Practical Choice Research Articles

Sensemaking of social media management: Seizing affordances in a dynamic complex environment

Background: Social Media (SM) growth and its acceptance at various economic levels are making it obligatory to make sense of its management in different business environments. A business environment can be volatile, uncertain, ambiguous, static-complex, simple-dynamic with a few similar, continuously changing factors, or simple-static with a few similar, unchanging factors. The environment is exemplified by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, regional war, globalisation, the fourth industrial revolution and disruptive technology. Regulatory focus theory was used to examine whether managers adopt a prevention or promotion focus to SM use, shed light on employees’ attitudes and whether regulatory focus affected the measures taken toward SM management.Objectives: The purpose of this paper was to explore how designed SM platforms can be managed in the face of dynamic and complex environments.Method: Experts’ interviews from various organisations were selected using snowball sampling to gather qualitatively rich data. The data were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti software.Results: Prevention through reengineering processes, increased use of algorithms, information technology (IT) investments and restricting SM to private use only were observed among experts. Additionally, promotion-focus managers allow employees to use SM for work-related tasks and use monitoring software.Conclusion: Information technology investments, sizing SM affordances and sensemaking SM management is becoming mandatory given the dynamic nature or pace at which the environment is changing.Contribution: The study contributed practical, social mediations, generated and qualitative method choice in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data.

Exploring Convolutional Neural Networks for the Thermal Image Classification of Volcanic Activity

This paper addresses the classification of images depicting the eruptive activity of Mount Etna, captured by a network of ground-based thermal cameras. The proposed approach utilizes Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), focusing on pretrained models. Eight popular pretrained neural networks underwent systematic evaluation, revealing their effectiveness in addressing the classification problem. The experimental results demonstrated that, following a retraining phase with a limited dataset, specific networks such as VGG-16 and AlexNet, achieved an impressive total accuracy of approximately 90%. Notably, VGG-16 and AlexNet emerged as practical choices, exhibiting individual class accuracies exceeding 90%. The case study emphasized the pivotal role of transfer learning, as attempts to solve the classification problem without pretrained networks resulted in unsatisfactory outcomes.

Postresidency Practice Setting and Clinical Care Features According to 3 Versus 4 Years of Training in Family Medicine: A Length of Training Pilot Study.

Factors associated with physician practice choice include residency location, training experiences, and financial incentives. How length of training affects practice setting and clinical care features postgraduation is unknown. In this Length of Training Pilot (LoTP) study, we surveyed 366 graduates of 3-year (3YR) and 434 graduates of 4-year (4YR) programs 1 year after completion of training between 2013 and 2021. Variables assessed included reasons for practice setting choice, practice type, location, practice and community size, specialty mix, and clinical care delivery features (eg, integrated behavioral health, risk stratified care management). We compared different length of training models using χ2 or Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables and independent samples, and t test (unequal variances) for continuous variables. Response rates ranged from 50% to 88% for 3YR graduates and 68% to 95% for 4YR graduates. Scope of practice was a predominant reason for graduates choosing their eventual practice, and salary was a less likely reason for those completing 4 years versus 3 years of training (scope, 72% vs 55%, P=.001; salary, 15% vs 22%, P=.028). Community size, practice size, practice type, specialty mix, and practice in a federally designated underserved site did not differ between the two groups. We found no differences in patient-centered medical home features when comparing the practices of 3YR to 4YR graduates. Training length did not affect practice setting or practice features for graduates of LoTP programs. Future LoTP analyses will examine how length of training affects scope of practice and clinical preparedness, which may elucidate other elements associated with practice choice.

The Role of Using Artificial Intelligence for Improving the Public Service Provision and Fraud Prevention

The aim of the article was to establish the effectiveness of artificial intelligence (AI) for improving the public service provision. The aim was to determine the choice of law enforcement practice of EU member states and Ukraine for comparative analysis. Statistical methods and comparative law were employed as the basis of the research. The conducted research showed that the proposed EU regulatory framework for the development and use of artificial intelligence is aimed at analysing risks, promoting the use of human-oriented and trustworthy AI. It was established that introducing communication and cooperation procedures using large language models such as ChatGPT can optimise public service provision. The positive impact of the implementation of AI on the efficiency of public services was proved by applying a justified system of indicators. The analysis results gave grounds for proposing an approach to implementing artificial intelligence in public services. The prospects for further research will be the analysis of the implementation of the proposed EU Law on Artificial Intelligence in EU countries, considering the implementation of AI in the provision of public services.

Perceptions on transitioning from impairment-based to occupation-based practice in public healthcare within KwaZulu-Natal

Introduction:Holistic healthcare service delivery requires rehabilitation personnel to consider all the components of health that influence the client's quality of life. However, there is limited literature on approaches to implementing rehabilitation services within South African public healthcare. This study explored rehabilitation personnel's (such as occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists) use of occupation-based practice impairment-based practice and the barriers and facilitators associated with their practice choice.
 Methods: A qualitative research design was conducted through semi- structured interviews (13 participants), a focus group (4 participants) and community mapping. Purposive sampling was utilised to select participants in the iLembe district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data were analysed using deductive thematic analysis.
 Findings: Three themes emerged from the study; Attitudes towards impairment-based practice, Reflections on OBP, and The way forward. The need to focus on all the components of health rather than just the disease and the benefits of using the occupation-based practice approach were highlighted. Additionally, different factors required to implement holistic rehabilitation services and the barriers to OBP were identified.
 Conclusion: Although the study identified OBP benefits, various barriers associated with its implementation were identified. Rehabilitation personnel, community stakeholders, and clients must work together to improve OBP implementation in public healthcare by combating the barriers identified in the study.
 Implications for practice
 This study has implications for rehabilitation service implementation in the iLembe district public healthcare sector. OBP was perceived to have more quality of life and health outcomes, which leads to implications for practice. There is a need to transition from the medical model with approaches only focusing on body structures and functions into approaches that consider all the components of health, such as the OBP. Even though there are barriers towards OBP implementation, rehabilitation personnel can still promote its implementation through inter-professional practice, continuous professional development and health promotion. Furthermore, there are implications for undergraduate programmes to equip undergraduates with the skills to implement OBP within under-resourced facilities.

Integrated 1D Simulation of Aftertreatment System and Chemistry-Based Multizone RCCI Combustion for Optimal Performance with Methane Oxidation Catalyst

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the design of a methane oxidation catalyst aftertreatment system specifically tailored for the Wärtsilä W31DF natural gas engine which has been converted to a reactivity-controlled compression ignition NG/Diesel engine. A GT-Power model was coupled with a predictive physical base chemical kinetic multizone model (MZM) as a combustion object. In this MZM simulation, a set of 54 species and 269 reactions as chemical kinetic mechanism were used for modelling combustion and emissions. Aftertreatment simulations were conducted using a 1D air-path model in the same GT-Power model, integrated with a chemical kinetic model featuring 15 catalytic reactions, based on activation energy and species concentrations from combustion outputs. The latter offered detailed exhaust composition and exhaust thermodynamic data under specific operating conditions, effectively capturing the intricate interactions between the investigated aftertreatment system, combustion, and exhaust composition. Special emphasis was placed on the formation of intermediate hydrocarbons such as C2H4 and C2H6, despite their concentrations being lower than that of CH4. The analysis of catalytic conversion focused on key species, including H2O, CO2, CO, CH4, C2H4, and C2H6, examining their interactions. After consideration of thermal management and pressure drop, a practical choice of a 400 mm long catalyst with a density of 10 cells per cm2 was selected. Investigations of this catalyst’s specification revealed complete CO conversion and a minimum of 89% hydrocarbon conversion efficiency. Integrating the exhaust aftertreatment system into the air path resulted in a reduction in engine-indicated efficiency by up to 2.65% but did not affect in-cylinder combustion.

NAVIGATING CLEAN WATER CHALLENGES: ASSESSING STRATEGIES AND OUTCOMES IN BALI'S PAMSIMAS PROGRAM

Objective: This study investigates the impact of the Community-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation Provision Program (Pamsimas Program), implemented in Bali from 2017 to 2021, on improving access to clean drinking water and sanitation in rural communities. Theoretical framework: It draws on the S-shape and Inverted L-shape curves to emphasize planned interventions and incentives, while the Theory of Change guides program evaluation by explaining how interventions lead to outcomes. Employing a five-stage results chain, the program focuses on inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and long-term impacts. Method: Through a comprehensive analysis of the program's effectiveness, we employ a natural experiment approach using Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Multinomial Ordered Logit/Probit regression. The study compares villages receiving Pamsimas interventions in 2019, 2020, and 2021 with non-intervention villages, employing data from the 2014, 2018, and 2021 Village Potential Census (Podes). Results and conclusion: The findings reveal that Pamsimas significantly influences the choice of water sources and sanitation practices in beneficiary villages. The estimated marginal effects demonstrate a substantial improvement in water quality and sanitation in program-receiving villages compared to control villages. The paper concludes that the Pamsimas Program, by targeting easily achievable improvements, aligns with the pragmatic trend in development economics and provides valuable insights for future water and sanitation interventions. Originality/value: The analysis, guided by the paradigm shift in development economics towards pragmatic and low-hanging fruit solutions, positions Pamsimas as an effective strategy despite not being as cost-effective as certain health programs.

Error analysis of the element-free Galerkin method for a nonlinear plate problem

In this work, we derive a geometrically nonlinear plate model based on the Kirchhoff hypothesis and the large deflection hypothesis, and provide an error analysis of the corresponding element-free Galerkin method. The penalty method is employed to enforce boundary conditions. The error estimate explicitly depends on nodal spacing, number of monomial basis functions, continuity of weight functions, and penalty factors, which provides some practical choices among these key parameters in engineering applications. In addition, we offer guidance on selecting appropriate penalty factors to improve numerical accuracy. Numerical experiments, involving clamped square and circle plates with uniform and nonuniform nodes, as well as a plate model with a corner singularity, are presented to validate the theoretical results.

Development of bio-based flexible phase change materials utilizing lauric acid for battery thermal management systems

Lithium-ion batteries, serving as the cornerstone of electric vehicles, generate significant thermal output during their operation. This underscores the imperative need for the implementation of an appropriate battery thermal management system (BTMS). Extensive attention has been directed towards thermal-induced flexible phase change material (FPCM) within the domain of BTMS. However, it is notable that the predominant choice in contemporary practice for FPCM in BTMS remains paraffin (PA)-based, sourced from petroleum origins. This study utilizes an environmentally friendly bio-based phase change material (PCM), lauric acid (LA), to fabricate FPCM. The FPCM is skillfully crafted through the incorporation of styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS) and expanded graphite (EG) as supporting materials, forming the LA/SEPS/EG composite phase change material (CPCM). The addition of EG increases the thermal conductivity of CPCM by 4.97 times and enhances the leakage resistance. Furthermore, comprehensive assessments were conducted to evaluate the thermal performance, thermally induced flexibility, heat storage, release characteristics, and cyclic stability of the fabricated FPCM. In the battery discharge tests conducted at 2C/3C/4C rates, the battery containing FPCM consistently maintained its maximum temperature below 50 °C, with a minimal temperature difference of <1 °C, showcasing excellent thermal management performance.

On the role and effects of supervisor feedback sign in auditing: Evidence from a cohort of early career auditors.

Supervisor feedback is essential for training and socialising early career auditors. One fundamental aspect and choice of a supervisor's feedback practice and style is whether to focus on encouraging good or discouraging poor performance. We acknowledge that early career auditors likely receive feedback on both good and poor performance in ongoing and extended feedback relationships with their closest supervisor. A work–life reality that implies that the effects of supervisors' inclinations towards a specific performance feedback sign must be assessed within a frame in which they coexist to varying degrees. We generate hypotheses on how the feedback sign from the closest supervisor affects early career auditors' underreporting of time and intrinsic work motivation, which are two matters related to audit quality. We found that supervisor feedback on negative performance was associated with increased underreporting of time and decreased intrinsic motivation. Feedback on positive performance lessens underreporting of time and supports the development of intrinsic motivation. In summary, our results support emphasising the type of performance for which supervisors choose to provide feedback.

Techno-economic analysis of commercial-scale 15 MW on-grid ground solar PV systems in Bakalia: A feasibility study proposed for BPDB

Renewable energy systems, such as solar power, are becoming increasingly important worldwide due to the limited supply of non-renewable energy sources. Solar power stands out as a practical choice for electricity generation because it's simple to set up and costs less than other renewable options. Solar-based on-grid or grid-tied systems are more effective compared to other PV grid systems due to their more reasonable installation system, favorable maintenance, and less complex system. This study was designed with a solar-based grid-tied system. This study evaluates the performance and economic viability of a 15 MW on-grid photovoltaic (PV) system in Bakalia Char, Chittagong, Bangladesh, and will propose this study for the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). Developing a clean energy system in Bangladesh is the main purpose of this study. This system performed efficiently, with an 84.03 % performance ratio, produced energy of 21,510.186 MWh/year and proved economically attractive with a 4.5-year payback period, a competitive electricity cost of 0.024 USD/kWh, and a 389 % return on investment(ROI%). Using software like PVsyst and SketchUp ensures precise system design and optimal module placement. Also, use a better PV panel system whose efficiency is higher than that of another PV panel system designed for a similar project. This system boosts local electricity production and aligns with sustainable energy goals. Its success is a valuable model for future solar projects in similar regions facing energy challenges. The system also shows significant environmental benefits, with a projected reduction of approximately 252,168.5 tons of CO2 emissions over its operational lifespan.

Assessment of Feeding Patterns for Children below Two Years of Age in PHCCs in Karbala

Abstract Breastfeeding is considered the healthiest start for babies. Breast milk should be the only food offered to infants for the first six months of life. The first two years of age are very important for the child's growth and development, Poor feeding patterns in children may lead to their undernutrition, which is a major public health problem. Objectives: To investigate and document the prevailing feeding patterns practiced by care givers for children under the age of two in Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) within Karbala. To identify factors influencing caregivers' decisions regarding the choice of feeding practices for infants and young children attending PHCCs in Karbala. Patients &amp; Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A convenient sample included 680 mothers of children below two years of age, and the mothers' ages were more than thirteen years. The study was carried out at ten PHCCs in Karbala City from January 5–28, 2023. Results: The results showed that the majority of children (63%) were breast feeding and most of the mothers were housewives, There was a significant relationship between the type of feeding and type of labor (p=0.000*). Conclusion: Breastfeeding was the most common feeding pattern among children included in the study, but still, there were baby’s bottle feeding without real indication for using it. Recommendation: Encouraging breastfeeding and increasing awareness about it among women of childbearing age.

Patches in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A systematic review.

This systematic review aims to evaluate current choice in practice and outcomes of biomaterials used in patch repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Multiple biomaterials, both novel and combinations of pre-existing materials are employed in patch repair of large size CDH. Literature search was performed across Embase, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science. Publications that explicitly reported patch repair, material used and recurrences following CDH repair were selected. Sixty-three papers were included, presenting data on 4598 patients of which 1811 (39.4%) were managed using 19 types of patches. Goretex® (GTX) (n=1259) was the most frequently employed patch followed by Surgisis® (n=164), Dualmesh® (n=114), Marlex®/GTX® (n=56), Tutoplast dura® (n=40), Dacron® (n=34), Dacron®/GTX® (n=32), Permacol® (n=24), Teflon® (n=24), Surgisis®/GTX® (n=15), Sauvage® Filamentous Fabric (n=13), Marlex® (n=9), Alloderm® (n=8), Silastic® (n=4), Collagen coated Vicryl® mesh (CCVM) (n=1), Mersilene® (n=1), and MatriStem® (n=1) Biomaterials were further subgrouped as: Synthetic non-resorbable (SNOR) (n=1458), Natural-resorbable (NR) (n=249), Combined natural and synthetic non-resorbable (NSNOR) (n=103), and Combined natural and synthetic resorbable (NSR) (n=1). Overall recurrence rate for patch repair was 16.8% (n=305). For patch types with n>20, recurrence rate was lowest in GTX/Marlex (3.6%), followed by Teflon (4.2%), Dacron (5.6%), GTX (13.8%), Permacol (16.0%), Tutoplast Dura (17.5%), Dualmesh (20.2%), SIS/GTX (26.7%), SIS (36.6%), and Dacron/GTX (37.5%).When analysed by biomaterial groups, recurrence was highest in NSR (100%), followed by NR (32.9%), NSNOR (17.5) and SNOR the least (14.0%). In this cohort, over one-third of CDH were closed using patches. To date, 19 patch types/variations have been employed for CDH closure. GTX is the most popular, employed in 70% of patients; however excluding smaller cohorts (n<20) GTX/Marlex is associated with the lowest recurrence rate (3.6%). SNOR was the material type least associated with recurrence while NSR experienced recurrence in every instance.

Effectiveness of rural internships for veterinary students to combat veterinary workforce shortages in rural areas.

Veterinarians are a pivotal force in addressing animal health and welfare surveillance, with a critical role in improving public health security and increasing the profits of livestock farmers. Yet, the veterinary profession is adversely affected by personnel shortages, particularly in rural areas. Since the health of people, animals and their shared environment are interconnected in a One Health perspective, a set of policies are required to ensure public health by attraction and retention of veterinarians in rural areas. In France, a tutored internship programme, financially subsiding students and mentors to execute a training period in remote rural areas, was promoted to better integrate and retain veterinary students ending their veterinary training. This paper aims to evaluate how veterinarians' tutored internships influences students' choices for rural practice, using three different statistical methods derived from causal inference theory. Using survey data for the period 2016-2020, we show that: (i) the average effect of the tutored internship on veterinarians' work in food animal sector is not significant; and that (ii) the tutored internship leads veterinarians with a low share of work in the food animal sector to have a rural practise after they graduated between 13 and 20% greater than those who did not participate in the tutored internship.

‘Level the playing field’ – pupils’ experiences of inclusion and social justice in physical education and health

ABSTRACT School physical education and health (PEH) has an important role to play in the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of young people [Opstoel, K., Chapelle, L., Prins, F. J., De Meester, A., Haerens, L., van Tartwijk, J., & De Martelaer, K. (2020). Personal and social development in physical education and sports: A review study. European Physical Education Review, 26(4), 797–813] which, in turn, can enhance interpersonal relations and help build more socially cohesive and just societies [Benn, T., Dagkas, S., & Jawad, H. (2011). Embodied faith: Islam, religious freedom and educational practices in physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 16(1), 17–34; Smith, W., Philpot, R., Gerdin, G., Schenker, K., Linnér, S., Larsson, L., Mordal Moen, K., & Westlie, K. (2021). School HPE: Its mandate, responsibility and role in educating for social cohesion. Sport, Education and Society, 26(5), 500–513]. Unfortunately, research continues to highlight the inability of PEH to realize these important outcomes and the pervasiveness of practices that instead contribute to exclusion and inequality. The aim of this study was to add our understanding of school PEH practices by exploring pupils’ experiences of inclusion and social justice. Data were generated through a survey, observations, interviews and critical reflective texts. Participants in the study were pupils from three different upper-secondary schools (age 16–19) located in southern Sweden. The analysis of data involved a six-phase thematic analysis approach [Braun, B., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. Sage] informed by theories of critical and dialogical pedagogy [Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Seabury]. The results are presented in relation to four central themes: (1) care and relationships, (2) pupil involvement, (3) use of modified and non-traditional activities and spaces; and (4) learning about and acting on social inequities. In order to promote more inclusive and socially just PEH practice, a [Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed. Seabury] analysis of the pupils’ experiences draws attention to the importance of: establishing horizontal teacher–pupil relationships built on trust and love: engaging pupils in an ongoing dialogue where the pupils practice choice and decision-making with their peers; inviting the pupils into critically reflecting on issues of positionality and power and; pupils learning to act on social inequities. To conclude, the paper calls for future studies where teachers and pupils collaborate to develop PEH practices underpinned by inclusion and social justice.

The development of a Competence Framework for Environmental Education complying with the European Qualifications Framework and the European Green Deal

Following the severe impact of capitalist industrialization on the environment, the EU has funded several projects in the context of the European Green Deal to pursue climate neutrality by 2050. Some of these projects attempt to achieve zero emissions through political participation, while others by committing EU citizens to adopt sustainable habits in terms of both practical behavior and economic choices. The GreenSCENT project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, aims to develop a Competence Framework compliant with the European Qualifications Framework and the European Green Deal. The present article documents the process of developing such a Competence Framework. Eight distinct research teams independently conducted a similar thorough literature review over an assigned topic (Climate Change; Clean Energy; Circular Economy; Green Building; Smart Mobility; From Farm to Fork; Biodiversity; Zero Pollution). The resulting documental corpora have then elicited to build the competence matrices and the corresponding European Qualification Framework levels. Once the information has been reorganized as a knowledge graph, the researchers discovered a large amount of novel interdomain connections, providing a more engaging way of interacting with the Competence Framework, and potentially apt to avoiding information overload issues while preserving the complexity, in line with the simplexity paradigm. The environmental education tools produced by this research could be useful in mitigating the repercussions of Capitalocene on the environment toward the adoption of more sustainable behaviors.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Anti-Obesity Medications in Real-World Practice.

Anti-obesity medications (AOMs), along with lifestyle interventions, are effective means of inducing and maintaining weight loss in patients with obesity. Although the efficacy of AOMs has been reported, there have been no direct comparisons of these drugs. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of all the AOMs available in Korea in a real-world setting. The body weight and composition of 205 adults treated with phentermine, phentermine/topiramate, liraglutide, naltrexone/bupropion, lorcaserin, or orlistat for at least 6 months were analyzed at 2 month intervals. The prevalence of the achievement of a ≥5% weight loss and the changes in body composition were compared between participants using each AOM at each visit. A total of 132 (64.4%) participants achieved ≥5% weight loss within 6 months (prevalence of ≥5% weight loss after 6 months: phentermine, 87.2%; phentermine/topiramate, 67.7%; liraglutide, 58.1%; naltrexone/bupropion, 35.3%; lorcaserin, 75%; orlistat, 50%). At each visit, after adjustment for age, sex, and baseline body weight, phentermine use was associated with a significantly higher prevalence of ≥5% weight loss than the use of the other AOMs, except for liraglutide. There were significant differences in the body weight, body mass index and body fat mass among the AOM groups by visit (P for interaction <0.05), but not in their waist circumference, skeletal muscle mass, percentage body fat, or visceral fat area. All the AOMs were effective at inducing and maintaining weight loss, in the absence of significant changes in muscle mass, over a 6 month period, and the short-term use of phentermine and the long-term use of phentermine/topiramate or liraglutide would be practical choices for the treatment of obesity. However, further, large-scale studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

UPTAKE AND OUTCOMES OF MILD OVARIAN STIMULATION FOR IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION IN AFRICA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Introduction: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is beyond the economic reach of most of those inflicted by infertility in Africa. Uptake of low-cost in-vitro fertilization (LCIVF) may improve financial access of patients to advanced fertility care.&#x0D; Methodology: Systematic review of open-access full articles published in English from January 2000 to May 2023. Articles were sourced via PubMed, Medline, Embase and Google Scholar databases on June 1st 2023. Search keywords used were “Mild stimulation” OR “Low-cost IVF” AND “Africa”.&#x0D; Ethics: This project was subjected to Ethics review by the University of South Wales Ethics review Committee.&#x0D; Results: 5 publications included out of 647 results. These were historical reports in contextualized narrative reviews with no statistics provided. Because of this, only qualitative synthesis was undertaken, and meta-analysis was not possible due to lack of statistics for comparison. Published results indicated significant financial restriction of access and no objective demonstration of actual uptake and outcomes of mild ovarian stimulation in Africa.&#x0D; Discussion: There was no actual open-access published evidence regarding uptake of mild stimulation for low-cost IVF in Africa. If there is such material, it is not available to those that would actually need the information to inform providers’ practice or patient choices. This is the case despite growing evidence of increasing utility of LCIVF outside Africa. Uptake of LCIVF may potentially ameliorate financial restrictions of access to ART in Africa.

Effect of iron nanoparticles on chromium adsorption in aqueous solution using magnetic biochar: A site energy distribution analysis

The effects of adding green-synthesized magnetic iron-containing nanoparticles (GSMFe) onto biochar in aqueous solution for the adsorptive removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] were investigated in this study. Nanocomposites, denoted as green synthesis magnetic biochar (GSMB), were created using a green synthesis technique with white tea residue to introduce GSMFe into biochar. Six adsorbents, varying in GSMFe content, were tested for their effectiveness in eliminating Cr(VI), a globally significant hazardous heavy metal. The results demonstrated that incorporating GSMFe into biochar led to significant improvements in adsorption capacity and saturation magnetization. With an increasing amount of GSMFe, the maximum adsorption capacity increased from 2.47 mg/g (EWTWB) to 9.11 mg/g (GSMB4). The highest saturation magnetization was achieved at 13.4 Am2/kg at GSMB4. Similarly, surface areas rose up to 72.9 m2/g at GSMB3 but declined thereafter due to GSMFe aggregation and pore blockage. Sorption behavior for Cr(VI) was assessed using five isotherm models, with the Redlich-Peterson model showing the best fit. The analysis of approximate site energy distribution (SED) indicates that the incorporation of GSMFe enhances the frequency of the entire range of sorption energy sites, while the biochar matrix contributes to a slight increase in medium sorption energy sites within the GSMFe. Among the GSMBs, the difference were more pronounced at low-energy sites than at high-energy sites. At higher energy sites (27,500–40,000 J/mol), sorption site frequencies remained similar, regardless of GSMFe content and associated physicochemical properties. For sorption energy site values exceeding 17,500 J/mol (Cr(VI) concentration below 50 mg/L), GSMB2 is regarded as a more practical choice due to its relatively large area under the frequency distribution curve and commendable cost-effectiveness.

Band Gap Energy of Periodic Anatase TiO2 System Evaluated with the B2PLYP Double Hybrid Functional

The electronic properties of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) materials are of paramount importance for photocatalytic application. Ab initio calculation is performed on anatase TiO2 with various cluster sizes and shape, using Gaussian 09 program employing the standard 6-311G(d) and 3-21G basis set. Hartree-Fock (HF) theory, exchange-functional of density functional theory including hybrid (B3LYP, B3PW91, PBE1PBE and PBEh1PBE) and double-hybrid (B2PLYP), together with 2nd order Møller-Plesset perturbation theory are used to predict the band gap energy of anatase TiO2. With the inclusion of long-range HF exchange, double hybrid B2PLYP functional is able to predict band gap energy value (3.06 eV) which as compared to the experimental value (3.20 eV). Besides, this double hybrid exchange-correlation functional shows good compromise by obtaining an accurate description for cohesive energy of anatase TiO2. Thus, double-hybrid B2PLYP functional is suggested to be a practical choice for predicting the electronic properties for anatase TiO2.