Abstract:Taiwan`s Mazu culture originated from the belief of Chinese immigrants in Mazu, the goddess of the sea. Passed down through religious traditions and inspired by this culture, Mazu pilgrimage celebrations are held in various regions. Among these, the Mazu procession in March has become the most iconic ceremony, with Dajia Zhenlan Temple serving as a benchmark. The grand Mazu procession held every March has grown into one of the world's three major religious events, recognized for its well-planned route and vast number of participants. In 2009, it was designated a World Intangible Cultural Heritage by the United Nations. This annual nine days and eight nights cross-county and cross-city procession not only generates significant tourism and economic benefits but also symbolizes the maritime cultural heritage passed down through generations of immigrants. In this context, Zhenlan Temple has carefully considered the future development of multi-religious processions. Dajia Zhenlan Temple hosts the Mazu procession every year. Effectively mobilizing organizational forces, planning the procession route, and managing the event as a whole have become very challenging tasks. Especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, the Dajia Mazu procession was successfully held with the support of government regulations, achieving a careful balance. This success was not only due to the faith and trust of the management team and pilgrims in Mazu, but also to the effective implementation of event management, which ensured the smooth completion of the entire procession. This study employs fieldwork methods and quantitative data, along with semi-structured interviews with relevant scholars, to explore how temples can effectively manage pilgrimage activities during the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, by analyzing statistical samples from questionnaires, we examine the perspectives, backgrounds, and motivations of both devotees participating in the Dajia Mazu pilgrimage and tourists visiting the event. The aim is to understand the reasons and interactive relationships between devotees and tourists during the pandemic. Through this research, we also explore the core values of participants in the annual Mazu pilgrimage organized by Zhenlan Temple.
Abstract:The Industrial Revolution created a significant demand for energy, primarily relying on non-renewable resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. While these resources have driven human progress, they have also caused severe environmental issues, including ozone depletion, increased carbon emissions, deforestation, and geopolitical tensions. Addressing these challenges requires the development of stable and sustainable renewable energy sources. The commitment to reducing carbon emissions under the Paris Agreement reflects decades of global efforts to advance renewable energy. Despite advancements in solar and wind energy, their inherent intermittency and dependence on climate conditions limit their ability to fully replace traditional energy sources. Green hydrogen, known for its high energy density and carbon-neutral extraction process, is considered a promising, sustainable renewable energy source. Its production results in only water and heat. By analyzing various research literature on seawater electrolysis, this study statistically and graphically presents key factors, highlighting crucial trends in advancing seawater hydrogen production technology. This research provides important insights and directions for the future development of seawater hydrogen production. Highlight 1. This field primarily focuses on chemistry, and the lack of integration with experts in electricity or electromagnetism may affect the efficiency and stability of the electrolysis process. 2. Research related to seawater hydrogen production has been increasing year by year, indicating growing global attention in this field. 3. Break throughs are making hydrogen production cheaper, and the fast growth of hydrogen energy use is speeding up our progress toward net-zero carbon emissions. At the same time, it’s helping to ease energy crises caused by geopolitical issues.
Abstract:This study examines the implementation of the Feldenkrais Method within the framework of dance education in Singapore secondary schools using autoethnography to reflect on the experiences of a dance educator in a multicultural environment. The research provides insight into the challenges and opportunities presented by integrating somatic practices in educational settings that are culturally and pedagogically diverse. It highlights how the Feldenkrais Method, known for its focus on awareness through movement, can enhance the body-mind connection and improve students' artistic expression and embodiment in dance. Findings indicate that these somatic practices not only aid in the physical training of students but also significantly contribute to their emotional and cognitive engagement, fostering a more holistic educational experience. The paper discusses the implications of these findings for educational strategies and policy, advocating for an approach that prioritizes student-centered learning and creativity within the arts. The study also explores the role of co-curricular activities (CCAs) and the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) in promoting artistic expression and cultural participation, emphasizing the need for educational equity and inclusivity in a multicultural landscape.
Abstract:Purpose: This study aimed to assess how the material and base design of orthodontic brackets affect the shear bond strength (SBS) when bonded to a provisional polymethyl methacrylate PMMA crown. Methods: Fifty provisional PMMA maxillary crowns were fabricated and divided into five groups based on the orthodontic brackets used: Group 1: Bionic®, Group 2: Discreet™, Group 3: Radiance™, Group 4: Symetri®, and Group 5: Translux®. After surface treatment with 9.6% hydrofluoric acid, brackets were bonded. Each study group was subdivided into three subgroups according to artificial water ageing protocols used: baseline (24 h), 5000 thermocycles and 10000 thermocycles. SBS was tested and failure mode was analyzed. Statistical analysis included two-way ANOVA, and Tukey's post-hoc test (P < 0.05). Results: Radiance™ exhibited the highest SBS values under all aging conditions. Bionic® showed the second-highest SBS. Discreet™, Symetri™, and Translux® showed significant decreases in SBS values after ageing. ARI scores indicated that “Index 0” and “Index 1” significantly increased after ageing particularly for Discreet™, Symetri®, and Translux® orthodontic brackets. Conclusion: Radiance™ demonstrated superior SBS and durability compared to other brackets. However, caution is advised when using Radiance™ on PMMA crowns, as their SBS exceeds the clinically acceptable range.
Abstract:This paper analyses the progress and impacts achieved after their implementation both globally and in Georgia. The work mainly uses the qualitative method of research, which is divided into 2 stages: the analysis of secondary sources and in-depth interviews. In the case of Georgia, the main emphasis in the research was made around the renewable energy sector, because at this stage the country has one of the biggest prospects of getting closer to the sustainable development model through the development of a specific field. As a result of the research, it was confirmed that, as well as specifically in the context of Georgia, as well as on a global scale, the implementation of sustainable development goals in activities is hindered by low awareness in society. As for the impact on business, research has shown that specific concepts have a uniquely positive impact on both the private sector and the quality of life in general. Specifically, in the case of Georgia, the gaps in the involvement and readiness of the state institutions were highlighted. Achieving the goals set in a specific direction requires the involvement of each individual and the maximum understanding of the existing perspectives and needs in order to effectively and powerfully implement the goals in the activities, which will give you a relevant impact on the business and the quality of life in general.
Abstract:Objectives: This study compared the efficacy of the XP-endo retreatment (XPER) system in removing TotalFill HiFlow BC (Bioceramic) and TotalFill BC sealers from dentinal walls to that of the ProTaper Universal retreatment (PTUR) system using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis. Materials and methods: Forty human-extracted single-rooted mandibular premolars were decoronated, and the roots were randomly divided into two main groups of 20 according to the retreatment system used (PTUR or XPER), and each group was divided again into two subgroups (n = 10) based on the sealer type used (TotalFill HiFlow BC or TotalFill BC). All root canals were instrumented and obturated. After two weeks, the retreatment procedure was performed using both systems. All specimens were scanned with a micro-CT device after obturation and again after retreatment, and the volume of root-filling material removed was measured. One-way analysis of variance and independent t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: XPER removed 88% � 14.57% of the root canal filling material in the apical third, which was significantly (p = 0.000) more than that removed by PTUR (62.7% � 24.95%). Overall, XPER removed significantly more HiFlow BC (94.66% � 10.75%) than conventional BC sealer (92.66% � 10.31%). Conclusions: XPER was more efficient than PTUR in the BC sealer retreatment at the apical root third. Moreover, the use of HiFlow BC sealer with continuous wave obturation made the retreatment easier as compared with conventional BC sealer with single cone obturation.
Abstract:This study aimed to identify key body composition traits that differentiate young soccer players. Fifty-nine male athletes (age: 15.97 ± 0.49 years) from a soccer academy participated in this research. The selected participants underwent standardized physical and anthropometric assessments. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify the most essential physical variables relevant to the sport, with a recommended factor loading of > 0.7. To refine factor selection, a Parallel Analysis (PA) was conducted. The reliability of the extracted factors was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Following Varimax rotation, the PCA revealed three principal components (PCs) with eigenvalues greater than 1. However, the PA further reduced the number of extracted PCs to two. The retained components accounted for 71.23% of the total variance. Each of the two components contained variables selected based on their high factor loadings. The first PC demonstrated strong loadings from mid-thigh girth (0.867), body fat percentage (0.851), thigh girth (0.848), and calf girth (0.825). The second PC highlighted lower limb length (0.896), standing height (0.782), sitting height (0.773), and thigh length (0.736). The reliability of the extracted PCs was confirmed, with Cronbach's alpha coefficients of 0.866 and 0.789 for the first and second PCs, respectively.
Abstract:The 2nd International Conference on Computational & Applied Physics (ICCAP�2023) was held from October 8th to 10th, 2023. This conference was organized by the Laboratory of Physical-Chemical Inorganic Materials and their Applications (LPCMIA) at Blida1 University, within the Faculty of Sciences, Physics Department, in Algeria.
Abstract:Growing concern of carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse effects and rapid depletion of fossil fuels raise the necessity to produce and adopt new eco-friendly sustainable alternatives to the internal combustion engine driven vehicles. For this reason, in the last decade, electric vehicles have become in some way widespread, principally because of their negligible flue gas emissions and lesser reliance on oil. Although electric cars were introduced many years ago, agriculture electric vehicles have recently gained attention. The world of agriculture has changed, small specialized farm utility vehicles are now used for a specific purpose, and in several cases they have an electric engine. In our research, we focused on the design and preparation of a prototype the variable, multifunctional ecological electric loader, which would be dimensionally adapted to the needs of use in greenhouse, interior growing halls, as a result of research by students of innovative dual technical education with effective support of their teachers. The research deals with specifically the solution of aluminium welding by the TIG method, because the prototype frame is the welding of aluminium parts. The result of our research was the design and construction of a prototype of a smaller electric loader, which meets demanding quality parameters (performance) and environmental attributes (reduced noise and almost zero emissions) for work in greenhouses. The benefit of our research is the design and actual implementation of a prototype of a different ecological �green� electric loader, which is still missing on the market in the agricultural sector and is the output of creative innovative technical education in the environment of secondary vocational schools
Abstract: Groundnut is an important cash crop and a diet component for rural households in sub-Saharan Africa. However, Aflatoxin contamination remains a barrier to promoting groundnut-based food products as food levels above maximum limit (ML) can adversely affect human health. Three objectives were set, namely, (i) to characterize the post-harvest operations and risk factors affecting aflatoxin contamination, (ii) to assess aflatoxin incidence in on-farm stores and, iii) to assess agronomic practices that can be integrated to improve yield and reduce aflatoxin contamination. The average aflatoxin levels in on-farm stores ranged from 11.3 to 16.4μg/kg, and the proportions of ML were 25.7% at 4μg/kg, 56.3% at 15μg/kg and 80% at 20μg/kg (~5 to 7 months after harvest). The application of Aflasafe® reduced aflatoxin contamination to safe level across the locations. Postharvest operations showing significant hazards include intermittent rain at harvest and drying (6.5), insect pests attacks after harvest (6), prolonged harvest to stripping interval (6.6), drying on bare ground (6.2), storing on bare floor (6.9), use of low efficient shelling machines (6.5) and re-use of rejected nuts (6.1). The potential increase of pod yield when best practices were adapted was in order of Triple Super Phosphate fertilizer (25.6-84.2%), YaraLegume fertilizer (18.4 to 52.7%), Rhizobium inoculant (14.6 to 45.8%) and Aflasafe® (5.5 to 43.1%). This study provides solutions to minimize aflatoxin risk if appropriate technologies (e.g. improved variety, fertilizer, Rhizobium inoculant, and Aflasafe®) and policies are deployed. In addendum, good drying and storage conditions are significant to optimizing benefits from good agronomic practices. Interventions to address cost limitations which hinder the adoption of these technologies require critical policy consideration.