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Abstract Amidst the contemporary shifts within early childhood education (ECE) in China, the significance of multimedia tools and their effective deployment by educators is increasingly paramount. Situated within the theoretical underpinnings of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this inquiry elucidates the intricate dynamics between the Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) of said tools and their consequential influence on educators’ effectiveness. Empirical data gleaned from a rigorous quantitative survey of 400 educators within ECE institutions in Guangdong Province underscore the importance of PU and PEU as determinants of the successful assimilation of multimedia tools, thereby influencing the pedagogical efficacy of educators. There are several implications of this investigation. The study primarily contributes to the academic discourse by bridging a discernible lacuna and offering insights into multimedia tool adoption dynamics within the specific milieu of ECE in China. The findings have implications for a spectrum of stakeholders, from multimedia tool developers to educational policy-makers, underscoring that tools, to be truly transformative, must be perceived as both intrinsically valuable and user-centric. Notwithstanding the robustness of the findings, the geographically circumscribed focus on Guangdong Province warrants prudence in generalizing insights across China. This suggests the need for future scholarly endeavours to broaden the research purview across diverse provinces, aspiring to provide a more holistic understanding of the dynamics of multimedia tool integration within China’s expansive ECE domain.

Framework materials such as zeolites and mesoporous silicas are commonly used for many applications, especially catalysis and separation. Here zeolite-mesoporous silica composite catalysts (employing zeolite Y, ZSM-5, KIT-6, SBA-15 and MCM-41 mesoporous silica) were prepared (with different weight percent of zeolite Y and ZSM-5) and assessed for catalytic cracking (using n-heptane, as the model compound at 550 °C) with the aim to improve the selectivity/yield of light olefins of ethylene and propylene from n-heptane. Physicochemical properties of the parent zeolites and the prepared composites were characterized comprehensively using several techniques including X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis. Catalytic cracking results showed that the ZY/ZSM-5/KIT-6 composite (20:20:60 wt %) achieved a high n-heptane conversion of 85% with approximately 6% selectivity to ethylene/propylene. In contrast, the ZY/ZSM-5/SBA-15 composite achieved a higher conversion of 95% and an ethylene/propylene ratio of 8%, indicating a more efficient process in terms of both conversion and selectivity. Magnetic resonance relaxation analysis of the ZY/ZSM-5/KIT-6 (20:20:60) catalyst confirmed a micro-mesoporous environment that influences n-heptane diffusion and mass transfer. As zeolite Y and ZSM-5 have micropores, n-heptane can move and undergo hydrogen transfer reactions, whereas KIT-6 has mesopores that facilitate n-heptane’s accessibility to the active sites of zeolite Y and ZSM-5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) is utilized to cut sophisticated curves or shapes that would be challenging to cut using traditional techniques. The challenge lies in simultaneously optimizing multiple conflicting objectives, such as maximizing material removal rate (MRR) while minimizing surface roughness (SR) and kerf width, to achieve high-quality machining results. This study addresses this challenge by introducing a multi-objective optimization approach using the Taguchi method and the Design of Experiments (DOE) to optimize WEDM parameters. The WEDM model AQ327L cut a workpiece material from stainless steel AISI 304 using a 0.25-mm brass wire electrode diameter. The variable input parameters were a pulse on time (Ton), a pulse of time (Toff), and a peak current (IP). The average of means analysis (ANOM), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and single-to-noise (S/N) ratio were used to determine the effect of WEDM parameters on the responses. The multi-objectives optimization introduced the ideal setting parameters were a combination of 11.33 μs Ton, 24 μs Toff, and 11 A IP. ANOVA and ANOM demonstrated that the Ton followed by IP are the most influential factors in the MRR and kerf width. In contrast, the Ton followed by the Toff are the most influential factors in SR. Finally, the findings demonstrated that the multi-objective optimization by the Taguchi approach could increase the quality of the WEDM process of AISI 304. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial thrombosis is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide with no effective bioassay for clinical prediction. As a symbolic feature of arterial thrombosis, severe stenosis in the blood vessel creates a high-shear, high-gradient flow environment that facilitates platelet aggregation towards vessel occlusion. Here, we present a thrombus profiling assay that monitors the multi-dimensional attributes of thrombi forming in such biomechanical conditions. Using this assay, we demonstrate that different receptor–ligand interactions contribute distinctively to the composition and activation status of the thrombus. Our investigation into hypertensive and older individuals reveals intensified biomechanical thrombogenesis and multi-dimensional thrombus profile abnormalities, endorsing the diagnostic potential of the assay. Furthermore, we identify the hyperactivity of GPIbα-integrin αIIbβ3 mechanosensing axis as a molecular mechanism that contributes to hypertension-associated arterial thrombosis. By studying drug-disease interactions and inter-individual variability, our work reveals a need for personalized anti-thrombotic drug selection that accommodates each patient's pathological profile. Arterial thrombosis is a leading cause of death and disability with no clinical bioassay for prediction. Here, the authors develop an assay that monitors the multi-dimensional attributes of thrombi forming in its physiologically mimicking rheological condition to predict arterial thrombotic risks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Improved perioperative care has enhanced survival in children with congenital gastrointestinal conditions and abdominal wall defects (AWD). However, epidemiological and surgical outcomes in developing nations are still scarce. Our aim was to assess the burden and mortality of common congenital gastrointestinal anomalies and AWD in Malaysia, and their influencing factors. Methods: Using the Global PaedSurg study protocol with permission, we performed a prospective cohort study on children presenting for the first time between October 2021 and April 2022 with these conditions: Esophageal atresia (EA), congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation (ARM) and Hirschsprung's disease. We compared mortality and 30-day outcome data across different geographical regions in Malaysia. Results: There were 228 patients with 242 study conditions (EA n = 28, CDH n = 36, intestinal atresia n = 49, gastroschisis n = 12, exomphalos n = 8, ARM n = 77, Hirschsprung's disease n = 32). Our mortality rate was 8.8%; 60% of these were CDH patients. Factors significantly associated with mortality were CDH diagnosis, central venous access requirement, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, blood transfusion and ventilation requirement. Conclusion: Diagnosis of CDH is the most important predictor for sepsis on arrival and mortality, therefore measures should be taken for early recognition and aggressive management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased adoption of the electric vehicle (EV) needs the proper charging infrastructure integrated with suitable energy management schemes. However, the available literature on this topic lacks in providing a comparative survey on different aspects of this field to properly guide the people interested in this area. To mitigate this gap, this research survey is an effort to provide know-how about the important aspects of the overall EV charging setup with 239 relevant references. It reviews the achievements of energy management systems in terms of improving fuel consumption efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions in EV charging systems. State-of-the-art and most up-to-date standards of EV technology and charging infrastructure are presented. EV charging schemes based on standard grid and renewable energy resources are introduced with a brief comparison of the standard grid and photovoltaic-grid charging systems. Moreover, this article describes centralized and decentralized control configurations of EV charging. A comparative survey of different energy management algorithms is presented while highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of each algorithm. The work presented in this review will help frame future research needs. It is anticipated that the material gathered in this article will become a valuable source of information for the researchers working on this area of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainable development of sports facilities and their integration with the ecological environment are crucial in addressing global environmental challenges. This study examines the coupling coordination between sports facilities and the ecological environment in nine prefecture-level cities in Fujian Province, China, from 2013 to 2020, within the framework of China’s “Dual Carbon” strategy. Using a multidisciplinary approach that integrates economics, sociology, and geography, the study employs the entropy method and coupling coordination models to analyze the temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the coupling coordination between sports facilities and the ecological environment. The findings reveal that the overall trend of coupling coordination is positive, with the degree of coordination improving over time from severe imbalance in 2013 to high-quality coordination by 2020. Economic factors, such as per capita GDP, positively influence the coupling coordination, while factors like population density and regional GDP have a negative impact. Coastal cities, such as Xiamen and Zhangzhou, demonstrate stronger regional correlations and play a critical role in improving the overall coupling level of the province. This research provides several recommendations for promoting orderly and optimal development, considering the distinct characteristics of sports facilities and the ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oncogenic mutations are abundant in the tissues of healthy individuals, but rarely form tumours1–3. Yet, the underlying protection mechanisms are largely unknown. To resolve these mechanisms in mouse mammary tissue, we use lineage tracing to map the fate of wild-type and Brca1−/−;Trp53−/− cells, and find that both follow a similar pattern of loss and spread within ducts. Clonal analysis reveals that ducts consist of small repetitive units of self-renewing cells that give rise to short-lived descendants. This offers a first layer of protection as any descendants, including oncogenic mutant cells, are constantly lost, thereby limiting the spread of mutations to a single stem cell-descendant unit. Local tissue remodelling during consecutive oestrous cycles leads to the cooperative and stochastic loss and replacement of self-renewing cells. This process provides a second layer of protection, leading to the elimination of most mutant clones while enabling the minority that by chance survive to expand beyond the stem cell-descendant unit. This leads to fields of mutant cells spanning large parts of the epithelial network, predisposing it for transformation. Eventually, clone expansion becomes restrained by the geometry of the ducts, providing a third layer of protection. Together, these mechanisms act to eliminate most cells that acquire somatic mutations at the expense of driving the accelerated expansion of a minority of cells, which can colonize large areas, leading to field cancerization.The authors use lineage tracing to map the fate of wild-type and Brca1−/−;Trp53−/− cells in the adult mouse mammary gland, identifying three layers of protection that limit the spread of mutant cells at the expense of allowing a minority of mutant cells to expand, which leads to field cancerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent past, several weathering indicators have been developed to describe its state of weathering. The state of rock weathering is a useful indicator to estimate the integrity of tropically weathered rock material and mass which weatherability plays an important role in a tropical region. Through a ground assessment tool, the strength and durability of the rock mass could be estimated and complex or adopted to simplify the early prediction of the complex engineering parameter. This paper presents several models of the Weathering Index (WI) using selected significant parameters using statistical analysis. For this purpose, several sites have been chosen to represent granitic rock mass. Forty (40) numbers of samples were collected and tested comprising from four (4) sites in Malaysia. Several laboratory tests have been conducted such as Point Load Index (Is(50)), dry density, Slake Durability 1 (SD1), Slake Durability 2 (SD2) and moisture content. The field and laboratory data sets are used to determine the WI by using simple regression and MLR analysis Significant parameters found to be useful in determining the WI are selected namely SD1, dry density, Is(50), and block volume. These parameters were selected based on stepwise analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Following the models' implementation, the models were evaluated and the best prediction model was selected after considering statistical coefficients, such as coefficient of determination (R2), variance account for (VAF), and root mean squared error (RMSE), as well as utilizing a straightforward ranking approach. The findings of this study could contribute to the more accurate prediction of WI using a more simplistic field and laboratory parameters. Therefore, the WI is useful during the initial stages and planning of rock excavation work and provides a good description of weathering grade and rock mass properties, which will affect excavatability in granitic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia, recognized as a perilous compound for both environmental and human health, necessitates detection of its varied concentrations in the air for environmental conservation and safety. This study introduces a novel self-powered ammonia gas sensor, operating at room temperature using a chitosan and tin dioxide (SnO₂) composite film. Designed based on the galvanic cell principle, the sensor eliminates the need for external power sources, making it ideal for various environmental and industrial applications. Advanced morphological and compositional analyses were conducted through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), confirming the effective integration of SnO₂ into the chitosan matrix, enhancing surface oxygen content and porosity. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed NH₂ groups in chitosan that interact with ammonia gas. The sensor demonstrated exceptional sensitivity and selectivity towards ammonia, with peak sensitivity reaching 26.13% at 50 ppm, significantly higher than pure chitosan's 17.14%. The sensor showed a substantial increase in electrical voltage in response to ammonia, effectively distinguishing it from gases such as acetone, ethanol, and toluene. This superior performance is attributed to the interaction between ammonia and NH₂ groups in chitosan, which promotes the release of trapped electrons. This research marks a significant advancement in gas detection technology, offering an eco-friendly, efficient, and reliable method for ammonia monitoring, essential for environmental protection and industrial safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward mixing approach that involves incorporating glass fiber into cement-based materials is frequently carried out at construction sites. This practice can have adverse effects on both the fresh and hardened properties of cement mixtures. The lack of quality control measures often leads to the production of fiber-reinforced cement mixtures that do not perform as intended. Additionally, the inherent variations in commercially available glass fibers of the same type add complexity to mixing, making it difficult to consistently reproduce desired effects for in situ casting. Therefore, this research aims to accomplish three main objectives. Firstly, characterizing E-glass and AR-glass fibers to enable a practical replication of performance using these specific variants. Secondly, assessing the impact of five different mixing methods on water absorption, flowability, setting time, compressive, and flexural strength in cement mixtures embedded with these glass fibers. Lastly, evaluating the fiber-matrix interaction within the hardened samples for each mixing method. The results revealed that various mixing methods yielded distinct advantages in the fresh and hardened properties. This highlights the variability in mixing approaches, indicating that the choice of method should be tailored to meet the specific construction requirements of engineers. In essence, the study underscores the importance of selecting an appropriate mixing technique based on the desired outcomes for both the fresh and hardened states of cement mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal megacity like Shanghai is continuously challenged with natural-anthropogenic geo-environmental hazards and risks which possess high correlations between land subsidence (LS), socio-economic development, current and future underground space development (UUS). This research focuses on comprehensive evaluation geo-environmental risks and scenario spatial planning model towards economic impact (EI) resilience of UUS the context of large subsidence hazard prone coastal megacity. Newly established factors are used as indicators to understand the relations and scenario prediction by 2035. The cause-effect relations are analysed via structural equation modelling (SEM), spatiotemporal and scenario spatial modelling in ArcGIS platform based on the secondary big open multisource data. Spatiotemporal pattern basis between year 1960–2020 and urban planning growth theories, results indicate expansion of subsidence and UUS in parallel with economic impact from city centre to new five suburb districts by 2035 with prediction of 75% of areas in medium to high hazard risk assessment category areas. This research can be referred to coastal megacities with land subsidence issues for economic resilient multidisciplinary geo-environmental hazard management, UUS development and urban planning policies formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on the stimulus-organism-response theory, the present study aims to investigate the mediating role of environmental self-identity on the relationship of collectivism-organizational culture and green empowerment with employee's workplace green behavior. By adopting procedural remedy and purposive sampling approach, data was collected from 207 administrative employees in higher education institutions of China. Response rate in this study is 41.40%. The authors employed partial least square -structural equation modelling to validate the proposed hypotheses. The current empirical findings confirmed the direct effect of collectivism-organizational culture and green empowerment on employee's environmental self-identity. It is also proven that environmental self-identity significantly and positively influence employee's workplace green behavior. This study concludes with significant positive indirect impact of collectivism-organizational culture and green empowerment on the employees WGB through environmental self-identity. This study enriches the literature on sustainable development by examining the integrated relationship of collectivism-organizational culture, green empowerment, self-identity and green behavior. The limitations and implications have been elaborated at the end of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) has been widely used in the industrial sector to eliminate rust and undesirable scales from mild steel. However, the aggressive nature of the H2SO4 solution has led to severe corrosion during the acid cleaning procedure, producing hazardous waste with environmental consequences. To address these issues, this study attempts to synthesise, screen, and optimise the corrosion inhibition efficacy of isatin 4-ethyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (Is4ETSC). The weight loss technique was utilised to evaluate the potential of Is4ETSC as a corrosion inhibitor at five concentrations (1–5 mM) before optimising it using the response surface methodology (RSM). Is4ETSC was synthesised via a condensation method and yielded yellow precipitates, characterised by distinctive stretching bands at ν(C=S) [937 cm−1], ν(C=O) [1670 cm−1], and ν(C=N) [1686 cm−1] as confirmed by ATR-FTIR. Weight loss analysis for screening revealed that as the Is4ETSC concentrations increase, more Is4ETSC is theoretically adsorbed on the mild steel surface, resulting in higher coverage and smoother surfaces. Surface analysis via SEM–EDX revealed that mild steel treated with the inhibitor exhibited a smoother morphology compared to the untreated steel. The adsorption of Is4ETSC on the mild steel surface occurred through both chemisorption and physisorption, forming a monolayer, as validated by the Langmuir isotherm and Gibbs energy. Meanwhile, for RSM analysis, the optimum operating conditions for corrosion inhibition efficiency were identified at 8 mM inhibitor concentration, 0.5 M H2SO4 concentration, and 14 h of immersion time, achieving a maximum inhibition efficiency of 98%. The overall model proved significant (p < 0.001) with R2, adjusted R2, and predicted R2 values of 0.9945, 0.9566, and 0.9882, respectively. Verification tests proved the reliability of the model for the corrosion inhibition method of Is4ETSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution, climate change and waste accumulation are critical societal issues calling for advanced methods to recycle matter and clean polluted ecosystems. Here, we review the use of calcium oxide waste-based catalysts for industrial and environmental applications such as biodiesel production, and pollutant degradation and removal. Catalysts can be produced from mud clam shell, eggshell, spent coffee ground, fish bones waste, marble waste, face mask waste, and snail shell. The preparation of composite catalysts, adsorbents, nanoparticles, and photocatalysts is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists are currently focusing on eco-friendly and non-polluting fuels, and the production of H2 from biomass has recently garnered attention. Valorization of biomass via catalytic gasification has been proposed as a potential solution to the environmental problems associated with CO2 emissions and global warming. Nonetheless, the process generates tar as a by-product, which poses numerous difficulties for the reaction process. Recently, steam reforming has become a promising method for tar conversion since steam potentially contributes more H2 to the reaction. However, the reaction is endothermic and hence requires the use of a catalyst. This leads to the global challenge which is designing an affordable anti-coking sintering resistance catalyst. This review reports on advances made in the development of catalytic biomass tar reforming, focusing mainly on toluene as the biomass tar model compound. Recent developments in the toluene catalytic steam reforming, reaction pathways, catalyst deactivation studies, and catalyst development were comprehensively reviewed. In addition, the functions of active sites, support, and promoter in the performance of toluene steam reforming were discussed concurrently. The review concluded with an insight into the prospects and challenges of biomass tar reforming technology, as well as a few recommendations for future catalyst development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The installation of sand screens in open-hole completions in the wellbore is crucial for managing sand production. The main reason for using standalone screens in open-hole completions is their relatively reduced operational complexity compared to other sand control technologies. However, directly applying the screen to the bottom of the hole can lead to an incorrect screen type selection, resulting in an unreliable sand control method. To address this issue, a sand retention test is conducted to evaluate the performance of a standalone screen before field installation. Nevertheless, current sand retention test setups encounter several challenges. These include difficulties in identifying minimum retention requirements, interpreting results in the context of field conditions, and replicating field-specific parameters. The existing sand retention test introduces uncertainties, such as inaccurately replicating field requirements, inconsistent selection of wetting fluids, flow rates, and channel formation, leading to variations in the choice of the optimal screen using this test. In response to these challenges, this study aims to review the sand retention test and propose an improved sand retention method to overcome these problems. The focus of this article is to provide an in-depth analysis of previous sand retention test setups, their contributions to characterizing sand screens, and the parameters utilized in determining test outcomes. Additionally, this review outlines a procedure to investigate the impact of different particle sizes on screen erosion. Key findings emphasize the importance of using high-quality materials, proper screen design to resist damage and erosion, achieving acceptable natural packing behind the screen, and considering factors such as geology, wellbore conditions, and installation techniques. The analysis reveals that a high quantity of finer and poorly sorted sand increases sand production. The study recommends performing a sand pack test closer to reservoir conditions for better evaluation. Premium sand screens demonstrate the highest retention capacity, followed by metal mesh and wire-wrapped screens. Additionally, geotextiles show potential for enhancing sand retention, and screen design affects erosion resistance and service life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-formulated skin care products with skin whitening effects are in high demand, particularly for Asians, because of better topical delivery and enhanced permeation. While single nano-formulated α-mangostin or kojic acid (KA)-containing emulsions are popular, the double emulsion formulation system remains lacking. The study formulated a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) double emulsion containing α-mangostin and kojic acid (KA) using a combined high-energy method, followed by physicochemical characterization and sensory evaluation. Both centrifugal and freeze–thaw cycle tests proved that the W/O/W double emulsion was obtained and highly stable. Initial skin spread skin tests showed that X2 (4% Span 80, 1.5% xanthan gum) and X3 (2% Span 80, 2% xanthan gum) were absorbed rapidly through the skin, more so for X2. The high conductivity value of X2 (5.86–6.93 µS/cm) gave a mean particle size (MPS) and PDI of 195.9 nm ± 1.308 and 0.272 ± 0.003, respectively, atomic force micrograph's droplet size (154.34 ± 37.521 nm). Likewise, phase separation was absent in the long-term storage stability test (seven weeks) at 25 ± 2 °C, retaining good zeta potential (− 36.13 ± 2.97 mV), pH (4.39 ± 0.09), MPS (162.9–418.9 nm), and PDI (0.272–0.525 nm). The generally nonlinear room plot proved that the X2 destabilization was not coalescence-related but a late onset of Ostwald ripening. The sensory evaluation results proved the α-mangostin and KA W/O/W double nanoemulsion's comparability to a commercial cream, with the former scoring substantially higher for aroma, thickness, and spreadability (8.0). Thus, the study's findings conveyed the double nanoemulsion's promising use in the cosmeceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal energy is considered renewable energy that is environmentally friendly and sustainable compared to the conventional energy from fossil fuels. However, uncontrolled geothermal exploitation can cause a decrease in the groundwater table and reservoir temperature, such as in the Jaboi volcano on Weh Island, where a power plant has been built to generate electrical energy with an estimated power of 50 MWe but still has not been operated. A geophysical survey is needed to determine the local hydrothermal system, including groundwater reserves under the surface which can be used to refill the hydrothermal wells during exploitation. This study measured vertical electrical sounding (VES) data at 15 points near the crater and geothermal power plant. In addition, very-low-frequency (VLF) data that pass through the crater were also collected to determine the presence of other hydrothermal resources such as fractures and faults. The results of the 1D least-square inversion show three subsurface models where groundwater resources with low resistivity (< 1.5 Ωm) are found at a depth of 50–100 m. The same results are also obtained from the 2D cross-section model that impermeable resistive anomalies in alluvial and tuff rocks dominate the near-surface area. The layer after groundwater is an impermeable rock in the form of breccia. The results of 2D VES and VLF modeling also show the presence of the Ceunohot and Leumomate faults, which are beneficial as fluid access to the surface. Based on the data analysis, the combination of VES and VLF data can be used to image shallow hydrothermal systems such as groundwater resources and faults in the Jaboi volcano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What kinds of leaders does the world need today to achieve a sustainable tomorrow? This article focuses on the importance of envisioning values-based leadership in a pursuit of collective well-being, in light of unprecedented change today, uncertainty about tomorrow, and a lack of clear vision of desired futures. The authors make the case for the importance of formal and informal leaders today and in the future understanding themselves as part of a broader system, and becoming aware of their own competencies, attributes, values, and limitations. The emerging aspects of what leadership can do to promote a sustainable future and lead on the path call for shifts in the current understanding of leadership roles and characteristics. More effective approaches may be found through exploring explicit, transparent values-based leadership as well as new forms of engaging in partnerships and addressing systems holistically. When engaged, higher education can play crucial new roles in preparing much-needed knowledgeable and compassionate leaders, fostering and influencing behavior across societies, and leading future generations to live life purposefully and skillfully in the global pursuit of a sustainable future for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption is one of the most efficient methods for remediating industrial recalcitrant wastewater due to its simple design and low investment cost. However, the conventional adsorbents used in adsorption have several limitations, including high cost, low removal rates, secondary waste generation, and low regeneration ability. Hence, the focus of the research has shifted to developing alternative low-cost green adsorbents from renewable resources such as biomass. In this regard, the recent progress in the modification of biomass-derived adsorbents, which are rich in cellulosic content, through a variety of techniques, including chemical, physical, and thermal processes, has been critically reviewed in this paper. In addition, the practical applications of raw and modified biomass-based adsorbents for the treatment of industrial wastewater are discussed extensively. In a nutshell, the adsorption mechanism, particularly for real wastewater, and the effects of various modifications on biomass-based adsorbents have yet to be thoroughly studied, despite the extensive research efforts devoted to their innovation. Therefore, this review provides insight into future research needed in wastewater treatment utilizing biomass-based adsorbents, as well as the possibility of commercializing biomass-based adsorbents into viable products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Giant sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) are at risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality due to their high vascularity. Pre-operative embolization of the feeding arteries, prior to complete surgical resection, may assist in minimizing the intraoperative blood loss by occluding these feeding arteries. Case presentation: We present a case of a highly vascular giant SCT in a neonate, which was successfully embolized through an endovascular approach prior to surgery. The femoral artery approach was chosen, with access established using a Micropuncture introducer as a sheath. Embolization was performed using a combination of microcoils, Gelfoam slurry, and polyvinyl alcohol particles. The patient developed femoral artery spasm post-procedure, which resolved with the application of a glyceryl trinitrate patch. Conclusions: Performing pre-operative endovascular embolization on a giant sacrococcygeal teratoma presents particular challenges, primarily due to the difficulty in assessing small vessels and the potential complications associated with this procedure. Nevertheless, this technique proves exceptionally valuable in helping the surgeon minimize blood loss during surgery, thereby reducing the risks of morbidity and mortality. Comprehensive planning for the embolization procedure is essential, encompassing the identification of potential vascular access points and alternatives, along with careful selection of the appropriate catheter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by efficient utilization of natural plant oil and sulfur as low-cost sorbents, it is desired to tailor the porosity and composition of polysulfides to achieve their optimal applications in the management of aquatic heavy metal pollution. In this study, polysulfides derived from soybean oil and sulfur (PSSs) with improved porosity (10.2–22.9 m2/g) and surface oxygen content (3.1–7.0 wt.%) were prepared with respect to reaction time of 60 min, reaction temperature of 170 °C, and mass ratios of sulfur/soybean oil/NaCl/sodium citrate of 1:1:3:2. The sorption behaviors of PSSs under various hydrochemical conditions such as contact time, pH, ionic strength, coexisting cations and anions, temperature were systematically investigated. PSSs presented a fast sorption kinetic (5.0 h) and obviously improved maximum sorption capacities for Pb(II) (180.5 mg/g), Cu(II) (49.4 mg/g), and Cr(III) (37.0 mg/g) at pH 5.0 and T 298 K, in comparison with polymers made without NaCl/sodium citrate. This study provided a valuable reference for the facile preparation of functional polysulfides as well as a meaningful option for the removal of aquatic heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the heightened sensitivity of the electrochemical formaldehyde detection achieved by incorporating a modified graphene paste electrode with a titanium dioxide-silver (TiO2/Ag) composite (GTA). The G-TiO2 matrix was augmented with varying masses of silver modifiers, namely, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 g, aiming to establish the most effective composition for formaldehyde detection. Characterization through scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the material's composition, revealing GTA electrode nanocomposites consisting of carbon, oxygen, titanium, and silver with the compositions of 77.05, 19.46, 2.39, and 1.11%, respectively. An electrochemical analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of the developed electrode in a 1 M K3[Fe(CN)6] solution. Furthermore, a real sample testing was performed to evaluate the practical utility of the electrode gauging its efficiency through the calculation of percentage recovery before and after treatment. The GTA electrode with a 0.4 g Ag modifier exhibited the optimal performance, as evidenced by a Horwitz Ratio stability test result of 1.38% and a limit of detection of 0.0168 µg/L. This research highlights the promising potential of the GTA electrode for the precise and sensitive formaldehyde detection, particularly in processed food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rapid diagnosis is crucial for pediatric patients with midgut volvulus and malrotation to prevent serious complications. While the upper gastrointestinal study (UGIS) is the traditional method, the use of ultrasound (US) is gaining prominence. Objectives: To assess the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of US compared to UGIS for malrotation and midgut volvulus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 68 pediatric patients who underwent US and/or UGIS before surgery for suspected midgut volvulus or malrotation in Kuala Lumpur (PPUKM and HTA), referencing surgical outcomes as the gold standard. Results: US demonstrated a higher specificity (100%) than UGIS (83%) for diagnosing malrotation, with a slightly lower sensitivity (97% vs. 100%). For midgut volvulus, US surpassed UGIS in sensitivity (92.9% vs. 66.7%) while maintaining comparable specificity. The SMA/SMV criteria showed better sensitivity (91.1%) than the D3 assessment (78.9%) on US, though both had high specificity. Conclusion: US is equivalent to UGIS for identifying malrotation and is more sensitive for detecting midgut volvulus, supporting its use as a primary diagnostic tool. The study advocates for combined US and UGIS when either yields inconclusive results, optimizing diagnostic precision for these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequent detection of sulfonamides (SAs) pharmaceuticals in wastewater has necessitated the discovery of suitable technology for their sustainable remediation. Adsorption has been widely investigated due to its effectiveness, simplicity, and availability of various adsorbent materials from natural and artificial sources. This review highlighted the potentials of carbon-based adsorbents derived from agricultural wastes such as lignocellulose, biochar, activated carbon, carbon nanotubes graphene materials as well as organic polymers such as chitosan, molecularly imprinted polymers, metal, and covalent frameworks for SAs removal from wastewater. The promising features of these materials including higher porosity, rich carbon-content, robustness, good stability as well as ease of modification have been emphasized. Thus, the materials have demonstrated excellent performance towards the SAs removal, attributed to their porous nature that provided sufficient active sites for the adsorption of SAs molecules. The modification of physico-chemical features of the materials have been discussed as efficient means for enhancing their adsorption and reusable performance. The article also proposed various interactive mechanisms for the SAs adsorption. Lastly, the prospects and challenges have been highlighted to expand the knowledge gap on the application of the materials for the sustainable removal of the SAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a biosensor working at a frequency of 3.5 GHz, which is designed as a square ring metamaterial resonator. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of blood amount on the metamaterial-based resonator sensor's sensitivity. The structure was constructed using Rogers-RT5880 material, with an overall area of 85.71 mm × 85.71 mm2. The simulation of the design involved modelling the blood samples using Debye 1st-order equations. The empirical results observed a noticeable shift towards a lower frequency range in the response and changes in the magnitude, corresponding to an increase in the blood sample's glucose concentration and thickness. Following this, the experiment was designed to corroborate the simulated results. The sensor achieved the highest sensitivity of 0.23 dB per 100 mg/dl change in glucose level when the thickness of blood was 0.1 mm. It was concluded from the results that the increase in the volume of blood increases the sensor's sensitivity. However, a trade-off mark is necessary in which an optimum sensitivity is achieved with blood volume as minimum as possible so that a noninvasive biosensor can be designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The applications of polysulfides derived from natural plant oil and sulfur via the inverse vulcanization in the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions suffered from their low porosity and scarce surface functionality because of their hydrophobic surfaces and bulk characteristics. In this study, polysulfides from sulfur and palm oil (PSPs) with significantly enhanced porosity (13.7–24.1 m2/g) and surface oxygen-containing functional groups (6.9–8.6 wt.%) were synthesized with the optimization of process conditions including reaction time, temperature, and mass ratios of sulfur/palm oil/NaCl/sodium citrate. PSPs were applied as sorbents to remove heavy metals present in aqueous solutions. The integration of porosity and oxygen modification allowed a fast kinetic (4.0 h) and enhanced maximum sorption capacities for Pb(II) (218.5 mg/g), Cu(II) (74.8 mg/g), and Cr(III) (68.4 mg/g) at pH 5.0 and T 298 K comparing with polysulfides made without NaCl/sodium citrate. The sorption behaviors of Pb(II), Cu(II), and Cr(III) on PSPs were highly dependent on the solution pH values and ionic strength. The sorption presented excellent anti-interference capability for the coexisting cations and anions. The sorption processes were endothermic and spontaneous. This work would guide the preparation of porous polysulfides with surface modification as efficient sorbents to remediate heavy metals from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the challenge of separating bacteria with similar structures such as Escherichia coli and Aeromonas hydrophila. This approach employs pulsed field dielectrophoresis assisted by laminar flow fractionation in a lab-on-a-chip system with integrated optical detection. Bacterial cells passed through 30-µm microelectrodes subjected at 1 MHz and 14 V peak-to-peak in pulsed mode, while fluid flow carried bacteria towards the chamber's end. The on-and-off electric field at specific pulse intervals expose bacterial cells to diverse forces, including kinetics, dielectrophoresis, gravity, drag, and diffusion, resulting in a net force facilitating their movement. Variations of pulsing time, flow rates, and voltage were investigated to identify the optimal combination for efficient separation. Next, the bacteria were detected using an optical fibre based on their absorbance. Results demonstrated a 30% separation efficiency in 90 min at 9.6 μL min−1 flow rates, 4 s pulsing time, and 40 μS cm−1 medium conductivity. A. hydrophila aggregates experienced greater DEP force and retained at microelectrodes during electric field application compared to E. coli, which moved faster towards optical detection. The separation mechanism with and without electric field was different, and precise control of cell movement during field-off periods is important to minimize uncontrolled diffusion. While the optical detection part has been successful, longer time and separation length are recommended for better separation. A carefully tuned combination of pulsing time, flow rates, voltage, and microelectrode design is crucial for this integrated lab-on-chip system to be efficient for separating and detecting closely related microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Midline approach of spinal anesthesia has been widely used for patients undergoing surgical procedures. However, it might not be effective for obstetric patients and elderly with degenerative spine changes. Primary objective was to examine the success rate at the first attempt between the paramedian and midline spinal anesthesia in adults undergoing surgery. Methods: Databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL were searched from their starting date until February 2023. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the paramedian versus midline approach of spinal anesthesia were included. The primary outcome was the success rate at the first attempt of spinal anesthesia. Results: Our review included 36 RCTs (n = 5379). Compared to the midline approach, paramedian approach may increase success rate at the first attempt but the evidence is very uncertain (OR: 0.47, 95% CI 0.27–0.82, ρ = 0.007, level of evidence:very low). Our pooled data indicates that the paramedian approach likely reduced incidence of post-spinal headache (OR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.51–2.84, ρ < 0.00001, level of evidence:moderate). The evidence suggests that the paramedian approach may result in a reduction in the occurrence of paresthesia (OR: 1.61, 95% CI 1.06–2.45, ρ = 0.03, level of evidence:low). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis of 36 RCTs showed that paramedian approach may result in little to no difference in success rate at the first attempt owing to its very low level of evidence. However, given the low level of evidence and studies with small sample sizes, these findings need to be interpreted with caveat. Clinical Trial Registration Number: CRD42023397781. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using images in various file types has become common in the modern digital world, such as social media posts, research reports, and legal documents. The availability of low-cost image manipulation tools has made it easier to change images, potentially leading to undetected image fraud. One such form of image manipulation is copy-move forgery (CMF), which is difficult to detect due to the similarities in image features. There have been efforts to detect CMF using copy-move forgery detection (CMFD) methods. However, most research has focused on CMF images with attacks rather than social media. Social media has contributed significantly to the image manipulation phenomenon, and additional post-processing techniques on social media platforms have affected the efficiency of the CMFD methods. Therefore, this research proposes a two-stage pre-processing phase combined with frequency-based CMFD to detect CMF images in different social media platforms. The first stage includes automatic image selection, followed by image enhancement with filters to improve image quality. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves the highest detection score compared to existing CMFD methods, with an average score of 90% for CMF-Facebook, 91% for CMF-WhatsApp, and 85% for CMF-Twitter. This research highlights the importance of developing solutions to detect image forgery in social media and the potential of combining pre-processing with frequency-based methods to improve results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the contemporary shifts within early childhood education (ECE) in China, the significance of multimedia tools and their effective deployment by educators is increasingly paramount. Situated within the theoretical underpinnings of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this inquiry elucidates the intricate dynamics between the Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEU) of said tools and their consequential influence on educators' effectiveness. Empirical data gleaned from a rigorous quantitative survey of 400 educators within ECE institutions in Guangdong Province underscore the importance of PU and PEU as determinants of the successful assimilation of multimedia tools, thereby influencing the pedagogical efficacy of educators. There are several implications of this investigation. The study primarily contributes to the academic discourse by bridging a discernible lacuna and offering insights into multimedia tool adoption dynamics within the specific milieu of ECE in China. The findings have implications for a spectrum of stakeholders, from multimedia tool developers to educational policy-makers, underscoring that tools, to be truly transformative, must be perceived as both intrinsically valuable and user-centric. Notwithstanding the robustness of the findings, the geographically circumscribed focus on Guangdong Province warrants prudence in generalizing insights across China. This suggests the need for future scholarly endeavours to broaden the research purview across diverse provinces, aspiring to provide a more holistic understanding of the dynamics of multimedia tool integration within China's expansive ECE domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a medication used for the arrestment of dental caries. This study aims to determine the pharmacokinetics (PK) of silver and fluoride following SDF application in healthy children with dental caries. Methods: A total of 15 subjects, aged 4 to 10 years, with at least one cavity on a primary tooth, were recruited for this study. Urine samples were collected at baseline, first 24 h (F1) and second 24 h (F2) after SDF treatment for analysis of silver and fluoride content. Hair samples were also collected at baseline and at 7, 14, 30, 60, 75, and 90 days after SDF treatment to analyze silver content. Results: Participants with under or over-collection of urine, or failure to provide urine collection were excluded for fluoride analysis. As a result, eight subjects' urine samples were eligible for fluoride analysis. Significant correlations were observed between baseline urinary fluoride levels and F1/F2 levels. Pairwise comparisons from Friedman's test showed significant differences between baseline and F1 fluoride levels. For silver analysis, 15 subjects were studied. F1 urinary silver levels were higher than baseline and F2 levels. Subsequent to SDF treatment, hair silver levels displayed fluctuations around the baseline. None of the participants reported adverse effects, and all caries teeth ceased progression within 30 days. Conclusions: The urinary fluoride levels after SDF treatment, although higher, were not clinically significant. Urinary and hair silver levels were negligible. Therefore, SDF appears safe to be used among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : Obesity is associated with multiple health-related complications and affects various aspects of life, including erectile dysfunction (ED). The aim of this study is to postulate that erectile dysfunction in male obese patients can be reversed following bariatric surgery. Materials and Methods: We conducted a non-randomized quasi-experimental study (prospective) between 2 groups, those who underwent surgery with the control group. In this study, the resolution of erectile dysfunction following bariatric surgery comparing with the control group was evaluated in terms of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score. IIEF score is taken by delivering validated questionnaire to participants that enrolled in this study, both the control and intervention group. Results: A total of 25 patients were included in this study, 13 from the intervention group and 12 from the control group. From our study, we evaluated the resolution of IIEF score in both groups. We found that the resolution of erectile function is statistically significant in the intervention group compared to control group. Spearman rank correlation (rs) test was performed to identify the correlation between age and IIEF score. Conclusion: Statistically significant improvements in erectile function were found following bariatric surgery. This is evidenced by the improvements in the IIEF score post-surgery compared to control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to develop a measurement of spiritual poverty for an urban residents based on the spiritual concept and practice of purifying of the self (Tazkiyah Al-Nafs). This follows the process of cleansing of the self, where the nature of bad practices are replaced with those of good practices. A quantitative approach was utilised by distributing questionnaires to 528 urban Muslim households in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya, Malaysia, which was then analysed using descriptive analysis. This was, then, followed by the usability assessments by 14 experts from academia and industry, where the data was analysed using the 'fuzzy delphi method'. Findings indicated that 27.84% of respondents experienced spiritual poverty relating to the emotional indicator, 17.42% experienced from a perceptual indicator, while 91.86% of respondents experienced poverty from a practices indicator perspective. The study points out that the elements of emotion, perception and practice as indicators holds significance in measuring spiritual poverty with a percentage expert consensus of 78.6% on emotion and perception indicators and 85.7% on practices indicator. The results gives credence to the expansion of the concept of multidimensional poverty, to include measuring psycho-spiritual deprivations as one component of poverty in addition to measuring both monetary and non-monetary factors as currently being advocated. This study calls for further exploration of this important area relating to self development, which has been overlooked in poverty measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Network Intrusion Detection System is a network security technology for detecting intruder attacks. However, it produces a great amount of low-level alerts which makes the analysis difficult, especially to construct the attack scenarios. Attack scenario construction (ASC) via Alert Correlation is important to reveal the strategy of attack in terms of steps and stages that need to be launched to make the attack successful. In most of the existing works, alerts are correlated by classifying the alerts based on the cause-effect relationship. However, the drawback of these works is the identification of false and incomplete correlations due to infiltration of raw alerts. To address this problem, this work proposes an effective ASC model to discover the complete relationship among alerts. The model is successfully experimented using two types of dataset, which are DARPA 2000, and ISCX2012. The Completeness and Soundness of the proposed model are measured to evaluate the overall correlation effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonate apatite (CA) is a synthetic derivative of hydroxyapatite, which we have been exploring as a drug delivery nanocarrier in the context of cancer in vitro and in vivo. This nanocarrier showed great potential delivering anti-cancer drugs, plasmids containing tumour suppressor genes and siRNAs against oncogenes in pre-clinical models. We compared here two formulations of CA—the low-Ca2+ CA (made with 4 mM Ca2+) used for in vitro studies in cell lines and the high-Ca2+ CA (made with 40 mM Ca2+) used in mouse models—in terms of protein corona formed with different concentrations of serum in vivo and in vitro. The 10-fold more Ca2+ in high-Ca2+ CA helped produce enough particles in an injectable volume for in vivo delivery of therapeutics. Both formulations made particles of similar size, but their composition differed slightly in terms of Na and Mg content. In serum-containing media, the size of the particles was dependent on the serum concentration. The protein corona around both formulations was almost similar and included albumin, fetuin, haemoglobin, and immunoglobulins. CA was not cytotoxic, and instead an increased expression of ribosomal machinery and glycolytic and cytoskeletal proteins was observed, which promoted translation, growth, and proliferation in cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated various mechanical responses that evolved as a function of gauge length for PGCL sutures. Gauge length dependency is important to be studied as it directly reflects the possible complications related to suture failure and inadequacy of mechanical properties, which could happen due to inappropriate suture lengths used in incision closure. The results show that the gauge length caused differences in monotonic and cyclic responses of the PGCL samples. However, the stress relaxation response is unaffected by the gauge length. In monotonic responses, most of the mechanical parameters, including elongation at break, load at break, ultimate tensile strength as well as initial modulus, improve with increasing gauge length. The overall stiffness and strain at break decrease as the gauge length increases. Both stress-softening and hysteresis loops are observed in all PGCL samples with varying gauge lengths. As the gauge length increases, the permanent set decreases, whereas the maximum stress level and hysteresis increase. Concerning crystallization behavior, the degree of crystallinity, lattice strain, and crystallite size are altered by the gauge length. As the gauge length increases, the lattice strain decreases, and the crystallite size decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presentation with cervical lymphadenopathy would usually have an aetiology of neoplasm, infection or reactive cause. Dual pathology of regional metastasis with simultaneous occurrence of tuberculous lymphadenopathy is rather rare. Herein the authors present a case of primary occult carcinoma and tuberculous lymphadenopathy in an unfortunate patient. The reliability of fine-needle aspiration cytology as a first-line investigation, with alternative methods in approaching cervical lymphadenopathy, was further dissected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in-situ elastic modulus (E) is a vital parameter for describing rock strength in many engineering projects on rock slopes. The elastic modulus and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) are typically investigated via laboratory tests using core samples. However, the direct determination of E is costly and time-consuming in preparing many intact samples from highly weathered Setul limestone. The knocking ball testing method is a non-destructive test that can quickly and easily obtain the elastic modulus of rock in-situ by striking the surface of a rock mass with a spherical steel hammer. This study presents the relationship between the elastic modulus of knocking ball (Ekb) and the uniaxial compressive strength of the Schmidt hammer (UCS-Schmidt). Results show that the regression coefficient correlation, R2 is 0.851, indicating a positive trend with a few outliers. The measured Ekb were also verified with mineral properties and correlated to differential weathering grades to confirm the accuracy of measurement results. The finding compared to previous similar studies tested on several types of rock show a statistically significant. This research highlights the effectiveness of the knocking ball method for determining the modulus of rock slope at different weathering grades. A high elastic modulus corresponds to a high uniaxial compressive strength, verified by the laboratory test. This study shows that the knocking ball can be useful for predicting in-situ elastic modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centrality analysis is a crucial tool for understanding the role of nodes in a network, but it is unclear how different centrality measures provide much unique information. To improve the identification of influential nodes in a network, we propose a new method called Hybrid-GSM (H-GSM) that combines the K-shell decomposition approach and Degree Centrality. H-GSM characterizes the impact of nodes more precisely than the Global Structure Model (GSM), which cannot distinguish the importance of each node. We evaluate the performance of H-GSM using the SIR model to simulate the propagation process of six real-world networks. Our method outperforms other approaches regarding computational complexity, node discrimination, and accuracy. Our findings demonstrate the proposed H-GSM as an effective method for identifying influential nodes in complex networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tire model can be used to predict vehicle dynamics behaviour, such as braking or turning. This paper proposes a method for testing/modelling a tire with a roller brake tester. It requires two speed sensors installed on the roller and idler. That additional sensors are used to estimate roller brake tester inertia and measure tire slip during testing. After involving inertia in the calculation, the brake tester measurement becomes accurate in all points from zero until maximum slip. These results are better than the existing roller brake tester which is only accurate when the steady state condition of the roller is achieved. The modified brake tester and tire testing were modelled and simulated using MATLAB® Simulink. Furthermore, the influence of the brake tester arrangement on measurement characteristics has been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic steam reforming of oxygenated hydrocarbons has been holding an interest in scientific societies for the past two decades. The hydrogen production from steam reforming of glycerol, ethanol and other oxygenates such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are more suitable choice not just because it can be produced from renewable sources, but it also helps to decrease the transportation fuel price and making it more competitive. In addition, hydrogen itself is a green fuel for the transportation sector. The studies on the production of hydrogen from various reforming technologies revealed a remarkable impact on the environmental and socio-economic issues. Researchers became more focused on glycerol steam reforming (GSR), ethanol steam reforming (ESR) and other oxygenates to investigate the catalyst suitability, their kinetics and challenges for the sustainability of the oil and gas production. In the present work, the authors critically addressed the challenges and strategies for hydrogen production via GSR, ESR and other oxygenates reforming process. This review covers extensively thermodynamic parametric analysis, catalysts developments, kinetics and advancement in the operational process for glycerol, ethanol and few other oxygenates. This detailed investigation only highlights the steam reforming process (SRP) of these oxygenates at the laboratory experimental stage. It was found that from this review, there are many technical issues, which lead to economic challenges. The issues are yet to be addressed and thus, these particular applications require faster accelerations at the pilot scale, taking into the consideration of the current pandemic and economic issues, for a safer and greener environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic methane (CH4) dry reforming (MDR) reaction proceeds with the formation of carbon; hence the effects of the catalyst preparation method on the type of carbon are worth investigating. This study investigated the performance of 20 wt% nickel praseodymium (III) oxide (20 wt% Ni/Pr2O3) catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation (IWI), ultrasonic wet impregnation (US-WI), and Pechini sol–gel (PSG) methods. The catalysts crystallite size was approximately 21.3 nm, 21.3 nm, and 10.6 nm, for IWI, US-WI, and PSG catalysts, respectively. Study of the temperature effecton the MDR system showed that higher temperatures favored the MDR reaction with the side reaction playing vital roles. The catalyst synthesized by the PSG method showd higher carbon gasification rate with the stability up to 24 h, whereas catalysts from other synthesis methods were only active for less than 2 h, which could be due to the formation of higher amount of filamentous carbon, balance in oxygen species, and the smaller crystallite size of the PSG-20 wt% Ni/Pr2O3. The PSG-20 wt% Ni/Pr2O3 catalyst accumulated more filamentous carbon than graphitic carbon. In contrast, the IWI and US-WI catalysts accumulated mainly graphitic carbon which encapsulated the Ni0 sites, resulting in excess carbon deposition and reactor clogging within 2 h on stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated all-solid electrode (IASE) consisting of a solid-state silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrode (RE) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) sensing electrode (SE) on a single indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate was successfully fabricated for an extended-gate field effect transistor (EGFET) pH sensor. Two different sizes of ITO substrate (2 cm × 2 cm and 1 cm × 2 cm) were used to fabricate the TiO2 SE using the sol–gel spin-coating method with an area of 0.75 and 0.35 cm2, respectively. In contrast, the RE part was fabricated using thermal evaporation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to investigate the composition of TiO2 and Ag/AgCl thin film. The IASE performance was then evaluated in terms of sensor sensitivity and linearity by applying it to an EGFET pH sensor setup and compared with commercialized Ag/AgCl RE. It was found that the sensor sensitivity and linearity for IASE are comparable, if not better than the EGFET setup using the commercialized RE. The sensitivity for IASE-EGFET was 67.8 mV/pH for the size of 2 cm × 2 cm ITO substrate, and that of 1 cm × 2 cm was 52.8 mV/pH, while the sensitivity setup with commercialized RE was 54.3 mV/pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel-titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys (SMAs) undergo phase transformation between austenitic and martensitic phases in response to applied thermal or mechanical stress, resulting in unique properties and applications. However, machinability often becomes challenging due to property and temperature sensitivity attributes. The use of chilled air to influence machinability in macro-milling was investigated in this study. Other than that, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine the temperature of phase transformation. The results showed that milling with chilled air and minimal lubrication significantly improved machining performance by reducing tool wear and burr formation. Moreover, surface quality has also improved significantly. A notable discovery is that the machining process can change the critical conditions for phase transition, enabling new performance capability of tuning material hysteresis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]