Transformations that affect fate, form and bioavailability of inorganic nanoparticles in aquatic sediments

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kynaston Cross ◽  
Charles Tyler ◽  
Tamara S Galloway
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Environment ◽  
Extracellular Polymeric Substances ◽  
Inorganic Nanoparticles ◽  
Engineered Nanomaterials ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Aquatic Sediments ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Engineered Nanomaterial ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Prospective Risk

Environmental context Engineered nanomaterials are increasingly being used and their release to the aquatic environment poses potential risk. We review the research on transformations of engineered nanomaterial in the aquatic sediment environments, and consider the implications of their release. The key factors defining the fate of engineered nanomaterials in aqueous and sediment systems are identified. Abstract Inorganic nanoparticles are at risk of release into the aquatic environment owing to their function, use and methods of disposal. Aquatic sediments are predicted to be a large potential sink for such engineered nanomaterial (ENM) emissions. On entering water bodies, ENMs undergo a range of transformations dependent on the physicochemical nature of the immediate environment, as they pass from the surface waters to sediments and into sediment-dwelling organisms. This review assesses the current state of research on transformations of metal-based ENMs in the aquatic environment, and considers the implications of these transformations for the fate and persistence of ENMs and their bioavailability to organisms within the benthos. We identify the following factors of key importance in the fate pathways of ENMs in aqueous systems: (1) extracellular polymeric substances, prevalent in many aquatic systems, create the potential for temporal fluxes of ENMs to the benthos, currently unaccounted for in predictive models. (2) Weak secondary deposition onto sediment grains may dominate sediment–ENM interactions for larger aggregates >500nm, potentially granting dynamic long-term mobility of ENMs within sediments. (3) Sulfurisation, aggregation and reduction in the presence of humic acid is likely to limit the presence of dissolved ions from soluble ENMs within sediments. (4) Key benthic species are identified based on their ecosystem functionality and potential for ENM exposure. On the basis of these findings, we recommend future research areas which will support prospective risk assessment by enhancing our knowledge of the transformations ENMs undergo and the likely effects these will have.

scholarly journals Learning beyond the Brick and Mortar: A Review of Prospects and Challenges of E-learning Innovation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lamin B. Ceesay
Keyword(s):  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Future Research ◽  
It Services ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Brick And Mortar ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Adoption And Diffusion ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
And Diffusion

Increased proliferation of IT services in all sectors has reinforced the adoption and diffusion across all levels of education and training institutions. However, lack of awareness of and knowledge about the key challenges and opportunities of elearning, seem to allude policymakers, resulting in low adoption or increased failure rate of many e-learning projects. Our study tries to address this problem through a review of relevant literature in e-learning. Our goal was to draw from the existing literature, insights into the opportunities and challenges of e-learning diffusion, and the current state-of-research in the field. To do this, we employed a systematic review of literature on some of the salient opportunities and challenges of e-learning innovation for educational institutions. These results aimed to inform policymakers and suggest some interesting issues to advance the research and adoption and diffusion of e-learning. Moreover, the bibliometric analysis shows that the field is experiencing high research attraction among scholars. However, several research areas in the field witnessed relatively low research paucity. Based on these findings, we discussed topics for possible future research.

scholarly journals Entrepreneurship education research in Nigeria: current foci and future research agendas

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lemun Yatu ◽  
Robin Bell ◽  
Mark Loon
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Time Span ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Literature Reviews ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose Entrepreneurship education plays a crucial role in the development of entrepreneurs and the enhancement of entrepreneurial activities in every economy. This paper presents the findings of a review of Nigerian entrepreneurship education literature published in 20 journals over a 16-year period. The purpose of this paper is to examine research contributions in the field of entrepreneurship education within the Nigerian context, with the aim of understanding the focus and the different research areas covered by researchers in this area, and to make suggestions that can guide scholars in their future research contributions. Design/methodology/approach Systematic literature reviews are recognized methods for conducting evidence-based research. The study adopted a systematic literature review approach, drawing from a computerized search of five selected databases, using predetermined key words by the researchers. Findings The main finding of this paper is that related concepts like skills, intention, drive and attitude have been used in expounding discussions on the outcome of entrepreneurship education, but very little has been written on entrepreneurial mindset, which other studies have suggested is a crucial point in the journey of an entrepreneur (Reed and Stoltz, 2011; Neneh, 2012). Furthermore, learning and teaching of entrepreneurship in the Nigerian higher education institutions seem to be more focused on creating awareness about entrepreneurship, as against the experiential approach that scholars have argued to be a prerequisite for developing the next generation of entrepreneurs (Bell, 2015). The study also found that over 80 percent of the reviewed articles are published in journals not ranked or indexed in the ABS journal rankings or the Scopus database. Research limitations/implications The paper is limited since it is based on a review of literature from a selected range of databases, covering a specific time span. This potentially excludes other studies outside this time span. Scholarship in this area and context will benefit greatly when researchers target, choose and engage the higher ranked and more impactful journals as the outlet for their research outputs. Practical implications At a time when efforts are being made to address socioeconomic issues like poverty and unemployment through mainstream training in entrepreneurship education, this paper provides a better understanding of the state of research in this context, by highlighting the potential gaps as to where research investigation is needed for better policy formulation and guiding future research. Originality/value There are limited studies that focus on the issue of entrepreneurial mindset in entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Overall, this paper identifies an important gap in the literature that warrants future research.

A Review of Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) based on Bibliometry

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Gaurav ◽  
Abhay Sharma ◽  
G S Dangayach ◽  
M L Meena
Keyword(s):  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Minimum Quantity Lubrication ◽  
Citation Network ◽  
Machining Process ◽  
Cutting Fluid ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Minimum Quantity ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Future Research Directions

Background: Minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) is one of the most promising machining techniques that can yield a reduction in consumption of cutting fluid more than 90 % while ensuring the surface quality and tool life. The significance of the MQL in machining makes it imperative to consolidate and analyse the current direction and status of research in MQL. Objective: This study aims to assess global research publication trends and hot topics in the field of MQL among machining process. The bibliometric and descriptive analysis are the tools that the investigation aims to use for the data analysis of related literature collected from Scopus databases. Methods: Various performance parameters are extracted, such as document types and languages of publication, annual scientific production, total documents, total citations, and citations per article. The top 20 of the most relevant and productive sources, authors, affiliations, countries, word cloud, and word dynamics are assessed. The graphical visualisation of the bibliometric data is presented in terms of bibliographic coupling, citation, and co-citation network. Results: The investigation reveals that the International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture (2611 citations, 31 hindex) is the most productive journal that publishes on MQL. The most productive institution is the University of Michigan (32 publications), the most cited country is Germany (1879 citations), and the most productive country in MQL is China (124 publications). The study shows that ‘Cryogenic Machining’, ‘Sustainable Machining’, ‘Sustainability’, ‘Nanofluid’ and ‘Titanium alloy’ are the most recent keywords and indications of the hot topics and future research directions in the MQL field. Conclusion: The analysis finds that MQL is progressing in publications and the emerging with issues that are strongly associated with the research. This study is expected to help the researchers to find the most current research areas through the author’s keywords and future research directions in MQL and thereby expand their research interests.

Conclusion

2020 ◽  
pp. 698-719
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Rice ◽  
Simeon J. Yates ◽  
Jordana Blejmar
Keyword(s):  
Digital Technology ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Technology And Society ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Research Areas

We conclude the Handbook of Digital Technology and Society by identifying topics that appear in multiple chapters, are more unique to some chapters, and that represent general themes across the material. Each of these is considered separately for the ESRC theme chapters and the non-ESRC chapters. In the ESRC theme chapters, cross-cutting research topics include digital divides and inequalities; data and digital literacy; governance, regulation, and legislation; and the roles and impacts of major platforms. Cross-cutting challenges include methods; theory development, testing, and evaluation; ethics; big data; and multi-platform/holistic studies. Gaps include policy implications, and digital culture. In the non-ESRC chapters, more cross-cutting themes include future research and methods; technology venues; relationships; content and creation; culture and everyday life; theory; and societal effects. More unique, these were digitization of self; managing digital experience; names for the digital/social era; ethics; user groups; civic issues; health, and positive effects. The chapter also shows how the non-ESRC chapters may be clustered together based on their shared themes and subthemes, identifying two general themes of more micro and more macro topics. The identification of both more and less common topics and themes can provide the basis for understanding the landscape of prior research, what areas need to be included in ongoing research, and what research areas might benefit from more attention. The chapter ends with some recommendations for such ongoing and future research in the rich, important, and challenging area of digital technology and society.

scholarly journals Monitoring the technological processes in the wood industry in order to make them more efficient through technical overhauling

2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Radu Dan Paltan ◽  
Cristina Biriş ◽  
Loredana Anne-Marie Rădulescu
Keyword(s):  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Operating Mode ◽  
Solid Wood ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Operating Costs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Wood Industry ◽  
Research Article ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
The Cost

Of many techniques that are used to optimize production and costs, the studies conducted within a profile company lead to our choice for testing the 6Sigma method (the most used method in the automotive industry) in view of the economic efficiency applied in the wood Industry company. This method measures how many flaws exist in a process and determines in a systematic way how to improve it by technical overhauling and eliminating or minimizing the process for efficiency. This research article aims to study the state of research on the optimization of the production process through technical overhauling for panels reconstituted from solid wood and ways to make production more efficient by cutting costs through technical overhauling. From preliminary research, we estimate that all the items founded and others that will result from further research will result in a significant decrease in production costs that are reflected in the cost of the finished product and consequently in increasing the yield of the company by maximizing its profit. At the same time it may be the basis of future research studies in the field. The easier it is to maximize profits, the lower the operating costs are and the higher recovery rate of investments are, that will result a change in the operating mode: “working smarter not harder”.

scholarly journals Cybersickness in current-generation virtual reality head-mounted displays: systematic review and outlook

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polona Caserman ◽  
Augusto Garcia-Agundez ◽  
Alvar Gámez Zerban ◽  
Stefan Göbel
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Generation ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Head Mounted Displays ◽  
Skin Response ◽  
Golden Standard

AbstractCybersickness (CS) is a term used to refer to symptoms, such as nausea, headache, and dizziness that users experience during or after virtual reality immersion. Initially discovered in flight simulators, commercial virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMD) of the current generation also seem to cause CS, albeit in a different manner and severity. The goal of this work is to summarize recent literature on CS with modern HMDs, to determine the specificities and profile of immersive VR-caused CS, and to provide an outlook for future research areas. A systematic review was performed on the databases IEEE Xplore, PubMed, ACM, and Scopus from 2013 to 2019 and 49 publications were selected. A summarized text states how different VR HMDs impact CS, how the nature of movement in VR HMDs contributes to CS, and how we can use biosensors to detect CS. The results of the meta-analysis show that although current-generation VR HMDs cause significantly less CS ($$p<0.001$$ p < 0.001 ), some symptoms remain as intense. Further results show that the nature of movement and, in particular, sensory mismatch as well as perceived motion have been the leading cause of CS. We suggest an outlook on future research, including the use of galvanic skin response to evaluate CS in combination with the golden standard (Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, SSQ) as well as an update on the subjective evaluation scores of the SSQ.

scholarly journals Basing Information on Comprehensive, Critically Appraised, and Up-to-Date Syntheses of the Scientific Evidence: An Update from the International Patient Decision Aid Standards

2021 ◽  
pp. 0272989X2199662
Author(s):  
Tammy C. Hoffmann ◽  
Mina Bakhit ◽  
Marie-Anne Durand ◽  
Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez ◽  
Catherine Saunders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Aid ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Decision Aids ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Patient Decision Aid ◽  
Patient Decision Aids ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Patient Decision ◽  
Evidence Quality ◽  
Emerging Issues

Background Patients and clinicians expect the information in patient decision aids to be based on the best available research evidence. The objectives of this International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) review were to 1) check the currency of, and where needed, update evidence for the domain of “basing the information in decision aids on comprehensive, critically appraised, and up-to-date syntheses of the evidence”; 2) analyze the evidence characteristics of decision aids; and 3) propose updates to relevant IPDAS criteria. Methods We searched MEDLINE and PubMed to inform updates of this domain’s definitions, justifications, and components. We also searched 5 sources to identify all publicly available decision aids ( N = 471). Two assessors independently extracted each aid’s evidence characteristics. Results Minor updates to the definitions and theoretical justifications of this IPDAS domain are provided and changes to relevant IPDAS criteria proposed. Nearly all aids (97%) provided a year of creation/update, but most (81%) did not report an explicit update or expiration policy. No scientific references were cited in 33% of aids. Of the 314 that cited at least 1 reference, 39% cited at least 1 guideline, 44% cited at least 1 systematic review, and 23% cited at least 1 randomized trial. In 35%, it was unclear what statement in the aid the citations referred to. Only 14% reported any of the processes used to find and decide on evidence inclusion. Only 14% reported the evidence quality. Many emerging issues and future research areas were identified. Conclusions Although many emerging issues need to be addressed, this IPDAS domain is validated and criteria refined. High-quality patient decision aids should be based on comprehensive and up-to-date syntheses of critically appraised evidence.

scholarly journals Advances of 2nd Life Applications for Lithium Ion Batteries from Electric Vehicles Based on Energy Demand

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5726
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Wewer ◽  
Pinar Bilge ◽  
Franz Dietrich
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Lithium Ion Batteries ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Study Results ◽  
The Impact

Electromobility is a new approach to the reduction of CO2 emissions and the deceleration of global warming. Its environmental impacts are often compared to traditional mobility solutions based on gasoline or diesel engines. The comparison pertains mostly to the single life cycle of a battery. The impact of multiple life cycles remains an important, and yet unanswered, question. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate advances of 2nd life applications for lithium ion batteries from electric vehicles based on their energy demand. Therefore, it highlights the limitations of a conventional life cycle analysis (LCA) and presents a supplementary method of analysis by providing the design and results of a meta study on the environmental impact of lithium ion batteries. The study focuses on energy demand, and investigates its total impact for different cases considering 2nd life applications such as (C1) material recycling, (C2) repurposing and (C3) reuse. Required reprocessing methods such as remanufacturing of batteries lie at the basis of these 2nd life applications. Batteries are used in their 2nd lives for stationary energy storage (C2, repurpose) and electric vehicles (C3, reuse). The study results confirm that both of these 2nd life applications require less energy than the recycling of batteries at the end of their first life and the production of new batteries. The paper concludes by identifying future research areas in order to generate precise forecasts for 2nd life applications and their industrial dissemination.

scholarly journals Corruption in Construction Projects: Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4400
Author(s):  
Zhao Zhai ◽  
Ming Shan ◽  
Amos Darko ◽  
Albert P. C. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Global Research

Corruption has been identified as a major problem in construction projects. It can jeopardize the success of these projects. Consequently, corruption has garnered significant attention in the construction industry over the past two decades, and several studies on corruption in construction projects (CICP) have been conducted. Previous efforts to analyze and review this body of knowledge have been manual, qualitative and subjective, thus prone to bias and limited in the number of reviewed studies. There remains a lack of inclusive, quantitative, objective and computational analysis of global CICP research to inform future research, policy and practice. This study aims to address this lack by providing the first inclusive bibliometric study exploring the state-of-the-art of global CICP research. To this end, a quantitative and objective technique aided by CiteSpace was used to systematically and computationally analyze a large corpus of 542 studies retrieved from the Web of Science and published from 2000 to 2020. The findings revealed major and influential CICP research journals, persons, institutions, countries, references and areas of focus, as well as revealing how these interact with each other in research networks. This study contributes to the in-depth understanding of global research on CICP. By highlighting the principal research areas, gaps, emerging trends and directions, as well as patterns in CICP research, the findings could help researchers, practitioners and policy makers position their future CICP research and/or mitigation strategies.

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