bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reviewing coastal culture and traditions for English teaching materials
Authors: Warouw Maya Pinkan , Ginting Elvy Like , Tondo Henry Fanny
Published: September 2024

Women’s empowerment can be encouraged via English teaching and teaching materials can be utilized to strengthen gender equality and women’s empowerment, particularly for students from coastal areas pursuing higher education at universities. This research aims to determine how English language teaching (ELT) materials in universities can be adapted and incorporated into English instruction from the perspective of female students from coast. The data for this study were acquired using a qualitative technique, which included the distribution of questionnaires and interviews with female students from coastal locations. The information gathered from the questionnaire was mostly demographic. In the meanwhile, interviews were held to collect thoughts from participants on coastal traditions and cultures that might be included into teaching materials. The findings reveal a clear correlation between individuals’ perspectives and their experiences shaped by traditions and cultural heritage of coastal regions. Female participants highlight the depth of coastal culture, it is interaction with the environment, the crucial role of women in preserving traditions, and the desire for representation in university-level English teaching materials. These insights, derived from the experiences and viewpoints of female students in a coastal setting, extend beyond their locale, offering valuable lessons for English learning approaches in diverse coastal communities
Ethnocultural wisdom and development of e-comic
Authors: Ermiana Ida , Parwati Ni Nyoman , Sudiarta I Gusti Putu , Sudatha I Gde Wawan
Published: September 2024

Cultivating local cultural values by adapting to technological advances, found in digital comic learning media oriented towards local Sasak wisdom, provides ease of learning and communicative language and is easy to access but still needs to be improved. The research aims to develop digital comic media that is feasible, practical and effective, oriented towards Sasak local wisdom (e-kodisa). The development stage uses the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation (ADDIE). The research results show that digital comic media oriented towards Sasak local wisdom from material experts in category 1 is feasible, and material experts in category 2 are possible. The assessment of digital comic media from Media expert 1 is in the attainable category, and media expert 2 is very doable. The evaluation of learning design experts and language experts is in the very decent category. Trials on students show that digital comic media is practical and can be used in learning. The results of the effectiveness test showed sig. (2-tailed)<0.05 Ho is rejected, and Ha is accepted, meaning a significant difference exists between the pretest and posttest averages. So, developing digital comic media oriented towards Sasak local wisdom is feasible, practical and effective.
Multiliteracies-translanguaging conceptual model framework for student agency in English as foreign language contexts
Authors: Zhou Jie , Lee Sze Seau , Kew Si Na , Liew Chee Yoong
Published: September 2024

Developing student agency in formal education leads to favorable impacts on cognitive development as well as learning experiences that culminate in a strong foundation for lifelong learning, which is crucial for employability. However, theoretical grounded pedagogical approaches for student agency are still at the nascent level of conception. Assuming that student agency can be developed in the English classroom, this article aims to propose a conceptual model framework based on multiliteracies and translanguaging to address the pedagogical gaps in student agency with examples from the English as foreign language educational contexts. The first objective is to identify pedagogical guidelines for student agency from multiliteracies and the second objective is to identify pedagogical guidelines for student agency from translanguaging. Jaakola’s model approach guided the analytical review of literature to address the knowledge gap in pedagogy. Findings underline the affordances of multiliteracies for scaffolding multimodal meaning-making and the affordances of translanguaging for motivating active participation and expanding linguistic repertoire of students. These affordances can guide the developments of context-bound resources and relational resources of student agency. The proposed framework can be a reference point for curriculum designers or teachers to develop approaches for student agency.
A systematic literature review of the impact of gamification instruction on students’ problem-solving skills
Authors: Feng Jiyuan , Tan Wee Hoe , Yu Bin
Published: September 2024

Gamification is a popular approach to teaching and learning in education in recent years, it provides the flexible integration of various game elements into educational activities to achieve instructional objectives. This approach has the potential to enhance student skills through interactive communication and motivation and has, sparked interest and discussion in many fields, including education. This review assesses the impact of gamification on student skills in terms of teaching methods, learning outcomes, and challenges faced. The study analyzed 21 research articles from three databases, Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and ERIC, up to November 2023. The findings were grouped into three main themes: teaching implementation and methods (8 articles), learning outcomes and skill development (8 articles), and challenges and improvement strategies (5 articles). The findings suggest that although gamification has gained more results in the field of education, especially in terms of improving students’ skills and teaching effectiveness, there are shortcomings in integrating it with professional education. This review mainly highlights the impact of gamification in the development of students’ skills while considering gamification in conjunction with other aspects of education to illustrate the need for ongoing research and further exploration in the field of education.
Effects of environmental art perception on students’ creativity and emotional development
Authors: Sun Yuanyuan , Liu Shunli
Published: September 2024

Addressing the gap in understanding how environmental art perception (EAP) and emotional development (ED) influence creativity among fine arts college students, this study focuses on their interrelations in China’s Henan Province. The objective is to investigate the effects of EAP and ED on creativity within this demographic. Employing a survey method, the study gathered data from 585 students across comprehensive art colleges in Henan Province, analyzing the impact of campus art design on creativity and the mediating role of ED. The findings reveal that EAP significantly enhances creativity, with campus art design playing a crucial role. Furthermore, ED serves as an essential mediator, fostering creativity through improved emotional awareness, expression, and management. Based on these insights, the study recommends educational strategies that integrate ED with the cultivation of creative thinking. Such approaches aim to nurture art professionals who not only excel in creativity but also in emotional intelligence, emphasizing the need to optimize environmental art exposure and focus on emotional skills in art education.
Fortifying learners’ self-regulation in biology through career-oriented teaching
Authors: Honra Joelash R. , Monterola Sheryl Lyn C. , T. Yangco Rosanelia
Published: September 2024

Incorporating career-oriented teaching (COT) in technical-vocational education addresses challenges in graduates’ job readiness by emphasizing practical skills aligned with career interests. This study investigates the impact of COT on students’ self-regulation in biology, which is crucial for academic and career success. Quantitative analysis reveals that COT significantly enhances self-regulation skills, including decision-making, goal orientation, impulse control, and self-direction, compared to conventional science teaching (CST). Qualitative responses underscore the positive influence of COT on decision-making and goal orientation, with students setting positive goals and exhibiting improved impulse control. Moreover, COT fosters self-direction, promoting autonomy and responsibility for learning. These findings emphasize the importance of innovative teaching approaches like COT in developing students’ self-regulation abilities and preparing them for the demands of the modern workforce. Integrating concrete, problem-based tasks in COT and teacher training can further enhance its effectiveness in developing specialized skills and self-regulation. This research contributes valuable insights into instructional practices’ role in shaping students’ self-regulation and highlights the need to explore further innovative teaching strategies to support students’ holistic development.
Developing an online project-based assessment instrument for assessing students’ historical thinking skills
Authors: Ofianto Ofianto , Saputra Nanda , Ningsih Tri Zahra , Nababan Surya Aymanda , Asri Zul , Aman Aman , Setiawan Johan
Published: September 2024

This study aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of historical thinking that can be applied to all aspects of online historical thinking skills. The analysis proposed by Gall was used in developing the model and it involves the following stages: instrument design; instrument development; analysis; and initial data collection. A total of 148 high school students participated in this study, and data were gathered through literature analysis sheets, interviews, needs analysis questionnaire for the development of e-project skills assessment tools, expert validation test, and e-project assessment. The findings showed that the e-project is valid and reliable for evaluating historical thinking skills in remote learning, with all components having a high reliability rating of 0.78 and validity values ranging from 0.77 to 1.30. Subsequently, a valid, reliable, and acceptable e-project website was created to assess student’s competence in historical thinking. This research offers options for teachers to effectively assess and monitor students’ historical thinking skills while also improving a more interactive and interesting learning style.
Developing an Individualized Patient Decision Aid for Chronic Coronary Disease Based on the ISCHEMIA Trial: A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Nguyen Dan D. , Decker Carole , Pacheco Christina M. , Farr Stacy L. , Fuss Christine , Masterson Creber Ruth M. , Pena Stephanie , Ikemura Nobuhiro , Uzendu Anezi I. , Maron David J. , Hochman Judith S. , Dodson John A. , Spertus John A.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

Pursuing initial invasive or conservative management of chronic coronary disease (CCD) is a preference-sensitive decision that should include shared decision-making. Communicating the benefits of either approach is challenging, as individual patients rarely achieve the population-averaged outcomes reported in clinical trials. Our objective was to develop a patient decision aid (PDA) with patient-specific estimates of outcomes for initial invasive versus conservative management of CCD, based on the ISCHEMIA trial (International Study of Comparative Health Effectiveness With Medical and Invasive Approaches).

METHODS:

This was a multiphase mixed-methods study using focus groups of outpatients with CCD, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers. Focus groups were held in Kansas City, MO and New York City, NY between September 2021 and June 2022. Patients with CCD were included if they had a positive stress test within 1 year. Phase 1 focused on patient priorities for outcomes to guide treatment decisions. Phase 2 involved PDA development and refinement. Phase 3 involved further refinement and member checking. Key themes involving shared decision-making and treatment preferences were elicited from focus groups using a deductive approach to develop a PDA representing the outcomes most important to patients.

RESULTS:

Of 46 patient and caregiver participants, the mean age was 63.5 years, 53% were female, 61% were White, 24% were Black, and 9% were Hispanic. When deciding between treatments, participants valued shared decision-making but generally deferred decisions to clinicians. The outcomes most important to participants were survival and quality of life, followed by physical functioning and symptoms. To represent these outcomes, participants favored simple visualizations, such as a speedometer or health meter. When deciding between treatment options, participants preferred to use the PDA collaboratively with a clinician instead of as a stand-alone tool.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our novel, patient-centered approach to developing a PDA for CCD with patient-specific outcomes has the potential to rapidly translate clinical trial results to individual patients and support shared decision-making.
Investigating the effective temporal resolution in a task-based functional MRI experiment at 7 T MRI using a dynamic phantom
Authors: Baz Guy , Schmidt Rita
Published: September 2024

An increasing number of human fMRI studies aim to discern the time delays between evoked responses under different stimuli conditions in different brain regions. To achieve that, a primary goal is to acquire fMRI data with high sampling rates. This task is now possible with ultra-high field (≥7 T) MRI and the advancement of imaging acceleration methods. Consequently, it becomes imperative to understand what is the actual or effective temporal resolution (ETR) that is realized in given settings of an fMRI experiment. In this study, we utilized a dynamic phantom to reliably repeat a set of scans, generating a “ground truth” signal with controllable onset delays mimicking fMRI responses in a task-based block-designed fMRI. Here, we define the ETR and quantify a scan’s ETR using the dynamic phantom. The quantification was performed for various scanning parameters, including echo time (TE), repetition time (TR), voxel size, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). We further show that combining data from multi-echo EPI can improve the ETR (i.e., reduce it). In addition, parameters of the fMRI paradigm were examined, including the blocks’ length and density. As tissue properties (e.g., level of iron deposition) affect the CNR and thus change the ETR, we examined the signal rise mimicking not only the cortex, but also the basal ganglia (known for its high iron deposition). Combining multi-echo data, the estimated ETR for the examined scans was 151 ms for a cortex-mimicking setup and 248 ms for a basal ganglia-mimicking setup, when scanning with a sampling time (i.e., TR) of 600 ms. Yet, a substantial penalty was paid when the CNR was low, in which case the ETR was even larger than the TR. A feasibility set of experiments was also designed to evaluate how the ETR is affected by physiological signal fluctuations and the variability of the hemodynamic response. This study shows the viability of studying time responses with fMRI, by demonstrating that a very short ETR can be achieved. However, it also emphasizes the need to examine the attainable ETR for a particular experiment.
The London Convention: Jurisdiction and Liability Issues
Authors: Barnes Richard
Published: September 2024

For most of human history, dumping of waste was out of sight and out of mind. The London Convention and its 1996 Protocol forms part of a wider network of instruments under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that seek to protect and preserve the marine environment. This regime has come under pressure from new activities, as well as from developments in other areas of law. This paper provides some reflections on the key challenges facing the London Convention regime in terms of its jurisdictional reach and liability mechanisms. Whilst the regime responded to new forms of dumping, questions remain about how it can be used to respond to situations like the Fukushima incident and whether monitoring and reporting of dumping is effective. Perhaps more challenging is the lack of progress in developing an effective liability regime comparable to other harmful activities like oil pollution.
Futureproofing the Museum Sector in Vietnam
Authors: Duester Emma , Tran Thi Mai Thoa
Published: September 2024

This paper draws on findings from a systemic review of work published globally on museums’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic and recommendations for future development in the museum sector. This can be used to determine the best practices for museums, including how to create engaging digital content, boost cultural tourism using digital technologies, create new business models, and manage copyright and legal protection of digitized content. It can be used to inform museums across Vietnam and beyond about the best practices internationally for Covid recovery by showing what published studies globally state about future practices to ensure the sustainability of museums. It also outlines an ethics of digitization concerning access to digital technologies and general understandings of the ‘correct’ use of digital content. This can be used as a ‘roadmap’ for museum professionals and fills a needs gap in Vietnam on digital culture policy, digital skills, and knowledge on how to manage legal and copyright issues with digital content. Overall, this paper can assist the national museum sector navigate a digital transition.
Diversity and distribution of Porifera on the Algerian coast (West Mediterranean)
Authors: ABDELALI NERDJES , GRIMES SAMIR
Published: September 2024

The phylum Porifera has received limited attention in research studies along the Algerian coast. This study aims to compile a comprehensive inventory of Porifera species along the Algerian coast, spanning from the earliest documented work by Schmidt (1868) to the present day. The investigation meticulously catalogues a total of 136 species along the Algerian coast, distributed across 47 families, 18 orders, and 4 classes. This compilation includes 7 species endemic of Algerian waters, one invasive species, and 11 species protected by the Bern and Barcelona Conventions. Notably, the addition of 43 new species records enhances the original lists established by Schmidt and Topsent. Furthermore, this study presents a detailed analysis of the geographic distribution of these species, providing valuable insights into the biodiversity of the marine ecosystem in this region.
Three new species of Apotropina Hendel, 1907 (Diptera: Chloropidae) of the Colombian Andean-Amazon cloud forest
Authors: RAMOS-PASTRANA YARDANY , CÓRDOBA-SUAREZ ERIC , RICCARDI PAULA RAILE
Published: September 2024

The genus Apotropina Hendel is poorly known. In Colombia only one species registered. In this study, we describe three new species from Reserva Natural y Ecoturística La Ruidosa, Colombia: A. longicerci sp. nov., A. ruidosa sp. nov. and A. similis sp. nov. The three species are illustrated and identification key and occurrence map for all Colombian species are presented.
Economic abuse: Coercive debt of Arab-Palestinian women in Israel
Authors: Meler Tal , Alnabilsy Raghda , Miri Bernstein
Published: September 2024

This article focuses on coercive debt, a form of economic abuse inflicted on women belonging to an indigenous-national minority by their partners/ex-partners. Coercive debt isolates and controls women, making it difficult for them to build a life free of their abuser even after separation, and impeding their ability to meet basic needs, such as housing, employment and amenities. Through a series of semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted in 2022 with Arab-Palestinian women in Israel, along with an analysis of several legal cases ( n = 21), we uncovered the mechanism, dynamics, and implications of economic abuse manifested as coercive debt from the women’s subjective perspective. Our findings were then examined against the backdrop of these women’s multiple positions of marginality, vulnerability, and civic exclusion due to their belonging to a minority group. This study enhances the understanding of the predicament faced by minority women in coercive debt, shedding light on the specific difficulties and barriers they encounter.
Acceptance of the Index Case HIV Testing and Associated Factors among Anti-Retroviral Therapy Patients in Public Health Facilities in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Cross-Sectional Study Design with Document Review
Authors: Assefa Eliyas , Figa Zerihun
Published: September 2024

Index case Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing is a voluntary procedure wherein service providers request index clients to enumerate all sexual partners, including biological children, before proceeding with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing. This approach has demonstrated efficacy as a case-finding strategy aimed at curbing future transmission. Through index testing, we can pinpoint partners and children with undiagnosed infections, thereby facilitating early identification of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) -positive children who are currently healthy. The study aimed to assess the acceptance of index-case Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing and its associated factors among anti-retroviral therapy (ART) patients in public health facilities within the Gedeo zone, southern Ethiopia. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a document review. It involved 396 anti-retroviral therapy (ART) patients and utilized a pretested checklist to extract data from clients’ medical records. A simple random sampling technique was used to select anti-retroviral therapy (ART) facilities in the Gedeo zone. Data collection was done from anti-retroviral therapy (ART) patient documents by ODK-Kobo Collect form and data analysis was conducted using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 25, with bivariate and multivariate analyses performed to identify associations between index case testing and associated factors. A significance level of P ≤ .05 was adopted. The findings were presented in textual format, tables, and graphs, providing a comprehensive overview of the results. The magnitude of the acceptance of the index case testing among anti-retroviral therapy (ART) patients was 240 (60.6% [95% CI: 56%-65%]). Concerning the adherence status of the index case, 156 (39.4%) and 54 (13.6%) had good and poor adherence, respectively. Duration on ART (AOR = 2.30 [95% CI: 1.86, 6.12]), HIV disclosure (AOR = 36.19 [95% CI: 7.26, 180.44]), and good ART adherence status (AOR = 14.52 [95% CI: 2.10, 100.2]) are found to be factors significantly associated with acceptance of index case testing. The study findings indicated that the overall acceptance rate of index case testing was 60%, which falls short of the national benchmark minimum acceptance rate of 95%. Factors significantly linked to the acceptance of index case testing included the duration of ART usage, disclosure of HIV status, and adherence to ART medication. To improve the magnitude of the index case testing, the government and other NGOs working in these areas should work on health education, awareness creation, and improvement of treatment adherence. Ensure the sustainability of ICT services in ART facilities and the provision of quality HIV index case testing services.
Lower-order linear active disturbance rejection control for electro-hydraulic servo system based on structural invariance compensation
Authors: Wang Li-xin , Li Jin-ze , Zhao Ding-xuan , Liu Fu-cai , Zhang Zhuxin
Published: September 2024

High observer gain is the key to ensuring the full-order active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) performance for electro-hydraulic servo (EHS) systems. However, the noise sensitivity and output time delay limit the observer gain. In this paper, a lower-order linear ADRC is proposed with lower gain and uncompromised disturbance rejection ability. First, the internal nonlinear dynamics and external unknown disturbances of the EHS system are eliminated by introducing the structural invariance compensation (SIC). Then, the original EHS model is transformed into a one-order integral chain structure. A one-order linear ADRC, solving the compensation error of SIC caused by model parameter uncertainty, could be directly developed based on the equivalent model. In addition, a practical and novel b0 tuning method and frequency-domain stability analysis technology are developed. Extensive comparative experiments are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
WildScenes: A benchmark for 2D and 3D semantic segmentation in large-scale natural environments
Authors: Vidanapathirana Kavisha , Knights Joshua , Hausler Stephen , Cox Mark , Ramezani Milad , Jooste Jason , Griffiths Ethan , Mohamed Shaheer , Sridharan Sridha , Fookes Clinton , Moghadam Peyman
Published: September 2024

Recent progress in semantic scene understanding has primarily been enabled by the availability of semantically annotated bi-modal (camera and LiDAR) datasets in urban environments. However, such annotated datasets are also needed for natural, unstructured environments to enable semantic perception for applications, including conservation, search and rescue, environment monitoring, and agricultural automation. Therefore, we introduce WildScenes, a bi-modal benchmark dataset consisting of multiple large-scale, sequential traversals in natural environments, including semantic annotations in high-resolution 2D images and dense 3D LiDAR point clouds, and accurate 6-DoF pose information. The data is (1) trajectory-centric with accurate localization and globally aligned point clouds, (2) calibrated and synchronized to support bi-modal training and inference, and (3) containing different natural environments over 6 months to support research on domain adaptation. Our 3D semantic labels are obtained via an efficient, automated process that transfers the human-annotated 2D labels from multiple views into 3D point cloud sequences, thus circumventing the need for expensive and time-consuming human annotation in 3D. We introduce benchmarks on 2D and 3D semantic segmentation and evaluate a variety of recent deep-learning techniques to demonstrate the challenges in semantic segmentation in natural environments. We propose train-val-test splits for standard benchmarks as well as domain adaptation benchmarks and utilize an automated split generation technique to ensure the balance of class label distributions. The WildScenes benchmark webpage is https://csiro-robotics.github.io/WildScenes , and the data is publicly available at https://data.csiro.au/collection/csiro:61541 .
Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of musculoskeletal hydatid disease
Authors: Tamsel Ipek , Kaya Hüseyin , Sabah Dündar , Arkun Remide
Published: September 2024

Background

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection seen in endemic areas. Musculoskeletal hydatid disease is rarely reported.

Purpose

To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of musculoskeletal hydatid disease and to highlight the specific findings in the diagnosis of hydatid cysts.

Material and Methods

The MRI scans of 29 cases diagnosed as musculoskeletal hydatid disease between 2000 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The localization, size, appearance (unilocular or multilocular), signal characteristics, rim sign, presence of internal septa and membrane, and gadolinium enhancement pattern of hydatid cysts were evaluated.

Results

A total of 29 patients diagnosed with hydatid cyst were included in the study. Of the lesions, 18 were localized in bone and 11 were in soft tissue. The bone hydatid cysts on MRI showed heterogeneous low to intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images and high signal intensity on T2-weighted images in the medullary bone. In 15/18 patients, there was also cortical destruction and extension into the adjacent soft tissue planes. In 8/11 cases where the cyst was located in muscle tissue, the “cyst or cysts within a cyst” appearance was observed on MRI. The rim sign was observed in 7/11 cases and the “water lily” sign was noted in 2/11 cases.

Conclusion

MRI provides valuable information for the diagnosis of hydatid disease with its distinctive imaging features. Knowledge of the different patterns of hydatid cysts on MRI may be helpful in the diagnosis of this disease.
The ‘Great Barque’ Near the Pyramids: Autobiographical Phrases in Context
Authors: Kloth Nicole
Published: September 2024

The papyri of the Wadi el-Jarf mention some ‘waterways’ in connection with ‘palace service’ ( stp-zȝ) that are also found in autobiographical inscriptions of the Old Kingdom. These findings provide a link between the textual and archaeological data.

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Application of undercut and FGM to mitigate stress gradients in cylindrical contacts
Authors: Pradhan Pullak , Murthy H.
Published: September 2024

The presence of high longitudinal stresses near the contact interface leads to the initiation and propagation of cracks. This work investigates the mitigating effects of undercuts and surface coatings of functionally graded materials (FGM) on the peak stresses in cylindrical contacts using finite element analysis. A rigid indenter of a cylindrical profile in contact with a flat half-space with undercuts on both sides of the contact region is considered for contact analysis. The effect of the presence of undercuts is studied, with its size and location from the contact edge being the parameters. An undercut of larger radius decreases the peak longitudinal stress in the contact region when only normal loading as well as combined normal and tangential loading is applied. While contact pressure increases with an increase in undercut radius under normal loading only, undercut radius and position have negligible effect under combined loading. The peak stresses in the contact region are found to decrease with a decrease in modulus ratio and an increase in the thickness of FGM coating. The combined effect of undercut and FGM coating reduces the peak longitudinal stress significantly for an optimum combination of undercut radius, undercut position, and modulus ratio.
Analysis of the regulations concerning circular economy and its relationship to the reduction of food loss and waste on an international level: A review
Authors: Morales-Pablo Roman , Aguilar-Gutiérrez Genaro , Galaviz-Villa Itzel , García-Pérez Eliseo , Soto-Estrada Alejandra , Fonseca Jorge M , Ramírez-Martínez Alejandra
Published: September 2024

The term food loss and waste (FLW) refers to discarded food during the different stages of the food chain. Food loss occurs during the initial stages of the food chain, and food waste occurs during the final stages. The relation between FLW and circular economy (CE) is particularly important for countries which are beginning to implement actions or regulations on this topic. These proposals may have an impact in strategic sectors of their economy. The objective of this review document was to analyse the regulations of FLW and CE in some countries located throughout the European Union, Asia, Africa and Latin America. To fulfil this objective, FLW and CE regulations were identified and analysed in 12 countries located in the aforementioned regions. The analysis showed that France, Spain, Japan and Uruguay included objectives related to FLW in their CE legislations focusing on food waste reduction, whereas China, Chile, Argentina and Mexico did not include FLW in their CE legislations. African countries did not have CE legislations in place yet. France and Japan have had more success in the reduction of FLW. In conclusion, CE regulation should include FLW regulation to achieve more efficiency at reducing and reusing these residues.
Study of the effects of shallow-buried charge parameters on the lower limb injuries of occupant in special vehicle body
Authors: He Jiahao , Fu Tiaoqi , Wang Xianhui , Sun Xiaowang , Pi Dawei , Qin Weiwei , Yao Tuzao , Li Mingxing
Published: September 2024

In the process of military missions, special vehicles often encounter shallow buried charge threats that will greatly affect the safety of the occupants. To study the integrated effects of shallow buried charge detonation point, height-to-diameter ratio, burial inclination, weight, and other key parameters on the lower limb injuries of occupant, this study was based on the special body of a shallow buried explosive test and numerical calculation methods. The reliability of the numerical model and the load effect mechanism of the shallow burial charge were studied. Based on this, the lower limb injuries response law of occupant was analyzed with respect to each parameter. The results showed that the bottom charge load mainly came from two-stage ejection loading, in which the first stage was a strong load with short-duration local impact loading and the second stage was a weak load with long-duration extended range loading. By comparing the lower limb injury response of occupant under different charge parameters, we found that the weight of charge had the greatest effect on the extent of occupant injury, followed by the height-to-diameter ratio and burial inclination, while the detonation position had a relatively small effect on the injury magnitude. Finally, a comprehensive prediction model of the lower limb injuries of occupant was obtained by using the Latin hypercube sampling method and the least-squares method, and it was verified that the model had a good matching accuracy.
Optimizing a hybrid feature SLAM system for autonomous driving based on feature compensation
Authors: Zhou Junchao , Zhang Binghao , Gao Jianjie , Chen Xin , Du Haiping
Published: September 2024

A critical problem in the current simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) research is the matching estimation of multi-feature fusion, such as low feature matching accuracy; weak robustness; and poor timeliness. Therefore, this paper focuses on using edge features for assisted localization, which makes two important contributions to multi-feature fusion in autonomous driving scenarios. Firstly, based on inheriting the three-thread architecture of ORB-SLAM2, this paper uses point features to filter and determine new keyframes. Then a feature evaluation method based on map information is proposed, aiming to efficiently introduce edge compensation features and optimize the real-time processing speed of multi-feature based SLAM systems. Secondly, to optimize the accuracy of positioning by edge compensation features, this paper starts from two aspects: the description of angles and the description of length(endpoints) to further define and optimize the reprojection error. The algorithm is tested in the KITTI, an autonomous driving scene data set. And we made a quantitative analysis of the influence of optimization results on computing time and positioning accuracy. Compared to ORB-SLAM2, this system improves localization accuracy by an average of 15.1%, while saving computation time by an average of 26.9% more than PL-SLAM. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified through simulation in a typical dataset and comparison with the state-of-the-art(SOTA) SLAM system.
Revolutionizing Fitness on the Go! A Case Study of MAXPRO Fitness
Authors: Yasin Naveed , Noaman Samar , Gilani Sayed , Askri Soumaya
Published: September 2024

The case opens by focusing on the fitness industry, particularly the increased demand for home-based fitness solutions in the context of COVID-19. MAXPRO is presented as an innovative concept that blends entrepreneurship and creativity through the story of entrepreneur Nizar Akil and the challenges he faced in bringing MAXPRO to life. From another perspective, the case illustrates MAXPRO as a solution that adapts to the evolving needs of the health and fitness industry. The discussions cover the concept, design thinking toolkit and production of MAXPRO, showcasing the interdisciplinary application of design engineering, finance, risk management, leadership and decision-making by the entrepreneur. This case allows students to understand the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, recognize the entrepreneurial process for a start-up and apply design thinking principles to the case. Additionally, it enables learners to recommend growth strategies for new start-ups while considering the implications of their suggestions.
National Stock Exchange: Failure of Corporate Governance
Authors: Mehta Sunita , Mahapatra Mousumi Singha , Mishra Ram Kumar
Published: September 2024

The case explores the corporate governance challenges that arose at the National Stock Exchange (NSE), India’s leading stock exchange. Chitra Ramkrishna served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD and CEO) of NSE from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, she was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the most powerful women in business.

In 2015, following a whistleblower’s complaint about preferential access given to certain brokers, Indian regulators launched investigations. Further allegations in September 2016 claimed that the appointment of Anand Subramanian, a close associate of Chitra Ramkrishna, violated the code of conduct. Anticipating potential dismissal over these alleged lapses, Ramkrishna resigned from the board in November 2016.

Subsequent investigations revealed ongoing preferential access for select brokers during Ravi Narain’s tenure as NSE’s MD and CEO from 2010 to 2014. Narain had been a key mentor to Ramkrishna and strongly supported her appointment as CEO. It was also discovered that Ramkrishna continued to share confidential NSE information with Subramanian even after his termination. Despite these serious irregularities, the NSE board remained notably inactive.

This case is significant as it highlights the NSE board’s failure to uphold its core responsibilities, allowing misconduct and irregularities to persist. It concludes by presenting the dilemma NSE’s new CEO and board of directors faced: how to address investor concerns while enhancing the organization’s leadership and governance structure.
Bacillary hemoglobinuria in beef cattle infected with Fascioloides magna in Missouri
Authors: Ierardi Rosalie A. , Burnum Annabelle L. , Camp Lauren E. , Delaney Lauren E. , Gull Tamara , Havis Brett M. , Johnson Gayle C. , Kim Dae Young , Kuroki Kei , Mammone Renata M. , Mitchell William J. , Navarro Mauricio A. , Rivero Luis A. , Shapiro Karen , Smith Amanda C. , Valerio Courtney M. , Williams Fred , Zinn Michael M. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: September 2024

Bacillary hemoglobinuria (BH) is an infectious disease, mostly affecting cattle, caused by Clostridium haemolyticum ( C. novyi type D), with acute hepatic necrosis and intravascular hemolysis. Cattle are typically predisposed to BH by liver injury caused by Fasciola hepatica, although cases have been reported in cattle without evidence of this parasite. Here we describe a cluster of 14 BH cases from 7 counties in north-central to central Missouri submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory between December 2020 and April 2023. Postmortem examination in all cases revealed hemoglobinuria and acute hepatic necrosis with large numbers of gram-positive bacilli with terminal-to-subterminal spores. Flukes, fluke ova, and/or fluke pigment consistent with Fascioloides magna were identified in 12 of 14 cases. Sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) from one fluke had 100% identity to F. magna. C. novyi was detected by fluorescent antibody testing of liver impression smears (11 of 12 cases) and by immunohistochemistry of liver sections (7 of 7 cases). PCR on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues amplified the C. haemolyticum beta toxin gene in each of the 7 cases tested. To our knowledge, a confirmed cluster of BH associated with F. magna has not been reported previously in cattle.
Inter-Brain Synchrony Signals Shifts in Multi-Human Robot Team Dynamics Amidst Uncertainties
Authors: Yadav Aakash , Mehta Ranjana K.
Published: September 2024

As robots increasingly integrate into human teams for critical domains, understanding the team dynamics within these multi-human-robot teams (mHRTs) becomes essential. While previous work has explored trust in human-robot interactions, there still needs to be a gap in examining how trust evolves and propagates within mHRTs. This study investigated team trust networks using neural measures in mHRTs under varying robot reliability conditions. A total of 23 teams completed search and rescue tasks in a virtual environment, with one member being an autonomous robot navigator (reliable/unreliable). Results indicate that while unreliable robot performance led to decreased trust in the robot, human dyad trust did not falter. Unreliable robot teammates weakened IBS in regions associated with individuals’ comprehension of others’ beliefs, intentions, and social judgments. These findings highlight emergent shifts in team processes under robot uncertainties that were captured using neural synchrony.
A modal momentum method for the identification of structural weak links
Authors: Ding Wei , Xiang Dong , Long Danfeng , Luo Zhongsheng , Li Ying
Published: September 2024

In order to meet the demands of weak-link identification of mechanical structures in high-precision equipment, this paper introduces the concepts and equations of modal momentum and modal momentum difference ratio (MMDR), as well as an identification method of weak links based on modal momentum. In this method, the modal data of the mechanical structure is acquired first through experimental modal analysis or finite element analysis. The modal momentum of each measured point is calculated based on the modal data and transformed to the global coordinate system. Then, the MMDRs between the measured point with the largest magnitude of modal momentum and its adjacent measured points are calculated. Weak links are judged if the MMDR exceeds a predefined threshold. Twelve different multi-degrees-of-freedom systems incorporating weak links were designed and then identified using the proposed method. The accuracy of identification is up to 100% for these systems. The method was applied to a double pendulum angle milling head of a five-axis numerically controlled machine tool, and the result reveals that the side plate lacks bending stiffness.
A Tale of Two Crises: Local Homelessness Policy during Covid-19
Authors: Kettel Laura
Published: September 2024

At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation of people experiencing homelessness, and what communities could do to protect this vulnerable subpopulation, emerged as an area of particular concern. People experiencing homelessness are both less likely to be able to self-isolate and more likely to suffer a severe case of Covid-19. To date, however, research on local targeted responses remains limited. This study fills a critical gap by providing the most extensive dataset to date on policy responses targeting homelessness during the pandemic. I analyze local policy responses across 254 U.S. communities, offering insights into the diversity and prevalence of measures implemented. The analysis suggests that variation in local responses is shaped by contextual factors, highlighting how the localized governance of homelessness exacerbates spatial inequalities in the absence of federal guidance.
Determinants of Basic Sanitation Service Coverage Among Households in Shashogo District, Hadiya Zone, Central Ethiopia: A Case Control Study
Authors: Tefera Temesgen , Alemu Tsegaye , Alano Abraham
Published: September 2024

Background:

Basic sanitation services and practices are crucial for the well-being and health of a community. However, little is known about the determinants of basic sanitation services in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area.

Objectives:

To identify the determinants of basic sanitation service coverage among households in the Shashogo district, Hadiya Zone, and Central Ethiopia in 2023.

Methods:

A case–control investigation was carried out in households in Shashogo District from August 8, 2023, to December 10, 2023. Ten Kebeles were chosen randomly from a total of 34 Kebeles in the district. A total of 579 households (193 cases and 386 controls) were included in the study. The data were gathered with pretested and structured questionnaires in digital form with a smartphone. The data were analyzed with SPSS. Independent t tests and regression models were used to determine predictors of basic sanitation services.

Results:

The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 38.2 (±8.9) years. After controlling for confounders in the multivariate analysis, the adoption of improved latrine services among households was found to be associated with greater average monthly income (AOR = 1.841, 95% CI (1.043, 3.251)), the study respondents who had access to the necessary materials for latrine construction/upgrade were approximately 3.5 times more likely to adopt improved latrine services among households with (AOR = 3.477 (95% CI = 1.314, 9.202) than among those who lacked access to the necessary materials for latrine construction, the study respondents who had training in sanitation and hygiene (AOR = 4.744, 95% CI (2.984, 7.542)) and who had sufficient knowledge about the adoption of improved latrine services (AOR = 2.020, 95% CI (1.125, 3.628)) were found to be determinants of the adoption of improved latrine services among households.

Conclusion:

This study revealed that economics, knowledge, attitudes and practices, infrastructure, and culture were identified as determinants of the adoption of improved latrines in the study area. Poor sanitation significantly impacts economic, social, environmental and many other direct and indirect impacts on the well-being of citizens. Therefore, policies on sanitation and contextual initiatives and focused actions are needed by stakeholders and policy implementers to improve knowledge gaps, access to necessary materials and the income capacity of those lagging to adopt services.
The Impact of Heat-Not-Burn, E-Cigarettes, and Cigarettes on Small Airway Function
Authors: Jung L. , Buchwald I. C. , Hauck A. , Lüthgen M. , Jagomast T. , Weckmann M. , Drömann D. , Franzen K. F.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) are gaining worldwide significance. The tobacco industry is promoting these products as healthier alternatives to conventional cigarettes.

Methods

In this four-arm crossover study, we examined the acute effects of cigarette smoking, vaping IQOS, or vaping e-cigarettes (with or without nicotine) on hemodynamics, arterial stiffness, and small airways. Twenty subjects (10 male, 10 female), all occasional smokers, completed each study arm. There was at least a 48 h washout period before each test day. Arterial stiffness and peripheral and central hemodynamics were assessed using Mobil-O-Graph™ (I.E.M., Germany), whereas tremoFlo® c-100 (Thoracic Medical Systems Inc) was used to evaluate the effects on the small airways and resistance.

Results

Cigarettes, IQOS, e-cigarettes containing nicotine, and nicotine-free e-cigarettes had similar effects on peripheral and central hemodynamics as well as on arterial stiffness. We observed a significant increase in all parameters. However, only nicotine-containing products lead to increased bronchial obstruction, higher reactance, and a higher tidal volume.

Conclusion

Therefore, we concluded that cigarettes, IQOS, and e-cigarettes have similar effects on hemodynamics. No differences were observed between the nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-cigarettes. All nicotine-containing products also influence small airways. These findings suggest that e-cigarettes and HTPs are not healthier alternatives than conventional cigarettes.