bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kleptoparasitism in Micrurus mipartitus (Squamata, Elapidae) competing for the same Caecilia sp. (Gymnophiona, Caeciliidae) in western Colombia
Authors: Bringsøe Henrik , Dreyer Niels Poul
Published: March 2024

Kleptoparasitism, or food theft, is seldom reported in wild populations of snakes. Here, we describe as case where two Red-tailed Coral Snakes, Micrurus mipartitus, were observed competing for the same caecilian prey, either Caecilia leucocephala or C. perdita. This took place at night in a rainforest habitat in Valle del Cauca Department, western Colombia. Upon our arrival, the battle had already started as the two coral snakes kept bite-holds on the caecilian. They continued biting the prey at different places on the anterior parts and tugging in opposite directions. The snakes also made rotations along the longitudinal axis as they maintained their bite-holds. Surprisingly, one snake also bit the body of the other snake once. After 17 minutes of observation, the losing coral snake released its bite-hold on the caecilian. The winner then moved away from the losing snake which did not follow. It is well-known that M. mipartitus and other coral snakes eat caecilians, but this is the first observation of kleptoparasitism in elapid snakes in the wild. It is considered likely that they rely on chemoreception when detecting caecilians, notably in this case as two coral snakes detected the same prey item. In general, kleptoparasitism may occur more frequently amongst snakes than indicated by the very few published cases considering that numerous cases from captivity are known.
Four new species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) from Pará Rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Xu Rui-Fang , Karunarathna Samantha C. , Phukhamsakda Chayanard , Dai Dong-Qin , Elgorban Abdallah M. , Suwannarach Nakarin , Kumla Jaturong , Wang Xiao-Yan , Tibpromma Saowaluck
Published: March 2024

The tropical areas in southern and south-western Yunnan are rich in fungal diversity. Additionally, the diversity of seed flora in Yunnan Province is higher than in other regions in China and the abundant endemic species of woody plants provide favourable substrates for fungi. Rubber plantations in Yunnan Province are distributed over a large area, especially in Xishuangbanna. During a survey of rubber-associated fungi in Yunnan Province, China, dead rubber branches with fungal fruiting bodies were collected. Morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb2 and tef1-α) revealed four distinct new species, described herein as Melomastia puerensis, Nigrograna lincangensis, Pseudochaetosphaeronema lincangensis and Pseudochaetosphaeronema xishuangbannaensis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and phylogenetic trees are provided to show the taxonomic placements of these new species.
Confirmation of the valid specific status of Dolichovespula kuami Kim & Yoon, 1996 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) based on molecular and morphological evidence
Authors: Kim Chang-Jun , Tan Jiang-Li , Kim Jeong Kyu , Choi Moon Bo
Published: March 2024

The taxonomic validity of Dolichovespula kuami, especially in relation to D. flora, has been the subject of a long-term debate. Herein, the valid specific status of the former was supported through an integrated analysis of morphological characters and DNA barcodes. The pronotal rugae and male genitalia of the two species are different, and partial mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase subunit I, COI) indicate that they form significantly distinct lineages. The hitherto unknown male of D. kuami is described for the first time, and a brief discussion of the D. maculata species group is provided.
L’éducation populaire comme démarche
Authors: Masson Paul , Porte Emmanuel
Published: March 2024

Militant de l’éducation populaire dans la ville d’Arras, Paul Masson cherche à produire des espaces d’émancipation et de réflexion qui s’inscrivent dans une longue trajectoire d’implication citoyenne. Il a notamment publié en 2022 un ouvrage, L’éducation populaire, un phénix toujours renaissant * , dans lequel il apporte son éclairage sur la place de l’éducation populaire dans la construction démocratique et analyse les nouvelles formes qu’elle prend aujourd’hui.
Le statut politique des petites économies insulaires a-t-il une influence sur leurs performances de développement ?
Authors: Lucic Nicolas , Hoarau Jean-François
Published: March 2024

L’objectif de cet article est de comparer les performances macroéconomiques de développement d’un ensemble de 80 petits territoires insulaires à l’aune de leur statut politique et du degré de souveraineté atteint. Nous construisons quatre profils institutionnels (intégration complète, autonomie, souveraineté limitée et souveraineté totale) à partir d’un indice composite modifié de souveraineté proposé par Alberti et Goujon (2020). Ensuite, nous réalisons des tests de comparaison de moyenne sur 26 critères. Au final, nous trouvons que les dépendances insulaires autonomes sont plus économiquement développées, socialement avancées et matures sur le plan démographique que les autres groupes institutionnels. Classification JEL : O11, O57, P51
Les Liqueurs de France et l’inscription au Patrimoine culturel immatériel : un enjeu du temps ?
Authors: Caseau Cornelia
Published: March 2024

Dans le cadre d’une mondialisation croissante, où le savoirfaire, les connaissances ancestrales et la diversité culturelle risquent de se perdre, l’inscription au Patrimoine Culturel Immatériel (PCI) de l’UNESCO constitue un moyen de sauvegarde et de développement durable. La première étape pour cette reconnaissance est l’inscription au PCI du ministère français de la Culture. Ainsi, la communauté des liquoristes français, réunie au sein du SNFL (Syndicat national des fabricants des liqueurs), a l’intention de déposer un dossier intitulé Liqueurs de France , mettant en avant les aspects culturels de son patrimoine immatériel. L’étude présente cherche à explorer le rôle du temps pour les liquoristes et les liqueurs français, ainsi que l’engagement des producteurs à l’intersection entre préservation du patrimoine et transmission aux générations futures. Elle s’inscrit dans une analyse socio-sémiotique des narratifs des managers interrogés, ainsi que des sites web des entreprises concernées.
Caractéristiques de la gouvernance bancaire au Maroc : un état des lieux
Authors: Meghouar Hicham , Sbai Hicham
Published: March 2024

En 2014, les instances marocaines ont adopté de nouveaux textes de gouvernance bancaire axés principalement sur les caractéristiques du conseil d’administration et de ses comités. Notre article analyse, six ans plus tard, ces caractéristiques en référence aux textes règlementaires. L’échantillon comprend les dix principales banques marocaines dont sept banques à actionnariat majoritairement marocain, et trois autres banques avec un actionnariat majoritairement français. Les résultats rapportent une évolution significative des caractéristiques des conseils des banques depuis la publication de ces textes. Toutefois, certains éléments, recommandés par les grands standards internationaux des bonnes pratiques de gouvernance, présentent des disparités notées particulièrement chez les banques à actionnariat majoritairement marocain.
Une étude exploratoire de la performance globale d’entreprises sénégalaises
Authors: Bidi Georges , Elock Son Célestin , Breka Jean
Published: March 2024

À l’heure de la RSE, les organisations se doivent d’évaluer leur performance de manière multidimensionnelle. Elles doivent être performantes sur un plan global. La performance globale reflète les résultats des organisations sur les volets social, économique, environnemental et sociétal. Cet article a pour objectif de caractériser le modèle de performance globale d’entreprises sénégalaises. Des entretiens sont menés avec des responsables de dix entreprises implantées à Dakar. La performance globale « à la sénégalaise » suivrait un modèle RSE centré sur le sociétal avec le bien-être des populations comme préoccupation essentielle.
Élaboration d’un outil d’évaluation des compétences en stage des étudiants infirmiers en pratique avancée, mention psychiatrie et santé mentale à partir d’une méthode Delphi
Authors: Mayen Sandrine , Roman Christophe , Cermolacce Michel , Colson Sébastien
Published: March 2024

Introduction : la pratique avancée pour les infirmiers en psychiatrie et santé mentale se développe depuis 2019, en France. L’acquisition des compétences cliniques en stage pour les étudiants infirmiers en pratique avancée nécessite un suivi et une évaluation. Cet article présente la démarche d’élaboration d’un carnet de suivi de stage. Objectif : élaborer et valider un outil d’évaluation des compétences en stage de l’étudiant infirmier en pratique avancée, mention psychiatrie et santé mentale. Méthode : la méthode Delphi, décrite par Hasson, a été utilisée pour obtenir un consensus supérieur à 80 % des experts consultés. Résultats : un panel de dix experts, tuteurs de stage dans les établissements de santé partenaires d’Aix-Marseille Université, a été consulté à deux reprises. Le carnet de stage se compose de 68 items. Discussions : cet outil est le résultat d’une démarche pluriprofessionnelle comprenant des infirmières et des médecins psychiatres. Adaptable à la diversité des lieux d’apprentissage, l’outil permet le suivi de l’acquisition des compétences cliniques en stage en hétéroévaluation mais également en autoévaluation. Conclusion : une nouvelle consultation Delphi permettra la généralisation de l’outil, et l’inclusion d’infirmières en pratique avancée mention psychiatrie et santé mentale dans le groupe d’experts.
SH-GAT: Software-hardware co-design for accelerating graph attention networks on FPGA
Authors: Wang Renping , Li Shun , Tang Enhao , Lan Sen , Liu Yajing , Yang Jing , Huang Shizhen , Hu Hailong
Published: March 2024

Graph convolution networks (GCN) have demonstrated success in learning graph structures; however, they are limited in inductive tasks. Graph attention networks (GAT) were proposed to address the limitations of GCN and have shown high performance in graph-based tasks. Despite this success, GAT faces challenges in hardware acceleration, including: 1) The GAT algorithm has difficulty adapting to hardware; 2) challenges in efficiently implementing Sparse matrix multiplication (SPMM); and 3) complex addressing and pipeline stall issues due to irregular memory accesses. To this end, this paper proposed SH-GAT, an FPGA-based GAT accelerator that achieves more efficient GAT inference. The proposed approach employed several optimizations to enhance GAT performance. First, this work optimized the GAT algorithm using split weights and softmax approximation to make it more hardware-friendly. Second, a load-balanced SPMM kernel was designed to fully leverage potential parallelism and improve data throughput. Lastly, data preprocessing was performed by pre-fetching the source node and its neighbor nodes, effectively addressing pipeline stall and complexly addressing issues arising from irregular memory access. SH-GAT was evaluated on the Xilinx FPGA Alveo U280 accelerator card with three popular datasets. Compared to existing CPU, GPU, and state-of-the-art (SOTA) FPGA-based accelerators, SH-GAT can achieve speedup by up to 3283$ \times $, 13$ \times $, and 2.3$ \times $.
Some fixed point and stability results in $ b $-metric-like spaces with an application to integral equations on time scales
Authors: Kalkan Zeynep , Şahin Aynur , Aloqaily Ahmad , Mlaiki Nabil
Published: March 2024

This paper presents the stability theorem for the $ T $-Picard iteration scheme and establishes the existence and uniqueness theorem for fixed points concerning $ T $-mean nonexpansive mappings within $ b $-metric-like spaces. The outcome of our fixed point theorem substantiated the existence and uniqueness of solutions to the Fredholm-Hammerstein integral equations defined on time scales. Additionally, we provided two numerical examples from distinct time scales to support our findings empirically.
Les voix du conflit
Authors: Métais Julie
Published: March 2024

Au Mexique, dans la région de Oaxaca, chaque événement politique enseignant (manifestation, occupation, meeting syndical) s’achève par une performance qui s’appuie sur le chant de campagne «  Venceremos1  » (Nous vaincrons). Alors, une grande partie des personnes présentes entonne la chanson, tête baissée, le poing gauche levé…J’analyse l’action politique contestataire dans ce contexte mexicain comme relevant d’un nécessaire investissement physique du territoire, véritable subversion de l’espace dont l’expression vocale scandée est une dimension privilégiée. Slogans et hymnes politiques s’apparentent dès lors à des performances polyphoniques qui permettent de donner à percevoir un groupe s’exprimant d’une seule voix.Replaçant ces performances vocales dans leurs temps et espaces spécifiques (célébrations, meetings, manifestation), analysant un large corpus d’archives ethnographiques sonores, j’explorerai le lien entre propriétés acoustiques et construction politique des voix. Trois pistes seront suivies : les ressorts sensibles des performances politiques ; la dimension sociale et historique du travail de qualification des voix ; enfin, une analyse réflexive plus large sur les apports épistémologiques d’une saisie ethnographique sonore du politique.
Concevoir et développer des échanges virtuels pour les programmes de formation des enseignants
Authors: Impedovo Maria , Symeonidis Vasileios
Published: March 2024

This article delves into the conceptualization, implementation, and effects of a virtual exchange initiative aimed at fostering internationalization within teacher education programs at both an Austrian and a French university. Utilizing a design-based research methodology, our study initially focused on identifying the most effective framework for the intervention and assessing its outcomes. Subsequently, we investigated the perspectives of student teachers regarding their experiences with the initiative. Data collection employed a variety of methods, with analysis conducted through qualitative content analysis. Our findings indicate that for virtual exchange to effectively promote internationalization, it must be integrated into the core of teacher education programs. Engaging in virtual exchange encourages student teachers to envision themselves as part of a broader European teaching community, thereby broadening their sense of identity and belonging. Consequently, virtual exchange initiatives have the potential to prompt stakeholders in teacher education to reconsider the intersection of internationalization and digital transformation, paving the way for innovative approaches in teacher training.
Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Achieving SDG 6, 7, and 14
Authors: Saxena Arti , Kumar Rajeev , Kumar Vijay , Chawla Jyoti
Published: March 2024

The advent of machine learning and its significant impact on every sector of society requires our attention towards its progressive application in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Machine learning is a kind of artificial intelligence allowing the machine itself to change its algorithms in order to provide the optimized solution to the subject. In other words, AI is a machine simulating human intelligence, and ML is a subset of artificial intelligence. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an all-inclusive set of objectives intended to provide countries with a trail towards peace and prosperity. There are 17 SDGs that are further divided into 169 targets and 304 indicators dealing with everything from ending hunger and protecting marine wildlife to making cities sustainable and reducing gender inequalities. ML is an important tool in meeting these objectives. This chapter explores the application of ML models in achieving these SDGs in an effective manner.
Engineering, Geology, Climate, and Socioeconomic Aspects' Implications on Machine Learning-Dependent Water Pipe Collapse Prediction
Authors: Khanh Phan Truong , Ngoc Tran Thi Hong , Pramanik Sabyasachi
Published: March 2024

From the impact of several corporeal, mechanized, ecological, and civic conditions, underground water pipelines degrade. A motivated administrative approach of the water supply network (WSN) depends on accurate pipe failure prediction that is difficult for the traditional physics-dependent model to provide. The research used data-directed machine learning approaches to forecast water pipe breakdowns using the extensive water supply network's historical maintenance data history. To include multiple contributing aspects to subterranean pipe degradation, a multi-source data-aggregation system was originally developed. The framework specified the requirements for integrating several data sources, such as the classical pipe leakage dataset, the soil category dataset, the geographic dataset, the population count dataset, and the climatic dataset. Five machine learning (ML) techniques are created for predicting pipe failure depending on the data: LightGBM, ANN, logistic regression, K-NN, and SVM algorithm. The best performance was discovered to be achieved with LightGBM. Analysis was done on the relative weight of the primary contributing variables to the breakdowns of the water pipes. It's interesting to note that pipe failure probabilities are shown to be influenced by a community's socioeconomic variables. This research suggests that trustworthy decision-making in WSN management may be supported by data-directed analysis, which incorporates ML methods and the suggested data aggregation architecture.
Industry 4.0 Approach in Intelligent Manufacturing
Authors: Sharma Archana , Gupta Purnima
Published: March 2024

The machine learning component has significantly influenced the manufacturing business, according to the Industry 4.0 standard. The Industry 4.0 paradigm encourages the use of smart sensors, tools, and gadgets to enable smart factories that continuously collect data on production. Actionable intelligence can be formed by means of ML techniques by dealing with the collected data to increase production output without materially changing the required resources. Additionally, it is now possible to recognize complex production designs owing to machine learning techniques' ability to provide analytical visions, including intelligent and continuous inspection, predictive maintenance, quality improvement, process optimization, supply chain management, and task scheduling. This research presents analysis of internet of things-enabled manufacturing, tools other than machine learning structures used in conventional in addition to unconventional machining processes, and their strengths and weaknesses in an Industry 4.0 context, as well as a perspective on the manufacturing paradigm.
Ethical and Legal Considerations in Machine Learning
Authors: Ajalkar Deepika Amol , Sharma Yogesh Kumar , Shinde Jayashri Prashant , Nayak Smitha
Published: March 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) poses a number of moral and legal challenges to modern civilization. These include invasions of privacy, discrimination, and the function of human judgment. The use of more recent digital technologies has sparked worries that they could introduce new forms of error and data breaches. For patients who fall prey to healthcare technique or protocol errors, the repercussions may be catastrophic. Keep this in mind at all times; patients often interact with doctors at times when they are feeling their weakest. The potential ethical and legal concerns raised by the widespread use of AI in healthcare settings are not yet adequately addressed by existing legislation. All parties participating in the process should be protected, and there should be openness and privacy in algorithms; also, there should be cybersecurity measures in place to address any vulnerability that may arise.
Exploration of Deep Learning and Transfer Learning Techniques in Bioinformatics
Authors: Bansal Sumit , Sindhi Vandana , Singla Bhim Sain
Published: March 2024

The blend of profound learning and more learning techniques has brought about a worldview change in the creating subject of bioinformatics. The revolutionary environment that emerges when the complexity of biological data and artificial intelligence meet is the subject of this book chapter. The section explores profound learning models and moves learning closer, as well as the imaginative applications, hardships, and achievements that have developed at the crossing point of these two powerful fields. The section opens with a point-by-point assessment of profound learning standards and how they are applied to the unique difficulties of bioinformatics datasets. The section likewise digs into the idea of move learning—a strong worldview that utilizes information learned in one space to further develop execution in another. It has been shown that movement learning is powerful. The section likewise dives into the idea of move learning—a strong worldview that involves mastery in one region to further develop execution in another.
Exploring the Contribution of Green Human Resource Management to Organizational Outcomes and Performance
Authors: Labella-Fernández Ana , del Mar Martínez-Bravo María , Martínez-Egea Carlos
Published: March 2024

This chapter investigates the dynamic interplay between green human resource management (HRM) and organizational outcomes and performance, elucidating the complex pathways through which green HRM influences those outcomes and the three organizational performance, namely environmental, social, and economic performance. Therefore, empirical evidence is examined at an organizational level. Noteworthy findings reveal green HRM's impact green process and product innovation, corporate social responsibility, green supply chain management, among others. By offering insights into green HRM's positive role in organizational outcomes and performance, this research contributes to a nuanced understanding of how green HRM practices can guide firms toward achieving their sustainability objectives.
Impact of Organizational Culture on Employee Satisfaction, Motivation, Performance, Commitment, and Engagement in Educational Institutions
Authors: Aggarwal Kapil Kumar , Taneja Diksha
Published: March 2024

The focal point of this chapter is the concept of organizational culture and the analysis of various factors that correlate organizational culture to organizational performance, especially in the working environment of educational institutions. Each factor impacts an employee, a teacher in our case, in terms of effectiveness and satisfaction. The way these factors come together and affect a teacher's performance, which is the learning outcome of students, is of high significance. This chapter also throws light on the literature based on organizational culture. Through a survey, the influence of the working environment on an employee has also been examined in this chapter.
Introduction to Green Human Resource Management
Authors: Labella-Fernández Ana , del Mar Martínez-Bravo María , Martínez-Egea Carlos
Published: March 2024

This chapter navigates the evolving landscape of green human resource management (GHRM), examining its conceptual nuances, key practices, and theoretical foundations. From the absence of a definitive definition to the strategic integration of environmental sustainability, GHRM emerges as a dynamic field aligning human resource strategies with ecological goals. Grounded in the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory, the chapter delineates the strategic dimensions of GHRM practices, ranging from green recruitment to compensation management. In addition, this chapter explores the organizational theories applied to this research field. All in all, GHRM not only cultivates a green organizational culture but also emerges as a crucial contributor to global Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the indispensable role of human capital in shaping sustainable futures.
The Importance of Internal Marketing in Achieving Job Satisfaction and Organizational Success
Authors: Neves Miguel Silva , Gonçalves Joana Sobreiro , Sousa Bruno Barbosa , Veloso Cláudia Miranda
Published: March 2024

Internal marketing is a key issue for the organizational development of any company, ultimately helping to optimize the human resources of organizations. The aim of this research is to study a number of aspects that affect employee relations and how internal marketing can influence organizational success and, in turn, help an organization to flourish in the current competitive environment that the job market is experiencing. The methodology adopted is entirely qualitative, based on document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group with questions about internal marketing. The vision of those responsible for human resources management and employees on this subject was analyzed, as well as the main internal marketing actions implemented in the companies. The results seem to show that internal marketing plays an essential role in the management of human capital, namely in achieving good results for both individuals and organizations, where a mutual relationship is inferred.
Multidisciplinary Service Learning in Higher Education
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Usman
Published: March 2024

This chapter explores the exciting field of transdisciplinary service learning in higher education, providing an in-depth look at its theoretical underpinnings, real-world applications, and significant effects. After providing an overview of the larger service learning environment, the emphasis shifts to clarify the subtleties of interdisciplinary methods. The theoretical foundations of service learning, which have expanded to include a variety of academic fields, provide the framework for a thorough analysis of planning and design techniques. The chapter skillfully navigates the complexities of project planning, emphasising identifying community needs and ensuring alignment with curriculum goals. The foundation for thoroughly examining the implementation stage is laid by insights into promoting cooperation across academic departments, students, and community partners during the planning stage. The logistical complexities, efficient communication techniques, and resource management essential to successful execution are demonstrated via real-world examples and case studies.
Effective Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education
Authors: Garcia Manuel B. , Arif Yunifa Miftachul , Khlaif Zuheir N. , Zhu Meina , de Almeida Rui Pedro Pereira , de Almeida Raquel Simões , Masters Ken
Published: March 2024

With the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in medical practices, the integration of AI technologies into medical education has garnered significant attention. However, there exists a noticeable research gap when it comes to providing comprehensive guidelines and recommendations for its successful integration into this domain. Addressing this research gap is crucial as the responsible and effective incorporation of AI in medical education not only ensures that current and future healthcare professionals are well-prepared for the demands of modern medicine but also upholds ethical standards, maximizes the potential benefits of AI, and minimizes potential risks. The objective of this chapter is to fill this gap by offering practical tips and actionable insights for incorporating AI into medical education, encompassing practical, ethical, pedagogical, and professional implications. Consequently, it equips medical educators and learners alike with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of medical education in the age of AI.
Enhancing Cybersecurity Protocols in Modern Healthcare Systems
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Usman
Published: March 2024

This chapter explores the crucial responsibility of strengthening cybersecurity measures within the ever-changing context of contemporary healthcare systems. As digitalization gets ingrained in healthcare practices, sensitive medical data becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The second portion explores the significant effects of cybersecurity breaches on the healthcare industry, focusing on patient safety issues, potential compromises of private health information, and the resulting harm to healthcare organizations' finances and reputations. The third segment examines compliance with laws like HIPAA and GDPR as it navigates the ethical and regulatory issues inherent in healthcare cybersecurity. It explores the moral conundrums raised by cybersecurity precautions, achieving a careful balance between patient confidentiality and data accessibility. The last section provides a forward-looking viewpoint by projecting upcoming difficulties and technological developments in healthcare cybersecurity.
The Nexus of Healthcare and Technology
Authors: Darda Pooja , Matta Nikita
Published: March 2024

Recent years have witnessed a significant convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) within the healthcare sector. This chapter explores the transformative potential and challenges posed by these intelligent technologies in healthcare. It explores various domains such as predictive analytics, telemedicine, personalized medicine, and the enhancement of healthcare operational efficiencies. The findings underscore the potential of AI and smart technologies in revolutionizing healthcare delivery. This chapter carries extensive implications for the healthcare sector. Healthcare practitioners and administrators can leverage these insights to strategically incorporate AI solutions, aiming to improve patient outcomes and enhance organizational efficiency. Additionally, the findings provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders, informing the creation of guidelines and standards that foster innovation, ensure patient safety, and protect data security. Therefore, this chapter is an essential guide for effectively embracing the role of AI in advancing healthcare practices.
Breaking Barriers for Accessible Health Programs
Authors: Chauhan Pratibha , Bali Alka , Kaur Sapanpreet
Published: March 2024

The rapidly evolving field of telemedicine is transforming the accessibility and delivery of healthcare. This chapter delves into how telemedicine enhances healthcare access, brings treatment into patients' homes, and addresses care deficits in underdeveloped areas. It covers key facets of telemedicine, including store-and-forward methods, remote patient monitoring, and teleconsultation across various medical conditions. Significantly, telemedicine emerged as a crucial approach to adhere to social distancing norms while providing healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter evaluates the benefits and applications of telemedicine compared to traditional in-person consultations, focusing on cost-effectiveness, time efficiency, and its importance in areas lacking local healthcare providers. Additionally, it examines factors crucial to the successful implementation of telemedicine, such as digital readiness, the digital competency of patients and healthcare professionals, and the regulatory frameworks governing the exchange and use of medical data.
Advanced Wearable Medical Devices and Their Role in Transformative Remote Health Monitoring
Authors: Tariq Muhammad Usman
Published: March 2024

This chapter explores the ever-changing environment of wearable health technology and its critical role in transforming modern healthcare. It goes into the historical history of these devices, tracking their path from basic fitness trackers to sophisticated health-monitoring systems, focusing on proactive and preventative health management. The present scene emphasizes the range and breadth of accessible wearable technology in healthcare. It discusses sensor improvements, biometric monitoring, and wireless communications. These advancements have significantly improved the precision and effectiveness of monitoring of numerous health markers. This chapter also thoroughly reviews the use of wearable devices in remote patient monitoring, emphasizing their revolutionary influence on chronic illness management and senior care through real-world case studies. Furthermore, investigates the integration of wearable device data into healthcare systems for real-time monitoring, covering technological and infrastructure issues.
Investigation on Layer Thickness on Mechanical Properties and Dimension Accuracy in Fused Deposition Modelling 3D Printing
Authors: Chen Ming Yi , Pang Rayson , Lai Mun Kou
Published: March 2024

In the current era of additive manufacturing, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) method of printing is being studied extensively to print a concept model. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy and the mechanical properties of the FDM 3D printed part are very important. In this study, the tensile specimens are prepared according to ASTM D638 Type I. Dimensions of the specimen is measured in the x-direction (length), y-direction (width), and z-direction (height) and is compared against the standard measurement for accuracy. Tensile stress, strain at break and Young’s modulus were also investigated. Overall, the dimension accuracy achieved is more than 98%. The highest accuracy is obtained by using 0.2mm layer thickness and 0.2mm initial layer thickness. The tensile stress, Young’s modulus and strain at break are found to decrease when the layer thickness is increased. This is due having more layer with lesser and smaller voids which increases the strength and stiffness. Increasing initial layer thickness, however, has a low influence on the tensile stress but can greatly affect the Young’s modulus.
Thermal Stability of ZnO/Tm2O3 Substitution on Tellurite-Zinc-Bismuth-Sodium (TZBN) Glasses
Authors: Marzuki Ahmad , Sutomo Artono Dwijo , Purwanto Hery , Riyatun Riyatun , Fausta Devara Ega , Putri Laila Amalia , Astuti Retno Willy
Published: March 2024

Tm2O3 doped tellurite-zinc-bismuth-sodium (TZBN) glass samples with varying compositions were prepared through melt quenching technique. The composition of these glass was 60 TeO2 - (30-x) ZnO - 5 Bi2O3 - 5 Na2O - x Tm2O3 with (x = 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 and 2.5 mol%). We reported the result of a systematic study of the thermal properties of these glass by using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The thermal characteristics of these glass (glass transition, Tg, crystallization, Tc, and melting, Tm) increased significantly with Tm2O3 content and the glasses were more thermally stable (greater ΔT=Tc-Tg). The glass transition value slightly increased from 314 to 323 °C otherwise thermal stability ΔT changed from 112 to 131°C. The ratio of Tg/Tm values for TZBN doped Thulium glasses were about 0.558 to 0.589, indicated that these glasses possess good thermal stability. The Hruby parameter (Kg) with Tm3+ doped in this study improved glass-forming ability, which is desirable for various applications such as optical fibers drawing and sensors.
Effects of Gamma Irradiation on the Tensile Properties of 3D-Printed Polycarbonate Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Authors: Delda Ray Noel M. , del Rosario Renz Lui B. , Tuazon Brian Jumaquio , Robles Gerald S. , Villablanca Madelene Velasco , Espino Michaela T. , Dizon John Ryan C.
Published: March 2024

3D printing is now being applied in various research areas due to its ability to produce highly complex parts whenever needed. This is highly helpful in the fields of robotics; radiation environment monitoring and space applications where stand-alone equipment are usually required. In this work, FDM 3D-printed polycarbonate acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PCABS) samples were subjected to 1 kGy to 9 kGy of gamma irradiation from a Cobalt-60 irradiator. Parameters such as infill density and dose rate were modified to determine the best setting to improve the mechanical characteristics of the 3D-printed thermoplastic. Results show that samples with lower infill density obtain higher ultimate strength when exposed to higher doses of radiation.
Influence of Linear Density of Polyamide Plating Yarn on the Usage and Comfort Properties of Men’s Cotton Socks
Authors: Tomljenović Antoneta , Kazani Ilda , Haskurti Jonida , Živičnjak Juro , Kraljević Ivan , Skenderi Zenun
Published: March 2024

Socks, being a necessary item of clothing, must be comfortable and maintain their quality throughout their life. Therefore, it is very important to select the yarns for their production. Usually, casual socks are made from a high percentage of cotton to ensure softness and comfort, and blended with polyamide to improve fit, durability and shrink resistance. The objective of this study is to compare five groups of black colored cotton calf-length men's socks produced under the same conditions in full plating with different textured polyamide 6.6 multifilament yarns, designated as: 22 dtex f7 × 2, 33 dtex f10 × 2, 44 dtex f13 × 2, 78 dtex f23 × 2, 110 dtex f34 × 2. The influence of the linear density of the polyamide plating yarn on the usage properties of the socks was evaluated by testing abrasion resistance and propensity to surface pilling with the Martindale abrasion and pilling tester, dimensional stability and color fastness to washing, perspiration and rubbing, as well as on comfort-related properties by testing moisture absorption, air permeability and thermal resistance with the Thermal foot manikin system. In addition, the basic physical properties of the socks, consisting of density parameters, mass and thickness were measured, all according to the standardized test methods. The results show that increasing the linear density of polyamide 6.6 yarns (i.e., increasing the amount of polyamide in the socks) has the following effects: increase in mass, thickness and structural change of sock plain knits, increase in abrasion resistance and change in dimensional stability of socks, decrease in moisture absorption, air permeability and thermal comfort of socks. From the obtained results, it can be concluded that when selecting the plating yarn for the production of cotton socks, it is necessary to take into account their linear density and structure, as well as the intended purpose of the socks, their specified comfort and the expected usage quality.
Enhanced Side-Illumination of Etched Polymer Optical Fiber (POF)-Incorporated Woven Polyester (PET) Fabrics
Authors: Zhang Xiuling , Kallweit Jan , Pätzel Mark , Kremenakova Dana , Wiener Jakub , Yang Kai , Militky Jiri
Published: March 2024

The textile industry has been weaving polymer optical fibers (POFs) into plane fabric for many years for lighting and decoration. To apply POF-incorporated fabrics in a larger field of application, it is necessary to improve the side illumination of POF-incorporated fabrics. It has been reported that the chemical etching method is one method to enhance the illumination of POFs, while there is little research related to the application of chemical etching to enhance the illumination of POF-incorporated fabrics. In this work, the end emitting POFs (EEPOFs) were used as weft yarns, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) yarns were used as warp yarns. The POF-incorporated woven PET fabrics were successfully fabricated with a 1/3 twill structure and then treated with a mixture of acetone and methanol (volume ratio: 1:1) for 1 min. The morphology and side illumination of etched POF-incorporated PET fabrics were investigated. As a result, the acetone/methanol mixture destroyed the cladding layer of EEPOFs, and the luminance of etched POF-incorporated PET fabrics was increased by more than 50 %. Besides, acetone/methanol etching resulted in a higher side illumination attenuation behavior.
Optimization of µ-WEDM Parameters for MRR and SR on Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Omarov Salikh , Nauryz Nurlan , Talamona Didier , Perveen Asma
Published: March 2024

Micro EDM is unconventional metal removing technique that is effective in machining hard-to-cut conductive materials. It has a big potential in modifying surfaces of metallic bone implants for better biocompatibility by providing proper surface topography to ease cell adhesion. However, it is still important to study machining performance. This paper investigates material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) of micro WEDM on Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Three level Taguchi’s design was implemented to observe the effect of capacitance and gap voltage. Moreover, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and grey relation analysis (GRA) allowed to investigate contribution of each parameter and find their best combination for multiple output optimization. Results showed that highest MRR of 1.72*10-2 mm3/s can be achieved at 10 nF and 90 V values, while smallest SR of 0.309 µm can be achieved at 1nF and 90 V. In addition, the contribution and significance of capacitance on MRR and SR was considerably higher than the effect of gap voltage. Lastly, the optimal parameters for multiple output performance were calculated at 10 nF and 90 V values.
Library Circulation Patterns among Social Sciences and Humanities Students: A Case Study at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
Authors: Illangarathne S. K. , Wanasinghe W. M. P. G. K. T.
Published: March 2024

This study aims to explore the Circulation Patterns within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) at Rajarata University in Sri Lanka. The problem identified is the lack of knowledge about the circulation patterns and user demand for different subjects within the library. It seeks to address the existing research gap about the Library user circulation pattern among students associated with the above faculty level. The study specifically investigates the period from 2015 to 2019, taking into account the progressive growth and diversity of the Library collections. The rest of the objectives of the study are to determine the user demand for different subject disciplines and to assess the circulation trends. To achieve these objectives, the primary data was gathered from the Report Module of the Integrated KOHA Library Management System of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, and the retrieved data was then analyzed statistically by Microsoft Excel. The findings of the study offer valuable insights into Library circulation and the book usage patterns of students. The research reveals a significant demand for Textbooks in the field of Social Sciences among students, retrieving huge hits for the main subject disciplines such as Religion, Philosophy, and Psychology instead of the disciplines such as Computer Science, Information Technology, and General Works. It is recommended that the Library allocate additional resources and prioritize budget allocation toward the Social Sciences field. This would involve acquiring popular books that cater to the diverse needs of students and faculties across various disciplines, ultimately contributing to the development of a comprehensive collection that effectively addresses the requirements of individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Reliability Assessment of Indium Micro Bumps for 2.5D/3D Electronic Packaging Through Cryo-Argon Milling Technique
Authors: Razmyar, PhD. Soheil , Lay Nicholas , Rahim Kaysar
Published: March 2024

Indium bumps are widely used in electronic packaging

for interconnecting microelectronic devices due to their low melting

point of 156.6 degrees C, excellent bonding capabilities at room temperature,

high thermal conductivity, ductility at extremely low temperatures, and

ability to compensate for the mismatched coefficient of thermal expansion

between different materials. However, cross-sectioning indium

bumps can be challenging due to the softness and low melting point of

indium. The cutting tools and techniques used must be optimized for

the specific sample being analyzed, and specialized preparation techniques

such as cryogenic freezing or chemical etching may be required,

which can be expensive and time-consuming. Cryo-focused ion beam

(FIB) is also a technically demanding process that requires careful optimization

of milling parameters, multiple iterations of milling and imaging,

specialized equipment, and expertise, which can make it too

expensive. It should be noted that the maximum achievable crosssectional

area with cryo-FIB is limited, typically in the range of hundreds

of micrometers. Cryo-Argon milling is an effective technique for

obtaining high-quality cross-sections of indium bump arrays and other

materials prone to deformation or melting during traditional crosssectioning.

This process involves freezing the sample using liquid nitrogen

and bombarding it with a stream of Argon gas ion, which reduces

the deformation and melting of the indium. This paper presents challenges

in the sample preparation and mechanical polishing of indium

micro bumps. We are showcasing an artifact: polishing particles

embedded in the indiummicro bumps, hindering the revelation of their

microstructure. To address this issue, we are incorporating cryo-Ar

milling to remove the embedded particles from the surface of indium

micro bumps. This work presents data before and after the application

of cryo-Ar milling, demonstrating a significant improvement in the

microstructure of indium micro bumps. Millimeter-wide, damage-free

cross-sections of arrays of indium micro bumps with a clean and

smooth surface were achieved through cryo-Argonmilling at270 degrees C.
Rheumatic diseases in migrant patients resident in Tuscany: epidemiological data analysis and single-center experience
Authors: Cometi L. , Francesconi P. , Bellini B. , Turco L. , Voller F. , Nacci F. , Bellando-Randone S. , Matucci-Cerinic M. , Guiducci S.
Published: March 2024

Objective. In the last decades, the number of foreigners in Tuscany has considerably increased with a multiethnic distribution. We reviewed the main rheumatic diseases in the foreign population resident in Tuscany and also reported the experience at the Rheumatology Division of the University Hospital of Careggi, Florence, in order to identify the areas of origin of these patients and the main rheumatic diseases observed in them.
Methods. The collaboration with the Tuscan Region provided data about foreign patients residing in Tuscany on January 1, 2021 (country of origin, chronic diseases). Moreover, we conducted a retrospective review of the clinical charts of our Rheumatologic Division from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2020.
Results. In Tuscany, on January 1, 2021, there were 61,373 patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and 3994 of them (6.51%) were foreigners. Most patients were born in Europe (39.03%), followed by the Balkans (15%), South America (11.27%), and North Africa (10.31%). Inflammatory joint diseases, Sjögren syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus were the most frequent diseases. In the period 2019-2020, 511 foreign patients visited our Rheumatology Division and mainly originated from the Balkans (34.64%), South America (18%), and European countries (16.44%). In these patients, chronic inflammatory joint diseases and connective tissue diseases (systemic sclerosis, Sjögren syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus) were the most prevalent diseases.
Conclusions. This study provides a picture of the rheumatic diseases affecting foreign patients residing in Tuscany that are in agreement with the epidemiological data previously provided.