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One of the most innovative materials available today is polyester resin, which finds application in a wide range of industries, including consumer products, automotive, aircraft, marine, construction, sports and renewable energy, due to its impressive mechanical properties and low cost. In recent years, significant progress has been achieved in the development of polyester resin composites. This paper aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in the field of polyester resin composites.

The review introduces the properties of polyester resins and the fabrication techniques used to prepare polyester resin composites. It provides an overview of the reinforcement materials such as fibers and nanoparticles that are commonly used to enhance the properties of the composites. Recent advances in the use of fillers such as nanocellulose, graphene and carbon nanotubes are also discussed. This work highlights the latest developments in the functionalization of polyester resin composites, which aims to improve the properties of the composite materials for specific applications in diverse fields such as aerospace, biomedical and energy. It highlights how collaborations worldwide, business and academia are working together to advance polyester resin composite technologies.

The study emphasizes how urgent it is to adopt sustainable practices, which, in turn, is driving research into polyester resins that are recycled and biobased to create a circular economy. Constant advancements open up new possibilities for application development and improve performance, such as nanotechnology and smart materials. Furthermore, businesses are being revolutionized by sophisticated production processes like 3Dimensional printing and Internet of Things integration, which enable mass customization and real-time monitoring. These partnerships advance the sector and encourage the use of polyester resin composites in environmentally friendly applications. The remarkable mechanical, thermal and chemical capabilities of polyester resin composites are highlighted, showcasing their importance in a range of applications.

The study is a major step toward a sustainable tomorrow since it highlights the potential of polyester resin composites to build a more durable and environmentally friendly future. This review paper summarizes the recent advances in the development of polyester resin composites, highlighting their potential for advancing technologies in various fields. The knowledge gained from this review paper will undoubtedly aid researchers in designing novel polyester resin composite materials with tailored properties for specific applications.

This paper aims to explore how experienced nurses relate to hazing and uncover the underlying limits of tolerance for newcomers.

Data were collected through eight qualitative focus group interviews (n = 35) and analysed using reflexive thematic coding.

The analysis revealed three themes in the limits of experienced nurses’ tolerance of newcomers: “Don’t be sensitive”, “Prove your respectability” and “Accept your inequality of rights”.

The paper challenges existing perspectives on hazing motivation since tolerating newcomers is motivated by defending the status quo against threatening and challenging newcomers.

The study examines how calculative practices and accountability appear in a rural community of marginalised people in Egypt who depend on jasmine plantations that contribute to the production of global essences.

The data were collected from various sources, namely conversations with villagers, documents and relevant videos and news available on social media and the Internet. This study draws on the concepts of social accountability, the politics of blame avoidance and using calculative practices as a language to explain accountability in context.

The author found a lack of accountability on the part of the government and business owners, with serious implications for the livelihoods of people in a community that has been wholly dependent on jasmine plantations for a century. Power holders have deployed a blame-shifting game to avoid social responsibility. In response, calculative practices rather than advanced accounting tools are used by the poor in the community to induce power holders to be accountable.

The findings of this study show that authorities need to take proactive steps to address the disadvantaged position of powerless people in the lower echelons of society, recognising their accountability for those people.

This paper enhances the understanding of the status of calculative practices and accountability in a community of marginalised people who contribute to the production of global commodities. The paper also enhances the understanding of what goes on behind the scenes with popular and prestigious commodities, whose development is initiated in poor countries, with the end product marketed in rich Western countries.

This chapter provides a historical overview of European colonialism, detailing how nations like Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands began their colonial endeavors in the 15th and 16th centuries, driven by exploration and trade motivations. These nations established vast empires through maritime exploration, setting up trading posts and colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The chapter outlines these early powers’ distinct colonial practices and legacies, highlighting Portugal’s focus on Brazil, Spain’s exploitation in the Americas, and the Netherlands’ trading empire. The chapter also examines the later colonial efforts of France and Britain, which became prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries. These countries utilized different methods, including the encomienda system and casta hierarchy in Spanish colonies, and the civilizing mission and divide-and-rule tactics in British colonies. The chapter discusses how these practices were justified through ideologies of racial superiority and the civilizing mission, deeply embedding racism and social hierarchies into colonial rule. Additionally, the chapter addresses the colonial ventures of Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, and Germany. It covers Denmark’s settlements in the Caribbean and Greenland, Sweden’s short-lived colonies and involvement in the slave trade, Italy’s brutal regime in Africa, Belgium’s horrific exploitation of the Congo under King Leopold II, and Germany’s late but impactful colonial period marked by the Herero and Nama genocide.

Building upon the working notion of Southern green victimology, the presentation explores the case of Andalgalá, Province of Catamarca, Argentina, where international corporations have been trying to develop a mining project that would affect the environment and the health of the local population. Facing the lack of support from the state, the organised local community tried to prevent their actual environmental victimisation and they committed to stop this damaging undertaking. Following these intents, the Argentinean criminal justice system acted to the detriment of these local actors (over-criminalisation) and favour mining corporations that can cause irreparable damage to the local water and air resources (under-criminalisation). In short, the case study will shed light on the common features of Southern green victimisation: (1) attempts to consolidate corporate investments involving extensive environmental harms in forms already banned in the Global North, (2) a committed resistance by the local environmental groups, (3) the harsh selectivity of the criminal justice system, and (4). immunity of corporate environmental harms/crimes.

This study aims to describe the conversion of rice straw (RS) as an agricultural plant waste to high-performance cationic flocculant for kaolin clay suspension in wastewater treatment as an alternative to synthetic ones.

This was done by grafting rice straw after pretreatment with acrylamide (Aam) using microwave irradiation technique without using an initiator in an open vessel container for wastewater treatment. Radiation time, monomer and rice straw pulp concentration as well as microwave power were scrutinized to examine their impact on maximizing the graft yield %. Application of the resultant copolymers as flocculants for kaolin clay suspension was willful by studying the foremost influences inducing the flocculation process, for instance, flocculent dose, pH, stirring speed and extent of grafting.

It is seen from the obtained results that both FTIR, SEM, X-Ray diffraction, Thermo gravimetric analysis and Zeta potential confirmed the formation of the cationic amide group onto the graft copolymer chain in comparison with the ungrafted one; the microwave initiation method proved to be a very efficient tool concerning maximizing the graft yield % with no harsh chemicals used for initiating grafting; the flocculation efficiency of the prepared copolymers augmented by increasing the flocculant dose, pH and stirring speed to a maximum value signified at 2.0 g, 6.0 and 75 r/min, respectively, then decreased thereafter while increased by increasing the extent of grafting within the range studied; the flocculant reserved high flocculation efficiency even after five cycles of flocculation/regeneration; preliminary bridging mechanism demonstrating the attraction between the kaolin anionic suspended particles and cationic poly (Aam)-rice straw graft copolymer has been predicted.

The novelty addressed here is undertaken by preparing a very efficient cationic flocculant using rice straw waste with different degrees of grafting for the treatment of wastewater using this kind of microwave irradiation approach as an eco-friendly tool. As far as the authors are aware, no thorough investigation has been done in the literature until now dealing with the above-mentioned preparation process.

Touch mode capacitive pressure sensors (TMCPS) offer superior sensitivity and linearity in comparison to normal mode CPS and have therefore seen substantial improvements in modeling and construction. This study aims to develop a sensor that is highly robust, with near-linear output characteristics, increased sensitivity and superior overload protection, making it an ideal choice for deployment in harsh industrial environments.

The proposed sensor design uses a substrate with a multi-step notch, introducing a new quadruple TMCPS and uses a small deflection model for mathematical analysis. Addition of a multi-step notch to traditional touch mode capacitive sensors results in quadruple touch regions which further enhances its operational range performance.

The simulation of diaphragm deflection in response to pressure is carried out by using COMSOL Multiphysics, whereas MATLAB is used for analytical simulations pertaining to variations in capacitance and capacitive sensitivity. Comparing with earlier models, there is a noticeable enhancement in capacitance, experiencing a fivefold increase. The achieved value stands at 50.1 pF, reflecting improved sensitivity for applied pressure ranging from 0 to 2 MPa.

In existing literature to improve the performance of the single TMCPS, a double-sided TMCPS has been developed. To enhance sensor performance, a substrate with a multi-step notch is proposed. The notch creates four touch regions with varying gap depths, resulting in increased capacitance and capacitive sensitivity.

Exhibiting an unprecedented rate of advancement, technology’s progression over the past two decades has regrettably led to a disturbing increase in the distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) online. Compounded by the emergence of an underground cryptocurrency market, which serves as a primary distribution channel for these materials, the investigation and sanctioning of CSAM present a complex and unique set of challenges. The purpose of this study is to accurately diagnose the CSAM sentencing landscape and build a more comprehensive, evidence-based legal framework in penology.

The study collected and analyzed case details regarding CSAM sanctions in a database sourced from the US Department of Justice for 2020. Various factors were analyzed such as the victim’s age, offender typology and previous conviction, accompanied by an analysis of how these factors affect the sentence length.

The study found that the hierarchical agency-level interactions give insight into resource allocation prioritization, as well as confirming a close relationship between prior conviction history and sentence length, with the victim’s age inversely related to sentence length. Leveraging data-driven insights, the study paves the way for more targeted and effective sanctions, ultimately contributing to the broader goal of safeguarding children from online sexual exploitation.

The paper provides a critical analysis of the complex landscape surrounding CSAM distribution and judicial sentencing. By examining case details and leveraging data-driven insights, it offers valuable contributions to understanding the interplay between various factors such as victim age, offender typology and prior convictions on sentencing outcomes. This comprehensive approach not only sheds light on the dynamics of CSAM sanctions but also lays the groundwork for evidence-based legal frameworks in penology. Its originality lies in its nuanced examination of hierarchical agency interactions and its potential to inform more targeted interventions for safeguarding children from online exploitation.

In recent years, a number of privileged individuals have entered the music industry in Zimbabwe, either as performers or entrepreneurs. The economic challenges in the country may have prompted these individuals to invest in music as a means of diversifying their income or exploring new business opportunities. To determine whether their interest in music is driven by entrepreneurship or genuine passion, a scholarly examination was deemed necessary.

A qualitative research approach with semi-structured interviews was used as the data collection technique. Narrative analysis was conducted on a sample of musicology students in Gweru, Zimbabwe.

The findings revealed the nepo babies’ interest in music is driven by legacy continuation – the responsibility to carry on with the name of the parent – harsh economic conditions, capitalizing on Internet and digital opportunities and mechanisms for psychological satisfaction during hardships.

Although there is a wide range of literature on musicpreneurship, there are gaps in studies that have examined whether a nepo baby's interest in music is motivated by musicpreneurship or a genuine passion for it. Therefore, the aim of this research is to contribute to the existing body of literature on African musicpreneurship, with a specific focus on Zimbabwe.