Aid Of Technology Research Articles

A comparison of environmental performance of electronic and bound-thesis using life cycle assessment

Dematerialization through information technology aids in advancing environmental sustainability. Replacing a bound thesis with an e-thesis for a university dissertation will be a complementary paradigm shift for higher environmental performance. Hence, the study intended to determine and compare the environmental performance parameters of conventional paper-based bound-thesis and e-thesis. Moreover, the study aimed to identify the activities causing higher environmental burdens during the production of bound and e-thesis. Open LCA 1.11 was employed for a conventional bound thesis with its e-version submitted by the undergraduates of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. The study utilized U.S. EPA life-cycle inventory data. The analysis demonstrated that the overall global warming potential of a 40-page hard cover thesis was 4,839,000.00 kg CO2-eq to which paper and cover import and paper manufacturing stages contributed more than 99% (4,830,000.0 kg CO2-eq). In comparison, a 0.084 MB soft copy of an e-thesis reported a negligible (0.09936 kg CO2-eq) global warming potential value. Ozone formation-human health, ozone formation-terrestrial ecosystems, terrestrial acidification, fine particulate matter formation, and marine eutrophication potential were 265,584.31 kg NOx eq, 265,583.21 kg NOx eq, 177,451.5 kg SO2 eq, 52,948 kg PM2.5 eq, and 29,041.0 kg N-eq for bound thesis production system. Except for the stratospheric ozone depletion impact and water consumption, environmental performance indicators of e-thesis were superior to the conventional-bound thesis. The study recommends the preparation of e-thesis as an environmentally sound approach. Switching to renewables, extended lifespan, and material recycling of devices at the end of use, sustainable forestry practices, process optimization, and cleaner production technologies can further enhance the environmental performance of e-thesis.

Application of Acoustic Radiation Force Pulse Imaging Technology in the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Calf Intermuscular Vein Thrombosis.

The continuous advancement in ultrasound technology has given rise to Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) elastography, which boasts non-invasiveness, ease of operation, rapid inspection, and high accuracy. It has been successfully employed in detecting tissue hardness across various diseases. This study aims to investigate the application of acoustic radiation force pulse imaging technology in evaluating the efficacy of calf intermuscular vein thrombosis. This study is retrospective in nature, involving a total of 120 patients diagnosed with calf intermuscular venous thrombosis (MCVT) who were admitted to our hospital. These patients were selected retrospectively as the subjects for our research. They were subsequently divided into two groups: the control group and the observation group. The control group received standard nursing care and simple pressure therapy, while the observation group underwent anticoagulant drug treatment. The shear wave elastic hardness of both groups was measured, with the recording of ultrasonic elasticity scores and the average elastic modulus value (E-mean, in kPa). Furthermore, a comparison was made between the two groups regarding thrombus disappearance time, blood flow patency, and the clinical treatment effect. At the 1, 3, and 6-month marks of the treatment period, the ultrasonic elasticity scores in the observation group were consistently higher compared to those in the control group. Additionally, the shear wave elastic hardness in the observation group was consistently lower than that in the control group, and these differences were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The total effective rates for the control and observation groups were 83.33% and 95.00%, respectively. Notably, the clinical total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The thrombus disappearance time in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group, and the blood flow rate was significantly higher than in the control group, with both differences being statistically significant (p < 0.05). ARFI plays a crucial role in assessing the efficacy of MCVT by effectively revealing the hardness and location of the patient's thrombus tissue. This technology aids doctors in gaining a more precise understanding of the deep vein thrombosis condition. Notably, ARFI is characterized by high safety levels and exhibits positive effects due to its painless and non-invasive nature.

Computational Proposal for the SAPEVO-M Method: Technological Framework for Complex Decision-Making

This paper introduces a computational framework based on the SAPEVO-M method to enhance decision-making processes in complex scenarios. By integrating technological advancements with the SAPEVO-M methodology, the framework facilitates a more efficient, accurate analysis based on multi-criteria decision-making problems. The paper presents a literature background of the methodology and its axiomatic structure, highlighting its capability for decision-making for a group of stakeholders, thus offering favorable improvements as a technological aid for decision-making analysis. The results demonstrate the potential of the framework, providing decision-makers with robust and reliable insights, and making it an invaluable tool in fields requiring complex decision analysis. This study not only contributes a novel and free computational approach to the decision-making literature but also paves the way for future research and development, applying the axiomatic methodology for problem-solving in diverse areas of science, searching for increase and transparency concerning decision-making processes worldwide.

Effect of low doses of active chlorine on commensal populations of intestinal bacteria in rats by oral ingestion

Chlorine-containing substances are widely used as disinfectants for treating equipment surfaces and technological aids for antimicrobial treatment of a number of foodstuff in the food industry. The toxic and bactericidal effects of the active (free) chlorine they contain are well understood for the concentrations used in practice, whereas little is known about the effect of its residual (subinhibitory) amounts on the organism and on the microbiota, including the ability to induce antimicrobial resistance. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of different doses of active chlorine at oral administration on the commensal bacteria of intestinal microbiota, body weight gain and micromorphological features of the liver in rats. Material and methods. The study was carried out on male Wistar rats, with an initial body weight of 90-100 g, which for 4 weeks received doses of active chlorine together with drinking water ad libitum, with the given concentration: subinhibitory (10 mg/L), threshold (50 mg/L) and aggravated (100 mg/L). Chloramine was used as a chlorinecontaining agent stable in aqueous solution. Body weight gain was monitored daily. After decapitation, the caecum was taken for microbiota examination as well as the liver. The phenotypic antimicrobial resistance characteristics of Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococci were studied by the disk diffusion method. Additionally, a micromorphologic study of liver slices was performed. Results. Insignificant negative deviations in the body weight gain of rats in the experimental groups receiving subinhibitory doses of active chlorine, combined with a reduced level of Enterococci and Enterobacteriaceae representatives, were revealed. No significant effect of chlorine on the levels of resistant Escherichia coli populations was found, but a tendency to exhibit antimicrobial resistance of Enterococci isolated from rats receiving low doses of active chlorine (10 and 50 mg/l) was detected. No signs of toxic effect on the liver tissue most sensitive to chlorine were detected, but some accumulations of inflammatory cells in the liver slice were revealed. Conclusion. Low doses of chlorine-containing substances at their oral consumption are not indifferent for rats' organism, causing negative phenomena in intestinal bacteria and in liver tissues at the level of tendency. It is expedient to continue studies in this direction.

TESL Trainee Teachers’ Perceptions Toward Implementing Blooket in the Online English Language Teaching and Learning Process

Teaching English language using traditional methods is no longer sufficient for students in the 21st century. As a result, teachers must develop new and innovative educational methods. This study aims to investigate the perceptions of trainee teachers majoring in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at the Institutes of Teacher Education Malaysia (ITEMs) on the use of the game-based platform(i.e., Blooket)in the online English language teaching and learning process. Trainee teachers are now familiar with game-based learning, thanks to the exposure to a variety of technological teaching aids during their teacher training. This survey research was conducted with a focus on TESL trainee teachers’ beliefs, attitudes, and thoughts. The study employed simple random sampling to gather data from 201 TESL trainee teachers of the June 2018 intake from five ITEMsin Malaysia. The results indicate that TESL trainee teachers have a favorable view of Blooket in terms of beliefs, attitudes, and thoughts regarding its implementation in the online English language teaching and learning process

Dynamics of Digital Payments Enable the World's Safest Way to Pay

The digital payment system marks an innovative phase in the global economy. Digital payments, sometimes referred to as electronic payment systems, have given rise to mobile shopping and physical ecommerce. The e-commerce sector in India has significantly increased customer satisfaction in a range of focused on consumers industries. Currently, companies are developing an industry centered on mobile applications with the aid of advanced technology. Mobile commerce refers to technical business that is built on mobile applications. Digital payment business is an innovative business model based on internet applications. Growing the strength and capacity of remote offers allows clients to contribute more freely in an ascending manner. Companies are starting to realize that m-trade is essential to enhancing their reputation, closing agreements, and competing. Today's business groups have integrated portable trade into a number of functional areas. India must be at the forefront of these fields when it comes to offering its citizens innovative services and applications. The paper highlights the dynamics of digital payments and the manner in which worldwide digital payment companies allow customers to choose the safest way to make a payment. This study analyses information collected from secondary sources.

Investigation of the structure of pasta

This article discusses the structure of the properties of oilseed cakes in the production of pasta. During the research, a partial replacement of premium wheat with pumpkin, soy, peanut, sunflower and linseed cake was made. The incorporation of pumpkin, soy, peanut, sunflower, and flax cakes stems from the rich variety of vitamins present in these raw materials. As part of the study, the amino acid composition of the studied cakes, the rheological and physico-chemical parameters of pasta mixtures were considered. The results obtained comply with the requirements established in the standardization documents and technical regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union. Studies have shown that the addition of oilseed cakes does not reduce the rheological and technological parameters of pasta. Quality indicators are determined in accordance with TR CU 021/2011 "On food safety", TR CU 022/2011 "Food products in terms of their labeling", TR CU 029/2012 "Safety requirements for food additives, flavorings and technological aids", regulatory and technical documents GOST 31743-2017 "Pasta products. General technical conditions", GOST 31964-2012 "Pasta products. Acceptance rules and methods for determining quality", GOST 8057-95 "Soybean meal. Technical conditions", GOST 11201-65 "Peanut cake food. Technical specifications, GOST 80-96 "Sunflower cake. Technical specifications, GOST 10974-95 "Flax cake. Technical conditions".

Research into the world of Cloud-Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality technology has not been able to penetrate the mainstream consumer market due to restrictions on hardware and content. With the advancement of cloud computing technologies, Virtual Reality hardware and technology applications may now be supported strongly. The metaverse, cloud VR gaming, and cloud VR stimulator are just a few of the real-world applications that are now employing cloud computing in Virtual Reality. We can lower the cost of Virtual Reality technology which would begin a new era of many users to apply cloud-based technologies. With the aid of technology, it will be possible to operate from anywhere without having to transport a lot of equipment. The performance, usability, and compatibility of Virtual Reality software and hardware can be improved by cloud computing on the level of hardware and content. The VR dataset is made available for public collaboration through the Internet using a VR-Cloud server. The digital asset that represents the layout of our pedestrian bridge comprises images of all the streets, buildings, trees, and other urban amenities. In the virtual environment of the metropolitan area, where they run and stroll according to predetermined behaviour scenarios, the cars and people are created and entered. By employing cloud communication software to analyse simulations of vehicles and pedestrian crowds and to debate design ideas, users share the VR reality by connecting to the VR Cloud servers from remote devices. This research demonstrates how VR-cloud may be combined with Neuralink and NFT in the virtual world for future enhancement. This paper is a research note on cloud computing and its application using the Virtual Reality (VR) platform for the modern world with futuristic innovations. Keywords: Cloud Computing, Metaverse, Neuralink, Virtual Reality, VR-Cloud.)

SIMULATION IN AGE SUIT: AN INNOVATIVE NURSING EDUCATION INTERVENTION TO INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING OF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Background Negative attitudes towards older adults are often recognized in society, especially among health care providers. Lack of education in gerontology and geriatrics and limited practical training in nursing education have been identified as influencing aspects. Simulation in education through age suit has been recognized to increase empathy and reduce negative attitudes towards older adults. An innovative education intervention with simulation in age suit with a follow up reflection seminar was developed to counteract ageism and increase the understanding of aging, age related health problems, older adults and to influence the willingness to provide care to older adults. Methods The intervention with simulation in age suit, grounded in the pedagogy experiential learning, was implemented in the fourth semester in the three-year nursing education program. The simulation was conducted in a highly accessible home environment equipped with welfare technology and other technical aids. The nursing students were assigned a persona, a person with different health problems, and performed scenarios consisting of daily chores. Research on nurses’ experiences of the intervention and its sustainability through the education program and on perceptions of providing care for older adults, is conducted qualitatively and quantitatively in a doctoral project. Conclusion The learning acquainted through simulation in age suit became embodied both physically and psychologically. The simulation in age suit conveyed new insights as need of time and patience. The technology in the environment both hindered and facilitated activities in daily life. Implications suggested the need for all health and social care providers to carry out this simulation.

Provoking Reflection in Action in Experienced Practitioners: An Educational Intervention

ABSTRACT Stress experienced during high-risk decision-making may impair performance, but can also be a cue, provoking the move from intuitive and automatic application of expertise to reflective and deliberative approaches. This article reports an exploratory intervention designed to provoke reflection-in-action and, ultimately, to improve practice decision making in experienced clinicians. The intervention combined: classroom-based education on decision-making science, practice-based self-monitoring with the aid of wearable technology, decision-making logs intended to provoke reflection, and opportunities to engage in guided reflection-on-action. The intervention supported recognition and use of physiological cues to moderate action and decision making, and provoked experienced professionals to reconnect with the element of surprise they experienced early in their careers, and to use these moments to improve their practice.

Beyond the Scalpel: A Tapestry of Surgical Safety, Precision, and Patient Prosperity.

In modern surgical practice, the focus extends beyond simply making and closing incisions. We aim to investigate the various complex aspects that redefine the criteria for achieving effective surgical outcomes. This narrative combines current knowledge, integrating practical experiences and academic viewpoints to comprehend the changing field of surgical care thoroughly. The tapestry explores the detailed aspects of surgical safety, examining the most recent progress in protocols, technology, and team dynamics that strive to reduce procedural risks. Examining precision in surgery, this narrative goes beyond conventional limits to explore the incorporation of advanced technologies, such as robotics and navigational systems. The complex interplay between the surgeon's proficiency and these technology aids is crucial in attaining unparalleled accuracy and favorable patient results. The focal point of this investigation is the patient's well-being, encompassing postoperative care, rehabilitation, and long-term health. Actual accounts from surgical procedures highlight the significant influence of comprehensive patient-centered methods, emphasizing the crucial need for empathy, communication, and individualized care plans in promoting healing and adaptability. As we explore this complex situation, the combination of real-life stories and academic discussions creates a clear and detailed image of a surgical environment that goes far beyond the boundaries of the operating room. "Beyond the Scalpel" seeks to engage practitioners, scholars, and stakeholders in a conversation that redefines the criteria for surgical success. It aims to establish a new benchmark that combines safety, precision, and patient well-being, ultimately shaping the future of surgical practice.

Investigation of bi-directional re-entrant anti-tetrachiral structure for regulating negative Poisson’s ratio

Bi-directional re-entrant anti-tetrachiral (BRATC) structure with negative Poisson’s ratio is developed in this paper to meet the requirement in the variation of morphing wing area. Inherited from the anti-tetrachiral (ATC) structure, the BRATC has the potential of lightweight and out-of-plane stiffness properties, which is suitable for simultaneous deformation and load-bearing capability in the design of morphing wings. At the same time, inspired by the design idea used in re-entrant anti-tetrachiral (RATC), the BRATC structure has improved the potential of deformability by relaxing the rotation constraints of the ligaments. The effect of the geometric parameters on the equivalent mechanical properties of BRATC, such as elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio was investigated by using the finite element method. The relation between geometric parameters and the mechanical properties is then obtained. Finally, mechanical properties of the BRATC structure are tested with the aid of additive manufacturing technology in the tensile experiment.

A tale of four studios: Evolving planning and architecture education towards mixed modality in a post-pandemic world

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic imposed urgent challenges for educational institutions. The sudden shift from on-site teaching to online distance learning offered the possibility to examine new settings of the studio, a core element of planning and architecture education. Although the pandemic is now over, online learning has secured a fixed place in university education, and consequently, educational institutions need to reconsider studio education based on the lessons learned during the pandemic. Through studying four studios taught at Aalto University, Finland, in 2020 and 2021, this article examines student-teacher experiences, and proposes opportunities for evolving studio education. The findings show that distance learning has in general sustained the objectives of studio education. However, challenges remain especially regarding the social aspects of learning. The degree of success of online teaching varied greatly depending on the tasks and the orientation of the studio (design or strategy). Technological aids and devices also had an influence on fulfilling the pedagogical objectives of learning. Professional socialization was highly affected by the online environment both in design and planning studios and the architectural representation witnessed difficulties specifically in design studios. To evolve the studio setting, the article suggests a mixed modality model supporting the social dimension of studio teaching by combining on-site and online learning activities to enrich the learning process. Such a model can harmonize the intended learning objectives and activities with the teaching methods and modality, thus improving the social dimension of studio teaching.

Detection of cracks in aircraft structures using digital image processing technology

Full-scale aircraft structural fatigue testing exposes structural weaknesses by simulating the use of the aircraft in service and monitoring the development and expansion of fatigue cracks to guide the optimisation of aircraft structural design, the determination of service life and the development of maintenance and repair programmes. If crack damage is not detected in time, the uncontrolled expansion of the crack may lead to structural damage and prolong the test cycle. Therefore, it is crucial to achieve accurate detection of early cracks in fatigue testing of aircraft structures. Digital image technology is a new technology supported by a number of technical and theoretical achievements. In practical application, it relies on the support of computer functions, by converting image information into two-dimensional digital signals, thus realising various operations. In this paper, digital image processing techniques are used to deepen the backbone feature extraction network structure and improve the prediction scale of small targets, thus improving the performance of the model in terms of feature extraction and small defect detection. Experimental results show that the method can achieve accurate detection of small cracks, providing an effective technical approach for the automatic detection of cracks in aircraft structural fatigue tests. The technique of detecting cracks in aircraft structures using digital image processing also provides a new idea for research into improving aircraft endurance testing, which can be further developed with the aid of image technology.

4-degree-of-freedom voice-controlled robotic arm

People with impairments who utilize robotic arms have a great deal more independence in their daily lives. The robotic arm can help persons with specific needs by using voice control, which is practical. The working mechanism is fashioned to have four degrees of freedom (4-DOF) with the inclusion of a jaw or gripper. The Arduino microcontroller, the speech module, and the arm are the main components of the robotic arm, which is a lightweight model driven by four motors. The servo motor is used to supply the rotational motion in the arm’s three rotary joints and end effector. Rotation in two directions is made possible by the geared DC motors employed, which alter their direction of rotation if the polarity is flipped. The automatic voice recognition technology aids in comprehending spoken words picked up by a microphone. The HM2007 processor, the brains of the speech recognizer, is necessary for the speech recognizer to function. Digital commands are created from analog speech input. These commands are used as input to the Arduino thereby resulting in a system whereby the human voice gives a continuous control signal to operate a real and functional robotic arm.

Stakeholder assessment for mycotoxin analysis: exploring the demand along the European food supply chain

Abstract Mycotoxins are amongst the most prevalent food contaminants leading to serious health implications for humans and animals. Limiting exposure to them within the population remains a pressing food safety challenge. Prevention and timely detection are crucial for minimising mycotoxin contamination in food and feed. Therefore easy-to-use, rapid, eco-friendly and low-cost screening methods are increasingly implemented. Early-stage end-user engagement in the technological development process aids and guides the research towards increased societal impact. To investigate these end-user needs, the limitations of the currently used methods and the expectations towards a novel approach were mapped among stakeholders in a comprehensive survey. Stakeholders along the food supply chain (agricultural, food processing, retail, food safety and control, laboratories) were identified in five European countries and contacted. A total of 63 participants completed the survey, which was followed-up by an interview. The results of the survey revealed that different end-user groups have different priorities. Important limiting factors for agricultural, processing and retail stakeholders of the current methodologies include the complexity of sample preparation, high cost and time-to-results. Complementing the accredited laboratory tests with a pre-screening device would be especially interesting for agricultural producers (87.5% of the participants are interested) and food processors (80%), since there is an increasing demand for on-site detection of contamination. On the other hand, food control authorities and commercial laboratories indicated higher priority towards low quantification limits and multi-compound methods. The time to get the results was found to be more important than the testing cost (important aspect for 74.6 versus 66.7%). Overall, the findings of this study are critical input for end-user-targeted development of novel mycotoxin detection platforms.

Continuous fiber reinforced meta-composites with tailorable Poisson’s ratio and effective elastic modulus: Design and experiment

Auxetic metamaterials, i.e., with negative Poisson’s ratio are attracting increasing attention. This study develops a novel method to design and investigate continuous fiber-reinforced meta-composites with tailorable negative Poisson’s ratio and effective elastic modulus. First, the design scheme based on parametric level set method, is proposed by combining fast marching method, filtering technology and matrix rotation for attaining the two-dimensional isotropic composites. A novel objective function considering both negative Poisson’s ratio and effective elastic modulus is introduced and the result demonstrate that it is effective to not only accelerate the numerical convergence but also achieve a larger negative Poisson’s ratio when compared with that using the currently-used objective function. By tailoring a weight ratio for balancing the negative Poisson’s ratio and effective elastic modulus, a general contradictive trend was captured. Experimentally, the specimens are accordingly fabricated via 3D printing. Then, the axial compression tests are performed with the aid of digital image correlation technology to characterize the deformation behaviors and evaluate the mechanical properties of the designed meta-composites. Experimental results show that, as the weight ratio increases from 0.02 to 1.57, the effective elastic modulus increases from 180.5 MPa to 310.3 MPa (enhanced by 71.9 %) while the negative Poisson’s ratio decreases from − 0.41 to − 0.036 (reduced by 91.4 %), proving the effectiveness of the design method. The design methods and experimental results can provide effective approaches and important information for designing novel continuous fiber reinforced meta-composites with tailorable mechanical performance.

SISTEM PENDUKUNG KEPUTUSAN THE BEST MEDICAL EMPLOYEE BERBASIS WEB MENGGUNAKAN METODE SIMPLE ADDITIVE WEIGHTING(SAW) (STUDI KASUS : STARTUP KEI MEDIKA)

Efficient assessment of medical employees is crucial for delivering quality healthcare services. This research proposes a Web-based Decision Support System (DSS) employing the Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) method to evaluate top employees and outstanding medical staff in the Kei Medika startup. The system assigns weights to evaluation criteria, generating rankings for employees. System evaluation results demonstrate efficiency and consistency in assessments. This technology aids in enhancing medical service quality by identifying high-performing staff.

The Long Road to Municipality 2.0: Mobile City Apps as Catalyst for Change?

In recent decades, the public sector has been looking for ways to accommodate increasingly critical citizens by striving towards a less bureaucratic and more efficient organization, as well as more direct forms of communication. Government institutions try to respond more quickly to citizens’ concerns and want to ensure that citizens can contact them more easily and find relevant and accurate information promptly. To achieve this, they often turn to technological aids. This article focuses on how municipalities analyze and follow up minor violations and street nuisances. We used semi-structured interviews with key informants from the relevant services of the municipality of Schaerbeek, a district of Brussels (Belgium), to examine how the technological innovations implemented within the municipality transform the relations between local authorities and their citizens, as well as the internal relations between the different municipal services. Although the respondents were unanimous about the added value of these technological solutions, our analysis shows four clearly recurrent issues : (1) the “functional reduction” associated with technological innovations leaves little room for the complex context of social nuisance; (2) government services are currently flooded by a “tsunami” of communication flows; (3) so-called “innovative” technological solutions often mimic old bureaucratic processes; (4) new communication tools are not equally integrated into all levels of local administration.

A coaxial nozzle assisted underwater laser welding of 316L stainless steel

As a promising maintenance technique, underwater laser welding (ULW) technology aids in advancing oceanographic engineering. However, water has an attenuating effect on laser making direct ULW challenging, and water intrusion may deteriorate weld formation. This paper qualitatively analyzed the visualization of ULW welding process dynamics under varying water depths, based on image sequences recorded by a high-speed camera, and then focused attention on macro-forming characteristics of ULW joints. The results demonstrate that wet ULW fails when the water depth exceeds 6 mm due to the inability to establish a “beam channel”, which is required for ULW to proceed. Thus, a self-designed coaxial nozzle was employed to minimize water interference in underwater environment, as demonstrated by numerical simulations. Porosity is sensitive to the welding parameters and can be minimized by lowering laser power, increasing velocity, and choosing a modest shielding gas flow rate. Pore formation is linked to the dynamic behavior of the local gas phase space, which is distinctive to the ULW processing. This work offered a comprehensive understanding of the ULW that was highly feasible.