Science Talks最新文献

{"title":"Exploring fundamentals of immersive environment setups on food sensory perception in space contexts","authors":"Alicia Tran ,&nbsp;Julia Low ,&nbsp;Lisa Duizer","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100403","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100403","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research suggests that space travel alters sensory perception, however, it is not yet clear what individual factors affect this perception. Taylor et al. (2020) emphasised the importance of tailoring strategies to enhance palatability and intake based on individual differences. This study aims to evaluate how an immersive space-like environment, created using screens, influences food odour perception and emotional responses. Specifically, it explores the setup of immersive screen studies to assess sensory perception and affective responses over time, considering factors such as lighting conditions in dark versus bright rooms. 29 participants were involved in a crossover design experiment in which they watched a 20-min video of a rocket launch, accompanied by environmental sounds at 70 dB, following NASA's International Space Station noise constraints. The participants were randomly assigned to evaluate the video in either a dark or bright room. The rocket launch video was chosen for its emotional impact, as it can induce awe and self-transcendent experiences, like the “Overview Effect” experienced by astronauts. Participants assessed the intensity of three food odours (vanilla, citrus, and almond) at four time points: just after takeoff, and at 5, 10, and 15 min. Measurements included liking (9-point hedonic scale), intensity (Labeled Magnitude Scale), and emotional responses (using 39 terms from the EsSense Profile). Results showed that for vanilla and almond, odour liking remained consistent over time, regardless of lighting conditions. However, for citrus, liking increased over time in the dark room. An inverse relationship between positive and negative emotions throughout the immersion period was observed, highlighting the importance of time in evoking emotional responses. Emotions during testing with the immersive screens were generally positive, such as feelings of ‘calm’, suggesting that the methodology may not be entirely suitable for simulating the more cluttered and isolated environment of a space shuttle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100403"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142659024","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}

{"title":"Trends in hydrogen application for low-carbon iron and steel industry","authors":"Wei-Hsin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100401","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100401","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Massive anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, deteriorating atmospheric greenhouse effect and causing global warming and climate change, due to the remarkable consumption of fossil fuels have become the most significant obstacle to environmental sustainability [1]. Hydrogen has no carbon, so it is promising fuel and material used in the industry to lessen carbon emissions [2]. Ironmaking and steelmaking account for around 7 % of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions [3]. Traditional ironmaking and steelmaking processes are carbon-intensive [4, 5]; therefore, how to decrease carbon emissions during ironmaking and steelmaking to approach net zero is an urgent issue. Carbon replacement by hydrogen in ironmaking and steelmaking processes offers a clean and sustainable way to reduce CO₂ emissions. For example, hydrogen can replace CO to reduce iron ore [6]. The produced direct reduced iron (DRI) can then be melted in an electric arc furnace (EAF) to produce steel [7]. In blast furnaces, hydrogen-rich gases, including hydrogen, ammonia, natural gas, coke oven gas, and recycling top gas, can be injected for ironmaking [8,9]. In summary, hydrogen-based ironmaking and steelmaking hold great promise for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future in the iron and steel industry [10–12]. This talk introduces the state-of-the-art processes using hydrogen for ironmaking and steelmaking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100401"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142531379","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}

{"title":"Patent landscape analysis: How to find information on hydrogen peroxide industrial syntheses","authors":"Massimo Barbieri","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this presentation is to provide an overview of the methodology employed in patent landscape analyses (PLA), with a particular focus on the patented processes used to produce hydrogen peroxide.</div><div>Patents are an essential source of technical knowledge that may not be found anywhere else. In a paper published in World Patent Information it is posited that 57 % of technical information can be found exclusively in patents. Even if the quantity of information is difficult to quantify, the rising number of patent applications demonstrates the growing importance of patents as a source of information.</div><div>A patent landscape is a specific type of patent search conducted with the objective of identifying the most recent inventions or to study the development of a particular technology.</div><div>An example of PLA is reported, focused on the industrial production of hydrogen peroxide. The search was carried out using a combination of classification schemes (IPC – International Patent Classification and CPC – Cooperative Patent Classification) and keywords.</div><div>The global patent landscape is dominated by China, the USA and Japan. The patenting trend indicates a rise in the number of filings for electrolytic and photocatalytic methods, with a notable acceleration in the latter.</div><div>These results can be beneficial for researchers and technology transfer professionals. Researchers may utilize these findings to develop new photocatalytic methods or enhance the alkyl anthraquinone auto-oxidation (AO) process, focusing on the catalytic systems and reactors utilized for the hydrogenation step, for example.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100400"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142437658","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}

{"title":"Environmental pollution and value of ecotourism resources in the “no-take” marine protected areas: A case of Perhentian marine park, Malaysia","authors":"Gazi Md Nurul Islam ,&nbsp;Mohd Fadzli Abdul Khir ,&nbsp;Ataul Karim Patwary","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The government of Malaysia has established several marine protected areas (MPAs) in offshore islands since the 1980s to protect overexploited fisheries resources and coral reefs habitat. However, coral reefs and fisheries in MPA suffer from natural and anthropogenic disturbances mainly caused by increased tourism activities and pollution from land-based activities. This paper examines the level of tourism activities causing pollution to the coral reef habitats in the Perhentian MPA. This study used paired comparison methods to elicit the perception of local stakeholders on activities harmful to marine habitats. The data for this study was obtained from face-to-face interviews with local people to solicit their perceptions on the environmental damage to marine ecosystems using a structured questionnaire. The results showed that improper sewage discharge by the small resorts, direct disposal of sewage from village into sea, and littering on the beach are the most damaging activities that threaten the sustainability of the resources in Perhentian MPA. The study concludes that management of marine resources is not the sole responsibility of the government authority, need to involve local community for the conservation activities to develop sustainable tourism in the MPAs in Malaysia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100399"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142531380","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}

{"title":"The transformation process as an adaptive cycle and its application to recovery from desertification in Shinyanga","authors":"Bryan Jenkins","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using Holling's adaptive cycle, a framework for social-ecological system assessment and transformation is described. It includes assessments of disturbance beyond the biophysical system capacity to recover. This can trigger a transformation process for recovery with elements of an adaptive cycle: an exploitation phase of using human and economic resources, an accumulation phase of acquiring knowledge and social, cultural, and economic capital, a disturbance phase of formulating new approaches to biophysical system management, and a reorganization phase of developing new institutional arrangements. Management interventions are then implemented. These interventions relate to the four phases of the biophysical system adaptive cycle: reducing pressure on the resource in the exploitation phase, addressing legacy issues in the accumulation phase, increasing system resilience in the disturbance phase, and rehabilitating adverse effects in the reorganization phase. This framework is applied to woodland clearance to expand agriculture and eradicate tsetse fly that led to soil erosion and desertification in Shinyanga, Tanzania. After centralized attempts at restoration failed, the program manager worked in partnership with local farmers and incorporated traditional knowledge and institutions. The transformation led to woodland restoration and increased ecosystem services.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100398"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142416680","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}

{"title":"Machine learning algorithms to forecast wet-period rainfall using climate indices in Northern Territory of Australia","authors":"Rashid Farooq ,&nbsp;Monzur Alam Imteaz ,&nbsp;Donghui Shangguan ,&nbsp;Kamila Hlavčová","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate rainfall prediction is crucial for understanding and managing a region's social and agricultural environment. As a key indicator of climate change, natural disasters, and local geography, rainfall data empowers us to make informed decisions for various beneficial purposes. Machine learning offers powerful tools for improving rainfall prediction accuracy and estimation capabilities. This study examines how multiple climate indices simultaneously influence wet-period rainfall patterns at two Northern Territory (NT) stations, Hermannsburg and Undoolya. We selected two machine learning models, Random Forest (RF) for its robustness and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for its ability to capture temporal patterns, to investigate these relationships. For this purpose, a variety of input sets, including lagged Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO), were proposed and utilized to calibrate and validate, RF and LSTM Models. Our analysis revealed that large-scale climate factors like IOD, Nino 3.4, and MJO significantly influence wet-period rainfall predictions of the NT. Furthermore, the LSTM model outperformed the RF model to predict the wet-period rainfall at the selected stations. For instance, the LSTM achieved higher R² i.e., 0.86 and lower values for both RMSE (ranging from 0.63 to 0.72) and MAE (ranging from 0.43 to 0.64) during the testing phase, indicating a closer fit between predicted and actual wet-period rainfall values.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100397"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142416681","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}

{"title":"Academic visitor management system with pervasive mobile integration","authors":"Jose Naldrix D. Rivera","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Protecting faculty, staff and student is one of the main obligations of any educational institution but having a visitor at school grounds may mean sacrificing their safety. Visitors who enter the school come for different reasons and intentions. Some are legitimate visitors but some are burglars and troublemakers that disrupt the educational process. This becomes the primary security challenge for many educational institutions. The gate entrance and security personnel are the primary line of defense of the school against unwanted visitor. On the other hand, legitimate visitors are very important for the school since they can be a potential client and potential marketer if they witness how good the school system and infrastructure is. Most schools are still using a traditional and paper-based method. The visitor fill-out their information in the log book which can be falsified and some hand writing were hard to read. Hence, the report submitted is unreliable when administrator or school employee ask for a particular purpose, like theft or fighting incident. In addition, instructions of office, student, or employee whereabouts is very time consuming. This research study addresses these issues by developing an academic visitor management system (AVMS) with pervasive mobile integration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100396"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142416684","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}

{"title":"Automated surface roughness classification using robot vision","authors":"Sanjay Krishnarao Darvekar ,&nbsp;Juttuka Yaswanth Sai Venkatesh ,&nbsp;Abbaraju Bala Koteswara Rao ,&nbsp;Ravi Sekhar ,&nbsp;Pritesh Shah ,&nbsp;Gautam Ingle","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100395","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100395","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A robot vision system, also known as a Machine Vision (MV) system, enables automatic inspection using image processing techniques. This research focuses on the classification of turned surface images into four categories (A, B, C, and D) using deep learning algorithms with transfer learning. Images were captured under varying machining conditions (speed, feed, depth of cut) as per a full factorial experimental design. The dataset was divided with 70 % for training, 15 % for validation, and 15 % for testing the algorithms. Surface roughness parameters were analyzed using a robot vision system, comprising a Mitsubishi articulated robot with 6 degrees of freedom and a 4 kg payload, and a Cognex In-Sight 7801 camera (1.3 MP, 1280 × 1024 resolution). The performance of the models was evaluated based on average accuracy. The system demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the surface finish inspection process in high-production industries, reducing labor costs, inspection time, operator errors, and setup requirements, thereby increasing productivity and lowering production costs<em>.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100395"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142416679","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}

{"title":"Long-term recovery of taste and smell following acute COVID-19 infection in a New Jersey cohort","authors":"Samuel C.Z. Gautier ,&nbsp;Vaishnavi Coneti ,&nbsp;Daniel B. Horton ,&nbsp;Patricia Greenberg ,&nbsp;Tracy Andrews ,&nbsp;Emily S. Barrett ,&nbsp;Jeffrey L. Carson ,&nbsp;Martin J. Blaser ,&nbsp;Reynold A. Panettieri Jr ,&nbsp;Shristi Rawal","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100390","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100390","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Loss of taste and smell is one of the most troubling symptoms of long COVID and may be permanent for some. Correlation between subjectively and objectively assessed olfactory and gustatory impairment is low, leading to uncertainty about how many people are affected, how many recover, and to what extent. We prospectively investigated the effects of COVID-19 on long-term chemosensory function in a university and hospital-based cohort in NJ. We followed 856 participants from March 2020 through April 2022, of which 58 were diagnosed with COVID-19 and completed the NHANES 2013–2014 taste and smell protocol, including a chemosensory questionnaire, whole-mouth taste tests, and an 8-item odor identification test at and/or before acute COVID-19 infection. Of these, 29 repeated taste and smell assessments at 6 months (183.0 ± 54.6) follow-up. Total overall smell score significantly improved from baseline to 6-month follow up (6.9 ± 1.4 vs 7.6 ± 0.8; <em>p</em> = .01). Taste intensity also improved across 6 months, but not significantly. Our study is the first to show psychophysically-assessed and self-reported long-term recovery of olfactory and gustatory function in the same population after acute COVID-19.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100390"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772569324000987/pdfft?md5=cbf437fe0e72e0a9c92d5c09fe2b2db3&pid=1-s2.0-S2772569324000987-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142098029","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}

{"title":"Development of a virtual reality spacecraft environment as a ground-based analog for collecting space food sensory data (‘Food in Space’)","authors":"Julia Low,&nbsp;Grace Loke","doi":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100391","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sctalk.2024.100391","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The present study aimed to address the potential of ground-based food and sensory research in representing the isolated and confined environment of a spacecraft. Virtual Reality (VR) technology was employed to simulate the experience of perceived isolation and confinement within space. The VR simulation emulates the International Space Station in low Earth orbit, comprising interconnected space modules equipped with integrated sensory analysis tools for evaluating food odor cues within the VR environment (‘Food in Space’, Supplementary A). In our first experiment, 44 healthy participants were asked to rate the intensity of three commercially available food odor samples (vanilla, lemon, almond) and a control on a 5-point Likert scale, in the neutral sitting posture, a NASA-Neutral sitting posture (mimicking a ‘microgravity’ posture using a commercial ‘Zero-gravity’ outdoor chair set at 122–124°), and within the VR simulation. This first phase revealed large individual variations across odors. Importantly, there were no significant differences for most odors when the odor perceptions of the three odors between the neutral and ‘microgravity’ neutral postures were compared. However, there were significant differences for select odors between VR and both the postures (Supplementary B) indicating that the VR ‘Food in Space’ environment may impact odor perception differently across odors. A second pilot study with 16 participants evaluated four food odor samples (vanilla, lemon, almond, eucalyptus) and a control across different contexts (baseline control, virtual reality) and time points during virtual reality. The emotional responses during the experiences were also evaluated explicitly using validated scales such as the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) and the short-formed Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS-SF). This second phase revealed that participants' descriptions of their emotional responses underwent changes before and after their virtual reality experiences. Terms used were generally more neutral and positive before VR (e.g., ‘interested’, ‘attentive’) and more negative after spending an average of 9 min 35 s in virtual reality (e.g., ‘nervous’, ‘guilty’). There was also variation across participants in terms of emotional responses and odor intensity perception (blank control) especially after spending a longer time in the virtual reality environment (Supplementary C). This exploratory study underscores the potential of using VR technology as a space analog to simulate context for studying sensory responses in relation to food as the current data matches anecdotal eating behavior of space travelers. Personal variation in odor perception should also be taken into consideration, especially in creating personalized meal plans for space applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":101148,"journal":{"name":"Science Talks","volume":"11 ","pages":"Article 100391"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772569324000999/pdfft?md5=55f3aebb50ccde572fe3e4172f409dc5&pid=1-s2.0-S2772569324000999-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142097902","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}