bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining Agricultural Teachers' TPACK Competencies: A Study of Demographic Influences in the Philippines
Authors: Villareal Nikko Karlo B. , Homillano Myra Luz M.
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Preparation of students for modern agricultural demands in developing regions is a challenge for agricultural education, especially in integrating technological knowledge and effective teaching strategies. The critical need for comprehensive research on teachers' instructional capabilities regarding the agricultural literacy is emphasized by persistent low levels of agricultural literacy among most teachers.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between teachers' demographic characteristics and their technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) domains among agriculture teachers in the Division of Camarines Sur, Philippines.
Methods: A descriptive correlational research design using a mixed methods approach was used. The study included 20 public school teachers who taught agricultural crop production programs. Demographic questionnaires, TPACK assessment instruments, and agricultural literacy assessments were used as data collection instruments. The collected data was analyzed using multiple linear regression, and Pearson correlation.
Results: The results showed that there were different levels of knowledge in TPACK domains. The most proficient (Mean = 3.55) was technological knowledge, followed by pedagogical knowledge (Mean = 3.52) and content knowledge (Mean = 3.28). There were significant negative correlations between years of teaching experience and technological knowledge, which prove that younger teachers are more knowledgeable about technologies.
Conclusion: Research focuses on the interplay between demographics and TPACK in agricultural education, and suggests targeted professional development programs, technology integration initiatives and hands on learning experience. The results show that teachers’ TPACK can be improved through continuous professional development and innovative pedagogical approaches, which in turn will improve students’ agricultural literacy and prepare them for the challenges of contemporary agriculture.
Performance Benchmarking of YOLOv11 Variants for Real-Time Delivery Vehicle Detection: A Study on Accuracy, Speed, and Computational Trade-offs
Authors: Kishor Rabinandan
Published: December 2024

The YOLOv series represents state-of-the-art technology for single-stage object detection, excelling in speed and accuracy. In many scenarios, it outperforms traditional two-stage detection frameworks, making it ideal for real-time applications. This study evaluates YOLOv11 model variants (n, s, m, i, x) on a custom dataset of 2,285 labelled images representing four delivery vehicle classes: FedEx, Other-Vehicles, UPS, and USPS-Truck. The dataset is meticulously curated to capture diverse delivery vehicle scenarios and split into training, validation, and test sets. Each variant was fine-tuned using uniform settings: 20 epochs, an input resolution of 640×640 pixels, and a batch size of 16.
Performance was assessed using metrics such as mean Average Precision (mAP, a standard metric measuring detection accuracy) across Intersection over Union (IoU) thresholds from 50% to 95% (a range defining the overlap between predicted and ground-truth bounding boxes), precision, recall, and inference speed on GPU and CPU. The results highlight trade-offs between model complexity and performance: smaller variants like YOLOv11-n achieved faster inference speeds (170.74 FPS on GPU and 5.86 ms on GPU), while larger models like YOLOv11-x excelled in detection accuracy and recall but at the cost of slower speeds (240.03 FPS on GPU and 4.17 ms on GPU). YOLOv11-s, for example, offered a balance with the highest FPS (1120.46 GPU FPS) but with moderate accuracy and recall. These findings demonstrate the adaptability of YOLOv11 variants to varying application requirements, from high-speed real-time systems to scenarios prioritizing detection accuracy.
This research advances object detection by providing a detailed performance benchmark for YOLOv11 variants. It offers practical insights for deploying YOLOv11 in diverse fields, including logistics, delivery tracking, and other domains requiring efficient and accurate object detection.
Sustainable Grain Protection: Combatting Rice Weevils (Sitophilus oryzae) with Natural Plant Powders
Authors: Hasan Md. Rakibul , Rana Md Sohel , Nasim Md Roconuzzaman , Billah Masum , Rahaman Sadia , Shahrin Kazi Rifat , Rahman Md. Anisur , Das Krishna Rany , Ahmed Kazi Shahanara
Published: December 2024

Grain storage plays a pivotal role in ensuring food security and sustaining agriculture for future generations. However, a wide array of insect pests, including the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae), pose a significant threat to stored grains. This study was conducted at the Laboratory of the Department of Seed Science and Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, from October 2019 to March 2020, to evaluate the efficacy of plant-based powders for managing rice weevils. The experiment was designed using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications and seven treatments. These treatments included five botanical powders—Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Polygonum hydropiper (Biskatali), Nicotiana tabacum (Tobacco), and Lantana camara (Lantana)—applied at three dosage levels: 1 g, 3 g, and 5 g per 100 g of grain. Additionally, a chemical insecticide (Sevin 85 SP @ 0.25%) and an untreated control were included for comparison. Results revealed that neem leaf powder was the most effective, achieving the highest adult insect mortality and the lowest adult emergence. In contrast, Lantana powder exhibited the least efficacy, allowing 94.38% more adult insects to emerge compared to neem powder. Untreated grains experienced a 20% weight loss due to rice weevil infestation after one month of storage, whereas treatment with 5% neem leaf powder reduced weight loss to a mere 0.14%. This reduction was statistically significant compared to all  other treatments. These findings suggest that neem leaf powder at 5% is a highly effective, eco-friendly, and safe alternative to chemical insecticides for controlling rice weevils in stored grains.
A Review of the Relationship among Some Selected Probability Distributions
Authors: Segun Oguntade, Emmanuel , Adeyeye Awogbemi, Clement , Alagbe Samson Adekola
Published: December 2024

Choosing the right probability distribution for a particular phenomenon of interest sometimes becomes an issue for researchers. Relationship among probability distributions can be explored by transformation of random variables, combination of multiple variables and by approximations. This study reviewed some of these commonly used probability distributions and their properties and highlighted their basic differences and links. The distributions considered were both discrete and continuous in nature. While algebraic processes were developed to establish the links among the selected probability distributions, a schematic relationship was utilized to foster better understanding of the relationships among the selected distributions.
Insects as Ecological Indicators: A Review
Authors: Ramola Gaurav Chand , Rawat Nidhi , Singh Ravindra , Sajwan Ankita Singh , Sahu Lekhendra , Rawat Pravin
Published: December 2024

Insects are universal components of ecosystems, and their roles in maintaining ecological balance are multifaceted. They also show a sensitive response to environmental health. Abundance, diversity, and behaviour of insects are sensitive to changes in their environment, rendering them an invaluable indication of ecosystem health. The life cycles of these insects are fast, and they are sensitive to changes in the environment; hence, they become forerunners of disturbance, thus showing changes in the ecosystem before noticeable effects on larger organisms occur. For example, changes in insect populations may indicate changes in the climate, land use, level of pollution, and habitat quality. Terrestrial and aquatic habitats use insects as bio indicators, since different taxa respond to different stressors. While aquatic insects, such as mayflies and stoneflies, are an indication of the health of freshwater ecosystems, terrestrial ones—butterflies, beetles, moths, bees, etc.—indicate habitat fragmentation, pesticide exposure, and climate change impacts. It is through the power of their ecological importance and using advances in technology that these researchers have the potential to leverage this complex world of insects to protect biodiversity forlong-lasting care. This review article focuses on the priority of insects as a beneficiary for monitoring environmental pollution and assessing pollutants.
Accessibility on Utilization of Contraceptive Methods among Youths: an Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in Westlands Sub County, Nairobi
Authors: Kamau Lydia Mukami , Muitta Esther , Some Eliab
Published: December 2024

Background: Over 20 million young people who need modern contraceptives do not use any, making the low uptake of these methods among adolescents a major public health concern. Information on contraception is abundant among the population but the uptake of contraception is still low, especially among the youth in developing nations. The study sought to examine how accessibility affects the utilization of contraceptive methods among the youths in the Westlands Sub-County, Nairobi County, Kenya.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design where quantitative data was obtained. Simple random sampling was used to select 13 health centers in Westland’s Sub County and youths visiting the facilities for services were sampled using both systematic and simple random sampling. For this study, 398 participants made up the sample size where the Sloven formula for sample size calculation was used.
Results: The research found a significant correlation (p=0.00) between youths' use of modern contraceptive methods and the quality of services they received. From this study, the number of children (p=0.503) did not significantly add to the model, but the academic level (p=0.003), marital status (p=0.021), and gender (p=0.001) did.
Conclusions: In conclusion utilization of any method of contraceptives translated to a high contraceptive utilization prevalence in youths, the quality of services that health care providers offer to youths, education level, and demographic factors such as gender, and marital status, have continued to greatly affect and lower overall contraceptive utilization prevalence among the youths in developing nations.
Nutritional Attributes of Moringa oleifera Via Antioxidants and Anti-inflammatory Responses Abates Aluminum Chloride Induced Neurobehavioral Deficits, Biogenicamines Imbalance and Hippocampal Neurodegeneration in Adult Male Wistar Rats
Authors: B. Ogunlade
Published: December 2024

Background: Chronic aluminum toxicity induces cellular alterations and oxidative stress thereby causing neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. This study elucidated the nutritional constituents of Moringa oleifera (MO) on aluminum-chloride (AlCl3) induced AD in adult Wistar rats.
Materials and Methods: Forty (40) adult male Wistar rats (160±20 g) were divided into 4 groups (n=10). Group A received normal saline as placebo; Group B received 200 mg/kg bw of AlCl3 only; Group C received 100mg/kg bw of MO and 200 mg/kg bw of AlCl3 and Group D received 100 mg/kg bw of MO only. All administration was done orally per day for 45 days. After the last administration, they animals underwent behavioral tests (Morris Water maze, Y-Maze and Open field). Thereafter, animals were sacrificed via cervical dislocation and blood samples were collected to obtain serum and the brain was harvested for analysis.
Results: The antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GSH and SOD) levels, serum electrolyte (except K+) and neurotransmitter levels (except norepinephrine), behavioral tests (spatial memory and learning deficit) were significantly decreased with concomitant increase in oxidative stress markers (MDA, H2O2 and NO) among AlCl3 intoxication compared to control.
Conclusion: MO preserves hippocampal neurons, antioxidant levels, neurotransmitters, learning and memory abilities induced by AlCl3.
Performance Evaluation of a Solar Dryer for Silver Cyprinid (Omena): Enhancing Food Security through Sustainable Preservation
Authors: Kiprotich Garison , Kimutai Stephen K. , Ayub Hesborn R.
Published: December 2024

Aim: The aim of this study was to design, construct, and assess a small-scale solar drying unit for drying Silver Cyprinid (Omena) fish. The rationale was to develop an effective, cheap and sustainable way to help local fishermen in Kenya, especially those around Lake Victoria, to advance the methods of drying fish and, hence, increasing the focus on preservation of nutrients.
Methodology: A solar drying unit was designed and constructed to harness solar energy as its primary heat source for drying fish. Performance evaluations were conducted at Egerton University, Kenya, where 5 kg of Omena fish were distributed across three tray decks (2 kg on the lowest, 2 kg on the middle, and 1 kg on the top tray). Temperature fluctuations within the dryer, including the inlet chamber, chamber entrance, and chimney, were monitored during sunlight exposure. The operational efficiency and drying time of the unit were also evaluated.
Results: Temperature variation in the dryer was between 25 0C and 37 0C, average temperature of 37 0C, 35 0C, 40 0C and 42 0C was observed for the product, ambient, collector and drying chamber respectively. From the study it was found that the dryer was able to dry approximately 12 kg of freshly harvested Omena during a day under 8 hours of sunlight with an efficiency of 51.94%. This confirmed that the drying process enhanced the quality attributes of the fish in terms of texture, flavor, smell and color, with an overall acceptance score of 4.125 of the dried fish on hedonic scale.
Conclusion: The study concluded that; utilizing technology of solar dryers in the drying of Omena fish improves on the hygiene level, the performance on the nutrient quality of the fish is not affected negatively by this technology and therefore, the way forward in producing food in a sustainable manner is adopted by applying this technology. This developed small scale solar dryer provided efficient and effective solution to the conventional open sun drying and smoking system. The study thus calls for more cost-outcome studies that will compare the above solar dryers with the conventional methods of drying in Kenya.
Biocontrol Mechanism of Arbuscular Mycorrhyzal Fungi against Plant-parasitic Nematodes: A Review
Authors: Devi Gitanjali
Published: December 2024

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are the major global menace to food production. Management methods based on synthetic chemicals is objectionable due to environmental and health risks. Therefore, use of biocontrol agents such as Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is environmentally friendly options for management of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN). Competition for nutrients and space, changing rhizosphere interactions, or increasing plant tolerance is the mode of action of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) against plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). Better knowledge of the mode of action of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) will help to increase the efficacy of these biocontrol agents. This review presents a general idea of different mechanisms of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-mediated biocontrol, and their possible use in reducing plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) population.
Response of Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] to Local Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Inoculation in Divo Area, Center-south of Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: AMANI Kouadio , GUEI Raïssa Nassé Kaéda , OUATTARA Adama , COULIBALY Noupé Diakaria , FONDIO Lassina , YAO Guy Fernand , KONATE Ibrahim
Published: December 2024

Experiment was conducted on farm in Divo to evaluate the elite native rhizobia strains on soybean nodulation, growth and yield. The experiment was layout in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments include seven native strains, one exotic strain (Bradyrhizobium japonicum IRAT FA3), one synthetic fertilizer NPK 12-22-22 formulation and one negative control. Agronomic parameters (plant height, plant dry biomass, nodules number plant-1, pods number plant-1, pods weight plant-1, 100-seeds weight and seeds yield ha-1) were measured. Results showed that all tested local rhizobia enhanced nodules number, plant growth and soybean yield as compared to negative control. Among these native rhizobia, RSC324 and RSC502 induced more nodules than the introduced strain B. japonicum IRAT FA3. These same bacteria induced more pods per plant than the introduced bacterial strain IRAT FA3 and synthetic fertilizer (12-22-22). They induced the the highest pods number plant-1 (144 and 133 pods plant-1 respectively) and seeds yield (2.5 t.ha-1). In addition to these bacteria, the local strain RSC508 increased soybean pods yield compared with synthetic fertilizer. Therefore, this study suggests that local rhizobia RSC324 and RSC502 proved to be the most effective and competitive strains for soybean cultivar Canarana and could be use for inoculum sources in Divo area.
Exploration of Homeowners' Perception Towards Green Homes Features
Authors: Anindita M. D. Krisna Adya , Suwarno Natalia , Larasati Dewi , Kusuma Hanson Endra , Tjondrorahardja Daud
Published: December 2024

Green homes concept implementation is one of strategies to increase energy and water efficiency in residential buildings. Currently, the concept of green homes has been adopted by the public and promoted by the government because of its benefits. Utilization of green home features is known to benefit the environment and occupants. However, as the number of green home users increases, the adoption acceleration of green home features has barriers. Homeowners' perceptions of green home features determine homeowners' attitudes toward utilizing these features. This research aims to identify the hindering factors of green home feature adoption by exploring homeowners’ perceptions. The green home features such as smart lighting and sensor, energy-efficient labeled appliance, photovoltaic panel, water meters, dual-flush toilet, and rainwater harvesting are reviewed. Data was gathered using an online open questionnaire and analyzed using grounded theory method. Result shows green homes features’ adoption barriers consist of technical aspects, product availability, economics, knowledge, regulation, and motivation.
3D Printing of Textiles: Potential Roadmap to Printing with Fibers
Authors: Chatterjee Kony , Ghosh Tushar K.
Published: December 2019

3D printing (3DP) has transformed engineering, manufacturing, and the use of advanced materials due to its ability to produce objects from a variety of materials, ranging from soft polymers to rigid ceramics. 3DP offers the advantage of being able to print at a variety of lengths scales; from a few micrometers to many meters. 3DP has the unique ability to produce customized small lots, efficiently. Yet, one crucial industry that has not been able to adequately explore its potential is textile manufacturing. The research in 3DP of textiles has lagged behind other areas primarily due to the difficulty in obtaining some of the unique characteristics of strength, flexibility, etc., of textiles, utilizing a fundamentally different manufacturing technology. Textiles are their own class of materials due to the specific structural developments that occur during the various stages of textile manufacturing: from fiber extrusion to assembly of the fibers to fabrics. Here, the current 3DP technologies are reviewed with emphasis on soft and anisotropic structures, as well as the efforts toward 3DP of textiles. Finally, a potential pathway to 3DP of textiles, dubbed as printing with fibers to create textile structures is proposed for further exploration.
Simultaneous Improved Performance and Thermal Stability of Planar Metal Ion Incorporated CsPbI2Br All‐Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells Based on MgZnO Nanocrystalline Electron Transporting Layer
Authors: Mali Sawanta S. , Patil Jyoti V. , Hong Chang Kook
Published: December 2019

The high thermal stability and facile synthesis of CsPbI2Br all‐inorganic perovskite solar cells (AI‐PSCs) have attracted tremendous attention. As far as electron‐transporting layers (ETLs) are concerned, low temperature processing and reduced interfacial recombination centers through tunable energy levels determine the feasibility of the perovskite devices. Although the TiO2is the most popular ETL used in PSCs, its processing temperature and moderate electron mobility hamper the performance and feasibility. Herein, the highly stable, low‐temperature processed MgZnO nanocrystal‐based ETLs for dynamic hot‐air processed Mn2+incorporated CsPbI2Br AI‐PSCs are reported. By holding its regular planar “n–i–p” type device architecture, the MgZnO ETL and poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) hole transporting layer, 15.52% power conversion efficiency (PCE) is demonstrated. The thermal‐stability analysis reveals that the conventional ZnO ETL‐based AI‐PSCs show a serious instability and poor efficiency than the Mg2+modified MgZnO ETLs. The photovoltaic and stability analysis of this improved photovoltaic performance is attributed to the suitable wide‐bandgap, low ETL/perovskite interface recombination, and interface stability by Mg2+doping. Interestingly, the thermal stability analysis of the unencapsulated AI‐PSCs maintains >95% of initial PCE more than 400 h at 85 °C for MgZnO ETL, revealing the suitability against thermal degradation than conventional ZnO ETL.
Sex differences in the relative heterogeneity of frailty in relation to age, frailty, health protection, and five‐year mortality
Authors: Yang Zhan , Wang Chunxiu , Tang Zhe , Song Xiaowei
Published: December 2019

Background

Previous studies have suggested that the relative heterogeneity of frailty declines with increases in age and the level of the frailty index (FI). In this study, we investigated the sex difference in the relative heterogeneity of frailty and its response to health‐protective factors, in a Chinese community sample.

Methods

Data used for this secondary analysis were obtained from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging that involved 3257 community‐dwelling Chinese people aged 55 years and older at baseline. An FI was constructed for each indicial using 35 variables assessing health‐related problems. A protection index (PI) consisting of 27 variables assessing lifestyle and social engagement was also built. The relative heterogeneity of frailty, as measured by the coefficient of variation (CV) of the FI, was calculated as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean FI for different age, FI, and PI groups, and for the five‐year survival status.

Results

The CV decreased with the increase in age (F = 20.60, P = .006) and the FI (F = 57.59, P = .001), consistent in both sexes. In each age group, the CV was higher in men than in women (t = 3.25, P = .018). A great level of protection was associated with a significantly reduced mortality, and an increased CV (t = 2.91, P = .027).

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate that a gender difference exists in the relative heterogeneity of frailty, which is negatively related to age and frailty as well as positively associated with health protection and the five‐year survival.
Protecting Quantum Fisher Information in Correlated Quantum Channels
Authors: Hu Ming‐Liang , Wang Hui‐Fang
Published: December 2019

Quantum Fisher information (QFI) has potential applications in quantum metrology tasks. QFI is investigated when the consecutive actions of a quantum channel on the sequence of qubits have partial classical correlations. The results showed that while the decoherence effect is detrimental to QFI, effects of such classical correlations on QFI are channel‐dependent. For the Bell‐type probe states, the classical correlations on consecutive actions of the depolarizing and phase flip channels can be harnessed to improve QFI, while the classical correlations in the bit flip and bit‐phase flip channels induce a slight decrease of QFI. For a more general parameterization form of the probe states, the advantage of using the initial correlated system on improving QFI can also remain in a wide regime of the correlated quantum channels.
Bioinspired Synthesis of (−)‐PF‐1018
Authors: Quintela‐Varela Hugo , Jamieson Cooper S. , Shao Qianzhen , Houk K. N. , Trauner Dirk
Published: December 2019

The combination of electrocyclizations and cycloadditions accounts for the formation of a range of fascinating natural products. Cascades consisting of 8π electrocyclizations followed by a 6π electrocyclization and a cycloaddition are relatively common. We now report the synthesis of the tetramic acid PF‐1018 through an 8π electrocyclization, the product of which is immediately intercepted by a Diels–Alder cycloaddition. The success of this pericyclic cascade was critically dependent on the substitution pattern of the starting polyene and could be rationalized through DFT calculations. The completion of the synthesis required the instalment of a trisubstituted double bond by radical deoxygenation. An unexpected side product formed through 4‐exo‐trig radical cyclization could be recycled through an unprecedented triflation/fragmentation.
Dynamische Komplex‐zu‐Komplex‐Umwandlungen von heterobimetallischen Systemen und ihr Einfluss auf die Käfigstruktur oder den Spinzustand von Eisen(II)‐Ionen
Authors: Hardy Matthias , Struch Niklas , Holstein Julian J. , Schnakenburg Gregor , Wagner Norbert , Beck Johannes , Engeser Marianne , Clever Guido H. , Lützen Arne
Published: December 2019

Ein trigonal‐bipyramidaler und ein kubischer heterobimetallischer Käfig wurden mit Eisen(II)‐ und Palladium(II)‐Bausteinen gemäß dem Molecular‐Library‐Ansatz aus demselben einkernigen Metalloliganden aufgebaut. Das Ligandensystem wurde so entworfen, dass der Aufbau durch Subkomponenten‐Selbstorganisation möglich war. Dieser Ansatz ermöglicht es, sterische Spannung um die Eisen(II)‐Zentren in das System einzuführen, was deren paramagnetischen High‐Spin‐Zustand stabilisiert. Diese sterische Spannung wurde genutzt, um dynamische Komplex‐zu‐Komplex‐Umwandlungen mit dem Metalloliganden und den heterobimetallischen Systemen durchzuführen. So konnten durch den Einsatz weniger sperriger Subkomponenten alle Komplexe in ihre diamagnetischen Analoga umgewandelt werden. Dabei integrierten der Metalloligand und die Bipyramide den neuen Baustein bereitwilliger als der Würfel, wahrscheinlich weil die geometrische Struktur des sperrigeren Metalloliganden die Bildung des Würfels begünstigt. Außerdem gelang es, Strukturumwandlungen durch die Zugabe besser koordinierender Chelatliganden zu provozieren, wodurch die kubischen in bipyramidale Strukturen umgewandelt werden konnten.
Electrochemical Difunctionalization of Alkenes by a Four‐Component Reaction Cascade Mumm Rearrangement: Rapid Access to Functionalized Imides
Authors: Zhang Xiaofeng , Cui Ting , Zhao Xin , Liu Ping , Sun Peipei
Published: December 2019

An electrochemical four‐component reaction cascade Mumm rearrangement was developed. It is a rare example of in situ generation of O‐acyl isoamides for 1,3‐(O→N) acyl transfer. Inexpensive, commercially available arylethylenes, aryl or heterocyclic acids, acetonitrile, and alcohols were used as substrates. A wide range of aryl acids and alcohols were tolerated and provided imides in satisfactory yields. Subsequent hydrolysis of imides could be utilized to synthesize valuable amides and β‐amino alcohol derivatives.
Polyurethane foaming with CO2 adducts from C8 alkyl grafted polyethyleneimines: Optimization of the grafting rate and application of the blowing agents
Authors: Da Xiang , Liu Chao , Long Yuanzhu , Xie Xingyi
Published: December 2019

We previously explored a series of CO2 adducts from alkylated polyethylenimines with C4 to C16 alkyl side chains, serving as climate‐friendly blowing agents for polyurethanes (PUs). Among them, the polyethylenimine with C8 alkyl (2‐ethylhexyl) side chains demonstrated the highest foaming efficiency. In this study, we further changed the grafting rate of the C8 alkyl, from 7 to 16%, and investigated the effects of the resulting blowing agents on the foaming process. For both foaming systems containing a castor oil‐derived polyol (Polycin T‐400) or a poly(propylene glycol) polyol (Polyether 4110), the CO2 adducts with a grafting rate of 13% displayed the best foaming performance in terms of high dispersibility in the foaming systems, homogenous cellular morphology, and good mechanical properties. Moreover, the 13%‐C8‐alkylated blowing agent demonstrated high suitability for the foaming systems from biomass‐sourced polyols (like Polycin T‐400). Therefore, the optimized CO2‐adduct blowing agent could replace the currently used climate‐changing hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons, as well as might contribute to the development of future renewable PU foams. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48752.
Über die Notwendigkeit dreidimensionaler, hygrothermischer Simulationen
Authors: Ruisinger Ulrich , Kautsch Peter
Published: December 2019

Dieser Artikel geht der Frage nach, ob für die hygrothermische Analyse dreidimensionaler Details, wie die Auflager von Holzbalkendecken bei innen gedämmten Wänden, instationäre, zweidimensionale Simulationen ausreichend sind oder ob dreidimensionale Simulationen durchgeführt werden sollten. Zunächst wird die Validierung der verwendeten Software DELPHIN 6 mithilfe eines dreidimensionalen, stationären Testfalls aus der EN 10211 dargestellt. Anschließend kann anhand von detaillierten Messergebnissen aus Balkenauflagern eine sehr gute Übereinstimmung zwischen Messung und Simulationsausgaben festgestellt werden. Thermisch können durch die dreidimensionale Berechnung praktisch keine genaueren Ergebnisse erzielt werden, die hygrischen Ergebnisse werden durch die dreidimensionale Berechnung etwas besser wiedergegeben. Für reale Planungsaufgaben sollten demnach zweidimensionale Simulationen ausreichend sein, sofern Simulationseinstellungen auf der sicheren Seite gewählt werden.
Quantum Cultures during the Prehistory of Quantum Gravity: Léon Rosenfeld's Early Contributions to Quantum Gravity
Authors: Peruzzi Giulio , Rocci Alessio
Published: December 2019

In this paper we consider the prehistory of quantum gravity (1916–1930) from two perspectives. First, we investigate how this research field constituted itself and we propose for the first time a red thread to trace its evolution in this earliest period. Second, we focus on a case study: the earliest work of Léon Rosenfeld. In 1927 he tried to merge wave mechanics with general relativity in the context of a five‐dimensional universe. We describe how Oskar Klein, Louis de Broglie, and Théophile De Donder influenced Rosenfeld's work and analyze how and why Rosenfeld attempted to reconcile Einstein's theory with quantum phenomena. We argue that Rosenfeld investigated for the first time the corrections to a classical space‐time metric generated by a quantum source. As far as we know, Rosenfeld's approach has been largely ignored until today: he himself considered it “an accident.” After having reconsidered its connection with de Broglie's ideas and Rosenfeld's interpretation of the wave function in 1927, we argue that Rosenfeld's work can be interpreted as a first attempt to introduce the pilot‐wave theory in the context of quantum gravity and we infer that this was one of the reasons that ruled it out.
Rural Appalachian High School Students’ College‐Going and STEMM Perceptions
Authors: Rosecrance Pamela H. , Graham Danielle , Manring Sam , Cook Katherine D. , Hardin Erin E. , Gibbons Melinda M.
Published: December 2019

The authors examined perceptions of key social cognitive career theory (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994) variables related to college‐going and science, technology, engineering, math, and medical (STEMM) careers in 10th and 11th graders (N = 892) attending 3 rural Appalachian high schools. The authors examined differences in perceptions related to gender, prospective 1st‐generation college student status, and the presence or absence of aspirations to pursue a STEMM career. Young women and young men scored similarly on all but 1 dependent variable, college‐going self‐efficacy (young women scored higher). Students who had STEMM career aspirations had higher scores on every measure than those who did not. Results suggest examining a 3rd prospective 1st‐generation college student status group—students who are unsure of their parents’ education level—as a distinct group in future research. By examining the college‐going and STEMM attitudes of rural Appalachian high school students, this study advances the literature and informs practitioners on reducing educational and vocational inequalities in this region.
Factors Influencing Supervisee Perceptions of Critical Feedback Validity
Authors: McKibben W. Bradley , Borders L. DiAnne , Wahesh Edward
Published: December 2019

The authors investigated supervisees’ (N = 93) memories of critical feedback and validity ratings of that feedback. Supervisees most often recalled critical feedback about their counseling performance skills. Attachment avoidance, the supervisory relationship, and critical feedback of counseling skills and professional behaviors were significantly related to perceived feedback validity.
Multicultural and Social Justice Competence in Clinical Supervision
Authors: Fickling Melissa J. , Tangen Jodi L. , Graden Matthew W. , Grays Darita
Published: December 2019

The authors apply the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (Ratts, Singh, Nassar‐McMillan, Butler, & McCullough, 2015) model to clinical supervision, highlighting ways for supervisors to intentionally integrate multicultural and social justice practices into the supervision enterprise. They offer specific implications for supervision practice, including a focus on broaching strategies.
Light‐Activated Rhenium Complexes with Dual Mode of Action against Bacteria
Authors: Frei Angelo , Amado Maite , Cooper Matthew A. , Blaskovich Mark A. T.
Published: December 2019

New antibiotics and innovative approaches to kill drug‐resistant bacteria are urgently needed. Metal complexes offer access to alternative modes of action but have only sparingly been investigated in antibacterial drug discovery. We have developed a light‐activated rhenium complex with activity against drug‐resistant S. aureus and E. coli. The activity profile against mutant strains combined with assessments of cellular uptake and synergy suggest two distinct modes of action.
Ferroelectrically Switchable Axial Polarization in Columnar Liquid Crystalline Phases
Authors: Nguyen Manh Linh , Cho Byoung‐Ki
Published: December 2019

Recently, ferroelectrically switchable columnar LCs have drawn a great deal of attention for their generation of rich polarization domains. Because of their unique dielectric and self‐assembly properties, they are considered to be a promising material for the design of sensors and ultra‐high memory devices. Herein, ferroelectrically switchable LCs by using ester, amide, and 1,2,3‐triazole groups are reviewed. Most of them do not exhibit genuine ferroelectricity owing to the low energy barrier between the two polar states. The intermolecular interactions between polar groups strongly affect the switchability and stability of polarization. Therefore, it is challenging to balance these two competing factors to improve the ferroelectric function in columnar LCs. Overall, additional effort, including LC design and device fabrication, should be made to optimize the material performance for practical applications in the future.
Distribution of rods and cones in the red‐eared turtle retina (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Authors: Grötzner Sonia Regina , de Farias Rocha Fernando Allan , Corredor Vitor Henrique , Liber André Maurício Passos , Hamassaki Dânia Emi , Bonci Daniela Maria Oliveira , Ventura Dora Fix
Published: December 2019

We have identified the photoreceptors of Trachemys scripta elegans, an intensely studied species that is a model for color vision work. To recognize and count the different photoreceptor types, we labeled them with a combination of morphological and immunohistochemistry markers. The counts for the determination of the density of each photoreceptor type were made in wholemount retinas. The percentages found for each cone type were 29, 23, 21, 12, and 6%, respectively, for L (both types), double, M, S, and ultraviolet cones. The cones were found to be organized horizontally in a visual streak, a linear region with a higher density of photoreceptors that ends temporally in the periphery and more centrally in the nasal side. This region of high density of photoreceptors was not symmetrical along its extension; there was a region with conspicuous central density peaks in the temporal area, suggestive of an area centralis. We also observed a dorsoventral asymmetry in photoreceptor density, with greater density in the ventral region. This asymmetry was observed in cones and rods, but it was more pronounced in the rods. Our results corroborate and extend the findings of previous work in the literature describing the retinal photoreceptors of T. s. elegans and their spatial organization. The higher cone density within the visual streak reflects increased spatial resolution and its existence suggests the possibility of binocular vision. It is remarkable that within this region the entire potential for color vision is also present.
A novel miniature hexagonal shape switched pattern and frequency reconfigurable antenna
Authors: Chandra Kavuri Vijaya , Satyanarayana M. , Battula Krishna T.
Published: December 2019

This proposed work introduces the structure of frequency and pattern reconfigurable patch antenna. This proposed design comprises of a hexagon patch antenna with four oblique slits, two longitudinal and two latitudinal slits. Four PIN diodes are used to enable frequency and pattern reconfiguration in the longitudinal and latitudinal slits. The operating frequencies of the proposed reconfigurable antenna are 4.25, 5.65, 6.8, and 8.2 GHz and have a pattern slope of −30°, 0°, +30°, and 180°. The pattern is reconfigurable in four directions without any servo system. The designed antenna is fabricated, and its performance is proved using quantifications. Experimental results have less than 15% error with the simulated results. This antenna is used for C‐band applications.
Neonatal pain and reduced maternal care alter adult behavior and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity in a sex‐specific manner
Authors: Mooney‐Leber Sean M. , Brummelte Susanne
Published: December 2019

Preterm infants often spend a significant amount of time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where they are exposed to many stressors including pain and reduced maternal care. These early‐life stressful experiences can have negative consequences on brain maturation during the neonatal period; however, less is known about the long‐term cognitive and affective outcomes. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of neonatal pain and reduced maternal care on adult behavior and HPA axis reactivity in an animal model. Male and female rats underwent a series of repetitive needle pokes and/or reduced maternal care (through a novel tea ball infuser encapsulation method) during the first 4 days of life and were then assessed in a battery of behavioral tests as adults. We found that early‐life pain enhanced spatial learning independent of the animal's sex, but altered HPA recovery from an acute stressor in females only. Moreover, reduced maternal care altered long‐term spatial memory and reversal learning in males. These findings indicate that neonatal stressors have unique sex‐dependent long‐term biobehavioral effects in rodents. Continued examination of the behavioral consequences of these stressors may help explain varying vulnerability and resiliency in preterm infants who experienced early stress in the NICU.
Recent Advancement in Plant Oil Derived Polyol‐Based Polyurethane Foam for Future Perspective: A Review
Authors: Singh Indrajeet , Samal Sushanta K. , Mohanty Smita , Nayak Sanjay K.
Published: December 2019

Polyurethane foams (PUFs) are widely used materials because of their wide range of applications, particularly, thermal and sound insulation, mattresses, furniture, construction, cushioning, packaging, transportation of goods, etc. Recently, commercial PUF products fabricated from plant oil (PO)‐based polyols have gained increasing popularity, because of their low cost and eco‐friendly nature in comparison to petroleum‐based PUF. To date, insufficient reviews have been reported in the area of modification of plant oils for synthesizing polyol for foam synthesis. Due to abundant availability, low‐cost, and renewable nature of plant oils, they are being used as precursors for modern polyurethane industry use. There is a need for versatile and economical methods for conversion of plant oils such as castor oil (CO) and soybean oil (SO) into useful polyols for industry use. This review is an overview of the most recent advanced methods for the conversion of plant oils into polyol and further utilization of it for commercial PUF products. Since the last decade, many researchers have shown that plant‐polyol‐derived PUF can compete with conventional PUF.

Practical Applications: Practical applications of the PO‐based polyurethane foams include thermal insulation, sound insulation, packaging, and waste water treatment.
Social class and interpersonal trust: Partner's warmth, external threats and interpretations of trust betrayal
Authors: Samson Katarzyna , Zaleskiewicz Tomasz
Published: December 2019

The present research investigated the effects of social class on interpersonal trust. In a series of experiments, we showed how the contextualist socio‐cognitive tendencies of the lower class and the solipsistic tendencies of the upper class were reflected in their trusting attitudes and behaviors. In Study 1 (N = 491), upper class individuals expressed the same levels of trust towards all partners, while lower class individuals adjusted their trust choices to the affect‐rich information about their interaction partner and trusted warm partners more than cold partners. The results of Study 2 (N = 210) showed that when threatened, lower class individuals had generally less trusting attitudes, while upper class members were equally trusting as in a neutral situation. Study 3 (N = 200) revealed that upper class individuals explained a betrayal of their trust with dispositional factors to a higher degree than lower class individuals. We discuss how these differences contribute to perpetuating the disadvantage of the lower class.
Calix[4]Resorcinarene Macrocycles Interactions with Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ Cations: A QCM‐I and Langmuir Ultra‐thin Monolayers Study
Authors: Eddaif Larbi , Shaban Abdul , Szendro István
Published: December 2019

Stable ultra‐thin Langmuir monolayers of calix[4]resorcinarene derivatives, namely: C‐dec‐9‐enylcalix[4]resorcinarene‐O‐(R+)‐α‐methylbenzylamine (Ionophore I), and C‐dec‐9‐enylcalix[4]resorcinarene‐O‐(S‐)‐α‐methylbenzylamine (Ionophore II), were prepared at the air‐water interface. Their interactions with a series of heavy metals (HM) ions (Cu2+, Pb2+, Hg2+ and Cd2+) present in the aqueous subphase were investigated by measuring surface pressure‐area isotherms, at different concentrations. The surface pressure‐area (Π‐A) isotherms were stable and demonstrated the HM amounts influence on the limiting area (Alim) values, therefore confirming the examined macrocycles capability to host the metallic toxicants. Additionally, a HM concentration dependence was realized and interpreted by a selective tendency of both ionophores towards Cu2+ and Cd2+ ions over Pb2+ and Hg2+, especially at high concentrations. The HM ions interactions with the applied calix[4]resorcinarene Langmuir ultra‐thin monolayers were interpreted based on the Gibbs‐Shishkovsky adsorption equation. Moreover, quartz crystal microbalance with impedance measurement (QCM‐I), was applied for the detection of HM ions in solutions. The QCM‐I results showed the effectiveness of the coated QCM‐I crystals in detecting the ions at different concentrations. The detection limit values were in the order of 0.16, 0.3, 0.65, 1.1 ppm (Ionophore I), as well 0.11, 0.45, 0.2, 0.89 (Ionophore II) for the Cu2+, Pb2+, Hg2+ and Cd2+ cations, respectively. Additionally, a selective tendency of both ionophores towards copper ions was shown.
Enhanced oil recovery mechanism and recovery performance of micro‐gel particle suspensions by microfluidic experiments
Authors: Lei Wenhai , Liu Tong , Xie Chiyu , Yang Haien , Wu Tianjiang , Wang Moran
Published: December 2019

Micro‐gel particle suspensions (MGPS) have been proposed for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in reservoirs with harsh conditions in recent years, yet the mechanisms are still not clear because of the complex property of MGPS and the complex geometry of rocks. In this paper, the micro‐gel particle‐based flooding has been studied by our microfluidic experiments on both bi‐permeability micromodels and reservoir‐on‐a‐chip. A method for reservoir‐on‐a‐chip design has been proposed based on QSGS (quartet structure generation set) to ensure that the flow geometry on chip owns the most important statistical features of real rock microstructures. In the micromodel experiments with heterogeneous microstructures, even if the MGPS has the same macroscopic rheology as the hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (HPAM) solution for flooding, MGPS may lead to significant fluctuations of pressure field caused by the nonuniform concentration distribution of particles. In the reservoir‐on‐a‐chip experiments, clustered oil trapped in the swept pores can be recovered by MGPS because of pressure fluctuation, which hardly happens in the HPAM flooding. Compared with the water flooding, the HPAM solution flooding leads to approximately 17% incremental oil recovery, while the MGPS results in approximately 49.8% incremental oil recovery in the laboratory.
Failure mechanism of the large‐section roadway under mined zones in the ultra‐thick coal seam and its control technology
Authors: Tai Yang , Xia Hongchun , Meng Xiangbin , Kuang Tiejun
Published: December 2019

Aiming at serious deformation and failure of large‐section coal roadway under mined zones in ultra‐thick coal seam, its deformation and failure characteristics are analyzed based on the field measurement. This paper reveals the mechanism of roadway roof separation, roof leakage, and right rib extrusion. Based on the mechanism, two kinds of secondary support schemes are proposed, that is, “grouting + I‐steel support + bolt” (scheme I) and “grouting + U steel support + anchor + anchor cable” (scheme II). The industrial experiment is carried out at 1070 auxiliary transportation roadway in Tashan Coal Mine. The measured results show that the roadway roof separations of the secondary support scheme I and II are only 1/11 and 1/46 of the original support scheme, respectively, while the lateral displacements of the roadway are only 1/7 and 1/44 of the original support scheme. It could be seen that the deformation and failure of the roadway surrounding rock have been well controlled.
Die Bauinstallationen im Baulos SBT 3.1
Authors: Kessler Gernot , Klais Frank , Reiterer Markus
Published: December 2019

On contract SBT3.1 of the Semmering Base Tunnel, the intermediate access point at Grautschenhof had to be relocated late in the tender design phase due to new geological findings. One consequence of this was the limited space available on the new construction site area. A number of complementary measures were considered by the client in the tender. Supplemented by innovative technical solutions from the SBT 3.1 Grautschenhof joint venture, it was possible to establish a functioning logistics system for four conventional excavations in the tightest of spaces.