Process Strategies Research Articles

Exploring the role of hydrogen peroxide dosage strategies in the photo-Fenton process: Scaling from lab-scale to pilot plant solar reactor

This study aims to investigate the role of hydrogen peroxide (HP) continuous dosage in removing Paracetamol (PCT) from different water matrices using the solar photo-Fenton process. Different parameters in the HP dosage strategies (initial HP pulse, dosing time, and HP concentration) were systematically analysed to assess their impacts on pollutant removal (XPCT), oxidant specific consumption (YHP/PCTt), and toxicity levels (I(%)). The analysis involved various water matrices (ultrapure water UW, groundwater GW, anion matrix AW, and synthetic pharmaceutical wastewater IW0.01 or IW0.1), which were firstly treated in a laboratory reactor and subsequently scaled up to a solar prototype. After laboratory testing, the most effective reaction configuration (maximum XPCT and YHP/PCTt close to the stoichiometric one) was chosen as the starting point for scaling up the reaction system. Using the solar reactor setup, complete PCT conversion was achieved within just 60 min of reaction time (UW matrix). However, under IW0.1 condition and employing the same HP dosing strategy, a XPCT of 95.4 % was attained but at 180 min of reaction, highlighting the significant influence of the real matrix. Additionally, the I(%) remained high towards the end of the reaction (close to 60 %), attributed to the presence of hydroquinone in the system, demanding longer reaction times to completely reduce the toxicity when working with industrial wastewater. This comprehensive approach aims to close the gap between lab results and practical applications, offering crucial insights to address pharmaceutical wastewater pollution.

P-207 Analysis of oocyte morphology: differences between rescued and non-rescued metaphase II oocytes after conventional ovarian hyperstimulation

Abstract Study question Are there morphological differences between rescued and non-rescued metaphase II oocytes after conventional ovarian hyperstimulation (COH)? Summary answer Rescued metaphase II oocytes have a smaller diameter and a higher zona pellucida/perivitelline space ratio than non-rescued metaphase II oocytes. What is known already The rescue of germinal vesicles and metaphase I in assisted reproduction clinics has increased in recent years, but it is still not widely used because these oocytes have a lower developmental potential compared to oocytes matured in the follicular environment. Recent studies focus on the different strategies for the oocyte maturation process in the laboratory, one of them showed that rescued metaphase II oocytes have a smaller diameter than oocytes matured within the follicular environment. To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze in detail the morphological differences between in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes. Study design, size, duration This retrospective study includes the analysis of 144 non-rescued metaphase II oocytes images and 181 rescued metaphase II oocytes images obtained after decumulation, or decumulation and in vitro maturation. Images were acquired over four months using Embryoscope TimeLapse systems. Morphological parameters were manually annotated by one single operator, to reduce the discrepancy of measurements, using the drawing tools of the EmbryoViewer software: oocyte area (μm2), polar body area (PBA)(μm2), zona pellucida (μm), perivitelline space (PVS)(μm). Participants/materials, setting, methods First, the different variables measured were analyzed to see if they were related to each other. Then, measurements obtained from images of non-rescued metaphase II oocytes were compared with those of the rescued. In addition, relationships between the different morphological parameters (oocyte area/PBA ratio, oocyte area/zona pellucida ratio, oocyte area/PVS ratio, zona pellucida/PVS ratio, PBA/PVS ratio and PBA/zona pellucida ratio) were calculated and their values were compared between oocytes from different maturation origins. Main results and the role of chance In both rescued and non-rescued metaphase II oocytes, a significantly positive correlation was detected between oocyte area and PBA*, and zona pellucida thickness*. It was also found a significant negative correlation between PVS size and PBA*. For rescued oocytes, a significantly negative correlation was also found between oocyte area and PVS*. Comparison of the means of age, BMI, AMH and all the morphological parameters analyzed between the two groups showed significant differences in age*, oocyte área*, PVS*, oocyte area-zona pellucida ratio*, oocyte area -PVS ratio*, zona pellucida -PVS ratio*, PBA -PVS ratio *. The average of these variables in the rescued oocytes group were: 28.77 ± 6.25, 9734.70 ± 681.28, 8.79 ± 4.43, 628.10 ± 116.29, 1391.86 ± 689.13, 2.24 ± 1.11, 50.84 ± 40.81; while their mean in the non-rescued oocytes group were: 24.41 ± 4.15, 10152.63 ± 711.3, 11.73 ± 5.62, 675,08 ± 111.48, 1063.32 ± 554.35, 1.60 ± 0.82, 37.65 ± 24.55. In addition, multivariable logistic regression showed that the differences in oocyte area size and zona pellucida/PVS ratio remained statistically different between the two groups despite the difference in patient age*. (p<.05*) Limitations, reasons for caution This study is limited by its descriptive and single-center nature. A multicenter study that also evaluates the developmental potential of oocytes would be needed. Wider implications of the findings Our study shows morphological differences between rescued and non-rescued metaphase II oocytes. It could be studied whether these differences are associated with the lower developmental competence of rescued metaphase II oocytes that has been observed in previous studies. Trial registration number Not applicable

Production of chitosan from Aspergillus niger and quantitative evaluation of the process using adapted analytical tools

The chitosan production process from fishery waste is already established in industrial scale, whereby fungal chitosan is produced in lower amounts. Since fungal chitosan could be isolated from under-valorized vegan streams while exhibiting slightly different characteristics, it has also potential for other applications. Within this publication, we focus on the chitosan production from Aspergillus niger. This study provides a detailed determination of the biomass composition, adapting and comparing different analytical tools, with special focus on the chitin and chitosan content. The major content of the dried biomass is composed of glucans (48.6 ± 1.4%), followed by proteins with an amount of 22.2 ± 0.7%. Chitin and chitosan provide 16.0 ± 0.8% of the biomass. Within our chitosan production studies, we compared the effect of different process strategies including steps as deproteinization (DP), acid extraction (AE), deacetylation (DA), as well as purification. Initially, we obtained poor values (lower than 73.6%) for the chitosan purity. A direct DA step followed by purification resulted in a chitosan purity of up to 89.6%, a recovery of 30.5% and a yield with regard to the biomass of 5.5%. The DA degree of the resulting chitosan is similar to chitosan derived from fishery waste, whereas the molecular weight is lower. The results achieved so far are consistent with the literature, extending beyond, the data emphasized that a chitosan production from residual fungal biomass after fermentation is suitable by direct DA and purification. However, further adaption is necessary so that other matrix compounds could be also obtained.

Embedded components design strategy framework for fused deposition modeling system

This paper proposed a framework for 3D printing of embedded objects specifically for the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) system. The main problem revolves around the difficulty of the additive manufacturing process to fully manufacture a product that can be used immediately after the printing process, thus creating the need for embedded component design to be utilized in the process. The framework was utilized to reduce components and assemblies to improve product design. To ensure environmental sustainability, the framework emphasizes materials used to make recyclable items. Design Process Flow, Design Knowledge, Key Enabling Technologies, and Design Application were used to create a four-layered design framework to tackle embedded product design challenges. The framework’s robustness and effectiveness were compared using three case studies: electric shaver, remote control and nintendo switch. The framework proposed a blade-interchangeable product for the electric shaver. In the second case study (remote control) the cover’s flexibility with similar sizes makes it reusable. In the third case study (nintendo switch), every part is interchangeable with numerous styles and designs, allowing the user to autonomously change to the desired pattern without external support. With its various features, the framework shows potential in reducing development time, cost, and resources to aid the embedded component design strategy and printing for the FDM process.

Mathematics Teaching-Learning Methodology and Its Impact on Academic Performance

Mathematical logical thinking is essential for the development of cognitive constructs of complexity, where the symbolic and abstract take shape, hence the importance of teaching-learning of mathematics, however the strategies in the educational process are not always diverse. which may have an impact on academic performance. Objectives: identify the main methodological elements of teaching-learning mathematics and their relationship with academic performance. Methodology: the research was developed based on a quantitative, non-experimental and descriptive approach. An instrument designed with 12 questions was used, whose Cronbach's Alpha validity was .890, indicating internal consistency. The sample was 383 teachers from public and private educational entities, characterized by not having normality with a value of p .000. Results: The type of classes in public and private educational institutions is generally synthetic-analytical libraries, the institutional guide text and sources from institutional are used as guide materials, in addition, educators reinforce memory and understanding in students to enhance learning significantly, they implement problem solving and presentations, and evaluating through tests and projects. Conclusions: the mathematics teaching-learning methodology that the educators of the Sierra regime apply implies a synthetic-analytical modality, in addition, strategies are used that vary according to the type of educational entity.

Heparan sulfate-dependent phase separation of CCL5 and its chemotactic activity

Secreted chemokines form concentration gradients in target tissues to control migratory directions and patterns of immune cells in response to inflammatory stimulation; however, how the gradients are formed is much debated. Heparan sulfate (HS) binds to chemokines and modulates their activities. In this study, we investigated the roles of HS in the gradient formation and chemoattractant activity of CCL5 that is known to bind to HS. CCL5 and heparin underwent liquid–liquid phase separation and formed gradient, which was confirmed using CCL5 immobilized on heparin-beads. The biological implication of HS in CCL5 gradient formation was established in CHO-K1 (wild-type) and CHO-677 (lacking HS) cells by Transwell assay. The effect of HS on CCL5 chemoattractant activity was further proved by Transwell assay of human peripheral blood cells. Finally, peritoneal injection of the chemokines into mice showed reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells either by mutant CCL5 (lacking heparin-binding sequence) or by addition of heparin to wild-type CCL5. Our experimental data propose that co-phase separation of CCL5 with HS establishes a specific chemokine concentration gradient to trigger directional cell migration. The results warrant further investigation on other heparin-binding chemokines and allows for a more elaborate insight into disease process and new treatment strategies.

Heparan sulfate-dependent phase separation of CCL5 and its chemotactic activity.

Secreted chemokines form concentration gradients in target tissues to control migratory directions and patterns of immune cells in response to inflammatory stimulation; however, how the gradients are formed is much debated. Heparan sulfate (HS) binds to chemokines and modulates their activities. In this study, we investigated the roles of HS in the gradient formation and chemoattractant activity of CCL5 that is known to bind to HS. CCL5 and heparin underwent liquid-liquid phase separation and formed gradient, which was confirmed using CCL5 immobilized on heparin-beads. The biological implication of HS in CCL5 gradient formation was established in CHO-K1 (wild-type) and CHO-677 (lacking HS) cells by Transwell assay. The effect of HS on CCL5 chemoattractant activity was further proved by Transwell assay of human peripheral blood cells. Finally, peritoneal injection of the chemokines into mice showed reduced recruitment of inflammatory cells either by mutant CCL5 (lacking heparin-binding sequence) or by addition of heparin to wild-type CCL5. Our experimental data propose that co-phase separation of CCL5 with HS establishes a specific chemokine concentration gradient to trigger directional cell migration. The results warrant further investigation on other heparin-binding chemokines and allows for a more elaborate insight into disease process and new treatment strategies.

Optimising Perinatal Mental Health: Implementation Framework for Integrating Interventions into Primary Healthcare Systems

BackgroundThe high burden of perinatal mental health (PMH) conditions has spurred international efforts to integrate PMH services into primary healthcare (PHC). Despite the existence of evidence-based PMH interventions endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), there is lack of guidance frameworks for the effective and sustainable integration of these interventions into PHC systems to make them fair and responsive to women and infant needs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). ObjectiveWe propose the "Implementation Framework for Integration into the Primary Healthcare System" (IF-IPHS) – a systematic approach to guide integration of PMH interventions into PHC settings. Approach and framework componentsOur approach is based on contemporary, empirically-derived frameworks and WHO guidelines on PMH, emphasising the significance of implementation science and health system thinking. The implementation framework for integration into the PHC system consists of two iterative phases: (I) Adaptation: involves modifying and pilot-testing of established PMH interventions to meet target population needs, guided by human-centred design. (II) Adoption: focuses on development of policies and resource allocation mechanisms through mobilization and stakeholder engagement for sustained integration of PMH intervention across all healthcare system components. Broader applicabilityThe IF-IPHS is designed to assist and empower health system stakeholders (e.g. policymakers, practitioners, researchers, funders) in LMICs. It offers practical guidance for systematically integrating effective PMH interventions into PHC systems through context-specific adaption process and adoption strategies, taking a holistic approach beyond mere clinical and programmatic considerations. It can also serve as a flexible roadmap for integrating various health interventions beyond PMH within PHC systems.

Surgical Strategy to Correct Coronal Decompensation in an Autofused Growing Rod “Graduate”: A Case Report

Abstract Management of patients implanted with growing rods who reach skeletal maturity (growing rod “graduates”) often poses challenging situation for spine surgeons. A 14-year-old female was implanted with traditional growing rods (TGR) – and presented to us with a coronally decompensated deformity. Imaging investigations revealed lumbosacral take-off due to a hemivertebra at the lumbosacral junction distal to the construct and “adding on” of the curve proximal to the construct. Autofusion of the spine was noted intraoperatively – correction was achieved whilst retaining the TGR, and using separate proximal and distal extensions of the construct to correct the deformity, connecting these to the previously implanted TGR. Improvement was noted in lumbosacral take-off angle, coronal shift, and T1 tilt, with no implant-related complications at final follow-up. The case describes a rational thought process and surgical strategy to deal with a challenging presentation of a patient with implanted TGR reaching skeletal maturity.

Production risk management of prawn crackers using fuzzy FMEA and fuzzy AHP methods

Prawn crackers hold a significant position within Indonesia's agro-industrial product landscape. The industrial process involved in their production is fraught with potential risks that could result in substantial losses for companies. PT. XYZ, a prominent prawn cracker producer in Indonesia, grapples with various risks, including non-compliant raw material supplies, machinery and equipment breakdowns, product defects, and process failures. Hence, there is an imperative need for comprehensive risk management involving further analysis, identification of potential failure modes, and formulation of mitigation strategies to curb losses. This research aims to ascertain the priority of potential failure modes and their corresponding mitigation strategies in the prawn cracker production process at PT. XYZ. The study employs risk analysis through the Fuzzy Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (Fuzzy-FMEA) method and determines mitigation strategies using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) method. The findings reveal 11 identified failure modes in PT. XYZ's prawn cracker production process, with machinery and equipment damage emerging as the top-priority failure mode, giving a Fuzzy Risk Priority Number (FRPN) value of 7.620. The recommended mitigation strategy involves intensifying inspections of production machinery and equipment, both before and after use by workers, with a weight of 0.368.

The Impact of Practical Work Experience on Academic Achievement in Biology among Senior Secondary School Students in Yenagoa Metropolis

The study investigated the impact of practical work experience on academic achievement in biology at the senior school level in Yenagoa Metropolis. Additionally, the moderating effect of gender on the dependent variable was examined. Two public secondary schools were randomly selected for this study, and one intact class was randomly selected from each school and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The sample size consisted of 219 students out of 256 students offering biology at the Senior Secondary one (SSI) level in the selected schools. A pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was adopted. The experimental group used a practical work experience strategy, while the control group was taught using a modified lecture strategy. The study used the Biology Achievement Test (BAT). Experts in biology education validated the BAT, and a reliability of 0.73 was obtained using Kuder-Richardson Formula 21. Two hypotheses and two research questions guided the study, and the hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 significance level. Differences in mean scores were subjected to t-test statistics, which were significant in favor of the experimental group and were found to be gender-friendly. It was recommended that practical allowances should be paid to science teachers to motivate them to adopt practical work experience strategies in the teaching-learning process in schools.

How to improve data quality to empower business decision-making process and business strategy agility in the AI age

Machine learning (ML) and predictive analytics (PA) can provide invaluable assistance for forecasting trends and informing decision-making using data. Considering the business strategy agility as a quick response to market dynamics, this article presents solutions to enhance data quality and management, model interpretation ability, and availability using Explainable AI, with cloud computing and distributed systems that can address scaling problems. When companies utilize these technologies wisely, they can gain an edge, achieve sustainable growth, and make informed decisions. We show how ML and PA can enhance decision-making and business strategy. We also remind that there are antecedents to data quality management: Data culture and Leadership, preparing the company to benefit from the information business strategy agility.

Effect of the Cooling Liquid on the Milled Interface in the Combined Process of Milling and Direct Metal Deposition.

The combination of Direct Metal Deposition (DMD) with milling offers numerous advantages for the manufacturing of complex geometry parts demanding high dimensional accuracy and surface quality. To reach this, a process strategy alternation between both processes is often required, leaving the milled surface with a layer of cooling fluid before adding material by DMD. This paper investigates the effect of cooling liquid on the milled interface in the combined process of milling and DMD. Five different interface conditions were examined, employing four distinct cleaning techniques to assess their impact on the quality of the interface. Key metrics analysed included hydrogen content, carbon content, and porosity levels at the interface. Cleaning techniques were evaluated to determine their necessity in enhancing the interface quality in the combined DMD and milling production process. Results from this study provide essential insights into the optimal cleaning requirements for improving the interface integrity in hybrid manufacturing processes, which could lead to more reliable and efficient production methods in industrial applications.

أثر استخدام استراتيجية الصف المقلوب في تنمية النمو المعرفي بوحدة الغذاء لدى أطفال الروضة

This study aimed to reveal the effect of using the flipped classroom strategy in developing the cognitive growth of the food unit among kindergarten children. The experimental method was used with a semi-experimental design, one-group, on a research sample consisting of (22) children from the third level from the Kindergarten Teachers Training Center in the city of Jeddah. The two researchers prepared a pre-post cognitive test for the food unit. The results of the study revealed that there are statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the children of the experimental group in the pre and post applications to measure the growth of basic and higher thinking skills among kindergarten children in the food unit, and the differences came in favor of the post application. The study also recommends training and encouraging kindergarten and early childhood teachers to use the flipped classroom strategy in the educational process.

Role Playing to Improve English Vocabulary Ability in Speaking Skill

In this study, initially scoring at 2.15, the objective was to enhance students’ English vocabulary for speaking through a role-playing learning strategy, using a Collaborative Classroom Action Research approach. The methodology involved stages of planning, action, observation, and reflection in distinct cycles, each comprising two meetings. Data were collected using methods like speaking skill evaluations, questionnaires on role-playing practice, and field notes. The participants were fourth-semester students of the D3 English Study Program at Madiun State Polytechnic. Notably, student scores in speaking vocabulary improved across cycles, from 2.42 in the first to 3.15 in the third, meeting the success criterion of 3.01 and demonstrating the effectiveness of the role-playing strategy in the learning process.

Rural Self-Organizing Resilience: Village Collective Strategies and Negotiation Paths in Urbanization Process in the TPSNT Framework: A Case Study of the Hongren Village, China

Studies on rural transformation in the context of urbanization have always analyzed it from a single linear perspective, either top-down or bottom-up. This leads to simplistic generalizations of rural transformation models and the standardization of policy implementation. Based on the TPSN analytical framework, this study adds the temporality dimension to form a more comprehensive TPSNT framework. This paper explores the complex construction of rural space in rural transformation from the five dimensions of “territory, place, scale, network and temporality“ and takes the urban village, Hongren, in Kunming City, China, as a case study to analyze the specific transformation process of a village. The research revealed the following: First, in the face of land loss caused by government land acquisition, traditional rural autonomous organizations that have been hidden under the modern governance system have been revived under the influence of traditional elites and completed bottom-up territorialization by using some “maneuver spaces “to form a spatial base for negotiation with the government. Second, the cohesion of traditional rural autonomous organizations has increased during this process, and with the help of mobile capital such as media and personal connections, they have developed social networks that transcend the spatial boundaries of villages. Third, these newly constructed social networks are used to carry out various political strategies at various scales and finally negotiated with the government to rewrite the planning plan so that the village can continue to develop and integrate into the city. Finally, the analysis of the temporal dimensions of Hongren village revealed that even within the same village, changes in the other four dimensions develop dynamically, and rural transformation is an ongoing process. Therefore, when the government deals with rural issues in the process of urbanization, it should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Unified policy implementation standards will have an irreversible negative impact on rural autonomous organizations.

Knowledge Capture in Agile Organizations: Methods and Strategies for Enhancing Effective and Efficient Process

Knowledge Capture in Agile Organizations: Methods and Strategies for Enhancing Effective and Efficient Process

Neural network adaptive switched fault-tolerant control of uncertain nonlinear systems with full state constraints

This paper studies the neural network adaptive fault-tolerant control (NNAFTC) for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with full state constraints. It is the first time to introduce switched adaptive fault compensation strategy for the controller design process. On the one hand, the proposed method overcomes the limitation needed to be given a prescribed local restriction region of the traditional state constraint schemes, such as log-type, tan-type and integral-type. On the other hand, the full-state constraint and switched fault-tolerant problem is effectively solved even if the existence of actuator failures. Concomitantly, the novel switched tuning functions, the NN approximation technique and the integral barrier Lyapunov functions (IBLF) are combined to construct the backstepping controllers and adaptation laws. It can be proved that all the closed-loop states are restricted in the proper compact sets for any given initial values. Finally, A simulation is shown to demonstrate the validity and advantages of the presented control approach.

Strategies for inhibiting the growth defects of CZTSe thin film

Growth defects are imperfections that appear during crystal formation.It is found that there are particle migration and crystalline phase decomposition behaviors during the crystal growth of CZTSe. By studying different annealing process paths, a selenium-free pre-annealing process strategy was proposed. It has been observed that under the condition of pre-annealing at 350℃ without selenium, the migration behavior of each element can be effectively controlled as the temperature increases. This process facilitates the formation of alloy phases and inhibits the generation of heterophase during the crystallization process. Simultaneously, the low-temperature pre-annealing treatment helps to reduce the decomposition of CZTSe during the annealing process, thereby minimizing defects. The large grains formed can also mitigate the carrier recombination issue caused by grain boundaries. In addition, the impact of pre-annealing temperature on crystallization quality was investigated. It was observed that there is a temperature threshold for enhancing crystallization, which should not exceed 400℃. As a result, the efficiency of the cells prepared using this strategy increased by nearly 50 %.

Versatile Landscape of Low-k Polyimide: Theories, Synthesis, Synergistic Properties, and Industrial Integration.

The development of microelectronics and large-scale intelligence nowadays promotes the integration, miniaturization, and multifunctionality of electronic and devices but also leads to the increment of signal transmission delays, crosstalk, and energy consumption. The exploitation of materials with low permittivity (low-k) is crucial for realizing innovations in microelectronics. However, due to the high permittivity of conventional interlayer dielectric material (k ∼ 4.0), it is difficult to meet the demands of current microelectronic technology development (k < 3.0). Organic dielectric materials have attracted much attention because of their relatively low permittivity owing to their low material density and low single bond polarization. Polyimide (PI) exhibits better application potential based on its well permittivity tunability (k = 1.1-3.2), high thermal stability (>500 °C), and mechanical property (modulus of elasticity up to 3.0-4.0 GPa). In this review, based on the synergistic relationship of dielectric parameters of materials, the development of nearly 20 years on low-k PI is thoroughly summarized. Moreover, process strategies for modifying low-k PI at the molecular level, multiphase recombination, and interface engineering are discussed exhaustively. The industrial application, technological challenges, and future development of low-k PI are also analyzed, which will provide meaningful guidance for the design and practical application of multifunctional low-k materials.