Physical Sciences Research Articles

Attending to history in climate change–demography research

Climate change is among the most urgent challenges of our time. While often considered a problem for the natural and physical sciences, the humanities and social sciences have made equally important interventions into research on the reciprocal relationship between humans and our climate. Because demography occupies the intersection of the natural and social sciences, and because it deals specifically with rates of change in social and natural processes, we believe it can make valuable contributions to the pressing imperatives of understanding and addressing climate change and mitigating the harms it is already visiting on the world’s most vulnerable people. We also believe that climate change may afford demographers an opportunity to expand our capacity to think about time and space at finer scales, and to examine the relationships among the core demographic processes – mortality, fertility and migration – which have typically been considered in isolation from one another. Yet responsibly leveraging climate change to advance demography, and leveraging demography to advance climate science and policy, require a cognizance of history that will assist demographers and those who use our analyses in avoiding the replication of past harms and, we hope, the invention of new ones. Understanding the history of demography and of population-environment thought more broadly can help us challenge assumptions that have not served science or policy well in the past – such as the assumption that larger or faster-growing populations necessarily put more pressure on the environment, independent of structural conditions – and consider alternative theoretical framings that might lead to better scientific models and policy solutions.

Playing towards Motivation: Gamification and University Students in Physical Activity!

There is currently concern about the decrease in physical activity participation among university students. To address this issue, different pedagogical approaches have been developed to improve participants’ motivation, with gamification standing out among them. Gamification integrates game design elements into learning environments to increase responsibility, motivation, and engagement in physical activities in different educational stages through intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, although evidence is limited and diverse. Therefore, this study investigates how gamification affects the motivational profile of university students in the context of physical activity. The study was conducted with university students of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (n = 72), using an experimental design that included a gamified group (GG) and a control group (CG) without gamification. A questionnaire was used to measure motivation before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant increase in intrinsic motivation and a decrease in amotivation in the gamified group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. However, there were increases in extrinsic motivation in both groups. These findings suggest that gamification can be effective in improving intrinsic motivation and reducing amotivation in university students for physical activity as well as enhancing extrinsic motivation considering the rewards used.

SCIENCES IN PHYSICSMETHODICAL MEANS OF DEVELOPING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES BASED ON INTEGRATION

Energy-saving technologies are becoming a critical component to help address the growing challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and energy security. In this context, the integration of different sciences in physics is a fundamental approach to developing knowledge in this field. This article discusses methodological means of developing knowledge about energy-saving technologies by integrating physics with other scientific disciplines such as material science, thermodynamics, and engineering. This paper presents case studies of energy-saving technologies that use photonics, thermoelectric materials, nanotechnology, and smart energy systems to demonstrate how such methods can aid in adaptation and mitigation efforts while providing a scientific basis for sustainable technologies. Furthermore, this article outlines the critical role of interdisciplinary collaborations among scientists from different scientific disciplines in advancing research and development of sustainable energy technologies.

Preface

2024 3rd International Conference on Advances in Modern Physics Sciences and Engineering Technology (PSET 2024) was held in Wuhan, China during June 29-30, 2024. The PSET 2024 is organized by National Institute of High Mathematics (INdAM), Italy; Complex Engineering Systems (OA Journal Editorial Office) and technically supported by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; University of Victoria, Canada; Politecnico di Milano, Italy and Rongzhi Sciences and Technology Center, China. The conference program included keynote, oral, and poster presentations from scientists working in similar areas, aiming to establish platforms for collaborative research projects and to explore potential opportunities for international cooperation in the fields of Modern Physics Sciences and Engineering Technology. This year, we received an overwhelming response from the scientific community, with a total of 57 paper submissions. Each submission underwent a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring that only the highest quality research was selected. After careful consideration and evaluation by our esteemed review panel, 21 papers were accepted for presentation at the conference. The selected papers represent a diverse range of topics, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of modern physics and engineering technology. From quantum state implementation based on topological insulators to cutting-edge advancements in engineering applications, the research presented here pushes the boundaries of current knowledge and opens new avenues for future exploration. We hope that the proceedings of PSET 2024 will inspire and stimulate further research and collaboration among scientists, engineers, and researchers worldwide. We want to thank all the authors who have contributed to this volume, as well as the Publication Editor, Organizing Committee, Scientific Committee, Keynote Speakers, Sponsors, and all the conference participants for their support of PSET 2024. We sincerely hope to see you again next year at PSET. Publication Editor Dr. Beddiaf ZAIDI University of Batna 1, Algeria List of Committee Members are available in this Pdf.

Entelechy and Energy

This article reconsiders Hans Driesch’s vitalism, as articulated in his English book The Science and Philosophy of the Organism, from a novel perspective. The central thesis posits that Driesch’s vitalism was intricately intertwined with contemporary physical sciences, particularly the version of energy physics prevalent in the energetics movement at the turn of the twentieth century. More specifically, based on the conceptual framework provided by energeticists like Wilhelm Ostwald and Georg Helm, Driesch offered an intriguing treatment of the relationship between entelechy and energy within an updated Kantian philosophy of nature. This article reconstructs Driesch’s approach by elucidating four points. First, Driesch asserted that an entelechy strictly adhered to the conservation of energy. Second, he posited that the entelechy was not a form of energy and thus did not constitute a special kind of bio-specific vital energy. Third, he identified the entelechy’s most critical characteristic as its ability to suspend certain physico-chemical changes. Fourth, Driesch suggested that the entelechy influenced mechanical systems in a manner akin to Maxwell’s demon, raising the possibility of contravening the second law of thermodynamics. This article also contextualizes Driesch’s treatment within the broader development of energy physics in the latter half of the nineteenth century. In conclusion, this article offers some critical remarks on the peculiar historical phenomenon of chronic vitalism as identified by Driesch and others.

An Overview on Thermo-Elastic Properties of the Nanomaterial

The examination on the properties of nanostructured materials has shown an extraordinary exploration interest in the field of physical science, science, material science, biotechnology and so forth these materials have interesting physical, chemical, electronic, optical, and catalytic properties that are very unique in relation to their mass partners. Because of their extremely unmistakable properties, these materials display wide scope of utilizations in an assortment of fields including electronics, photonics, detecting and so on Nanostructured materials incorporate nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes, nanofilms, etc, of which carbon nanotubes have gotten profoundly famous. Then again, when graphene was found, it has made an excitation in different fields because of its extraordinary properties and applications.

Gradient of microhardness in the contact zone coating (HEA CoCrFeNiMn) – substrate (alloy 5083)

In this work, a coating of a high-entropy alloy CoCrFeNiMn of non-atomic composition is formed on a substrate made of alloy 5083 by the method of wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). The authors investigated the change in microhardness in the contact zone of the coating – substrate system. Using the methods of modern physical materials science, the structural and phase state, defect structure and elemental composition of the coating – substrate system were analyzed. The discovered physical mechanisms contribute to an increase in hardness in the contact zone.

One-Step fabrication of bioinspired Peptide-Functionalized ice surface for bioanalysis

Solid surfaces modified with functional biomolecules that can selectively capture specific molecules play a crucial role in physical science and biomedical research. However, convenient biomolecule-modified materials are still faced with problems such as harsh synthesis conditions and time-consuming functionalization processes. As an easy-to-prepare solid substance, ice, holds the potential to be developed as an excellent functional material, but its inert nature hampers efficient functionalization with biomolecules. In this study, drawing inspiration from anti-freeze organisms in nature, we endow ice with biorecognition ability by leveraging the natural non-covalent binding between peptides and ice. By exploiting ice as a substrate modified with functional biomolecules, we demonstrate advantages such as high accessibility, one-step modification, and cost-effectiveness compared to conventional biomolecule-modified materials. Additionally, the temperature-controlled melting of ice offers a facile way to release captured biomolecules while maintaining their activity for further studies. The feature is further applied in protein assays, exhibiting satisfactory selectivity and quantitative capabilities with a minimum detectable concentration of approximately 0.1 ng/mL. Overall, our strategy to endow ice with desired biological functions provides a new tool for investigation in physical science and broader applications in the field of biomedicine.

Asian Spice Nanotech: Illicium verum made Metal Nanoparticles for Potent Antibacterial and Catalytic Applications

Introduction: Asian spices are globally recognized for their rich phytochemical composition. The bioactive compounds of Asian spices have significant potential to extend the biological applications of metal nanomaterials by increasing their surface area, stability, dispersion, and ecofriendliness. Method: The present study is designed to prepare novel iron oxide (Fe2O3) and copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles using an aqueous extract of Illicium verum (star anise), a traditional Asian spice as a reducing, capping & stabilizing agent. The synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized to study their molecular environment using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Elemental composition was examined through the Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the size, shape, and other morphological characteristics of nanoparticles. The optical properties have been tested through Ultraviolet-Visible (UV) spectroscopy and the band gap energies of both Fe2O3 and CuO nanoparticles have been calculated by using the Tauc plot method, which explores its semiconductor applications. The catalytic applications of obtained nanoparticles have shown significant potential in the degradation of aqueous methyl orange dye (MO). Results: Results revealed that Fe2O3 and CuO nanoparticles significantly increased the rate of reaction by decreasing the reaction time to 45 mins and 40 mins, respectively in comparison to the NaBH4 (60 mins). This shows that CuO has a larger surface area and more absorption capacity than Fe2O3 NPs. To examine the cause of value healthcare, the obtained materials have also been applied against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The bactericidal activity was compared with gentamicin, which showed both nanometals are moderate to strongly active against tested microbes. Conclusion: The successful eco-friendly synthesis of metallic nanoparticles by using Asian spices and their applications in physical and biological sciences opens the door for the scientific community to develop and apply more novel and green nanomaterials in industrial and commercial areas.

Conceptual structure and the growth of scientific knowledge.

How does scientific knowledge grow? This question has occupied a central place in the philosophy of science, stimulating heated debates but yielding no clear consensus. Many explanations can be understood in terms of whether and how they view the expansion of knowledge as proceeding through the accretion of scientific concepts into larger conceptual structures. Here we examine these views empirically by analysing 2,605,224 papers spanning five decades from both the social sciences (Web of Science) and the physical sciences (American Physical Society). Using natural language processing techniques, we create semantic networks of concepts, wherein noun phrases become linked when used in the same paper abstract. We then detect the core/periphery structures of these networks, wherein core concepts are densely connected sets of highly central nodes and periphery concepts are sparsely connected nodes that are highly connected to the core. For both the social and physical sciences, we observe increasingly rigid conceptual cores accompanied by the proliferation of periphery concepts. Subsequently, we examine the relationship between conceptual structure and the growth of scientific knowledge, finding that scientific works are more innovative in fields with cores that have higher conceptual churn and with larger cores. Furthermore, scientific consensus is associated with reduced conceptual churn and fewer conceptual cores. Overall, our findings suggest that while the organization of scientific concepts is important for the growth of knowledge, the mechanisms vary across time.

Adrien Rist (1841–1923), membre de la Société mdico-psychologique (1881) et fondateur d’une maison de santé privée à Versailles : « La Châtaigneraie » (1889) (Partie II)

A member of artistic, literary and scientific associations including the Société médico-psychologique (1881), A. Rist opened a private psychiatric clinic in Versailles in the years 1890–1891 called: La Châtaigneraie. This establishment will open its doors shortly before those of the old people's home (1892); they will complete the establishment opened in 1858: the civil hospital. In addition to his work as physician director of La Châtaigneraie, he was a medical expert at the court of Versailles. While practicing in Switzerland, he taught forensic medicine at the Law School of Lausanne. For example, A. Rist assessed Marie Christmann, a spiritualist masseuse, known as “the witch of Versailles”, who was denounced for the illegal practice of medicine and the mummified body of a woman was found in her house or Fernand-Théodore Charlatte, known as “the satyr of Saint-Cloud”, who simulated madness. Being an alienist was not without risk. He was threatened with death by an insane Arthur-Désiré Ferger who had twice escaped from the asylum; inspectors were assigned to protect him. A. Rist was a doctor fighting against alcohol abuse; the head office of the Versailles section of the French Anti-Alcohol Union was located at his home 11 rue des Deux Moulins. The National League against Alcoholism has founded “rooms of the soldier” in different cities of France (Cherbourg and Le Havre). A. Rist had one such room located at 29 rue de Béthune (Versailles). Author of “La philosophie naturelle intégrale les rudiments des sciences exacts” (1904), A. Rist shows us his pronounced taste for mathematics which inclined him more towards the physical sciences and their speculative aspect than towards biology, a discipline of observation and experimentation. In this second part, A. Rist appears to be a man of conviction and opinion. He was Dreyfusard and Republican. He was among the signatories of the “Appel à l’Union” (1899) like his friend Gabriel Monod (1844–1912), a member of the Institute. This founding document aimed to calm the political situation in the middle of the Dreyfus affair in order to save the parliamentary republican regime then in place. He does not hesitate to take up the pen to oppose Ferdinand Brunetière (1849–1906); director of the Revue des Deux Mondes, he was an antidreyfusard but not an antisemite. The latter had declared war on the scientific spirit and on Science which was not the point of view of A. Rist. In a national daily newpapers, he expressed his opposition to the reform of secondary education; this was a measure which had been advocated by the Minister of Public Instruction: Léon Bourgeois (1851–1925). At the end of the 19th century, A. Rist made a political commitment having being elected member of the municipal council of Versailles (1896–1900); he joined the Democratic Republican Alliance party (1901). During his career, A. Rist did not communicate or publish very much. In addition to his imposing work on “La philosophie naturelle intégrale”, we find among his works an article on phrenology published in the Dictionnaire de Dechambre, which he considered to be a science lacking a scientific basis; a case of idiopathic anorexia, which he said was a mental illness caused by a direct attack on the nerve center that regulates the need to eat; a case of forensic expertise on an anarchist sentenced to prison because he was not fit for internment. He was also supposed to publish a second volume of his natural philosophy, but it never saw the light of day. He died in November 1923, “La Châtaigneraie” closed its doors.

Adaptive EWMA control charts for the Rayleigh distribution

Numerous supplementary Shewhart monitoring designs have emerged, customized to data that follows specific non-normal distributions like the Rayleigh distribution (RD). The Rayleigh distribution has a variety of applications in modeling theory of communication, physical sciences, diagnostic imaging, life testing, reliability analysis, applied statistics and clinical studies. The exponential weighted moving average (EWMA) design is frequently advocated in the literature because of its ability to swiftly detect smaller process alterations. However, the common EWMA chart may not perform optimally in detecting all changes in the process parameters. To address this limitation, this study introduces an adaptive EWMA structure for monitoring quality characteristics following the RD, called the adaptive Rayleigh EWMA (AREWMA) chart. To determine the design parameters of the AREWMA chart, a Markov chain model is utilized. Analytical results are then used to assess the performance of the AREWMA chart in comparison to existing competitors. The comparative analysis illustrates the strengths of the proposed AREWMA chart in detecting shifts of various magnitudes during parameter monitoring. Finally, we present a practical application of the proposed AREWMA chart in the manufacturing industry, utilizing real data on the time of failure eld-tracking of devices in a system. Our analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of the AREWMA chart in detecting a range of shifts in the manufacturing process, highlighting its utility for continuous monitoring and quality control.

‘STEM belonging’: the association between stereotype vulnerability, COVID-19 stress, general self-efficacy, multidimensional perceived social support, and STEM interest among Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematical Science students

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop and validate a theoretical framework elucidating the connections between general self-efficacy (GSE), multidimensional perceived social support (MPSS), STEM interest (SI), stereotype vulnerability (SVS-4), COVID-19 Student Stress (CSSQ), and STEM Belonging (SB) among a diverse group of students in England. An online survey was administered to 290 Mathematics (n = 83, 28.6%), Physics (n = 95, 32.8%), and Chemistry (n = 112, 38.6%) students in three Russell Group universities in England. The majority of participants (n = 115, 43.1%) were between 18 and 19 years old. Data were collected and analysed using a structural equation model and multigroup analysis. The study findings revealed that MPSS, GSE, and SI had a positive impact on students’ SB, while CSSQ and SVS-4 had a negative impact on students’ SB. The findings revealed that the influence of MPSS on SB and the effect of GSE on SI were found to be statistically significant among female, male, and non-binary students, as well as across A-level, undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. levels.

Preface: 2nd International Conference on Physical Science, Electrical Technology and Energy (PSETE 2024)

Preface: 2nd International Conference on Physical Science, Electrical Technology and Energy (PSETE 2024)

AI meets physics: a comprehensive survey

Uncovering the mechanisms of physics is driving a new paradigm in artificial intelligence (AI) discovery. Today, physics has enabled us to understand the AI paradigm in a wide range of matter, energy, and space-time scales through data, knowledge, priors, and laws. At the same time, the AI paradigm also draws on and introduces the knowledge and laws of physics to promote its own development. Then this new paradigm of using physical science to inspire AI is the physical science of artificial intelligence (PhysicsScience4AI, PS4AI). Although AI has become the driving force for development in various fields, there is still a “black box” phenomenon that is difficult to explain in the field of AI deep learning. This article will briefly review the connection between relevant physics disciplines (classical mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical physics, quantum mechanics) and AI. It will focus on discussing the mechanisms of physics disciplines and how they inspire the AI deep learning paradigm, and briefly introduce some related work on how AI solves physics problems. PS4AI is a new research field. At the end of the article, we summarize the challenges facing the new physics-inspired AI paradigm and look forward to the next generation of artificial intelligence technology. This article aims to provide a brief review of research related to physics-inspired AI deep algorithms and to stimulate future research and exploration by elucidating recent advances in physics.

The Importance of Teaching Resources on Physical Sciences Learners' Academic Achievement in Rural Schools: A Case of South Africa

The purpose of the article is to explore the importance of teaching resources on the academic achievement of physical science learners in selected rural secondary schools. Qualitative research was undertaken and data were collected from physical sciences teachers, principals and curriculum advisers, through in-depth face-to-face interviews. A multiple-case study design was used and the Activity Theory acts as a theoretical lens, offering a broad approach to analysing the availability of instructional resources and the context of teaching and learning in rural secondary schools. The study revealed three important aspects: resource availability, the quality of textbooks and the value of information, communication and technology (ICT). The availability and quality of resources were found to impact the effectiveness of science teaching in rural schools significantly. The resources make it possible for learners to do practical work, which could contribute to comprehension and possibly improve learner's performance. It is therefore recommended that the Department of Basic Education should address interlocking frameworks for change that include, providing Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) aligned textbooks, well-equipped laboratories, use of ICT and develop teachers’ skills and knowledge in rural secondary schools.

A systematic mapping of public health master’s and structured doctoral programs in Germany

BackgroundWell-trained public health professionals are key to addressing both global and local public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Though availability of programs has increased, the population health science (PHS) and public health (PH) higher education landscape in Germany remains scattered. To date, no comprehensive overview of programs exists.ObjectivesThis study aimed to map PHS and PH master’s and structured doctoral programs in Germany, including selected program characteristics, curricula and target competencies.MethodsWe conducted a systematic mapping of PHS and PH programs in Germany following a prospectively registered protocol (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KTCBA). Relevant master’s and doctoral programs were identified by two study authors independently searching a comprehensive higher education database, which was, for doctoral programs, supplemented with a google search. For PHS programs, general characteristics were mapped and for the subset of PH programs, in-depth characteristics were extracted.ResultsOverall, 75 master’s and 18 structured doctoral PHS programs were included. Of these, 23 master’s and 8 doctoral programs focused specifically on PH. The majority of PHS master’s programs awarded a Master of Science degree (55 out of 75 programs). The PH master’s program curricula offered various courses, allowing for different specializations. Courses on topics like public health, epidemiology, health systems (research) and research methods were common for the majority of the master’s programs, while courses on physical activity, behavioral science, nutrition, and mental health were offered less frequently. Structured PH doctoral programs were mainly offered by medical faculties (6 out of 8 programs) and awarded a doctorate of philosophy (Ph.D.) (6 out of 8 programs). PH doctoral programs were very heterogeneous regarding curricula, entry, and publication requirements. There was a broad geographical distribution of programs across Germany, with educational clusters in Munich, Berlin, Bielefeld and Düsseldorf.ConclusionGermany offers a diverse landscape of PHS and PH master’s programs, but only few structured doctoral programs. The variety of mandatory courses and competencies in these programs reflect Germany’s higher education system’s answer to the evolving demands of the PH sector. This review may aid in advancing PH education both in Germany and globally.

EPSM 2023, Engineering and Physical Sciences in Medicine : 5-8 November 2024, Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand.

EPSM 2023, Engineering and Physical Sciences in Medicine : 5-8 November 2024, Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand.

Effectiveness of Virtual Labs for Physics Learning in Moroccan Secondary Schools

The teaching of physical sciences primarily relies on the use of experimental activities to explain the phenomena and physical concepts taught theoretically in class. Nevertheless, this conventional approach faces various challenges and problems, which limit its ability to achieve the different pedagogical objectives set by teachers. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of virtual laboratories (“VLABs”) as an alternative tool to traditional practices for teaching physics concepts in Moroccan secondary schools. The methodology followed in this study is quantitative and based on two questionnaires. The first is intended for teachers to evaluate the experimental activities on VLABs based on a socio-technical and pedagogical heuristic study and to verify their conformity with the expectations and characteristics of each type of learner according to the Felder-Silverman learning style preferences. The second was administered in the form of an evaluation to compare the performance of the control group with the experimental group that integrated the opportunities offered by the VLAB LABSTER. The results show that VLABs are not only comparable to conventional experimental activities in terms of applicability, ease of use, and effectiveness in achieving the learning objectives for which they were initially designated but surpass them in terms of performance, as evidenced by the significant improvement of the mean obtained by the group that integrated the experimental activities on the VLAB. Thus, VLABs can be used not only as an alternative to traditional experimental activities in distance learning but also as a viable option for potential adoption even in traditional face-to-face physics instruction.

Climate change in the Asia-Pacific security architecture – the case of ASEAN

Human-induced climate change will likely cause more intense and frequent cyclones and typhoons, as noted in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Within the Asia-Pacific region, regional security discussions at the leadership level focus on the imminent threats to states and societies of more frequent and intense extreme weather events and sea-level rise as it is the world’s most exposed region. This article examines recent developments and discourse regarding climate change in the Asia-Pacific security architecture using the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a case study. It finds increasing recognition of climate change and its implications for peace and security within the regional security architecture. Debates over how best to address it to overcome an atomised approach to climate change impacts on peace and security in the region remain unresolved, but recent pronouncements at the leadership level signal an emerging mindset shift in understanding climate change within the regional security discourse. However, the substantive discussions largely take place in hybrid forums, albeit with official recognition in more traditional platforms, which may undermine efforts for an inclusive regional discourse on the climate change impacts on peace and security in ASEAN.