Multiple Purposes Research Articles

Mythology and Symbolism in A.K. Ramanujan’s Poem “A River”

A.K. Ramanujan was a celebrated poet who demonstrated remarkable talent in incorporating mythology and symbolism into his poetry. In “A River,” Ramanujan employs mythological allusions to enrich the poem’s meaning. A.K. Ramanujan’s poem “A River” showcases his mastery in employing mythology and symbolism to convey profound meanings. This research paper delves into the intricate web of mythological allusions and symbolic imagery used by Ramanujan in “A River.” It explores their significance in unravelling the poem’s multi-layered meanings. It underscores the broader implications of mythology and symbolism, emphasizing their enduring relevance and ability to evoke deep emotions and provoke profound contemplation. Ultimately, this study enhances our understanding and appreciation of Ramanujan’s artistic prowess and invites further exploration into the power of mythology and symbolism in literature. One of the defining features of Ramanujan’s poetry is his adept utilization of mythology. Drawing from various mythological traditions, including Hindu, Greek, and Tamil, he infuses his poems with references to mythological figures, narratives, and motifs. These mythological allusions serve multiple purposes. Firstly, it adds layers of meaning to the poems, providing a rich tapestry of cultural and historical associations. By tapping into these archetypal stories, Ramanujan taps into a collective consciousness, engaging readers on a deep and universal level. Secondly, the mythological references allow Ramanujan to explore profound existential questions and timeless human dilemmas. Through myth, he tackles themes such as love, loss, identity, and the cyclical nature of life, resonating with readers across time and space. The incorporation of mythology and symbolism in Ramanujan’s poetry enriches the aesthetic experience and offers a deeper understanding of the human condition. By analyzing the various mythological references and symbols in the poem, this paper aims to shed light on the deeper thematic exploration of identity, tradition, and the passage of time.

A global dataset for the production and usage of cereal residues in the period 1997–2021

Crop residue management plays an important role in determining agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and related changes in soil carbon stocks. However, no publicly-available global dataset currently exists for how crop residues are managed. Here we present such a dataset, covering the period 1997–2021, on a 0.5° resolution grid. For each grid cell we estimate the total production of residues from cereal crops, and determine the fraction of residues (i) used for livestock feed/bedding, (ii) burnt on the field, (iii) used for other off-field purposes (e.g. domestic fuel, construction or industry), and (iv) left on the field. This dataset is the first of its kind, and can be used for multiple purposes, such as global crop modelling, including the calculation of greenhouse gas inventories, estimating crop-residue availability for biofuel production or modelling livestock feed availability.

Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes among Escherichia coli isolated from poultry

Antimicrobial resistance has become a global threat. In the poultry industry, antibiotic usage has been widespread and been used for multiple purposes, viz. growth promoters, therapeutic agent and prophylaxis. This usage has probably led to accumulation of antimicrobial resistant genes. A study on presence of antibiotic resistant genes in poultry farms of Ferozepur and Ludhiana, Punjab were undertaken. A total of 50 faecal samples were collected from eight farms. The samples were processed for isolation of E. coli by using selective media, were identified using various biochemical tests and confirmed with the help of PCR. A total of 35 E. coli isolates were obtained and all were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test against 10 antibiotics. Also, these isolates were subjected to amplification of antibiotic resistance genes, viz. blaTEM, blaSHV, DHAM, MOXM, sul1, dhfrV, aadA, tetA and tetB using published primers. The isolates revealed resistance to penicillin (100%), ampicillin/sulbactum (100%), erythromycin (94.28%), streptomycin (91.4%), tetracycline (60%), chloramphenicol (60%), trimethoprim (51.4%), co-trimoxazole (48.57%), gentamicin (8.5%) and colistin (8.5%). Seven isolates were found to be positive for blaTEM, nine for sulI, four for dhfrV, 11 for aadA and cmlA, respectively, while none of the isolate showed the blaSHV, DHAM, MOXM, tetA and tetB. The present study revealed that the multiple AMR genes may be prevalent among E. coli isolates of poultry origin which needs urgent attention.

Mixed methods in community psychology: A values-forward synthesis.

Mixed methods research (MMR) combines multiple traditions, methods, and worldviews to enrich research design and interpretation of data. In this virtual special issue, we highlight the use of MMR within the field of community psychology. The first MMR studies appeared in flagship community psychology journals over 30 years ago (in 1991). To explore the uses of MMR in the field, we first review existing literature by identifying all papers appearing in either Journal of Community Psychology or American Journal of Community Psychology in which the word "mixed" appeared. A total of 88 publications were identified. Many of these papers illustrate the pragmatic use of MMR to evaluate programs and to answer different research questions using different methods. We coded articles based on Green etal.'s classifications of the purpose of the mixing: triangulation, development, complementarity, expansion, and initiation. Complementarity was the most frequently used purpose (46.6% of articles), and nearly a quarter of articles mixed for multiple purposes (23.86%). We also coded for any community psychology values advanced by the use of mixed methods. We outline three themes here with corresponding exemplars. These articles illustrate how MMR can highlight ecological analysis and reconsider dominant, individual-level paradigms; center participant and community member experiences; and unpack paradoxes to increase the usefulness of research findings.

Aspects Regarding the Effects of Some Influence Factors on the Uncertainty Budget of Optical Emission Spectrochemical Tests with Excitation by Spark or Electric Arc

Abstract In this work, a number of significant factors are highlighted that affect the optical emission spectrochemical tests with spark or electric arc excitation on stainless steels with multiple synergistic purposes such as: acquiring new knowledge, increasing the amount of information obtained about the material, increasing the efficiency and quality of the tests, the characterization of special purpose alloys and the assessment of their compliance with the specified requirements. In this direction, it requires both knowledge of testing methods (theoretical basis, test method, procedure related to the method, quality assurance testing) and the characteristics of the investigated materials. These aspects are necessary for the analysis of the test system and the most correct preliminary interpretation of the experimental results.

Evolution of Indonesian Islamic Intellectual Fashion in the Early 20th Century: A Visual Narrative Analysis

Throughout Indonesia's history, clothing has served multiple purposes, representing not only social status but also an individual's position in society. From the eras of Hindu-Buddhist influence to the advent of Islam and into the modern era, Indonesian attire has been a canvas colored by evolving customs and cultural shifts. As the 20th century began, a dynamic transformation in clothing styles emerged, spurred by the rise of Indonesian intellectuals in response to Dutch ethical policies. This change was evident among Indonesian Islamic intellectuals as well, where traditional robes and sarongs, once emblematic of Muslim attire, lost their primary significance. This study aims to delve into the fashion choices of Indonesian Islamic intellectuals during the early 20th century. Employing a historical research method comprising four stages—heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography—the research seeks to uncover the influence of Western fashion on these intellectuals' clothing choices. The findings of this study illuminate how Western fashion elements such as suits, ties, hats, and shirts became commonplace among Indonesian Islamic intellectuals during this transformative period.

Fracture analysis of multifunctional fiber-reinforced concrete using phase-field method

In this paper, a numerical analysis has been conducted to predict the fracture response of a novel type of fiber-reinforced concrete blocks, called “multi-functional fiber reinforced concretes” (MFRCs). In MFRCs, fibers have been coated with a shell. This will allow the structure to be used for multiple purposes, including concrete self-healing. This study is conducted utilizing phase-field fracture framework. The shell thickness and the ratio of fiber length to diameter are the geometrical parameters whose effects on the fracture resistance of the MFRCs have been analyzed. As choosing the right shell material is under investigation, in the next step of the study, in addition to the geometrical factors, different material mismatch cases for the critical energy release rate of the shell has been analyzed. Moreover, the application of two different fibers, polyester fiber and polypropylene fiber (with almost 10 times higher critical energy release rate), are looked into. All the structures undergo three loading conditions: tensile loading, compressive loading, and three-point bending. In order to judge what configuration performs best, the values of peak force and absorbed energy of each structure in each case study have been taken into consideration and compared with those of other structures. It was seen that the most favorable performance and configuration depend on the loading condition and also the material set. Under tension, MFRCs with the lowest fiber length to diameter ratio exhibit the highest peak force and absorbed energy in the case of polyester fiber. The same observation was made for all models and material sets under compressive loading. Under three-point bending loading condition, for the cases of polyester fiber, similar results were obtained as the lowest fiber length to diameter ratio showed the best mechanical response. Having said that, it must be mentioned that shell material had a dominant effect on the fracture response of the structure under this loading condition. Polypropylene fibers also managed to increase the peak forces in different loading conditions.

Unsupervised active–transfer learning for automated landslide mapping

Detailed landslide inventories are required for multiple purposes including disaster damage assessments, susceptibility mapping for spatial planning, and disaster risk reduction. Active learning is an artificial intelligence strategy that can achieve good performances in landslide mapping by training a machine-learning model with a reduced number of landslide/non-landslide observations, which can save time and effort in labeling training instances. Nevertheless, active-learning models are unstable at the beginning of sample selection due to the limited initial knowledge of landslide distribution. Transfer learning can help make the learner robust by transferring a landslide model trained on an existing landslide inventory from a different, but geographically similar source area, to the unseen target area. In order to adjust a transferred machine-learning model to the possibly unique environmental characteristics of the unseen area, we proposed a new framework called Unsupervised Active-Transfer Learning (UATL). This framework used a weight function to combine the landslide model transferred from the source area, with a model trained on a small, but increasing number of landslide/non-landslide observations from the target area to efficiently build a more robust learner. We examined two methods, adaptive UATL and regular UATL, which differed in the way they assign weights to the combined learners. We evaluated our proposed new methods by comparing them with three benchmark methods (active learning only, model transfer only, and the model trained in the unseen area itself) by means of the partial area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUROC) as the evaluation criterion. The results showed that the new methods, and especially adaptive UATL, can achieve good predictive performances. With only about 235 training instances from the target area, the partial AUROC obtained from adaptive UATL was only 2% lower than that obtained from the model trained in the target area itself, and consistently outperformed the other two benchmarks. Overall, we suggest that the framework proposed can be applied to the natural hazards management workflow for assisting in emergency response, especially in data-scarce regions (e.g., mountainous areas and developing countries).

Eco-friendly Synthesis of Novel Phosphorus Flame Retardants for Multiple Purposes

The synthesis methods of most parts of phosphorus (P)-based flame retardants apply harmful and toxic reagents, and the formation of byproducts is often inevitable. The synthesis of P-based flame retardants (FRs) according to the green chemistry approach has been investigated. Two FRs have been prepared via an addition reaction of phosphorus-pentoxide and alcohols. These molecules can be used as additive FRs after salt formation or as precursors for flame retardant surface treatments of natural fibers. The flame retardant efficacy of the synthesized additives was assessed in a bioepoxy resin system through UL-94 and limiting oxygen index tests, while their mode of action was determined by the investigation of gas-phase degradation products and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The prepared adduct was also used in the formulation of a reactive flame-retardant surface treatment for cellulosic fibers. In TGA tests, the treated fibers produced significant amounts of char residue.

Les conséquences du rôle de juré d’assises sur la santé mentale : état des lieux et préconisations

Jury duty, as exceptional as it is, is not without consequences for mental health. Indeed, during this assignment, randomly selected citizens are called on to judge people accused of criminal acts, to decide on their guilt and, if necessary, on their sentence. Thus, in court trials, the juror's voice will count just as that of the professional judges who sit with them. However, this enormous responsibility and the imperative aspect of jury duty can cause significant stress, especially when we consider that very often, jurors only have a limited knowledge of the judicial system. Also, being exposed to various types of evidence and to serious facts can be trying. Finally, the various obligations jurors have to meet can accentuate the difficulty of this duty, for example, the fact that, because the procedure is subject to sanctions, the jurors cannot discuss the case with others and must respect the secrecy of deliberations, even after the judgment has been rendered. For all these reasons, and also sometimes because of pre-existing individual vulnerabilities, the jury duty experience can lead to a variety of psychological difficulties, difficulties that are still not sufficiently taken into account. Although several forms of care are emerging today, such treatments remain varied and unequally available throughout the country. This article has multiple purposes. First, it aims to enumerate the possible consequences of jury duty on mental health, then, to present an inventory of what is actually available in terms of care in France. Finally, this inventory leads us to the possible intervention in several stages which could be made available to jurors, thereby offering a comprehensive and generalized support. A review of French and international literature was carried out, highlighting the main consequences of jury duty on mental health and the emergence of care systems, particularly in North America and France. Several studies stress the impact of jury duty on mental health, particularly in terms of stress, anxiety disorder and/or post-traumatic symptomatology. While support systems have emerged particularly in Canada, some have also gradually begun to be put in place in France, but they differ from one area to another, and they are not systematically made available. Some of them focus exclusively on post-trial support, while others also offer an upstream prevention phase. Finally, in terms of evaluation, the effectiveness of those interventions is estimated only by the participant's satisfaction, without any systematization or assurance of the real effectiveness of these interventions. Considering the available data in the literature and the various existing support systems, a proposal for a system of generalized support to jurors has been put forth in order to argue in favor of the adoption of this type of care. Indeed, in addition to a post-trial intervention, it seems important to plan for a phase of pre-trial prevention and the presentation of a treatment protocol, before the actual trial begins. Particularly, this should encourage jurors to more willingly take part in the post-trial intervention should signs of stress and anxiety emerge. Finally, it appears necessary to systematize the evaluation of the effectiveness of those support systems other than simply in terms of the satisfaction of the participants.

Editorial

The topic of repatriation has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly in relation to cultural artifacts and historical items. However, it is crucial to extend this conversation to include fossil specimens, which are important components of a nation’s natural and cultural heritages. Brazil – a country renowned for its rich biodiversity and geological significance – has an interest in ensuring the repatriation of its fossil specimens.Fossils hold immense scientific, cultural, and educational value. They provide invaluable insights into the Earth’s history, evolution of life forms, and climatic changes over millions of years. The fossil record of Brazil is particularly remarkable, containing specimens that are essential for understanding the evolutionary history of life in South America and in the broader global context.Despite their significance, many Brazilian fossils are housed in international institutions, private collections, and museums worldwide. The removal of these specimens from their country of origin often occurred during the colonial period or subsequently through acquisitions by foreigners. Despite some of these actions were undertaken with the intention of scientific study and preservation, it is crucial to acknowledge that repatriation is a matter of justice and sovereignty.Repatriating fossil specimens to their country of origin serves to multiple purposes. Firstly, it allows the countries to reclaim their natural heritage, reinforcing national identities and pride. It enables the scientific community within the country to have unrestricted access to these specimens, facilitating research and contributing to the advancement of knowledge in Paleontology and related fields. Furthermore, repatriation fosters the development of local expertise and encourages collaboration between researchers, strengthening scientific partnerships.Repatriation also promotes cultural exchange and educational opportunities. By showcasing these fossils in Brazilian museums and educational institutions, they become accessible to the public, providing a powerful tool for educating future generations about their natural heritage and the importance of conservation. The repatriated specimens can also serve as catalysts for tourism, attracting visitors from around the world to experience Brazil's unique geological and paleontological wonders firsthand.It is important to acknowledge the complexities involved in repatriation efforts. Collaboration and cooperation between governments, institutions, and researchers are crucial to establish effective processes for identifying, cataloging, and returning fossils. Transparency and respect for ethical guidelines should be central to these efforts, ensuring that repatriation is conducted responsibly and that the diligence is exercised to prevent the loss or damage of the specimens.In conclusion, the repatriation of fossil specimens to Brazil is a tool that aligns with principles of justice, national heritage, scientific advancement, and education. By reclaiming its natural treasures, Brazil can enrich its scientific and cultural scenario, while fostering international collaboration and understanding. It is incumbent upon the global community to support these efforts and recognize the significance of repatriation in preserving and celebrating the diverse natural heritage of nations worldwide.

After the Crowds: Redemption Frameworks for Overbuilt Olympic Sports Venues

Many studies have documented the common problem of venue underutilization after mega events such as the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup, which imposes a heavy financial burden on the host cities. This paper aims to provide practical and empirical suggestions for improving venue underutilization through research and analysis of dismantled and existing sports facilities. Under the sharing and circular economy frameworks, we comparatively analyze the venue sustainability of different mega sports venues through site selection, construction, and after-event operation phases. In the site selection phase, we suggest choosing a location near the city, cooperating with universities, and building on existing infrastructure. In the construction phase, we recommend refurbishing or reusing existing sports stadiums to optimize space utilization rates, enhancing the versatility of venues, and using reusable materials and renewable energy sources. Suggestions for after-event operations include sharing sports stadiums for multiple purposes and improving resource reallocation. Our paper improves the venue utilization of mega sporting events from circular and sharing perspectives.

Life cycle assessment of advanced grade PLA product with novel end-of-life treatment through depolymerization

Using biobased plastics has the potential to avoid fossil resource depletion and fossil CO2 emissions. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a fast-growing bio-based plastic made from fermented sugars. Nowadays, PLA is used to replace fossil-based polymers in healthcare and single-use applications, such as for packaging applications. However, PLA offers a much broader application range with the targeted use of a combination of its stereoisomers; PL(L)A and PL(D)A. A variety of these advanced grades of PLA can be used for multiple purposes in durable consumer products such as furniture. Recycling complex, mixed material and advanced grades of PLA is currently limited, as mechanical recycling has limitations in recycling mixed PLA grades. Using a depolymerization technology, products of such advanced grades of PLA can be recycled to form high-quality recycled PLA. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment study was executed to evaluate the sustainability of high-end durable product (a rug) with mixtures of PLA grade and the novel depolymerization technology. The findings of the study showed a 70 % reduction in CO2-eq. emissions compared to a conventionally designed rug. However, an increase is indicated in the following environmental impact categories: land use, eutrophication, and environmental toxicity. Sensitivity analyses for collection rates showcased that design for collection and recycling are key to obtaining a more sustainable biobased products. Additionally, scenario analysis supported depolymerization for PLA as recycling technology with low CO2-eq. emissions. Based on the results of the LCA and additional scenario analysis, the use of PLA is encouraged to be used in more durable and lasting products, such as furniture, from an environmental perspective, provided that the products are designed for collection and high-quality recycling to ensure material circularity.

The Determination of Ethanol Levels in Facial Freshener Using the NIR Spectroscopy and Chemometric Method

A facial freshener, also known as toner, is a cosmetic product that is commonly used to invigorate the face after a busy day. Ethanol serves as a key component in toner, serving multiple purposes such as being a solvent, preservative, and antimicrobial agent. However, it's important to note that toner formulated for normal skin types typically contain ethanol in small concentrations, adhering to a limit of not more than 10%. Therefore, this study aims to determine ethanol levels in toner using the NIR spectroscopy and chemometric techniques. The NIR spectra of the simulated samples were correlated with ethanol concentration using chemometric calibration model. The calibration models used were partial least square (PLS), principal component regression (PCR), and support vector regression (SVR). The calibration model was validated by leave one out cross validation (LOOCV) as well as the external validation, and the precision and accuracy of the method was evaluated. Among the calibration models, the PLS model exhibited the best performance, yielding an impressive R2 0.9976; with an RMSEC value of 0.4364 and RMSECV value of 0.4704. The internal validation yield R2 value more than 0.99 and RMSE of less than 0,4198. Furthermore, external validation showed the R2 and RMSEP value of 0.989 and 0.920 respectively. The %recovery and RSD value were 101.2% and 0.129%. Comparing ethanol measurements obtained through the NIR chemometric method with those obtained using gas chromatography as the reference method, no significant difference was observed at a 95% confidence levels, as indicated by a significance value of 0.231.

Mechanistic insight into single-atom Fe loaded catalytic membrane with peracetic acid and visible light activation

Advanced oxidation is an effective method for removing hard-to-degrade organic pollutants from water. In this paper, a novel structure of a single atom Fe anchored g-C3N4 (FeCN) membrane was proposed to remove pollutants from water by coupling membrane technology with photocatalytic and peroxyacetic acid oxidation. The presence of zero-dimensional Fe atoms in FeCN membranes allows for the removal of acetaminophen (APAP) in mobile membrane filtration systems without compromising permeation performance by simultaneously possessing visible photocatalytic capability and peroxyacetic acid (PAA) activation. Existence of inter-membrane domain-limiting conditions led to 100 % degradation of APAP within 10.5 ms, which is 5 orders of magnitude faster than conventional catalytic systems. Notably, photo-generated electrons/holes generated by light and HClO generated by Cl- promote the conversion of Fe(V) and the removal of pollutants during the catalytic process. The spatial separation ability of the membrane catalytic layer surface mitigates the catalyst's passivation by macromolecular organics. Furthermore, surface photocatalysis of the membrane and interlayer catalysis generated by PAA mitigate the surface and interlayer pollutants of the membrane, respectively. This study explores a novel approach for the development of highly efficient atom-catalyzed membrane systems with multiple purposes.

Continuous variable quantum key distribution based on simultaneous quantum and classical communication in the terahertz band.

Continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) based on a simultaneous quantum and classical communication (SQCC) protocol can use a single coherent communication system for multiple purposes. In this paper, we propose an inter-satellite SQCC-CVQKD scheme in the terahertz (THz) band. This scheme performs classical modulation at the sending end, followed by quantum Gaussian modulation operations. At the receiving end, an amplifier is used to amplify and demultiplex the received signal, and, finally, a homodyne detector or heterodyne detector is selected for decoding. We have demonstrated the security of the SQCC-CVQKD system in the THz band, and a performance analysis of the scheme is given in the finite-size regime. The simulation results show that this scheme has a higher secret key rate and stronger anti-interference ability in practice. This work provides an effective way to construct wireless quantum communication networks.

Developing a stochastic hydrological model for informing lake water level drawdown management

Winter drawdown (WD) is a common lake management tool for multiple purposes such as flood control, aquatic vegetation reduction, and lake infrastructure maintenance. To minimize adverse impacts to a lake’s ecosystem, regulatory agencies may provide managers with general guidelines for drawdown and refill timing, drawdown magnitude, and outflow limitations. However, there is significant uncertainty associated with the potential to meet management targets due to variability in lake characteristics and hydrometeorology of each lake’s basin, making the use of modeling tools a necessity. In this context, we developed a hydrological modeling framework for lake water level drawdown management (HMF-Lake) and evaluated it at 15 Massachusetts lakes where WDs have been applied over multiple years for vegetation control. HMF-Lake is based on the daily lake water balance, with inflows simulated by a lumped rainfall-runoff model (Cemaneige-GR4J) and outflow rate calculated by a modified Target Storage and Release Based Method (TSRB). The model showed a satisfactory performance of simulating historical water levels (0.53 ≤ NSE ≤ 0.86), however, uncertainties from meteorological inputs and TSRB determined lake outflow rate affected the result accuracy. To account for these uncertainties, the model was executed stochastically to assess the ability of study lakes to follow the Massachusetts’ general WD guidelines: drawdown by Dec 1 and fully refilled by Apr 1. By using the stochastic HMF-Lake, the probabilities of each lake to reach the drawdown level by Dec 1 were calculated for different drawdown magnitudes (1–6 ft). The probability results suggest it was generally less possible for most of study lakes to achieve a drawdown of 3 ft or more by Dec 1. Moreover, we employed the stochastic model to derive the annual latest refill starting dates that ensure a 95 % probability of reaching the normal water level by Apr 1. We found starting a refill in March for drawdowns up to 6 ft was feasible for most of study lakes. These results provide lake managers with a quantitative understanding of the lake’s ability to follow the state guidelines. The model may be used to systematically evaluate current WD management strategies at state or regional scales and support adaptive WD management under changing climates.

Estudios de tomografía de ruido sísmico para la exploración geotérmica en Canarias

Ambient Noise Tomography is a geophysical exploration technique that has proven to be highly efficient for studies at different scales and for multiple purposes, such as geothermal exploration. In this article, we introduce this technique by reviewing its various steps. Additionally, we present some examples of applications from studies conducted in the Canary Islands (sp ecifically in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma) for geothermal exploration purposes.The study realized in Gran Canaria reveals a series of low-velocity zones in the southern and eastern parts of the island, which could be linked to convective cells. In Tenerife, a low-velocity zone has been observed, potentially associated with a superficial clay cap that could facilitate the ascent of gases to the surface. Finally, the study carried out in La Palma highlights the existence of two low-velocity zones in the southern part of the island, possibly related to hydrothermally altered clay zones, indicating a circulation of hydrothermal fluids.

The “How” and “Why” Behind Clinical Site Visits: A Qualitative Study Exploring Director of Clinical Education Perspectives

Introduction. Several studies have investigated stakeholder perspectives regarding clinical site visits (SVs). An SV is one of the many ways of building strong relationships through collaborative communication. This study explored perceptions of directors of clinical education (DCEs) about why SVs are important, why they prefer certain methods of communication over others, and how they prioritize their decision-making process regarding structure and communication methods used. Literature Review. Barriers to conducting SVs exist, including scheduling challenges, time, and cost. Some studies suggest preferences for using in-person communication. Subjects. Fifteen DCEs from across the United States. Methods. Subjects participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach and thematic analysis. Results. Six themes emerged from the data: (1) communication is vital, (2) SVs are fact-finding missions that serve multiple purposes, (3) flexibility is essential, (4) showing up in person has a strong impact, (5) DCEs strategically schedule in-person SVs, and (6) faculty assistance can be valuable. Some of the purposes of an SV include learning about the clinic's expectations, gathering data to ensure that the student is having a good experience, keeping current with curricular trends and contemporary practice, and building and nurturing relationships. Faculty may be able to assist in conducting SVs when properly trained. In-person SVs show a powerful message of support to students and clinicians. Discussion and conclusion. Similar to other stakeholders, DCEs value SVs for building, maintaining, and strengthening clinical and academic relationships. Site visits also bridge curricular gaps, support stakeholders, and help DCEs do their job. Directors of clinical education are strategic when considering SV structure, communication methods, and prioritizing student and clinician needs. Results were used in conjunction with prior findings of our mixed-methods explanatory sequential study to create recommendations, which will empower DCEs to advocate for resources to continue conducting SVs, particularly in-person SVs, especially under certain circumstances. Future research should explore clinician perspectives, specifically related to preferred communication methods, structure of the SV, and meeting with faculty other than the DCE.

An approach to improve the existing ribbon retting of jute fibre using concrete tank and natural catalyst

The ribbon retting method has been developed as a remedy for the issues associated with the conventional water retting method. But this method has not yet gained popularity among jute growers due to the unavailability of catalyst, inadequate training and lack of interest of farmers. The study deals with the improvement of the existing ribbon retting process by using a concrete tank with or without fermented soybean as a natural catalyst in different proportions. For this purpose, 25 fibre samples were developed using different conditions such as concrete tank without natural catalyst, concrete tank with 2.5%, 5% and 7.5% natural catalyst and a micro pond without natural catalyst for various observational time periods. After that, samples collected under mentioned conditions which were measured to assess the fibre properties. The samples produced in a concrete tank with 7.5% natural catalyst demonstrated better fibre characteristics than the other conditions, including fibre fineness, fibre strength, improved fibre color, open surface structure and smooth surface etc. The best conditions for microbial growth were achieved using a concrete tank with more natural catalysts, which improved bacterial growth, fibre quality and reduced the retting time. The use of more natural catalysts increased microbial activity, which in turn affected total dissolved solids (TDS), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), and pH value of the retted water. In comparison to the existing ribbon retting method, this improved method is significantly faster and produces fibers with better properties. Farmers will gain more from the successful implementation of an improved ribbon retting method because it shortens retting time, conserves water, and uses a concrete tank during retting that can be used for multiple purposes.