bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fiscal Prospects for Italy
Authors: Bordignon Massimo , Turati Gilberto
Published: April 2024

After the pandemic peak, public debt over GDP in Italy has fallen sharply thanks to high real and nominal economic growth; a few institutional changes have further reduced concerns about its medium-term sustainability. Yet, the debt ratio is still too high and needs to be reduced. The gradual adjustment path forecasted by the new Eu fiscal rules seems broadly able to reach this objective without imposing too harsh policies that might turn out to be economically and politically counter-productive. Still, without a serious reform of the Eu and the Eu budget, there remains the problem of how Italy and the other European countries will finance the new spending priorities dictated by the green deal and the mutated geo-political situation. And in the longer run, the demographic shock remains the most serious concern for public debt sustainability.
Interaction and conventionalized expressions create the contexts for bleaching and constructional expansion: the case of GRAB
Authors: Bybee Joan , Moder Carol Lynn
Published: April 2024

A corpus study of 100+ years of usage of the verb GRAB in American English contributes to the understanding of the way bleaching takes place. The meaning of GRAB as ‘take or seize suddenly or eagerly’ is firmly established in usage from 1910 through 1980, but in the 1990’s many instances of a bleached sense of ‘take or get easily or casually’ begin to occur. The proposed hypothesis that bleaching results from hyperbolic uses is supported by the finding that bleaching occurs within three common contexts: narrative sequences of GRAB followed by another verb; contexts expanding on grab a bite (to eat); and GRAB plus human object, which changes from a sense of ‘take custody of’ to simply ‘capture the attention of’. In addition, the interactional context of requests and offers (often of food and drink) hastens the bleaching of GRAB while also contributing the resulting interpretation of GRAB as ‘get or take easily or casually’. The same conversational actions constitute the contexts in which GRAB is established in the ditransitive construction, as well as the contexts in which it takes on the social meaning of getting or taking in a quick, easy and casual manner.
What Research through Art can bring to CSCW: exploring ambiguous futures of work
Authors: Dunn Kellie , Shklovski Irina , Bjørn Pernille
Published: April 2024

As work is shifting and changing, we, CSCW researchers, must consider our role in creating work futures, and what experiences we want to produce through technology design. What qualities are important to consider about the human experience when designing work technologies for the future? Exploring the potentials of artistic practices for epistemological inquiry, we demonstrate Research through Art as a novel futuring approach for CSCW research, leveraging the power of artistic practice for exploring questions of human experience. We engaged with young artists who created art pieces that manifested their hopes, intuitions, and anxieties on the future of work. Our analytical inquiry of these artistic practices allowed us to explore what different futures might be imaginable and what might these futures feel like. We find that futuring entails engaging with ambiguities, which can be a productive resource for design. We identified the ambiguities of time, purpose, body, identity, and agency as foundational for the imaginaries produced by the artists. By intersecting the ambiguities, we can begin to systematically frame novel design questions for CSCW technologies of the future by conceptualizing these ambiguities as multifinalities – single points from which many possibilities emerge.
Fabrication of palm carotene-based emulsion stabilized by rice protein isolate-flaxseed gum complex
Authors: Choy Hew Weng , Teow Shuh Jun , Khor Yih Phing , Tan Tai Boon , Gholivand Somayeh , Mat Yusoff Masni , Tan Chin Ping
Published: April 2024

The aim of this study was to develop a stable palm carotene-based emulsion using the rice protein isolate-flaxseed gum complex (RPI-FG) with different ratios (3:1, 5:1, 7:1, 9:1, 11:1). RPI achieved highest solubility at pH 12. Meanwhile, RPI-FG complex shows low turbidity value from pH 6 to 12 for all ratios. Emulsion with ratio 7:1 exhibited 33 % droplet size increment throughout 7 days storage and evenly distributed based on the microstructure images. For creaming index (CI), all emulsion shows 0 % separation on day zero except emulsion with ratio 11:1 (1.90 %) and lowest CI on day 7 was 9.05 % in ratio 3:1. Furthermore, emulsion activity index and emulsion stability index of the emulsions decreased significantly with the reduced of FG in the formulation. These results suggested that carotene-based emulsion fabricated using RPI-FG complex with ratio of 7:1 exhibited the highest emulsion stability and could be further applied in aqueous food systems.
An experimental study of weave pattern effect on the mechanical and dynamic behavior of composite laminates
Authors: Halimi Rafik , Rekbi Fares Mohamed Laid , Mimouni Oussama , Özbek Özkan , Djerir Wahiba , Rezzoug Amine
Published: April 2024

The current work aimed at investigating experimentally the weave pattern effects on the mechanical and dynamic behaviors of polymer matrix composite laminates. The laminates composed of three different weave types (plain, satin, and twill) of woven glass fabric and STR Medapoxy epoxy resin were fabricated via vacuum molding. Static bending experiments were applied to determine the influence of the weave pattern on the mechanical characteristics of the samples. The failure behaviors of the samples were also examined by optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses. Additionally, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) in the temperature range of 25–200 °C at 1 Hz frequency was conducted to investigate the dynamic characteristics of the samples. It was found that the samples having satin weave type had the best flexural modulus followed by the plain and twill weaves. However, the twill weave laminates exhibited better storage modulus at glass transition temperature values (T
g) compared to the others. Also, an increase of 3.3 °C in glass transition temperature was observed compared to that of neat resin. This was attributed to the better fiber/matrix adhesion and the lower molecular mobility in the polymer chain by the addition of glass twill fibers.
Contributions of significant others to second language teacher well-being: a self-determination theory perspective
Authors: Nazari Mostafa , Karimpour Sedigheh , De Costa Peter I.
Published: April 2024

The present study explores the contributions of significant others to 10 Iranian English language teachers’ well-being by drawing on self-determination theory. We define significant others as individuals who play a key role in the emotional dynamics that teachers experience and serve as the impetus for those emotional experiences. Data were collected from questionnaires, narrative frames, and semi-structured interviews. Analyses of the data revealed that significant others contributed to the teachers’ competence (becoming more agentic), autonomy (alignment and emotion labor), and relatedness (interpersonal emotionality) in relation to their well-being. Our findings indicate that significant others define teachers’ relational well-being through shaping their identities, agencies, and emotions in interpersonal interactions and relationships. We also discuss implications for pre-service and in-service teachers as well as for teacher educators, and emphasize the need to develop a more nested understanding of well-being and the myriad of factors influencing it.
Real-time pose estimation and motion tracking for motion performance using deep learning models
Authors: Liu Long , Dai Yuxin , Liu Zhihao
Published: April 2024

With the refinement and scientificization of sports training, the demand for sports performance analysis in the field of sports has gradually become prominent. In response to the problem of low accuracy and poor real-time performance in human pose estimation during sports, this article focused on volleyball sports and used a combination model of OpenPose and DeepSORT to perform real-time pose estimation and tracking on volleyball videos. First, the OpenPose algorithm was adopted to estimate the posture of the human body region, accurately estimating the coordinates of key points, and assisting the model in understanding the posture. Then, the DeepSORT model target tracking algorithm was utilized to track the detected human pose information in real-time, ensuring consistency of identification and continuity of position between different frames. Finally, using unmanned aerial vehicles as carriers, the YOLOv4 object detection model was used to perform real-time human pose detection on standardized images. The experimental results on the Volleyball Activity Dataset showed that the OpenPose model had a pose estimation accuracy of 98.23%, which was 6.17% higher than the PoseNet model. The overall processing speed reached 16.7 frames/s. It has good pose recognition accuracy and real-time performance and can adapt to various volleyball match scenes.
A hybrid approach combining OFC and FSO for multichannel connectivity
Authors: Khalil Iqra , Noor Kanza , Qamar Farhan , Shahzadi Romana
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a novel approach of establishing a multichannel optical communication link, combining optical fiber cable (OFC) and free space optics (FSO) technology. By leveraging multiple lengths of optical fiber and FSO links, along with optical amplifiers to counteract attenuation, our proposed hybrid system incorporates four channels operating within the 1550 nm window. This model is specifically designed to address communication challenges in scenarios such as unplanned urban layouts, multistory buildings, or rugged terrains where traditional optical fiber deployment is impractical. By integrating FSO for the fronthaul and optical fiber for the backhaul, our system enhances transmission capacity, thereby supporting the requirements of next-generation networks and alleviating bottlenecks and connectivity issues at the last or first mile. This innovative approach holds promise for internet service providers, enterprises, and industrial networks operating in demanding environments. Furthermore, it can serve as a vital tool for restoring emergency communication links in the aftermath of disasters such as earthquakes or floods, where traditional wired optical infrastructure may be compromised.
Common outpatient diagnoses and associated treatments logged by osteopathic medical students within a geriatric population
Authors: Coulson Hannah C. , Brown Miriam , Burke Kyle , Griffith Emma , Shadiack Victoria , Garner Harold R. , Foushee Jaime A.
Published: April 2024

Context

Clinical clerkships provide osteopathic medical students the opportunity to participate in the diagnosis and treatment of commonly encountered medical conditions. Appropriate management of these conditions may include pharmacotherapy and/or nonpharmacologic interventions, such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Opportunities may exist to expand the utilization of OMT in the management of common conditions, particularly for geriatric patients, who are at increased risk for adverse outcomes from pharmacologic treatments.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the most common diagnoses and corresponding treatments logged by osteopathic medical students within an ambulatory geriatric population.

Methods

Patient encounters logged electronically by osteopathic medical students were retrospectively reviewed to determine the most commonly reported diagnostic codes and their treatments. Logged interventions were filtered to include patients over the age of 65 years who were seen on family medicine rotations within an ambulatory setting. The top 10 diagnoses were sorted and assessed to determine the associated treatments, including medications, procedures, and OMT.

Results

Between January 2018 and June 2020, a total of 11,185 primary diagnoses were logged pertaining to the defined patient population. The most frequently documented diagnoses were essential hypertension (n=1,420; 12.7 %), encounter for well examination (n=1,144; 10.2 %), type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=837; 7.5 %), hyperlipidemia (n=346; 3.1 %), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n=278; 2.5 %), osteoarthritis (OA; n=221; 2.0 %), low back pain (LBP; n=202; 1.8 %), pain in joint (n=187; 1.7 %), hypothyroidism (n=164; 1.5 %), and urinary tract infections (n=160; 1.4 %). Three of the top 10 logged diagnoses were musculoskeletal in nature (OA, LBP, and pain in joint). Pharmacotherapy was reported as the predominant treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, with OMT being logged as a treatment for 10.9 % (n=50) of those cases. The most commonly logged medication class in the management of patients with those musculoskeletal conditions was nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; n=128; 27.9 %), while opioids were the second most frequently documented class of medications (n=65; 14.2 %).

Conclusions

Musculoskeletal complaints were commonly logged by osteopathic medical students within the studied population. Opioids were documented as a treatment for musculoskeletal conditions more frequently than OMT. As such, opportunities exist to expand the utilization of OMT during clinical clerkships and to decrease the frequency of prescribed medications for pain management.
From location to conjunction, disjunction, partition, exemplification and association: Hebrew bein constructions
Authors: Bardenstein Ruti , Ariel Mira
Published: April 2024

Analyzing the diachrony of Hebrew bein, originally a spatial preposition ‘within/among’, this article traces several grammaticization clines associated with bein’s gradual evolution into a rich variety of functions within various constructions. While its early function is purely locative, bein later participates in an array of constructions and sub-constructions, where its syntactic status, its semantic meanings and functions, as well as its discourse role, have shifted considerably. Bein may thus be part of a conjunctive or a disjunctive construction, but it may also be part of an ‘in any case’ adverbial, and later an ‘anyway’ discourse marker. It conveys different locative construals (‘within’, ‘among’ and ‘between’), but also various abstract symmetric relations, such as ‘difference’, ‘dispute’ and ‘separation’. Some bein constructions partition a set, focusing on a subset of it, while in other cases bein serves as an ‘all-purpose’ preposition. Nevertheless, our goal is to show how each grammatical, semantic and discoursal phase is well motivated, given the previous phase. Based on written historical corpora, from Biblical to contemporary Hebrew, we provide a step-by-step diachronic development from earlier to later bein functions.
Intense second-harmonic generation in two-dimensional PtSe2
Authors: Chu Lingrui , Li Ziqi , Zhu Han , Lv Hengyue , Chen Feng
Published: April 2024

Platinum diselenide (PtSe2), classified as a noble metal dichalcogenide, has garnered substantial interest owing to its layer-dependent band structure, remarkable air-stability, and high charge-carrier mobilities. These properties make it highly promising for a wide array of applications in next-generation electronic and optoelectronic devices, as well as sensors. Additionally, two-dimensional (2D) PtSe2 demonstrates significant potential as a saturable absorber due to its exceptional nonlinear optical response across an ultrabroad spectra range, presenting exciting opportunities in ultrafast and nonlinear photonics. In this work, we explore the second-order nonlinear optical characteristics of 2D PtSe2 by analyzing its second-harmonic generation (SHG) excited by a pulsed laser at 1064 nm. Our investigation unveils a layer-dependent SHG response in PtSe2, with prominent SHG intensity observed in few-layer PtSe2. The distinct six-fold polarization dependence pattern observed in the SHG intensity reflects the inherent threefold rotational symmetry inherent to the PtSe2 crystal structure. Remarkably, the SHG intensity of 4-layer PtSe2 surpasses that of mechanically exfoliated monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) by approximately two orders of magnitude (60-fold), underscoring its exceptional second-order nonlinear optical response. Combined with its ultrahigh air-stability, these distinctive nonlinear optical characteristics position two-dimensional PtSe2 as a promising candidate for ultrathin nonlinear nanophotonic devices.
In vitro anticancer activity of melanin-like nanoparticles for multimodal therapy of glioblastoma
Authors: Żebrowska Klaudia , Grabowska Małgorzata , Coy Emerson , Rolle Katarzyna , Mrówczyński Radosław , Grześkowiak Bartosz F.
Published: April 2024

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive and hard to treat cancers. Traditional anti-cancer treatment methods have low efficiency and the lifespan after diagnosis is only 12–18 months. Brain tumor cells overexpress many proteins that play an important role in tumor progression and can be used as therapeutic targets. One of the promising approaches in cancer treatment is down-regulation of an extracellular matrix glycoprotein – Tenascin-C (TN-C) through RNA interference therapy. However, the effective delivery of double stranded RNA with one strand complementary to TN-C mRNA sequence is difficult due to rapid degradation by nucleases and low intracellular uptake. Polydopamine (PDA), a biomimetic polymer characterized by high biocompatibility and simple modification ability, is commonly used in nanobiomedicine to create a drug/gene delivery vehicle. Furthermore, photothermal characteristics of this polymer enable its application in photothermal therapy (PTT), which is a great option for cancer treatment. Here we synthesize PDA nanoparticles (NPs) coated with polyamidoamine dendrimers generation 3.0 (DD3.0) for therapeutic anti-TN-C RNA and doxorubicin delivery. As prepared PDA@DD3.0 NPs are then used in combined drug delivery, gene silencing, and PTT of GBM. The obtained materials are analyzed in terms of physicochemical and photothermal properties as well as their cytotoxicity, using human GBM cells. The results demonstrate that the obtained nanocarriers are effective non-viral vehicle for combined therapeutic approach for killing glioma cells via anti-TN-C RNA delivery and combined chemo-PTT therapy (CT-PTT). The application of PDA@DD3.0 NPs contributed to the 3-fold reduction in the proliferation rate of GBM cells, a decrease in the level of TN-C expression (by 30%) and a reduction in the number of viable cells by up to 20%.
Efficiency of rice farming in flood-prone areas of East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Ramadani Suci Warda , Antriyandarti Ernoiz , Qonita Raden Rara Aulia
Published: April 2024

Improving rice production by increasing the efficiency of rice farming becomes the alternative strategy in Java Island, where half of the Indonesian populations live. Even though some areas are flood-prone, East Java Province is one of the leading rice producers in Indonesia. This study aims to estimate the level of technical efficiency in rice farming in flood-prone areas in East Java and some socio-economic factors that influence the efficiency. The efficiency of rice farming in this study was analyzed using a stochastic frontier production function approach. The results showed that rice farming in flood-prone areas in East Java has been efficient, with an average efficiency of 76.05%. The estimated parameters of farm size, labor, seed, urea fertilizer, and ZA fertilizer are positively significant to rice production, while tractor use is negatively significant to rice production. In addition, farm size, age of household head (HH), education of HH, land ownership, and off-farm jobs positively influence the efficiency of rice farming.
The first-principles and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations revealing the interface energy of the NbC/α-Fe
Authors:   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China, Li Y. , Xu J.H. ,   Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WCE 6BT, England, Chen W. ,   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China, Chen Y. ,   Comprehensive testing and analyzing center, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China, Sun F.J. ,   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China, Zhu L.G. ,   School of Material Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050018, Hebei Province, China, Zhang Q.J. ,   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China, Li Y.K. ,   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China, Chen S. ,   College of Metallurgy and Energy, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063009, Hebei Province, China
Published: April 2024

The low index interfacial configuration, interface energy and electronic properties of NbC/α-Fe are calculated using the first-principles method based on density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. Additionally, the NbC/α-Fe interface with the low index interfacial configuration is calculated by two-dimensional disregistry method. It is demonstrated that the Fe-C type has an interface energy of -1.553 J/m2 , the smallest interface energy and the most stable structure, therefore the Fe-C type is the most stable conformation of the NbC(001) /α-Fe(001). Strong orbital resonance phenomenon exists between Fe-3d, Nb-4d and C-2p, producing strong metallic and covalent bonds. The results of disregistry calculation by different interfacial structures of NbC/α-Fe shows that the disregistry of NbC(001)/α-Fe(001) crystalline surface is the smallest at 10.19%, which corresponds to the results of interface energy calculation. It can be shown that the α-Fe(001) is the optimal orientation surface of the NbC(001) . Herein, we have revealed the site-oriented and stable bonding mode relationship of NbC/α-Fe interface in steel, which provides important theoretical guidance to explore the mechanism of grain refinement of NbC particles in shipbuilding steels.
Coupling of TiO2 and ZnO with metal sulfides (CuS AND ZnS) for applications in solar cells
Authors:   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Solis Cortazar J. C. , López Matus A. K. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Rojas Blanco L. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Pérez Hernández G. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Zamudio Torres I. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Pérez Escobar B. L. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Castillo Palomera R. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México, Ramírez Morales E. ,   Academic Division of Engineering and Architecture, Juarez Autonomous University of Tabasco, Road Cunduacán-Jalpa KM. 1. Col. La Esmeralda CP. 86690. Cunduacán, Tabasco, México
Published: April 2024

TiO2 and ZnO films were synthesized by the dip-coating method. The coupling of thin films of metal sulfides: CuS and ZnS by thermal evaporation in each semiconductor oxide was analyzed. TiO2, CuS/TiO2, ZnS/TiO2, ZnO, CuS/ZnO, and ZnS/ZnO samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Raman microscopy, atomic force microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and photoresponse. The optical and morphological analysis revealed that the CuS/TiO2 and CuS/ZnO samples present better properties than the pristine samples. This was attributed to the fact that their absorption edges move to lower energy regions and their roughness increases refraction, so there is a greater photoelectric response due to the accumulation of photo-injected electrons in the conduction band.
Annealing effect on physical characterisation and sensing properties of nanostructered AgO thin films
Authors:   Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Tikrit, Iraq, Ali H. S. , Sada M.  S. ,   Minsitry of Education, General Diroctorain the Province of Maysan, Iraq., Al-Rikabi Y. I. ,   Department of Science, College of Basic Education, University of Diyala, Iraq., Hussein K. N. ,   d Department of Radiology, Al-Manara College for Medical Science, Iraq, Habubi N. F. ,   Department of Radiation and Sonar Technologies, Al-Nukhba University College, Iraq, Chiad S. S. ,   Department of Physics, College of Education, Mustansiriyah University, Iraq, Jadan M. ,   Department of Physics, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, 31441 Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Published: April 2024

Thermal evaporation (TE)was employed to create thin coatings of AgO on glass substrates. The post-annealing temperatures for the deposited films were (100, 150, and 200), respectively. The XRD data demonstrate that when annealing temperature climbed from 100°C to 200°C, the intensity of (100) plane strengthened. Regardless of the temperatures used for post-annealing, the XRD spectra show that the films are polycrystalline and have a cubic structure. The average grain size was 15.39 nm, 16.30 nm, and 17.68 nm for the intended films. When the annealed temperature rises, the dislocation density and strain value decrease. The root mean square (RMS) roughness measured via AFM images decreased from 7.33 nm to 3.64 nm. Due to annealing at 200°C, the average particle size behaved similarly and reduced from 76.9 nm to 46.5 nm. The surface roughness exhibited the same behavior and dropped from 8.77 nm to 4.46 nm at 200 o C. The sample annealed at 200°C had the highest absorbance values, whereas the sample annealed at 100°C had the highest transmittance values. As the film annealing increased, the absorption coefficient rose somewhat. The bandgap of AgO thin films falls from 1.59 eV to 1.44 eV with the rise of annealing. In contrast, the transmittance, refractive index, and Extinction coefficient also lower as the temperature rises. Sensitivity measurements indicated a reduction in sensitivity as the annealing temperature and gas concentration increased.
Efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by Cu2O/BiVO4 p-n heterostructure
Authors:   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Wang J. X. , Mao L. J. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Duan Y. J. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Lei K. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Zeng X. H. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Sun Y. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Li T. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
Published: April 2024

Star-like BiVO4 and Cu2O nanocubes were prepared by hydrothermal method and chemical reduction, respectively, and Cu2O/BiVO4 p-n heterojunction with different mass ratios of Cu2O to BiVO4 (3:1, 1:1, 1:3) were synthesized via facile physical mixing. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic performance of the Cu2O/BiVO4 composites was evaluated by degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under simulated solar illumination. Owing to the fast charge transfer between n-type BiVO4 and p-type Cu2O, Cu2O/BiVO4 composites exhibited superior photocatalytic activity. When the mass ratio of Cu2O to BiVO4 was 1:3, the highest degradation efficiency of TC reached 78.9% within 24 min.
On the dielectric properties of nano-phased lanthanum doped nickel ferrites
Authors:   Physics Research Center, SDM College of Engineering and Technology, Dharwad-02, Karnataka, India, Shetty P. B. , Maddani K. I. ,   Department of Physics, SDM College of engineering and Technology, Dharwad02, Karnataka, India, Mahalaxmi K. S. ,   Department of Physics, Teegala Krishna Reddy Engineering College(R9), Medbowli, Meerpet(V),Saroornagar(M), Hydrabad-500097, Telangana, India., Lakshmi Ch. S. ,   Department of Physics, Gayatri Vidya Parishad College of Engineering for Women, Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam, 530048, Andhra Pradesh, India
Published: April 2024

La-doped Ni-based ferrites (NiFe2O4) exhibit a single-phased cubic spinel structure. ε′ exhibits a quick decline in the low-frequency regime (upto 100 KHz) and a sluggish reduction in the high-frequency range (> 100 KHZ). Tanẟ values are found to be of the order of 10-2 . Variation in Tanẟ and ac values in D relates to conductivity. Cole-Cole plots portray a single semicircle. This points towards the contribution of resistance induced by grain boundaries. The variations in resistance, capacitance, and relaxation time obtained from Z′ vs. Z″ (Cole Cole graph) plots are due to the hopping mechanism.
Construction of AgCl/Bi2WO6 heterojunction for effective removal of RhB dye
Authors:   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Zhang Y. T. , Wang D. Y. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Luo X. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Lei K. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Mao L. J. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Duan Y. J. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Zeng X. H. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China, Wan G. J. ,   School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 611756, China, Zhao Q. ,   School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China, Sun Y. ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
Published: April 2024

Flower-like Bi2WO6 microspheres were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method, and AgCl/Bi2WO6 heterojunction was successfully synthesized by in-situ precipitation method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The effect of AgCl loading in AgCl/Bi2WO6 composites on the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was also investigated. When the mass ratio of AgCl to Bi2WO6 was 4:1, AgCl/Bi2WO6 composites exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 87.9% within 30 min, which could be attributed to the construction of heterojunction structure that effectively promoted the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.
IMPACT OF HEAVY METALS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COLLAPSE OF MINING DAMS ON ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: REPORTS FROM BRAZIL
Authors: De Oliveira Lara Luiza Freitas , Alcantara Shara Sevesquim , Caldeira Rafael Sotero , Macêdo Anderson Kelvin Saraiva , Dos Santos Hélio Batista , De Paiva Magna Cristina , Thomé Ralph Gruppi , Chequer Farah Maria Drumond
Published: April 2024

Mining tailings have a strong presence of heavy metals in their composition, and these elements may be associated with the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The objective of this work was to analyze studies that describe the relationship between bacteria recovered from sites impacted by mining tailings resulting from the collapse of the Fundão and Córrego do Feijão Mine dams and the development of antimicrobial resistance. This is an integrative literature review, using the PubMed, VHL, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases, and the descriptors “antimicrobial resistance”, “heavy metal”, “dam” and “Brazil” (English) and “resistência antimicrobiana”, “metal pesado”, “barragem” and “Brasil” (Portuguese). Six articles were selected, four referring to the Fundão dam and two to the Córrego do Feijão Mine. All works suggested that environmental contamination by heavy metals, resulting from mining waste released after the dams collapsed, favored the appearance of antimicrobial resistance genes, that is, they are related to the selective pressure exerted by heavy metals. Disasters such as these raise questions about the interface of antimicrobial resistance in environments that have heavy metals as contaminants, the knowledge of which is of great relevance since antimicrobial resistance is a serious public health problem.
A Finite Element Analysis to Study the Stress Distribution on Distal Implants in All-on-Six Treatment Concepts as Affected Tilted and Short Implant
Authors: Ulu Murat , Yasin Mikail , Şahin Onur , Akçay Hüseyin
Published: April 2024

The number of implants and their respective configurations for implant-supported treatment modalities have been studied for 4 implant-supported prostheses; however, it is not yet clear whether the use of tilting or short implants in rehabilitation would result in substantially improved bone/implant/prosthesis biomechanics in all-on-six concepts. This study compared the biomechanical behavior of tilted long implants and axially short implants to support fixed prostheses in an atrophic maxilla with all-on-six treatment concepts. Three different implant configurations were planned, and six models were obtained with posterior maxilla D3 and D4 bone densities in this study. Implants proper for the all-on-four concept were placed in all models. In models 1 and 2, the short implant was placed; in models 3 and 4, 30°, the mesial-angled implant was placed; and in models 5 and 6, 45°, the mesial-angled implant was placed to the molar region. In the models created, 200 N vertical and 150 N oblique (45° angled buccopalatal direction) forces were implemented to the bilateral tooth regions 4-5-6 on the rigid titanium-supported fixed hybrid prosthesis made on these models. When the stress values in the models were investigated, the oblique forces had higher stress values than the vertical forces did. When the stresses created by oblique forces were assessed, the highest values were observed in the models created with short implants, and the lowest stress values were observed in the models made with 30° angle to mesial. When bone densities were assessed, more stress values were noted in models with D4 bone density. It has been shown that mesial tilted long implants placed in the posterior molar region, in addition to all four implant treatment concepts, create less stress against undesirable oblique forces compared with short implants.
Case of Interest Divergence: An Athletic Department’s Anti-racist Book Club
Authors: Kirsten Hextrum  , Siduri Haslerig
Published: April 2024

In this article, we present the implementation and eventual dissolution of anti-racist programming within one athletic department as an exemplar case. The anti-racist programming represented the potential of a counter-hegemonic effort to disrupt White supremacy in athletic organizations. It also represented a unique partnership between faculty and athletic practitioners. Throughout, we share the larger context in which the case emerged, discuss the challenges and opportunities in designing and implementing the anti-racist programming, and describe how and why the programming and partnership dissolved. Our accounts and observations are framed through the critical race theories of interest convergence, divergence, and imperialist reclamation (Bell, 1980; Guinier, 2004; Nishi, 2022). We conclude with implications for higher education activists interested in engaging in similar efforts at their institutions.
Exploring the influence of Black liberatory theory on collegiate sport reform initiatives
Authors: Brandon Wallace
Published: April 2024

As the oppressions of U.S. collegiate sport persist, recent collegiate sport reform efforts have emerged to address the racial injustices and inequalities that remain in contemporary collegiate sport. Because racial justice reform efforts in college sport are intricately linked to broader visions and pursuits of Black liberation, it is necessary for these efforts to acknowledge the diversity of Black political perspectives and explicitly consider precisely which theoretical model underpins their pursuit of racial justice in college sport. The aim of this paper is to outline how racial justice initiatives within collegiate sport have been theoretically and strategically connected to broader Black social movements and the liberatory visions that accompany them. Specifically, I examine how some of the most common theories of Black liberation – Black Liberal Integrationism, Black Nationalism, Black Marxism, and Black Feminism – have shaped the tactical and utopian directions of key movements in the history of collegiate sport activism; such as the boycott efforts led by Dr. Harry Edwards in the late 1960s, the push for HBCU athletics throughout the late 1900s, and the recent University of Missouri football strike in 2015. In effect, I argue that exploring the implicit intra-Black political divergences and tensions of past Black social movements can reveal instructive insights for contemporary collegiate sport reformers that can aid in achieving a more collective, structurally focused, and intersectional vision for transforming collegiate sport.
Antiblackness and Carcerality: Implications for the Study of College Athletics
Authors: Sara E. Grummert
Published: April 2024

We frequently frame criticisms of college athletics in terms of labor exploitation and/or legacies of racism. Though these remain necessary and foundational analytical frames, there are other important frameworks through which we must analyze college athletics to fully understand how and why inequity and racism is both rationalized and compounded. Antiblackness and carcerality—and their deep interconnection—are two such perspectives that both complement and complicate other approaches to the study of college athletics. This paper discusses these two essential theoretical frameworks and demonstrates the nuance that using them in college athletics research provides through several exemplars.
Interventions in Support of Anti-Racist Praxis in Athletics
Authors: Siduri Haslerig  , Kirsten Hextrum
Published: April 2024

Since the 1990s, college athletic departments have developed parallel and redundant student services that are specific to athletics, ostensibly to broaden the accessibility of these resources for athletes (Smith, 2011). However, this insularity can create echo chambers and totalize institutional norms (Comeaux, 2018; Hatteberg, 2013). Previous research has documented that many athletics practitioners, even those in student-facing roles, are neither trained as educators nor student affairs professionals (Navarro et al., 2015). Additionally, athletics practitioners are often untrained and unprepared to address racial equity topics and have little prior experience working with racially diverse students and coworkers (Bernhard & Haslerig, 2017). This article discusses two efforts to better prepare anti-racist athletics practitioners: one at the graduate level with students working as athletics graduate assistants (GAs) and pre-professional graduate students and a second with current athletics staff and administrators. Through the lenses of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Critical Whiteness Studies, we discuss the need, development, and theory of change undergirding these two interventions implemented at the University of Oklahoma and offer suggestions of how other universities and athletic departments could approach and/or implement similar programming.
Life-cycle-based considerations in design of driven piles in sand
Authors: de Melo Dora L , DeJong Jason T , Kendall Alissa , Lehane Barry M
Published: April 2024

This study conducts a life-cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts of driven shafts across 12 different siliceous sand sites, selected from a database of static load pile tests. Through parametric studies, this paper investigates the influence of soil properties, pile geometry and on-site activities on environmental impacts. For a single pile, the findings demonstrate that material production is the most impactful phase, contributing 88.4% of global warming potential (GWP) per unit capacity, while on-site operations contribute minimally at 1%. Sensitivity analyses show that variations in fuel consumption by ±25% and linear interpolations of blow counts result in negligible difference in GWP (less than 0.1 and 1%, respectively). On average, the total GWPs for steel and concrete piles are approximately 4.3 and 0.92 kg carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per kilonewton capacity, respectively. Although various factors influence pile design and installation, the results presented herein provide a foundational framework for geotechnical engineers to integrate environmental impacts into project planning, design and construction considerations.
Application of Paired Problem Solving for Effective Identification of Misconceptions
Authors:   Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Vishnu Institute of Technology, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh – 534 202, Korlepara N S D Prakash
Published: April 2024

Abstract— In engineering education, most courses have numerical problems and complex concepts that need to be applied. Students sometimes find it difficult to apply the concepts in numerical problems and subsequently end up performing poorly in examinations. Timely feedback on numerical problems solved by the students will address this. A systematic understanding of student misunderstandings and misconceptions is likely to lead to improved effectiveness in learning. TAPPS (Think Aloud Paired Problem Solving) is one of the best practices in engineering education and provides an opportunity for students to solve problems collectively by thinking and sharing their individual thoughts and ideas. When the instructor is involved as a keen observer the student misconceptions can be documented comprehensively enabling the instructor to address the problem in a timely manner. TAPPS also provides ample scope for educators to identify individual thinking processes and understanding patterns and therefore enables them to guide the students towards the correct approach to problem solving. This article describes a case study of an implementation of TAPPS with a dialogue conducted for undergraduate electrical engineering students in the third year. Keywords—TAPPS, Numerical Problem Solving, Heterogeneous groups
Attitude and Perceptions of Students Towards Entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir
Authors:   Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu,J&K, Gupta Ankur , Nanda Ankita ,   Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu,J&K, Sawhney Sahil ,   Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu,J&K, Kaur Navjeet ,   Model Institute of Engineering and Technology, Jammu,J&K
Published: April 2024

Abstract— Entrepreneurship development is central to socioeconomic growth in both developed and developing countries. In the case of India, it is a stated national policy to promote startups and kindle the entrepreneurial spirit among the youth. Else, there is a risk of the demographic dividend becoming a liability. Several states in India have made remarkable progress in this domain resulting in an established ecosystem for entrepreneurship development and support. Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost region in the nation, also needs to emulate such successful models while leveraging government policies designed to support entrepreneurship. This exploratory study therefore examines the attitudes and perception of students in higher technical education towards entrepreneurship and choosing it as a career option. We conclude that government agencies, technical institutions, universities, schools, industry, and professional bodies need to come together with a viable action plan based around awareness, customized programs, deep engagement, handholding, mentoring and support for young students to see real outcomes on the ground. Keywords— Entrepreneurship Development; Startups; Jammu and Kashmir
Understanding Technological Evolution in Teaching: A Qualitative Data Analysis
Authors: Hegade Prakash , Abirami A M , Kaur Rashpinder , Shettar Ashok
Published: April 2024

Abstract—Every evolution, rooted in its principles, presents a time-relevant paradigm shift. In the regards, technological evolution has been a significant milestone in the journey of educational contributions. It has today become an integral part of the education eco-system. While generation-z students are characteristically tech-savvy, at the same time it questions the caliber of the faculty to address the needs of these students. To understand the evolution of teaching pedagogies of the classroom, a qualitative study was conducted with Connectivism as the underlying theoretical framework. Through the semi-structured interviews, twenty seven faculty were interviewed with five questions. The first round of coding was carried out using the descriptive and vivo methods and second was carried out using the focused coding. Five themes have been discussed from the round one coding and summarized using the round two. The paper presents the results and discussion of this qualitative study and opens the potential space for future technology-related research questions. Writing learning outcomes, evolving classrooms and selecting technology have been discussed with respect to technological implications. The study concludes that the research groups need to develop philosophies by integrating the technology into the learning styles. Keywords—Connectivism; Education; Evolution; Teacher; Technology.