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Copyright of Aula Abierta. Revista de Investigación, Formación e Innovación en Educación (RIFIE) is the property of Universidad de Oviedo, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to fully exploit the potential of compound enzyme preparations in improving the comprehensive quality of tobacco, cigarette blend modules were developed from large ratio Chongqing tobacco to study the key techniques of enzyme preparations for improving tobacco module quality in cigarette production. Three large ratio Chongqing tobacco blend modules were determined by blend formula selection and oral evaluation. By means of computer direct design and sensory quality scoring, different enzyme preparations and coordinated additive solvent system were developed, in combination with the sensory quality evaluation assigning means. The results showed after enzyme treatments, protein reduction rate could reach 21. 73%, while water-soluble total sugar and reducing sugar increase rate could reach 27. 76% and 27. 61% respectively. The pilot test had significant effects on tobacco module about reducing the irritancy, removing offensive odors, improving taste and purity of smoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gold-metallurgy brine was treated by electrodialysis reversal (EDR) which was investigated as the main stage of a pretreatment and EDR system. The sophisticated pretreatment included precipitation, ultrafiltration, adjusting pH and secondary filter to condition the quality of feed water to meet the EDR requirements, that make a key role on reducing the membrane fouling. In this pilot scale experiment, the gold-metallurgy brine with 79.7 g/L was desalinated and concentrated at a current density of 220.9 A/m2. The dilute was treated by EDR yielding 60% recovery. Meanwhile the concentrated solution was around 150 g/L, which can be reused in the system for size mixing respectively. The EDR desalination system has stably operated for 40 days with the dilute of low Ca2+, SO42− and Cl− concentrations to avoid gypsum crystallization blocking in pipelines under low temperature, and reducing corrosion of the cast iron pipe. The DC power consumption of the pilot EDR was about 0.55 kW•h per kilogram of salinity. The EDR showed an advantage of practical applications in desalination of high concentration wastewater to reuse the otherwise waste in industry system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of digital mobility services holds great promise for enhancing efficiency, convenience, and accessibility for passengers. However, these benefits are predominantly accessible to those proficient in utilizing these technologies, which may intensify the disparity in transportation usage. This paper presents plans to alleviate the digital divide in the mobility sector. First, two fundamental approaches were established through a literature review: (1) app usage education and (2) an AI-based Mobility Service App. To substantiate the effectiveness of these approaches, a pilot test was conducted in Seoul. The results of the pilot test showed that the AI-based Mobility Service App was effective for reducing travel time and enhancing the convenience of passage. Accordingly, the Technology Acceptance Model was adopted to derive technology acceptance factors of the AI-based Mobility Service App. Finally, a phased approach with short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans was proposed based on the analysis results to ensure sustainable policies in the mobility sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Coal Geology & Exploration is the property of Xian Research Institute of China Coal Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Human Resources Development Service of Korea developed a digital exam for five representative engineering categories and conducted a pilot study comparing the findings with the paper-and-pencil exam results from the last three years. This study aimed to compare the test efficiency between digital and paper-and-pencil examinations. A digital examination was conducted with 93 participants through two rounds of test-status measurements. We collected the following data: early check-out rate, pass rate, and the average total response time per grade. The composition ratio of each question type in the digital exam was determined per the "Exam Operation Regulation" and selected from a databank spanning five years by experienced instructors. The early check-out rate of the digital exam at the Engineer level was 90% (percentage points), approximately 15%p higher than that for the paper-and-pencil exam, but the pass rate was low (9.8%p); the response time per question for the digital exam was approximately 0.2 min shorter. The results for both exams were similar in the Industrial Engineer category. The early check-out rate did not positively affect the exam pass rate, but the time taken depended on the number and characteristics of the subjects. It is necessary to improve the simplification and convenience of digital examinations, optimize test environments, and establish operation and management systems in line with the change in the Korean Technical Qualification Framework. We also suggest a gradual shift to digital examination by developing questions and tools using technologies to accurately measure individual abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the design and upscaling of an on‐site regenerable adsorbent fixed bed of Fe‐loaded MFI zeolite for removal of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHCs) from contaminated groundwater from laboratory studies to pilot scale. The zeolite has an excellent adsorption performance for the hydrophilic CHCs and can be regenerated on‐site by flushing with H2O2 to degrade adsorbed contaminants by a catalytic Fenton‐like reaction. In the pilot test, the Fe‐zeolite (30 kg) maintained its performance over treatment of 1470 m3 of groundwater in 12 adsorption/regeneration cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilot testing is crucial when preparing any community-based vaccination coverage survey. In this paper, we use the term pilot test to mean informative work conducted before a survey protocol has been finalized for the purpose of guiding decisions about how the work will be conducted. We summarize findings from seven pilot tests and provide practical guidance for piloting similar studies. We selected these particular pilots because they are excellent models of preliminary efforts that informed the refinement of data collection protocols and instruments. We recommend survey coordinators devote time and budget to identify aspects of the protocol where testing could mitigate project risk and ensure timely assessment yields, credible estimates of vaccination coverage and related indicators. We list specific items that may benefit from pilot work and provide guidance on how to prioritize what to pilot test when resources are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first pilot test of polyacrylamide microsphere alternate surfactant flood (PMAS) with mixtures of anionic-cationic surfactants (Sa/c) was carried out for a high-temperature, high-salinity, and high-hardness sandstone reservoir to demonstrate the potential of this novel technique to improve oil recovery. A critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 4.82 mg/L, an ultralow interfacial tension (IFT) of 8 × 10−4 mN/m, and a high oil solubilization of 22 were obtained. Static and dynamic adsorptions of Sa/c on natural core containing 15 wt% clay were reduced to about 2.20 and 0.30 mg/g-core, respectively, with the addition of adsorption inhibitor (AI). Since June 2014, the pilot test of PMAS was carried out in a Sinopec reservoir with a temperature of 87 °C, a salinity of 260,393 mg/L, and a hardness of 6,401 mg/L. Twelve cycles of alternative injection of 0.0125 PV Sa/c with a concentration of 0.1% and 0.0125 PV polyacrylamide microsphere with a concentration of 0.2% were conducted at an injection rate of 0.1 PV/yr, for a total of 0.3 PV chemical injection. As a result, the net daily oil production increased from 0 t to 6.5 t, and the water cut decreased from 96.3% to 93.8%, leading to an ultimate improved oil recovery of 6.3% original oil-in-place.

In this paper, the effect of temperature on the extraction efficiency of oil and grease from anaerobically fermented kitchen waste was investigated through the analysis of pilot tests. Based on the results of multifactorial experiments, factors such as solid-liquid ratio and extraction time that affect oil and grease extraction were conditioned by combining the principle of response surface optimization experimental design. The optimal conditions for anaerobic fermentation for extracting kitchen waste oil and grease were obtained through response surface optimization experiments. Using the microwave-assisted solvent method, the effects of solvent type, extraction method, microwave power, temperature, time, and solid-liquid ratio on the oil and fat yield were investigated, and the experimental model was obtained by using the response surface. It was found that the extraction time (50 min), extraction temperature (110 ℃~130 ℃), and solid-liquid ratio (1:15 (mL/g)) had a greater effect on the oil yield. The experimental values basically coincided with the predicted values of the model, indicating that the model is real and reliable and can well predict the extraction efficiency of high-temperature anaerobic fermentation on kitchen waste oil and grease.

This paper reports the findings of a study aimed at addressing learning enablers in the Malaysian Armed Forces. To accomplish this objective, an instrument has been developed. The constructs used to assess learning enablers were derived from the literature review. A total of nine construct were used, namely continuous learning, dialogue and inquiry, team learning, employee empowerment, leadership for learning, system connections and embedded system. A perceptual measures adapted from the literature were developed and pre-tested with eight experts. Their comments and feedback were used to refine the measures. Accordingly, a pilot testing was conducted involving 40 respondents who were military officers. The results of the analysis showed that the measures were acceptably reliable. The findings of this study will be used for a follow-up study that will examine the interrelationship between those constructs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oilfield Chemistry is the property of Sichuan University, Oilfield Chemistry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Coal Geology & Exploration is the property of Xian Research Institute of China Coal Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Coal Geology & Exploration is the property of Xian Research Institute of China Coal Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The rapidly developing Covid-19 epidemic has resulted in nationwide lockdowns, putting many higher learning institutions (HLIs) at risk of extinction due to low profitability and limited finance. This upheaval has increased the pressure on institutions to capitalize on their intellectual resources and develop new economic models. HLIs are turning towards digital transformation as e-learning has become the new normal. This paper explains how pretest and pilot tests were used to improve the methodological reliability of research instruments and suggests that it should be a common step in research instrument development. Pretest, which consists of expert review, cognitive interviewing, and pilot testing, were carried out to manage challenges due to dissimilar context emerging from geographic, linguistic, and cultural differences as the instrument was adopted from past literature. Six professional experts were chosen for face validation, followed by a cognitive interview with 10 ten respondents from the actual respondent's list, which is the management of private university listed in SETARA Listing 2018. Pilot testing consisting of 30 respondents was conducted in the second stage to check reliability and validity. Results from expert review and cognitive interviewing allowed the researcher to quickly resolve issues based on 'respondents' feedback on the wording problems, relevance, and usability of the questionnaire. The results from the pilot test reliability analysis revealed that the scales had good internal consistency. Researchers were able to alter research instruments and enhance the research design because of the detailed pretest and pilot study conducted, which will guide the substantive investigation. This was an important aspect of the pretest and piloting phase since it allowed us to identify issues with the instruments' efficacy and the model transferability to the Malaysian private HLIs context.

(1) Background: Childhood obesity poses a global health challenge. In the period from two to six years, the fundamental risk factors are associated with modifiable habits, related to parental attitudes. In this study, we will analyze the construction and pilot test of the PRELSA Scale, designed to be a comprehensive tool that covers the whole problem of childhood obesity, from which we can later develop a brief instrument. (2) Methods: First, we described the scale construction process. After that, we conducted a pilot test on parents to check the instrument's comprehensibility, acceptability, and feasibility. We detected items to be modified or eliminated through two criteria: the frequencies of the categories of each item and responses in the Not Understood/Confused category. Finally, we sought expert opinion through a questionnaire to ensure the content validity of the scale. (3) Results: The pilot test on parents detected 20 possible items for modification and other changes in the instrument. The experts' questionnaire showed good values on the scale's content, highlighting some feasibility problems. The final version of the scale went from 69 items to 60. (4) Conclusions: Developing scales that detect parental attitudes associated with the onset of childhood obesity may be the basis for future interventions to address this health challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spent cathode carbon block (SCCB) is a hazardous waste produced by the electrolytic aluminum industry. Collaborative treatment of the SCCB in pulverized coal boilers is a potentially valuable technology. Pilot experiments were carried out on a 240 t/h pulverized coal boiler and its supporting flue gas treatment measures as a function of the mixing ratio of SCCB to verify the feasibility of coal collaborative disposal of SCCB. The thermal conversion characteristics of fluoride after mixing SCCB with coal were studied. A continuous emission monitoring system was used to monitor the impact on SO 2 , NO x and particulate matter in real time. The effectiveness of existing flue gas control measures was evaluated, and optimization suggestions of the flue gas control measures were postulated. The content of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Ni, Pb, As, Se) in solid waste from co-combustion and the physical phase of solid waste were investigated. In addition, the transformation of heavy metals such as Hg, Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, As and fluoride in defluorination wastewater during flue gas treatment were analyzed. The results show that it is feasible to use a pulverized coal boiler to dispose SCCB. The existing flue gas treatment measures proved to be appropriate, and desulfurization wastewater can achieve the discharge standards. Defluorination gypsum, fly ash and slag are not hazardous waste. When the mixing ratio of SCCB is increased, the existing neutralization and flocculation precipitation processes of the desulfurization wastewater are affected. It is suggested to add Al 2 O 3 for the defluorination process before the desulfurization tower. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation developed an International Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) Registry (ICRR) to support CR programs in low-resource settings to optimize care provision and patient outcomes. This study assessed implementation of the ICRR, site data steward experience with on-boarding and data entry, and patient acceptability. Multimethod observational pilot involves (I) analysis of ICRR data from three centers (Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar) from inception to May 2022, (II) focus group with on-boarded site data stewards (also from Mexico and India), and (III) semistructured interviews with participating patients. Five hundred sixty-seven patients were entered. Based on volumes at each program, 85.6% of patients were entered in ICRR. 99.3% patients approached consented to participate. The average time to enter data at pre- and follow-up assessments by source was 6.8–12.6 min. Of 22 variables preprogram, completion was 89.5%. Among patients with any follow-up data, of four program-reported variables, completion was 99.0% in program completers and 51.5% in none; of 10 patient-reported variables, completion was 97.0% in program completers and 84.8% in none. The proportion of patients with any follow-up data was 84.8% in program completers, with 43.6% of noncompleters having any data entered other than completion status. Twelve data stewards participated in the focus group. Main themes were valuable on-boarding process, data entry, process of engaging patients, and benefits of participation. Thirteen patients were interviewed. Themes were good understanding of the registry, positive experience providing data, and value of lay summary and eagerness for annual assessment. Feasibility and data quality of ICRR were demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 1616 Program is a newly developed and evidence-informed story-based positive youth development (PYD) program for young ice hockey players (10–12 years of age) in North America. The program uses elite ice hockey players as role models—through story-telling—to serve as inspirational figures to engage youth athletes and important social agents (i.e., parents, coaches) with evidence-informed PYD concepts. The objective of this study was to use a Proof-of-Concept evaluation to assess whether the 1616 Program 'worked' in enhancing PYD outcomes and to determine if the concepts were engaging and enjoyable for youth, their parents, and coaches. The 5 week Proof-of-Concept evaluation was conducted with 11 ice hockey teams (n = 160 youths, 93 parents, and 11 coaches), encompassing both qualitative (e.g., focus groups) and quantitative (e.g., retrospective pretest-posttest questionnaires) processes and outcome assessments. Results showed that the program was well received by participants and positively impacted the intended outcomes. Overall, the data presented in this Proof-of-Concept evaluation was deemed to support the development and implementation of the full-scale 1616 Program for a more comprehensive evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the results obtained from a large-scale trial designed to assess the impact of the backfilling of waste mine burden in an exhausted pit on the quality of lake water. The trial aimed at understanding the interaction between groundwater and clay and silty sand soils composing the overburden material. The two main environmental concerns related to the turbidity of the water and the concentration of sulphate ions. Tests were designed to (I) assess the interaction between soil and water; (II) measure the turbidity of water, related to the amount of solid particles in suspension; (III) observe the sedimentation of fine particles; (IV) measure the concentration of sulphate ions during backfilling and water pumping operations; and (V) validate an analytical model for the prediction of sulphate quantity in water. The main results indicated that the basin was capable to retain particles with sizes in the order of diameters that were nearly 10 microns. The water pumping was responsible for a relevant motion of fine particles (diameter less than 2 μm); this effect impacted on the turbidity level observed at the outflow in a relevant way. On the other hand, the test indicated that the estimation of the release of sulphate ions in the water was heavily affected by a proper assumption of the average background values of the concentration of sulphate ions in the water before the dumping activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RESPACC was an Erasmus + funded project to develop a framework of core research competencies for palliative care (PC) clinicians and supporting education materials (http://www.studiipaliative.ro/projects/research-respacc/). The supporting materials included a self-assessment quiz to guide PC multidisciplinary team members on areas of research understanding that needed further development. The objective was to pilot the self-assessment quiz developed based on the research competency framework for PC clinical teams and test it for face validity and clarity. Methods: A pilot observational study was conducted to test the self-assessment quiz for face validity and clarity. The self-assessment quiz was developed between May-November 2021. It was structured to include questions about each of the competencies in the seven domains of the framework, using the examples. Items within the quiz were responded on a 5-points ordinal scale, with participants identifying their perceived competency as: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient, Expert (each clearly defined). The quiz was developed in English and then translated into the national languages of partners (Greek, Romanian, Spanish). The quiz was piloted with Romanian PC professionals attending the National Palliative Care Conference. Questions about clarity of the quiz, suggestions for improvements were asked together with some demographic data about participants. Results: Multidisciplinary PC clinicians participated in the pilot testing (18 physicians, 4 nurses, 2 psychologists and 1 physiotherapist). Most (n=15) had less than one year of experience in PC. Participants identified themselves as: Novice (n=5), Advanced beginner (n=9), Competent (n=5), Proficient (n=3), Expert (n=3). All respondents answered all question without difficulties and considered the quiz to be clearly written, well structured and adequate. Conclusions: The self-assessment quiz is easy to use, and may be useful in helping members of PC teams assess their competencies and identify their research education needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD) team is developing the new Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) measure of the impact of dermatological conditions on the patient’s life, in partnership with patients. To develop PRIDD, we conducted a systematic review, followed by a qualitative interview study with 68 patients worldwide and subsequently a global Delphi survey of 1,154 patients to ensure PRIDD items were meaningful and important to patients.ObjectiveTo pilot test PRIDD with patients with dermatological conditions, focusing on its content validity (comprehensiveness, comprehensibility, and relevance), acceptability, and feasibility.MethodsWe conducted a theory-led qualitative study using the Three-Step Test-Interview method of cognitive interviewing. Three rounds of semi-structured interviews were conducted online. Adults (≥ 18 years) living with a dermatological condition and who spoke English sufficiently to take part in the interview were recruited through the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations’ (GlobalSkin) global membership network. The topic guide met the gold-standard COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) standards for cognitive interviewing. Analysis followed the thematic analytical model of cognitive interviewing.ResultsTwelve people (58% male) representing six dermatological conditions from four countries participated. Overall, patients found PRIDD to be comprehensible, comprehensive, relevant, acceptable, and feasible. Participants were able to discern the conceptual framework domains from the items. Feedback resulted in: the recall period being extended from 1 week to 1 month; removal of the ‘not relevant’ response option; and changes to the instructions and item ordering and wording to improve clarity and increase respondents’ confidence in their ability to respond. These evidence-based adjustments resulted in a 26-item version of PRIDD.ConclusionThis study met the gold-standard COSMIN criteria for the pilot testing of health measurement instruments. The data triangulated our previous findings, in particular the conceptual framework of impact. Our findings illuminate how patients understand and respond to PRIDD and other patient-reported measurement instruments. The results of comprehensibility, comprehensiveness, relevance, acceptability, and feasibility of PRIDD provide evidence of content validity from the target population. The next step in the development and validation of PRIDD is psychometric testing.

Recently modern methodologies allowed the improvement of conventional bioventing strategies in an engineering technology known as smart passive bioventing (S-PBv). The latter is an increasingly used application to reduce the concentrations of organic contaminants below the relative value of contamination threshold concentration (CSC). The S-PBv exploits the natural fluctuations of atmospheric pressure, which allow air to enter into the subsoil, to facilitate natural remediation processes. In this way, the efforts in terms of economics resources in the remediation process are minimised, the risk of pollutants volatilization is drastically reduced, and the degradation favoured by microorganisms is promoted. Our study aims to provide the essential information to plan a series of in situ tests (pilot test) to verify the applicability of this remediation technology, through the use of intelligent sensors designed and engineered using open-source hardware and software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mining & Metallurgy (10057854) is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• SLEEP-CF is an acceptable and feasible behavioral sleep intervention for youth with CF. • Results suggest some benefit related to sleep outcomes for youth with CF. • CF care teams are encouraged to assess sleep health and habits as a component of routine clinical care. Youth with CF are at increased risk for physiological and behavioral sleep difficulties due to disease-specific symptoms and more general pediatric sleep challenges. Despite evidence suggesting that behavioral sleep interventions are effective for improving common sleep difficulties, no interventions exist for youth with CF. SLEEP-CF was designed to fill this gap by providing tailored, flexible behavioral sleep support to youth with CF. Results suggest that SLEEP-CF is an acceptable and feasible behavioral sleep intervention, even in a population with normative sleep habits. There may be benefit in terms of improving sleep knowledge and sleep hygiene. Technology use during and after bedtime is prevalent. CF care team members are encouraged to assess sleep as part of routine CF care, and to provide support as indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology has recently emerged to remove barriers in front of oil reserves that other methods cannot produce. Nanoparticles with a size of 1-100 nanometers are capable of causing changes in some properties that have a positive impact on oil recovery from reservoirs. The role of nanotechnology in increasing oil production is still limited to laboratory experiments. These laboratory experiments have proven the ability of these nanoparticles to make a difference in the extracted oil. This paper will present a practical case to apply nanotechnology in two different Egyptian fields. The first field is a sandstone reservoir and the second field is a limestone reservoir. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs is the property of Special Oil & Gas Reservoirs Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Pilot testing is crucial when preparing any community-based vaccination coverage survey. In this paper, we use the term pilot test to mean informative work conducted before a survey protocol has been finalized for the purpose of guiding decisions about how the work will be conducted. We summarize findings from seven pilot tests and provide practical guidance for piloting similar studies. We selected these particular pilots because they are excellent models of preliminary efforts that informed the refinement of data collection protocols and instruments. We recommend survey coordinators devote time and budget to identify aspects of the protocol where testing could mitigate project risk and ensure timely assessment yields, credible estimates of vaccination coverage and related indicators. We list specific items that may benefit from pilot work and provide guidance on how to prioritize what to pilot test when resources are limited.

The rapid growth of cover crop planting area in the U.S. helps with erosion control, soil health, control of greenhouse gases, and also provides abundant biomass for the production of bioenergy and bioproducts. Given the cover crops' compositional heterogeneity and variability, a tolerate platform technology such as anaerobic digestion (AD) is preferred but has not been widely used for cover crop biorefining. This study evaluated the biogas and methane yields from six cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crops grown in the Midwest, using both bench- and pilot-scale anaerobic digesters. The effects of two critical factors, the total solids (TS) content and ensiling, on digester performance were also investigated. Methane yields of 174.79–225.23 L/kg-VS were obtained from the bench-scale tests using cereal rye as the mono feedstock. The pilot-scale test with no pH adjustment showed a slightly higher methane yield. Ensiling increased the methane yield by 23.08% at 6% TS, but disturbed AD at 8% TS, and failed AD at 10% and 15% TS. Findings from this study would help farmers and the biorefining industry to determine the baseline performance and revenue of cereal rye AD and to develop strategies for process control and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Explore the influence of shaking on the performance of centrifugal filter of sulfur recovery process. Methods The self built anti-slosh pilot test device of the filter was used to conduct experimental research on the solid content of sulfur paste (mass fraction of solids in mixture), sulfur recovery and filtration efficiency under different shaking conditions, rotating speed of the centrifugal filter and mesh number of filter cloth, and the adaptability of the centrifugal filter in the offshore sulfur recovery process was analyzed. Results (1) The centrifugal filter could still maintain a good filtering effect under the shaking condition, and the solid content in the output sulfur paste could reach more than 90%, the effect of shaking on the solid content of sulfur paste was not more than 6 %, and the stability was better at high speed. (2) Sulfur recovery rate could be maintained at more than 94%, increasing filter mesh number or reducing speed could improve recovery rate. (3) Compared with 600 mesh filter cloth, 350 mesh filter cloth had higher filtration efficiency, and the filtration time could be shortened by more than 80 % . Conclusions In terms of filtration effect and operation stability, the centrifugal filter has strong offshore adaptability and can meet the requirements of offshore sulfur recovery process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapidly developing Covid-19 epidemic has resulted in nationwide lockdowns, putting many higher learning institutions (HLIs) at risk of extinction due to low profitability and limited finance. This upheaval has increased the pressure on institutions to capitalize on their intellectual resources and develop new economic models. HLIs are turning towards digital transformation as elearning has become the new normal. This paper explains how pretest and pilot tests were used to improve the methodological reliability of research instruments and suggests that it should be a common step in research instrument development. Pretest, which consists of expert review, cognitive interviewing, and pilot testing, were carried out to manage challenges due to dissimilar context emerging from geographic, linguistic, and cultural differences as the instrument was adopted from past literature. Six professional experts were chosen for face validation, followed by a cognitive interview with 10 ten respondents from the actual respondent's list, which is the management of private university listed in SETARA Listing 2018. Pilot testing consisting of 30 respondents was conducted in the second stage to check reliability and validity. Results from expert review and cognitive interviewing allowed the researcher to quickly resolve issues based on 'respondents' feedback on the wording problems, relevance, and usability of the questionnaire. The results from the pilot test reliability analysis revealed that the scales had good internal consistency. Researchers were able to alter research instruments and enhance the research design because of the detailed pretest and pilot study conducted, which will guide the substantive investigation. This was an important aspect of the pretest and piloting phase since it allowed us to identify issues with the instruments' efficacy and the model transferability to the Malaysian private HLIs context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the development of Q oilfield in Bohai Sea as an example, the performance evaluation of the new polymer microsphere regulating and flooding system was systematically studied by conducting laboratory experiment and mathematical analysis to solve the problems of serious water channeling and curb the increasing production decline in the middle and late development of offshore heavy oil fields. Results show that with the increase of swelling time, the particle size of polymer microspheres increases first, then decreases and tends to be stable. In terms of microstructure, the spherical mesh structure with uniform distribution is formed in the middle and early stage, and the molecular structure degrades and forms a large-scale "agglomeration" phenomenon in the late stage. Microsphere system has strong plugging ability for high permeability reservoir, and the relationship affecting the plugging rate features that the core permeability is greater than the microsphere concentration and the swelling time. The microsphere system can greatly adjust the interlayer water absorption profile, realize the flow direction and expand the micro-oil displacement efficiency. The method was used to carry out the field test of microsphere control and flooding in Q oilfield. The combined formula of "high concentration front slug and low concentration main slug" was adopted. The mass concentration of microsphere was between 3000mg/L and 6000mg/L, and the injected slug volume was between 0.02PV and 0.03PV. The effective rate of regulating and flooding measures reached 100%, with the average daily oil increase of well group being 20m3/d, the water cut decreased by 2.6%, and the accumulative oil increase being 8.5×104m3. The effect of water control and oil increase was obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a holistic process of a pilot test to determine the trustworthiness of semi-structured interview questions to be used in the qualitative investigation of Malaysia primary school active learning needs analysis, by focusing on the learner control peculiarity in the context. The researchers carried out the pilot test based on a sequential cycle of determining, assessment, adjustment, revisiting, and reflection. The researchers generated semi-structured interview questions mainly based on Hutchinson and Waters's (1987) framework for analysis of learning needs. The researchers tested the semi-structured interview questions on two teacher and two pupil participants mirroring the intended subjects in the field. The pilot test allows the researchers to practice beforehand the semi-structured interview techniques and provides valuable insights for the researchers to modify and improve the interview questions. Finally, this paper reports the modification or refinement made to the interview questions, which proves that the questions are readied to be used in future study. This paper also provides methodological insights for other researchers, who may also undertake qualitative interview methods in active learning studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of smoking in the United States general population has gradually declined to the lowest rate ever recorded; however, this has not been true for persons with HIV. Objective: We conducted a pilot test to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the Lumme Quit Smoking mobile app and smartwatch combination with sensing capabilities to improve smoking cessation in persons with HIV. Methods: A total of 40 participants were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned 1:1 to the control arm, which received an 8-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy, a 30-minute smoking cessation counseling session, and weekly check-in calls with study staff, or to the intervention arm, which additionally received the Lumme Quit Smoking app and smartwatch. Results: Of the 40 participants enrolled, 37 completed the follow-up study assessments and 16 used the app every day during the 56-day period. During the 6-month recruitment and enrollment period, 122 people were screened for eligibility, with 67.2% (82/122) deemed ineligible. Smoking criteria and incompatible tech were the major reasons for ineligibility. There was no difference in the proportion of 7-day point prevalence abstinence by study arm and no significant decrease in exhaled carbon monoxide for the intervention and control arms separately. However, the average exhaled carbon monoxide decreased over time when analyzing both arms together (P=.02). Conclusions: Results suggest excellent feasibility and acceptability of using a smoking sensor app among this smoking population. The knowledge gained from this research will enable the scientific community, clinicians, and community stakeholders to improve tobacco cessation outcomes for persons with HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multilevel interventions are necessary to address the complex social contributors to health that limit pre-exposure prophylaxis use among Black women, including medical distrust, pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma, and access to equitable health care. Strategies to improve knowledge, awareness, and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis among Black women will be more successful if information-sharing and implementation take place within trusted environments. Providing women with information through trusted cultural and social channels can effectively support informed decision-making about pre-exposure prophylaxis for themselves and members of their social networks who are eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Objective: The goal of this project is to improve knowledge, awareness, uptake, and trust of pre-exposure prophylaxis, as well as reduce pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma, among Black women living in the US South. Methods: This multilevel, mixed methods study uses a community-engagement approach to develop and pilot test a salon-based intervention. There are three components of this intervention: (1) stylist training, (2) women-focused entertainment videos and modules, and (3) engagement of a pre-exposure prophylaxis navigator. First, stylist training will be provided through two 2-hour training sessions delivered over 2 consecutive weeks. We will use a pre- and posttest design to examine knowledge and awareness improvement of pre-exposure prophylaxis among the stylists. Upon full completion of training, the stylists will receive a certificate of completion and “Ask Me about PrEP” signage for their beauty salons. Second, together with the community, we have codeveloped a 4-part entertainment series (The Wright Place) that uses culturally and socially relevant stories to highlight key messages about (1) HIV, (2) pre-exposure prophylaxis, and (3) Black women’s social contributors to health. Quantitative and qualitative measures will be used in a pre- and posttest design to examine pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, awareness, risk, stigma, trust, intentions, and women’s perceptions of the usability and acceptability of the overall intervention and its implementation strategies. A video blog will be provided after each video. Third, participants will have access through an email or text message link to a pre-exposure prophylaxis navigator, who will respond to them privately to answer questions or make referrals for pre-exposure prophylaxis as requested. Results: This project was funded in October 2020 by Gilead Sciences and was approved by the Duke University School of Nursing institutional review board in April 2021 (Pro00106307). Intervention components were developed in partnership with community partners in the first year. Data collection for phase 1 began in April 2022. Data collection for phase 2 began in May 2022. The study will be complete by October 2022. Conclusions: Multilevel interventions that consider the assets of the community have promise for promoting health among Black women who have influence within their social networks. The findings of this study have the potential to be generalizable to other populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of nanofiltration on salt separation in high‐salt wastewater, a pilot plant of nanofiltration combined with a "sand filtration–carbon filtration–ultrafiltration–ozone" pretreatment process is designed. The water used in the pilot‐scale study is the sodium salt wastewater from a battery factory in Tianjin Binhai industrial park. Under the continuous and stable operation of the pilot plant, the key consideration is to investigate the retention rate of monovalent and divalent salt ions in high‐salt wastewater by nanofiltration membranes. The results show that the combined process has a good removal effect on pollutants in wastewater. Among them, the removal rates of conventional pollutants such as turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total dissolved solids (TDS) are 97.5, 92.35, and 87.06%, respectively. The retention rate of SO42− is as high as 99.7%, but there is a negative retention phenomenon of Cl−. The main inorganic salts Na2SO4 and NaCl in high‐salt wastewater could be effectively separated. The efficiency of the combined process to remove pollutants and different salts mainly focuses on the nanofiltration part. The pretreatment has a specific removal effect on the turbidity and macromolecular organics of wastewater, reducing the pressure for the subsequent membrane process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Natural Gas Industry is the property of Natural Gas Industry Journal Agency and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Latinoamericana de Metodología de las Ciencias Sociales is the property of Universidad Nacional de La Plata and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• PZ-activated CPAE is developed for CO 2 capture. • CPAE/PZ exhibits high CO 2 cycling capacity and a rapid reaction rate. • CPAE/PZ has lower energy consumption and is more stable than MEA. • Molecular simulations indicate the lowest energy barrier for carbon capture by CPAE. With the serious climate change and carbon emissions issues facing the world, it is becoming increasingly important to find effective methods to reduce the post-combustion CO 2 concentrations. Piperazine −enhanced aqueous amine solvents are still being developed due to the technology is more applicable to large −scale industry. However, the sustainability of the CO 2 capture process is still hindered by high energy consumption and amine losses. To tackle this issue, a novel secondary amine, 2-cyclopentylaminoethanol, was synthesized from a primary amine, monoethanolamine. It has a more stable structure than monoethanolamine and was further activated by piperazine. Its effectiveness was compared with piperazine-enhanced N-methyldiethanolamine, N-methyldiethanolamine/triethylenediamine, and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol. The experimental results showed that 2-cyclopentylaminoethanol/piperazine presents the fastest CO 2 mass transfer rate, the largest CO 2 cyclic capacity and a lower latent heat. The regeneration energy consumption of the absorbent is approximately 2.44 GJ/ton CO 2 , which is approximately 37.45% lower than that of 30 wt% monoethanolamine solvent. The results are in accordance with the findings of a laboratory-scale pilot plant study, which demonstrated an average reduction of 35.3% in energy consumption. Molecular simulations have revealed that 2-cyclopentylaminoethanol exhibits the lowest energy barrier for reacting with CO 2 , rendering it more conducive to CO 2 reaction. The intermolecular interactions indicate that the hydrogen bonding in the solution after monoethanolamine reacts with CO₂ becomes more pronounced, coupled with a higher energy barrier. Consequently, a greater amount of energy is required during desorption. It can be inferred that 2-cyclopentylaminoethanol/piperazine is a promising energy-efficient and stable absorbent for post-combustion CO 2 capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective This study describes the iterative process of selecting an infographic for use in a large, randomized trial related to trust in science, COVID-19 misinformation, and behavioral intentions for non-pharmaceutical prevenive behaviors. Five separate concepts were developed based on underlying subcomponents of ‘trust in science and scientists’ and were turned into infographics by media experts and digital artists. Study participants (n = 100) were recruited from Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and randomized to five different arms. Each arm viewed a different infographic and provided both quantitative (narrative believability scale and trust in science and scientists inventory) and qualitative data to assist the research team in identifying the infographic most likely to be successful in a larger study. Results Data indicated that all infographics were perceived to be believable, with means ranging from 5.27 to 5.97 on a scale from one to seven. No iatrogenic outcomes were observed for within-group changes in trust in science. Given equivocal believability outcomes, and after examining confidence intervals for data on trust in science and then the qualitative responses, we selected infographic 3, which addressed issues of credibility and consensus by illustrating changing narratives on butter and margarine, as the best candidate for use in the full study.

(1) Background: Childhood obesity poses a global health challenge. In the period from two to six years, the fundamental risk factors are associated with modifiable habits, related to parental attitudes. In this study, we will analyze the construction and pilot test of the PRELSA Scale, designed to be a comprehensive tool that covers the whole problem of childhood obesity, from which we can later develop a brief instrument. (2) Methods: First, we described the scale construction process. After that, we conducted a pilot test on parents to check the instrument’s comprehensibility, acceptability, and feasibility. We detected items to be modified or eliminated through two criteria: the frequencies of the categories of each item and responses in the Not Understood/Confused category. Finally, we sought expert opinion through a questionnaire to ensure the content validity of the scale. (3) Results: The pilot test on parents detected 20 possible items for modification and other changes in the instrument. The experts’ questionnaire showed good values on the scale’s content, highlighting some feasibility problems. The final version of the scale went from 69 items to 60. (4) Conclusions: Developing scales that detect parental attitudes associated with the onset of childhood obesity may be the basis for future interventions to address this health challenge.