bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Where is the development in SA’s developmental state?
Authors: Matisonn John
Published: April 2024

The ruling party defines South Africa as a ‘developmental state’, but with its rising job losses, growth that is lower than most of its African neighbours and rising inequality can that really apply? What’s missing, asks John Matisonn.
40 years of shop floor resistance: Racial ordering and history of militant culture
Authors: Bhengu Sithembiso
Published: April 2024

Based on four decades of ethnographic research into growing workplace resistance and militancy in the 1980s and 1990s at a Durban rubber factory, SITHEMBISO BHENGU adds his own study of the factory workers – their struggles, identities and everyday lives – more than a decade into democracy. In piecing together their narratives over a span of four decades, he identifies the clear continuities in the objective conditions workers live and work in, as well as in their subjective consciousness, and also the significant discontinuities between the two critical eras of worker formations and struggle in South Africa.
Old Age but No Rest
Authors: Chao Cai
Published: April 2024

As populations worldwide grow older, politicians are clamoring to raise the retirement age, thus extending people's working lives at their own expense. Using the lens of political economy, Cai Chao examines the false narratives behind capitalists' claims that delayed retirement is necessary to maintain society's productive capacity, and proposes solutions to promote human development at all life stages.
Ilha interdisciplinar de racionalidade como estratégia de ensino e aprendizagem de eletromagnetismo
Authors: Barumby João Carlos , Camargo Sérgio , Moura da Silva Osmar Henrique
Published: April 2024

Este artigo é parte de uma dissertação de mestrado realizada no âmbito do Ensino Médio da Educação Básica com estudantes do 3° Ano de uma escola Pública, na qual se desenvolveu uma sequência didática a fim de construir uma Ilha Interdisciplinar de Racionalidade envolvendo a disciplina de Física e Eletrônica com a disciplina de História. O objetivo principal foi identificar contribuições da Teoria das Ilhas Interdisciplinares de Racionalidade (IIR) a partir de uma sequência didática desenvolvida na perspectiva da Alfabetização Científica e Técnica (ACT) na aprendizagem de Eletromagnetismo. Neste sentido, a sequência didática fundamentou-se nas Ilhas Interdisciplinares de Racionalidade (IIR), prevendo a seleção da informação e estruturação do modelo que a ilha procura construir, e elaborando questões relevantes sobre o tema e suas conexões com as disciplinas. Depois, em contato com os especialistas, os estudantes foram orientados na construção de um rádio básico, explorando os elementos do circuito elétrico abordado. Por fim, abrindo o que Fourez chama de caixas pretas sem auxílio de especialistas, visou-se a elaboração de um esquema global sobre a tecnologia com relato em forma de texto e falas numa síntese da IIR proposta. Os resultados mostram que, utilizando as IIR, os estudantes, além do interesse pelo assunto, desenvolveram atividades acerca do conteúdo estruturante Eletromagnetismo de maneira a conectar conhecimentos específicos de Física com outras áreas como a História e Eletrônica. Conclui-se que os estudantes, após as etapas de elaboração da IIR na construção do rádio, aprenderam conceitos relacionados ao Eletromagnetismo, bem como estabeleceram relações entre a disciplina de Física, História e Eletrônica.
Caracterização da produção acadêmica sobre o ensino de astronomia em periódicos da área de educação em ciências
Authors: Hansen Taís Regina , Bagolin Zambon Luciana
Published: April 2024

A Astronomia, devido seu papel humanístico, histórico e interdisciplinar, é considerada uma importante ciência, com grande relevância para a formação básica cidadã. Neste trabalho, buscamos caracterizar a produção acadêmica sobre o ensino de Astronomia, visando constituir um panorama sobre os conhecimentos que estão sendo consolidados pela área de pesquisa em educação em ciências. A partir da análise dos focos de pesquisa dos artigos sobre Astronomia publicados em nove periódicos brasileiros de educação em ciências, emergiram cinco categorias: 1 – Estudos sobre concepções de docentes, monitores e/ou discentes sobre assuntos de Astronomia; 2 – Estudos sobre a utilização de recursos, estratégias e materiais didáticos para o ensino de Astronomia; 3 – Estudos de revisão de literatura sobre o ensino de Astronomia; 4 – Estudos sobre contexto e desafios do ensino de Astronomia na Educação Básica, Superior e/ou na educação não formal e; 5 – Estudos sobre inserção de conteúdos de Astronomia em Orientações Curriculares. De modo geral, podemos concluir que o número de pesquisadores e de pesquisas na área vem aumentando nos últimos anos; entretanto, as mesmas revelam grandes problemáticas vinculadas ao ensino de Astronomia, como a elevada incidência de concepções alternativas de docentes e discentes, além de erros conceituais em livros didáticos.
Percepciones de estudiantes de educación secundaria sobre youtube como fuente de información para física y química
Authors: Valverde-Crespo Daniel , González Sánchez Joaquín
Published: April 2024

El presente estudio describe el uso y las percepciones que tiene un conjunto de 186 estudiantes de educación secundaria sobre YouTube como fuente de información para la asignatura de Física y Química. Para ello se aplicó a los participantes un cuestionario con tres bloques (datos generales, uso de YouTube y percepciones sobre YouTube). Los resultados señalan que YouTube es una plataforma muy presente y bien valorada como herramienta de ayuda en sus tareas escolares, por ejemplo, para resolver dudas y para aprender a resolver problemas numéricos. No obstante, se evidencia que tienen dificultades a la hora de comparar y seleccionar contenidos de la plataforma, así como para valorar la fiabilidad de los contenidos. Por último, se exponen algunas las líneas a través de las que, desde la escuela, es posible fomentar un uso más responsable y competente de YouTube por parte del alumnado.
Contribuições de Baruch Spinoza para as ciências
Authors: Da Rosa Mariza , Rosa Carla Mariely , Folmer Vanderlei
Published: April 2024

Baruch Spinoza fue un filósofo holandés del siglo XVII que ideó un enfoque racional y sistemático para elestudio de la naturaleza. Él enfatizó la importancia de un enfoque crítico y escéptico en el conocimientocientífi co. Para Spinoza, el conocimiento científi co debía ser difundido de manera clara y accesible,basado en el método científi co que implica una observación minuciosa, formulación de hipótesis,experimentación y análisis crítico de los resultados. Él creía que la ciencia debía ser accesible para todos,para que pudieran benefi ciarse de ella y avanzar hacia el bien. En esta investigación bibliográfi ca, se buscaexplorar las contribuciones de la teoría de Spinoza a la enseñanza de las ciencias. Para ello, se realizó unarevisión sistemática de escritos narrativos en Google Académico, utilizando los descriptores "BaruchSpinoza y las ciencias", "Baruch Spinoza y la enseñanza de la ciencia", y "Baruch Spinoza, ciencias yenseñanza de las ciencias". Entre los resultados y discusiones, se desarrollan los conceptos de afectos, lasuperación de la superstición a través de la racionalidad, el valor del espíritu colectivo en las ciencias,constituyendo hitos importantes en la teoría de Spinoza. El autor también habló sobre la metafísica, quecontribuyó al pensamiento indisciplinado de Einstein, llevándolo a la Teoría de la Relatividad. Entre lasconsideraciones fi nales, se puede destacar que Spinoza contribuye de manera signifi cativa a la ciencia,señalando que a través de la razón es posible desmantelar los pensamientos supersticiosos, lo quesignifi ca libertad consciente, crítica y autonomía, que es el objetivo del conocimiento científico.
Transformación de la práctica de enseñanza de un profesor de ciencias naturales en formación inicial a través de la metodología de lesson study
Authors: Velásquez Murcia Santiago , Atehortúa Leguizamón Gabriela Victoria
Published: April 2024

La presente crónica de experiencia expone las transformaciones en la práctica de enseñanza de un docente de ciencias naturales en formación inicial a través de la implementación de la metodología de Lesson Study, orientada al fortalecimiento de habilidades de pensamiento científico a partir del desarrollo de experiencias prácticas en el laboratorio de ciencias de la Institución Educativa Rural Departamental La Fuente, con estudiantes de grados sexto a once. El estudio tiene un enfoque cualitativo y un diseño enmarcado en la investigación-acción. Se realizaron tres ciclos de reflexión completos, fundamentados en los procesos de valoración entre pares académicos, analizando las acciones constitutivas de la práctica de enseñanza: planeación, implementación, evaluación y reflexión. Dentro de los hallazgos preliminares más significativos se destacan que el docente en formación realizar ejercicios coherentes de descenso curricular desde la perspectiva macro hasta la micro, también, diferencia una evidencia audiovisual de una evidencia de aprendizaje reflejado en su discurso y planeaciones. Sin embargo, el docente en su ejercicio favorece la relación estudiante–conocimiento, dejando de lado el rol de mediador en este proceso y la mayor dificultad que presenta en su práctica de enseñanza corresponde a la gestión del aula durante el desarrollo de los laboratorios. Con el objetivo de subsanar estas problemáticas, el docente, de forma autorreflexiva, sugiere realizar modificaciones de fondo a las actividades de aprendizaje propuestas, con base en las retroalimentaciones dadas por sus pares con el propósito de mejorar permanentemente su práctica de enseñanza en el aula. En síntesis, la implementación de la metodología de Lesson Study genera acciones de profesionalización de la práctica de enseñanza, en donde los docentes investigan, reflexionan y transforman su ejercicio de enseñanza en el aula, con el propósito de mejorarlo permanentemente a partir del desarrollo de procesos de planeación profesional, argumentación teórica de la práctica y descenso curricular.
MODERN APPROACH TO ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC SECURITY OF THE REGION
Authors:   South Ural State University, Bazhanova Marina , Tsalo Ilya ,   South Ural State University
Published: April 2024

The economy of the region is a key link in the national economic system, and its sustainable development is achieved through increasing the level of economic security. The article aims to develop a methodological approach to assessing the level of economic security of the region. The objectives of the study are to improve and test a systemic assessment of the economic security of the region, taking into account the specific level of development of the main spheres of the economy in the contextof functional areas of activity. The article used economic and statistical methods, methods of comparison and analogies. The study systematizes and identifies the limitations of existing approaches to assessing the level of economic security. It also notes the lack of universality of the widely used index method, and the insufficiency of methods for correctly taking into account the dynamics of regional economic development. The paper proposes an improved approach assessing the total level of economic security of the region, identifying the functional areas of development and specifying the system of calculation indicators, establishing the feasibility of using standardization of the indicators used. Attention has also been focused on positioning the calculation results in the context of a scale of “threshold” values, and the need for a comprehensive assessment system related not only to the size of the gross regional product. The proposed methodological approach was tested using the example of federal subjects of the Ural Federal District, and it was established that there is a need to update measures to increase the level of their economic security. General practical recommendations are given to increase the level of regional development as the foundation for the region’s sustainability.
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ASSESSING AND REGULATING THE IMBALANCE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF ON REGIONAL LABOR MARKETS
Authors:   South Ural State University, Karpushkina Anzhela , Lavrentyev Alexey ,   Miass Branch of South Ural State University
Published: April 2024

The article presents a methodological approach to assessing and regulating the imbalance of demand and supply of professional personnel in regional labor markets. The author's methodology for assessing imbalances in professional personnel consists of four stages. In the first stage, the degree of regional differentiation is assessed according to the criteria of sectoral structural changes in employment and production based on indicators of regional asymmetry of structural changes, the quadratic coefficient of absolute structural changes, the integral coefficients of structural differences by K. Gatev, A. Salai, the V.M. Ryabtseva. In addition, the paper determines the dominant type of imbalance in the supply and demand of professional personnel (in the context of higher vocational training, secondary vocational training, nongovernmental education) in regional labor markets, it also classifies the subjects of the Russian Federation according to this criterion and identifies the differences in regional situations. The second stage is to assess the dynamic characteristics of the imbalance of professional personnel based on indicators of demand and supply volatility. The volatility of the types of imbalances in demand and supply of professional personnel is determined (in the context of higher vocational education, secondary vocational education, nongovernmental education), and an assessment and differentiation of regional situations is made based on the variability of imbalances. The third stage consists of assessing the determinants of the imbalance of professional personnel in regional labor markets. Based on groups of indicators that induce spatial differences in situations of imbalance in demand and supply of professional personnel in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, these differences are identified, grouped by the dominant type of imbalance, according to the most significant factors (based on the tools of regression models). The contribution of each factor is determined. The fourth stage is to develop monitoring and tools for regulating regional labor markets in accordance with the type, dynamic characteristics and determinants of the imbalance of professional personnel.
FORMATION OF SUSTAINABILITY OF ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AT DIVERSIFICATION OF INNOVATIVE PRODUCTIONS
Authors:   South Ural State University, Kuvshinov Mikhail
Published: April 2024

The article analyses the relevance of the issues of ensuring the sustainability of development of innovative industries, taking into account the role of diversification of production for risky projects. It highlights the problems on possibilities and disadvantages of traditional application of CVP-analysis for estimation of results of realisation of projects of multiproduct production. The paper offers the hypothesis and evaluates the possibility of providing stability of development of enterprises with multi-product production on the basis of the management model of corrective factors of forming the breakeven of planned profit of a set of productions at various characteristic initiating disturbances. The author's model makes it possible to take into account deviations of all constant and variable factors of formation of the final planned profit at joint diversified production, including the difference of clock productivity and planned periods of completion of production of separate products of the diversified line of nomenclature and the chronology of deviations of changes in factors. The methodical approach presented in the article is illustrated by examples of practical implementation with analytical calculations and graphical representation of the adjustment of the change in variable and fixed costs of one product due to the change in the value of tactual productivity of another product and the adjustment of the change in fixed costs due to the value of the price of the same product. The presented approach is largely universal under other boundary conditions for the analysed pairs of initiating-correcting influences to assess the sustainability of development of both mono- and multiproduct production.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE THEORY OF INNOVATION
Authors:   Udmurt Branch of the Institute of Economics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ovchinnikova Anna , Dorf Evgeny ,   Udmurt State University
Published: April 2024

The study aims to analyse the main stages in the evolution of the theory of innovation. The study identifies six main national trends in the development of innovations: the first stage (late 19th and early 20th centuries) the emergence of the theory of innovation. It was characterized by an emphasis on the role of certain entrepreneurs in the process of “creative violation”; the second stage (1940s and 1950s) systematization and formalization of the theory. This period saw the creation of departments of research and development (R&D) in large corporations; the third stage (1960s and 1970s functions) began to capture the focus of innovation diffusion or the process of dissemination of new ideas, products and technologies in society; the fourth stage (1980s and 1990s features) is studying the individual features of systems. The stage was characterized by the growing origin of the importance of networks, institutions of social and cultural factors; the fifth stage (1990s and 2000s parts) is an open innovation stage. During this period, researchers began to pay attention to the fast-growing flows of information and open processes of growth; the sixth stage (current stage) is a digital stage. This phase of the process is about the growing importance of digital technologies and how they are transforming the innovation process. The research includes methods of logical and historical association, scientific abstractions, analysis and synthesis, comparison and scientific gen-eralizations. The study of innovation aims to understand the complex creation of processes and the dissemination of new ideas, products, and technologies. Studying the innovation phenomenon and evolution of the innovation theory is highly relevant due to the fact that innovations are a key factor of economic growth and social progress in the modern world. The results obtained were used in the development of a strategy for the innovative development of the regional economy.
AN ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT LANES IN CHELYABINSK
Authors:   South Urals State University, Goryaev Nikolay , Abramov Nikolay ,   South Urals State University
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the effectiveness of public transport lanes. The study compares the current cost of the transport work and the cost of transport work when increasing the average speed of travel with dedicated public transport lanes. The recommendations of the Russian Ministry of Transport were used as the basis for the feasibility study. Based on changes in speed and travel times, the effect on the budget is assessed in monetary terms. Depending on the increase in speed, the budget effect is associated with a reduction in the required number of vehicles to deliver the same levels of transport services for the population. The methodology allows us to evaluate not only the change in traffic flow parameters when implementing dedicated lanes for public transport, but also the economic effect of increasing the speed of travel. The work analyzes the economic effect of organizing a dedicated lane using specific municipal routes in the city of Chelyabinsk.
Commonly Misdiagnosed Facial Lesion: Pilomatricoma
Authors: Xin Tan Ying , Saniasiaya Jeyasakthy , Kulasegarah Jeyanthi , Fan Chiew Seow
Published: April 2024

Pilomatricoma, also known as Pilamatrixoma or Malherbe’s calcifying epithelioma, is a benign skin tumour with a bimodal age distribution between the paediatric and elderly age groups. Although it was previously thought to be rare, recent studies have revealed that it is quite common. Typically, pilomatricoma is diagnosed following histopathological examination of the lesion as it is frequently misdiagnosed with other types of skin pathology. In our case, the child presented with painless swelling of the left infraauricular region. The initial cytology and imaging were unable to provide a definite diagnosis. An excision biopsy was done, and a histopathological examination was suggestive of Pilomatricoma. Therefore, Pilomatricoma ought to be considered in the differential diagnosis of head and neck lesions in hopes of providing a better understanding on this pathological lesion.
The humanism of the other in sociolinguistic ethnography
Authors: Creese Angela
Published: April 2024

This article describes the social and ethical responsibility researchers experience in undertaking ethnographic research under conditions of neoliberalism. It acknowledges the hierarchical nature of working in large ethnographic teams in which a mixture of employment contracts and statuses exist. Drawing on relational ethics (Levinas 2003. Humanism of the Other. Champaign: University of Illinois Press.), and its attention to the humanizing potential of difference, the paper describes researchers’ propensity for relationality in the face of competitive neoliberalism. It presents a case study of a large research team and investigates the use of research vignettes to represent and relate in difference. Subjectivity is theorized not in terms of identity but rather through alterity and opacity arguing this direction opens up social and political alliances (Butler 2005. Giving an Account of Oneself. New York: Fordham University Press.). Specifically, the paper suggests the research vignette is a genre well suited to documenting the way humans live in difference, illustrating how the researcher yields to the face of the Other in field work encounters. As a form the research vignette is said to bridge the aesthetic and the scientific, demanding of its reader an engagement with a variety of interpretations. Further, the vignette is considered for its methodological potential in creating a dialogic relational space for research teams within the neoliberal university.
Phonetic smart clothing design based on gender awareness education for preschoolers
Authors: Tu Chenchen , Niu Li , Cui Rongrong , Liu Kaixuan
Published: April 2024

Given problems such as the late start of gender awareness education in China, the gender blurring in preschooler’s clothing, the lack of integrating gender awareness elements into preschooler’s clothing, etc., using children’s sensory functions such as vision, touch, and hearing, a phonetic intelligence module with alarm sounds and warning words is implanted into special parts of children’s clothing. When children gently touch the part, it can make a sound. This kind of smart clothing for preschoolers, which is both interesting and educational, enables children to understand gender knowledge more intuitively, have a certain gender awareness to better protect their private parts of the body, and develop a correct view of gender roles and a sound personality.
Design of MIMO PI-compensators without exponentially unstable poles
Authors: Hippe Peter
Published: April 2024

There is a class of systems that can only be stabilized by unstable compensators. However, for most practical systems suitable for use with linear regulators, this is possible with stable ones. To avoid exponentially unstable results in the design of pole placing PI-compensators it is of crucial importance to consider the position of the transmission zeros. This also has a favourable effect on the disturbance rejection. In multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems, however, not only the zero position but also the zero direction is of importance. In this paper, a design method for multivariable PI-controllers in the time- and in the frequency-domains is presented which helps to avoid the occurrence of exponentially unstable controllers. A modified design method for multivariable PI-controllers, recently published in this journal, facilitates the procedure.
KI-basierte Regelungskonzepte zur automatischen Spurregelung von Flurförderzeugen
Authors: Sauer Timm , Zindler Klaus , Jumar Ulrich
Published: April 2024

In diesem Beitrag werden zwei KI-basierte Regelungskonzepte zur automatischen Spurführung von Flurförderzeugen (FFZ) einer heterogenen Logistikflotte vorgestellt. Während die modellfreien Verfahren des bestärkenden Lernens für diese Anwendung als Vertreter der direkten neuronalen Regelung vorgestellt werden, lässt sich das zweite Regelungskonzept in die Klasse der indirekten neuronalen Regelungen einordnen. Beide Konzepte zeichnen sich dadurch aus, dass sie dazu in der Lage sind, die Reglerparameter an verschiedene Varianten von FFZ anzupassen sowie vorab bekanntes Wissen bezüglich des Regelstreckenverhaltens beim Entwurf der Regler gezielt zu berücksichtigen.
Local Bayesian optimization for controller tuning with crash constraints
Authors: von Rohr Alexander , Stenger David , Scheurenberg Dominik , Trimpe Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Controller tuning is crucial for closed-loop performance but often involves manual adjustments. Although Bayesian optimization (BO) has been established as a data-efficient method for automated tuning, applying it to large and high-dimensional search spaces remains challenging. We extend a recently proposed local variant of BO to include crash constraints, where the controller can only be successfully evaluated in an a-priori unknown feasible region. We demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method through simulations and hardware experiments. Our findings showcase the potential of local BO to enhance controller performance and reduce the time and resources necessary for tuning.
Tensile assessment of woven CFRP using finite element method: A benchmarking and preliminary study for thin-walled structure application
Authors: Fajri Aprianur , Suryanto Suryanto , Adiputra Ristiyanto , Prabowo Aditya Rio , Tjahjana Dominicus Danardono Dwi Prija , Yaningsih Indri , Laksono Fajar Budi , Nurrohmad Abian , Nugroho Afid , Wandono Fajar Ari , Budiantoro Poki Agung , Ramayanti Sri , Soedjarwo Moedji
Published: April 2024

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are a composite material popular for thin-walled structure applications because of their advantages over other materials. In this study, numerical simulation analysis based on the finite-element method to identify the tensile behavior of CFRP woven material has been carried out. The method used has been verified and validated using a benchmarking procedure with the results of previous research. Errors in the simulation results are less than 10%, indicating a valid method that can be used for further research. The stress–strain distribution of each layer, the effect of ply orientation on tensile strength, the comparison of failure criteria used, and the comparison of several types of reinforcements often used have been investigated. The results showed that the characteristics of each inner layer received tensile loading visualized in the form of stress strains. Choosing the right layer angle on CFRP woven can affect the performance and strength of the material. Failure criteria that are appropriate to specific application conditions are important. Puck criteria can be used for simple applications, which require only the analysis of the main stresses in the material. Tsai–Hill and Tsai–Wu criteria can provide more accurate predictions and are better suited for loading conditions and more complex material types. Carbon fiber has better characteristics when compared to S-glass and E-glass.
Preparation of HTV silicone rubber with hydrophobic–uvioresistant composite coating and the aging research
Authors: Lei Mingdong , Li Ziyou , Gan Qiang , Zhou Weizhen , Li Qiang
Published: April 2024

A series of high temperature vulcanization (HTV) silicone rubbers with TiO2 ultraviolet (UV) shielding layer and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) hydrophobic layer were prepared via stepwise spray method. It was found that the hydrophobic PTFE liquid emulsion (PTFEL) could steadily and tightly adhere to the HTV silicone rubber surface by spray method after pre-mixing with permanent room temperature vulcanized (PRTV) silicone rubber during the first step spray. And the subsequent introduction of TiO2 and PTEF solid powder (PTFES) could improve the UV shielding ability and further increase the hydrophobicity of HTV silicone rubber during the second step spray after pre-blending. The accelerated hygrothermal aging process and UV aging process were used to analyze the effect of coating structure and composition on anti-aging performance. And the results indicated that the HTV silicone rubber with PRTV-PTFEL/TiO2-PTFES composite coating showed a favorable UV shielding ability and also possessed an excellent hydrophobicity due to the introduction of low surface energy matter and the building of coarse micro-nano hydrophobic structure. After the aging process, the cracked micro-surface, increased water absorption and decreased mechanical property were displayed for the neat HTV silicone rubber, and these aging phenomena got dramatically improved for PRTV-PTFEL/TiO2-PTFES coating HTV silicone rubber.
Spontaneous duodenocutaneous fistula: a rare presentation of perforated duodenal ulcer
Authors: Barreto Isabel , Kohler Arnold , Fahrner René
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Fistula formation between the duodenum and the skin of the anterior abdominal wall is a rare complication and reported most often following surgery. To the best of our knowledge, the development of a spontaneous duodenocutaneous fistula in association with duodenal ulcer has only been reported once.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old female patient presented at the emergency department with a painful ulcer and erythema on the right abdominal wall. On admission, she was in extremely poor general and nutritional condition. Laboratory analysis revealed inflammation. An empiric antibiotic therapy was initiated; parenteral nutrition, fluid, and electrolyte resuscitation were started. An enterocutaneous fistula was postulated and confirmed by endoscopy identifying a perforated duodenal ulcer. Surgery was not a valuable option and a Foley catheter was inserted through the fistula. During further endoscopic interventions, the Foley catheter was first replaced by a jejunal tube and later by a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with a jejunal limb for enteral nutrition. The fistula output decreased, the local infection was controlled and the nutritional status improved.

Conclusions

Three months later the fistula was closed and the gastrostomy tube was removed. After 2 years the patient was in good general and nutritional condition.
The crystal structure of (2-diphenylphosphanylphenyl) 2-[7-(dimethylamino)-2-oxochromen-4-yl]acetate, C31H26NO4P
Authors: Mamat Constantin , Köckerling Martin
Published: April 2024

C31H26NO4P, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 16.3835(2) Å, b = 14.5755(2) Å, c = 10.5388(2) Å, β = 95.694(1)°, V = 2504.22(7) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt
(F) = 0.0435, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1310, T = 173(2) K.
Crystal structure of dimethyl (R)-2-(3-(1-phenylethyl)thioureido)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarboxylate, C25H24N2O4S
Authors: Chen Yi , Shi Da-Bin
Published: April 2024

C25H24N2O4S, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 6.8049(5) Å, b = 12.2546(8) Å, c = 26.8916(18) Å, V = 2242.5(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0581, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1560, T = 100 K.
Sonic Epistemologies: Confrontations with the Invisible
Authors: Voegelin Salomé
Published: April 2024

With reference to Steven Feld’s “acoustemology,” his epistemology of sounding and listening, developed in the Bosavi Rainforest in Papua New Guinea, where the trees are too dense to afford a distant view and meaning has to be found up close, on the body with other human and more-than-human bodies, this essay deliberates how sound knows in entanglements and from the in-between: in a being with as a knowing with rather than from a distance. In this way, this essay, from the densities of the rainforest, critiques Western knowledge and its reliance on visual categories, straight lines, and universalising principles that pretend objectivity and a distant view. Instead, it turns to the relational indivisibility of sound that lets us hear interdependencies and confronts us with the invisible of which we are part. In conclusion, it proposes that sound studies as applied, transversal studies enable such a paradigm shift that at once reveals what hegemonic knowledge strands exclude and invites a different dialogue from the in-between of everything.
Characterization techniques for carbon-based adsorbents and carbon composites
Authors: Danya Uthaman , Sagayaraj Chinnappan , Yaazhini Jagadeesan , Ramachandran Balaji , Aravind Jeyaseelan , Muthukumaran Peraman
Published: April 2024

Adsorption processes are crucial in various applications, especially water and wastewater treatment. The research is focused on improving and developing adsorbent materials. An in-depth evaluation of a recently suggested adsorbent is essential to determine its characteristics, confirm its suitability, and understand its effectiveness in the intended process. Various approaches can be engaged to collect multiple physico-chemical data, with the selection of the methodology contingent on the substance under investigation and the instruments at hand. The accessible procedures include, FTIR, Raman, XPS, EDX, XRD, SEM/FESEM, TEM, AFM, VSM, DLS, and thermoanalytical techniques (TGA, DSC). These methods aid in identifying, locating, and quantifying chemical components. They also enable the analysis of the structure, topography, morphology, magnetic properties, and size, as well as other physical characteristics of materials. This information is valuable for assessing the manufacturing and modification of adsorbent materials and studying the adsorption process by examining the interactions between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. This work aims to offer an inclusive resource for investigators exploring adsorbent resources. It attempts to help them choose the most suitable characterization methods according to their specific needs.
Sociolinguistics and Universalism
Authors: Bouchard Jérémie
Published: April 2024

The discourse on linguistic diversity, relativity and pluralism is currently dominant in sociolinguistics. By extension, arguments for universalism are currently unfashionable in the field, particularly within its interpretivist strand. This paper claims that interpretivist sociolinguistics promotes conflicting, often lukewarm, and at times antagonistic views on universalism as a core emancipatory value. In response, the argument is made that appreciating universalism requires a layered social ontology afforded by critical realism. To build this critique, the paper first surveys how universalism has been neglected by prominent interpretivist sociolinguists to date. It then provides a conceptual account of critical realism’s layered social ontology and its relation to sociolinguistics. A discussion on the nature and importance of values in social science and sociolinguistics follows. Finally, the paper discusses universalism as a core emancipatory value, its critique, and its relation to sociolinguistics.
Identification and Interpretation of Melt Pool Shapes in Laser Powder Bed Fusion with Machine Learning
Authors: Sato Matthew M. , Wong Vivian W. H. , Yeung Ho , Witherell Paul , Law Kincho H.
Published: April 2024

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a popular additive manufacturing process with many advantages compared with traditional (subtractive) manufacturing. However, ensuring the quality of LPBF parts remains a challenge in the manufacturing industry. This work proposes the use of unsupervised learning, specifically, the k-means clustering method, to identify unique melt pool shapes produced during LPBF manufacturing. Melt pools are a key process signature in LPBF and can assist in the evaluation of process quality. k-means is employed multiple times sequentially to produce clusters of melt pools, and the silhouette value is used to identify the optimal number of clusters. The clusters produced by k-means are used as labels to train a deep neural network to classify the melt pool shapes. By inputting the melt pool image and the corresponding LPBF machine process parameters into the neural network, the neural network identifies the melt pool shape to aid human analysis and provide insight into part quality. The trained neural network is interpreted using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods to investigate the relationships between process parameters and the melt pool shape. Using layer-wise relevance propagation, the process parameters that most significantly influence the melt pool shapes are identified. The relationship between process parameters and melt pool shapes can be useful for selecting the process parameters to produce the desired melt pool shapes. In summary, this study describes an approach that combines unsupervised machine learning and XAI methods to effectively enable the analysis and interpretation of melt pools.
Land reform in the United States: Lost cause or simply a cause that has been lost?
Authors: Roman-Alcalá Antonio
Published: April 2024

In this commentary, I consider the topic of “land reform” in the United States, addressing the status of land reform as a key concept and goal among agrifood scholars, food/farm movements, and government actors. I do so in order to encourage sustainable food advocates to consider land reform’s importance, its social basis, and its challenges. Informed by secondary literature and my own thinking and doing over 20 years of food systems activism and research, I ask: Why isn’t land reform more prominent as a central objective? What dynamics keep land reform off the agenda of U.S. agrarian and food movements? What can previous histories of land reform agitation teach us? How can the elements necessary to advance toward land reform in the United States be built? I explore land reform’s lack with an eye especially to those explanations that open up potential avenues for action, in order to spark conversation on potential barriers to land reform efforts, and to suggest potential ways to overcome them. I discuss political-economic, ideological, and organizational barriers and emphasize the role of anticommunism in shaping today’s land politics among food and farming movements. It is hoped that the commentary offers researchers and practitioners actionable insights into the need for a land reform agenda, potential strategies toward a land reform agenda, and an honest assessment of the impediments to that agenda’s advance.
The Illusion of Control
Authors: van der Leeuw Sander , Dirks Gary
Published: April 2024

Why are societies (partly) adopting the scientific, Western intellectual perspective so little inclined to accept that their vision of the world is much more uncertain than they assume? This paper views the illusion of control as the result of a long-term coevolution in which, in Euro-American society, the basic categories of thinking have shifted from “open” to “closed,” from a focus on exploration of the unknown to the exploitation of the known. Such closed categories are to a large extent anchored in technologies, because in the interaction with technologies, human actions are routinized and adapted to the technology, so that it is difficult to deal with changing circumstances. Thus, as part of the technology explosion of the last two centuries, Euro-American societies have undergone a massive shift from exploration and comprehension of the changing world they deal with to competently repeating known responses to known challenges without understanding the underlying dynamic. This shift makes them (wrongly) assume that they control their world. Any attempt to break this illusion of control must consider how categories are formed and assembled into narratives, and in particular the nature of the relationship between information (cognized signals and categories) and noise (signals excluded from cognition). That relationship has been fundamental to the dynamic of niche construction that has shaped both our thinking and the environment to which it relates.
A Methodology for Evaluating Sustainable Building Technology to Raise the Efficiency of Urban Clusters: Analytical Study
Authors: Ahmed Mai Niazy Moustafa , Goda Abdullah Badawy Mohammed , Elattar Sherif Mohamed Sabry
Published: April 2024

Sustainability evaluation methodologies are distinguished from other evaluation tools, such as the LEED system and the BREEAM system, in that they include a new local evaluation methodology. The life cycle of a building is divided into distinct phases, including production of materials and components, construction and implementation, use/operation, maintenance, demolition, and disposal. Understanding the classification of assessment tools based on the building to be assessed, tool users, and building life cycle stages will inform selection of appropriate assessment tools and development of a comprehensive methodology. The study aimed to extract and evaluate opinions and perspectives from users, stakeholders, and researchers about the current status of sustainable technology in urban communities and to analyze the basic factors and indicators that contributed to the efficiency of urban communities and their relationship to sustainable technology. An inductive and analytical research was conducted using a questionnaire form on a sample of 100 participants to collect the opinions of users, relevant authorities, and researchers in the field. The questionnaire was designed to collect opinions and perspectives from different groups, including residents, local authorities (such as provincial officials, engineering administration, etc.), and experts in the field of sustainable technology. It covered a range of topics related to sustainable technology, including perceptions of current sustainability practices, barriers to implementation, potential areas for improvement, and proposals to enhance the efficiency of urban clusters. The research provided a comprehensive understanding of views on sustainable technology and help identify key areas for evaluation and improvement.
Nanomaterials Drug Delivery System in Herbal Formulation For Antidiabetic Activity: A Review
Authors: Bera Raj Kumar , Pal Tripti , Ghosh Nilanjana , Kundu Avery , Ghosh Rajesh , Srivalli Kotupalli , Biswas Kush
Published: April 2024

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder, results in high blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production or ineffective insulin utilization. Management entails lifestyle changes, exercise, and medication adherence. Monitoring blood sugar levels, healthy eating, and medication are crucial for controlling diabetes and preventing complications. The illness, currently incurable, necessitates management strategies for regulation. Medical treatments are expensive and require long-term adherence, leading many, especially those from low-income nations, to resort to herbal remedies. However, phytocompounds, though promising, often suffer from limited bioavailability due to poor solubility, permeability, or rapid elimination. Plant nanomedicines offer a promising avenue to address these challenges and alleviate the financial strain on disadvantaged populations. Encapsulated treatments using plant extracts or antidiabetic chemicals at the nanoscale have shown promising results. Our study aims to provide a thorough examination of lipid- and inorganic-based nanoparticulate delivery systems combined with plant extracts or phytocompounds for diabetes management Our analysis will highlight both the advantages and limitations of these systems for future clinical application. Examined studies revealed that nanoparticulate formulations displayed strong antidiabetic effects at lower doses compared to individual plant extracts or phytocompounds. Additionally, nanoparticulate systems have effectively addressed the issue of low bioavailability in herbal medications, showing promise for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
The Use of Licensing to Promote Competition among Telecom Operators and the Growth of Mobile Telecommunication Networks in Nigeria, 2011-2022
Authors: Chris-Sanctus Ogu Esomchi , Sunday Ogbanje , Chinedu Ejiofor Chukwuemeka , Kassem Semshak Danladi
Published: April 2024

Many practitioners and investors have praised the use of licensing to enhance competition in the telecom sector due to its real effects on the Nigerian economy. However, since 2011, subscribers in the industry have had a mixed experience with the license issue due to problems with telecom companies' exploitative tendencies and antics, which make it difficult for customers to acquire reliable and reasonably priced telecoms services. With a focus on the institutional and legal safeguards put in place by the government to ensure that the operators abide by the licensing and regulation powers granted to them by the law, the study essentially examines how licensing affects competition among telecom operators and the expansion of mobile telecom networks in Nigeria. The paper's methodology adopted the documentary approach, and the data were ostensibly gathered from secondary sources and examined in terms of substance. Neo-liberal theory of the state provided a sufficient theoretical foundation for the examination of the study. The paper's findings demonstrate that while the expansion of Nigeria's mobile telecom networks is aided by the use of licensing to promote competition among telecom operators, consumers' access to affordable and high-quality telecommunications services is restricted by the exploitative tendencies and antics of telecom companies. The paper's suggestions were based on these findings, and one of them was that Telecommunications service tariffs must always be cost-oriented and reflect the actual costs borne by operators to provide the services in question.
Improvement Of Reading Comprehension Skills Through the Exelearning.Net Interactive Model in Upper Basic Students
Authors: Miryam Beltrán Ponce Carmen , Alexandra Calderón Sánchez Ángela , Evarista Tomalá Catuto Yajayra , Narcisa Muñoz Angel Maribel
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the interactive model known as "Exelearning.net" on improving reading comprehension skills among students of Basic Superior in Santa Elena, Ecuador. An experimental study with a quantitative approach was conducted, involving a sample of 70 students divided into two groups of 35. Pre and post-tests were administered to assess reading comprehension. Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in the dimensions of literal, inferential, and critical comprehension, with higher scores in the experimental group than in the control group. The results showed a significance level of < 0.001, indicating that the application of the interactive model ExeLearning.net had a positive impact on strengthening students' reading comprehension skills. These findings suggest that using interactive programs can facilitate the relationship between reading and text comprehension.