Present Research Research Articles

Executive deficits after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A cross-sectional population study

ImportanceDespite the major implications of executive deficits in day-to-day functioning, few studies have investigated this in post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection using standardized measures that differentiate between aspects of executive function. ObjectiveExamine whether SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with deficits in executive functions and if so, investigate the duration of this association. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThe present research has a cross-sectional design and uses data from the Norwegian Covid-19 Cohort study. The current cohort (n = 8102) completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function- Adult Version (BRIEF-A) electronically between April 2021 and September 2021. During the assessment, 4183 of the included participants had a prior positive polymerase chain reaction test (PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 and 3919 were untested or had a confirmed negative PCR test. ExposureLaboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Main outcomes and measuresExecutive functions were measured using the BRIEF-A, a self-report questionnaire comprising 75 items within nine theoretically and empirically distinct clinical scales. All participants self-reported on demographical variables and comorbidity. Information on sex and age was derived from the personal identification number, and vaccination status was obtained from the Norwegian Immunization Registry (SYSVAK). ResultsParticipants with a positive SARS-CoV-2 status reported executive deficits in everyday life above the clinical threshold (T-score ≥65) more often than non-infected controls (383 vs. 225). Specifically, the SARS-CoV-2 positive status group indicated significantly more deficits related to metacognition, with the greatest difference demonstrated for working memory. This difference remained when adjusting for various demographic factors and comorbidities, with significantly greater odds of reporting above the clinical threshold following SARS-CoV-2 infection, as observed on the global executive composite score 6–12 months after infection (OR 1.97; 95% CI 1.51 to 2.55). ConclusionsOur study confirms more perceived executive deficits following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-infected controls, with metacognitive aspects being the most affected. These findings shed light on the potential functional difficulties that individuals may encounter during the post-acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may guide further development of targeted interventions addressing metacognitive domains of executive functioning.

GENDER EQUALITY AND DISCRIMINATION – AN EXPLORATORY RESEARCH

The present research explores the concept of gender equality and the main issues faced by female civil servants in the pandemic, with purpose of designing recommendations for the development of an inclusive and fair working environment in the Romanian public administration. The study is an exploratory one and was conducted in the Romanian National Agency for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, the main institution with prerogatives in developing and implementing the strategy for gender equality. The research methodology consists of a survey based on a questionnaire designed by the author. The main findings of the study are: stereotypes and gender role biases are the main cultural or systemic barriers, indicating an increased awareness, especially among women, of the impact of these stereotypes and prejudices on their career opportunities and progress. In addition, the main difficulties encountered by female civil servants during the pandemic were the necessity to spend more time with their families and doing house chores, as well as to take more often, unexpected leave days.

The past, present and future of multi-scale modelling applied to wave-structure interaction in ocean engineering.

Concepts and evolution of multi-scale modelling from the perspective of wave-structure interaction have been discussed. In this regard, both domain and functional decomposition approaches have come into being. In domain decomposition, the computational domain is spatially segregated to handle the far-field using potential flow models and the near field using Navier-Stokes equations. In functional decomposition, the velocity field is separated into irrotational and rotational parts to facilitate identification of the free surface. These two approaches have been implemented alongside partitioned or monolithic schemes for modelling the structure. The applicability of multi-scale modelling approaches has been established using both mesh-based and meshless schemes. Owing to said diversity in numerical techniques, massively collaborative research has emerged, wherein comparative numerical studies are being carried out to identify shortcomings of developed codes and establish best-practices in numerical modelling. Machine learning is also being applied to handle large-scale ocean engineering problems. This paper reports on the past, present and future research consolidating the contributions made over the past 20 years. Some of these past as well as future research contributions have and shall be actualized through funding from the Newton International Fellowship as the next generation of researchers inherits the present-day expertise in multi-scale modelling. This article is part of the theme issue 'Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship'.

Exploring the Landscape of Diversity Climate Research as a Means of Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongingness for Academic and Organizational Progress

Diversity climate, due to its impending impact on inclusion efforts, has been researched to understand its varied dimensions. Both from an academic standpoint, as well as an organizational perspective, researchers must coalesce to understand diversity in the Indian context, considering the social and economic angles that present themselves both as a challenge and an opportunity. The present research attempts to collate various investigative endeavors where key variables such as task conflict, relationship conflict, organizational commitment, innovation culture, psychological empowerment, identity freedom, diversity perception, demographic insights, leadership, fairness and discrimination, cultural intelligence, team performance, workplace attachment, employee performance, business unit financial performance, affective organizational commitment, job satisfaction, role ambiguity, and linguistic parameters, with the common dependent variable being diversity climate. The present research attempts to demonstrate various aspects related to diversity climate that can be advanced further within the Indian context for customized results.

TREATMENT OF COPPER FLUE DUST FROM FLASH FURNACE WASTE HEAT BOILER FOR IMPURITIES CONTROL

During the pyrometallurgical processing of copper sulphide raw materials, part of the charge leaves the furnace space together with the exhaust gases in the form of dust entrainment. Volatile components also pass into the dust-gas flow, due to which it is enriched with impurities, some of which are harmful to the technological process. The formed dust-gas flow passes through dust collection equipment, where the main part of it is captured. Most often, the captured dust is recirculated, which leads to a decrease in the productivity of the furnace unit and a gradual increase in the content of impurities in the condensed products of the smelting. To overcome these disadvantages, it is necessary to take part or all the recirculating dust out of the melting cycle and process it independently to extract the valuable metals and dispose of the harmful substances. In metallurgical practice, industrial application for the processing of recirculating dust entrainment has mainly been accomplished by hydrometallurgical methods based on treating the flue dust in aqueous solutions of acid or alkaline reagents. In the present research work, laboratory results on hydrometallurgical leaching of flue dust from a flash furnace waste heat boiler (FF-WHB) are presented. The effect of the main technological parameters affecting the degrees of recovery of the main metals in solution was studied. Based on the experimental results, the optimal conditionsfor hydrometallurgical treatment of the FF-WHB flue dust were determined. By treating the dust under optimal conditions, the main tasks of the research are achieved - removal of impurities harmful to the technological process and reduction of the amount of flue dust processed in the flash furnace.

Gendered Brand Cues and Sustainability Perceptions: Exploring the Role of Brand Gender in Consumer Sustainability Judgments

While sustainability is a key consideration for many consumers, discerning a brand’s sustainability is too complex for routine consumption choices, often leading people to rely on irrelevant cues. Perhaps one such cue is the perceived gender of products and brands. Building on existing literature which suggests an association between environmentally conscious behavior and femininity (Brough et al., 2016), the present research explores whether gendered brand cues influences consumers’ perceptions of the brand’s sustainability, and in so doing impacts their purchase intentions and attitudes toward the brand. We conducted a preregistered study with 600 participants to investigate the causal impact of brand gender on sustainability perceptions. Using a 2 x 3 between-subjects design, participants were either primed to report their own green consumption values or not and then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: masculine, feminine, or neutral (control). Each participant was presented with a coffee brand where the brand's gender was manipulated through semantic (e.g., brand name) and visual (e.g., packaging) cues. When primed with a sustainability cue, participants who saw the feminine-branded product viewed it as significantly more sustainable than the neutral (control) condition (p=.007) and marginally more sustainable than the masculine-branded product (p=.070). We also found that across all conditions, sustainability perceptions predicted purchase intentions (p<.001) These findings suggest a potential relationship between the gender of a product’s branding and the extent to which the brand is perceived as sustainable. This research not only provides insights for marketers to strategically position products to align with eco-conscious consumer values but also contributes to the broader literature on how consumers form sustainability judgments about products, highlighting the subtle influence of gendered branding in this process.

Filmic and other forms of historical representation in the history classroom: ancient Sparta

The aim of the present research was to examine whether a film is considered a more accurate source of knowledge about historical times when it is compared to the graphic novel it was inspired by, a poem and primary historical sources that deal with the same events depicted in the film. For that purpose, we used the film 300, which depicts the battle of Thermopylae and the Spartan agogi, as well as the role of the ephors in the Spartan political system. The data analysis validated that the cinematic representation is considered the most accurate and pedagogically appropriate representation of the past by the students, even though the limitations of the medium are thoroughly demonstrated in the classroom.

ALUM SLUDGE AS A POTENTIAL ADSORBENT FOR REMOVING CD(II) AND NI(II) IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS – EQUILIBRIUM STUDIES

The present research evaluates the possibility of using alum sludge from water treatment stations(WTS) as an effective adsorbent for Ni(II) and Cd(II). The physicochemical properties weredetermined of four alum sludge, from WTS Czaniec (AS-C), WTS Kozłowa Góra (AS-K), WTSMaczki (AS-M), and WTS Będzin (AS-B). The adsorption of ions was investigated by batchexperiments at room temperature, a wide range of initial concentrations (1-1000 mg/L), and anadsorbent dose of 10 g/L. The experimental data were analysed by Freundlich, Langmuir andDubinin-Radushkevich isotherms, using linear and nonlinear regression analysis. All alum sludgeused in the study was found to have better binding capacities for Ni(II) ions than for Cd(II) ions.At the maximum initial concentration Ni(II) ions were bound in the following order: AS-K =>AS-B => AS-M => AS-C, while Cd(II) ions were bound in the following order: AS-B => AS-M=> AS-K => AS-C. The results indicated that the adsorption mechanism primarily involves ionexchange and also electrostatic interactions. It can be concluded that alum sludge is a promisingadsorption material for the removal of metal ions from aqueous solutions.

Exploring direct injection strategies for improved combustion efficiency and emissions reduction in dual-fueled RCCI/compressed natural gas engine: A experimental survey

ABSTRACT The dwindling reserves of conventional fuels have spurred research into alternative options for diesel engine, particularly given diesel’s widespread use in global public transportation. Environmental concerns, notably regarding oxide of nitrogen (NOx), and smoke necessitate a shift toward alternative fuels. Diesel’s partial replacement with compressed natural gas in CI engines has shown promise in mitigating smoke and NOx emissions. The Present research utilized an RCCI engine, and employed combinations of Diesel+CNG dual-fuel to analyze how direct injection techniques affect performance, emission, and combustion features. Under full load conditions sans exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) 6 ms and 8 ms CNG yielded superior brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of 30.5% and 29.5% surpassing diesel’s 26%, although excessive CNG induction disrupted combustion, reducing efficiency, and introducing EGR, particularly at 10% enhanced BTE, with 6 ms CNG achieving a peak of 32.5%, slightly lower at 15% EGR with 30.9%. Diesel engine showcased diminishing brake-specific fuel consumption values with CNG supplementation, further mitigated by increased CNG concentrations and EGR rates. Peak combustion pressure decreased in the RCCI engine, with promising results seen at 6 ms CNG, comparable to pure diesel. EGR introduced pressure fluctuations, signifying a dilution effect on combustion, while the net heat release rate displayed increasing trends for CNG, stabilizing with EGR. NOx emissions, peaking in diesel engine, showed reductions with 6 ms CNG, further diminished with EGR implementation.

Effects of color-flavor association on visual search process for reference pictures on beverage packaging: behavioral, electrophysiological, and causal mechanisms

The visual search for product packaging involves intricate cognitive processes that are prominently impacted by learned associations derived from extensive long-term experiences. The present research employed EEG technology and manipulated the color display of reference pictures on beverage bottles to explore the underlying neurocognitive pathways. Specifically, we aimed to investigate the influence of color-flavor association strength on the visual processing of such stimuli as well as the in-depth neural mechanisms. The behavioral results revealed that stimuli with strong association strength triggered the fastest response and the highest accuracy, compared with the stimuli with weak association strength and the achromatic ones. The EEG findings further substantiated that the chromatic stimuli evoked a more pronounced N2 component than achromatic ones, and the stimuli with strong association strength elicited larger P3 and smaller N400 amplitudes than the ones with weak association strength. Additionally, the source localization using sLORETA showed significant activations in the inferior temporal gyrus. In conclusion, our research suggests that (1) color expectations would guide visual search process and trigger faster responses to congruent visual stimuli, (2) both the initial perceptual representation and subsequent semantic representation play pivotal roles in effective visual search for the targets, and (3) the color-flavor association strength potentially exerts an impact on visual processing by modulating memory accessibility.

Effects of system-sanctioned framing on climate awareness and environmental action in the United States and beyond

Despite growing scientific alarm about anthropogenic climate change, the world is not on track to solve the crisis. Inaction may be partially explained by skepticism about climate change and resistance to proenvironmental policies from people who are motivated to maintain the status quo (i.e., conservative-rightists). Therefore, practical interventions are needed. In the present research program, we tested an experimental manipulation derived from system justification theory in which proenvironmental initiatives were framed as patriotic and necessary to maintain the American “way of life.” In a large, nationally representative U.S. sample, we found that the system-sanctioned change intervention successfully increased liberal-leftists’ as well as conservative-rightists’ belief in climate change; support for proenvironmental policies; and willingness to share climate information on social media. Similar messages were effective in an aggregated analysis involving 63 countries, although the overall effect sizes were small. More granular exploratory analyses at the country level revealed that while the intervention was moderately successful in some countries (e.g., Brazil, France, Israel), it backfired in others (Germany, Belgium, Russia). Across the three outcome variables, the effects of the intervention were consistent and pronounced in the United States, in support of the hypothesis that system justification motivation can be harnessed on behalf of social change. Potential explanations for divergent country-level effects are discussed. The system-sanctioned change intervention holds considerable promise for policymakers and communicators seeking to increase climate awareness and action.

An Analysis of Non-verbal Performance in Theatre

Theatre, commonly seen as an audiovisual art, has performance at its core. Performance is mainly narrative through language, movement, dance, music, art and other forms to create an artistic image for the stage, which contains verbal and non-verbal elements. Non-verbal elements have crucial implications for theatre practice and theoretical perception. The present research investigates non-verbal performance in theatre based on semiotics and non-verbal communication theory. The study found that non-verbal performance includes (not limited to) posture, movement, gestures, props, and costumes. To make a more comprehensive analysis of non-verbal performance in theatre, a mixed research method combining textual analysis and questionnaire survey to collect data was employed, comprehensively investigate non-verbal performance in theatre, and comprehensively discuss the definition, classification and characteristics of key elements of non-verbal performance in drama based on the research design of analytical study, and reveals how non-verbal performances are expressed in theatre. Then, it provides ideas for the theatre creation and education.

MiR-495-3p promotes cardiac hypertrophy by targeting Pum2.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy (CH) may lead to heart failure and sudden death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been documented to play crucial parts in CH. The objective of this research was to discuss the potential along with molecule mechanism of miR-495-3p in CH. In vivo CH model was induced by aortic banding (AB) in rats. Cellular hypertrophy in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes was stimulated by angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment. Haematoxylin and eosin (HE), echocardiography and immunofluorescence staining were used to examine the alterations in cardiac function. The outcomes showed that miR-495-3p expression was high in rat model as well as in Ang II-stimulated cardiomyocytes. Besides, silenced miR-495-3p attenuated CH both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, miR-495-3p bound to pumilio RNA binding family member 2 (Pum2) 3'UTR and silenced its expression. Rescue assays further notarized that Pum2 silence abrogated the inhibitory impacts of miR-495-3p inhibitor on CH. In a word, the present research uncovered that miR-495-3p promoted CH by targeting Pum2. Therefore, miR-495-3p may be a novel therapeutic molecule for this disease.

Áreas prioritárias na implantação de esquemas de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais: Uma análise cienciométrica

Payment for Environmental Services schemes and programs emerge as economic instruments that aim to complement command and control instruments in environmental management. Due to their relevance and the need for allocation in places that can have the best performance, because they have a counterpart in financial resources, which are also scarce, research for the selection of priority areas is extremely important. To support researchers who aim to explore the line of research related to payment for environmental services, scientometric analysis presents the state of research in the area with measurement and quantitative analysis of bibliometric data, guiding the main sources and authors of reference and geolocating the scientific productions related to the subject. In the present research, a scientometric analysis and literature review was carried out with data from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, unifying the databases and analyzing the bibliometric information through the R-bilbiometrix interface, resulting in images, graphs, tables and maps that allowed an analysis of the state of the art and scientific research on the proposed theme. With the results, it was possible to observe the need for further studies on methodologies for selecting priority areas for PES schemes, as it is a fundamental tool for sustainable development

Vegetation health and its relationship with Organic Pollution of the Santa Rosa Wetland, Chancay – Lima, 2023 [Salud de la vegetación y su relación con la Contaminación Orgánica del Humedal Santa Rosa, Chancay – Lima, 2023

The present research aimed to: Determine the Health of Vegetation and its relationship with Organic Pollution of the Santa Rosa Wetland, located in the district of Chancay, in the year 2023. The study is of a mixed type, with a descriptive level by analyzing satellite images to determine the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), with an experimental design, by taking water samples and analyzing them in the laboratory to identify the levels of organic material pollution. Results: From the satellite image analysis, it was determined that the NDVI decreased in 2023, (value of 0.132) between the months of June to October, and in the water quality analysis, the parameters of chemical oxygen demand were measured, with results ranging from 48.50 to 100.50 mg/L, total suspended solids from 30 to 31 mg/L, and biochemical oxygen demand between 19.34 to 33.50 mg/L, indicating that there is pollution (DS. N° 004-2017-MINAM). At the same time, the results were reaffirmed by measuring the extent of the vegetation with a supervised classification analysis of the satellite images, obtaining that the vegetation of the wetland (duckweed and water lentil) increased from 66.08% to 86.64% between the months of June to October. According to the obtained data, it is concluded that there is a relationship between both variables; if pollution decreases the vigor of the indicator plants also decreases as they act biologically as phytoremediators.

Epoxy composite materials filled with rice husk ash

The present research responds to two current tendencies, such as circular economy, involving reuse of industrial waste, and green chemistry, presupposing application of renewable resources and technologies, which minimize the negative environmental impact. The present article is dedicated to the study of the application of rice husk and its ash as a filled for epoxy composite materials. Rice husk represents a multi-tonnage agricultural by-product, subject to recycling, and at the same time, is a valuable source of amorphous silica. Temperature regime of rice husk ash (RHA) production, optimum content and particle size of filler providing maximum modifying effect were determined. The influence of modifying fillers on the complex of operational properties of filled epoxy compositions including hardness, wear resistance, adhesion to steel and aluminium and antifriction properties of epoxy coatings has been established. A comparative analysis of the properties of modified compositions with non-filled ones and with compositions filled with fully amorphous silica, including industrial analogue Aerosil 300, has been carried out. It has been established that the best compatibility with polymer epoxy matrix is possessed by rice husk ash obtained at the combustion temperature of 500оC introduced in the amount of 10 mass parts per 100 mass parts of epoxy polymer.

Enhancing Freshness: A Comparative Study of Innovative Preservation Methods for Berries and Leafy Greens

Berry and leafy greens are some of the most difficult types of food to preserve and ensure they be fresh for as long as possible. The present research assesses the impact of modern preservation procedures namely High Pressure Processing (HPP), Active Packaging, and Edible Coatings with the conventional preservation methods such as Refrigeration and Freezing on microbial load, textural properties, color, and nutrient retention of perishable produce. Purchased strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and spinach, lettuce and kale are possible candidates for preservation methods; the treatments employed in the study included a control no treatment group. Microbial load, texture firmness, colour, Vitamin C and Iron content and sensory evaluation parameters were used in this study. Those found out that HPP technology was the most efficient, cutting through microbial deposits to crops, and retaining texture, color, and nutrients in better ways than the ordinary washing techniques or even the control methods. Overall, the microorganism load was the lowest in HPP-treated produce, e. g., strawberries with 2. 5 × 10² CFU/g, while strawberries treated with HPP had the best texture firmness of 8. 5 N, and better retention of Vitamin C and Iron compared with other treatments. Both Active Packaging and Edible Coatings were also observed to be effective in a way that was superior to inactive packaging but not as effective as HPP. However, it was observed that sensory acceptability score was higher in HPP treated samples, so it enhances the quality as well as the appealing aesthetic value of fresh perishables. From this research, it becomes clear that there is a high possibility for innovative methods to extend the shelf life of the perishable crops while positive contributing to the widely useful methods and efficient preservation techniques of perishable crops.

Effect of CO2 emissions, Renewable Energy Consumption and General Government Final Consumption Spending on Moroccan Economic Growth: ARDL Approach

The empirical studies have shown that there is difference in association among depend and independent variables. Supported by framework’s Keynesian theory of EG (Economic Growth), present research aims to examine how economic growth (EG) Morocco is influenced by REC (renewable energy consumption), general government spending, and CO2 emissions. This research used the method of least squares ordinary assess the short- and long-term relationships between the model's variables, using an autoregressive approach for stationarity and distributed degradation. For the years 1993 to 2020, the research has gathered yearly data from WDI. According that empirical results, none independent variable were stationary at the first difference, but dependent variable was. A long-term association between the independent and dependent variables was shown by the model simulation utilizing the bound test. The White test revealed that there was no evidence of heteroscedasticity in the model residuals. The residuals have a normal distribution, as determined by the Shapiro-Wilk test, and the model exhibits stability throughout the time span with no structural fractures. The study's conclusions suggest that while the use of renewable energy sources and carbon dioxide emissions both exhibit notable positive trends, government spending on public goods has a substantial adverse association with economic growth.

The Application of Zwart’s Shift Model to the English-Arabic Translation of Technology News

The present research paper discusses the applicability of Zwart’s “Comparative–Descriptive Model of Translation Shifts” (1984) to translating Sci-Tech news from English into Arabic. This comprehensive model primarily investigates the translation shifts occurring in literary discourse. To the best of the reCsearcher’s knowledge, very few attempts have been made to apply this shift analysis-based model to the translation of other types of discourse. The paper applies this model to translating scientific discourse, particularly technology news, on several reliable news websites, such as BBC and CNBC. English news on the English websites (ST) and the Arabic translation (TT) on these websites are used as data for the comparative and descriptive analysis. Zwart’s comparative model describes the translation shifts on the microstructural level by comparing the architranseme and the SL and TL transoms. The descriptive model provides insights into the shifts on the macrostructural level. The paper concludes that shifts occurring in the translation of Sci-Tech news can be best described, analysed, and categorised within Zwart’s comparative model. It also concludes that shifts on the microstructural level do not necessarily lead to a noticeable macrostructural change in the primary language metafunctions (interpersonal, ideational, and textual) as in the translation of literary works. Syntactic shifts may, however, result in a macrostructural change of the textual metafunction, which alters the propositional content in some instances.

Mixture of biochar as a green additive in cement-based materials for carbon dioxide sequestration

Cement production for concrete is one of the main reasons why the building industry contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions. This paper investigates an innovative approach to utilizing CO2 by incorporating mixed biochar in mortar. Various dosages (0%, 3%, 5%, and 10%) of mixed biochar were explored to assess their impact on the structural properties and environmental sustainability. In this study, mixed biochar was prepared using the pyrolysis method, in which biomasses (rice husk and sawdust) were heated in the absence of oxygen for 2 h in a muffle furnace at the heating rate of 10 ℃/min to 550 ℃ with a 2-h holding time. The replacement of biochar was done with cement in a mortar mixture for casting the cubes followed by putting them in the carbonation chamber for 28 days curing. After that, the cured samples were tested for mechanical strength, porosity, density, and water absorption. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that biochar supplementation promoted cement hydration products. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analysis showed that several cement hydrates such as C-S–H, Ca(OH)2, and CaCO3 were formed with different doses of biochar and increased mechanical strength. Addition of 10 wt. % biochar increased the compressive strength of the composite by 24.2% than the control respectively, and successfully promoted the CO2 sequestration with 6% CO2 uptake after 28 days of accelerated CO2 curing. The present research has shown the benefits of optimally integrating mixed biochar with cement in the development of low-carbon, sustainable cementitious materials that have the potential to convert building materials like concrete in the future.