Abstract:The Baltic region faces significant geotechnical challenges related to its widespread soft soil deposits, particularly along coastal areas. This investigation examines an innovative foundation solution combining micropiles with soil-cement Load Transfer Platforms (LTPs) designed to address these challenges. Through comprehensive three-dimensional Finite Element Modelling, we assess various configurations of micropile arrangements in soft soil conditions typical of Baltic coastal environments. Results demonstrate remarkable improvements in bearing capacity: individual micropiles show 2.1-fold increases, three-pile groups achieve 9-fold enhancements, and integration with LTPs produces up to 19-fold increases in load-bearing capacity. The most substantial improvements were observed in larger pile groups, with up to 80-fold capacity increases when combined with optimized LTPs. These findings offer promising solutions for construction on problematic soft soil deposits throughout the Baltic region, particularly for transportation infrastructure and medium-rise structures in developing coastal areas.
Abstract:Blasting is done to make the planned work more efficient and economical. It is used especially in mining, ore extraction, material fragmentation in construction, asphalt as gravel, road and railway filling, cement and concrete production as raw material, etc. The aim is to reduce the size of the rock, loosen it and shift it from the area where it is located. After these processes, smaller sizes are obtained by separating, breaking and grinding the ore or rock. However, bad and inefficient blasting causes fragmentation, cracks and splashes in the rock, air shock, dust and ground shaking. These effects cause dust in the environment, pollution of water resources, noise and vibration. In addition, vegetation, wildlife, displacement, soil degradation, erosion and groundwater pollution after a sudden impact, allows heavy metals and chemicals to leak from cracks in the rock. In this study, the effects of factors such as vibration (ground shaking), air shock effect, flying rock dust (dust emission) resulting from blasting in a copper mine on human health and the environment were examined and compared according to the limit values specified in the legislation and the studies conducted. It was determined that there was no negative physical effect on people and the environment, but there were psychological effects. These effects can be reduced by blasting in accordance with the legislation and by the person performing the blasting being careful. Environmental problems can be reduced or prevented by controlling issues such as blasting in accordance with the legislation, checking local regulations, adjusting blasting timers with reducing substances, dust suppression technique, water management systems, reclamation of mine sites, monitoring of air and water quality.
Abstract:The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the effects of pull-ups, push-ups, and burpees on arm muscle power, strength, and endurance. A total of 40 male untrained students (aged 16-18 years) were randomly divided into four groups: G1 (burpee), G2 (push-up), G3 (pull-up), and G4 (control group). All subjects performed respected exercise for six weeks. The main outcome variables were arm muscle strength, strength, and endurance that were measured at pretest (week 0) and posttest (week 6). All statistical analysis were performed using SPSS 30 for Mac. The burpee group (G1) demonstrated significant improvements in muscular power (p=0.000) and strength (p=0.002). The push-up group showed significant gains in muscular strength (p=0.000) and endurance (p=0.002). The pull-up group demonstrated significant improvements in power, strength, and endurance (p<0.005). Meanwhile, G4 did not show any significant changes in all measured variables. These results underscore the importance of selecting exercises based on specific training objectives and show that bodyweight training, if designed appropriately, can result in meaningful improvements in various aspects of upper arm muscle fitness.
Abstract:A three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of a four-ply fiber-reinforced composite plate, with and without delamination, is developed using ABAQUS software to investigate its vibration characteristics. Initially, modal analysis is conducted on the undamaged (healthy) composite plate to examine the influence of stacking sequence, boundary conditions (BCs), and fiber orientation angle on the fundamental natural frequency. Four different stacking sequences are analyzed, comprising two symmetric layups—[ϴ/ϴ/ϴ/ϴ] and [ϴ/-ϴ/-ϴ/ϴ]—and two antisymmetric layups—[ϴ/-ϴ/ϴ/-ϴ] and [ϴ/ϴ/-ϴ/-ϴ]. The boundary conditions considered include Clamped-Free (CF), Clamped-Clamped (CC), Clamped-Simply Supported (CS), and Simply Supported-Simply Supported (SS). The fiber orientation angle (ϴ) is varied from 0° to 90° in 15° increments. The simulation outcomes are validated by comparing them with existing numerical and experimental results from the literature. Subsequently, the developed plate model is employed to investigate the effect of mid-plane circular delamination on the modal natural frequencies of the composite structure. Delaminations of varying diameters—2 cm, 4 cm, and 8 cm—are introduced at the mid-plane to assess their influence under different stacking sequences and fiber orientation angles, consistent with the configurations used in the healthy beam model. However, in this phase, the boundary condition is limited to a single case: one edge clamped and the remaining edges free. The results reveal that delamination size has a pronounced impact on the fundamental frequency, with larger delaminations causing greater reductions. These findings highlight that changes in modal parameters, particularly natural frequency, can serve as effective indicators for detecting delamination in composite plates.
Abstract:Introduction: To assess the impact of delayed surgery on the prognosis of patients with operable stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A retrospective review of 140 patients with clinical operable stage NSCLC (I, II, IIIA) who underwent curative surgery was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent surgery within 3 months of initial lung tumor detection (non-delayed group, n=82) and those with surgery beyond 3 months (delayed group, n=58). Patient characteristics, reasons for surgical delay, pathology, surgical outcomes, and long-term survival were analyzed. Results: The median time from lung tumor detection to surgery was 13.7 months (range, 3.1 months-12.1 years) in delayed group, and 0.9 months (range, 3 days-2.8 months) in non-delayed group (P＜0.001). The delayed group had a higher proportion of patients at clinical stages I and II, and a lower proportion at clinical stage IIIA as compared with non-delayed group (P=0.046). The incidence of lymphovascular invasion was significantly lower in delayed group (P=0.031). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of pathological upstaging, positive surgical margins, surgical morbidity and mortality, adjuvant treatment, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Conclusions: The prognosis for patients with delayed diagnosis or surgery for NSCLC may not necessarily be worse than for those who receive timely surgery. For these patients, in spite of previous delay, surgical resection remains an important treatment option if lung cancer is assessed as an operable stage disease preoperatively.
Abstract:This study presents a comparative analysis of two advanced analytical methods—the Elzaki Transform Homotopy Perturbation Method (ETHPM) and the Fractional Reduced Differential Transform Method (FRDTM)—for solving nonlinear fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs) arising in biological population dynamics. After establishing the mathematical foundations of fractional calculus, the Elzaki transform, and homotopy perturbation theory, we demonstrate the applicability of both methods to FPDEs modelling population growth and swarm behaviour. Our results reveal that ETHPM and FRDTM yield highly accurate approximate solutions, underscoring their efficacy as computational tools for complex biological systems. The study highlights the broader implications of these fractional-order models in ecology and population dynamics, bridging theoretical mathematics with practical applications in life sciences. Through systematic comparisons, we provide insights into the strengths and limitations of each method, offering valuable guidance for researchers working with nonlinear fractional systems in biological contexts.
Abstract:In an era defined by global connectivity, cross-cultural communication has become paramount. However, this communication is often distorted by ingrained stereotypes pertaining to gender, race, appearance, beliefs, personality traits, social class, and languages or dialects. This study probes the complex dynamics of stereotypes in the Arabic dubbed version of the American film "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021), focusing on its utilization of six language variants: Egyptian, Lebanese, Gulf, Iraqi, Tunisian Syrian, and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Employing Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis (MCDA) as the principal framework, the study scrutinizes the linguistic nuances and semiotic elements to discern whether these dialects challenge or perpetuate existing stereotypes within the Arab World. The findings echo a predominantly problematic depiction of Arabs, wherein the selected dialects and MSA often perpetuate rather than dismantle stereotypes. These include the portrayal of Upper Egyptians as rash and unintelligent, foreigners as thieves, Gulf men as malevolent, Iraqis as irritated, and MSA as antiquated. Contrastingly, the Lebanese dialect emerges as a disruptor, presenting Lebanese women positively as successful, independent, and empowered, thus countering the prevailing stereotype. This research underscores language's potent role in shaping and reflecting cultural perceptions and biases.
Abstract:Industry 4.0, integrating smart manufacturing, digital manufacturing, smart logistics, and industrial automation, has emerged as a core paradigm for industry leaders and scholars advancing sustainable development. This study develops a theoretical model to decode the key drivers influencing enterprises’ intentions to invest in smart manufacturing. The model was empirically analyzed using data from an online survey of 188 R&D and project development professionals from manufacturing and high-tech enterprises in Taiwan. The findings unveil critical insights into sustainable investment strategies for Industry 4.0, offering practical guidance for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers, while paving the way for the future evolution of smart manufacturing.
Abstract:The purpose of this study is to develop a self-assessment scale designed to measure teachers’ competencies in biomimicry teaching. The sample consists of 543 teachers. The validity of the scale was established through an extensive literature review, comparisons with existing instruments, and expert evaluations. The reliability of the scale, as measured by Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, ranged from 0.74 to 0.95. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that the 27 items in the scale were grouped under six factors: attitude towards biomimicry teaching, awareness of biomimicry applications, attitude towards nature, awareness of biomimicry concepts, self-assessment of biomimicry pedagogy, and self-efficacy in biomimicry teaching. This six-factor structure accounted for 70.08% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that factor loadings ranged from 0.41 to 0.98. The stability of the scale was assessed using the test-retest method. To ensure external validity, a correlation analysis was conducted between the scores of this scale and the Environmental Literacy Scale for Adults, revealing a strong positive relationship. Overall, the Self-Assessment Scale for Biomimicry Teaching has been shown to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing teachers’ competencies in biomimicry instruction based on their self-perceptions.
Abstract:The aim of the study was to examine the differences in feedback actions and analysis between experienced and inexperienced physical education (PE) teachers. Thirty-three experienced elementary PE teachers (average age: 45 ± 6.41 years; teaching experience: 13.39 ± 9.39 years) and thirty-three inexperienced teachers (average age: 29 ± 7.75 years; teaching experience: 2.78 ± 0.47 years) participated. Data were collected via online surveys using a non-random sampling method, with the questionnaire developed in Microsoft Forms and shared through social media platforms like WhatsApp. The results indicated that no significant differences in feedback usage rates between experienced and inexperienced PE teachers. For verbal feedback related to motion, experienced teachers had an average usage rate of 4.76 ± 0.56, while inexperienced teachers had a similar rate of 4.79 ± 0.48. Visual feedback usage rates were 4.36 ± 0.90 for experienced teachers and 4.55 ± 0.56 for inexperienced teachers, with a significant difference in variance but not in average rates. Combined verbal and visual feedback usage rates were 4.15 ± 0.83 for experienced teachers and 4.00 ± 0.79 for inexperienced teachers. In consequence, the experience level of PE teachers does not significantly affect their feedback usage rates related to motion. Additionally, experienced teachers were found to be more consistent in providing feedback after each action. Both groups recognized the importance of timely and constructive feedback in the learning process.