographic cues to stimulate construction. Pellet collections were evenly distributed across the experimental setup, compatible with a collection mechanism that is not affected by local topography, but only by the distribution of termite occupancy (termites pick pellets at the positions where they are). Conversely, pellet depositions were concentrated at locations of high surface curvature and at the boundaries between different types of substrate. The single feature shared by all pellet deposition regions was that they correspond to local maxima in the evaporation flux. We can show analytically and we confirm experimentally that evaporation flux is directly proportional to the local curvature of nest surfaces. Taken together, our results indicate that surface curvature is sufficient to organize termite building activity and that termites likely sense curvature indirectly through substrate evaporation. Our findings reconcile the apparently discordant results of previous studies.
Microphase Separation Produces Interfacial Environment within Diblock Biomolecular Condensates
Authors: Latham Andrew P. , Zhu Longchen , Sharon Dina A. , Ye Songtao , Willard Adam P. , Zhang Xin , Zhang Bin
Published: April 2024

The phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins is emerging as an important mechanism for cellular organization. However, efforts to connect protein sequences to the physical properties of condensates, i.e., the molecular grammar, are hampered by a lack of effective approaches for probing high-resolution structural details. Using a combination of multiscale simulations and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy experiments, we systematically explored a series of systems consisting of diblock elastin-like polypeptides (ELP). The simulations succeeded in reproducing the variation of condensate stability upon amino acid substitution and revealed different microenvironments within a single condensate, which we verified with environmentally sensitive fluorophores. The interspersion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic residues and a lack of secondary structure formation result in an interfacial environment, which explains both the strong correlation between ELP condensate stability and interfacial hydrophobicity scales, as well as the prevalence of protein-water hydrogen bonds. Our study uncovers new mechanisms for condensate stability and organization that may be broadly applicable.
Near-perfect precise on-target editing of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Cloarec-Ung Fanny-Meï , Beaulieu Jamie , Suthananthan Arunan , Lehnertz Bernhard , Sauvageau Guy , Sheppard Hilary M , Knapp David JHF
Published: April 2024

Precision gene editing in primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) would facilitate both curative treatments for monogenic disorders as well as disease modelling. Precise efficiencies even with the CRISPR/Cas system, however, remain limited. Through an optimization of guide RNA delivery, donor design, and additives, we have now obtained mean precise editing efficiencies >90% on primary cord blood HSCPs with minimal toxicity and without observed off-target editing. The main protocol modifications needed to achieve such high efficiencies were the addition of the DNA-PK inhibitor AZD7648, and the inclusion of spacer-breaking silent mutations in the donor in addition to mutations disrupting the PAM sequence. Critically, editing was even across the progenitor hierarchy, did not substantially distort the hierarchy or affect lineage outputs in colony-forming cell assays or the frequency of high self-renewal potential long-term culture initiating cells. As modelling of many diseases requires heterozygosity, we also demonstrated that the overall editing and zygosity can be tuned by adding in defined mixtures of mutant and wild-type donor. With these optimizations, editing at near-perfect efficiency can now be accomplished directly in human HSPCs. This will open new avenues in both therapeutic strategies and disease modelling.
Bridging the 3D geometrical organisation of white matter pathways across anatomical length scales and species
Authors: Kjer Hans Martin , Andersson Mariam , He Yi , Pacureanu Alexandra , Daducci Alessandro , Pizzolato Marco , Salditt Tim , Robisch Anna-Lena , Eckermann Marina , Töpperwien Mareike , Bjorholm Dahl Anders , Elkjær Maria Louise , Illes Zsolt , Ptito Maurice , Andersen Dahl Vedrana , Dyrby Tim B
Published: April 2024

We used diffusion MRI and x-ray synchrotron imaging on monkey and mice brains to examine the organisation of fibre pathways in white matter across anatomical scales. We compared the structure in the corpus callosum and crossing fibre regions and investigated the differences in cuprizone-induced demyelination in mouse brains versus healthy controls. Our findings revealed common principles of fibre organisation that apply despite the varying patterns observed across species; small axonal fasciculi and major bundles formed laminar structures with varying angles, according to the characteristics of major pathways. Fasciculi exhibited non-straight paths around obstacles like blood vessels, comparable across the samples of varying fibre complexity and demyelination. Quantifications of fibre orientation distributions were consistent across anatomical length scales and modalities, whereas tissue anisotropy had a more complex relationship, both dependent on the field-of-view. Our study emphasises the need to balance field-of-view and voxel size when characterising white matter features across length scales.
Vertical farming for lettuce production in limited space: a case study in Northern Thailand
Authors: Wicharuck Suwimon , Khongdee Nuttapon , Man Ar , Syahputra Wahyu Nurkholis Hadi , Yalangkan Parichat , Chaiphak Prapaporn , Chaichana Chatchawan
Published: April 2024

Background

Greenhouse vertical farming under natural sunlight is an alternative farming technique that grows crops in a stacking column and extends in a vertical direction. Sunlight availability is one of the crucial factors for crop development in vertical farming. Therefore, this investigation aimed to examine the effect of sunlight availability on lettuce growth and yields at different levels of vertical shelves.

Methods

Six shelves were constructed with three levels: upper, middle and lower levels. Lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) as ‘Baby Cos’ and ‘Green Oak’ at 14 days after sowing were planted on the three levels. The photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) was recorded, and the PPFD values were then converted to the daily light integral (DLI). Plant height and canopy width were measured three times at 14, 21 and 28 days after transplanting. At maturity, fresh weight (FW) was directly monitored after harvest.

Results

The results showed that the highest PPFD and DLI values were found at the upper level (PPFD 697 μmol m−2 s−1 and DLI 29 mol m−2 d−1) in comparison to the middle (PPFD 391 μmol m−2 s−1 and DLI 16 mol m−2 d−1) and lower (PPFD 322 μmol m−2 s−1 and DLI 13 mol m−2 d−1) levels. The lowest plant height and canopy width values were observed on the upper levels for both lettuce varieties during the three measurement dates. The middle (‘Baby Cos’ = 123.8 g plant−1 and ‘Green Oak’ = 190.7 g plant−1) and lower (‘Baby Cos’ = 92.9 g plant−1 and ‘Green Oak’ = 203.7 g plant−1) levels had the higher values of FW in comparison to the upper level (‘Baby Cos’ = 84.5 g plant−1 and ‘Green Oak’ = 97.3 g plant−1). The values of light use efficiency (LUE) showed an increased trend from the upper to lower levels in both varieties, with values of ‘Baby Cos’ of 0.10 g mol−1 in the upper level, 0.28 g mol−1 in the middle level and 0.26 g mol−1 in the lower level and ‘Green Oak’ of 0.12 g mol−1 in the upper level, 0.44 g mol−1 in the middle level and 0.57 g mol−1 in the lower level. The findings of the study indicated the viability of utilizing vertical shelves for lettuce production.
Sustainable Safety and Environmental Protection Technologies in Oil and Gas Industry
Authors: Okolie Allison Chinedu , Ojialor Chinenye , Adebola Adenusi Adefolarin , Okeyode Ayodeji
Published: April 2024

Aim: This paper examines the concepts of oil and gas production, effects of the operations on the environment and relevant environmental protection technologies to make the industry a sustainable one.
Problem Statement: Reports show environmental pollution and ecosystem disruption emanating from oil and gas operations which are majorly exploration, production and distribution to end-users. This makes the environment to be unhealthy for living and causes breakage in food chain.
Significance of Study: High relevance of oil and gas industry to the economic growth of a Nation has made it imperative to critically address the adverse effects attributed to the                            operations involved. Tackling the accorded problems via current environmental protection technologies will prevent operational accidents and minimize environmental pollution.                            With this, lives are protected, environment is kept safe, and the industry is enhanced for future sustainability.
Discussions: The upstream, midstream and downstream operations that make up the oil and gas value chain were discussed. The philosophy of sustainability and sustainable development as pertained to environmental pollution and disruption of ecosystem by the operations of oil and gas industries were discussed. Reasons why round table talk should be conducted from time to time by all stakeholders as related to environmental sustainability of Oil and Gas industries in years to come were discussed. The adopted technologies to ensure there is safety and environmental protections were stated within.
Conclusion: In conclusion, there is need for further research on effective technologies to improve the existing ones in terms of making safety and environmental protection from oil and gas industry a sustainable one.
Perceptions of Teachers and Students Regarding the 10th Grade Students’ Homework in Perspectives: Academic Achievement and Practices
Authors: Tshering Gembo
Published: April 2024

Homework is here to stay, but perspectives about its influence on student achievement vary among stakeholders, as do the ways of using it. This study used a secondary data analysis approach to investigate the correlation between homework and student achievement, examining students' and teachers' perspectives and practices. The secondary datasets were sourced from a doctoral study that used cross-sectional survey questionnaires and a mathematics test (students only) administered to 1500 Grade 10 students and 60 teachers teaching Grade 10 students across 60 schools with Grade 10 students. Findings indicated that students with homework assigned three to four times weekly tend to achieve higher mathematics test scores. Furthermore, teachers who consistently employ homework for various purposes, such as monitoring completion, providing feedback, and engaging students in class discussions, are associated with higher test scores. Despite many students participating in out-of-school mathematics lessons, only some invested extended time in in-school mathematics-related activities, indicating a potential gap in learning opportunities.
Effect of Bacillus pumilus Strains on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Lettuce Grown on Contaminated Soil
Authors: Alam Sabeen , Alam Mehboob , Naeem Hafsa , Adeel Muhammad , Riaz Adil , Awan Usama Zeb , Basit Abdul , Naeem Burhan
Published: April 2024

Increasing number of heavy metal on land needs to be addressed through sustainable ways and various species of Bacillus can be used to mitigate heavy metals. The research work entitled “Effect of Bacillus pumilus strains on heavy metal accumulation in lettuce grown on contaminated soil” focuses on functional role of Bacillus pumilus strains inoculated with lettuce seed in mitigating heavy metal present in chromite mining soil. This experiment was conducted at ornamental horticulture nursery, the University of Agriculture Peshawar. In this experiment, factor A was three Bacillus pumilus strains (sequence C-2PMW-8, C-1 SSK-8 and C-1 PWK-7) while soil used for this experiment was collected from Prang Ghar mining site and lettuce seeds were grown in three levels of chromite mining soil (2.27, 4.65 and 7.14 %).The experimental design used during this research was randomized complete block design with two factors and was replicated thrice. The collected data related to effect of chromite mining soil and Bacillus pumilus strains indicated that these both factors have significant influence on growth parameters. For mining soil minimum days to germinate (14 days) was noted in lettuce grown on garden soil inoculated with sequence. Maximum germination percentage noted was (100%) for C-1 SSK-8 grown on garden soil, dry weight of lettuce leaf (5.0 g) for lettuce inoculated with C-1 SSK-8 and C-1 PWK-7 strains, survival percentage (77.9%) for C-1 SSK-8 treated lettuce for sequence C-2 PMW-8. Maximum germination percentage noted was (88%) for garden soil, fresh leaf weight (17.3g), dry leaf weight (6.5g), number of leaf per plant (16), leaf area (49.0 cm2) were noted in garden soil with no chromite mining soil. Results related to heavy metals accumulation showed that minimum chromium was (2.3 mg kg-1) in lettuce and (1.9 mg kg-1) in soil for all three sequences. It can be concluded that chromite mining soil significantly reduced the growth and survival of lettuce, but when lettuce was inoculated with Bacillus.pumilus strains it enhances the growth and survival. Similarly, minimum heavy metal accumulation in plant and soil, regardless of type of B. pumilus used, all three sequences has same mitigating effect on heavy metal in both soil and lettuce. All the three Bacillus pumilus strains ensured reduction in heavy metals content (Cr) in lettuce, below the maximum permissible limits of WHO/FAO 2011.
Fault detection of networked control systems with packet based periodic communication
Authors: Wang Yongqiang , Ding Steven X. , Ye Hao , Wei Li , Zhang Ping , Wang Guizeng
Published: July 2008

Fault detection of networked control systems (NCS) with communication constraints is discussed in this paper. A so‐called packet‐based periodic communication strategy is proposed and two kinds of optimal observer‐based residual generators are designed. One residual generator is designed based on the lifted model of NCS, which generates residual signals every communication period. The other works at a faster rate, i.e. it generates residual signals every sampling period and is more suitable for prompt fault detection. Comparison with traditional periodic‐communication‐sequence‐based scheduling strategy reveals superiority of this new communication strategy. Simulation results are also provided to illustrate effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanostructured LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 as a cathode material for high‐power lithium‐ion battery
Authors: Li Xinlu , Shi Xiujuan , Huang Zheng‐Hong , Kang Feiyu , Shen Wanci
Published: July 2008

Nanocrystalline LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 was synthesized by a sol–gel method. Thermal history of the gel was analyzed by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Powders X‐ray diffraction (XRD) proved the formation of layered α‐NaFeO2 hexagonal lattice. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that original particles were of the size range of 200–300 nm. The discharge capacity was 183 mAh/g in the first cycle with 87.5% capacity retention in 30 cycles at C/10 rate in 3.0–4.5 V potential range. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modification of HY zeolite by fluorine and its influence on olefin alkylation thiophenic sulfur in gasoline
Authors: Zhang Zekai , Li Xiujie , Zhang Ling , Zhu Xiangxue , Liu Shenglin , Xu Longya
Published: July 2008

The catalytic performance of a series of HY zeolites, modified by HF for olefin alkylation thiophenic sulfur (OATS) process, was evaluated. It was found that acid sites distribution could be controlled through the amount of HF. Under the optimized condition, activity, and selectivity of thiophene alkylation reaction in OATS could be greatly improved. At the same time, coking behavior was suppressed during the course. Copyright © 2008 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A usability study of users' perceptions toward a multimedia computer‐assisted learning tool for neuroanatomy
Authors: Gould Douglas J. , Terrell Mark A. , Fleming Jo
Published: July 2008

This usability study evaluated users' perceptions of a multimedia prototype for a new e‐learning tool: Anatomy of the Central Nervous System: A Multimedia Course. Usability testing is a collection of formative evaluation methods that inform the developmental design of e‐learning tools to maximize user acceptance, satisfaction, and adoption. Sixty‐two study participants piloted the prototype and completed a usability questionnaire designed to measure two usability properties: program need and program applicability. Statistical analyses were used to test the hypothesis that the multimedia prototype was well designed and highly usable, it was perceived as: (1) highly needed across a spectrum of educational contexts, (2) highly applicable in supporting the pedagogical processes of teaching and learning neuroanatomy, and (3) was highly usable by all types of users. Three independent variables represented user differences: level of expertise (faculty vs. student), age, and gender. Analysis of the results supports the research hypotheses that the prototype was designed well for different types of users in various educational contexts and for supporting the pedagogy of neuroanatomy. In addition, the results suggest that the multimedia program will be most useful as a neuroanatomy review tool for health‐professions students preparing for licensing or board exams. This study demonstrates the importance of integrating quality properties of usability with principles of human learning during the instructional design process for multimedia products. Anat Sci Ed 2008. © 2008 American Association of Anatomists.
Coordination of staffing and pricing decisions in a service firm
Authors: Serel Doǧan A. , Erel Erdal
Published: July 2008

Customer demand is sensitive to the price paid for the service in many service environments. Using queueing theory framework, we develop profit maximization models for jointly determining the price and the staffing level in a service company. The models include constraints on the average waiting time and the blocking probability. We show convexity of the single‐variable subproblem under certain plausible assumptions on the demand and staffing cost functions. Using numerical examples, we investigate the sensitivity of the price and the staffing level to changes in the marginal service cost and the user‐specified constraint on the congestion measure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Security considerations in blinded exposure experiments using electromagnetic waves
Authors: Wolf Christian
Published: July 2008

Whether exposure to electromagnetic fields well below accepted exposure limits has a cytogenetic effect on human cells has long been debated. It is widely published and generally accepted that the exposure unit invariably used in these experiments is capable of providing blinded exposure conditions. The following short report illustrates, however, that exposure conditions might not always be as effectively masked as is generally assumed. Bioelectromagnetics 29:658–659, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Model Free Approach to Combining Biomarkers
Authors: Pfeiffer Ruth M. , Bur Efstathia
Published: July 2008

For most diseases, single biomarkers do not have adequate sensitivity or specificity for practical purposes. We present an approach to combine several biomarkers into a composite marker score without assuming a model for the distribution of the predictors. Using sufficient dimension reduction techniques, we replace the original markers with a lower‐dimensional version, obtained through linear transformations of markers that contain sufficient information for regression of the predictors on the outcome. We combine the linear transformations using their asymptotic properties into a scalar diagnostic score via the likelihood ratio statistic. The performance of this score is assessed by the area under the receiver‐operator characteristics curve (ROC), a popular summary measure of the discriminatory ability of a single continuous diagnostic marker for binary disease outcomes. An asymptotic chi‐squared test for assessing individual biomarker contribution to the diagnostic score is also derived. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Dose Finding – A Challenge in Statistics
Authors: Bretz Frank , Hsu Jason , Pinheiro José , Liu Yi
Published: July 2008

A good understanding and characterization of the dose response relationship of any new compound is an important and ubiquitous problem in many areas of scientific investigation. This is especially true in the context of pharmaceutical drug development, where it is mandatory to launch safe drugs which demonstrate a clinically relevant effect. Selecting a dose too high may result in unacceptable safety problems, while selecting a dose too low may lead to ineffective drugs. Dose finding studies thus play a key role in any drug development program and are often the gate‐keeper for large confirmatory studies.

In this overview paper we focus on definitive and confirmatory dose finding studies in Phase II or III, reviewing relevant statistical design and analysis methods. In particular, we describe multiple comparison procedures, modeling approaches, and hybrid methods combining the advantages of both. An outlook to adaptive dose finding methods is also given. We use a real data example to illustrate the methods, together with a brief overview of relevant software. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Study on Confidence Intervals for Incremental Cost‐Effectiveness Ratios
Authors: Wang Hongkun , Zhao Hongwei
Published: July 2008

In health policy and economics studies, the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) has long been used to compare the economic consequences relative to the health benefits of therapies. Due to the skewed distributions of the costs and ICERs, much research has been done on how to obtain confidence intervals of ICERs, using either parametric or nonparametric methods, with or without the presence of censoring. In this paper, we will examine and compare the finite sample performance of many approaches via simulation studies. For the special situation when the health effect of the treatment is not statistically significant, we will propose a new bootstrapping approach to improve upon the bootstrap percentile method that is currently available. The most efficient way of constructing confidence intervals will be identified and extended to the censored data case. Finally, a data example from a cardiovascular clinical trial is used to demonstrate the application of these methods. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Controllable Preparation of Monodispersed Calcium Alginate Microbeads in a Novel Microfluidic System
Authors: Xu J. H. , Li S. W. , Tan J. , Luo G. S.
Published: July 2008

This work describes a novel method for the preparation of monodispersed calcium alginate microbeads in a microfluidic device. A novel microfluidic device comprising of two cross‐junction channels and a synthesizing channel was designed by controlling the mixing condition with laminar flow and two‐phase droplet flow in microfluidic devices. At the first junction, the side two streams, sodium alginate aqueous solution and calcium chloride aqueous solution, were separated to prevent contact by the injection of deionized water in the middle channel. Then the aqueous mixture solution was induced into monodispersed droplets by a focusing sheath of immiscible oil phase at the second junction. The formed droplets were solidified in situ in the synthesizing channel with the rapid mixing of reactants in the droplets. The size of the Ca‐alginate microbeads can be controlled from 50–300 μm in diameter with a variation of less than 2 %, simply by changing the two‐phase flow ratio. The proposed microfluidic platform is capable of generating uniform emulsions and has the advantages of in situ solidification and good control of particle size.
Pressure Loss and Transfer Rates in Microstructured Devices with Chemical Reactions
Authors: Kockmann N.
Published: July 2008

Enhanced transport phenomena are essential for chemical reactions in continuous flow microstructured equipment. Flow regimes and heat transfer are governed by laminar and transitional conditions to turbulence. In channel curves and meandering channels, secondary flow structures appear, starting from Dean flow with a vortex pair to more chaotic flow structures at higher Re numbers. The geometry and cross‐section of the smallest channel determine the pressure loss and energy dissipation of the entire system. Heat and mass transfer is greatly influenced by the flow regime, which leads to transport enhancement conjointly with miniaturization. It is shown that the pressure loss and energy dissipation can be used to determine heat transfer coefficients and mixing characteristics. Chemical reactions are characterized by their kinetics and stoichiometry. Rapid mixing depends on the pressure loss in the microchannel, where the time scales are important. Dimensionless numbers assist the appropriate and successful design of microreactors concerning mixing, residence time, and heat transfer.
Microstructured Devices for Preparing Controlled Multiple Emulsions
Authors: Nisisako T.
Published: July 2008

The preparation of multiple emulsions with controlled droplet sizes and internal structures has been a challenge for a long time. However, in recent years, a major breakthrough has been achieved in the preparation of monodisperse single emulsions by small‐scale fluid processing, which has enabled the formation of multiple emulsions with the desired droplet sizes, structures, and compositions. This review deals with the preparation of controlled multiple emulsions in various microstructured devices. The four preparation pathways are discussed individually. They are (a) membrane emulsification, (b) microchannel emulsification, (c) the use of a two‐dimensional microfluidic device, and (d) the use of a three‐dimensional coaxial microcapillary device. The applications of the prepared multiple emulsions to a novel class of materials are also discussed.
Micromixer Characterization with Competitive‐Consecutive Bromination of 1,3,5‐Trimethoxybenzene
Authors: Hecht K. J. , Kölbl A. , Kraut M. , Schubert K.
Published: July 2008

Mixing sensitive reactions that preserve mixing results in the product distribution can be used to characterize mixing devices. The competitive‐consecutive reaction of bromine with 1,3,5‐trimethoxybenzene was applied to four static mixer devices ranging in size from several millimeters to several micrometers. The commonly used parallel‐competitive reaction of iodate and borate with acid was also used for comparison purposes. Both methods were suitable for characterizing all mixing devices. The iodide/iodate reaction method required the use of multiple concentrations of the reactants in the feed streams, whereas the bromination reaction method allowed characterization of all devices at the same feed concentrations. Only devices characterized at the same reactant concentrations can be directly compared.
Extrusion zur Gestaltung von Lebensmittelstrukturen
Authors: Schuchmann H. P.
Published: July 2008

Die Extrusion findet bei der Herstellung von konsumentengerechten Lebensmitteln immer weitere Verbreitung, da thermische und mechanische Grundoperationen mit Texturgebenden Prozessschritten in einer verfahrenstechnische Anlage verbunden werden können. Trotz zahlreicher Erkenntnisse aus dem Bereich der Kunststoffextrusion ist im Bereich der Lebensmittelverarbeitung das zur gezielten Produktgestaltung benötigte Prozessverständnis zurzeit noch nicht ausreichend. Dieser Übersichtsbeitrag fasst den Stand des Wissens zusammen und zeigt aktuelle Forschungsansätze.
Determination of minimum speed required for solids suspension in stirred vessels using pressure measurements
Authors: Selima Y. S. , Fangary Y. S. , Mahmoud N. A.
Published: July 2008

The minimum speed required for complete suspension (Njs) is a major parameter for solids suspension in stirred tanks. Micale et al. 7th UK Conference on Mixing (2002) determined Njs by using a pressure gauge technique in a model vessel. In the present work Njs was measured by the same later technique in a more practical vessel with varying C/T ratio and the impeller direction of rotation. The results were compared to those obtained by Zwietering Chem. Eng. Sci. 8, 244–253, (1958) correlation. Agreement was found between results from present work and predictions by Zwietering's correlation with maximum difference not exceeding 17%.
Observations and analysis of electrokinetically driven particle trapping in planar microelectrode arrays
Authors: Tomkins Matthew R. , Wood Jeffery A. , Docoslis Aristides
Published: July 2008

In situ observations of submicron fluorescent tracers suspended in high ionic strength media sealed in a confined geometry are combined with 3‐D simulations in order to provide a better understanding of the synergism between dielectrophoresis and electrothermal flows that cause rapid particle transport and trapping on the surface of planar quadrupolar microelectrodes. The influence of electrode design on the microfluidic patterns and observed particle collection is examined by employing two different types of microelectrodes in the experiments. The potential use of quadrupolar microelectrodes as means for achieving accelerated sampling and signal amplification in future surface based biosensor devices is illustrated with an experiment involving stable capture of antigen‐coated polystyrene particles on the surface of an antibody‐functionalized microelectrode array.
Operation of an industrial steam reformer under severe condition: A simulation study
Authors: Shayegan J. , Hashemi M. M. Yousef Motamed , Vakhshouri K.
Published: July 2008

A rigorous two‐dimensional model is developed for simulating the operation of a less‐investigated type steam reformer having a considerably lower operating Reynolds number, higher tube diameter, and non‐availability of extra steam in the feed compared with conventional steam reformers. Simulation results show that reasonable predictions can only be achieved when certain correlations for wall to fluid heat transfer equations are applied. In all cases, strong radial temperature gradients inside the reformer tubes have been found. Furthermore, the results show how a certain catalyst loading profile will affect the operation of the reformer.