Focal Point Research Articles

Focusing of water waves with a shallow-draft cylinder array

The propagation of water waves can be manipulated via artificial structures. However, such structures usually need to possess a large volume ratio in water, and it may not be easy to build and move them in practical ocean engineering. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a fixed, shallow-draft cylinder array that can refract and focus water waves within a wide range of wavelengths. When impinging upon the cylinder array from a region of water without structures, water waves can be slightly reflected at the surface of the array and speeded up in the array. As a result, favorable focusing performances such as a short focal length and high intensity at the focal point are observed.

Teaching critical thinking about health information and choices in secondary schools: human-centred design of digital resources

Background Learning to thinking critically about health information and choices can protect people from unnecessary suffering, harm, and resource waste. Earlier work revealed that children can learn these skills, but printing costs and curricula compatibility remain important barriers to school implementation. We aimed to develop a set of digital learning resources for students to think critically about health that were suitable for use in Kenyan, Rwandan, and Ugandan secondary schools. Methods We conducted work in two phases collaborating with teachers, students, schools, and national curriculum development offices using a human-centred design approach. First, we conducted context analyses and an overview of teaching strategies, prioritised content and collected examples. Next, we developed lessons and guidance iteratively, informed by data from user-testing, individual and group interviews, and school pilots. Results Final resources include online lesson plans, teachers’ guide, and extra resources, with lesson plans in two modes, for use in a classroom equipped with a blackboard/flip-chart and a projector. The resources are accessible offline for use when electricity or Internet is lacking. Teachers preferred the projector mode, as it provided structure and a focal point for class attention. Feedback was largely positive, with teachers and students appreciating the learning and experiencing it as relevant. Four main challenges included time to teach lessons; incorrect comprehension; identifying suitable examples; and technical, logistical, and behavioural challenges with a student-computer mode that we piloted. We resolved challenges by simplifying and combining lessons; increasing opportunities for review and assessment; developing teacher training materials, creating a searchable set of examples; and deactivating the student-computer mode. Conclusion Using a human-centred design approach, we created digital resources for teaching secondary school students to think critically about health actions and for training teachers. Be smart about your health resources are open access and can be translated or adapted to other settings.

Bibliometric analysis of the global trends in immune-related recurrent pregnancy loss research over the last two decades.

A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore the scientific output on immune-related recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and its key aspects. Despite the lack of clear explanations for most RPL cases, immune factors were found to play a significant role. The study utilized a bibliometric approach, searching the Web of Science Core Collection database for relevant literature published between 2004 and 2023. The collected dataset consisted of 2228 articles and reviews, revealing a consistent increase in publications and citations over the past two decades. The analysis identified the United States and China as the most productive countries in terms of RPL research. Among the institutions, Fudan University in China emerged as the top contributor, followed by Shanghai Jiaotong University. Kwak-kim J was the most prolific author, while Christiansen Ob had the highest number of co-citations. The top 25 co-cited references on diagnosis, treatment, and mechanisms formed the foundation of knowledge in this field. By examining keyword co-occurrence and co-citations, the study found that antiphospholipid syndrome and natural killer cells were the primary areas of focus in immune-related RPL research. Additionally, three emerging hotspots were identified: chronic endometritis, inflammation, and decidual macrophages. These aspects demonstrated increasing interest and research activity within the field of immune-related RPL. Overall, this comprehensive bibliometric analysis provided valuable insights into the patterns, frontiers, and focal points of global scientific output related to immune-related RPL.

Long-term geometric quality assurance of radiation focal point and cone-beam computed tomography for Gamma Knife radiosurgery system.

To investigate the geometric accuracy of the radiation focal point (RFP) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) over long-term periods for the ICON Leksell Gamma Knife radiosurgery system. This phantom study utilized the ICON quality assurance tool plus, and the phantom was manually set on the patient position system before the implementation of treatment for patients. The deviation of the RFP position from the unit center point (UCP) and the positions of the four ball bearings (BBs) in the CBCT from the reference position were automatically analyzed. During 544days, a total of 269 analyses were performed on different days. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of the deviation between measured RFP and UCP was 0.01 ± 0.03, 0.01 ± 0.03, and -0.01 ± 0.01mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively. The deviations with offset values after the cobalt-60 source replacement (0.00 ± 0.03, -0.01 ± 0.01, and -0.01 ± 0.01mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively) were significantly (p = 0.001) smaller than those before the replacement (0.02 ± 0.03, 0.02 ± 0.01, and -0.02 ± 0.01mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively). The overall mean ± SD of four BBs was -0.03 ± 0.03, -0.01 ± 0.05, and 0.01 ± 0.03mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively. Geometric positional accuracy was ensured to be within 0.1mm on most days over a long-term period of more than 500days.

Kaleidoscopic Inquiries: Queering Approaches to Organizational Diversity Work

This multi-site qualitative research study utilizes a queer theoretical framework to analyze norms and normativity in organizational diversity work. The findings suggest that diversity work contributes to an ontological bifurcation of the individual and organization that foregrounds the individual and casts the organization to the background as an accessory to personal development. To understand how this ontological bifurcation emerges, the analysis traces three metaphors as focal points of norm inquiry related to diversity work – journey, container, and table – and considers them alongside the practices of training, data collection, and positional leadership. The persistent bifurcation of organization and individual helps to reinstate the very inequities that diversity work seeks to address, suggesting to both scholars and practitioners the need for a more durable disruption of the status quo in diversity work.

Creating welcoming and supportive campus climates for Buddhist students: Barriers and opportunities

AbstractThere is scant available research and scholarly discourse related to the unique needs and experiences of Buddhist students in US higher education—even in the small but growing body of literature on religiously minoritized college students. In this chapter, I summarize what little research does exist on Buddhist students, and explain the broader historical, societal, and cultural factors that serve as important context for making sense of that research. Focus points include curriculum, institutional policy, and student affairs. In the end, I offer recommendations to faculty, administrators, and student affairs professionals regarding what they can do to help create more welcoming and supportive campus climates for Buddhist students.Practical Takeaways Buddhism is internally diverse and Buddhist students often understand religion and express religiousness in ways that greatly differ from Christian and many other religious students. For that reason, creating welcoming and supportive campus climates for them looks different from common ways institutions attempt to do that for students from other religious groups. Creating a designated Buddhist prayer space on campus may not be very helpful to Buddhist students. Things that are more likely to help include: providing religious literacy education to all students, creating an inclusive religious accommodations policy and interfaith calendar, permitting the use of incense in residence halls, hiring a full‐time student affairs professional dedicated to working with Buddhist students, regulating proselytizing on campus, avoiding appropriation of Buddhist traditions, and engaging with Buddhist students directly.

Otorite Metaforları: İrlanda Metinlerinde Kimlik ve Algının Güç Politikaları

The central aim of this article is to explore the power politics of perception between English and Irish representations within selected canonised Irish texts. The focal point of this article orbits around the relationship between the observer and the observed with an essential emphasis on the roles of defining and defined subjects. Focusing on the metaphorical framework of Father England as the authority of gaze and Mother Ireland as the object of gaze, this article introduces Ireland’s post-independence era as the inception of a transformative journey that is characterised by a promise of self-definition after liberation from English dominion. In navigating the power dynamics of perception between Father England and Mother Ireland, this article takes a focused approach by analysing key literary works. Specifically, James Joyce’s “The Dead” (1914), Máirtín Ó Cadhain’s The Key (1949), and John Banville’s The Book of Evidence (1989) serve as illustrative examples. With these texts, this article aims to depict the trajectory of Ireland’s evolution from a position of being defined to a self-defining position.

Spatially selective delivery of living magnetic microrobots through torque-focusing

Rotating magnetic fields enable biomedical microrobots to overcome physiological barriers and promote extravasation and accumulation in tumors. Nevertheless, targeting deeply situated tumors requires suppression of off-target actuation in healthy tissue. Here, we investigate a control strategy for applying spatially selective torque density to microrobots by combining rotating fields with magnetostatic selection fields. Taking magnetotactic bacteria as diffuse torque-based actuators, we numerically model off-target torque suppression, indicating the feasibility of centimeter to millimeter resolution for human applications. We study focal torque application in vitro, observing off-target suppression of actuation-dependent effects such as colonization of bacteria in tumor spheroids. We then design and construct a mouse-scale torque-focusing apparatus capable of maneuvering the focal point. Applying this system to a mouse tumor model increased accumulation of intravenously injected bacteria within tumors receiving focused actuation compared to non-actuated or globally actuated groups. This control scheme combines the advantages of torque-based actuation with spatial targeting.

DİJİTAL DÜNYADA İSLÂM TARİHİNİ BİLGİSAYAR OYUNLARI ÜZERİNDEN KEŞFETMEK: KNIGHTS OF THE LIGHT ADLI OYUN ÇERÇEVESİNDE ALANA BİR GİRİŞ

This article analyses the computer game ‘Knights of the Light: The Prologue,’ which focuses on a theme from the early periods of Islamic history, and evaluates its role in the teaching and learning Islamic history. The game centres around the Battle of Qādisiyya (15/636), a critical juncture during one of the significant milestones for Muslims in their struggle against the Sassanids, marking a pivotal moment in the early Islamic conquests. Commanders Qaʿqāʿ b. ʿAmr and his brother ʿĀṣim b. ʿAmr, who played crucial roles in the events leading up to the eradication of the Sassanids from the historical stage, are the primary figures in this game. Despite encountering some technical flaws and receiving unfavourable feedback from players, the game’s commendable effort to adhere to historical data and accurately present the conditions of that period deserves recognition. In this regard, the game becomes the focal point of this article concerning the instruction and education of Islamic history. Factors such as the prominence of learning materials through computer games, the vivid portrayal of historical events, and the encouragement of students to delve into more profound research, as exemplified by this game, suggest the effectiveness of such games as valuable tools in the education of Islamic history.

Utilizing the phenomenon of diffraction for noise protection of roadside objects

Abstract Presented here is a constructive solution to the challenge of utilizing the diffraction phenomenon for mitigating noise around roadside objects caused by the movement of vehicles on transportation routes. In contrast to existing prototypes, the innovation of the proposed solution lies in the creation of an active system that concentrates and directs oscillations originating from transportation sources. This active system, centered around sound absorption and reflection, establishes protective barriers and focuses on sound vibrations. The incorporation of diffraction effects within the Fraunhofer zones, along with the utilization of Fresnel lenses, directs attention towards these vibrations. The technical objective of harnessing the diffraction phenomenon for noise reduction around roadside objects involves demonstrating the feasibility of using a Fresnel zone plate (FZP) tailored for a specific oscillation frequency. This plate should demonstrate the ability to effectively manipulate sounds of varying frequencies while retaining its diffractive focusing capabilities. The intrinsic frequency characteristics of diffractive elements cannot be eliminated due to the inherent nature of sound diffraction. Consequently, it is imperative to thoroughly investigate and account for these properties. A groundbreaking discovery has been made, confirming the phenomenon of noise concentration originating from transportation sources. This revelation suggests that when a FZP is employed at frequencies other than its designed frequency, the concentration of oscillations remains. However, only the focal point of concentration shifts. Through experimentation, it has been established that the same FZP can be employed for varying wavelengths within a range of approximately ±20% while adhering to diffraction conditions. The feasibility of employing the thin lens formula to focus oscillations following the passage through a FZP has been substantiated. This solution also delves into the principal focusing, frequency, and shaping characteristics of the diffractive elements within FZPs. Furthermore, a computed estimation of the acoustic field scattered by a diffraction grating is compared against experimental data. This validates the approach and its efficacy in practical scenarios. The potential of harnessing the diffraction phenomenon to concentrate and regulate noise from transportation sources, thereby safeguarding roadside objects, is presented as a promising avenue for exploration.

LEGAL CHALLENGES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND ROBOTICS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

The paper presents an insightful overview of the intricate legal challenges posed by the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted dimensions of the evolving legal landscape, addressing issues at the intersection of technology and law. Key focal points include the accountability and liability frameworks for autonomous AI systems, ethical considerations in the deployment of intelligent machines, and the complex dynamics of data privacy in the age of pervasive automation. The review delves into the intricate legal nuances surrounding intellectual property rights, particularly as AI systems contribute to creative outputs and innovation. It navigates the blurred lines between human and machine authorship, raising fundamental questions about ownership and protection in this digital era. Moreover, the paper emphasizes the global nature of these challenges, highlighting the imperative for international cooperation to formulate harmonized legal standards. As AI and robotics revolutionize industries and societal frameworks, the analysis underscores the critical need for adaptive and anticipatory legal frameworks. It explores how existing legal paradigms are grappling with the unprecedented speed of technological advancements and the ethical dilemmas arising from the delegation of decision-making to intelligent algorithms. The paper sets the stage for a thorough examination of the legal intricacies surrounding AI and robotics. It advocates for a proactive and collaborative approach, involving legal experts, technologists, ethicists, and policymakers in crafting robust frameworks that balance innovation with ethical, privacy, and accountability considerations. This review serves as a foundational resource for understanding and addressing the legal challenges inherent in the transformative era of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
 Keywords: Artificial intelligence, Robotics, Legal, AI challenges, Ethics, Review.

Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience in Coal Mining: A Review of Managing Disruptions

Objective – Coal mining operations encounter substantial risks and uncertainties that originate from a wide array of sources, encompassing but not limited to natural calamities, supplier disruptions, market volatilities, regulatory modifications, and geopolitical instability. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive literature review on supply chain resilience in the coal mining industry and pinpoint potential avenues for further investigation. Methodology – A systematic literature review (SLR) was utilized to examine a total of 115 studies in the field of management and the coal mining supply chain. The studies were published from 2010 to 2023. The vulnerabilities and resilience strategies within the coal mining supply chain are the focal points of our research. We have integrated viewpoints from the domains of management and the coal mining supply chain to support our analysis. Findings – Challenges such as resource distribution, government policies, and maintenance are prevalent, pointing to the need for strategies that enhance performance through dynamic optimization and incentivizing integration. Practitioners must identify vulnerabilities in the coal mining supply chain to proactively anticipate and effectively manage potential disruptions, thus bolstering operational resilience. Novelty –This study fills the gap in extant literature by investigating the sequential application of supply chain resilience in the context of coal mining operations using the integrative view of supply chain nodes. Type of Paper: Review JEL Classification: M00, L72, M11, O13. Keywords: Coal mining, Disruption, Risk mitigation, Supply chain resilience, Systematic literature review Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Sinaga, P.T; Simatupang, T.M; Basri, M.H. (2024). Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience in Coal Mining: A Review of Managing Disruptions, J. Bus. Econ. Review, 8(4), 01–10. https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2024.8.4(1)

Exploring Social Studies Education Through the Lens of Constructivism: A Literature Review

This study explores the efficacy of the constructivist approach in Social Studies (IPS) education, investigating its role in shaping the learning landscape. IPS, a blend of social sciences tailored for educational purposes, becomes a focal point as constructivism emerges as a theoretical framework. Defined as a cognitive process based on students' experiences, constructivism emphasizes active knowledge construction. The research employs a literature review methodology, analyzing trends from articles published from 2019 to 2023. The findings underscore the positive impact of implementing constructivism in IPS education, fostering heightened student engagement, motivation, and improved academic achievement. This study offers insights for educators and researchers seeking to enhance student-centric learning strategies in the dynamic realm of IPS education.

A Review of Quadruped Robots: Structure, Control, and Autonomous Motion

With their unique point‐contact ability with the ground and exceptional adaptability to complex terrains, quadruped robots have become a focal point in the fields of automation and robotic engineering. Significant research progress has been made in aspects such as structural design, motion planning, and balance control of these robots. However, a primary challenge in current research lies in further enhancing the dynamic performance, environmental adaptability, and payload capacity. In this article, research achievements in key technical areas of quadruped robots, encompassing structural design, gait planning, traditional control strategies, intelligent control strategies, and autonomous movement, are comprehensively discussed. The focus of the article is on analyzing trends in intelligence and technological innovation within the aforementioned areas, aiming to provide robust theoretical support and forward‐looking technical guidance for quadruped robots research. Additionally, it offers valuable references for scholars engaged in this field.

Digitization and carbon emissions: how does the development of China's digital economy affect carbon intensity?

The digital economy and the pursuit of carbon peak and carbon neutrality have emerged as crucial focal points for China's future development. However, the intricate relationship between the digital economy and carbon intensity remains uncertain. Based on the construction of the digital economy evaluation index system, using panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2019, this study estimates the impact of the digital economy development on carbon intensity by adopting the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) technique. The results show that the digital economy can effectively reduce the carbon intensity. This conclusion was supported by robustness tests. However, the carbon emission reduction effect of the digital economy exhibits heterogeneity with respect to the digital economy dimensions and regions. In addition to digital industrialization and industrial digitization reducing the carbon intensity, the digital economy development carrier has an inverted U-shaped nonlinear relationship with carbon intensity. Additionally, the digital economy has a more obvious inhibitory effect on carbon intensity in the eastern region. Most importantly, besides the mediating effects of technological progress and financial development, this paper finds that the digital economy can increase carbon intensity through human capital accumulation. These conclusions provide a certain scientific basis for the effective implementation of China's digital economy and carbon peak and carbon-neutral development strategy.

To Achieve a Win–Win Situation: Reorganizing and Enhancing Agroforestry Ecosystem Assets and Productivity to Inform Karst Desertification Control

The ongoing degradation of fragile ecosystems increasingly diminishes the availability of natural resources. Consequently, the conservation and utilization of ecosystem assets have emerged as a focal point of global research. This study focuses on integrating agroforestry ecosystem assets (AEA) with their capacity to provide ecosystem services, aiming to explore their interconnections and enhance their optimization. We employed a comprehensive literature review method, utilizing the Scopus database to select, analyze, and include 61 pertinent studies on AEA globally. The systematic literature review results show the following: (1) The overall number of published papers is showing an upward trend, indicating that research in this field is gradually expanding. The geographical focus of the literature is primarily in Europe and Asia, with academic institutions being the main contributors to this research. (2) Landmark research findings are mainly concentrated in the areas of identification, quantitative assessment, and decision management. Among these, quantitative assessment is the main focus, while the research on identification, decision management, and influencing factors is relatively limited and explores the relevant key scientific questions. (3) The above information highlights the key areas for improvement in the karst desertification control agroforestry ecosystem, focusing on two aspects: fragile habitats and human–land relationships. Furthermore, this review furnishes essential recommendations for agroforestry practitioners and policymakers across various regions, emphasizing the critical need to thoroughly evaluate and leverage the connections between the quantity and quality of ecosystem assets. Such an approach is pivotal for facilitating the strategic restructuring and optimization of agroforestry ecosystems. This, in turn, aims to elevate the sustainability of AEA utilization and enhance their ability to provide ecosystem services (ES).

Learning how to think like a linguist: Linguistic reasoning as a focal point in L1 grammar education

AbstractIn recent years, the gap between academic linguistics and language education has become increasingly apparent, hindering the effective transmission of linguistic knowledge to students. This paper presents an overview of recent empirical research (mostly originating in the Netherlands) that seeks to bridge this gap by teaching students how to think like linguists within the context of L1 grammar education. The paper takes Dielemans' and Coppen's pedagogical framework for linguistic reasoning as its starting point, relates this framework to comparable initiatives and shows how recent studies have empirically examined different aspects of linguistic reasoning, including general linguistic reasoning ability, the role of linguistic metaconcepts and developing an appropriate epistemic attitude. The paper concludes with some desiderata for future research into this emerging research field.

Endogenous Colonial Borders: Precolonial States and Geography in the Partition of Africa

We revise the conventional wisdom that Africa’s international borders were drawn arbitrarily. Europeans knew very little about most of Africa in the mid-1880s, but their self-interested goals of amassing territory prompted intensive examination of on-the-ground conditions as they formed borders. Europeans negotiated with African rulers to secure treaties and to learn about historical state frontiers, which enabled Africans to influence the border-formation process. Major water bodies, which shaped precolonial civilizations and trade, also served as focal points. We find support for these new theoretical implications using two original datasets. Quantitatively, we analyze border-location correlates using grid cells and an original spatial dataset on precolonial states. Qualitatively, we compiled information from treaties and diplomatic histories to code causal process observations for every bilateral border. Historical political frontiers directly affected 62% of all bilateral borders. Water bodies, often major ones, comprised the primary border feature much more frequently than straight lines.

Decision Tree-Based Federated Learning: A Survey

Federated learning (FL) has garnered significant attention as a novel machine learning technique that enables collaborative training among multiple parties without exposing raw local data. In comparison to traditional neural networks or linear models, decision tree models offer higher simplicity and interpretability. The integration of FL technology with decision tree models holds immense potential for performance enhancement and privacy improvement. One current challenge is to identify methods for training and prediction of decision tree models in the FL environment. This survey addresses this issue and examines recent efforts to integrate federated learning and decision tree technologies. We review research outcomes achieved in federated decision trees and emphasize that data security and communication efficiency are crucial focal points for FL. The survey discusses key findings related to data privacy and security issues, as well as communication efficiency problems in federated decision tree models. The primary research outcomes of this paper aim to provide theoretical support for the engineering of federated learning with decision trees as the underlying training model.

Dataset Constrution through Ontology-Based Data Requirements Analysis

Machine learning (ML) technology is rapidly evolving, and the quality of ML systems is becoming an increasingly focal point of attention. Since the ML system is shaped by the dataset it learns from, its quality largely depends on the quality of the dataset. However, the dataset is often collected in a non-standardized process and few requirements and analysis methods are given to assist in identifying the needed dataset. This leads to no guarantee for the quality of dataset, affecting the generalization ability of model and resulting in low training efficiency. To address these issues, this paper proposes an ontology-based requirement analysis method where ontology integrates domain knowledge into the process of data requirements analysis and the coverage criteria on ontology are given for specifying data requirements which can later be used to guide the high-quality construction of the dataset. We held an experiment on an image recognition system in the field of autonomous driving to validate our approach. The result shows that the ML system trained by the dataset constructed through our data requirements analysis method has a better performance.