bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can resistance prehabilitation training bring additional benefits in valvular cardiac surgery? protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Montero-Cámara Jorge , Ferrer-Sargues Francisco José , Rovira María José Segrera , Cabello Adrián Sarria , Peredo David Cuesta , Calabuig Juan Antonio Margarit , Valtueña-Gimeno Noemí , Sánchez-Sánchez María Luz
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a group of illnesses that include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, congenital heart disease and deep vein thrombosis. Major surgery is often chosen as the treatment of choice for CVD. The concept of fast-track rehabilitation after surgery appeared in the 1970s. Participation in these exercise-based prehabilitation programmes may decrease postoperative complications and length of hospital stay. The primary aim of the present study is to evaluate whether the implementation of an additional resistance training (RT) prehabilitation protocol within cardiac exercises based prehabilitation can reduce intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, postoperative complications and hospital length of stay (LOS).

Methods

A protocol of a prospective, parallel, randomised clinical trial includes 96 adult patients diagnosed with valvular pathology and who have been scheduled for surgery. The participants will be randomly assigned to two groups of 48. Control group will be treated with ventilatory and strengthening of respiratory muscles, and aerobic exercise. Experimental group, in addition, will be treated with RT of peripheral muscles. Both hospital stay and ICU stay will be assessed as main variables. Other secondary variables such as exercise capacity, quality of life and respiratory values will also be assessed. Quantitative variables will be analysed with a T-Test or ANOVA, or Mann Witney if the distribution is non-parametric.

Results and conclusion

This will be the first controlled clinical study focused on adding strength exercise as an additional treatment during prehabilitation. The results of this study will focus on helping to improve rehabilitation and prehabilitation protocols, considering that it is essential to maintain pulmonary training, as well as the inclusion of peripheral exercises that help people with heart disease to be in a better physical condition in order to increase their participation and sense of quality of life.
Bridging the gap between academic knowledge and business practitioners in the Arab region through constructive journalism
Authors: Almahmoud Hamoud , Cejudo Rafael
Published: May 2024

The ongoing debate concerning the relevance of academic research to society in the Arab region centres on a significant gap between scholarly work and its application by real-world practitioners. This gap stems from several factors, such as the lack of research addressing urgent real-world issues, the complexity and inaccessibility of academic writing, and the limited outreach of academic journals to the general public. This study aims to bridge this gap by connecting actionable business academic research with business practitioners through the lens of constructive journalism. A crucial part of this research involved in-depth interviews with sixteen academic researchers, whose work aligns with the principles of the Constructive Research Approach (CRA) and has been adapted for practitioners using the constructive journalism approach (CJA). Despite most researchers interviewed not necessarily being familiar with the specific terms CRA or CJA, their practices naturally adhered to the principles and ethical standards of these approaches, as revealed in our detailed interviews. These researchers adeptly utilized CJA to reformat their research into a journalistic style, ensuring compliance with constructive criteria. This restructured research was then published in mainstream media, thus reaching a wider audience, including the public and practitioners. Based on the experiences and insights of these researchers, the study presents a comprehensive guide aimed at aiding other academic researchers in effectively using CJA to bridge the gap between academic knowledge, typically confined to academic journals, and a broader audience through journalistic mediums. The goal is to make academic research more accessible, relevant and useful to practitioners and the general public, thereby amplifying its societal impact and practical value.
When East meets West: The politicization of kei pou (qipao) or cheongsam in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee Jonathan
Published: May 2024

Kei pou (qipao in Mandarin) or cheongsam, the oft-interchangeable style of dress has been labelled as the ‘Chinese national dress’ due to western media. However, the perception originally stems from colonial mindset lacking understanding to the diverse Chinese diaspora. This article argues not only is kei pou or cheongsam the representation of Hong Kong’s local culture, but also the symbolism of Hongkonger’s cultural identity. Through object-based research, the article engages with a rare red quilted kei pou purchased in Hong Kong in the 1980s. The dress illustrates the true Oriental beauty with the symbolism of elegance and sophistication of Hong Kong women from an East Asian perspective. The article clarifies the etymological confusion between kei pou and cheongsam through their stylistic taxonomy and historical development and examines the cultural-political connotations of these two styles of dress and their semiotics in constructing the identity of Hongkongers. Consequently, the research proposes the interconnected relationship between the city and the dress, in which exists not only within the contexts of marginalized culture in the Eurocentric world, but also within the authoritarian-ruled China.
An Englishman abroad: Evening Land and the struggles of Peter Watkins within Scandinavian film culture of the 1970s
Authors: Cook John R.
Published: May 2024

This article analyses Aftenlandet (Evening Land), a film made for the Danish Film Institute in 1976 by Peter Watkins, one of the world’s most politically radical directors and a pioneer of docudrama. The aim is to provide a detailed historical account of the life cycle of a key but hitherto critically neglected film in the director’s career: his last to be professionally funded for nearly 25 years and one that saw Watkins working within the very particular milieu of Denmark, investigating, often controversially, the perceived political fault lines of Danish society during the 1970s. The article traces how this English-born filmmaker came to be working in Scandinavia, details the production of Evening Land and provides a close critical reading of the film’s various themes and techniques as well as considering its reception and aftermath. Correspondence and production files from Watkins’ own personal archive reveal the difficulties the filmmaker clearly experienced as something of ‘an Englishman abroad’ attempting to find a place for himself within Scandinavian film culture of the period. The article asserts that this experience eventually contributed to Watkins’ decision to quit Scandinavia altogether following the completion of Evening Land, a decision that would inadvertently propel Watkins out of the world of professional filmmaking for nearly a quarter century. The article argues, however, that Evening Land, a film long obscure and critically neglected, still has cultural resonance and applicability to our own times in the twenty-first century.
Homología y antropomorfización crítica
Authors: Torres Meléndez Julio , Muñoz Tobar Claudia
Published: May 2024

A partir de un examen crítico de la distinción predarwiniana entre actividad y uso con la que Alan Love (2007) intenta resolver la supuesta contradicción contenida en el concepto de homología de función, argumentamos que es prescindible la estrategia de antropomorfización defendida por Frans de Waal en el estudio de la conducta social de primates. Lo que se requiere para eludir el compromiso con la antropomorfización es hacer explícito el criterio de identidad del rasgo biológico que está contenido en el concepto de homología filogenética. Se requiere asimismo revelar la estructura jerárquica y desconectada de las homologías de categorías psicológicas. Sostenemos que hacer explícita esa estructura jerárquica y la posibilidad de realizabilidad múltiple de patrones de comportamiento social que cumplen funciones homólogas, le permitiría a de Waal responder de manera efectiva a los críticos que niegan sus tesis de la continuidad evolutiva de la moral.
Justice and Related Matters in the Legacy of Frans de Waal
Authors: Claramonte Sanz Vicente , Guarinos Rico Rodolfo
Published: May 2024

Initially, we critically examine the current state of knowledge in the field of Philosophy of Biology pertaining to empathy as a subject of scientific investigation. Subsequently, we delve into the constraints associated with empathy in some primates, including humans, recognizing it as a socially situated and evolved attribute. Additionally, we explore its potential as a political asset among humans. In light of these findings, we reevaluate the dichotomy between perspectives that emphasize altruism and egoism as fundamental principles in the biological and ontological senses. Lastly, we put forth the scientifically defendable idea that significant connections exist between empathy and the concept of justice.
Mecanismos sociales, antropomorfismo y procesos cognitivos en animales no humanos. A 40 años de La política de los chimpancés
Authors: Caicedo Machacon Oscar David , Campis Rene J. , Bermúdez Barrera Eduardo
Published: May 2024

La atribución de pensamientos y mente a animales no humanos sigue generando debates y controversias entre los estudiosos del comportamiento animal. Sumado a ello, los mecanismos sociales -el juego como un comportamiento producto de la selección natural con valor de supervivencia- llaman poderosamente la atención de etólogos cognitivos, psicólogos y filósofos de la mente a la hora de establecer hasta dónde nos es permitido abrazar el antropomorfismo científico sin caer en analogías apresuradas del antropomorfismo ingenuo y desinformado. Este artículo aborda el problema de cómo estudiar algunas estrategias de supervivencia en grupos sociales, cómo justificar el antropomorfismo científico y hasta qué punto podemos hablar de procesos mentales en otros animales, apelando al concepto de mecanismos sociales, entre otros, en de Waal.
Consumer-based sensory characterization and preference of raw and pasteurized milk cheeses
Authors: Terra Cristiana Baruel , Sant'Anna Voltaire , Padilha Rosiele Lappe , Leães Fernanda Leal
Published: May 2024

A comercialização de queijos não pasteurizados continua sendo uma grande discussão atualmente devido a questões de segurança, embora os consumidores possam ter preferência por eles em detrimento dos industrializados. Atributos extrínsecos dos queijos de leite cru, como proximidade com os produtores, ser artesanal e tradicional, são importantes para a compra, mas o sabor permanece como o parâmetro intrínseco mais importante e é crucial para a comercialização. O principal objetivo do presente artigo científico é avaliar a preferência dos consumidores por queijos de leite pasteurizado (QLP) ou de queijos leite cru (QLC) e avaliar as diferenças entre os atributos sensoriais utilizando a metodologia baseada no consumidor CATA (check-all-that-apply). Cem indivíduos participaram, e os resultados mostraram que os aromas de queijo e leite, o sabor salgado, a textura macia e a textura lisa e úmida não diferiram se o leite foi tratado termicamente ou não. O QLC apresentou maior intensidade de odor e sabor ácido, maior sabor amargo, visualmente com maior intensidade de amarelo e aspecto colonial, e com textura mais friável e mais seca. Os QLP eram mais doces, amanteigados e com coloração mais esbranquiçada do que aqueles feitos com leite não pasteurizado. Os consumidores brasileiros preferiram o QLP, e aroma, sabor úmido e doce são atributos críticos para a preferência do queijo.
Queijo de Manteiga produzido em Parintins - AM: processamento e características físico-químicas
Authors: Souza Terezinha Teixeira , Vieira Rita Brito , Mendonça Gean Augusto Pereira , Dos Santos Júnior Jailton Ribeiro , Freitas Denise Ribeiro
Published: May 2024

O queijo de manteiga é um dos derivados do leite mais consumidos e produzidos na cidade de Parintins, Estado do Amazonas. Este produto alimentício além de contribuir para a renda dos produtores de leite locais, futuramente poderá ser reconhecido como um patrimônio imaterial alimentar local e contribuir para o desenvolvimento sustentável das comunidades detentoras desses saberes tradicionais. Para que isto ocorra, é necessário que o modo de fazer desse alimento seja conhecido e documentado. Portanto, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de realizar um diagnóstico do modo de fazer, das condições de processamento e da composição físico-química de queijos de manteiga produzidos por produtores do município de Parintins. A diferenciação observada na composição físico-química dos queijos dá-se pela variante da diversidade de saberes e de sabores de cada produtor que baseado em características históricas e culturais constrói o seu saber fazer tradicional. É um patrimônio alimentar que precisa ser preservado, porém é necessário que elementos importantes para a produção de um alimento seguro sejam readequados, tais como as condições do local da ordenha, processamento, utensílios, qualidade da água e embalagens.
concepto de ficción: revisitando una noción compleja
Authors: Albrieu Nicolás
Published: May 2024

El presente artículo se propone sintetizar algunos de los aportes teóricos más recientes desarrollados en torno al concepto de ficción, partiendo de la consideración de que, a pesar de constituir un concepto central que condiciona, aunque sea de manera implícita, las investigaciones sobre literatura, no se le suele otorgar un espacio preponderante en las cátedras de teoría literaria. Dos ejes o axiomas centrales estructuran las reflexiones aquí desarrolladas: en primer lugar, que el discurso ficcional instituye un régimen condicional en el que se ponen en suspenso las exigencias de verismo y verificabilidad; en segundo lugar, que la institución de ese estatuto condicional depende más del encuadramiento pragmático externo que de características intrínsecas de los textos/productos artísticos ficcionales. En otras palabras, que no existen dos modalidades de representación, una ficcional y otra referencial, sino que es el encuadramiento pragmático el que suspende la referencialidad directa del discurso instituyendo el terreno imaginario que llamamos «Ficción».
Devenires y conversiones: repensando hábitos y afectos en el contexto intercultural
Authors: Klinger Diana
Published: May 2024

El texto propone una lectura del libro (de difícil clasificación, entre novela, autobiografía, biografía y etnografía) de la antropóloga brasileña Aparecida Vilaça, titulado Paletó y yo (2018). El mismo relata la relación afectiva, filial, con su «informante» indígena (del pueblo Wari’) conocido como Paletó, que vivió los primeros 30 años de su vida sin contacto con el mundo blanco. En las memorias de quien ella considera «su padre», Vilaça relata tanto las transformaciones que ha observado en la tribu a lo largo de 30 años como las peripecias de los viajes que Paletó hizo a Río de Janeiro y sus observaciones sobre la «gran ciudad». En la lectura propuesta, enfatizamos las diferencias entre la autopercepción de los Wari’ y cómo esta contrasta con la concepción occidental de identidad. Los Wari’se conciben en constante devenir y transformación, asumiendo el punto de vista del otro, inclusive del otro enemigo. Proponemos que esta cosmovisión pone en jaque no solo el concepto occidental de cultura —que supone una estabilidad— sino también nociones «decoloniales» como las de hibridez, mestizaje y síntesis. Así, en lugar de entender las identidades de forma substancial se las comprende como formas modales, que dependen de hábitos.
Lila Guerrero, embajadora de Maiakovski en el Plata
Authors: Brasca Érica
Published: May 2024

A partir de dos ediciones argentinas de Vladímir Maiakovski preparadas por Lila Guerrero, Antología de Maiacovski. Su vida y su obra (Claridad, 1943) y Obras escogidas (Platina, 1957‒1959), este trabajo se propone, por un lado, situar cada traducción de Maiakovski en el catálogo editorial correspondiente y, por otro lado, analizar los textos que Lila Guerrero escribió para acompañar sus traducciones. Este recorte focaliza en el rol de la traductora en el proceso de importación literaria y en las funciones de esas traducciones editoriales en los debates político‒culturales de la izquierda argentina.
'Leading' as a strategy in the performance-practice of contemporary solo violin music
Authors: Puusaari Maria
Published: May 2024

The starting point for the present practice-based study was my observation of the diverse conditions regarding the focus-of-attention that occurs during chamber ensemble and solo performances of contemporary art music. As the violinist leader of a contemporary music ensemble, I focus my attention externally on multidirectional musical interactions with my fellow musicians and the audience. In contrast, when I am in a solo performance, I tend to focus more on my own internal, physical actions. More satisfactory musical results in leading interactive ensemble performances induced a hypothesis that ensemble leading practices can also be applied as a strategy to improve a solo performance. In this article, I provide a leading-based approach to explore ways in which leading can be used as a strategy in the performance-practice of contemporary works for solo violin and address which specific ensemble leading gestures can be applied in a solo performance. I suggest that leading in a solo performance serves two purposes: leading my own actions, and leading the audience to perceive the music and participate in the listening.   Both Toccatina for solo violin by Helmut Lachenmann and Gesti for violin, electronics and video by Jouni Hirvelä feature soft dynamics and extended playing techniques that demand innovative performance strategies. I reflect on the performance-practice of these two works and demonstrate how leading can be used to emphasize temporal structures, dynamics, articulation, phrasing and embodied narratives of music. The concepts of attentional focus and musical gestures inform the theoretical context for this study.
Those little things that cannot be reduced to the whole that make art a form of research (and vice versa): Composing-listening-playing is the same kind of thing
Authors: Maestri Eric
Published: May 2024

Thinking of practice as ontologically more important than theory is an old question, but one worth mentioning. While much of the philosophy of the latter 20th century reminds us of this, in music this idea took some time to establish itself. Now we are there, and artistic practice seems to provide a range of methods and discoveries that, when listened to, profoundly transform musical knowledge. I therefore propose to begin from here and to think of artistic practice as the close observation of the small things that make up music, thinking that these things cannot be reduced to the whole. Now, one of the problems in today’s music lies in the strange relationship between sound and sign, which we take for granted, forgetting that this relationship is made up of countless steps whose origin is the relationship with the instrument, the performer, reality and listening. Starting from a discussion on what a score is, I develop an artistic research project. In this text, I therefore try to relate reflection to compositional practice. Attempting to (re)activate the link between listening, composing and performing in our contemporary context, the function and role of the score is transformed. To do this, I propose a research axis with a tangible result: sonic scores.
xperiencia significativa mediante el uso de metodologías activas para la enseñanza de las ciencias
Authors: Narváez Jaramillo Luis Alfredo
Published: May 2024

La enseñanza se ha basado en la transmisión de información de manera unidireccional, basándose en explicaciones de manera magistral, donde el docente participa como expositor y da un rol pasivo al alumno, limitando así la interacción entre estudiantes, y docente-estudiantes. Actualmente, este sistema magistral se sigue utilizando con mucha frecuencia dentro del aula, lo cual hace que el desarrollo y objetivo de las clases no estén acordes con lo que necesita el estudiante, es por esta razón que, por medio del uso de las TIC (tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones) y las diferentes metodologías activas, se quiere mostrar el presente trabajo como una experiencia exitosa dentro del aula. Dicha experiencia se llevó a cabo con el fin de mejorar la enseñanza de las ciencias básicas, para lo cual se aplicaron diferentes metodologías activas, entre ellas: a) El aprendizaje basado en proyectos, con el cual se busca motivar a los estudiantes hacia la producción de conocimientos a través de experiencias relacionadas con el mundo real. b) El aprendizaje basado en simulación, que permite crear un escenario con la finalidad de evaluar, practicar y probar conocimientos adquiridos dentro del aula. c) El aprendizaje en experiencias, por medio del cual se hicieron salidas empresariales en la cuales el estudiante observó la aplicabilidad de los conocimientos vistos en clase, entre otros.
An open-source research platform for mechanical ventilation based on Simulink® and STM32 nucleo
Authors: Röhren Felix , von Platen Philip , Lohse Arnhold , Kniesburges Alexander , Brütt Robin , Leonhardt Steffen , Walter Marian
Published: May 2024

Gain in knowledge in experimental fields of research is mostly achieved using commercial hardware platforms. The linked costs however can limit a broad access by scientists and in the specific case of mechanical ventilation the pandemic demonstrated that further and collective research is essential and necessary. This contribution presents the modular design and implementation of a research platform which is based on STM32 Nucleo boards and Simulink®. The hardware required such as the pneumatic circuit are covered as well as the software architecture in which clinician related settings are processed for control references. The core functionality of mandatory volume controlled (VCV) and pressure controlled ventilation (PCV) while ensuring a positive end-expiratory pressure for the patient

(

PEEP

)

$(\text{PEEP})$

is evaluated and the foundational software models are published in a repository.
Gaussian process-based nonlinearity compensation for pneumatic soft actuators
Authors: Pawluchin Alexander , Meindl Michael , Weygers Ive , Seel Thomas , Boblan Ivo
Published: May 2024

Highly compliant Pneumatic Soft Actuators (PSAs) have the potential to perform challenging tasks in a broad range of applications that require shape-adaptive capabilities. Achieving accurate tracking control for such actuators with complex geometries and material compositions typically involves many time-consuming and laborious engineering steps. In this work, we propose a data-driven learning-based control approach to address reference tracking tasks, incorporating self-adaptation in situ. We utilize a short interaction maneuver, recorded a priori, to collect the quasi-static data affected by severe hysteresis. Besides a linear feedback controller, we use two Gaussian process models to predict the feedforward control input to compensate for the nonlinearity in a one-shot learning setting. The proposed control approach demonstrates accurate tracking performance even under realistic varying configurations, such as alterations in mass and orientation, without any parameter tuning. Notably, training was achieved with only 25–50 s of experimental interaction, which emphasizes the plug-and-play capabilities in diverse real-world applications.
Reviewing the potential of hearables for the assessment of bruxism
Authors: Nahhas Mohammad Khair , Gerig Nicolas , Cattin Philippe , Wilhelm Elisabeth , Türp Jens Christoph , Rauter Georg
Published: May 2024

Bruxism is a parafunctional oral behavior that affects a large percentage of the population. Bruxism is a risk factor for temporomandibular disorders. A gold standard is still lacking for assessing bruxism while awake, whereas for sleep bruxism, polysomnography with audio and video recording is the gold standard. Wearable devices, particularly those that detect sound (hearables), are cost-effective and convenient and could fill the gap. With this systematic literature review of Livivo and PubMed, extended by individual Google Scholar searches, we aimed to assess the potential of wearable devices that use sound as a biomarker for detecting bruxism. In summary, sounds originating from oral behaviors can be recorded from the ear, and hearables have the potential to detect bruxism-like events.
Model predictive control of blood glucose in critically ill patients using Gaussian processes
Authors: Benner Carl-Friedrich , Weber Nikolai , Leonhardt Steffen , Walter Marian
Published: May 2024

Stress-induced hyperglycemia and high glycemic variability are common in intensive care patients. Several clinical studies show the benefits of tight blood glucose control, including lower mortality. This article presents an algorithm for blood glucose control in the intensive care unit. An Unscented Kalman Filter is developed to estimate the glucose metabolism state and time-varying insulin sensitivity from blood glucose measurements. Gaussian Processes are used to predict future insulin sensitivity changes based on previous measurements. A model predictive controller is designed to estimate optimal insulin infusion based on current state, predicted insulin sensitivity and planned nutrition. The developed control algorithm allows individualized blood glucose control with reduced glycemic variability and reduced risk of hypoglycemia in the intensive care unit.
Case report: Successful bronchoscopic interventional treatment of endobronchial leiomyomas
Authors: Wang Yinfeng , Zhang Yixiang , Tong Ruirui
Published: May 2024

Endobronchial leiomyomas are rare benign neoplasms of the lungs that arise from the smooth muscle cells of the bronchi and bronchioles. While surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment for these tumors, bronchoscopic interventional therapies are also effective and can help preserve lung function in certain cases. A 40-year-old male patient presented with a persistent cough and sputum production for over 4 months. A chest computed tomography scan revealed nodular lesions in the lower lobe bronchus, later confirmed as an endobronchial leiomyoma. The patient refused surgical intervention and opted for minimally invasive bronchoscopic treatments, including electric snare resection, argon plasma coagulation, and balloon dilation, resulting in a successful outcome with no recurrence during follow-up. Clinicians should consider bronchoscopic interventions as a viable treatment option for endobronchial leiomyomas patients who are either ineligible for surgical resection or opt not to undergo surgery.
Improving grape fruit quality through soil conditioner: Insights from RNA-seq analysis of Cabernet Sauvignon roots
Authors: Jiang Peng , Wang Xiaojing , Wang Rui
Published: May 2024

The application of fertilizers and soil quality are crucial for grape fruit quality. However, the molecular data linking different fertilizer (or soil conditioner [SC]) treatments with grape fruit quality is still lacking. In this study, we investigated three soil treatments, namely inorganic fertilizer (NPK, 343.5 kg/hm2 urea [N ≥ 46%]; 166.5 kg/hm2 P2O5 [P2O5 ≥ 64%]; 318 kg/hm2 K2O [K2O ≥ 50%]), organic fertilizer (Org, 9 t/hm2 [organic matter content ≥ 35%, N + P2O5 + K2O ≥ 13%]), and SC (SC, 3 t/hm2 [humic acid ≥ 38.5%; C, 56.1%; H, 3.7%; N, 1.5%; O, 38%; S, 0.6%]), on 4-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. Compared with the NPK- and Org-treated groups, the SC significantly improved the levels of soluble solids, tannins, anthocyanins, and total phenols in the grape berries, which are important biochemical indicators that affect wine quality. Furthermore, we conducted RNA-seq analysis on the grapevine roots from each of the three treatments and used weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify five hub genes that were associated with the biochemical indicators of the grape berries. Furthermore, we validated the expression levels of three hub genes (ERF, JP, and SF3B) and five selected genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis (UFGT1, UFGT2, UFGT3, GST, and AT) by using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Compared to the NPK and Org treatment groups, the SC treatment resulted in a significant increase in the transcription levels of three hub genes as well as VvUFGT1, VvUFGT3, VvGST, and VvAT. These results suggest that the SC can improve grape fruit quality by altering gene transcription patterns in grapevine roots and further influence the biochemical indices of grape fruits, particularly anthocyanin content. This study reveals that the application of SC can serve as an important measure for enhancing vineyard SC and elevating grape quality.
Photocatalytic treatment of organic dyes using metal oxides and nanocomposites: A quantitative study
Authors: Khan Yousaf , Khan Muhammad Naeem , Salam Abdul , Sadia Haleema , Ullah Muhammad Farhat , Khan Muhammad Ijaz , Abdullaeva Barno Sayfutdinovna , Awwad Fuad A. , Ismail Emad A. A.
Published: May 2024

This comprehensive and quantitative research offers a thorough analysis of how metal oxides and nanocomposites are used in the photocatalytic treatment of organic dyes. It explores the challenges and opportunities of employing photocatalytic conversion technologies, discussing the optimal conditions for efficient degradation. The mechanisms of photocatalytic degradation are elucidated, highlighting the steps involved in transforming organic dyes into harmless by-products. Additionally, the article examines the factors that enhance the overall efficiency of photocatalytic conversion and compares its cost-effectiveness to other treatment methods. Various photocatalysts, with a focus on metal oxides and nanocomposites, are analyzed in terms of their advantages and limitations in degrading organic dyes. This article serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking sustainable and economical wastewater treatment solutions through efficient and eco-friendly photocatalytic approaches.
Advanced polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis for power to gas applications
Authors: Siracusano Stefania , Briguglio Nicola , Pantò Fabiola , Oldani Claudio , Grahl-Madsen Laila , Greenhalgh Daniel A. , Smith Rachel , Green Ben , Kielmann Gunnar , Flat Alexander , Steinigeweg Swen , Molinari Anna , Blom Mette , Aricò Antonino S.
Published: May 2024

Water electrolysis fed by renewable energy is the foremost technology to generate green hydrogen. Relevant challenges regard decrease of precious metal loadings and performance enhancement while maintaining cutting edge efficiency. Next generation electrolysers must provide dynamic behaviour to improve grid-balancing services and thus integrate with the grid the intermittent renewable energy sources. The HPEM2GAS project developed a low-cost optimised PEM electrolyser for grid management through both stack and balance of plant innovations.
Analytical and numerical investigation for viscoelastic fluid with heat transfer analysis during rollover-web coating phenomena
Authors: Ali Fateh , Zahid Muhammad , Souayeh Basma , Asmat Farwa , Nwaigwe Chinedu
Published: May 2024

The current study theoretically and computationally analyses the viscoelastic Sisko fluids during the non-isothermal rollover web phenomenon. The mathematical modeling produces a system of partial differential equations, which we further simplify into ordinary differential equations through appropriate transformations. We have formulated the problem based on the lubrication approximation theory. The solution has been obtained with the perturbation method, and the outcomes are found in mathematical, tabular, and graphical forms that highlight the influence of pertinent parameters on velocity profiles, pressure gradients, flow rates per unit width, Nusselt number, pressure profile, temperature distributions, and other significant engineering quantities. Further, A comparative analysis between analytic and numerical solutions, utilizing the middefer method in the Maple environment, demonstrates reasonable agreement. Also, we observe that the fluid parameter significantly influences both velocity and temperature profiles. Moreover, the determination of a separation point 2.5000, accompanied by the observation of a maximum coating thickness of 0.6960. The enhancement in fluid heat transfer rate is approximately 5% compared to non-Newtonian fluid parameter values, with potential for further improvement by increasing the non-Newtonian parameter values. This comprehensive investigation offers valuable insights for practical implementation and future scholarly endeavors, with zero-order findings showcasing enhanced precision.
Investigating the anti-aging properties of asphalt modified with polyphosphoric acid and tire pyrolysis oil
Authors: Li Chuangmin , Liu Lubiao , Gan Youwei , Deng Qinhao , Yi Shuaibing
Published: May 2024

This research focuses on the aging resistance properties of asphalt, which are crucial for determining the lifespan of asphalt pavement. To combat aging, waste tire pyrolysis oil (TPO) is often added to asphalt, enhancing its resistance to aging but compromising high-temperature performance. This study offered a pioneering solution by integrating TPO with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) to address these issues. In this study, we conducted a series of tests to characterize the properties of PPA/TPO modified asphalt, including temperature sweep and bending beam rheometer tests. The results demonstrated that the presence of PPA in the PPA/TPO modified asphalt could improve its high-temperature performance while maintaining its low-temperature properties. Moreover, PPA in the PPA/TPO modified asphalt enhanced the modified asphalt’s resistance to fatigue and deformation during the aging process, while the presence of TPO effectively reduced the impact of thermo-oxidative aging on the modified asphalt during the aging process. Additionally, physicochemical interactions between the base asphalt and modifiers were observed before and after aging. In summary, this study had offered an innovative method to enhance the anti-aging properties of asphalt, and had provided more options for sustainable, environmentally friendly roads.
Multiscale SUR Estimation of Systematic Risk
Authors: Michis Antonis A.
Published: May 2024

We propose a multiscale version of the seemingly unrelated regressions model, based on wavelet transform-based time series observations. Each regression equation refers to a different time scale, which enables the use of across-scale error covariances in the feasible GLS estimation procedure for efficiency gains. We demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method over OLS with two studies: an empirical study using stock market returns for the main US industrial sectors and a detailed Monte Carlo simulation study with alternative wavelet filters. We also provide explanations for the suitability of the proposed method for estimating long-term systematic risk.
Linguistic change in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: a corpus linguistic comparison of language contact phenomena in Romance languages
Authors: Ladilova Anna , Müller Katharina , Gomes Simone F. , Born Joachim
Published: May 2024

The radical social, political, and economic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are clearly reflected in language use through the appearance of numerous neologisms, most of which can be considered borrowings from English. In this article, we take a contrastive linguistic approach and focus on the emergence of new lexemes in the press language of four Romance languages (European Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian and European French) with a special focus on language contact. Since no press corpora were available with specific data on the COVID-19 pandemic, we created our own corpora for the entire year 2020 usingPythonin order to compare how lexical innovation is dealt with in the four languages. Our results show that conceptual innovation, especially when it occurs abruptly, can lead to equivalent, often phonotactically adapted neologisms in the case of neighbouring languages. However, the integration of foreign words and the formation of neologisms also show language-specific peculiarities which are not only related to structural characteristics of the respective languages, but also to sociolinguistic and sociocultural factors. Our study elaborates on the relationship between these factors and shows the potential of contrastive and computational approaches for the study of lexical repercussions of language contact.
The French linguistic varieties of Gypsies and Travellers: an original diastratic variation perspective
Authors: Nahon Peter
Published: May 2024

For centuries, France and the French-speaking areas of Belgium and Switzerland have been home to a large minority of Gypsies and Travellers, comprising about 300,000 individuals who all speak a form of French as their native language and form a close-knit sociolinguistic community. Their French sociolect, hitherto never described by linguists, differs from other varieties of French through a wide array of phenomena at all levels of language structure: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and lexical semantics and morphology. Diachronic and contrastive analysis shows that these features are either (1) non-standard, archaic or regional characteristics now lost in other varieties of European French, but kept by the Travellers as diastratic variants; (2) internal innovations within the diasystem of Traveller French; (3) outcomes of contact with heritage languages of some of these groups (Sinti Romani, Jenisch, and Alemannic and Gallo-Romance dialects). Using predominantly new fieldwork I provide here the first description of this important set of diastratic varieties of French, which represents an outstanding case of linguistic variation in a context of social separation yet with sustained contact.
Digitalisierungskonzepte für Expertenwissen in der Werkzeugentstehung
Authors: Persch Christoph , Hupfeld Henning , Ossowski Tim , Mennenga Mark , Dröder Klaus , Herrmann Christoph
Published: May 2024

Die Entwicklung von Umformwerkzeugen zur Herstellung von Blechbauteilen stellt einen Engpass bei der Herstellung neuer Fahrzeuge dar. Die Informationsflüsse im Werkzeugentstehungsprozess werden im Forschungsprojekt „TooliNG“ analysiert, da hierfür notwendiges Expertenwissen aktuell nicht ausreichend digitalisiert vorliegt. Durch geeignete Konzepte soll dieses Wissen digitalisiert werden und als Grundlage für die Implementierung von KI-Assistenten dienen.
Vom prozessorientierten Qualitätsmanagementsystem zum adaptiven Lernpfad
Authors: Orth Ronald , Kretschmer Maria , Singer-Coudoux Katrin , Schmid Robert
Published: May 2024

Verschiedene Rahmenwerke des Qualitätsmanagements betonen die Relevanz kompetenter Mitarbeiter:innen für den Unternehmenserfolg. Unternehmen müssen erfolgskritische Kompetenzen bestimmen und bewerten sowie Maßnahmen zur Kompetenzentwicklung umsetzen. Dieser Beitrag stellt einen Ansatz vor, der Unternehmen dabei unterstützt, anhand von prozessorientierten Skill-Profilen und einer KI-basierten Lernplattform diese Aufgaben zu bewerkstelligen. Im Mittelpunkt stehen dabei adaptive Lernpfade der Beschäftigten. Das Fallbeispiel der FBT Feinblechtechnik GmbH demonstriert die Anwendung des Ansatzes in der Praxis.
Ein Konzept zur Qualitätssicherung für Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Zanin Luca , Scholer Matthias , Zürn Siegfried
Published: May 2024

Mittels einer FMEA auf Basis von Expertenbefragungen, wissenschaftlicher Literatur sowie Nutzererfahrungen wurden ein Fehlerkatalog für Probleme des FDM ermittelt. Darauf aufbauend konnte ein dreiteiliges Qualitätssicherungskonzept erarbeitet werden, das sich durch eine klar definierte Prozesskette, einen Fehlerkatalog sowie die Implementierung klassischer Qualitätssicherungsmaßnahmen auszeichnet. Es bietet unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten zur Überwachung, Steuerung und Verbesserung von FDM-Produktionsprozessen. Das Konzept mit verschiedenen Qualitätsmaßnahmen wurden mithilfe von praktischen Experimenten evaluiert.
Business Reengineering
Authors: Kraus Georg
Published: May 2024

Produktionsunternehmen versuchen Rentabilitäts- und Kostenprobleme oft durch den Einsatz neuer Technologien zu lösen. Eher selten stellen sie jedoch ihre Organisationsstrukturen in Frage. Dies ist aber auch nötig, um Quantensprünge bei solchen Kennzahlen wie Ressourcenverbrauch, Durchlauf- und Lieferzeiten zu erzielen.
A Corpus-based Analysis of Ten Most Frequently Used Part-of-speech Constituents in Descriptive Writing
Authors: Muhammad Anas Sa'idu , Sarjit Singh Manvender Kaur
Published: May 2024

This study is set to examine variation in the use of Part-of-Speech (POS) constituents in the contents of descriptive writing by Nigerian undergraduates using a corpus-based approach. The objective is to identify the ten most-frequently-used POS constituents they used. It also aims to identify the level of frequency variation and distribution patterns of the POS constituents used based on gender and ethnic groups. This study adopted the EAP theory and the usage-based theory. The method applied is quantitative descriptive research design and the samples include thirty (30) Nigerian undergraduates that were identified via purposive sampling. The corpus is subjected to a computer-assisted corpus analysis (CACA) where 33, 274 words were tagged and compiled. The findings revealed NN, NN1, II, AT, JJ, TO, NN2, RR and CC as the student’s ten most frequently-used POS constituents, as they achieve higher frequencies. In terms of gender variation, the findings revealed that males achieved a higher frequency of the words used, as equated with females, even though the level of variation at 0.90% is below the statistical level of significance. Also, in terms of their ethnic groups, no significant level of variation was identified, although the Igbo attained a high frequency of words-usage compared to the Yorùbá and the Hausa. Among the theoretical implications derived in this study are the deployments of the corpus-based, genre-based, EAP and ESP-oriented approaches into Nigerian ESL classroom activities.
Does Artificial Intelligence Cause More Harm than Good in Schools?
Authors: Zainuddin Nurkhamimi
Published: May 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools presents significant challenges and risks requiring responsible and ethical management. Despite warnings from tech leaders, major corporations push AI adoption in schools, leading to privacy violations, biased algorithms and curricular misinformation. Generative AI, though enhancing resources, risks disseminating false information. Biased AI models perpetuate inequalities, especially for marginalized groups. The financial burdens of AI implementation worsen budget constraints, and AI-driven surveillance raises privacy concerns. Governance must prioritize ethics and student rights, establishing transparent frameworks to prevent commercial interests from overshadowing educational goals. This editorial suggests halting AI adoption until comprehensive legislation safeguards against risks. Stakeholders should prioritize responsible AI development, stressing transparency and accountability. Collaboration between AI developers and educators is essential to ensuring AI serves students and society responsibly.
A Review of a Malaysian Public University Students’ Motivational Behaviour in Learning a Foreign Language
Authors: Hui Min Leow , Foo Terng Hoe , Qiaoqiao Lu
Published: May 2024

The motivation of students to learn Chinese as a foreign language has received considerable research attention. Related research has been conducted by the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) researchers or lecturers on UiTM students over years. However, there is currently no research investigating the trend, changes, and prospect of UiTM students’ motivation in learning Chinese as a foreign language, which retard future enhancement of the field. Thus, this study applied the structured review method to review publications produced by UiTM researchers or lecturers from 2003 to 2023. A total of 8 relevant publications were identified and analysed using PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The review indicated that the number of publications on the related topic is still limited but showing a potential growth. This study discovered a methodological gap that calls for more qualitative and mixed method investigations, as well as population and analysis gap which encourage more comparative studies rather than general investigations. The findings demonstrated both Diploma and Degree students’ motivational trend were balanced between instrumental and integrative motivation. Nonetheless, Degree students’ motivational behaviour changed more distinctly from intrinsic to extrinsic, compared to Diploma students. This study suggests putting more attention to nurturing students’ intrinsic motivation, correlates to extrinsic motivation. This study provides pedagogical implications on the teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language. Future study on the factors influencing students’ change of behaviour, the impact of the behavioural changes, and the reason of the rise of situation-specific motives in elder students and higher foreign language learning level students are required.
Revolutionizing toxicology: organ-on-a-chip insights in a snapshot
Authors: Kawadkar Manisha
Published: May 2024

Organ-on-chip (OOC) platforms aim to emulate the complex physiological and functional characteristics of human organs, offering a more accurate and predictive model for drug testing and toxicity studies compared to traditional in vitro and animal testing methods. The article discusses key advancements, challenges, and prospects of OOC technology in toxicology, drawing upon a variety of studies and references. The article encapsulates key advancements, applications, and prospects in OOC platforms. The review emphasizes the significance of OOC models in providing rapid yet comprehensive insights into drug responses, toxicity assessments, and disease modelling. By highlighting pioneering studies and breakthroughs, and navigating the evolving landscape of OOC technology in toxicological research.