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Purpose To build public trust in the accounting profession, previous research studies have stressed the need for ethics education. This present research aims to investigate the effects of teaching ethics using the ethics education toolkit (EET) developed by the International Accounting Education Standards Board on accounting students’ moral judgment. Design/methodology/approach An experimental design was used to determine the effects of teaching ethics using the EET on moral judgment. Data were obtained using the multidimensional ethics scale questionnaire and analysed with multiple linear regression. Factor analysis was performed to obtain the four moral philosophies defined in the literature. Findings The results confirm that use of the EET improves the moral judgment of accounting students. The influence of utilitarianism and relativism on moral judgment was reduced, while the students’ ability to recognise violating an unwritten contract as an unethical act was improved. Contrary to expectations, the influence of justice on moral judgment decreased. Practical implications The study may benefit academics by showing positive outcomes of EET use. The EET is a well-developed teaching tool, also suitable for educators insufficiently qualified to develop their own ethics courses or facing time constraints. Originality/value The EET was developed to support implementation of ethics education in programmes for professional accountants. By investigating the applicability and effects of the tool in higher education, this study aims to develop moral judgment in accounting students before they enter the accounting profession.

Resumen Introducción. El lactosuero es el residuo líquido obtenido de la fabricación de quesos con valor nutricional aprovechable. Contiene el 95 % de la lactosa, 25 % de las proteínas y 8 % de la materia grasa del total de componentes de la leche. Objetivo. Elaborar una bebida refrescante de suero lácteo con la adición de harina de arroz y concentrado de naranja. Materiales y métodos. El trabajo experimental se desarrolló en los laboratorios del Departamento de Alimentos del Instituto de Farmacia y Alimentos de la Universidad de La Habana-Cuba, entre enero y mayo de 2021. Se caracterizaron las materias primas: lactosuero, harina de arroz y jugo concentrado de naranja. Se aplicó un diseño de mezcla con base en el programa Design–expert versión 8.0, para seleccionar la mejor formulación (combinación de ingredientes). Las variables independientes en porcentaje fueron: suero (79, 95 a 84,15), jugo concentrado de naranja (7 a 11) y estabilizante goma guar (de 0,1 a 0,3) y como variables de respuesta aceptabilidad y estabilidad de la bebida obtenida. La mejor combinación de ingredientes fue evaluada por un panel de jueces con base en la intensidad de los atributos olor, sabor a naranja y consistencia, mediante los atributos “ligero”, “moderado” y “marcado”. Resultados. La mejor formulación estuvo compuesta por suero (84,15 %), concentrado de naranja (7 %), azúcar refino (5 %), harina de arroz (3,75 %) y estabilizante goma guar (0,1 %). Los catadores otorgaron a la bebida la evaluación integral de “me gusta”, según sus criteros la intensidad del olor a naranja fue ligero y moderado, el sabor a naranja moderado y la consistencia ligera. Conclusión. Todas las formulaciones ensayadas mostraron buena estabilidad y aceptabilidad sensorial adecuada. La mejor combinación no presentó separación de fases a las 24 horas de elaborada y fue caracterizada por veinte catadores. Abstract Introduction. Whey is the residual liquid product of the manufacture of cheese with useful nutritional value. It contains 95 % of the lactose, 25 % of the proteins and 8 % of fat of the total milk components. Objective. To elaborate a refreshing whey drink with the addition of rice flour and orange concentrate. Materials and methods. The experimental work was realized at Food Department laboratories belongs to Pharmacy and Foods Institute from Universidad de La Habana-Cuba, between January and May 2021. The raw materials: whey, rice flower, and orange concentrated juice were characterized. A mix design was applied using Design–expert version 8.0 program to get the better formulation (combination of ingredients). The independent variables in percentage were: whey (79.95 to 84.15), concentrated orange juice (7 to 11), and guar gum stabilizer (from 0.1 to 0.3), and as response variables, acceptability and stability of the obtained drink. The best combination of ingredients was evaluated by a panel of judges based on the intensity of the odor, orange flavor, and consistency, using the attibutes “light”, “moderate” and “marked”. Results. The best formulation was composed of whey (84.15 %), orange concentrate (7 %), refined sugar (5 %), rice flour (3.75 %), and guar gum stabilizer (0.1 %). The sensorial acceptability criteria given by the training judges was “I like it”. Regarding the intensity of the orange smell, the whey beverage received a balanced criteria between the “light” and “moderate” ratings and the consistency was qualified as “light”. Conclusions. All formulations tested showed good stability and adequate sensory acceptability. The best combination showed no phase separation at 24 hours after processing and was characterized by twenty tasters.

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of development in which well-being usually decreases, mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) increase, and lifestyles become less healthy. Schools are a primary setting for the promotion of the well-being and overall health of adolescents, and preventive actions should be a priority within the scope of health-promoting schools. #EntreViagenseAprendizagens is a school-based intervention aiming to promote well-being and healthy lifestyles among adolescents based on social and emotional learning, positive psychology, and health education approaches. Methods: This protocol describes a school-based intervention, #EntreViagenseAprendizagens, that will be implemented in several schools in Portugal. The program is aimed at 8th and 9th grade students (14–16 years old) and comprises 20 weekly sessions. One of the sessions is aimed at the students’ parents/guardians. The intervention content targets social and emotional skills, health literacy (physical and mental health), healthy lifestyles, character strengths, and well-being. An experimental design will be used in the intervention evaluation. Eighth grade classes will be randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. All students complete the same assessment protocol at baseline, post-intervention, and 9-month follow-up. The impact assessment protocol includes measures related to well-being, health literacy, health-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, relationships with others, social and emotional skills, and sociodemographic data. Process evaluation includes evaluation forms at the end of each session and at the end of the program and focus groups with students, parents, and teachers at the end of the program. Discussion: This school-based intervention may play an important role in promoting students’ well-being and in preventing unhealthy lifestyles and socio-emotional maladjustment, by focusing on the development of social and emotional skills and health literacy among adolescents, empowering them to face the changing future and grow up healthy. Furthermore, this project aims to provide relevant scientific findings that can contribute to the development of better health-promoting schools.

Background: Adolescence is a critical period of development in which well-being usually decreases, mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety) increase, and lifestyles become less healthy. Schools are a primary setting for the promotion of the well-being and overall health of adolescents, and preventive actions should be a priority within the scope of health-promoting schools. #EntreViagenseAprendizagens is a school-based intervention aiming to promote well-being and healthy lifestyles among adolescents based on social and emotional learning, positive psychology, and health education approaches. Methods: This protocol describes a school-based intervention, #EntreViagenseAprendizagens, that will be implemented in several schools in Portugal. The program is aimed at 8th and 9th grade students (14–16 years old) and comprises 20 weekly sessions. One of the sessions is aimed at the students’ parents/guardians. The intervention content targets social and emotional skills, health literacy (physical and mental health), healthy lifestyles, character strengths, and well-being. An experimental design will be used in the intervention evaluation. Eighth grade classes will be randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group. All students complete the same assessment protocol at baseline, post-intervention, and 9-month follow-up. The impact assessment protocol includes measures related to well-being, health literacy, health-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, relationships with others, social and emotional skills, and sociodemographic data. Process evaluation includes evaluation forms at the end of each session and at the end of the program and focus groups with students, parents, and teachers at the end of the program. Discussion: This school-based intervention may play an important role in promoting students’ well-being and in preventing unhealthy lifestyles and socio-emotional maladjustment, by focusing on the development of social and emotional skills and health literacy among adolescents, empowering them to face the changing future and grow up healthy. Furthermore, this project aims to provide relevant scientific findings that can contribute to the development of better health-promoting schools.

Many of the graphene-based structures exhibit an adsorption capacity due to their high specific surface area (SSA) and micropore volume. This capacity makes them competent materials for applications in energy and environmental sectors where efficiency is highly dependent on these properties for applications, such as water decontamination, solar cells or energy storage. The aim of this work is to study graphene-related materials (GRM) for applications where a high SSA is a requirement, considering the ideal SSA of graphene ≅ 2600 m2g−1. For the synthesis of most of the GRMs, some oxidation method such as the Tour method is used to oxidize graphite to graphite oxide (GrO) as an initial step. Our work studies the optimization of this initial step to evaluate the best conditions to obtain GrO with the maximum possible SSA. The different parameters influencing the process have been evaluated and optimized by applying an experimental design (ED). The resulting materials have been characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), elemental analysis (EA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The evaluation of the results shows a maximum SSA of GrO of 67.04 m2g−1 for a temperature of 60 °C, a time of 12 h, a H2O2 volume of 50 mL and 4 g of KMnO4.

Summary Statement The paper is interested on the impact of emotions on consumer disclosure decision-making. Specifically, how induced frustration can affect divulgence decision-making and whether it amplifies over-disclosure or clam-up. Using the visceral states of the hot-cold empathy gap, we compare decisions made between calm and frustrated participants on the fronts of divulgence, accuracy of assessments pertaining to contextually relevant disclosures, and finally customisation (or not) of default options relating to consent for data use.

Although environmental and clean energy research has identified graphitic carbon nitride impregnated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO/g-C3N4) as a potential, efficient non-metallic photocatalyst, its efficacy against Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) is relatively unknown. This study reports an optimized photocatalyst (response surface methodology, RSM) to remove the plasticizer and endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) from water. The synthetic procedure included sonication of prepared particles of g-C3N4 and graphite oxide (rGO), followed by reduction with hydrazine (24 h reflux), increasing specific surface areas, and improving synthesis reproducibility. In optimal conditions, the produced photocatalyst (50 mg L–1) removed 90% of BPA (100 mL, 100 μg L−1) in 90 min (30 min in the dark + 60 min irradiated) using a UV source (centered at 365 nm, 26 W) and exhibiting pseudo-first-order kinetics. For comparison purposes, under the same experimental conditions, pure g-C3N4 removed 50% of the BPA solution. Radical scavenging tests identified the superoxide radical as the main reactive oxygen species involved in the degradation. Two major degradation products were identified by mass spectrometry, both of them less ecotoxic than BPA to a variety of test organisms, according to in silico estimations (ECOSAR 2.0).

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of the psychoeducation program -which intended to increase internal locus of control- on the life satisfaction of college students. The research was conducted with 28 volunteering undergraduate students studying at various departments of a public university. Applying an experimental design, the data were obtained by pre-test, post-test and follow up test, and two groups were formed as experimental and placebo groups. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups as the experiment group and the placebo group, and each group consisted of 14 students. The participants’ life satisfaction levels were measured by using the Life Satisfaction Scale developed by Diener, Emmons, Larsen and Griffin (1985), and adapted into Turkish by Dağlı and Baysal (2016). Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon procedures were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show that the group psychoeducation program -which intended to increase internal locus of control- has a positive effect on the life satisfaction of the participants and this effect is sustained at the end of the three-month follow up period.

In this work, a greener approach for the extraction of Greek propolis using ultrasound-assisted extraction method in combination with Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) is presented. Propolis is a natural material of outmost interest as it possesses various biological and pharmacological activities and is therefore used for the manufacturing of extracts useful to various fields, such as pharmaceutics, cosmetics etc. Herein, five NADES were task-specifically selected as appropriate extraction solvents since they provide important assets to the final NADES-extracts, comparing to the conventionally used organic solvents. The screening study of the prepared solvents indicated the NADES L-proline/D,L-Lactic acid as the most effective medium for the raw propolis extraction due to the extract’s high total phenolic content as well as its’ significantly higher antioxidant activity. Then, the extraction using the selected NADES, was optimized by performing Experimental Design to study the effect of extraction time, propolis-to-solvent ratio and the %NADES content in the NADES-water system. All the extracts were characterized regarding their antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. The optimum NADES-extract as well as an extract derived by extraction using a conventional hydroethanolic solution were further characterized by performing LC/MS/MS analysis. The results showed that the NADES-extracts composition was similar or superior to the hydroethanolic extracts regarding the presence of valuable phytochemicals such as apigenin, naringenin etc. A disadvantage that is usually mentioned in the literature regarding the extractions using NADES is that the extracted bioactive compounds cannot be easily separated from the NADES in order to obtain dry extracts. However, this drawback can be converted to an asset as the task-specifically designed NADES that are used in this study add value to the end product and the optimum as-obtained NADES-extract has been successfully incorporated in a cosmetic cream formulation. In this work, The antioxidant activity and organoleptic characteristics of the cream formulation were also determined.

Corn is an example of an agricultural grain with a specific combustibility level and can promote smoldering fires during storage. This paper conducts an experimental design to numerically evaluate how three parameters, namely particle size, moisture, and air ventilation, influence the smoldering velocity. The work methodology is based on Minitab’s experimental design, which defined the number of experiments. First, a pile of corn is heated by a hot plate and a set of thermocouples registers all temperature variations. Then, a full-factorial experiment is implemented in Minitab to analyze the smoldering, which provides a mathematical equation to represent the smoldering velocity. The results indicate that particle size is the most influential factor in the reaction, with 35% and 45% variation between the dried and wet samples. Moreover, comparing the influence of moisture between corn flour and corn powder samples, a variation of 19% and 31% is observed; additionally, analyzing the ventilation as the only variant, we noticed variations of 15% and 17% for dried and wet corn flour, and 27% and 10% for dried and wet corn powder. Future studies may use the experimental design of this work to standardize the evaluation methodology and more effectively evaluate the relevant influencing factors.

Carrying out a Probabilistic Tsunami Hazard Assessment (PTHA) requires a large number of simulations done at a high resolution. Statistical emulation builds a surrogate to replace the simulator and thus reduces computational costs when propagating uncertainties from the earthquake sources to the tsunami inundations. To reduce further these costs, we propose here to build emulators that exploit multiple levels of resolution and a sequential design of computer experiments. By running a few tsunami simulations at high resolution and many more simulations at lower resolutions we are able to provide realistic assessments whereas, for the same budget, using only the high resolution tsunami simulations do not provide a satisfactory outcome. As a result, PTHA can be considered with higher precision using the highest spatial resolutions, and for impacts over larger regions. We provide an illustration to the city of Cilacap in Indonesia that demonstrates the benefit of our approach.

The spike in e-commerce caused by COVID-19 mandates a re-evaluation of the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) vis-à-vis digital marketing communications. The experiment presented here focuses on product involvement on attitude formation and strength. A sample of 185 students was exposed to mock websites of fictitious high- and low- involvement products (a laptop and a soft drink) chosen through a free-association exercise with the involvement level measured using two independent samples of 20 and 30 students respectively. Exposure to the high involvement product website elicited a greater number of product- and website-related thoughts (central route processing) than exposure to the low involvement one (peripheral route processing). Involvement was found to influence attitude formation, but it did not affect attitude strength (measured at a later time after a single exposure). The efficacy of the measurement scales and the applicability of the ELM to the digital domain are confirmed but e-commerce marketers are advised to encourage the constantly connected 21st century consumers to regularly revisit their website to strengthen the attitudes their Marcoms have formed. Further research is required to further elucidate the changes to consumers’ cognitive processes that were brought about by the COVID-19 lockdown-imposed switch to e-commerce and assess their stability.

Several recent works in human-robot-interaction (HRI) have begun to highlight the importance of the replication crisis and open science practices for our field. Yet, suggestions and recommendations tailored to child-robot-interaction (CRI) research, which poses its own additional set of challenges, remain limited. There is also an increased need within both HRI and CRI for inter and crossdisciplinary collaborations, where input from multiple different domains can contribute to better research outcomes. Consequently, this workshop aims to facilitate discussions between researchers from diverse disciplines within CRI. The workshop will open with a panel discussion between CRI researchers from different disciplines, followed by 3-minute flash talks of the accepted submissions. The second half of the workshop will consist of breakout group discussions, where both senior and junior academics from different disciplines can share their experiences of conducting CRI research. Through this workshop, we hope to create a common ground for addressing shared challenges in CRI, as well as identify a set of possible solutions going forward.

Comparison of bow-side kinematics in violinists is hindered by the scarcity of studies available. This makes meta-analysis impossible. This paper assesses the effect of music-based variables (bow stroke, tempo, and string played) on intra- and inter-participant variability in joint kinematics. The joint kinematics of nine high-level violinists were acquired via a motion capture system while they played a standardized piece of music involving contrasting bow strokes and strings at different tempi. Results were compared using linear mixed models using the root mean square (RMS) for each joint. We found highly individualized patterns of play, deduced from a low intra- but high inter-musician variability (4.2° vs 13.1° of normalized RMS) in joint kinematics. String played and bow stroke had the greatest effect on joint kinematics. The string played had the greatest impact on shoulder kinematics, and the bow stroke had the greatest impact on elbow and wrist kinematics. Based on these results, we propose guidelines for future research designed to study bow kinematics in the field of biomechanics of violin movements. For ease of comparison between studies and to limit the time and resources required, our main suggestions are to use repeated measures designs with a legato reference condition and to choose pieces of music spanning multiple strings.

The study used a choice-based conjoint analysis to investigate Turkish travellers' preferences for destination choice based on five attributes (destination type, distance, length of stay, season, and value for money). Using purposive sampling, data were obtained fromTurkish travellers in Istanbul with an experimental questionnaire between April and May 2019. The questionnaire included sixteen destination profiles produced using an orthogonal experimental design. Travellers had one go-to code for all profile cards from highest to lowest preference. The data were analysed with spss Conjoint. The findings revealed that destination type was the most important attribute, followed by the length of stay, season, distance, and value for money. Ttest and anova results showed that travellers' destination preferences also differed by their socio-demographic characteristics. The study provides an alternative perspective for future research by examining destination choice using an experimental approach. Furthermore, it offers practical implications for travel companies seeking to understand Turkish travellers' destination preferences.

The recovery of zinc from metallurgical dust sludge is a crucial component of using solid waste as a resource in the metallurgical process, and deep eutectic solvent–ultrasonic synergistic enhanced leaching is an efficient method of doing so with excellent economic effects. The leaching rate of zinc is used as the value of response in this study, along with the four process conditions of leaching temperature, leaching time, liquid–solid ratio, and ultrasonic power. By building a regression model, the relationship between the various parameter components is investigated, and a strategy for optimization is then chosen and confirmed. The findings indicate that, for the parameters of temperature 40 °C, ultrasonic power 90 W, liquid–solid ratio 7:1 g/L, stirring speed 250 rpm, and leaching duration 80 min, the prediction value of the regression model of the zinc leaching rate is 98.47%. The average zinc leaching rate obtained by the 3 parallel verification experiments was 98.49%; the deviation from the regression model’s predicted value was 0.02%. This demonstrated that the experimental results were consistent with those predicted by the regression model, the experimental results were reliable and trustworthy, and the optimization scheme was reasonable and accurate. Compared with the conventional leaching method (leaching rate: 91.61%), the method under ultrasound increased the zinc leaching rate by 6.88%.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical and thermal properties of composite pipes based on epoxy resin and glass fibers produced by filament winding (FW) technology. Epoxy resins are widely used polymers in FW composite structures. The thermal characterization of the neat epoxy resin, curing, and post-curing characteristics for the determination of polymerization and glass transition temperature was performed, which is important for the mechanical properties of polymer composite pipes. In the present work, the applicability of the full factorial experimental design in predicting the hoop tensile and compressive strengths of glass fiber/epoxy resin composite pipes was investigated. The composite pipes in accordance with the 23 full factorial experimental design by using of three parameters and two levels of variation were prepared. The winding speed of the composites was taken to be the first factor, the second was the fiber tension, and the third was winding angle. To approximate the response, i.e., the mechanical properties of the composite pipes within the study domain, the first-order linear model with the interaction was used. The influence of each individual factor to the response function was established, as well as the influence of the interaction of the two and three factors. Additionally, those results were completed with the thermal characterization of the polymer composite pipes. From received results from mechanical and thermal characterization, it was concluded that the properties of composite specimens were highly affected by the analyzed parameters in filament winding technology. It was found that the estimated first-degree regression equation with the interaction gave a very good approximation of the experimental results of the hoop tensile and the compressive strengths of composite pipes within the study domain.

The aim of the article is to analyse the experimental trends and theoretical concepts in the architectural environment design of the second half of the twentieth century that reflected changes in the political, social, and cultural spheres. Results. The study analyses the experimental trends in the design of the architectural environment that emerged in Ukraine in the second half of the twentieth century. It is noted that some of these trends manifested themselves in the design of new buildings, cities, and architectural complexes. The significance of the experiment and its implementation in the architecture and design of the specified period are explored. The focus is placed on such experimental areas as the rethinking of geometric spatial perceptions and spatial concepts in design theory and practice; the application of geometry in the formative practice of design and architecture; the development of kinetic form generation practices; the spread of experimental design; and the development of bionics in experimental creativity and research in the 1960s – 1980s. It is argued that the processes of architectural and design development in Ukraine during the second half of the twentieth century were closely linked to global trends of that time. A comparison is made with the work of famous international designers such as R. Fuller, E. Piñero, and D. Hambidge. The scientific novelty lies in identifying the historical patterns of architectural and design development of the second half of the twentieth century, highlighting the experimental design trends of that period, and in establishing their connection to global trends in artistic and design activities. Conclusions. The analysis of the development of architectural design in Ukraine during the second half of the twentieth century is conducted through the prism of the concept of “experiment”. Experiment has always been an integral aspect of human activity in all its forms. It is revealed that in circumstances where the creative process is not influenced by external factors, particularly ideological and political ones, the experiment becomes an organic component of the architectural and design system of form generation. It is argued that the diverse search movement that took place in the creative environment of the Soviet era was interconnected. The creative and conceptual achievements of the experimental search were on par with global achievements in similar directions. However, the “experimental and search laboratory” of the Soviet period was too detached from real life, focusing on formal foundations, ideas, and principles of things rather than specific objects or their projects in a complete form. The research shows that the technology of form generation and the formal and aesthetic language of architecture and design have inexhaustible reserves for external enrichment. The active cross-cutting search, which continued for a relatively short period, demonstrated this potential. One of the main consequences of the Soviet “experimental research laboratory” was the confirmed need to implement certain functions under constraints characteristic of the “live” process of forming the subject-spatial environment. It is revealed that experimental trends in the design of the architectural environment in Ukraine in the second half of the twentieth century reflected a wide range of changes in society, culture, and politics. They influenced the development of the architectural environment, creating new innovative approaches to design and construction, and also reflected the national identity and cultural heritage of Ukrainians., Мета статті – проаналізувати експериментальні напрями й теоретичні концепції в дизайні архітектурного середовища другої пол. XX ст., які відображали зміни в політичній, соціальній та культурній сферах. Результати дослідження. У дослідженні проаналізовано експериментальні напрями в дизайні архітектурного середовища, які виникли в другій пол. XX століття в Україні. Зазначено, що деякі з цих напрямів відображалися в проєктуванні нових будівель, міст, архітектурних комплексів. З’ясовано значення експерименту та форми його реалізації в архітектурі та дизайні зазначеного періоду. Закцентовано увагу на таких експериментальних напрямах, як переосмислення геометричних просторових уявлень та просторової концепції в теорії й практиці дизайну; застосування геометрії у формотворчій практиці дизайну та архітектури; розвиток практики кінетичного формотворення; поширення експериментального проєктування; розвиток напряму біоніки в експериментальній творчості та дослідженнях 1960–1980-х рр. Було обґрунтовано, що процеси розвитку архітектури та дизайну в Україні протягом другої пол. ХХ століття відбувалися в тісному зв’язку зі світовими тенденціями цих часів. Проведено порівняння з проєктною творчістю відомих зарубіжних дизайнерів, таких як Річард Фуллер, Едуардо Піньєро та Доналд Хембідж. Наукова новизна дослідження полягає у виявленні історичних закономірностей розвитку архітектури й дизайну другої пол. XX століття, у висвітленні експериментальних напрямів дизайну того періоду та їхнього зв’язку зі світовими тенденціями розвитку художньо-проєктної діяльності. Висновки. Аналіз розвитку дизайну архітектурного середовища в Україні другої пол. XX століття здійснюється в цьому дослідженні через призму поняття «експеримент». Експеримент завжди був та є невід’ємним аспектом людської діяльності в усіх її різновидах. Виявлено, що за умов, коли творчий процес не зазнає якихось сторонніх впливів, зокрема ідейно-політичних, експеримент є органічним складником архітектурно-дизайнерської системи формоутворення. Обґрунтовано, що багатоманітний пошуковий рух, що здійснювався у творчому середовищі радянської доби, був взаємозв’язаним. Творчі та концептуальні досягнення цих експериментальних пошуків були на рівні світових досягнень у подібних напрямах. Однак «експериментально-пошукова лабораторія» радянського періоду була надто відірвана від реального життя, орієнтувалася на формальні засади, ідеї та принципи речей, замість конкретних предметів чи їх проєктів у завершеному вигляді. Дослідження також показало, що технологія формотворчості та формально-естетична мова архітектури та дизайну мають невичерпні резерви зовнішнього збагачення. Активні стикові пошуки, які тривали протягом відносно короткого періоду, показали цей потенціал. Одним із основних наслідків діяльності радянської «експериментально-пошукової лабораторії» була підтверджена потреба реалізації певних функцій умовами обмежень, що характеризували «живий» процес формоутворення предметно-просторового середовища. Виявлено, що експериментальні напрями в дизайні архітектурного середовища в Україні другої пол. XX століття відображали широкий спектр змін у суспільстві, культурі та політиці. Вони впливали на розвиток архітектурного середовища, створюючи нові інноваційні підходи до проєктування та будівництва, а також відображали національну ідентичність та культурну спадщину українців.

The aim of the articleis to analyse the experimental trends and theoretical concepts in the architectural environment design of the second half of the twentieth century that reflected changes in the political, social, and cultural spheres. Results.The study analyses the experimental trends in the design of the architectural environment that emerged in Ukraine in the second half of the twentieth century. It is noted that some of these trends manifested themselves in the design of new buildings, cities, and architectural complexes. The significance of the experiment and its implementation in the architecture and design of the specified period are explored. The focus is placed on such experimental areas as the rethinking of geometric spatial perceptions and spatial concepts in design theory and practice; the application of geometry in the formative practice of design and architecture; the development of kinetic form generation practices; the spread of experimental design; and the development of bionics in experimental creativity and research in the 1960s – 1980s. It is argued that the processes of architectural and design development in Ukraine during the second half of the twentieth century were closely linked to global trends of that time. A comparison is made with the work of famous international designers such as R. Fuller, E. Piñero, and D. Hambidge. The scientific noveltylies in identifying the historical patterns of architectural and design development of the second half of the twentieth century, highlighting the experimental design trends of that period, and in establishing their connection to global trends in artistic and design activities. Conclusions.The analysis of the development of architectural design in Ukraine during the second half of the twentieth century is conducted through the prism of the concept of “experiment”. Experiment has always been an integral aspect of human activity in all its forms. It is revealed that in circumstances where the creative process is not influenced by external factors, particularly ideological and political ones, the experiment becomes an organic component of the architectural and design system of form generation. It is argued that the diverse search movement that took place in the creative environment of the Soviet era was interconnected. The creative and conceptual achievements of the experimental search were on par with global achievements in similar directions. However, the “experimental and search laboratory” of the Soviet period was too detached from real life, focusing on formal foundations, ideas, and principles of things rather than specific objects or their projects in a complete form. The research shows that the technology of form generation and the formal and aesthetic language of architecture and design have inexhaustible reserves for external enrichment. The active cross-cutting search, which continued for a relatively short period, demonstrated this potential. One of the main consequences of the Soviet “experimental research laboratory” was the confirmed need to implement certain functions under constraints characteristic of the “live” process of forming the subject-spatial environment. It is revealed that experimental trends in the design of the architectural environment in Ukraine in the second half of the twentieth century reflected a wide range of changes in society, culture, and politics. They influenced the development of the architectural environment, creating new innovative approaches to design and construction, and also reflected the national identity and cultural heritage of Ukrainians.

Heterosigma akashiwo is a unicellular microalga which can cause massive mortality in both wild and cultivated fish worldwide, resulting in substantial economic losses. Environmental parameters such as salinity, light, and temperature showed a significant effect on bloom initiation and the toxicity of H. akashiwo. While in previous studies a one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach was utilized, which only changes one variable at a time while keeping others constant, in the current study a more precise and effective design of experiment (DOE) approach, was used to investigate the simultaneous effect of three factors and their interactions. The study employed a central composite design (CCD) to investigate the effect of salinity, light intensity, and temperature on the toxicity, lipid, and protein production of H. akashiwo. A yeast cell assay was developed to assess toxicity, which offers rapid and convenient cytotoxicity measurements using a lower volume of samples compared to conventional methods using the whole organism. The obtained results showed that the optimum condition for toxicity of H. akashiwo was 25 °C, a salinity of 17.5, and a light intensity of 250 μmol photons m−2 s−1. The highest amount of lipid and protein was found at 25 °C, a salinity of 30, and a light intensity of 250 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Consequently, the combination of warm water mixing with lower salinity river input has the potential to enhance H. akashiwo toxicity, which aligns with environmental reports that establish a correlation between warm summers and extensive runoff conditions that indicate the greatest concern for aquaculture facilities.

The world’s first high-temperature gas-cooled reactor pebble-bed module (HTR-PM) nuclear power plant adopts an innovative reactor type and a modular structure design. Parameter estimation and model calibration are of great significance prior to the implementation of model-based control and optimization. This paper focuses on identifying the thermal hydraulic parameters of HTR-PM over the global operating domain. The process technology and model mechanism of HTR-PM are reviewed. A parameter submodel named global parameter mapping is presented to quantify the relationship between an unknown model parameter and different operating conditions in a data-driven manner. The ideal construction of such a mapping requires reliable estimates, a well-poised sample set and an appropriate global surrogate. An adaptive model calibration scheme is designed to tackle these three issues correspondingly. First, a systematic parameter estimation approach is developed to ensure reliable estimates via heuristic subset selection consisting of estimability analysis and reliability evaluation. To capture the parameter behavior among the multiple experimental conditions and meanwhile reduce the operating cost, an adaptive experimental design is employed to guide condition testing. Experimental conditions are sequentially determined by comprehensively considering the criteria of sampling density, local nonlinearity and parameter uncertainty. Support vector regression is introduced as the global surrogate due to its capability of small-sample learning. Finally, the effectiveness of the model calibration scheme and its application performance in HTR-PM are validated by the simulation results.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 120(23), e2215572120 (2023). doi:10.1073/pnas.2215572120, Published by National Acad. of Sciences, Washington, DC

This study used an experimental design approach to optimize an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of three pharmaceutical residues (triamcinolone, nystatin, and gramicidin) in industrial wastewater samples. The goal of using an experimental design approach was to maximize the method performance through separation enhancement and shortening the time of analysis and/or minimizing the environmental effects through the reduction in wastes and sample treatment. To achieve this goal, two steps were performed: a full factorial screening design for the three chromatographic variables, and optimization design using central composite design to select the optimum conditions that accomplished the highest resolution between adjacent peaks within a minimum run time of less than 5 min. The optimal chromatographic conditions derived from Minitab software using the desirability function were applied. Separation was carried out on a Zorbax C18 column (250 mm × 4.6, 5 μm) with gradient elution of a mobile phase composed of methanol and 0.25 M potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer (pH 3.6) at different UV detections. For the validation of the developed HPLC method, ICH guidelines were followed, and the obtained results were found to be in compliance with the acceptance criteria. Linearity was over the concentration range of 1.00–25.00 μg/mL for triamcinilone and nystatin and 10.00–50.00 µg/mL for gramicidin. The proposed method was successfully applied to quantify the three studied pharmaceutical compounds in rinsing wastewater samples.

Coffee cultivation in the Department of Cauca, Colombia, is vital for much of the department’s economy. Coffee processing generates waste, such as pulp, which accounts to about 40% of the fresh fruit. Currently, in most cases in Cauca, coffee byproducts are discarded, and, in other cases, the coffee pulp is used for fertilizers, generating environmental problems due to its decomposition. This research aims to design a process for supplying a functional food in the form of an energy bar based on coffee pulp and other components of the region, such as quinoa and panela, helping to mitigate the environmental impact of coffee production. Our research included four phases. First, we determined the study area; in the second phase, we studied an energy bar’s nutritional and physical characteristics. Then, the requirements and specifications of the bar were defined, and the authors documented the process diagram, variables within the process, and the quality plan. Finally, the authors conducted experiments to determine optimal mixing proportions. From the experiment with the mixtures, we found a formulation that satisfies the needs and specifications of the bar which is composed of 50% cereals, 30% panela syrup, and 20% coffee pulp. The selected formulation’s qualitative properties (organoleptic, chemical, and microbial) are acceptable for human consumption and provide high energy content of 365.21 and 291.56 kcal/100 g for the energy bar and coffee pulp raisins, respectively.

This study investigated children’s false memories for neutral arbitrary actions. Five- to six-year-olds (N = 32) were taught four arbitrary actions, each following specific rules. The children then watched a televised adult performing eight actions: the four familiar actions while violating one aspect of each rule script and four unfamiliar actions. Suggestive and non-suggestive questions about all witnessed actions were asked, followed by forced-choice test questions to measure the false memory effect. The likelihood of forming false memories was higher in the suggestive condition than in the non-suggestive condition. There was no effect of previously acquired knowledge about the rules of the actions and no interaction between rule knowledge and suggestion. The results are discussed in light of previous findings in related fields of false memory research., PLoS One;18(5)

The sawing of Hymenaea courbaril is complex due to its high density and abrasiveness. These factors accelerate the wear on saw blade teeth, and as a consequence, increase the cutting variability and process costs. The effect of cutting parameters on standard deviation of sawn-wood thickness was evaluated to propose optimal sawing conditions. A log carriage bandsaw with two saw blade geometries, three log diameter classes, and two feed rates were used to carry out the sawing tests. The results showed that the sawing variation expressed by the total standard deviation of board thickness was lower than 1 mm, when log diameter was lower than 0.79 m, and the log carriage feed rate was lower than or equal to 10 m min-1 for both saw geometries. The sawing thickness was affected by log diameter and log carriage feed rate, while saw geometry was not statistically significant. However, the goal of this initiative was not an estimation of the changes on sawmill productivity. Before this study, all log classes were processed with a log carriage feed rate of no higher than 10 m min-1. Consequently, given the estimated total standard deviations, it can be suggested that the logs of class 2 could be sawn at a 50 % higher rate without altering the cutting precision, improving sawmill productivity., El aserrío en la madera de Hymenaea courbaril es complejo debido a su elevada densidad y abrasividad. Estos factores producen un desgaste acelerado de los dientes de la sierra y como consecuencia, un aumento de la variabilidad del corte y los costos del proceso. Se evaluó el efecto de parámetros de corte sobre la desviación del corte en el espesor de la madera aserrada de manera de proponer óptimas condiciones de aserrado. Se realizaron ensayos de aserrío utilizando una sierra de banda con carro porta-trozos, considerando sierras con dos geometrías de dientes, trozos agrupados en 3 rangos de diámetro, y dos velocidades de avance. Los resultados indicaron que la variación de corte expresada como la desviación estándar total del espesor de las piezas no fue mayor a 1,00 mm, cuando el diámetro del trozo fue inferior a 0,79 m y la velocidad del avance inferior a 10 m min-1 para ambas geometrías de sierra. El diámetro del trozo y la velocidad de avance afectaron el espesor de aserrado, mientras que la geometría de la sierra no tuvo un efecto directo. Aunque el objetivo no fue determinar el cambio de productividad, previo a esta investigación, los trozos de los 3 grupos de diámetros se aserraban a velocidades inferiores a 10 m min-1. En consecuencia, en virtud de las desviaciones estándar totales estimadas, se puede sugerir que los trozos del grupo de diámetros 2, podrían ser aserradas a una velocidad un 50 % mayor, sin alterar la precisión de corte, mejorando la productividad del aserradero.

Resumen Los servicios ecosistémicos proporcionados por el lago Titicaca en la Bahía Interior de Puno (BIP) son sobre utilizados para estimular el desarrollo económico local sin tener en cuenta los impactos ambientales producidos. El objetivo de la investigación fue estimar la disponibilidad a pagar de turistas extranjeros visitantes de la BIP para la implementación de alternativas de mejora sobre biodiversidad, malecón ecoturístico y descontaminación de la bahía. Se aplicaron encuestas semiestructuradas a turistas nacionales y extranjeros (n=400) que visitaron la BIP durante octubre del 2019. Los encuestados eligieron sus preferencias respecto a la implementación de las mejoras ecosistémicas y su disponibilidad a pagar por la implementación de las mismas, mediante experimentos de elección y el uso de modelos logit mixto. El atributo “biodiversidad” es el más valorado. La DAP total por las mejoras en los tres atributos es de S/51.12/turista, que estaría incluido en el boleto de ingreso a la BIP una vez implementadas las propuestas de mejora. Estos resultados proveen información útil para la toma de decisiones adecuadas en los grupos de interés y autoridades de gobierno, enfocados en la mejora de la gestión de los servicios ecosistémicos de la BIP. Las políticas de gestión ambiental en la BIP deben estar enfocadas prioritariamente en la plantación y manejo de totorales que permitan darle un mejor uso, conservación y protección a la flora y fauna de la zona. Abstract The ecosystem services provided by Lake Titicaca in the Interior Bay of Puno (BIP) are overused to stimulate local economic development without taking into account the environmental impacts produced. The objective of the research was to estimate the willingness to pay of foreign tourists visiting the BIP for the implementation of improvement alternatives on biodiversity, ecotourism boardwalk and decontamination of the bay. Semi-structured surveys were applied to national and foreign tourists (n=400) who visited the BIP during October 2019. Respondents chose their preferences regarding the implementation of ecosystem improvements and their willingness to pay for their implementation, through experiments. of choice and the use of mixed logit models. The attribute "biodiversity" is the most valued. The total WTP for the improvements in the three attributes is S/51.12/tourist, which would be included in the entry ticket to the BIP once the improvement proposals have been implemented. These results provide useful information for making appropriate decisions in interest groups and government authorities, focused on improving the management of ecosystem services in the BIP. The environmental management policies in the BIP must be focused primarily on the planting and management of reeds that allow better use, conservation and protection of the flora and fauna of the area.

Multi-functional products (MFPs) are potentially valuable innovations, but consumers have trouble understanding them. As a result, consumers often ignore functions possessed by these products. The primary objective of this research is to explore the reasons consumers have trouble understanding MFPs, and to propose product anthropomorphism as a design strategy that can enhance consumer perception of product multi-functionality. A literature review and conceptual framework was developed consisting of consumer learning of MFPs, the single category belief, and anthropomorphism. Then, two experiments test the effect of anthropomorphism on functionality perceptions. The results support the proposal that anthropomorphism increases expectations of product multi-functionality. In addition, data indicates that the effect of anthropomorphism on functionality perceptions is driven by a reduction in the cognitive strain of understanding product functionality. Based on these findings, the theoretical and managerial contributions are discussed, limitations are noted, and avenues for future research are proposed.

For oenological products, most of the intrinsic and extrinsic drivers of perceived quality are associated with specific aromatic profiles. Aromatic diversity has been recognized as a central element in perceived quality as it is able to transmit the complex interactions between grape variety, geographical characteristics, and viticultural and winemaking practices, including the fermentative process. A comprehensive characterization of flavour compounds by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric analysis is often needed in order to ascertain the quality of wine. HS-SPME requires a proper optimization that can be achieved through an adequate experimental design. Here, a HS-SPME/GC-MS based method was developed to investigate the volatile compounds of wine samples obtained by laboratory-scale fermentations. This was performed by inoculating a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, which is used both as single starter and as mixed starter, with an indigenous Hanseniaspora osmophila strain. The experimental conditions of HS-SPME (extraction temperature and time) were optimized by applying a face-centred composite experimental design. Up to 95% of the total variance was explained by the proposed model. The optimized method allowed us to confirm the usefulness of combining the inoculation of grapes with selected yeast strains in co-culture situations in order to improve the wine bouquet.

El presente trabajo es un estudio de la influencia que tienen las condiciones de exfoliación térmica de nitruro de carbono grafítico (g‐C3N4) en su actividad fotocatalítica bajo radiación solar. Como contaminante modelo se ha investigado la degradación de metil-parabeno (MeP) en medio acuoso. MeP, éster metílico del ácido p-hidroxibenzoico, es un compuesto químico ampliamente presente como conservante en formulaciones de cosméticos y productos de cuidado personal debido a su buenas propiedades antimicrobianas y antifúngicas. Su extenso uso hace que esté presente en las aguas que llegan a las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales (EDAR), en las que se elimina en gran medida pero no totalmente. Como consecuencia, se ha observado la presencia de MeP en sistemas de agua dulce, salobre y marina, sedimentos y biota. Esto ha alertado a la comunidad científica, ya que estudios previos han advertido de una potencial estrogenicidad y propiedades disruptoras endocrinas de los parabenos, lo que hace importante investigar su eliminación del medio acuoso. En este trabajo se ha demostrado que es posible llevar a cabo la oxidación completa del MeP en el medio acuoso mediante fotocatálisis heterogénea, empleando para ello luz solar y nitruros de carbono grafíticos como fotocatalizadores. Se ha investigado de manera sistemática, mediante diseño factorial de experimentos, cuáles son las condiciones de exfoliación térmica del material bulk de partida que conducen a la mejor actividad fotocatalítica y se ha llevado a cabo un estudio económico que contempla tanto la síntesis de los catalizadores como la etapa de reacción. Asimismo se ha llevado a cabo una caracterización exhaustiva de las propiedades físico-químicas, ópticas y electrónicas de los fotocatalizadores empleados. Previous studies have shown that the exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) is essential to obtain materials with good photocatalytic properties. However, in most works the influence of the exfoliation variables were investigated in an unsystematic way by changing the levels of one factor at a time. In this work, a full factorial design 32 was employed to evaluate the influence of temperature and time used in the thermal exfoliation of bulk g‐C3N4 obtained from urea (bulk‐U) on the photocatalytic performance for 5 mg L−1 methylparaben degradation under simulated solar radiation. Based on the thermal stability of the starting bulk‐U the levels of the design were set in the range 400 to 450 oC for temperature and 2 to 6 h for time. The results showed an enhancement of the photocatalytic activity with the increase of both factors, obtaining the maximum response at T = 450 °C and t = 6 h. An economic evaluation at laboratory scale including the main costs derived from the synthesis stage and the photocatalytic degradation procedure was also performed comparing all the exfoliated materials. The total expenses could be minimized without compromising a good photocatalytic activity with the material obtained by exfoliation of bulk‐U at 450 oC for 2 h. A detailed characterization of the materials was carried out by XRD, FTIR, adsorption‐desorption of N2, UV‐Vis DR, and PL spectroscopy. It was inferred that the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance induced by the thermal exfoliation was mainly related to the consequent increase in the surface area and the improvement in the separation of photogenerated charge pairs derived from the unpacking of the stacked layers.

In this quandary, we argue that three frequent situations in the design of experiments: blocking, robustness, and hard-to-change factors emerged in intervals over time and were integrated into the “science” of designing experiments as they came along. Following De Bono’s 1992 idea of escaping the “time sequence trap”, we review them and propose a fresh way of approaching them.

Pectin and polyphenols have been obtained from choice peach flesh using microwave extraction, with the resulting extracts used in functionalizing strained yogurt gels. A Box-Behnken design was utilized in order to co-optimize the extraction process. Soluble solid content, total phenolic content, and particle size distributions were measured in the extracts. Extraction at pH 1 yielded the highest phenolic content, while increases in the liquid-to-solid ratio resulted in a decrease in soluble solids and an increase in particle diameter. Selected extracts were then incorporated into strained yogurt, and the resulting gel products were assessed for color and texture over a two-week period. All samples were darker and had more red tones than the control set yogurt, while exhibiting less yellow tones. The cohesiveness of all samples remained stable over the gels’ aging of two weeks (break-up times always remaining within 6 s and 9 s), which is close to the expected shelf-life of such products. The work required for the deformation of most samples increases with time, indicating that the products became firmer due to the macromolecular rearrangements in the gel matrix. The extracts obtained with the highest microwave power (700 W) give less firm samples. This was due to the microwave-induced loss of conformation and self-assembly of the extracted pectins. The hardness of all samples increased over time, gaining from 20 to 50% of the initial hardness due to the rearrangement of the pectin and yogurt proteins over time. The products with pectin extracted at 700 W were again exceptions, losing hardness or remaining stable after some time. Overall, this work combines the sourcing of polyphenols and pectin from choice fruit; it uses MAE for isolating the materials of interest; it mechanically examines the resulting gels; and it performs all the above under a specifically-set experimental design aiming towards optimizing the overall process.

The lifetime performance index is commonly utilized to assess the lifetime performance of products. Based on the testing procedure for the lifetime of products following Chen distribution, an experimental design for progressive type I interval censoring is determined to achieve the desired power level while minimizing total experimental cost. For fixed inspection interval lengths and an unfixed number of inspection intervals, the required number of inspection intervals and sample sizes to achieve the minimum experimental costs are computed and presented in a table format. For unfixed termination times, the required number of inspection intervals, minimum sample sizes, and equal interval lengths are obtained and presented in a table format, while the minimum experimental costs are achieved. Finally, a practical example is presented to demonstrate the utilization of this experimental design for collecting samples and conducting a testing procedure to evaluate the lifetime performance of products.

Within the framework of the various strategies studied for the abatement of polluting agents in water, both from anthropogenic and natural origins, adsorption processes are among the most widespread techniques. In this context, Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) play a fundamental role. In this study, a Mg–Al LDH (nitrate intercalated, Mg/Al = 2) was prepared to be used as an anion exchanger for Cr(VI)-removal purposes from water. The LDH was synthesized through a coprecipitation reaction, followed by an aging process under heating. The compound was characterized by means of inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Regarding LDH adsorption capacity, with respect to Cr(VI), the adsorption isotherms and reaction kinetic were studied, and the adsorption process was well described by the Langmuir model. A central composite design was used for the multivariate optimization of the working parameters. The maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 30 mg/g.

Several recent works in human-robot-interaction (HRI) have begun to highlight the importance of the replication crisis and open science practices for our field. Yet, suggestions and recommendations tailored to child-robot-interaction (CRI) research, which poses it's own additional set of challenges, remain limited. There is also an increased need within both HRI and CRI for inter and cross-disciplinary collaborations, where input from multiple different domains can contribute to better research outcomes. Consequently, this workshop aims to facilitate discussions between researchers from diverse disciplines within CRI. The workshop will open with a panel discussion between CRI researchers from different disciplines, followed by 3-minute flash talks of the accepted submissions. The second half of the workshop will consist of breakout group discussions, where both senior and junior academics from different disciplines can share their experiences of conducting CRI research. Through this workshop we hope to create a common ground for addressing shared challenges in CRI, as well as identify a set of possible solutions going forward.

Funding Information: The authors acknowledge SOLEIL for the provision of synchrotron radiation (proposal numbers: 20161265, 20171063, 20180483, 20181721, and 20191506) facilities at the GALAXIES beamline. Some measurements were carried out at the CoESCA endstation at the BESSY-II electron storage ring operated by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie. The research leading to this result has been supported by the project CALIPSOplus under the Grant Agreement 730872 from the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020. The authors acknowledge research funding from the Swedish Research Council (Grant Nos. VR 2016-04590, VR 2018-04125, VR 2018-04330, VR 2018-06465), Swedish Energy Agency (P50626-1, P43549-1), the Göran Gustafsson foundation, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (project nr. RMA15-0130), and the Carl Tryggers foundation (Grant No. CTS 18:59). | openaire: EC/H2020/730872/EU//CALIPSOplus A heterojunction is the key junction for charge extraction in many thin film solar cell technologies. However, the structure and band alignment of the heterojunction in the operating device are often difficult to predict from calculations and, due to the complexity and narrow thickness of the interface, are difficult to measure directly. In this study, we demonstrate a technique for direct measurement of the band alignment and interfacial electric field variations of a fully functional lead halide perovskite solar cell structure under operating conditions using hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). We describe the design considerations required in both the solar cell devices and the measurement setup and show results for the perovskite, hole transport, and gold layers at the back contact of the solar cell. For the investigated design, the HAXPES measurements suggest that 70% of the photovoltage was generated at this back contact, distributed rather equally between the hole transport material/gold interface and the perovskite/hole transport material interface. In addition, we were also able to reconstruct the band alignment at the back contact at equilibrium in the dark and at open circuit under illumination.

The chemical contamination in fruit and vegetables represents a challenging analytical issue, with tomatoes deserving to be investigated as they are fundamental components of the Mediterranean diet. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs contamination is of serious concern, due to particulate deposition and to uptake from contaminated soils and water. However, time-consuming, non-simultaneous and/or non-eco-friendly extraction procedures are typically used to investigate organic contamination in tomatoes, with nitro-PAHs that have not yet been studied. Based on these premises, this work reports the development of a QuEChERS-based approach, coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, for the simultaneous determination of 16 PAHs, 14 PCBs and 4 nitro-PAHs in three tomato cultivars. The effect of dichloromethane, cyclohexane and acetone, as well as of four clean-up phases were studied through the advanced combination of full factorial experimental design and multiple response optimization approaches. The final protocol, based on cyclohexane extraction followed by a double purification step with primary secondary amine and octadecyl silica and a sulfuric acid oxidation, led to 60–120% recoveries (RSD% < 15%). Good repeatability (inter-day precision

High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) thermal spray coating is a deposition process that is widely employed at present to improve surfaces and the remanufacturing of components subject to severe wear, offering an alternative to reduce the cost of spare parts and used as a substitute for electro-chromium, also generating greater thickness than chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition. This study evaluates the influence of the projected application parameters for Cr₃C₂ - 20 (Ni20Cr) coatings on AISI 4140 steel using the HVOF technique. To do so, a 24 factorial experimental design was used to evaluate the effect on the thickness, porosity, surface hardness, and microhardness in the cross-section, produced by four of the main operational factors in the HVOF process: the fuel/oxygen (F/O) ratio entering the combustion chamber, powder flow, the roughness of the substrate before deposition, and spray gun speed. The morphology of the Cr₃C₂ - 20 (Ni20Cr) powders and the microstructure of the coatings were studied through a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy, while the composition were analyzed by X-ray diffraction. It was determined that: (i) the F/O ratio is the operation parameter with the most significant influence on the properties studied; (ii) the gun speed has a significant effect on the thickness generated and porosity; and (iii) the powder flow and roughness of the substrate have a greater effect on the surface hardness and microhardness. Finally, it was determined that coatings with great thickness, low porosity, and great hardness, ideal for the recovery of parts, can be achieved from a F/O ratio of 0.45 and a powder flow with the system feeder rotating at 12 rpm, applied to a substrate with a roughness of Rₐ = 18 μm, combined with a spray gun speed of 5 mm/s.

Paracetamol (PCT) and chloramphenicol (CPL) can have unfavorable impacts on human health, as well as on natural ecosystems. These substances contribute to the aquatic environment’s contamination and disturb the performance of municipal wastewater treatment systems, causing ecosystem disruption and microbial resistance. In this study, activated carbon produced from sawdust (ACs) was synthesized utilizing the chemical activation process for the removal of both PCT and CPL compounds from an aqueous solution. ACs has a primarily microporous structure with a significant specific surface area of 303–1298 m2/g, total pore volume of 0.462 cm3/g and bimodal distribution of pores of 0.73–1.7 nm. The removal efficiencies for PCT and CPL with the low-cost activated carbon, determined at the optimum dose (750 mg/L for PCT and 450 mg/L for CPL), were significantly high at 85% and 98%, respectively. The adsorption kinetics for both pharmaceuticals exhibited a quick initial decline. For PCT and CPL adsorption, the equilibrium was attained after just 20 and 90 min, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetics model offered the best fits for the adsorption of both compounds. Additionally, the central composite design (CCD) and Box–Behnken design (BBD) were used to optimize the experimental adsorption conditions using a response surface methodology (RSM). On the basis of the findings, it is evident that activated carbon made from sawdust may be used as a new, effective alternative adsorbent for removing PCT and CPL in aqueous environments.

Objective: the purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of information transparency on the selection of a socially responsible partner, taking into account the role played by signal send by the location of the partner and stakeholder pressure. Theoretical approach: this study is based on the premise that information transparency is a central element in the buyer-supply relationship and can play a key role in the selection of a socially responsible partner. The location of a partner can also affect the feeling of transparency if the country where the partner is located is not recognized for its reputation. The stakeholder pressure for socially responsible practices can also affect the decision to choose a business partner. Methods: we employed a 2 x 2 full-factorial between-subjects, scenario-based role-playing experiment. In Study 1, we simulated a situation in which the buyer is asked about their likelihood of selecting a socially responsible supplier, while in Study 2 we simulated a situation in which the socially responsible supplier is asked about the likelihood of selling products to a buyer. Results: the results indicate that information transparency affects the decision to select socially responsible partners. Stakeholder pressure partially moderates this relationship, while location does not moderate this relationship in either study. Conclusion: we conclude that information transparency throughout the supply chain is a relevant factor in negotiations within a socially responsible context. Information transparency is a key aspect for both the buyer and the supplier when selecting a socially responsible partner. RESUMO Objetivo: o objetivo deste artigo é explorar o efeito da transparência da informação na seleção de um parceiro socialmente responsável, levando em consideração o papel desempenhado pelo sinal enviado pela localização do parceiro e a pressão dos stakeholders. Marco teórico: Este estudo parte da premissa de que a transparência da informação é um elemento central na relação comprador-fornecedor e pode desempenhar um papel-chave na seleção de um parceiro socialmente responsável. A localização de um parceiro também pode afetar o sentimento de transparência se o país onde o parceiro está localizado não for reconhecido por sua reputação. A pressão dos stakeholders por práticas socialmente responsáveis também pode afetar a decisão de escolha de um parceiro de negócios. Métodos: empregamos um experimento baseado em cenários e fatorial 2 x 2 entre participantes. No Estudo 1, simulamos uma situação em que o comprador é questionado sobre sua probabilidade de selecionar um fornecedor socialmente responsável, enquanto no Estudo 2 simulamos uma situação em que o fornecedor socialmente responsável é questionado sobre a probabilidade de vender produtos a um comprador. Resultados: os resultados indicam que a transparência da informação afeta a decisão de selecionar parceiros socialmente responsáveis. A pressão dos stakeholders modera parcialmente essa relação, enquanto a localização não modera essa relação em nenhum dos estudos. Conclusão: a divulgação de informações em toda a cadeia de suprimentos é um fator relevante nas negociações em um contexto socialmente responsável. A transparência das informações é um aspecto fundamental para o comprador e fornecedor na seleção de um parceiro socialmente responsável.

This study evaluated bati butter (Ouratea parviflora) as a substrate for lipase production by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using Aspergillus terreus NRRL-255. A gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector determined the bati butter fatty acid profile. Lipase production and spore count were optimized using a 32 experimental design and evaluated using the response surface methodology. Moreover, the crude enzyme extract was evaluated against different pH, temperature, and activating and inhibitors reagents. Regarding the fatty acids identified, long-chain accounted for 78.60% of the total lipids. The highest lipase production was obtained at 35 °C and 120 h of fermentation, yielding 216.9 U g−1. Crude enzyme extract presented more significant activity at 37 °C and pH 9. β-Mercaptoethanol increased the enzyme activity (113.80%), while sodium dodecyl sulfate inactivated the enzyme. Therefore, bati butter proved to be a potential substrate capable of inducing lipase production by solid-state fermentation.

International audience; Temperature logs are an important tool in the geothermal industry. Temperature measurements from boreholes are used for exploration, system design, and monitoring. The number of observations, however, is not always sufficient to fully determine the temperature field or explore the entire parameter space of interest. Drilling in the best locations is still difficult and expensive. It is therefore critical to optimize the number and location of boreholes. Due to its higher spatial resolution and lower cost, four-dimensional (4D) temperature field monitoring via time-lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) has been investigated as a potential alternative. We use Bayesian Evidential Learning (BEL), a Monte Carlo-based training approach, to optimize the design of a 4D temperature field monitoring experiment. We demonstrate how BEL can take into account various data source combinations (temperature logs combined with geophysical data) in the Bayesian optimal experimental design (BOED). To determine the optimal data source combination, we use the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of the predicted target in the low dimensional latent space where BEL is solving the prediction problem. The parameter estimates are accurate enough to use in BOED. Furthermore, the method is not limited to monitoring temperature fields and can be applied to other similar experimental design problems. The method is computationally efficient and requires little training data. For the considered optimal design problem, a training set of only 200 samples and a test set of 50 samples is sufficient.

Almond (Prunus amygdalus) is one of the most common tree nuts on a worldwide basis. This nut is highly regarded in the food and cosmetic industries. However, for all these applications, almonds are used without their shell protection, which is industrially removed contributing approximately 35-75% of the total fruit weight. This residue is normally incinerated or dumped, causing several environmental problems. In this study, a novel cellulose nanocrystal (CNCs) extraction procedure from almond shell (AS) waste by using microwave-assisted extraction was developed and compared with the conventional approach. A three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design with five central points was used to evaluate the influence of extraction temperature, irradiation time, and NaOH concentration during the alkalization stage in crystallinity index (CI) values. A similar CI value (55.9 +/- 0.7%) was obtained for the MAE process, comprising only three stages, compared with the conventional optimized procedure (55.5 +/- 1.0%) with five stages. As a result, a greener and more environmentally friendly CNC extraction protocol was developed with a reduction in time, solvent, and energy consumption. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, X-ray diffractogram (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, and thermal stability studies of samples confirmed the removal of non-cellulosic components after the chemical treatments. TEM images revealed a spherical shape of CNCs with an average size of 21 +/- 6 nm, showing great potential to be used in food packaging, biological, medical, and photoelectric materials. This study successfully applied MAE for the extraction of spherical-shaped CNCs from AS with several advantages compared with the conventional procedure, reducing costs for industry. This work was supported by Conselleria de Educacion (Spain) (APOSTD/2016/093 Postdoctoral Research Training Grant), the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MAT2017-84909-C2-1-R), and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (GIU18-216).

It is generally assumed that the larger the bottle volume, the longer the duration of phytoplankton microcosm experiments. We hypothesize that volume and duration are independent, as volume does not regulate the extension of the exponential growth phase. We conducted two microcosm experiments using 1, 2, and 8 L bottles, inoculated with phytoplankton collected in the Ria Formosa lagoon (SE Portugal) and incubated for 1, 2, 4, and 8 days. Phytoplankton net growth rates were estimated using chlorophyll a concentration and cell abundance, determined with epifluorescence and inverted microscopy. Results show that the experimental duration significantly affected net growth rates, independently of volume, with decreasing net growth rates with time. Regarding volume, we found significant, but weak, differences in net growth rates, and significant two-way interactions only for the larger-sized cells. No significant differences in net growth rates across the different volumes were detected for the smaller, most abundant taxa and for the whole assemblage. We conclude that duration, not volume, is the main factor to consider in microcosm experiments, and it should allow the measurement of responses during the exponential growth phase, which can be detected through daily sampling throughout the duration of the experiment. LA/P/0069/2020 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Neuroradiološke metode sastavni su dio istraživanja utjecaja stresa na mozak jer omogućavaju neinvazivno ispitivanje njegove strukture i funkcije. Pri istraživanju stresa neuroradiološkim metodama koriste se različiti eksperimentalni protokoli koji daju heterogene rezultate. Najčešće korišteni su vizualni i aritmetički zadaci poput stresa izazvanog personaliziranom pričom, stresa izazvan Stroop-ovim testom, stresa izazvanog javnim govorom, stresa izazvanog serijskim oduzimanjem te Montreal stres test. Usprkos vrlo raznolikom pristupu u navedenim studijama određene regije mozga pokazale su konzistentnost strukturalnih i funkcionalnih promjena što upućuje na njihovu važnu ulogu u patofiziologiji stresa. Rezultati brojnih studija pokazuju kako su strukturalni volumeni frontalnog režnja, hipokampusa, inzule smanjeni usred dugotrajne izloženosti stresu, dok su rezultati istraživanja strukturalnih promjena kod amigdale oprečna. Funkcionalne promijene u ispitanika s posttraumatski stresnim poremećajem govore u prilog povećanja aktivnosti amigdale i inzule i smanjenja aktivnosti struktura frontalnog režnja i hipokampusa. Aktivnost inzule se s vremenom smanjuje vjerojatno kao dio habituacije. Čini se da regije frontalnog režnja i hipokampusa imaju negativnu povratnu kontrolu na amigdalu kao dio neuronskog kruga regulacije odgovora na stres. Odgovor na stres je dinamički proces te je stoga sve više longitudinalnih studija koje bolje prate promijene prilikom utjecaja stresa na mozak. Nadalje, ispitivanje strukturalnih i funkcionalnih promjena na mozgu usred izloženosti stresu treba različiti na tri kategorije. Prva kategorija spada u kongenitalne predispozicije mozga usred koji on može biti otporan ili podložan stresu. Druga kategorija se odnosi na stečene promijene koje su se dogodile usred samog utjecaja stresa, a koji nisu doveli do patofizioloških promjena koje mogu uzrokovati bolest. I treća kategorija se odnosi na patofiziološke promijene uzrokovane stresom usred patoloških procesa tokom razvijene bolesti kao što je naprimjer posttraumatski stresni poremećaj. Važnost neuroradioloških metoda mogla bi biti sve veća u budućnosti za probir pojedinaca koji se prijavljuju za visokorizična zanimanja kao što su vojnici, policajci, kontrolori leta i vatrogasci. Isto tako ove metode potencijalno su korisne za praćenje terapije i kao dio treninga za povećanje otpornosti na stres., Neuroradiological methods are an integral part in the field of stress research because they enable a noninvasive examination of the structure and function of the brain. Different approaches to experimental designes have so far yielded heterogenus results. Visual and arithemic tasks such as script-driven stress stimuli, Stroop colour-word interference task, public speech-induced stress, serial subtraction design, and Montreal imaging stress task are the most commonly used approaches. In spite of varied approaches in studies, certain regions of the brain showed consistency in structural and functional changes across different studies which points to their importance in pathophysiology of stress. Based on many research studies structural volumes of frontal lobe, hippocampus, insula are smaller under the prolonged influence of stress, while research regarding structural changes in amygdala provides conflicting results. Functional changes in examinees with posttraumatic stress disorder point in the direction of increased activity of amygdala and insula, and a decreased activity of frontal lobe and hippocampus. Activity of insula decreases with time, likely due to habituation. It seems like regions of frontal lobe and hippocampus have negative feedback control on amygdala as part of a neural circuit of response regulation to stress. Furthermore, response to stress is a dynamic process and there is a growing body of longitudinal studies that are more apt in deciphering the influence of stress on the brain. Also, structural and functional studies of the brain under the influence of stress can be divided into three categories. In the first category are the congenital predispositions that can lead to stress resiliance or stress suceptibility. Second category encompasses acquired changes under the influence of stress but they do not include pathophysiological changes and disease development. And third catogory describes pathophysiological changes after the full development of stress related diseases such as post-traumatic stress disease. The importance of neuroradiological methods may become even greater in the future, especially in screening of candidates applying for high-risk professions such as army, police, flight control, and firefighters, as well as for therapy surveilance and as part of a stress resiliance training.

The field of targeted protein degradation is growing exponentially. Yet, there is an unmet need for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models that provide mechanistic insights, while also being practically useful in a drug discovery setting. Therefore, we have developed a comprehensive modeling framework which can be applied to experimental data from routine projects to: (1) assess PROTACs based on accurate degradation metrics, (2) guide compound optimization of the most critical parameters, and (3) link degradation to downstream pharmacodynamic effects. The presented framework contains a number of first-time features: (1) a mechanistic model to fit the hook effect in the PROTAC concentration-degradation profile, (2) quantification of the role of target occupancy in the PROTAC mechanism of action and (3) deconvolution of the effects of target degradation and target inhibition by PROTACs on the overall pharmacodynamic response. To illustrate applicability and to build confidence, we have employed these three models to analyze exemplary data on various compounds from different projects and targets. The presented framework allows researchers to tailor their experimental work and to arrive at a better understanding of their results, ultimately leading to more successful PROTAC discovery. While the focus here lies on in vitro pharmacology experiments, key implications for in vivo studies are also discussed., Pharmaceutics, 15 (1)

Populations with a migration background have a higher prevalence of mental health problems than their native counterparts. They are also more likely to have unmet medical needs and are less frequently referred to mental health services. One potential explanation for this is that physicians, such as general practitioners (GPs), may unintentionally discriminate against migrant patients, particularly when they lack humanization. To date, no experimental study has investigated this hypothesis. This paper assesses the influence of humanization on GPs’ discriminatory decisions regarding migrant patients with depression. A balanced 2 × 2 factorial experiment was carried out with Belgian GPs (N = 797) who received video-vignettes depicting either a native patient or a migrant patient with depression. Half of the respondents were exposed to a text that humanized the patient by providing more details about the patient’s life story. Decisions related to diagnosis, treatment and referral were collected, as well as the time spent on each video and text, and were analysed using ANOVA. Migrant patients’ symptoms were judged to be less severe than those of native patients (F = 7.71, p

Prior research on networks has established that tensions might arise between organizational structures and processes and network goals. This study investigates the role that network managers can play in mitigating these tensions through network orchestration. Based on an experimental design involving students and practitioners from the social domain, the combined effects of network orchestration and organizational formalization on goal orientation were examined. Results show that a negative effect of organizational formalization on network goal orientation is mitigated by network orchestration. Thereby, this study contributes to our understanding of the role of network orchestration in coping with tensions inherent to networks.

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are essential components in various electronic devices, playing a vital role in their functionality. Over time, PCBs have evolved significantly, becoming smaller, more complex, and multi-layered to meet the demands of advancing technology and consumer preferences. The quality of solder paste deposits is measured by circularity, volume, positioning, and the number of satellites. Mycronic is a supplier of jet printing machines for PCB manufacturers and needs to investigate and counteract an unwanted variation in volume and positioning within the first dot of the solder paste strip, and its so-called “sea saw” effect for the following three dots. This master’s thesis has two aims. The first aim is to develop and evaluate an experimental method to reduce variation between the dots in the strip. The second aim is to reduce the variation between the 1st dot and the following three dots by finding a combination of pre-feed, first, second, and third waveforms to obtain improved precision, volume, circularity, and reduced volume variation. Using an experimental design a full factorial design was used, examining six experimental factors. The design was further augmented with a central composite design to describe the second-order model. The knowledge from the experiment was used to optimize and improve the quality factors of jet printing, which were verified with an additional experiment. The results of the study provided compelling evidence that only the selected experimental factors had a significant impact on improving the volume metric. It was observed that the presence or absence of satellites during the experiment did not have any effect on the results, and neither did the positioning and circularity factors contribute to any improvement or deterioration. Specifically, the most significant difference in volume between 1st and following three dots for the optimized solution is 0.5 nl, and the currently used settings have a difference of 2.65 nl. The experimental approach employed in this master's thesis holds excellent promise for Mycronic, as it paves the way for the future development of piezo-actuation profiles (i.e. specific settings for the jet printer). The potential contributions to the industry are significant, particularly in terms of advancing the methodology for investigating and enhancing the quality metrics of piezo-actuation profiles through experimental means. This research opens up new avenues for Mycronic to refine its printing processes and improve overall print quality, ultimately leading to better outcomes for their customers.