Concrete Results Research Articles

From Euclidean field theory to hyperkähler Floer theory via regularized polysymplectic geometry

Hamiltonian Floer theory plays an important role for finding periodic solutions of Hamilton’s equation, which can be seen as a generalization of Newton’s equation. Generalizing Newton’s equation to Laplace’s equation with nonlinearity, we show, building on the work of Ginzburg and Hein, that this role is taken over by the hyperkähler Floer theory of Hohloch, Noetzel, and Salamon. Apart from establishing [Formula: see text]-bounds in order to be able to deal with noncompact hyperkähler manifolds, the core ingredient is a regularization scheme for the polysymplectic formalism due to Bridges, which allows us to link Euclidean field theory with hyperkähler Floer theory. As a concrete result, we prove a cuplength estimate.

HORTA COMUNITÁRIA URBANA DE BASE POPULAR, AGROECOLÓGICA E SOLIDÁRIA

The experience of the Gera Juncal community garden is an articulation between several actors: Technical Support Group, Center for the Promotion and Rescue of Citizenship in Grajaú, Popular Movements Center, researchers, specialists and professors from different institutions. The initiative aims to strengthen struggles for the right to decent housing, food sovereignty, popular education, agroecology and solidary economy. The objective of the article is to analyze the implementation process of the Gera Juncal vegetable garden, located in São Mateus, in the east zone of São Paulo, between October 2021 and September 2022. The general strategies were: participatory action research, popular education, pedagogy of alternation and case study. The results obtained indicate: 1. degree of adequacy of the relationships between “School” Time and Community Time; 2. experiencing and learning the principles and practices of agroecology, solidary economy and popular education; 3. The effectiveness of agroecology and solidarity economy in the production, distribution and consumption of food; 4. Changes in the conception and conduct of individuals and the groups involved, in relation to the concrete results of the collective, popular and solidary struggle; 5. training of trainers in agroecology and solidary economy; 6. Fostering the construction of public policies for food sovereignty connected with decent housing.

Development and strengthening of teachers’ digital competence: Systematic review

The systematic review permitted the characterization of training programs in digital teaching competence using an analysis of their structure, implementation, and results. A comprehensive search was conducted across five databases, namely Scopus, Web of Science, Redalyc, Science Direct, and LENS, to retrieve scientific articles published between 2017 and 2023. The search was conducted using the inclusion-exclusion criteria, and the articles were selected to answer five guiding questions. The review addressed five aspects: initiatives and practices, configuration, implementation, concrete results, and dimensions according to recurrent frames of reference. It was observed that there has been an improvement in digital competence and teacher motivation, with elements such as information literacy, communication, digital content creation, and information security. However, there is a lack of alignment with current needs. It is important to articulate with reference frameworks such as DigCompEdu. To prepare future teachers and train active ones, it is suggested that conceptual, procedural, and attitudinal aspects be considered.

Analysis of the role of the merdeka Mengajar Platform in teacher self-development at SDN 7 Suwawal

Merdeka Mengajar Platform (PMM) is an application that empowers teachers at SDN 7 Suwawal, supports self-development, and maximizes students' potential. Teachers are expected to master four main competencies: pedagogical, personality, social, and professional. PMM facilitates increasing competency through independent training, references, and understanding of the Merdeka Curriculum. This research aims to analyze the role of PMM in teacher self-development at SDN 7 Suwawal, its impact on teaching performance, and the obstacles faced. The method used is qualitative with case studies, collecting data through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation from three teachers (classes I, III, VI) in the second semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The results of interviews and observations are strengthened by documentation of real action certificates, which show concrete results from the use of PMM in teacher self-development. Class I teachers actively access PMM and participate in discussions even though they have not yet received a certificate. Class III teachers earned one certificate, while class VI teachers earned four certificates, demonstrating commitment and perseverance. The research results show that PMM helps in independent training, increasing competence, and implementing differentiated learning. Although the main obstacle is poor signal network quality, PMM has a positive impact on teachers' teaching performance, improves the quality of learning, and supports continuous professional development. By providing access to independent training, supporting a variety of teaching methods, and offering a platform for collaboration and workshops, PMM contributes significantly to improving the quality of education at SDN 7 Suwawal.

Research on Quantitative Characterization Model of Compressive Strength or Elastic Modulus of Recycled Concrete Based on Pore Grading.

The influence of different pore sizes on the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete is an important issue in the academic circle. Aiming at this problem, a quantitative characterization model of the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete based on pore grading was established in this paper. The compressive strength, elastic modulus, porosity and distribution of pore size of recycled concrete were measured by a concrete test and nuclear magnetic resonance technology, and the influences of different pore sizes on the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete were analyzed, and the rationality of the quantitative characterization model was verified. The results showed that the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete decreased with the increase in the recycled coarse aggregate replacement rate, and the decrease was more obvious with the increase in the substitution rate. The peak pore diameter in the distribution curve of porosity and pore diameter of recycled concrete increased, and the proportion of pore diameter above 50~200 nm and 200 nm also increased. The pore sizes, including those below 20 nm and 20~50 nm, had a positive correlation with the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete, while the pore sizes, including those above 50~200 nm and 200 nm, had a negative correlation with the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete. The test results of recycled concrete verify that the quantitative characterization model could better characterize the compressive strength and elastic modulus of recycled concrete.

MDT – A TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL

This article proposes a new Territorial Development Model (TDM) aimed at the design and implementation of sustainable development projects. The model incorporates qualified listening mechanisms and alignment among stakeholders, offering a system of actionable and internationally comparable metrics. Additionally, the TDM structures effective governance to accelerate concrete results, overcome limitations imposed by political cycles, and ensure the legal certainty needed to attract public and private investments. The model aims to transform development dynamics, ensuring more effective, efficient, and impactful interventions. The methodology integrates the concepts of Jobs-to-be-Done, Design Thinking, Stakeholder Capitalism (World Economic Forum), and the Social Progress Index (Michael Porter).

Exploitation, slavery, and protest in the global north: the silicon ‘plantations’ of Salento (Italy) – the tecnova case

This study analyses the Tecnova case in Salento (2009-2011), a paradigmatic example of the exploitation of migrant labour in the context of renewable energy, a sector often celebrated for its innovative and sustainable potential. Through a sociological analysis combining qualitative interviews with privileged observers and the Protest Event Analysis approach, the complex connections between racialisation, precarious labour and the dynamics of global capitalism are explored. Migrant workers, employed in conditions of extreme exploitation, have given rise to spontaneous protests that, while achieving concrete results in terms of immediate demands, have failed to undermine the deep structures of racialised capitalism and the migration policies that fuel its existence. Using the concepts of the coloniality of power and the racialisation of labour, the study highlights how even sectors related to the energy transition can reproduce the extractive, hierarchical and oppressive logics typical of contemporary capitalism. Finally, the research sheds light on the structural limits of traditional unionisation in supporting migrants' forms of spontaneous resistance and reflects on the theoretical and practical possibilities of building broader movements capable of challenging the racial hierarchies and extractive logics underpinning the global economic system.

Bayesian Statistics for Sustainable Cementitious Systems with a Partial Replacement of Coconut Shell Ash as a Cement Material

As urbanization continues to increase on a daily basis, the demand for infrastructure has become a global priority. Developing nations encounter considerable obstacles in managing solid waste, particularly in the handling of construction materials. Concrete, an essential element in construction, depends significantly on cement as its binding agent. While cement offers benefits such as robust binding properties and improved concrete strength, its production poses considerable environmental challenges. The study explores the potential of using coconut shell ash (CSA) as an alternative to traditional binding materials in M20 grade concrete. Burned coconut shells produce CSA, which possesses pozzolanic properties, making it an attractive material for cement substitution. By integrating coconut shell ash into the concrete formulation, the overall cement requirement can be diminished, resulting in substantial energy conservation, lower carbon releases, and the safeguarding of natural resources. To evaluate the effectiveness of CSA as a replacement, various proportions (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%) were examined. The findings revealed that using 10% CSA as a binding material replacement led to enhanced mechanical properties. A total of 36 concrete cubes were cast using both ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and 10% CSA, followed by comprehensive testing and statistical analysis using SPSS V-26. Bayesian statistical analysis demonstrated that incorporating 10% of CSA as a cementitious material in concrete yields effective results.

SME in Albania: A Descriptive Analyses of Business Environment Based on SME Policy Index

Micro, small and medium enterprises make an important contribution to the economic development of Albania. Due to globalization and EU integration process, business environment in our country is becoming more and more complex and SMEs have to undertake proper actions in order to compete at national and international markets. Under these circumstances, more attention should be paid to innovation as the main tool to remain competitive in a globalized world. This paper aims to provide a descriptive analysis of SMEs sector in Albania focusing on their contribution to the national economy as well as of the environment where this type of businesses operates. Analysis is based on secondary research and the majority of data used are mostly retrieved SME Policy Index, a benchmark tool designed to assess policies that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies and monitor progress in policy implementation over time. Over the last years, significant progress is made toward the establishment of the proper business environment for SMEs in Albania Government policies and initiatives seem to have produced concrete results with regard to some specific indicators institutional and regulatory framework for SME policy making; operational environment for SMEs; public procurement; standards and technical regulations; and internationalisation of SMEs Received: 30 September 2024 / Accepted: 28 November 2024 / Published: 3 December 2024

Influence of Balinese palm fiber and additives on concrete’s compressive and tensile strengths

Abstract Concrete is a material that has an important role in the world of construction. Concrete has high compressive strength but low tensile strength, so this research proposes the addition of Balinese palm fiber and damdex to improve the mechanical properties of the concrete. In this study, Balinese palm fiber was used at 2% of the cement weight with fiber lengths of 1 cm (BS1), 2 cm (BS2), and 3 cm (BS3). Meanwhile, damdex additives are used at 2% of the cement weight. The test object used was a cylinder measuring 15 cm x 30 cm, and the test was carried out at the age of 14 and 28 days with a slump value ranging from 7.5-10 cm. The mixture design was carried out using the SNI 7656:2012 method, where each variation of the mixture was made into 5 test objects, so that in total there were 80 test objects. There are 2 (two) mechanical property tests carried out, namely compressive strength and split tensile strength tests of concrete. From the test results at 28 days, normal concrete (BN) obtained a compressive strength of 29.95 MPa and a split tensile strength of 1.97 MPa. Meanwhile, for each variation, the concrete compressive strength results were 34.48 MPa (BS1), 32.44 MPa (BS2), 31.31 MPa (BS3). Meanwhile, the split tensile strength of concrete is 2.09 MPa (BS1), 2.38 MPa (BS2), and 2.73 MPa (BS3). From the test results it can be seen that adding 2% Balinese palm fiber and damdex gives better results than normal concrete, and provides the benefit of increasing the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of the concrete.

Applications of pulleys and inclined plane in transport engineering

This scientific paper presents original research and the authors personal views on the technical-economic and practical acceptance of pulley and inclined plane applications in transport engineering. Engineering specialists appreciate that the active type experiment carried out by practical determinations leads to concrete, important results in the field addressed. In order to demonstrate theoretically and practically what the specialists say, we have made a small-scale laboratory model in which we have experimented with situations similar to those encountered in real life. In this way, we have presented the front end of pulley systems used for lifting or towing damaged or damaged vehicles (motor vehicles) on trailer trailers, which are common in transport engineering. In this way, those interested can learn how these applications can be used in the laboratory but also in real life, the advantages and concrete results obtained when applied. Other experiments and applications of the laboratory mock-up are specified in the paper, in which the results, their usefulness, real-life applicability, how certain measuring instruments are used, the units of measurement and their conversions, as well as how to calculate the voltages occurring in lifting/pulling cables with pulleys are presented. The scale model can be successfully used in the laboratories of art and craft schools, high schools or colleges. In this way pupils or students can acquire practical knowledge in car knowledge or road vehicle dynamics laboratories. At the end of the work, conclusions in the field covered and further research directions are presented.

Innovative IT solutions in health and sport - the importance of wearable devices, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and Big Data

Healthcare faces a significant shortage of human and financial resources. One way to overcome this is to focus on preventive medicine, through the promotion of sport and the use of advanced IT (Information Technology) tools in healthcare. These tools include wearables, the IoT (Internet of Things), Big Data and AI (artificial intelligence). This narrative review article aims to present the current state of the art in the field to support the processing of literature at the beginning of new researches by reviewing the major literature focusing on three of the data management’s functions: data collection, storing and processing. To quantify the studies, queries were run on ScienceDirect, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases. The keywords used in the queries were "Internet of Things", "Big Data", "Artificial intelligence" and "Wearable devices" complemented by the terms "health" and "sports" so a total of 8 queries were run on each database. We selected only scientific articles which contain concrete results, present ICT tools used in health or sport, and were fully available from our institution's network so we examined 35 articles. The results of the queries show that in most cases more than 50% of the literature was published since 2019, so the topic is currently a highly researched area. On average, 59.57% of all published works were published from 2019 in Science Direct, 74.49% in PubMed and 77.18% in Web of Science. The above-mentioned IT tools on health and sport is significant. Their importance is most notable in the advancement of preventive medicine and innovation in medical research.

Experimental study of steel single skin, double skin and dual tubes stub columns filled with rubberized concrete

This experimental study investigates the performance of rubberized concrete-filled dual steel tubular (RuCFDST) short columns under concentric compression, addressing a gap in existing literature. While previous studies focused on single- and double-skin circular steel tube stub columns, the specific behavior of RuCFDST columns remains largely unexplored. The study compares RuCFDST columns with rubberized concrete-filled steel tubes (RuCFST) and rubberized concrete-filled double-skin steel tubes (RuCFDSST). A total of eighteen specimens were experimentally tested, which consisted of three single-tube configuration, three double-skin configuration, and twelve dual tube configuration. The investigation covers rubberized concrete preparation, material testing, precise measurements, test setup, and result analysis. Key parameters include rubberized ratio (0 %, 10 %, 20 %, and 30 %) and concrete mix variations. The results provide insights into failure modes, load-shortening behavior, ductility, and strength index, with comparisons to the design predictions based on the European standard EC4. The inclusion of rubberized concrete enhances ductility, while RuCFDST columns show promise in combining sustainability and strength. The study also evaluates design predictions, revealing good agreement for lower rubberized content but indicating deviations for higher ratios, suggesting the need for refined design approaches in such cases.

Regenerative capacity of dental mesenchymal stem cells: a systematic review

Background: Oral mesenchymal cells already have wide clinical applications based on their tissue regenerative abilities. The purpose of this study is to present the picture of scientific research on the application of mesenchymal cells. Methods: This review study presents data processing of selected articles on clinical application of oral mesenchymal cells as a future of technology with relatively reduced cost. As inclusion criteria, there are articles that evaluated the regenerative abilities of cells prior to their oral origin. The exclusion criteria are mainly laboratory procedural techniques of manipulation with mesenchymal cells. From 735 articles screened for retrieval, 148 articles were found. After application of exclusion criteria, it was reached in total, about 38 selected articles were analyzed based on combinations of keywords on the PubMed page. These articles were classified based on concrete positive results and evasive results of studies on the role, mechanism of action, and field of application of oral mesenchymal cells. Results: The selection ratio of mesenchymal cells of pulpal origin or of periodontium origin is based on the first type of cells. Regardless of the fact that the trend of their application is again in the oral cavity, in a smaller percentage they tend to be applied for tissue regeneration in other organs. Discussion: There is a lack of “in vivo” type studies. The trend of articles is about review-type studies on the field of application of oral mesenchymal cells. Articles, where the field of application of mesenchymal cells is beyond the oral cavity for the purpose of application in regenerative medicine, occupy a reduced percentage. There are significant differences between differentiating abilities depending on the source from which these cells are taken from the oral cavity. This ability can be modeled by using growth factors, cytokines, bioactive substances, or local anesthetics.

Predicción de lectura en instrumento patrón para una empresa de metrología a través de un dashboard empleando algoritmos de regresión

Nowadays, metrology has employed advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things and data analysis, all with the aim of accurately and precisely measuring different physical magnitudes. All this is known today as metrology 4.0, which has as its main objective to ensure the reliability and accuracy of measurements in fields such as industry. In this context, a web application is proposed for a company dedicated to the calibration of instruments, in which regression algorithms are applied for prediction in their calibration instruments. This will not only provide better quality and more reliable results to customers, but will also optimize the company's processes and improve the efficiency of decision making related to instrument calibration. It is expected that, through the use of regression algorithms, the company will predict when the standard instrument will give bad readings. This will make it possible to send the instrument for calibration in advance, avoiding errors and guaranteeing measurement accuracy. Although concrete results are not yet available, a significant improvement in the accuracy and reliability of predictions is anticipated, as well as in the company's operational efficiency.

Awareness support in collaborative programming tools: An evaluation based on programmer's perception and eye tracking

Groupware technology is an essential asset for organizations and a successful medium to support social meetings and teacher-learning processes when people are geographically distributed. Computer programming is a domain that can take advantage of the Collaborative Work paradigm and of this technology. However, to be truly effective, groupware systems must provide suitable awareness support, i.e., be capable of informing users of the activity taking place and of the team outcome, so that they can build a setting for their work. The study of awareness mechanisms and their influence on collaborative programming processes is an open research question. In this context, this article contributes an experimental study to evaluate the mechanisms to support coordination, communication, and awareness of COLLECE, a distributed group programming system rich in awareness support. This study brings as a novel approach the combination of subjective and objective information sources, specifically eye tracking techniques, and incorporates a heuristic evaluation of awareness support based on a well-known framework. Thanks to this experiment, we have been able to verify that this blended approach, in which users participate intensively, provides a more comprehensive and deeper assessment of awareness and other coordination and communication mechanisms, and thus a better understanding of how their use can influence the collaborative programming process and outcome (program or piece of software). The study has revealed strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement of the evaluated system, and has yielded concrete results as to which are the most useful awareness components of the user interface not related to the activity supported by the system (programming), these being the traffic lights; the easiest to use, such as the session panel; or the components that impose a greater cognitive load, such as the multi-scrollbar. Regarding the relationship between the supported awareness dimensions and the quality of the collaboration outcome (computer program), the results point to the need to adequately support the What-Artifact dimension, i.e., highlighting in which part of the shared workspace (the source code) the user with floor control is working.

Göçün Eğitim Üzerindeki Etkilerinin Göçmen Veli Görüşlerine Göre Değerlendirilmesi

The aim of this study is to determine the problems experienced by immigrants in the field of education through interviews. Evaluating the views of immigrant students' parents on this issue, it was desired to get concrete results in the field. At the same time, taking into account the situations that developed due to the pandemic, questions were asked regarding access to distance education. In this study, the interview method was applied within the scope of qualitative research. Data were obtained by using semi-structured interview forms. The sample of the study consists of seven immigrant families living in Konya. The semi-structured interview form used in the study was developed by the researcher himself. When the findings are examined, it has been seen that the problems experienced by these immigrant families who have lived in Turkey for a certain period of time in relation to education do not make a significant difference from other individuals who are Turkish Citizens. This is not true for all children of parents, especially if there are problems with adaptation. Participants in the research stated that they learned Turkish by overcoming language-related problems in a short time in terms of communication. Immigrant parents stated that they are very satisfied with the education in Turkey. Key Words: İmmigration, Parents, Education, Matters

Bending Performance of Reinforced Concrete Beams with Rubber as Form of Fiber from Waste Tires

An investigation was conducted to assess the efficacy of using waste rubber as a substitute for a portion of an aggregate to enhance concrete’s sustainability. For the purpose of accomplishing this objective, a total of 12 specimens were constructed and then subjected to a series of tests to investigate their bending behavior. The samples were constructed with the following dimensions: 1000 mm length and a 100 mm by 150 mm cross-sectional area. A few factors were selected, including the impacts of the longitudinal reinforcement ratio and the waste rubber ratio. Based on the volume of aggregates, rubber replacement rates of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% were investigated in this study. To assess the beam bending behavior, the stirrup width and spacing were kept constant at ∅6/10. The longitudinal reinforcement was composed of three diameters: ∅6 at the top (for all beams) and ∅8, ∅10, and ∅12 at the bottom. The experimental results demonstrated that the effects of varying amounts of waste rubber and tension reinforcement on the bending and cracking of reinforced concrete beams (RCBs) were varied. The findings indicate that the incorporation of waste rubber into concrete results in a reduction in both the load-carrying capacity and the level of deformation of the material. Additionally, it was shown that as the amount of waste rubber in the RCB increased, the energy absorption capacity and ultimate load decreased. There was a reduction in energy dissipation of 53.71%, 51.69%, and 40.55% for ∅8 when longitudinal reinforcement was applied at 5%, 10%, and 15% replacement, respectively. Additionally, there were reductions of 25.35%, 9.31%, and 58.15% for ∅10, and 38.69%, 57.79%, and 62.44% for ∅12, respectively.

A Case Study on the Application of Socio-cultural Theory in International Chinese Language Classrooms

Research on sociocultural theory in second language acquisition is common, but there are few concrete methodological results for frontline teachers. In this paper, we first summarize the development of Vygotsky's sociocultural theory as the theoretical support of this paper; secondly, we use the sociocultural theory as the guide to design the teaching of the lesson "Learning Chinese with a Teacher", and describe in detail the implementation of the teaching process. Finally, it analyzes how to apply such a basic theory as socio-cultural theory to the practice of language teaching in a more grounded way from the perspective of teachers.

Effectiveness of Rice Husk Ash and Glass Powder Waste as Partial Replacements of Cement in Concrete Construction

The environmental impact of cement production has drawn attention to the use of glass waste and rice husk as a partial replacement for cement in concrete. According to research, the compressive strength of concrete containing GPW and RHA can increase up to 15-20%, after which it begins to decline. The objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of partial replacement of cement with GPW and RHA. Some of the factors considered in this study were compressive strength and specific gravity. The proportions of GPW and RHA used were 0%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%. Then concrete testing was done after 7 and 28 day. The maximum 28-day concrete compressive strength result for the addition of GPW and RHA at 5% mix proportion was 33.1 Mpa. The more the proportion of GPW and RHA mixture, the more the relative specific gravity of concrete decreases. Overall, this study found that the use of GPW and RHA in concrete had a significant effect on compressive strength and specific gravity. But do not forget to pay attention to how much GPW and RHA mix needs and the quality of concrete to be achieved.