Material Aspects Research Articles

Pengembangan Media Puzzle Interaktif untuk Pengenalan Huruf pada Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun di Taman Kanak-Kanak

This research aims to develop interactive puzzle-based learning media that is specifically designed to introduce letters to early childhood in Kindergarten Negeri Madani. Conventional learning media are considered less interactive in the letter recognition process, while visual- and play-based approaches have proven to be more effective for children. This research is a type of Research and Development (R&D) research with a 4-D development model (four-D model). This model consists of 4 stages of development including Define, Design, Develop, Disseminate. This media was developed systematically and tested for validity and practicality using a questionnaire. The results of the validity test reached 87.17% for the material aspect and 86.11% for the media aspect, while the practicality test achieved an average score of 81.25%. This interactive puzzle media is proven to be able to increase children's interest in learning letters with a fun approach and support their motor and cognitive development

RESONANT REVERBERATIONS: MATERIAL INFLUENCE ON SOUND QUALITY IN PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

This paper is concerned with an in-depth investigation into the relation between material selection and sound quality of percussion instruments, arguing about the various aspects of materials influence on acoustic properties, vibrational behavior, and timbral characteristics. The ability that material properties have on design, performance techniques, pedagogical practice, and further research is made explicit through the complete experimental analysis, recommended here, covering comparative studies, acoustic measurements, modal analysis, expert evaluation, and field studies. Our results show the great degree by which material properties shape sound production, resonance, and expressive potential in percussion instruments, giving valuable insights for designers, manufacturers, performers, educators, and researchers. With careful material choices, adjustments of techniques of performance, teaching techniques informed by principles from science, and interdisciplinary collaborations building, we can continue the evolution of the art and science of percussion instrument making and performance practice toward bringing ever-richer musical experiences and cultural exchanges all over the world.

On the Way to Heaven: Memorial Benches, State Integration, and the Coming of Religion Among the Kulung Rai (Nepal)

Alongside guiding the departed on a ritual journey to their place and time of origin, the Kulung Rai of Nepal have added the construction of stone memorial benches along the pathways to honour their deceased. However, both the representations and material aspects of the deceased and the pathways associated with these memorial constructions and ritual techniques differ. I delve into the past to reconstruct the reasons and conditions for the emergence of these benches, arguing that they are linked to substantial changes resulting from the gradual integration of the Kulung into the Nepalese state. This integration fostered the development of Hindu and Buddhist ideas, materialised in the form of these memorial benches. Consequently, I establish a connection between the arrival of the state, the expansion of pathway and road, and religious practices among the Kulung.

Artificial intelligence and the digitalization of finance in Latin America: evidence from Brazil

ABSTRACT For decades, the data-centric digital circuits of global finance have been driving financial markets toward algorithmic management. The penetration of algorithms into finance dates back to the 1980s, well before becoming a significant trend in Internet and social media companies. AI is now considered the new frontier of this process. This paper examines Brazil, the most important financial center in Latin America, as a case study to explore Machine Learning applications in capital markets, providing new evidence on the penetration of automated trading systems in the region. Grounded in a historical overview of the digitalization of capital markets in Brazil, the paper draws on the STS definition of infrastructures and the political economy of digitalized finance to analyze AI as an emerging financial infrastructure. Beyond its physical and material aspects, this approach also addresses how digitalization and AI relate to financialization and the emergence of new financial risks.

COVID time: Temporal imaginaries and pandemic materialities.

Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, several ways of understanding time have emerged: what we may call 'COVID time'. Based on 40 qualitative online interviews in 2022 with Australians living across the continent, this article examines how people situated themselves and COVID-19 in historical time. It further explores how material aspects, place and space (or "pandemic materialities") factored into lived experiences and temporal imaginaries. We focus on how time-related concepts such as synchronisation and the definition of crises and events are interrelated in the participants' understandings of COVID as either over or a continuing crisis. The sociomaterial dimensions that served to alert people to risk and encourage them to engage in preventive action are identified as ways in which COVID time was experienced, remembered, understood and imagined. While some respondents claimed that the present moment was 'post-COVID', for others, the pandemic was far from over in 2022 and indeed stretched into the future. We use a sociomaterial lens to show how respondents portray the 'temporal technologies' and 'objectifications' of the event of COVID-19-the tangible materialisations of its temporal status as either relegated to the past or continuing as a mode of present and future crisis.

Evaluation of practicality of wireless charging for electric vehicles in the next 10 years

As the electric vehicle market is expanding rapidly due to the need for sustainable development; a solution is needed to deal with current problems related to electric vehicles, this includes relatively limited driving range, relatively lack of charging spots during busy season, and the inconveniences of plug-in charging, such as dealing with cables. Therefore, wireless charging technology capable of charging electric vehicles while they are in motion becomes a potential solution. Assessing whether this technology will be mass-applied in the future is crucial. Given the limited current research that evaluates the practicality of wireless charging technology for electric vehicles with a time scale, this article aims to assess the aspects of safety, cost, efficiency, materials, user acceptance and other factors to determine the likelihood of making wireless charging practical for electric vehicles in the next decade. Furthermore, by distributing questionnaires to electric and gasoline car owners to gather participants’ opinions and expectations on wireless charging for electric vehicles, statistical analysis of the questionnaire results; interview with a professor at Shanghai University who is an expert in magnets and electricity, conducting secondary research, this article concludes whether wireless charging technology for electric vehicles can be implemented in the decade or not. As an impact, this article includes a time scale by conducting an evaluation instead of implicitly mentioning the time scale.

Improving Critical Thinking Skills of Elementary Students Through Science Learning with Interactive Teaching Materials and Problem Based Learning

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of interactive multimedia-based learning with Problem Based Learning (PBL) model in improving critical thinking skills of elementary school students in Natural and Social Sciences subjects. This research uses a development method with quantitative and qualitative approaches. The results of validation from the aspects of material, media, and language showed high ratings, and the product was declared practical by teachers and students. Students were actively involved in learning, and the results of statistical analysis showed significant differences between the control group and the experimental group in learning activities. This shows that this method is effective in improving students' critical thinking skills. Nonetheless, this study has limitations in terms of generalization of the results. Future research is expected to expand the scope of the study and consider additional factors for the development of more effective learning methods.

Material Aspects of Thin-Film Composite Membranes for CO2/N2 Separation: Metal–Organic Frameworks vs. Graphene Oxides vs. Ionic Liquids

Thin-film composite (TFC) membranes containing various fillers and additives present an effective alternative to conventional dense polymer membranes, which often suffer from low permeance (flux) and the permeability–selectivity tradeoff. Alongside the development and utilization of numerous new polymers over the past few decades, diverse additives such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), graphene oxides (GOs), and ionic liquids (ILs) have been integrated into the polymer matrix to enhance performance. However, achieving desirable interfacial compatibility between these additives and the host polymer matrix, particularly in TFC structures, remains a significant challenge. This review discusses recent advancements in TFC membranes for CO2/N2 separation, focusing on material structure, polymer–additive interaction, interface and separation properties. Specifically, we examine membranes operating under dry conditions to clearly assess the impact of additives on membrane properties and performance. Additionally, we provide a perspective on future research directions for designing high-performance membrane materials.

Physical and psychological impact of HIV/AIDS toward youths in Southwest Ethiopia: a phenomenological study

BackgroundYouths with HIV/AIDS encounter a variety of unique challenges that impact their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. These challenges and experiences differ across settings, populations, cultures, and the broader socio-economic and political contexts. This study focuses on exploring the life challenges, experiences, and coping mechanisms of youths living with HIV/AIDS in public hospital facilities in southwest Ethiopia.Methods and study approachThe study was conducted in two regional states of Ethiopia. Using a phenomenological study approach, researchers focused on purposefully selected youths living with HIV/AIDS in public hospital facilities. Data were gathered through life history and in-depth interview techniques, delving deeply into the participants’ lived experiences and feelings about the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS. The study population consisted of youths with HIV/AIDS who were currently using antiretroviral medication in two selected public hospitals. A total of 12 participants were employed and completed the study.ResultsThe findings indicated that youths with HIV/AIDS face complex life challenges, influenced by psychological, emotional, and social factors. These intertwined challenges impact their self-management, treatment adherence, and ability to create and maintain healthy social relationships and roles. Many youths avoid social interactions and do not seek the necessary social support, believing they are unworthy of respect and care. Consequently, they may live in despair and constant fear of rejection, lacking the social support they desperately need. Substance abuse is prevalent among these youths due to the psychosocial, biological, emotional, and material aspects of their experiences.

Canva-Based Animation Comic Video Media in Informatics Learning

This study aims to develop Canva-based animated comic video learning media that are valid, practical, and effective for Informatics in Grade VIII at SMP N 14 Padang. The research adopts a Research and Development (R&D) approach, applying the 4D model—Define, Design, Develop, and Disseminate. Primary data were collected from validators, teachers, and students, with descriptive and inferential analysis used to evaluate media validity, practicality, and effectiveness. Results show the media to be valid, scoring 0.963 for media and 0.975 for material aspects. The media is also highly practical, with teacher ratings at 97.04% and student ratings at 93.14%. Effectiveness is indicated by a Gain Score of 0.69 (medium category) and a significant improvement in student learning outcomes, as confirmed by t-test results (Sig. 2-tailed = 0.000; tcount > ttable). The findings confirm that Canva-based animated comic videos significantly enhance student learning outcomes over conventional methods.

The Paradoxical Influence of Hydrothermally Treated Zeolites on the Hydrocarbon Pool Mechanism.

Understanding the mechanistic intricacies of hydrothermally treated zeolite is crucial for valorizing any oxygen-containing renewable feedstocks (e.g., methanol, carbon dioxide, biomass). Additionally, the regeneration of deactivated zeolite catalysts under oxidative conditions, akin to hydrothermal treatment, is essential in industrial processes. While research in this area has predominantly focused on characterizing steaming-induced physicochemical changes in zeolite, their ultimate impact on the organic reaction mechanism governed by the hydrocarbon pool dual-cycle mechanism remains unclear. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study investigates the effect of steamed zeolite on the organic reaction mechanism during the industrially significant methanol-to-hydrocarbons process. We achieved this objective by strategically integrating catalytic and control experiments over the pristine and steamed zeolites and their advanced characterization, including under operando conditions, XRD structural refinement, and using "mobility-dependent" solid-state NMR spectroscopy. This multimodal characterization approach was instrumental in elucidating elusive mechanistic information in the dual-cycle mechanism, shedding light on phenomena such as the unchanged ethylene selectivity despite decreasing aromatics selectivity, while ethylene could solely be derived from arene-based reaction intermediates. This study could improve the process efficiency in zeolite catalysis by connecting steaming-induced changes in the organic reaction mechanisms with inorganic material aspects.

The Paradoxical Influence of Hydrothermally Treated Zeolites on the Hydrocarbon Pool Mechanism

Understanding the mechanistic intricacies of hydrothermally treated zeolite is crucial for valorizing any oxygen‐containing renewable feedstocks (e.g., methanol, carbon dioxide, biomass). Additionally, the regeneration of deactivated zeolite catalysts under oxidative conditions, akin to hydrothermal treatment, is essential in industrial processes. While research in this area has predominantly focused on characterizing steaming‐induced physicochemical changes in zeolite, their ultimate impact on the organic reaction mechanism governed by the hydrocarbon pool dual‐cycle mechanism remains unclear. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study investigates the effect of steamed zeolite on the organic reaction mechanism during the industrially significant methanol‐to‐hydrocarbons process. We achieved this objective by strategically integrating catalytic and control experiments over the pristine and steamed zeolites and their advanced characterization, including under operando conditions, XRD structural refinement, and using “mobility‐dependent” solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. This multimodal characterization approach was instrumental in elucidating elusive mechanistic information in the dual‐cycle mechanism, shedding light on phenomena such as the unchanged ethylene selectivity despite decreasing aromatics selectivity, while ethylene could solely be derived from arene‐based reaction intermediates. This study could improve the process efficiency in zeolite catalysis by connecting steaming‐induced changes in the organic reaction mechanisms with inorganic material aspects.

The Impact of Religious Self-Identification on Happiness and Well-Being: A Case Study of Kazakhstan

Faith helps religious people persevere, hold back, refrain from fighting as much as possible, bear through life tribulations, and keep their loved ones in good spirits. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that people who identify as believers are happier than those who do not. The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of religiosity on self-assessed well-being and satisfaction with various material and immaterial aspects of life from the perspective of religious and nonreligious people and to determine the strength of the effect of religion on subjective well-being in contrast to other socioeconomic factors. In the present study, 1,500 respondents from Kazakhstan took a survey that touched upon their perceptions of social well-being and self-assessed religious status. The survey results were subjected to quantitative analysis via descriptive statistics and correlation analysis via Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Mann‒Whitney U test. The results indicate that people in Kazakhstan demonstrate a fairly high level of self-assessed happiness. There is a statistically significant, albeit weak, correlation between self-assessed happiness and being religious. Research shows that regardless of religiosity, happiness is likely to be experienced by people if they are healthy.

A cultural exposition model for interpreting architectural heritage: A study on Pingyao historical city

Architectural heritage, encompassing both its material and immaterial aspects, serves as a vital lens for understanding the historical, social, and esthetic values embedded in a society. As a reflection of cultural evolution, it offers insight into the architectural technologies, social structures, and collective memories of specific historical periods. This article investigates the architectural history of Pingyao historical city by employing theoretical perspectives that integrate material, social, and spiritual dimensions. The study demonstrates how the philosophy and cultural values of ancient Chinese society are reflected in the spatial and architectural forms of Pingyao. The material dimension considers how principles such as Feng Shui, numerology, and color symbolism shaped the city’s general layout and building designs. The social attribute addresses the influence of Confucianism on spatial organization, the use of culturally significant architectural elements, and the function of key structures in fostering social unity among the population. The spiritual aspect explores concepts of Eastern origin, such as Yin and Yang, the Five Elements theory, and the “Unity of Heaven and Humanity,” as these are incorporated into the city’s external architecture. Furthermore, it examines the influence of Buddhism and Daoism on Pyingyao’s architectural features. This comprehensive analysis reveals that Pingyao is far more than a collection of historic buildings; it is an intricate cultural artifact, offering a unique perspective on earlier stages of Chinese thought and society. Therefore, the preservation and study of Pingyao’s architecture offer a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of China’s architectural history.

Organic Electrochemical Transistors: From Lithography to Large‐Scale Printing

AbstractOrganic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have attracted tremendous attention owing to their extensive applications on bioelectronics and neuromorphic computing during recent decades. Printing techniques have provided broad prospects for large‐scale, highly efficient, low‐cost, and low temperature manufacturing of OECTs upon traditional lithography‐based techniques. In this review, the recent progress on printed OECT is comprehensively summarized, covering aspects of ink materials, printing strategies, and emerging applications. In particular, device performance of printed OECTs is taken into comparison upon various printing techniques. Furthermore, printed OECT exhibits powerful potential on applications ranging from biochemical sensors to neuromorphic computing, which also deeply discussed in this review. Finally, critical challenges that printed OECTs have to face are listed, following with one‐by‐one possible solutions and research directions in near future.

Exploring lost spaces

This study seeks to investigate the potential evolution of education when integrated with place, addressing socio-ecological degeneration. Special attention is given to art education, which not only views places as learning locations but also recognizes the material and relational aspects of a place’s ecology as having epistemic value. The inquiry into art education practices delves beyond art-based methods and draws on the rich tradition of place-based practices. To illustrate the contribution of art education to sustainability, the study examines the collaborative project ‘Full Line, Broken Line: The Future of Liminal Landscapes’ in Serbia, focusing on disrupted landscapes near Belgrade. This insight into how investigation and learning about a locality can elicit memories and interpretations through the lens of absence demonstrates the importance of the interaction of temporal and spatial dimensions when learning about what is lost and the possibility for renewal.

Moisture‐Driven Actuators

AbstractWater constitutes a huge circulation network in solid, liquid and gaseous forms that contains inestimable recyclable energy. Obtaining energy from gaseous moisture is challenging but of great significance to promote the energy upgrading. The emergence of moisture‐driven actuator (MDA) provides an effective way in converting moisture energy to mechanical energy. The MDA can combine with water molecules through hygroscopicity and swell to produce macroscopic deformation. Due to the wide distribution of humidity and the wireless driving mode, MDA shows great application potential in the fields of environmental monitoring, remote control and energy harvesting. This paper comprehensively reviews the research progress of MDA from aspects of hydrophilic materials, structures, preparing methods, multi‐response integration and applications, aiming at providing guidance for the design, preparation and application of MDA. Besides, the challenges faced by MDA are analyzed and corresponding solutions are proposed, which points out the next stage developing direction of MDA.

Production perspectives of a high-status polychrome jewellery set from the Hunnic period (mid-5th century AD) Carpathian Basin

Fifty years after the discovery of the Regöly grave, the emblematic Hunnic period archaeological assemblage from Hungary, an extensive scientific investigation was performed on the polychrome dress accessories of the high-status woman, often referred to as the “Princess of Regöly”, buried there. The multi-instrumental analyses aimed to characterise material and technological aspects of the gemstone-inlaid artefacts (a set of a pair of bow-brooches and a belt buckle), i.e., the manufacturing and decorative techniques as well as the chemical and mineralogical compositions. The non-destructive and non-invasive gemmological and geochemical analyses applied optical microscopes, handheld XRF, SEM-EDX and Raman microspectrometer. This study provides the first comprehensive examination of the Hunnic period polychrome jewellery, and highlights the potential of combining surface and subsurface analyses to specify garnet provenances. It presents the first evidence of use of antique and early medieval garnet sources during the early Migration period. The findings enhance understanding of the garnet supply chain and trade network, the production organisation and potential workshop connections. Significant differences of the brooches and the buckle reveal varying levels of luxury among the elite, providing insight into the social context of the polychrome jewellery associated with the “Princess of Regöly”.

Health sciences training for disability inclusion: the need to engage with emotion

Material aspects of disability inequality, such as access to quality services, housing and employment, are an urgent, worldwide concern. Less recognised though, are psychological layers of prejudice and discrimination, which...

Multisource information fusion for safety risk assessment in complex projects considering dependence and uncertainty.

The success of tunneling projects is crucial for infrastructure development. However, the potential leakage risk is particularly challenging due to the inherent uncertainties and fuzziness involved. To address this demanding challenge, a hybrid approach integrating the copula theory, cloud model, and risk matrix, is proposed. The dependence of multiple risk-related influential factors is explored by the construct of the copula-cloud model, and the diverse information is fused by applying the risk matrix to gain a crisp risk result. A case study is performed to test the applicability of the proposed approach, in which a risk index system consisting of nine critical factors is developed and Sobol-enabled global sensitivity analysis (GSA) is incorporated to investigate the contributions of different factors to the risk magnitude. Key findings are as follows: (1) Risk statuses of the studied three tunnel sections are perceived as under grade I (safe), II (low-risk), and III (medium-risk), respectively, and the waterproof material aspect is found prone to deteriorating the tunnel sections. Furthermore, the proposed approach allows for a better understanding of the trends in the risk statuses of the tunnel sections. (2) Strong interactions between influential factors exist and exert impacts on the final risk results, proving the necessity of studying the factor dependence. (3) The developed neutral risk matrix presents a strong robustness and displays a higher recognition capacity in risk assessment. The novelty of this research lies in the consideration of the dependence and uncertainty in multisource information fusion with a hybrid copula-cloud model, enabling to perform a robust risk assessment under different risk matrices with varying degrees of risk tolerance.