Slow Process Research Articles

Enhancing Information Technology Governance in Universities: A Smart Chatbot System based on Information Technology Infrastructure Library

The rapid evolution of information and communication technologies has created a pressing need for higher education institutions to modernize their Information Technology (IT) governance practices. This article proposes an innovative solution to enhance the governance and efficiency of IT services while optimizing and personalizing user experience. The proposed solution consists of a chatbot using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) combined with the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) standard to automate the management of IT services in the digital work environment (ENT). Intended for students, teachers, and administrators, this chatbot provides reactive support by responding to requests, reducing waiting times, and improving satisfaction. It also helps decrease operational costs and the workload of support teams by autonomously handling recurring requests. Beyond efficiency improvements, the chatbot contributes significantly to IT governance by providing structured service management, improving decision-making through real-time data, and supporting compliance with governance frameworks. An online survey conducted among 120 students revealed slow processing of requests and unavailability of services, justifying the need for this chatbot. The chatbot was designed with advanced NLP and Machine Learning (ML) technologies. Preliminary tests demonstrate the chatbot’s response reliability, with an accuracy rate of 96% and a response time decrease to an average of 4.17 seconds. The use of chatbots has considerable potential for universities to improve the efficiency of digital services offered to students.

Implementation of Web-Based Administrative Payment Information System Using Laravel 10 Framework

The development of information technology drives the need for an efficient data processing system, especially in the education sector. Madrasah Tsanawiyah NU 14 Kaligading manages financial administration manually, which causes various obstacles such as data inaccuracy and slow processes. This study aims to develop a web-based information system using the Laravel 10 framework to manage tuition payments in a more structured manner. The waterfall software development method encompasses needs analysis, system design, coding, testing, and maintenance. This system is designed to facilitate the management of school financial data with main features including user data input, payments, and student arrears. The implementation results show that the system can improve the efficiency and accuracy of financial management, accelerate the administration process, and facilitate real-time data access. In addition, this system also supports long-term data archiving, improves the effectiveness of administrative staff, and minimises errors in recording. This implementation is expected to help schools utilize modern technology to improve the quality of management and administrative services.

A methodical investigation on stilbazolium derivative substituted with 2,4-Dichlorobenzaldehyde as a donor: An effective crystal for optical device fabrication

For a couple of decades, nonlinear optics (NLO) has garnered significant attention due to its widespread application in optical systems. In this viewpoint, a new 2-[2(2,4-Dichloro-phenyl)vinyl]methyl-1-pyridinium iodide (DCPI) crystal was grown through slow evaporation process for NLO application. Single Crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) study reveals that the DCPI crystallized centrosymmetric (P-1) space group. The CHN elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy assess the purity of the material. The vinyl (CC) group formation in DCPI was asserted by the Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum. The Hirshfeld surface analysis confirms the presence of hydrogen bonds in the crystal structure through its contribution percentage (27 %) to the overall intermolecular interaction. DCPI crystal exhibits 80 % transparency in the visible region. Luminescence studies assess the green light-emitting characteristics of the DCPI crystal. The etching and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) studies confirm that the DCPI crystal has a flat surface with minimum dislocations. Z-scan studies found the third-order nonlinear characteristics of the crystal. Overall, the article illustrates the appropriateness of DCPI crystal in fabricating optical devices through its significant optical characteristics.

High-Performance Photocatalytic Degradation of Aromatic Compounds Using Co-MOF-74/ZnIn2S4/CNF Aerogels with Enhanced Charge Separation and Photothermal Synergy

Although photocatalytic degradation using semiconductor materials has been widely studied, there are still challenges such as slow reaction kinetics and complex synthesis process. To overcome these problems, Co-MOF-74@ZnIn2S4@CNF composite aerogel was developed in this study, which significantly improved the photocatalytic efficiency. This novel structure integrates three key functions: 1) the one-dimensional Co-MOF-74-NTs nanotube enhances carrier mobility based on its high aspect ratio; 2) the Co-MOF-74@ZnIn2S4 heterojunction facilitates charge separation for efficient generation of reactive oxygen species; 3) the porous cellulose aerogel promotes the adsorption of substrates and improves the photothermal effect due to its intrinsic thermal conductivity and insulation, and will facilitate effective charge separation. This combined functionality resulted in highly efficient degradation of paraxylene, with 91.6% of degradation efficiency and 68.79% of mineralization rate within 3h under simulated sunlight. Several experiments demonstrated that the Co-MOF-74@ZnIn2S4@CNF aerogel possessed strong stability and effective catalytic properties for a variety of aromatic compounds. This study introduces a new photocatalytic system combining heterogeneous structure and photothermal effect to enhance charge transfer, providing an efficient solution for photothermal-assisted Aromatic Compounds degradation.

Fixation behavior of oceanic manganese nodule-sodium alginate composite microspheres for heavy metal release during manganese nodule mining

Research on the environmental impact of deep-sea mining is crucial, particularly for fragile deep-sea ecosystems. This research focuses on the issue of heavy metal release during mining activities. Through simulation experiments, we investigated the release of Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ from sediments under disturbance conditions and the fixation behavior during the deployment of ocean manganese nodule-sodium alginate composite microspheres (OMN@SA). The experimental results revealed that mining disturbances cause the release of 0.291% of Cu2+, 7.34% of Co2+, and 4.13% of Ni2+ from sediments into the water, primarily in the form of exchangeable metals. Compared with the bottom adsorption, OMN@SA has a faster adsorption rate in the slow settling process. The removal rates of Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ reached 54.0%, 78.3% and 61.8% for 5 h adsorption, and the bottom adsorption removal rates reached 96.4%, 97.8% and 95.1% for 30 d adsorption, which has a good removal effect. In addition, OMN@SA can effectively block the diffusion of Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ from interstitial water to overlying water, and reduce the influence of interstitial water on overlying water. SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XRD analyses revealed that OMN@SA adsorbs heavy metal ions through its abundant -OH groups and incorporates Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+ into the crystal lattices of vernadite and todorokite via substitution or intercalation. This study provides guidance for the remediation of heavy metal release from deep-sea mining using adsorption methods and demonstrates the promising application prospects of OMN@SA.

Research on the oxidation process of micro-boron below the melting point temperature

The ignition and combustion characteristics of boron and the energy release rate of boron-based fuel are closely related to the surface oxide layer of boron. To understand the oxidation process of boron below its melting point, the slow oxidation process of boron under different temperature and humidity storage conditions and the fast oxidation process under high-temperature conditions were investigated. The results indicate that the surface oxide layer mainly comprises boron (B), boron suboxides (BxOy), and boron trioxide (B2O3). When the degree of oxidation is low, BxOy and B are the main components. After deep oxidation, BxOy almost disappeared. The thickness and composition of the surface oxide layer vary with changes in environmental temperature, humidity, and aging time. The effect of temperature increase on the growth rate of the oxide layer thickness is significantly greater than that of moisture. With the prolongation of boron aging treatment time, the onset, end, and maximum weight gain rate temperatures of the boron thermal oxidation process all slightly decrease. As the ambient temperature increases, the formation of the oxide layer transitions from a unidirectional diffusion mechanism of oxygen into the interior of boron particles to a bidirectional diffusion mechanism of molten oxide and oxygen.

The experience of implementing a social health insurance programme at health facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Objective:To explore the experiences of key stakeholders, including hospital managers, clinicians, and hospital-based StateLife Insurance Corporation (SLIC) representatives, SCP's implementation challenges and successes.Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory design was employed across 38 empanelled public and private facilities inKP. Key informant interviews (n=103) were conducted until data saturation was reached, exploring barriers and facilitatorswithin the SCP's operational framework. Data were analyzed using NVivo software, applying a mix of deductive and inductiveapproaches.Results: Strengths and enablers included a comprehensive benefits package design, a robust third-party administrativesystem, and the digitization of health management information systems for efficiency. Implementation barriers includedlow reimbursement rates affecting service quality at health facilities, documentation issues hindering patient access, unevenavailability of services causing patient frustration, resource-intensive claim preparation with a slow reimbursement process,and a lack of quality assurance mechanisms.Conclusion: This study provides a nuanced understanding of the SCP implementation, highlighting the need for revisitingreimbursement rates, addressing documentation challenges, ensuring service availability, streamlining reimbursementprocesses, and strengthening quality assurance mechanisms. The SCP's comprehensive benefits package, effectivepurchaser-provider relationships, and digitization efforts emerge as key strengths that contribute to its success.Keywords: Sehat Card Program (SCP), Social Health Insurance, Implementation Challenges. Stakeholder Perspectives,Reimbursement Processes, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Correction to: Structural, mechanical and antimicrobial studies of GZnA single crystal via slow solvent evaporation process

Correction to: Structural, mechanical and antimicrobial studies of GZnA single crystal via slow solvent evaporation process

Enhancing sensor data reliability in structural health monitoring systems using digital twin technology

AbstractStructural health monitoring (SHM) systems are intended to collect continuous, current information on the condition of civic buildings, aircraft, and industrial gear. These structures may decay over time as a result of slow processes such as corrosion and fatigue, as well as unexpected catastrophes such as natural or man‐made disasters. It is important to note, however, that the components of SHM systems may degrade after installation, resulting in incorrect information being supplied to decision‐makers. To address this issue, digital twin (DT) technology has been utilized to provide an accurate representation of the building's actual state. Additionally, a weighted‐Bayesian belief network (W‐BBN) has been integrated into the framework to assess the building's condition. The framework also includes an example of maintenance and inspection throughout the lifespan of the structure, incorporating a sophisticated model of the SHM system to evaluate the level of risk. To show the proposed framework's operations, a numerical analysis and technique demonstration are offered, utilizing the building's smart sensors as a reference. The findings reveal that the unique SHM technology inspired by DT increases the identification of building health in an efficient and automated way.

Implementasi Sistem Informasi Akademik Berbasis Cloud Computing System di Pondok Pesantren Khairul Ummah 2 Pekanbaru

Pondok Pesantren Khairul Ummah 2 Pekanbaru, as an Islamic educational institution, faces challenges in managing academic data using a manual and conventional system. This system has caused issues such as limited access, data loss risks, and slow administrative processes. This community service aims to resolve these issues by implementing a cloud-based academic system. The method involves initial observation, needs analysis, system development, and the implementation and evaluation of the system at the pesantren. The results show that cloud computing technology improves efficiency in managing student data, lesson schedules, and attendance in a more structured and accessible manner. This technology also allows staff to access data flexibly from any device connected to the internet. Despite challenges in adapting to the technology, proper training is expected to overcome these obstacles. Overall, the implementation of this cloud-based system provides an efficient, cost-effective modern solution for Pondok Pesantren Khairul Ummah 2 in managing academic and administrative data.

Finding the ideal solvent for the analysis of polar analytes using supercritical fluid chromatography.

The analysis of polar analytes with the help of hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) using classic methods of high-performance liquid chromatography is not without its downsides. In these applications, acetonitrile is prevalent as main eluent and sample diluent. This results not only in slow diffusion processes during the separation, but also in often unstable sample solutions where polar analytes are concerned. Furthermore, there are ecological concerns. With the use of supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) which uses supercritical carbon dioxide as eluent, and other green solvents as alternative for the sample preparation, the separation of polar analytes could be vastly improved with this technique. Fast diffusion within carbon dioxide led to shorter analysis times and higher plate numbers. Regarding sample diluents, small alcohols such as ethanol and 2-propanol, as well as acetone, yielded promising results while analytes showed higher solubility and stability within these solvents compared to acetonitrile. Other green solvents such as dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene) and dimethyl carbonate were found to be unsuitable sample diluents for applications in SFC.

Lightweight video object segmentation: Integrating online knowledge distillation for fast segmentation

The typical shortcoming of STM (Space-Time Memory Network) mode video object segmentation algorithms is their high segmentation performance coupled with slow processing speeds, which poses challenges in meeting real-world application demands. In this work, we propose using an online knowledge distillation method to develop a lightweight video segmentation algorithm based on the STM mode, achieving fast segmentation while maintaining performance. Specifically, we utilize a novel adaptive learning rate to tackle the issue of inverse learning during distillation. Subsequently, we introduce a Smooth Block mechanism to reduce the impact of structural disparities between the teacher and student models on distillation outcomes. Moreover, to reduce the fitting difficulty of the student model on single-frame features, we design the Space-Time Feature Fusion (STFF) module to provide appearance and position priors for the feature fitting process of each frame. Finally, we employ a simple Discriminator module for adversarial training with the student model, to encourage the student model to learn the feature distribution of the teacher model. Extensive experiments show that our algorithm attains performance comparable to the current state-of-the-art on both DAVIS and YouTube datasets, despite running up to ×4 faster, with ×20 fewer parameters and ×30 fewer GFLOPS.

Correlating Ionic Conductivity to Structure and Dynamics of Li-Ion Battery Electrolyte Systems: Raman Spectroscopy, Dielectric Relaxation Measurements, and Streak Camera Solvation Data Analysis.

A correlation between ionic conductivity and electrolyte solution structure and dynamics was explored by performing electrolyte concentration- and temperature-dependent measurements of conductivity, viscosity, and dielectric relaxation (DR) in solutions of lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI) in triethylene glycol dimethyl ether (also known as triglyme, G3). In addition, an electrolyte concentration-dependent Raman spectroscopic study and ultrafast dynamic fluorescence Stokes shift measurements of solvation of a dissolved solute by employing a streak camera detection technique were carried out. Measured conductivities (σ) and the average DR times (⟨τDR⟩) were found to be partially decoupled from the solution viscosities (η) and obeyed the relation, σ or ⟨τDR⟩-1 ∝(η/T)-p, with p = 0.6-0.75 for σ and p = 0.2-0.45 for ⟨τDR⟩-1. Raman data indicated the formation of ion pairs and ionic aggregates in these solutions, while the measured glass transition temperature increased with LiTFSI concentration. Conductivities (σ) showed a nonlinear concentration dependence but increased linearly with the solution static dielectric constants (εs). The latter may be explained by considering the temperature effects on complex electrolyte species and the subsequent solution dielectric behavior. Interestingly, an inverse power-law dependence of σ on the measured DR or solvation time scales, σ ∝ (τx)-m, with m = 1.2-1.9, was observed. This dependence may be explained by considering that the same environmental friction regulates both the ion diffusion and the medium polarization relaxation. The control of a slow process (ion translation) by relatively faster medium dynamics (dipolar rotation), although quite fascinating for the present system, warrants further experimental scrutiny for other electrolyte systems relevant to battery applications.

Data augmentation based on large language models for radiological report classification

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is fundamental in the field of healthcare as it provides a standardized framework for the classification and coding of medical diagnoses and procedures, enabling the understanding of international public health patterns and trends. However, manually classifying medical reports according to this standard is a slow, tedious and error-prone process, which shows the need for automated systems to offload the healthcare professional of this task and to reduce the number of errors. In this paper, we propose an automated classification system based on Natural Language Processing to analyze radiological reports and classify them according to the ICD-10. Since the specialized use of the language of radiological reports and the usual unbalanced distribution of medical report sets, we propose a methodology grounded in leveraging large language models for augmenting the data of unrepresented classes and adapting the classification language models to the specific use of the language of radiological reports. The results show that the proposed methodology enhances the classification performance on the CARES corpus of radiological reports.

Accelerating Discontinuous Precipitation to Increase Strength by Pre-Deformation in Cu-Ni-Si Alloys.

Discontinuous precipitation-strengthened Cu-Ni-Si alloys are highly regarded for their combination of high strength and excellent electrical conductivity. However, the slow process of discontinuous precipitation, typically requiring up to 24 h for complete formation, significantly increases the alloy's production costs and limits potential improvements in its properties. This study addresses this issue by applying pre-deformation to Cu-6Ni-1.42Si alloys, which accelerated the discontinuous precipitation (DP) of Ni2Si by approximately 48 times, resulting in the formation of fast DP and full DP alloys. The fast DP alloy exhibited a smaller DP size and inter-distance than the full DP alloy, achieving a tensile strength of 1070 MPa and a conductivity of 38.5% IACS. In contrast, the full DP alloy had a slightly lower tensile strength (approximately 930 MPa) but a higher conductivity of 46% IACS. Both alloys outperform traditional Cu-Ni-Si alloys in strength while maintaining comparable conductivity. The accelerated DP technique improves mechanical properties without significantly sacrificing conductivity, offering a new approach for high-performance conductive materials.

Engineered Mg-modified biochar-based sorbent for arsenic separation and pre-concentration

The utilization of biochar as a relatively efficient sorbent or stationary phase for the separation and preconcentration of a wide range of analytes represents an innovative approach in current sample pretreatment methods. Appropriate pre- and post-pyrolysis modification of the input precursor and pyrolysis product, respectively, allows targeted design of the physicochemical properties and sorption characteristics of the resulting sorbent. The present work deals with the preparation of pyrolysis materials based on unmodified cattail leaf biomass (BC) and its Mg-modified analogue (MgBC) by a slow pyrolysis process at 500 °C and a residence time of 1 h in a pyrolysis reactor. Physicochemical characterization of BC and MgBC carried out by pH, total C, N, surface size analysis (SSA), 13C NMR, SEM-EDX and XRD confirmed significant morphological and mineralogical differences between the prepared sorbents. By performing sorption experiments using a model anionic analyte (As) and application of Langmuir isotherm, we found that the predicted maximum sorption capacity of MgBC for As is 13.5-fold higher than that of BC. The sorption process of As by both sorbents is best described by the Sips adsorption isotherm (R2 ≥ 0.995) and a pseudo-nth order kinetic model (R2 ≥ 0.997). The optimum pH for As sorption by BC and MgBC sorbents is in the interval 5–6. The presence of competitive phosphate anions (equimolar concentration of 1:1) in the solution significantly reduces the sorption capacity of MgBC for As by 40% for BC by 70%. The presence of Cl- ions showed no significant effect on the sorption capacity of Bc and MgBC for As. Both sorbents were best recovered using 0.1 mol/L NaOH solution when the desorption efficiency for both sorbents was more than 95%. The MgBC sorbent showed 35% retention of As from the real sample in the model SPE column at a flow rate of 0.12 mL/s. Based on the obtained knowledge, it is evident that biochar-based sorbent prepared from Mg-modified precursor represents an effective sorbent for anionic forms of analytes and opens the possibility of its use also in preconcentration and separation techniques.

Energy localisation and dynamics of a mean-field model with non-linear dispersion

In this paper, we examine the dynamical and statistical properties of a mean-field Hamiltonian with on-site potentials, where particles interact via nonlinear global forces. The absence of linear dispersion triggers a variety of interesting dynamical features associated with very strong energy localisation, weak chaos and slow thermalisation processes. Particle excitations lead to energy packets that are mostly preserved over time. We study the route to thermalisation through the computation of the probability density distributions of the momenta of the system and their slow convergence into a Gaussian distribution in the context of non-extensive statistical mechanics and Tsallis entropy, a process that is further prolonged as the number of particles increases. In addition, we observe that the maximum Lyapunov exponent decays as a power–law with respect to the system size, indicating “integrable-like” behaviour in the thermodynamic limit. Finally, we give an analytic upper estimate for the growth of the maximum Lyapunov exponent in terms of the energy.

GABA and glycine synaptic release on axotomized motoneuron cell bodies promotes motor axon regeneration.

Motor axon regeneration after traumatic nerve injuries is a slow process that adversely influences patient outcomes because muscle reinnervation delays result in irreversible muscle atrophy and suboptimal axon regeneration. This advocates for investigating methods to accelerate motor axon growth. Electrical nerve stimulation and exercise both enhance motor axon regeneration in rodents and patients, but these interventions cannot always be easily implemented. A roadblock to uncover novel therapeutic approaches based on the effects of activity is the lack of understanding of the synaptic drives responsible for activity-mediated facilitation of axon regeneration. We hypothesized that the relevant excitatory inputs facilitating axon regrowth originate in GABA/glycine synapses which become depolarizing after downregulation of the potassium chloride cotransporter 2 in motoneurons following axotomy. To test this, we injected tetanus toxin (TeTx) in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of mice to block the release of GABA/glycine specifically on TA motoneurons. Thereafter, we axotomized all sciatic motoneurons by nerve crush and analyzed the time-courses of muscle reinnervation in TeTx- treated (TA) and untreated (lateral gastrocnemius, LG) motoneurons. Muscle reinnervation was slower in TA motoneurons with blocked GABA/glycine synapses, as measured by recovery of M- responses and anatomical reinnervation of neuromuscular junctions. Post-hoc immunohistochemistry confirmed the removal of the vesicular associated membrane proteins 1 and 2 by TeTx activity, specifically from inhibitory synapses. These proteins are necessary for exocytotic release of neurotransmitters. Therefore, we conclude that GABA/glycine neurotransmission on regenerating motoneurons facilitates axon growth and muscle reinnervation and discuss possible interventions to modulate these inputs on regenerating motoneurons.

“[A] soul’s release”: Confessional Modes in Elizabeth Bishop’s Emotional Correspondence

Abstract Elizabeth Bishop is a prolific letter writer, yet her letters to female friends have not received adequate attention. This article combines a textual approach to Bishop’s writing with an analysis of Bishop’s relationships to close female friends and argues that questions of emotional stability and Bishop’s poetic and epistolary practice are intricately interwoven concerning tone, form, and descriptive detail. The article focuses on selected letters by Bishop to Loren MacIver in 1949 to provide a case study on a rhetoric of addiction characteristic of Bishop’s writing to female friends about her daily struggles, anxieties, and alcoholism, while also examining her complicated, slow process of writing.

Selenium Dioxide Catalyzed Polymerization of N‐doped Poly(benzodifurandione) (n‐PBDF) and Its Derivatives

AbstractThe recent discovery of highly conductive, solution‐processable, n‐doped poly(benzodifurandione) (n‐PBDF) marks a milestone in the development of conducting polymers. Currently, n‐PBDF is prepared by either duroquinone‐mediated or copper‐catalyzed polymerizations, where scalability and cost‐effectiveness may present challenges. Here, we report a general, scalable, and cost‐effective method for n‐PBDF and its derivatives, namely selenium dioxide (SeO2) catalyzed polymerization. We discovered that a catalytic amount of selenium dioxide leads to high monomer conversions (>99 % by NMR). The obtained n‐PBDF exhibits a consistently narrow hydrodynamic diameter distribution and its thin films show high conductivities. Furthermore, we revealed that this polymerization involves a mechanism distinct from the previously reported radical pathway. It involves successive Riley oxidation and aldol polycondensation processes. It was also found that the reduced selenium precipitates from dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) when the catalytic cycle is terminated, allowing for a straightforward purification process through centrifugation and filtration. This method thus eliminates the need for the costly and slow dialysis process. Finally, we demonstrated that SeO2 catalyzed polymerization is applicable to n‐PBDF derivatives, proving the generality of this method.