Search

The paper examines the effects of group size on private provision of public goods, focusing on the influence of public good aggregator technologies through which individual contributions determine overall public good provision. We propose a general aggregator that encompasses existing aggregators, accommodates rivalrous public goods, and includes several interesting novel sub-aggregators. Our study of a wide range of aggregators indicates that the effects of group size on public good supply hinges on aggregator structures, thereby highlighting aggregators' importance for the prognosis of policy intervention. The analysis here between aggregators and group size goes well beyond that of the extant literature. In the presence of income heterogeneity, the paper explores how an entrant affects public good provision for alternative aggregator technologies, which has important implications for income transfer policy of achieving Pareto-improving outcomes. An aggregative game approach greatly facilitates the depiction of group-size changes in equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infants are exceptionally fragile and physically vulnerable. Continuous monitoring of their vital characteristics and physiological parameters is vital for assessing their exact health status. The progressive achievements of bioelectrical, biophysical, biochemical and hybrid soft monitoring technologies in infant are discussed. We offer insights into the remaining challenges and translational hurdles of soft electronics for clinical-grade infant monitoring from the benchtop to the bedside. [Display omitted] Infants are exceptionally fragile and physically vulnerable who need special healthcare. Continuous monitoring of vital information of infants is essential for understanding their health status. Whereas modern infant health monitoring is carried out with dedicated facilities in controlled hospital settings, they are associated with several issues such as potential iatrogenic injuries, barriers for skin-to-skin parental bonding, and even complications during basic clinical tasks. Recently, soft electronics have become an accessory and mobile infant monitoring platform with remarkable advantages over existing technologies. This review comprehensively summarizes the research advances on soft electronics for advanced infant monitoring. We first introduce the physiological characteristics from anatomy, diseases, and treatments of infants. In accordance with these characteristics, we discuss the progressive achievements of soft bioelectrical, biophysical, biochemical, and hybrid monitoring technologies for infants. In addition, we offer insights into the remaining challenges and future directions of a soft electronics based intelligent system for clinical-grade infant monitoring from sensor design, data processing, power supply, and digital interactions in the era of Internet of Things. Finally, we highlight the translational challenges to be considered in bringing soft electronics for infant monitoring from the benchtop to the bedside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to analyze the influence of selected plants on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Six plants were chosen for the experiment, from which extracts were prepared: maclura fruit, spruce and ginkgo needles, green algae (Ch. kessleri), and mushrooms, namely Collybia nuda, and Macrolepiota procera. The composition of the extracts and colloids after preparation of the nanoparticles was analyzed using FTIR analysis. The composition of the extracts affected not only the rate of the synthesis but also the shape of the nanoparticles. TEM analysis confirmed the synthesis of mainly spherical nanoparticles (size range: 10–25 nm). However, triangular prisms and polyhedral nanoparticles synthesized by the extracts containing mainly flavonoids, terpenes, and phenols (the main compounds of resins) were also confirmed. EDS analysis was used to analyze the composition of the nanoparticles. It was proven that by choosing the right plant extract and using the appropriate technology with extract treatment, it is possible to prepare nanoparticles of different shapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing need for energy, issues related to using energy efficiently in buildings and employing renewable energy technologies are gaining significance. The building production process is intricate, involving numerous stakeholders, multiple decisions, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative data. This process necessitates decision making based on specific requirements. The objective of this study is to identify effective criteria in decision making concerning the use of renewable energy technologies (RETs) in buildings in Turkey. It aims to highlight the importance of these criteria and compare them, and it also aims to define a recommendation decision-making model for the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies. This study employed qualitative and quantitative research methods. Based on information gathered from the literature, the main criteria and sub-criteria for RET utilization were determined through in-depth interviews with an expert group, including individuals influencing the building design process (architects, engineers, consultants, employers, and users). A recommendation model was developed using the analytic hierarchy process method to highlight the significance of the identified criteria, compare the criteria and technologies, and facilitate the selection of the most-appropriate technology. This study demonstrates that the decision-making model can be utilized in determining RET-related criteria in the building production process, establishing their weights, and make informed decisions regarding the appropriate technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates how Brahminic embodiment provides a constraining milieu for the growth of technology in different historical and epistemic epochs. Brahmanic comportment allows for appropriating technology in a way that creates a historical continuity with an auratic past and disallows the agential power of technology to extinguish the spirit of the Indic auratic past. In effect, Brahmanic comportment disallows technological advancement and human flourishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Technological advancements, improved surgical access, and heightened demand for surgery have fueled unprecedented device and supply turnover impelling wealthy hospitals to upgrade continually and sell, donate, recycle, or dispose of used, expired, antiquated, or surplus goods. This paper reviews the issues related to device and supply lifecycles and discusses the opportunities and challenges they present for sustainable surgical growth in low‐ and middle‐income (LMICs) countries. Observations: This review found, in LMICs countries, regulatory disparities persist that limit effective harmonization secondary to highly variable national policies and a lack of prioritized enforcement. Heterogeneity in the regulatory landscape, specifically in the classification, nomenclature, and identification of medical devices, encumbers effective regulation and distribution. Once devices are sold, donated, or reused in LMICs countries, complexities arise in regulatory compliance, maintenance, and appropriate use of these technologies. At the end of the lifecycle, waste management poses significant obstacles with limited resources hindering the implementation of best practices. Conclusion: There are major disparities in access to quality surgical equipment and supplies around the world. Improved communication between relevant stakeholders and harmonization of manufacture and disposal regulations will be needed to ensure adequate and appropriate responses to these challenges. Trial registration number: Not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen can be produced from several feedstocks and technologies, making it an important partner in the energy transition to neutral carbon societies. Hydrogen production can be based on renewable feedstocks, such as agricultural residues, which are highly available and economical. However, a comprehensive analysis of all available hydrogen production technologies must be done. Therefore, this work focused on developing a comparative analysis of the sustainability of the main hydrogen production technologies. Technologies with the greatest opportunity for development were simulated and evaluated from a sustainability perspective. Techno-energetic, economic, environmental, and social indicators were used to calculate a comprehensive sustainability index (S Id). Steam biomethane reforming (SBMR) and electrolysis (EL) were the schemes with the highest S Id based on the techno-energetic and environmental dimensions. However, the S Id decreased substantially when the economic dimension was considered because SBMR presented high capital and operating costs, and EL had low technical performance. On the other hand, thermochemical and biological technologies require further research to decrease the environmental burden and improve the mass yield of the process. Therefore, each production scheme involves different disadvantages that must be resolved to increase the opportunities for hydrogen development. [Display omitted] • The sustainability index made it possible to establish the development opportunity presented by each technology considering different dimensions of analysis. • Steam biomethane reforming and gasification processes are more efficient and economically viable than electrolytic and biological technologies. • The cost of hydrogen production in electrolytic processes is highly dependent on the primary source of electricity. • Hydrogen production by biological processes requires more research on improving yields and production costs. • The scheme with the highest sustainability indexes was the steam biomethane reforming scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the feasibility and image quality of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM) using gradient- and spin-echo (GRASE) in solitary pulmonary lesions (SPLs) compared to echo planar imaging (EPI) and turbo spin-echo (TSE) at 3 T. Forty-two patients with SPLs underwent lung magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using TSE-IVIM, GRASE-IVIM, and EPI-IVIM at 3 T. Signal ratio (SR), contrast ratio (CR), and image distortion ratio (DR) of three sequences were compared. The reproducibility and repeatability of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and IVIM-derived parameters were assessed using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). The repeatability of the ADC and IVIM-derived parameters between all sequences was evaluated using the Bland–Altman method. EPI-IVIM had a higher SR, lower CR, and higher DR (p <0.05); however, there was no significant difference between TSE-IVIM and GRASE-IVIM (p >0.05). Compared to the D and f values of TSE-IVIM (ICC lower limit >0.90), GRASE-IVIM and EPI-IVIM showed poor reproducibility (ICC lower limit<0.90). The repeatability of the ADC and D values obtained by TSE-IVIM (CV, 1.93–2.96% and 2.44–3.18%, respectively) and GRASE-IVIM (CV, 2.56–3.12% and 3.21–3.51%, respectively) were superior to those of EPI-IVIM (CV, 10.03–10.2% and 11.30–11.57%). The repeatability of D∗ and f values for all sequences was poor. Bland–Altman analysis showed wide limits of agreement between the ADC and IVIM-derived parameters for all sequences. GRASE-IVIM reduced the DR, improved the stability of the ADC and D values on repeated scans, and had the shortest scanning time. • TSE-IVIM and GRASE-IVIM reduced the image distortion rate. • TSE-IVIM and GRASE-IVIM improved the stability of repeated scanning of ADC values. • TSE-IVIM and GRASE-IVIM improved the stability of repeated scanning of D values. • The acquisition time of GRASE-IVIM was shorter than TSE-IVIM. • GRASE could be a new alternative technology in lung IVIM imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable mechatronics for powered orthoses, exoskeletons and prostheses require improved soft actuation systems acting as 'artificial muscles' that are capable of large strains, high stresses, fast response and self-sensing and that show electrically safe operation, low specific weight and large compliance. Among the diversity of soft actuation technologies under investigation, pneumatic devices have been the focus, during the last couple of decades, of renewed interest as an intrinsically soft artificial muscle technology, due to technological advances stimulated by applications in soft robotics. As of today, quite a few solutions are available to endow a pneumatic soft device with linear actuation and self-sensing ability, while also easily achieving these features with off-the-shelf materials and low-cost fabrication processes. Here, we describe a simple process to make self-sensing pneumatic actuators, which may be used as 'inverse artificial muscles', as, upon pressurisation, they elongate instead of contracting. They are made of an elastomeric tube surrounded by a plastic coil, which constrains radial expansions. As a novelty relative to the state of the art, the self-sensing ability was obtained with a piezoresistive stretch sensor shaped as a conductive elastomeric body along the tube's central axis. Moreover, we detail, also by means of video clips, a step-by-step manufacturing process, which uses off-the-shelf materials and simple procedures, so as to facilitate reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Digital Communication Freedom for People with Disabilities" deals with the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Austria. It points out that measures to simplify communication for people with disabilities are not being adequately implemented. In particular, people with severe communication disabilities have difficulties obtaining appropriate aids and technologies. The article calls for a unified and coordinated collaboration of all government agencies to ensure the implementation of the convention. It also highlights the challenges faced by people with disabilities regarding insurance benefits and support services. The article concludes with an appeal to the legislature to improve the situation and strengthen the rights of people with disabilities. [Extracted from the article]

The paper investigates the technical efficiency of conventional and organic dairy farms in Estonia in the period 2006-2015 using Farm Accountancy Data Network. We analyse self-selection into organic farming using the propensity-score-matching approach and explicitly test the hypothesis that organic and conventional farms apply homogeneous technology. We find that organic farms are less efficient. However, the difference in technical efficiency between organic and conventional farms decreases substantially when the technical efficiency assessment incorporates the use of the appropriate technology. The lack of growth of technical efficiency over time indicates that there might be a lack of knowledge in organic milk production that hinders its development. Since technical efficiency increases with farm size, it is important that organic dairy farms increase their scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional parking lots struggle to meet demand, prompting the rise of Fully Automated Parking Systems (FAPS), offering eco-friendly alternatives with advanced technology. However, operational challenges persist, especially in planning and scheduling. Real-time responsiveness necessitates dispatching rules and heuristics. This study comprehensively explores FAPS operational dynamics, assessing various rule combinations' impact on customer wait times and system utilization. Utilizing a six-month MATLAB simulation, results favour the Nearest-Available-Slot (NAS) allocation rule coupled with First-Come-First-Served (FCFS) sequencing, emphasizing allocation's pivotal role in system efficiency. Future research will refine allocation strategies to further optimize FAPS operational performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of electricity for the industry's transition to a decarbonized economy requires optimization of the energy transfer to deliver efficient, cost‐effective processes. Industrial demand for high‐density plasmas over a wide pressure range has stimulated the use of microwave plasma (MWP) applications. In high‐temperature processing, when microwaves of the correct frequency are absorbed by the plasma, the plasma particles absorb energy from the electromagnetic field and transfer it to the other particles through collisions, heating them. This rapid heating gives MWP properties that can be exploited to increase the conversion, selectivity, and/or energy efficiency of chemical processes. Here, we address questions raised by industrial users who wish to better understand the limitations of MWP applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper offers innovative cooking utensil designs for remote, isolated, and even peri-urban communities at a low price, with high reliability and simple construction. It can alleviate energy poverty and improve food security. This utensil uses only local solar energy directly and allows comfortable indoor cooking. This paper provides the design principles of a solar cooker/frying pan or generic heater, based on a PV panel or a plurality of them, which are directly connected to a plurality of Positive Thermal Coefficient (PTC) resistors to match the power. PTCs are nowadays produced in massive quantities and are widely available at low cost. The proposed device does not require an electronic controller or a battery for its operation. The aim is for family use, although the design can be easily scaled to a larger size or power, maintaining its simplicity. Electric heating inside or attached to the cooking pot, plus the temperature self-limiting effect of PTCs, allows for thermally insulating the cooking pot from its outside using ordinary materials. Insulation enhances energy efficiency during cooking and keeps cooked food warm for a long time. Clean development would receive a significant impulse with its application. A simple mathematical model describes its functioning and states guidelines for adequate design. Its results indicate a successful proof of concept and high efficiency both for water and oil as representatives of cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is an intense debate in the European Union (EU) regarding the limits to achieve the European Green Deal, to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent in the world. In this context, there are also different opinions about the role that thermal engines should play. Furhermore, there is no clear proposal regarding the possibilities of the use of green hydrogen in the transport decarbonization process, even though it should be a key element. Thus, there are still no precise guidelines regarding the role of green hydrogen, with it being exclusively used as a raw material to produce E-fuels. This review aims to evaluate the possibilities of applying the different alternative technologies available to successfully complete the process already underway to achieve Climate Neutrality by about 2050, depending on the maturity of the technologies currently available, and those anticipated to be available in the coming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Who should decide how limited resources are prioritized? We ask this question in a healthcare context where patients must be prioritized according to their need and where advances in autonomous artificial intelligence-based technology offer a compelling alternative to decisions by humans. Qualitative (Study 1a; N = 50) and quantitative (Study 1b; N = 800) analysis identified agency, emotional experience, bias-free, and error-free as four main qualities describing people's perceptions of autonomous computer programs (ACPs) and human staff members (HSMs). Yet, the qualities were not perceived to be possessed equally by HSMs and ACPs. HSMs were endorsed with human qualities of agency and emotional experience, whereas ACPs were perceived as more capable than HSMs of bias- and error-free decision-making. Consequently, better than average (Study 2; N = 371), or relatively better (Studies 3, N = 181; & 4, N = 378), ACP performance, especially on qualities characteristic of ACPs, was sufficient to reverse preferences to favor ACPs over HSMs as the decision makers for how limited healthcare resources should be prioritized. Our findings serve a practical purpose regarding potential barriers to public acceptance of technology, and have theoretical value for our understanding of perceptions of autonomous technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have prepared a super‐hydrophobic/super‐oleophilic modified sponge material (C‐PDMS‐PU) by attaching carbon powder and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to a sponge skeleton by a simple dip‐coating method using a low‐cost polyurethane sponge as the raw material. The material has a C‐PDMS composite hydrophobic coating, which can efficiently and selectively absorb oil slicks on the water surface or organic solvents underwater that are 21–26 times its weight. Relying on this adsorbent, we have built an oil collection device that can in‐situ absorb/desorb oil with a dynamic viscosity ranging from 0 CP to 172 CP on the water surface or underwater. This oil collection device is small, simple to operate, and portable, thus freeing the adsorbent from the limits of adsorption capacity while continuously and efficiently recovering the oil from the sea surface, hence achieving the integration of adsorption and separation. This new adsorbent and the oil collection device have promising applications in emergencies, such as organic solvent spills, tanker spills, and oil spills from offshore rigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TRIZ theory was used to accurately discover the problems to be solved in the design of roadway surrounding rock control technology. This paper tried to solve the complex issue of surrounding rock control in deep roadways from a new perspective. Based on the functional component analysis and causal axis analysis of the problem's primary reason, simultaneously, the surrounding rock control technology was optimized through technical contradiction analysis, physical contradiction analysis, and substance and field model analysis. As a result, a fully enclosed wire-shell support technology was proposed. Finally, taking the typical soft rock roadway engineering of Pansan Coal Mine in Huainan Mining Area, Anhui Province, China, as the engineering background, the engineering application and effect evaluation were completed. This paper provides a reference for controlling the instability of deep soft rock roadways in coal mines. A new idea of optimizing roadway support engineering based on TRIZ theory was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The age of artificial intelligence (AI) is just around the corner. This article presents the AIbased technologies that represent a significant change for the learning and teaching process. The article describes the potential of personalised learning, automated assessment, chatbots, predictive models, intelligent robots, and virtual and augmented reality for education, by reviewing scientific literature. Nowadays, knowledge of these technologies is essential for teachers. In this article we conducted a qualitative survey involving teachers. The aim of our survey is to assess the perceptions of educators about the use of AI in education. Our results show that educators are open to these technologies regardless of generation and discipline. The study summarizes the appropriate use of these technologies, the role of teachers, their attention to students and their active communication, as only this can lead to effective education in the age of artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting an appropriate sanitation option involves multiple stakeholders with often conflicting objectives. A multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework was developed to inform decision makers on selecting appropriate sanitation options for rural communities. Criteria established from literature were evaluated and weighted on-line by stakeholders. A performance matrix was developed by assigning weights to criteria and scoring alternatives. Selection of alternatives was based on a composite appropriateness index from a rank using the simple multi-attribute ranking technique. The framework was evaluated by verification, validation and sensitivity analysis. Five alternatives were evaluated on 14 decision criteria. The first preferred alternative was the urine diverting dry toilet (72.54) then the Blair ventilated improved pit latrine (67.10). The framework was commented as reasonable and robust. A simple and transparent MCDA framework was developed considering local conditions in a participatory manner to select appropriate alternatives for rural sanitation where a single option is encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed low level of information and communication technology (ICT) usage among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) firms in many African countries may serve as a major constraint to their productivity. The productivity of service and manufacturing firms is impacted differently due to this low uptake of ICT. This paper seeks to examine the differential effects of ICT on MSMEs' productivity in emerging African economies, specifically Egypt and Nigeria. This study evaluates the effects of ICT on MSMEs' productivity across different sectors (services and manufacturing), by size and aggregated. The estimated results support the positive impact of MSMEs' website presence and use of email on their productivity, though the magnitude varies across different analyses and sectors. This appears to support the differential sectoral impacts of ICT on MSMEs' productivity across countries in emerging markets. Specifically, this study finds evidence for a higher impact of firms' website presence on productivity in the manufacturing sector than the services sector across emerging economies. The study, therefore, recommends that emerging markets economies that want to implement appropriate national technology policies to enhance their firms' productivity should always consider their differential effects on various sectors, as universal ICT policies may not achieve the desired objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the worldwide demand for meat per person is continuously increasing, there is a corresponding rise in the number of livestock animals, leading to an increase in livestock manure. Selecting appropriate treatment technologies for livestock manures is still a complex task and considerable debates over this issue persist. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the manure treatment framework, this review was undertaken to assess the most utilized manure management technologies and underscore their respective challenges. Anaerobic digestion has become a commercial reality for treating livestock manures. However, the mono-digestion of single substrates comes with certain drawbacks associated with manure characteristics. Anaerobic co-digestion, involving the utilization of multiple feedstocks, holds the potential to overcome these limitations. Extensive research and development have underscored numerous intrinsic benefits of co-digestion. These include improved digestibility resulting from the synergistic effects of co-substrates and enhanced process stability. This review underscores the limitations associated with the mono-digestion of livestock manures and critically evaluates the advantages of their co-digestion with carbon-rich substrates. Additionally, this review delves into key livestock manure management practices globally, emphasizing the significance of co-digesting livestock manures while addressing the progress and challenges in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical ways of utilising carbon dioxide in the oil and chemical industries to reduce CO2 emissions and the carbon footprint of the products at various stages of their life, both those tested and used on an industrial scale and those currently under development and pilot testing, are discussed. Authors discuss the prospects for development of appropriate technologies aimed at decarbonization and sustainable development, and the critical factors for deciding on the direction for the production of "green" products using CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: One of the critical reasons for the nonacceptance of additive manufacturing (AM) processes is the lack of understanding and structured knowledge of design for additive manufacturing (DfAM). This paper aims to assist designers to select the appropriate AM technology for product development or redesign. Using the suggestion provided by the design assist tool, the user's design alterations depend on their ability to interpret the suggestion into the design without affecting the design's primary objective. Design/methodology/approach: This research reports the development of a tool that evaluates the efficacy values for all seven major standard AM processes by considering design parameters, benchmark standards within the processes and their material efficacies. In this research, the tool provides analytical and visual approaches to suggestion and assistance. Seventeen design parameters and seven benchmarking standards are used to evaluate the proposed product and design quality value. The full factorial design approach has been used to evaluate the DfAM aspects, design quality and design complexity. Findings: The outcome is evaluated by the product and design quality value, material suit and material-product-design (MPD) value proposed in this work for a comparative assessment of the AM processes for a design. The higher the MPD value, the better the process. The visual aspect of the evaluation uses spider diagrams, which are evaluated analytically to confirm the results' appropriateness with the proposed methodology. Originality/value: The data used in the database is assumed to make the study comprehensive. The output aims to help opt for the best process out of the seven AM techniques for better and optimized manufacturing. This, as per the authors' knowledge, is not available yet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LLC resonant converter is a widely used DC/DC converter that offers the benefit of enabling soft switching compared to classical DC/DC converters. However, traditional PI control strategy based on a linear model has drawbacks such as slow dynamic response and poor anti-interference performance. To overcome the shortage, a passivitybased control strategy based on the Euler-Lagrange (EL) model is proposed in this paper to improve the dynamic performance of the half-bridge LLC resonant converter. In addition, the stability of the system based on the proposed strategy is analyzed and verified. Further, the effectiveness and performance of the proposed strategy is verified in the simulation by comparing with the traditional PI controller. Finally, a prototype was built to verify the dynamic performance of the LLC resonant converter based on the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) can be a green alternative extraction technology for microalgae lipids, acting simultaneously as a pre-treatment agent and solvent. However, due to the low vapor pressure of both DES and lipid solute, the recovery of lipids and solvent regeneration remains difficult. In this study, we developed a novel strategy to separate the dissolved sunflower and model algae oil from imidazole/hexanoic acid DES by using polar antisolvents (water, methanol, and ethanol). The polarity and the amount of antisolvent influenced the lipid solubility in DES. While the water was the strongest antisolvent, the alcohols were easier to evaporate, ensuring easy DES regeneration. By adding small amounts of water and methanol, more than 90% of the lipids were recovered in the form of high-purity oils (>90%). In the case of ethanol, a large amount of ethanol was required, which diluted the solvent-rich phase and solubilized more lipids in it. Based on three repeated cycles with the selected antisolvent methanol, > 90% of the eutectic solvent could be regenerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to characterise the formation of a strategy for ensuring the quality of distance education in Ukraine. Methods: content analysis of modern literature, analysis, synthesis, and modelling were used. The main criteria for selecting scientific sources are relevance, reliability, and impartiality. The scientific novelty is the professional development of a modern strategy for ensuring the quality of distance education in Ukraine based on the analysis of modern pedagogical literature. The results of the study describe four stages of the formation of an innovative strategy for ensuring the quality of distance education in Ukraine. It is determined that similar to the system of traditional full-time education, distance learning requires the establishment of rules and the creation of a comprehensive framework and guidelines. At the same time, the clarity and balance of educational regulations is important in the system of empowering educational institutions to ensure the effective participation of both teachers and students at all levels. The results note that the key components of a quality assurance strategy for distance education are programme planning, selection of appropriate digital technologies, teacher training, assessment and reporting, and continuous improvement of the entire educational system. Monitoring and identification of risk areas are also important parts of the strategy, which provide an accurate understanding of the dynamics of educational outcomes and facilitate timely adjustment of the educational process in distance learning. The conclusions emphasise that monitoring is a particularly important part of this strategy. It is this process that helps to ensure effective and high-quality education that meets the needs of modern students and society [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft matter‐based microlasers are widely regarded as excellent building blocks for realizing photonic interconnected networks in optoelectronic chips, owing to their flexibility and functional network topology. However, the potential of these devices is hindered by challenges such as poor lasing stability, high lasing threshold, and gaps in knowledge regarding cavity interconnection characteristics. In this study, the first demonstration of a high‐quality, low‐threshold nanoplatelets (NPLs)‐based polymer microfiber laser fabricated using capillary immersion techniques and its photonic interconnected networks are presented. CdSe/CdS@Cd1‐xZnxS core/buffer shell@graded‐shell NPLs with high optical gain characteristics are adopted as the gain medium. The study achieves a lasing threshold below 14.8 µJ cm−2, a single‐mode quality (Q)‐factor of ≈5500, and robust lasing stability in the fabricated NPLs‐based microfibers. Furthermore, the study pioneers the exploration of polygonal self‐coupling microlasers and the optical characteristics of their interconnected fiber network. Based on the signal generation mechanism observed in the photonic networks, an interconnected NPLs‐based fiber network structure achieving single‐mode lasing emission and laser mode modulation is successfully designed. The work contributes a novel method for realizing microlasers fabricated via soft‐matter technologies and provides a key foundation and new insights for unit design and programming for future photonic network systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grand Chinese endeavour, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a Chinese attempt to carve out its own economic development model. Technology transfer is essential to economic development and therefore it plays a central role in the BRI. While the World Trade Organization (WTO) envisages a liberal trade model for development including transfer of technology, does the BRI offer a different/alternative technology transfer model? This article deals with this question by analysing Chinese technology transferrelated policies, namely Intellectual Property (IP) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies in the context of the BRI. This article contrasts inbound/outbound Chinese technology transfer-related policies/practices and tries to forecast the impact of integrating these policies in the BRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One major issue in pharmaceutical supply chain management is the supply shortage, and determining the root causes of medicine shortages necessitates an in-depth investigation. The concept of risk management is proposed in this study to identify significant risk factors in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis and data envelopment analysis were used to evaluate the risks of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Based on a case study on the Malaysian pharmaceutical supply chain, it reveals that the pharmacy node is the riskiest link. The unavailability of medicine due to unexpected demand, as well as the scarcity of specialty or substitute drugs, pose the most significant risk factors. These risks could be mitigated by digital technology. We propose an appropriate digital technology platform consisting of big data analytics and blockchain technologies to undertake these challenges of supply shortage. By addressing risk factors through the implementation of a digitalized supply chain, organizations can fortify their supply networks, fostering resilience and efficiency, and thereby playing a pivotal role in advancing the Pharma 4.0 era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jabodetabek has been termed Indonesia's most populous urban area, and it is predicted to generate around 9.069 million tons/year by 2023. On the other hand, this area has promising agricultural prospects and requires a great deal of energy. Tractors, generators, and other agricultural equipment are necessary to increase productivity. Therefore, it can potentially convert waste into energy as an effective alternative fuel for agriculture. This study looked at ways to recover the waste to energy (WtE) with various technologies (incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, landfilling, and anaerobic digestion). The assessment indicators focus on the type of waste, energy production efficiency, energy produced, technological readiness, capacity, byproducts, costs, air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution. Each WtE technology is assessed using a scale between 1 (worst) and 5 (best) on each performance indicator concerning related references. Based on the analysis, the anaerobic digester is the most attractive WtE technology to generate an alternative fuel for agriculture in the Jabodetabek area. This is an environmentally friendly and economical technology because the technology readiness level is relatively mature. Thus, this review will assist policymakers and implementing authorities in determining the potential of the right WtE technologies for effective alternative fuel generation for agriculture, particularly in the metropolitan region of Jabodetabek. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Na‐ion batteries based on abundant and sustainable materials might become one of the leading alternative technologies especially suitable for large‐scale stationary storage. Various (mixed)phosphate framework materials are attracting much interest mainly due to their high structural stability and diversity. In this study, we report on the successful synthesis of mixed phosphate‐pyrophosphate Na7V4(PO4)(P2O7)4, Na4Fe3(PO4)2P2O7, and Na4Mn3(PO4)2P2O7. The electrochemical properties of these materials are comprehensively characterized in different organic and aqueous electrolytes. The findings reveal that Na7V4(PO4)(P2O7)4 and Na4Fe3(PO4)2P2O7 exhibit very good cycling performance and rate capability in organic solvent‐based electrolytes. However, their performance deteriorates significantly even in 'water‐in‐salt' aqueous electrolytes due to the rapid electrochemical degradation. Na4Mn3(PO4)2P2O7 demonstrates limited electrochemical activity in organic electrolytes and virtually no activity in 'water‐in‐salt' electrolytes, likely due to degradation processes resulting in blocking interphasial layers on electrode particles. These results underscore the need for further research to optimize the performance of these materials and identify potential strategies for enhancing their stability and activity in different electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main challenges in excavating roadways is implementing temporary supports that are powered by hydraulics and have high strength. The current temporary support system lacks active support and often causes separation between the top plate and the layer below. It is crucial to control the initial separation of the roadway roof for the stability of the surrounding rock, especially on roadways with loose and soft rock. This research focuses on the A4027 return airway in Sail Six Mine. The issues with the temporary support system in this airway have been identified. The concept and principle of using hydraulically driven, high-strength temporary support technology are proposed. A mechanical analysis model is created to study the stacked roof in the temporary support region, and the critical conditions for delamination of the top plate are determined. The relationship between the delamination difficulty parameter Q, the distance between temporary supports L, and the strength of the temporary supports q is quantified. Numerical simulation using Flac3d is used to model the relationship between the strength of the temporary supports and the deformation and stress of the rock on the roof. The overall strength of the temporary supports for the A4027 return airway is determined to be 10 kN/m2, with a distance of 2 m between the temporary supports. Hydraulically driven, high-strength temporary support devices are developed and tested for their strength. Field trials are conducted as well. The results show that the initial separation of the top plate is improved and that the support effect in the temporary support region is significant. The maximum separation of the top plate during excavation is only 34 mm, and the sinking of the top plate does not exceed 68 mm. This effectively limits the deformation of the surrounding rocks in the very soft coal seam, providing valuable insights for other roadways with similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an alternative to the current technologies, we explored the feasibility of using low cost and massive use of digital cameras as photometric sensors to retrieve the atmospheric total optical depth (τ) in the urban area of a city in the Colombian Andes. This study proposes a simple way to estimate τ from digital processing of images of the Sun based on the Beer-Bouguer-Lambert law Langley's linear fitting for the colour levels in channels red, green, and blue registered by the pixels of cameras' sensors. From February to March 2022, the τ values retrieved from the images were correlated to the retrieved values from a solar spectral radiometer (SSR). We found that τ is sensible to the featured changes in the local atmosphere and to the cameras' exposure parameters setup. Under conditions of partly clear sky, around 80% (r > 0.8) of the τ values from cameras showed a linear correspondence to those retrieved from SSR system. Its spectral dependency (τ _red < τ _green < τ _blue) is in accordance with the physical phenomena in light-atmosphere interaction. The results suggest that the methodology applied can be used for monitoring the atmosphere at any geographical location in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New concepts for Tokamak fusion reactors are enabled by ReBCO high temperature superconductors, either to achieve toroidal magnetic fields in the range of 20 T, and/or by operating temperatures above 4.2 K, e.g., 20 K. The application of ReBCO tapes is challenging because common techniques for the manufacturing and quench protection of magnets, developed for classical multifilamentary superconductors, such as NbTi and Nb3Sn, cannot be applied directly. Less risky would be the use of a ternary molybdenum chalcogenide (TMC) superconductor, which was under development before the discovery of high temperature superconductors. Although a low temperature superconductor, the upper critical field is extremely high resulting in a comparable field dependence of the critical current to ReBCO. Because of the improved superconductor fraction of a multifilamentary TMC conductor, the expected engineering current density can be one order of magnitude higher. In addition, a TMC conductor has the potential for cost efficiency and a performance index around 1 $/kAm at 20 T seems be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial micro-compartments (BMC) are complex macromolecular assemblies that participate in varied metabolic processes in about 20% of bacterial species. Most of these organisms carry BMC genetic information organized in operons that often include several paralog genes coding for components of the compartment shell. BMC shell constituents can be classified depending on their oligomerization state as hexamers (BMC-H), pentamers (BMC-P) or trimers (BMC-T). Formation of hetero-oligomers combining different protein homologs is theoretically feasible, something that could ultimately modify BMC shell rigidity or permeability, for instance. Despite that, it remains largely unknown whether hetero-oligomerization is a widespread phenomenon. Here, we demonstrated that the tripartite GFP (tGFP) reporter technology is an appropriate tool that might be exploited for such purposes. Thus, after optimizing parameters such as the size of linkers connecting investigated proteins to GFP10 or GFP11 peptides, the type and strength of promoters, or the impact of placing coding cassettes in the same or different plasmids, homo-oligomerization processes could be successfully monitored for any of the three BMC shell classes. Moreover, the screen perfectly reproduced published data on hetero-association between couples of CcmK homologues from Syn. sp. PCC6803, which were obtained following a different approach. This study paves the way for mid/high throughput screens to characterize the extent of hetero-oligomerization occurrence in BMC-possessing bacteria, and most especially in organisms endowed with several BMC types and carrying numerous shell paralogs. On the other hand, our study also unveiled technology limitations deriving from the low solubility of one of the components of this modified split-GFP approach, the GFP1-9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper improves the current situation of English language teaching from a technological perspective. Fuzzy that is a method of having local information to project the whole. Soft computing is a kind of optimization relative to traditional should computing, emphasizing the uncertainty and imprecision of things, and with the development of modern society, soft computing can solve many problems in production practice. Scenario teaching method is an important asset to enrich classroom content and mobilize students' learning enthusiasm. Situational teaching is the sum use of preparation before class to improvisation in the classroom. It has been proved that using scenario teaching in the process of English teaching can improve students' English ability. However, this traditional situational teaching method has problems such as incomplete evaluation index and poor teaching effect. To solve this problem, we constructed a new situational teaching method and a fuzzy evaluation system based on fuzzy sets and soft computing technology, and verified through experiments that both the new situational teaching method and the fuzzy evaluation system have good effects. At present, the popularity of situational English teaching is low, the overall level of English teaching is not high, fill-in-the-blank teaching is predominant, spoken English is weak, the cost of situational teaching is high, and teachers' willingness to implement it is low. To improve these problems, based on the research results above we propose the following four recommendations to improve the quality of contextualized teaching, solve the problems of contextualized teaching, and reduce teachers' pressure to prepare lessons. Finally, we make recommendations based on the current situation of the development of scenario-based teaching. (1) Build situational teaching in many ways. (2) Improve the quality of teachers' English. (3) Develop individualized improvement programs for students. (4) Promote the reform of teaching tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous emergence of new social media has promoted the interaction of data in life. In this context, big data technology has gradually become a type of technology with special value in the field of education. It realizes business decision-making through the collection and analysis of specific types of data. The application of technology to the field of education can realize the analysis of students' learning needs and classroom teaching efficiency, while the application of big data technology to piano teaching can strengthen the combination of piano teaching and technology, and at the same time provide more data analysis and decision support for the whole process of piano teaching. Soft computing simplifies the calculation process by combining a variety of sophisticated algorithms. Soft computing is similar to human brain processing and perception. It can complete multi-variable complex calculations through low-cost and uncertain processes. With the continuous integration, the variables generated in the teaching process gradually increase, and the application of soft computing technology can effectively solve the complex calculation problems caused by many variables in the analysis of piano teaching. This paper first analyzes the basic theory of big data, soft computing and piano informatization teaching, and then obtains the problems existing in the current piano informatization teaching through questionnaire survey and analysis, and designs piano informatization, teaching innovation model based on big data and soft computing technology respectively. Through the post-investigation of the piano informatization teaching institutions combined with technical strategies, it is found that the degree of match between the piano informatization teaching content of the institution and the students' learning needs, the evaluation accuracy of piano teachers' teaching effects, and the students' piano learning performance have improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional programming is a programming paradigm that is becoming increasingly popular among software developers. This is due in part to the rise of distributed systems and the need for more robust and scalable code. In the paper is presented an overview of the syntax and capabilities of Lambda expressions in three programming languages - C#, Java and Python. Performance of programming language constructions is an important research task. Some popular topics for investigation are comparison of programming languages efficiency in fields like bioinformatics or classification of Lambda expression usage and their productiveness. In the current study the performance of Lambda expressions is tested with three specific test cases and the results are compared to alternative technologies that could be used to solve similar problems. The results shows that speed performance of C# is the best from the compared languages and that List Comprehensions is the optimal method for collection filtering in Python. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]