Science Talks最新文献

{"title":"Against the current: Addressing climate-induced health disparities in India's transgender community","authors":"Gnana Sanga Mithra S","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study inspects the unique climate change insights and vulnerabilities experienced by transgender individuals, with an emphasis on how gender identity intermediates environmental awareness and adaptive capacity. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted between January and March 2025 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, involving 167 self-identified transgender individuals recruited through convenience and snowball sampling methods, accomplishing a response rate of 91 %. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics, <em>t</em>-tests, and Pearson's correlation via SPSS v26. The results showed a health decline score among participants (M = 5.93, SD = 1.27) that was higher than general population norms (t (166) = 5.39, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), signifying a discriminating health burden attributable to climate-related stressors. Besides, 79.04 % of respondents articulated a lack of sureness in healthcare provider's' competency concerning transgender-specific health concerns, and 60.47 % reported recurrent or persistent experiences of social isolation. Pearson's correlation analysis identified a statistically significant positive relationship between transgender identity-related stressors and increased apprehension toward climate threats (<em>r</em> = 0.61, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.01).</div><div>In addition to quantitative findings, qualitative insights from open-ended responses highlighted three emergent themes: (1) Intersecting Marginalities in Climate Vulnerability, reflecting the layered disadvantages faced during environmental disruptions; (2) Systemic Healthcare Exclusion, emphasizing institutional unpreparedness to meet transgender health needs during crises; and (3) Identity-Driven Climate Awareness, representing a delicate sensitivity to climate risks shaped by social and political marginalization. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing transgender individuals as a distinct demographic within climate vulnerability assessments. The study advocates for the combination of marginalized voices in climate adaptation approaches and public health guidelines to guarantee inclusive, equitable, and responsive frameworks in the aspect of mounting environmental challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100473"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144595579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fabrication of Am-doped UO2 transmutation targets","authors":"Gamze Colak ,&nbsp;Tommy Mai","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nuclear energy is one of the least CO₂ emitting ways of generating large amounts of electricity. One major challenge in the utilization of nuclear energy is the management of spent nuclear fuel. The radiotoxic minor actinides, particularly Am (&lt; 0.1 wt% of spent fuel), could be extracted and recycled <em>via</em> partitioning and transmutation. An innovative, dust-free method for producing (U,Am)O_2-x targets without the generation of Am-contaminated liquid waste has been successfully demonstrated. The method comprises the fabrication of porous uranium oxide microspheres (UO₃) through internal gelation, using starch as a pore-former and low-temperature calcination. After calcination of UO₃ microspheres were infiltrated using a single-step process with aqueous Am(NO₃)₃. After infiltration, the microspheres were dried, calcined and sintered. Various samples targeting Am contents of 5, 10, 20 and 30 mol% were prepared. The microstructural investigations revealed that the density of the porous host microspheres after the calcination was approximately 65 %TD with 30 vol% accessible porosity, suitable for an efficient infiltration. The examination of cross-sectioned (U,Am)O_2-x microspheres revealed homogeneous mixing of Am and U, without formation of agglomerates with distinct doping levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100481"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the impact of bilingual education on student outcomes: A qualitative student-centric approach","authors":"Gnana Sanga Mithra S,&nbsp;Ananth Padmanabhan","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This qualitative study explores the impact of bilingual education in Tamil and English on student comprehension and academic performance from the perspective of students in Tamil Nadu. It investigates students' attitudes toward bilingual learning, language preferences, and the perceived effectiveness of teaching strategies within a dual-language framework. Using case studies, in-depth interviews, and focus groups, the study captures detailed insights into students' bilingual learning experiences. Grounded in the Tamil-English bilingual context, the literature review draws on key theories of bilingualism and language acquisition, including Cummins' Threshold Hypothesis, the Bilingual Interactive Activation Model, and Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory. The study also incorporates the concept of translanguaging—the fluid use of multiple languages to maximize learning—and cognitive flexibility, defined as the mental ability to switch between thinking about different concepts or languages. Data is analyzed through thematic analysis, identifying recurring patterns related to student engagement, comprehension, and learning outcomes. Findings indicate the need to refine bilingual education practices in Tamil Nadu to better align with students' language preferences, support cognitive development, encourage cultural integration, and promote effective, student-centered instruction. Such refinements could help bridge the gap between theoretical frameworks and the practical realities of bilingual learning in regional educational settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100476"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Smart materials: Material synthesis and characterization of CuAl based shape memory alloys","authors":"T.S. Vamsi Krishna,&nbsp;D. Srinivasa Rao","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shape memory alloys (SMA) are materials that have the ability to return to its original shape when heated above the Austenite finish temperature. The synthesis and characterization of Cu-Al-based shape memory alloys were discussed. The composition of Cu-Al-X (X = Mn, Be, Ni, Ag, Cr, Zn, Fe) shape memory alloys will be altered during the preparation process using an induction furnace or Resistance furnace with Ar amosphere. The prepared samples exhibits a heterogeneous structure. The sample must undergo homogenization heat treatment. This leads to a state of homogeneity in the phases. Homogenized samples represent only stable phases i.e., γ and β phases. These phases should be transformed to <span><math><msubsup><mi>γ</mi><mn>1</mn><mo>′</mo></msubsup></math></span> and <span><math><msubsup><mi>β</mi><mn>1</mn><mo>′</mo></msubsup></math></span>'phases. These stages are necessary to demonstrate shape memory properties. Phase transformations are characterized by XRD studies and Scanning Electron microscopy. Transformation temperatures at which these phase transformations occur are determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100477"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental investigation on mechanical properties of 3D printed specimens with varying infill patterns","authors":"Amrita M,&nbsp;Vishnu Vardhan R,&nbsp;Prudhvi Sai V,&nbsp;Aswith Varma TAR,&nbsp;Sunny P","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly expanding advanced manufacturing technology that enables high accuracy and low-cost manufacturing of physical models and complex geometric structures. AM technology is currently found in a wide range of engineering applications, such as the mechanical, biomedical, construction, aerospace, and food industries. But there are many parameters on which the mechanical properties of 3D-printed components depend. In the present work, the influence of infill patterns of 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) components on mechanical properties is investigated. 3D printed components with a build plate temperature of 200 degrees, a printing temperature of 50 degrees, an infill density of 30 %, an infill thickness of 4 mm, and varying infill patterns are printed. Different infill patterns used are line, triangle, hexagon, and 3D infill. All samples are printed as per ASTM standards and are tested for their mechanical properties like tensile strength, hardness, and impact strength. Tensile strength is found to be highest for the hexagonal infill pattern and least for the line infill pattern. Toughness and hardness are found to be highest for the 3D infill pattern, with 222 % and 61.82 % enhancement over the line infill pattern. Under cyclic loading, the hexagonal infill specimen failed at 25614 cycles at loading conditions of 0.3‐–0.7 kN and at a frequency of 10 Hz.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100478"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reflecting on practice: Exploring how students learn to be reflective practitioners in an undergraduate nursing curriculum","authors":"Caroline Browne,&nbsp;Helen Dugmore","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100468","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100468","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing reflective practice in undergraduate nursing students is an important outcome of any Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program. Integrating reflection helps students: understand their values and expectations; link theory to practice; improve professional competence; and manage the stress and anxiety of transitioning to practice. Undergraduate students often engage with reflective practice at a descriptive level, and for reflection to be effective it must be purposeful and linked to practice. A Digital Storytelling Workshop was integrated into a final semester nursing unit to provide students with a creative way to reflect on their experiences and motivations across the degree.</div><div>Final Semester BN students completed an online survey (<em>n</em> = 117) evaluating their experience with reflection, including a depth of reflection questionnaire. Additionally, three students participated in interviews exploring their experiences with reflection across the curriculum. Findings suggest that students used reflection, and even critical reflection, to help them understand their practice. Offering alternate methods to develop reflective practice early in the BN curriculum may allow more students to engage with the reflective process and achieve a deeper level of reflection. The timing of the reflective activities in their final semester provided an opportunity for enhancing confidence prior to transition into professional practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100468"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144223171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An optimized mismatched filter for continuous emission ultrasound imaging","authors":"Axel Adam,&nbsp;Adrian Basarab,&nbsp;Hervé Liebgott,&nbsp;Barbara Nicolas","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Current pulse-echo ultrasound imaging techniques provide direct insight into tissue structures but face two key limitations: an upper bounded imaging framerate and an inability to capture phenomena during most of the acquisition time due to a small duty cycle and a short wave-tissue interaction duration. To address these issues, we proposed continuous emission ultrasound imaging (CEUI), demonstrated for motion-mode imaging with a single-input-single-output device.</div><div>CEUI relies on the continuous transmission of an encoded signal, requiring decoding upon reception. Initial evaluations of pulse compression approaches revealed a critical limitation: interference from other emission segments during decoding, causing image quality loss.</div><div>This paper introduces a mismatched filter designed to reduce integrated sidelobe ratio (ISLR) of a specific point spread function of the imaging system. The latter incorporates the impact of emission segments that interfere on a single decoding step. Simulation results show a significant enhancement of the ISLR by 7 dB compared to the matched filter and 5.5 dB compared to classical mismatched filter, while reducing the mainlobe width by 60 % and respectively 25 %.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100469"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144307104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Analysis of the solidification and phase separation of calcium chloride hexahydrate with different water content by means of X-ray computed tomography","authors":"Dario Guarda ,&nbsp;Jorge Martinez-Garcia ,&nbsp;Benjamin Fenk ,&nbsp;Poppy O'Neill ,&nbsp;Rebecca Ravotti ,&nbsp;Damian Gwerder ,&nbsp;Anastasia Stamatiou ,&nbsp;Jörg Worlitschek ,&nbsp;Simone Mancin ,&nbsp;Philipp Schuetz","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100475","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100475","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is a well-known technology that is quite new to the field of research of non-metallic phase change materials (PCMs) employed in latent thermal energy storages (LTESs). The current work demonstrate the value of XCT, opening unprecedent opportunities to obtain new insights on solid-liquid phase transition. XCT permits to measure accurately volumetric liquid fraction, observing the formation of voids and phase separation, also known as segregation, which is hindering the deployment of salt hydrates, a particular class of PCMs known for their relatively low cost compared to their quite high volumetric energy density. The capabilities of XCT could eventually lead to the understanding of the segregation phenomenon of salt hydrates and in the future, reliable salt hydrates-based LTES will be able to support the energy transition.</div><div>In the current study, the potential of XCT is shown during the analysis of calcium chloride hexahydrate (CaCl₂·6H₂O). XCT accuracy and rigorous protocol make it a potential benchmark for new measurement technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100475"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144703000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial neural network modelling of laser micro drilling process","authors":"Keerthi P.P.S. ,&nbsp;Rao M.S.","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Laser micromachining is gaining popularity in precision manufacturing of bioimplants, owing to its ability to create microstructures from difficult-to-machine materials like nitinol. This superalloy, known for its shape memory effect and super elasticity, presents significant challenges during conventional machining because of its low thermal conductivity and tendency to harden during processing. Using input parameters including sheet thickness, laser spot diameter and scanning speed, the study aims to model and predict hole quality, specifically circularity, and heat-affected zone thickness using an Artificial Neural Network Model. Using a nanosecond pulsed Nd:YAG laser, micro drilling was conducted on Nitinol sheets and the hole diameters are measured using a confocal microscope. A feedforward Artificial Neural Networks(ANN) model using Levenberg Marquardt Agorithm was trained for the performance measures of Heat Affected Zone thickness and circularity. With R2 values above 0.98 and Mean Squared Error (MSE) values below 0.01, the model demonstrated high accuracy. This study helps to achieve predictive control in precision production by combining of Artificial Neural Networks(ANN) with laser micromachining. This hybrid strategy could greatly enhance the manufacturing results for biomedical applications like orthopedic instruments, stents, and other implants whose performance is directly impacted by hole geometry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100480"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of generative AI chatbot in nursing education and care: A literature review","authors":"R. Ahmat,&nbsp;F.W.K. Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2025.100454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The development of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important. A digitally competent healthcare workforce will be vital to provide digital solutions in clinical settings. The current review aims to critically appraise the existing evidence over the application of generative AI chatbot in nursing education to improve knowledge, satisfaction, usability, confidence and critical thinking of nursing learners.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Literature searches were conducted using Medline, Embase, PubMed and ProQuest Central (From inception until October 2024). This review includes interventional studies in English or Chinese published in peer-review journal. Searching terms included “nursing education”, “Chatbot”, “Nursing Chatbot”, “Satisfaction”, “Confidence”, “knowledge”, \"critical thinking\" and \"usability\". Totally eight studies were included after the full review process.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Generative AI Chatbots have been used various areas in nursing education such as knowledge in physiology, physical examination, health education etc. Participants demonstrated significant changes in different attributes like knowledge level towards the taught content, learning satisfaction, usability and confidence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Generative AI chatbot has the potential to enhance nurses' knowledge and personal attributes. Previous findings provide valuable insights into the potential benefits of AI in nursing practice and a reference to support future research on chatbots in nursing education and training.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"14 ","pages":"Article 100454"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143724417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}