Limited Contact Research Articles

Boosting the Reaction Rate of Blocky Aluminum-Water via Ultrasound-Based Surface Engineering in Room-Temperature Liquid Metal Solvent.

Hydrogen gas holds immense promise as a clean fuel source, yet its widespread adoption faces significant challenges in storage and transportation due to its gaseous and highly flammable nature. An increasingly attractive approach to overcoming these limitations involves reacting aluminum (Al) blocks with water to produce hydrogen, providing an alternative distribution mechanism in which Al blocks can be used as "hydrogen storage" for on-demand production at any location. However, current methods suffer poor hydrogen production rates and yields, primarily influenced by the limited contact area between Al and the catalyst, such as Ga-based room-temperature liquid metal. Herein, we introduce an energy-efficient pretreatment method to enhance hydrogen conversion efficiency by leveraging ultrasound-based surface engineering of Al blocks in a Galinstan solvent. Our strategy facilitates rapid penetration of Galinstan into the Al block microstructures via ultrasound-induced metal jets, allowing maximum contact between Al and Galinstan within a short period of time, by which the hydrogen production rates and yields of block Al are greatly improved. Overall, our results mark a significant advancement in hydrogen production methods, presenting a viable pathway toward sustainable and efficient hydrogen generation and storage.

The Impacts of Ethical Action on Repurchase Intention Mediated By Customer Satisfaction on Online Business

This study aims to examine the impacts of ethical action taken by the company on customer satisfaction and intention to repurchase the products. The study was motivated by the emergence of unethical behaviour during online transactions due to limited direct contact between businesses and customers. Some companies have attempted to resolve these unethical issues. The issue of unethical behaviour still frequently arises. In contrast, unethical behaviour is less likely to stop customers from repurchasing the products. Dissatisfied customers repeat buying products from the same company or marketplaces even after they deal with an unsatisfied situation. Organisational citizenship theory is used as the framework for this study. Using a quantitative method through a survey, this study examines 171 users of the Indonesian marketplace, Tokopedia, in South Jakarta Indonesia. The survey is focused on the perception of ethical behaviour, customer satisfaction, and repurchase intention. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Partial Least Square (PLS) 4 are used to examine the data. This study reveals that presenting ethical actions such as security and trust may not help the business sustain itself. Complaints and dissatisfaction with customers should be handled by offering compensation rather than apologies which may hinder them from repurchasing the products. Repurchasing is therefore essential to a sustainable firm, and customer satisfaction can only act as a mediator between a company’s ethical behaviour and customer intention to repurchase if the company’s ethical behaviour can first satisfy the consumer.

PEDOT: PSS-Modified Organic Flexible and Implantable Microelectrode for Internal Bi-Directional Electrophysiology of Three-Dimensional Cardiomyocyte Spheroid.

Three-dimensional (3D) cardiomyocyte spheroids are essential models to replicate cardiac structural and functional features in vitro. However, conventional planar and rigid microelectrode arrays (MEAs) suffer from low-quality electrophysiological recording of 3D cultures, due to limited contact areas and weak coupling between cells and MEA chips. Herein, we developed a PEDOT: PSS-modified organic flexible and implantable MEA (OFI-MEA) coupled with a self-developed integrated biosensing platform to achieve high-throughput, long-term, and stable bidirectional internal electrophysiology in 3D cardiomyocyte spheroids. Electrostimulation enhanced the functional performance of the 3D cardiomyocytes, causing a remarkable 2.69-fold increase in frequency. Furthermore, time-frequency analysis of the multisite electrophysiological signals to highlight diverse cell activity patterns in the spheroids. It provides a powerful tool to record electrophysiological signals of 3D cardiomyocyte spheroids, allowing continuing evaluation of cardiac dynamics and regulation of electrical signals, providing a novel evaluation strategy for cardiac disease model construction, drug screening, and cardiological research.

Dual-purpose elemental sulfur for capturing and accelerating biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in anaerobic environment

Hydrophobic organic pollutants in aqueous environments are challenging to biodegrade due to limited contact between microorganisms, the pollutants and the electron acceptor, particularly under anaerobic or anoxic conditions. Here, we propose a novel strategy that uses inexpensive, dual-function elemental sulfur (S0) to enhance biodegradation. Using petroleum hydrocarbons as the target pollutants, we demonstrated that hydrophobic and nonpolar S° can concentrate hydrocarbons while simultaneously serving as an electron acceptor to enrich hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. The permeable reactive barrier filled with S0 effectively removed petroleum hydrocarbons. In addition to rapid adsorption, we discovered, for the first time, that petroleum hydrocarbons underwent efficient biodegradation through the reduction of S0. Specifically, n-alkanes were degraded by 80 % to 90 % and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by 40 % to 95 %. These degradation rates were 17 % to 30 % and 26 % to 43 % higher, respectively, compared to those observed without S0. Consecutive subcultures combined with untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that bacteria capable of dissimilatory sulfur reduction enhanced the fermentation process. These bacteria provided electrons to the metabolic network, which facilitated the mineralization of petroleum hydrocarbons. Our findings highlight the significant potential of S° for removing hydrophobic organic pollutants in oxygen-free environments, demonstrate the feasibility of integrating adsorption, biodegradation, and electron supply to enhance pollutant removal.

Photodegradation of steroid hormone micropollutants with palladium-porphyrin coated porous PTFE of varied morphological and optical properties.

In flow-through reactors, the photodegradation rate can be improved by enhancing contact and increasing the photocatalyst loading. Both can be attained with a higher surface-to-volume ratio. While previous studies focused on thin membranes (30 - 130 µm) with small pore sizes of 20 - 650 nm, this work employed poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) supports, of which pore sizes are in the order of 10 µm, while the porosities and thicknesses are variable (22.5 - 45.3 % and 0.2 - 3 mm, respectively). These porous materials were anticipated to allow a higher loading of porphyrin photosensitisers and better light penetration for subsequent photodegradation of steroid hormone micropollutants via singlet oxygen (1O2) generation. The reactor surface refers to the surface within the PTFE pores, while the reactor volume is the total void space inside these pores. The surface-to-volume ratios between 105 and 106 m2/m3 are higher than those of typical microreactors (103 to 104 m2/m3). The weighted average light transmittance varied from 38 % with the thinnest and most porous support to 4.8 % with the thickest support. Good light penetration combined with minimal absorption by PTFE enhanced the light utilisation of the porphyrins when coated in the porous supports. Changes in the support porosity of the coated supports minimally affected steroid hormone removal, because the collision frequency in the very large pores remained relatively constant. However, varying the support thickness, porphyrin loading (0.3 - 7.7 μmol/g), and water flux (150 - 3000 L/m2.h), hence the resulting hydraulic residence time, influenced the collision frequency and steroid hormone removal. Results showed that the supports did not outperform membranes most likely because the larger pore size in the former limited contact between the hormones and 1O2. From photostability testing of the pristine supports, perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) released from the supports were found at 10 - 300 ng/L concentrations during accelerated ageing. While PFAS formation was detectable, the quantities during water treatment operations would be extremely low. In summary, this study elucidates the capability and limitations of porous supports coated with photosensitisers to remove waterborne micropollutants.

Поведенческая резистентность рыжего таракана Blattella germanica (Blattodea: Ectobiidae) (обзор литературы)

Behavioral resistance is divided into stimulus-independent and stimulus-dependent. Stimulus-independent behavioral resistance arises from behavior that results in natural avoidance of environments or situations in which the insect might be exposed to an insecticide, likely driven by the evolution of innate behaviors/pathways. Stimulus-dependent behavioral tolerance involves an increased ability of an insect to detect and limit exposure to a toxic substance before receiving a lethal dose due to the repellent or irritant properties of the toxic substance, its composition or presentation, leading to an aversive response. The most well-documented behavioral resistance phenotype is where the insect can detect and limit exposure to toxic food material. This limited contact reduces or eliminates the consumption of the toxicant, dramatically increasing the survival rate of the organism. Behavioral resistance to insecticides or toxic food bait components has been documented in many insect species. Food gel bait formulations represent a compromise between their attractiveness to insects and the desired physicochemical properties of the gels. Technological additives can greatly reduce bait consumption by insects. The explanation for oligosaccharide aversion is that genetic changes in the peripheral sensilla cause glucose aversion, and digestion of oligosaccharides in saliva releases glucose, which stimulates the cockroaches’ bitter receptors. Keywords: Blattella germanica, German cockroach, resistance, behavioral resistance, aversion.

USE OF MINING WASTE TO PRESERVE FIELD MOISTURE

Purpose. Justification of the effectiveness of the proposed method of retaining irrigation moisture in arable land due to the formation of filter inclusions. Research methodology. Computer modeling of filtration flows of irrigation water from the surface to the underlying soil layers. Results. In this article, the authors proposed a method to prevent irrigation water loss in agricultural fields by creating grooves on arable land that have a small open surface area. In order to prevent the walls of the groove from collapsing, the possibility of filling their cavity with small solid burnt mining wastes, which have high filtration properties, was considered. At the same time, filling the void of the groove with a mixture made on the basis of burned waste mass with the addition of bottom sediments raised from reservoirs will also act as a means of increasing productivity. The implementation scheme for arranging irrigation ditches filled with burnt rock in the field, as well as the initial and operational conditions , are substantiated. According to the results of computer and mathematical modeling, using the ANSYS WB program, in a non-stationary setting, qualitative indicators of the water distribution mechanism in the experimental soil fragment were obtained. The wave nature of water migration under the influence of gravitational and capillary forces has been established. The studies show that irrigation water is concentrated in the “groove with rock – moistened soil massif” system, which has the shape of an oval with a limited contact plane with the surface. This determines the low intensity of evaporation, and, accordingly, the effectiveness of the proposed method of retaining water in the arable land by adding solid burnt mining waste. Scientific novelty. The use of small solid mining waste to create irrigation ditches on arable land is proposed, and qualitative indicators of the water distribution mechanism in the experimental soil fragment are obtained. Practical significance. The use of small solid mining wastes, which have high filtration properties, to fill the cavity of irrigation ditches on arable land will allow reducing the loss of water to evaporation and improve the physical and mechanical properties of loamy soils. Key words: mining solid waste, irrigation water, ditch, arable land, loamy soil.

Electrospun Micro Porous Layer for Enhanced Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

Current porous transport layers (PTLs) utilized in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs), suffer from limited interfacial contact area with the catalyst layer which reduces the performance. Although high anode catalyst loadings can mitigate this issue, it contradicts the objective of reducing the loading of precious metals in PEMWEs to lower costs. The combination of poor in-plane conductivity of the anode catalyst and the poor interfacial contact results in increased contact resistance and reduced catalyst utilization which leads to accelerated catalyst degradation due to non-uniform exposure to the applied voltage or current in the catalyst. Micro-porous layers (MPLs) can alleviate the interfacial contact problem. MPLs provide with high surface areas and low pore size, facilitating enhanced contact with the catalyst layer and improving catalyst utilization. Furthermore, the hierarchical MPL morphology can aid in efficient oxygen removal and enhanced water transport to the anode catalyst layer.In this study, titanium-based MPLs were fabricated via electrospinning employing a titanium precursor and a carrier polymer. Electrospun offers a superior control on the morphology of the resulting fibers. The electrospun fibers were subsequently calcined to yield TiO2 fibers, forming the MPL. The MPL was then integrated into a commercial felt based PTL substrate through hot-pressing and sintering to enhance the improved integration between the MPL and substrate. We will present the electrochemical performance evaluation including polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry. Surface characterization of the MPL and catalyst layer surface was performed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser profilometry before and after electrolyzer testing.AcknowledgementThis research is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office through the Hydrogen from Next-generation Electrolyzers of Water (H2NEW) consortium. Program manager Dave Peterson and Mackenzie Hubert.

Self-Supporting Microporous Layer for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Using Thin Carbon Mesh Gas Diffusion Layer

Introduction Research and development of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) have been conducted extensively to improve power density. The gas diffusion layer (GDL) and microporous layer (MPL) used in PEFCs are much thicker than the electrocatalyst layer and electrolyte membrane. Down-thinning GDL and MPL to 50 μm or less is desirable to reduce gas diffusion resistance and to increase the power density per volume of the cell stack [1]. However, while both the electrocatalyst layer and electrolyte membrane have been thinned down to about 10 μm, the GDL with MPL is still thick at about 150 to 200 μm. Previous studies have considered the possibilities and technical issues in using porous metals as GDLs, which can make GDL thinner with high mechanical strength [2]. In addition, a composite MPL with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels was developed and its effect on oxygen transport resistance was investigated [3]. Based on these findings, the aim of this study is to develop a self-supporting thin MPL/GDL using carbon mesh as a GDL, which is relatively stable and thinner than carbon paper, and commercially available. In addition, contact resistance is reduced by printing thinner MPL, for improving power density. Experimental In this study, the MPL/GDL was fabricated by printing MPL on a carbon mesh (50 µm thick, Cosmotech, Japan) as a GDL using a screen-printing method. Cells were fabricated by using these materials. Current-voltage characteristics, microstructural observation, and gas diffusion resistance measurements were conducted. The MPLs were composed of carbon black, carbon nanotubes (CNT), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and solvent (a mixture of polyethylene glycol 600, and pure water). After mixing, the first MPL “layer” was printed on a dense PTFE sheet using a 30-µm-thick screen and dried at 150°C for 30 min. Afterwards, this first MPL “layer” on the PTFE sheet was transferred to the porous GDL by pressing the MPL/PTFE sheet and the porous GDL together. The second MPL “layer” was then directly screen-printed by using a 10-µm-thick screen and then heat-treated at 300°C for 30 min to prepare the MPL/GDL. A standard Pt/C electrocatalyst (TEC10E50E, Tanaka Kikinzoku, Japan) was used for preparing membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs). As the electrochemical characterization in this study, current-voltage characteristics were evaluated using an electrochemical impedance analyzer (SAS SP-240, Bio-Logic Science Instruments, France) and various overvoltages were separated. Results and discussion Figure 1 shows the current-voltage characteristics of the cells using various MPL/GDLs. The thickness of MPL/GDLs fabricated was ranging from 80 to 100 µm. For comparison, the characteristics of a cell using a standard, commercially-available MPL/GDL (22BB, SGL Carbon, Germany) are also shown. These results show that the use of MPL significantly improves cell performance even with thin GDLs. The cells with carbon mesh but without MPL exhibited particularly high concentration overvoltage and low I-V characteristics compared to the cells with an MPL. Without MPL, the contact resistance between the carbon mesh and the electrocatalyst layer was high due in part to the limited contact area, and water flooding may occur at high current densities. In contrast, when the MPLs with highly conductive materials were printed, cell performance was improved, and comparable results to the standard MPL/GDL were obtained. The presence of the highly conductive MPL improves conductivity and current collection, resulting in lower ohmic overvoltage. The hydrophobicity of the PTFE-containing MPL suppresses an increase in concentration overvoltage. In addition, the addition of CNTs may increase the porosity at a nanometer level and improve the drainage of generated water (Figure 2). These suggest that the self-supporting thin MPL/GDL has a potential to improve the power density per cell stack volume. Acknowledgements This paper is based on results obtained from a project, JPNP20003, commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). An educational part for young scientists was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as a part of Adopting Sustainable Partnerships for Innovative Research Ecosystem (ASPIRE), Grant Number JPMJAP2307. References New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Roadmap of Fuel Cells for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, 2022 (in Japanese).Yamamoto, M. Yasutake, Z. Noda, S. M. Lyth, J. Matsuda, M. Nishihara, A. Hayashi, and K. Sasaki, ECS Trans., 109 (9),265 (2022).Wang, H. Nakajima, and T. Kitahara, J. Electrochem, Soc., 171, 014501 (2024).Larminie and A. Dicks, Fuel Cell Systems Explained, 2nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, England, 2003.T. Kitahara, T. Konomi, H. Nakajima, and J. Shiraishi, Kikai B, 76 (761), 101 (2010). Figure 1

Development of Binder Free Fe Substituted NiCo2O4 Electrocatalyst Using Electrostatic Spray Deposition for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Development of energy efficient electrocatalysts of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is one of the most important challenges for the development of green hydrogen production by water electrolysis. In general, the use of binders for electrode fabrication may result in limited contact areas between catalyst and electrolyte decreasing electroactive sites, thus reducing electrocatalytic activities. To overcome these challenges, spinel-type ternary transition metal oxides, focusing on Fe substituted NiCo2O4, were fabricated using the electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) method without any binder. The various characterizations techniques such as XRD, XPS, and SEM were employed to explore morphological and structural features. The electrochemical OER properties were investigated using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 1 M KOH. The optimized sample exhibited excellent operational stability under continuous and dynamic operating conditions without any significant performance decay. This study reveals that binder free electrocatalyst is a good candidate for inexpensive and durable electrocatalyst for commercial application.

Use of biosecurity practices to prevent chronic wasting disease in Minnesota cervid herds

The objective of this study was to evaluate biosecurity practices related to chronic wasting disease (CWD) transmission pathways and prevention in active cervid herds in Minnesota in 2019 by species, size and location of herds. A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all cervid producers in Minnesota to gather demographic, management, and biosecurity practices. Among producers (N=136), 63.2 % raised predominantly deer species and 36.8 % raised predominantly elk or reindeer. Survey responses were analyzed by herd species (deer or elk/reindeer), herd size (<20 or ≥20 animals), and location (southeast Minnesota or rest of the state) to determine statistical differences between strata. In terms of CWD transmission risks from other farmed cervids, 40.4 % (95 % Confidence Intervals (CI) 32.1–48.8) of Minnesota producers stated they introduced new cervids to the operation in the previous 3 years, though there were minimal other forms of direct contact. A higher percentage of larger sized elk/reindeer herds reported practices that indicate potential for indirect contact with other farmed cervids. Vehicles or trailers that entered the farm were used to transport other live cervids, cervid carcasses, or cervid body parts in past 3 years in 64.3 % (95 % CI 46.3–82.3) of larger elk/reindeer herds compared to 13.6 % (95 % CI 4.7–22.4) of smaller deer herds.For CWD transmission risks from wild cervids, limited potential direct contact was reported. Among all producers, 9.6 % (95 % CI 4.6–14.6) reported farmed cervid escapes in the past 3 years (even temporarily) and 0.7 % (95 % CI 0.0–2.2) of producers reported wild white-tailed deer (WTD) inside perimeter fencing. Additionally, 24.3 % (95 % CI 17.0–31.6) of producers observed wild WTD near the perimeter fencing in the past 12 months and 18.7 % (95 % CI 12.0–25.3) reported use of double perimeter fencing, indicating frequent proximity to wild deer and potential for direct and/or indirect contact exposures. Further, 14.3 % (95 % CI 6.7–21.9) of deer herds and 30.0 % (95 % CI 17.1–42.9) of elk herds reported potential access of wild cervids to hay/silage while stored on the farm, with similar results comparing smaller and larger size strata (13.8 % (95 % CI 6.1–21.4) and 29.6 % (95 % CI 17.3–42.0), respectively). Contact through hunting or taxidermy practices occurred infrequently, with the exception of 20.1 % (95 % CI 13.3–27.0) of producers reporting bringing outside hunted cervid parts/carcasses onto property in the past 3 years.Overall, results identified direct and indirect contact exposures from both farmed and wild cervids to Minnesota herds, with many producers reporting potential contact with wild cervids through direct and multiple indirect pathways. Many of these indirect exposures to wild and farmed cervids varied by herd size and species strata. Better understanding of these potential CWD transmission pathways and how differences between herd size and species affect these pathways will facilitate development of more effective biosecurity programs for cervid herds.

Development of a New Correlation Model for Heat Transfer in Solar Air Heater with Corrugated Absorber Plates Using Swarm Optimization

Solar air heaters play a crucial role in distributing heated air at low to medium temperatures. The heart of these systems lies in the absorber plate, which directly absorbs solar heat energy and then efficiently transfers it to the flowing air. However, the challenge lies in achieving optimal thermal efficiency by modifying the absorber plate roughness. Traditional smooth absorber plates have a limited contact area for heat transfer, leading to suboptimal performance. Using passive techniques, such as corrugation on the absorber plate, may increase thermal efficiency by creating turbulence in the laminar sublayer. In this study, corrugated solar air heaters are considered, with the absorber plates roughened into square, semicircular, and triangular ribs. The flow characteristics of heat due to the roughness of the absorber plate is simulated using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) technique. The ANSYS Fluent 2019R3 is used to investigate the turbulent air flow in the absorber plate. The simulation analyses are performed over a Reynolds number range of 4000–18,000 using three different pitches. As the main contribution, two different model equations, namely M1 and M2, for the correlation model of the solar heat transfer were proposed to predict the Nusselt number, where M2 is an original model and M1 is newly established with the fine-tuned coefficients. Also, for the first time in the literature, the recent swarm optimization algorithm, namely Honey Formation Optimization with Single Component (HFO-1), is used to optimize the solar air heater and a comparison study with a popular non-swarm optimization, namely the Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) optimization, is provided. The Nusselt number was obtained using HFO-1 with a percentage error (MAPE) of 2.15% and 0.86% for the models M1 and M2, respectively. Moreover, the average achievement of HFO-1 on the proposed correlation models is 50% better than that of the GRG optimization, with respect to the RMSE.

Assessment of Practice Preparedness among Novice Nurses in Private Hospitals: A Cross-sectional Study

Background. The crop of novice nurses who are currently employed is a product of flexible learning who had limited contact hours with actual patients, which is contrary to those who graduated from traditional learning modalities. Hence, it is essential to evaluate how the impact of flexible learning modality has affected the practice preparedness levels of novice nurses in the hospital setting. Objective. This study aimed to determine the level of practice preparedness and its associated factors among novice nurses who work in private hospitals. Methods. The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design. Data was gathered from a total enumeration of ninetyfour novice staff nurses who graduated from the flexible learning curriculum and are currently employed in private hospitals in Baguio City and La Trinidad. The tool used was a questionnaire in two parts. Part 1 consisted of questions related to demographic information and factors related to practice preparedness, and part 2 included the Nursing Practice Readiness Scale, with validity and reliability scores of &gt;0.924 and 0.90, respectively. The data was analyzed using the SPSS V27 trial version. The protocol was approved by the Saint Louis University Research Ethics Committee. Results. Findings reveal that more novice nurses in private hospitals perceived themselves as well-prepared across all domains of practice preparedness: “Collaborative Interpersonal Relationship” (n = 94, 100%); “Patient Centeredness” (n = 92, 97.90%); “Self-regulation” (n = 90, 95.70%); “Clinical Judgment and Nursing Performance” (n = 78, 83.00%); and “Professional Attitudes” (n = 76, 80.90%). There is a significant association between practice preparedness and the following factors: “Attended more than one Training/Seminars per year” (p = 0.02), “Graduated from Private Schools” (p = 0.03), and “Assigned in Regular Wards” (p = 0.05).On the other hand, no significant association was found between practice preparedness and the following factors: “Sex” (p = 0.61) and “Membership in Professional Organizations” (p = 0.73). Conclusion. In agreement with existing studies, practice preparedness is multifactorial. However, what this study contributes are new factors that are favorable in making novice nurses more confident in performing their roles and responsibilities. These include being a graduate of private schools, being assigned to regular wards, and attending professional training/seminars more than once annually. Advantageously, these factors that promote practice preparedness are modifiable.

Obstacles in Instructing English at Village Elementary Schools in Bangladesh: A Study and Proposals

Elementary education serves as the foundation for students' future endeavors. Each year, many students in rural Bangladesh fail public examinations, and those who pass often do so by rote memorization, lacking proficiency in the four key language skills required for competence in English. Primary education was chosen for this study as it is a crucial stage where teachers bear full responsibility for student learning. The primary objective of this research was to identify the obstacles in teaching and learning English at the elementary level in rural areas of Bangladesh. Data were gathered using two sets of questionnaires administered to both students and teachers to assess the state of English language education in these primary schools. Additionally, teacher interviews and classroom observations, guided by an observation checklist, were conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current teaching practices. The findings reveal that the majority of rural students struggle with English due to several factors, including a shortage of skilled and trained teachers, inadequate teacher training, inappropriate teaching methods and materials, limited contact hours, large class sizes, and insufficient pedagogical knowledge. This paper also includes several recommendations based on the research findings to address these challenges effectively.

Social isolation induces addictive behavior and increases release of dopamine in the &lt;i&gt;nucleus accumbens&lt;/i&gt; in response to stimulation of the positive reinforcing zone

The study of the role of social isolation in the pathogenesis of addictive behavior disorders is an important medical and biological problem. Of particular importance are the limitations of social experience in ontogenesis. This work makes an attempt to find a connection between social isolation in ontogenesis and impulsive-compulsive behavior, as an indicator of the premorbid background for gaming and other forms of behavioral addictions. The mechanisms of addictive behavior in rats reared in isolation (IS) were investigated by analyzing the extracellular release of dopamine in response to stimulation of the positive reinforcing zone. Before the experiments, male rats were kept in individual cages from the 21st day of birth to the 90th day. To study elements of addictive behavior, a variant of the Iowa Gambling Task in a 3-arm maze and a method of developing compulsive overeating using intermittent consumption of high-calorie foods were used. To study compulsive behavior, a marble test was used against the background of withdrawal from a high-calorie diet. Surgeries were performed to implant electrodes into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens in rats exhibiting elements of addictive behavior in the 3-arm maze. These animals were then trained to respond to VTA self-stimulation. Dopamine release was recorded telemetrically in freely moving rats in response to electrical stimulation of the VTA self-stimulation zone. Fast scan cyclic voltammetry was used to determine changes in dopamine levels in the extracellular environment of the nucleus accumbens. IS entered less into the arm with a high degree of probability but with a low reward, and entered more in the arm with a low degree of probability, but with a high reward, which is associated with the appearance of impulsivity in behavior. In the model of compulsive overeating, the number of approaches to the feeder in IS increased, and against the background of withdrawal of high-calorie food, IS were more active in the marble test. In IS exhibiting elements of addictive behavior in the 3-arm maze, the content of extracellular dopamine in response to electrical stimulation of the VTA self-stimulation zones did not reveal any differences compared to the control group of rats with addictive behavior in the maze. At the same time, IS exhibiting elements of addictive behavior in the maze showed a more pronounced dopamine response to a complex stimulus: a conditioned signal used during maze learning light + VTA stimulation. Thus, rearing in the IS causes an increase in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens in response to stimulation of the positive reinforcement area associated with addictive behaviors: impulsivity and compulsivity. A conclusion is drawn about the prospects of studying the extracellular release of dopamine and assesses addictive behavior disorders caused by limited social contacts in ontogenesis.

Perception of Medical Students on Anaesthesiology as a Specialty: A Systematic Review.

Anaesthesia is integral to a wide range of clinical procedures; however, there is a global challenge in the anaesthesia workforce due to several contributing factors. This study seeks to assess the knowledge and perceptions of medical students regarding anaesthesia as a specialty. Understanding these perspectives is essential to addressing the global shortage of anaesthesia professionals. PubMed, Scopus, African Journal Online, and ProQuest were searched from thedatabase inception to July 2024 to identify relevant studies. A total of 2,575 articles were identified. After title and abstract screening, 2,137 articles were excluded. After full-text screening, 2,098 articles were excluded. Eight articles were included in this qualitative analysis. We included primary studies published in peer-reviewed journals that reported the perception and choice of anaesthesiology as a future career by medical students in their clinical years (years five and six), with reasons, irrespective of medical institution, age, or gender, were included. In total, 2,135 students from six countries were included in the eight studies: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Austria, the United States of America, and South Africa, with Nigeria and Saudi Arabia each contributing two studies. The study designs utilised included cross-sectional surveys, descriptive cross-sectional studies, and questionnaire-based studies. The mean age of the students ranged from 23 to 28 years across the studies, with 748 male students, 530 female students, and 857 students whose gender was not specified. A significant proportion of students were aware of the role of anaesthetists; however, only 178 students expressed an interest in specialising in anaesthesia, with the most common reason being a genuine interest in the specialty. The studies reviewed identified several reasons why students did not consider anaesthesiology as a preferred speciality, including limited patient contact, which affects the doctor-patient relationship, lack of recognition or respect from peers, low income, limited availability of local job opportunities or training positions, and the presence of anaesthetic nurses. A critical factor highlighted across all studies was the length of exposure to anaesthesia during clinical rotations. Medical students recognise the importance of anaesthetists but are often deterred from pursuing the specialty due to various factors, which could be mitigated through enhanced exposure, increased visibility, financial incentives, and mentorship.

An advanced closed-loop geothermal system to substantially enhance heat production

Heat production through conventional closed-loop geothermal systems is constrained by the limited contact area for heat exchange between rock formations and the wellbore. To address this challenge, an advanced closed-loop geothermal system (ACGS) is proposed to enhance heat production in this research. The ACGS incorporates a hydraulic fracture, partitioned by a horizontal insulator for vertical zonal isolation of fluid flow in the fracture, into the closed-loop system’s fluid circulation. To assess heat production from the ACGS, a three-dimensional ACGS numerical model is established and validated, utilized to simulate heat production through the ACGS under conditions of different fracture dimensions and structures, tubing materials, and fluid heat capacities. Performances of complicated fracture structures, including a branched fracture and a multiple-wing fracture, in improving heat production are evaluated. It is found that due to the incorporation of a double-wing fracture, the cumulative extracted heat of a closed-loop system over 20 years is enhanced by 162.94 %. Increasing fracture half-length and fracture height both enhances the heat production of the ACGS considerably. Polyurethane foam proves an excellent tubing material for the ACGS due to its low cost and outstanding adiabatic functionality. Compared with a multiple-wing fracture, a branched fracture results in better heat production through the ACGS, with more fracture branches leading to higher heat production. A branched fracture can improve the cumulative extracted heat from a closed-loop system over 20 years by 321.77 %, and increasing the inter-branch angle further enhances heat production. Working fluid with smaller heat capacity yields considerably higher outlet temperature.

Barriers and facilitators to culturally sensitive care in general practice: a reflexive thematic analysis

BackgroundThis study investigated the perceived barriers and potential facilitators for culturally sensitive care among general practitioners in Flanders. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for improving healthcare quality and equity.MethodologyTwenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with Flemish GPs. Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis was employed to develop and interpret themes that elucidate shared underlying meanings and capture the nuanced challenges and strategies related to cultural sensitivity in healthcare.ResultsTwo core themes were generated: GPs’ uncertainty and opposition. These themes manifest in emotional responses such as frustration, miscomprehension, and feelings of helplessness, influencing relational outcomes marked by patient disconnect and reduced motivation for cultural sensitivity. The barriers identified are exacerbated by resource scarcity and limited intercultural contact. Conversely, facilitators include structural elements like interpreters and individual strategies such as engagement, aimed at enhancing GPs’ confidence in culturally diverse encounters. A meta-theme of perceived lack of control underscores the challenges, particularly regarding language barriers and resource constraints, highlighting the critical role of GPs’ empowerment through enhanced intercultural communication skills.ConclusionAddressing GPs’ uncertainties and oppositions can mitigate related issues, thereby promoting comprehensive culturally sensitive care. Essential strategies include continuous education and policy reforms to dismantle structural barriers. Moreover, incentivizing culturally sensitive care through quality care financial incentives could bolster GP motivation. These insights are pivotal for stakeholders—practitioners, policymakers, and educators—committed to advancing culturally sensitive healthcare practices and, ultimately, for fostering more equitable care provision.

Quiet Pandemic Amid COVID-19: A literature review on gamification for mental health

Background: COVID-19 affects individuals both physically and mentally. The key is to address emerging needs with a modest technique that helps boost the positive approach in individuals. Gamification offers attempts to engage users with the non-game approach, and its growing popularity in other fields, such as finance and retail, is evident. Objective: This research aims to study the available literature that analyzes and understands using the Gamification approach for mental health in the pandemic. Methods: The author performed a systematic literature review using the PRISMA technique among the selected articles published until Jul 2023, focusing on Gamification, mental health, and COVID in highly reputed record databases, which were peer-reviewed studies. Therefore, the studies using the standard international language of English were eligible for this Study. Results: The Study identified elevated articles exploring Gamification through mobile application software, web-based platforms, and other tools since COVID-19 limited in-person social contact for individual safety during peak time. Conclusion: There are limited studies of Gamification in mental health, and the existing studies suggest that Gamification supports the betterment of mental health. Future studies can explore the different areas of mental health with gamification-based applications or gamified approaches.

Travel Intentions Towards Contact Limited Tourism: A Survey of Students and Lecturers in Vietnam

ABSTRACT The study on contact limited tourism stems from consumer behavior research dedicated to reducing customer interaction in consumer services. Its primary focus was to examine the behavioral intentions of tourists amid the post-COVID-19 pandemic, specifically exploring the concept of contact limited tourism. The investigation involved surveying students and lecturers in the Ho Chi Minh City area, employing the Theory of Planned Behavior model. This model helped assess how individuals’ perceptions of COVID-19 risks influenced their inclination to partake in travel with limited contact. The research findings highlight that factors like risk perception, subjective norms, and behavior control positively impact travel attitudes favoring limited contact. These results hold significance as specifically explore the concept of contact limited tourism, shedding light on the importance of reduced physical interactions in travel. This insight is valuable for designing and marketing tourism services in a post-pandemic era.