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Aflatoxin evaluation and integrated management strategies to minimize toxin contamination in maize and peanuts
Get PDFCommercial varieties of maize and peanuts are highly prone to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination at pre and postharvest stages. In a screening of 600 samples each of maize and peanuts from Tamil Nadu, India, for the mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), 28 and 32.67 % of the maize and peanut samples tested positive, where 6 and 9.5 % of both pre and postharvest maize and peanut samples exceeded the minimum threshold level of 20 μg/kg. The highest level of AFB1 was recorded as 147.23 and 162.72 μg/kg in maize and peanut and in postharvest samples. Additionally, a high number of positive samples in postharvest and Rabi season crops indicates the influence of moisture on A. flavus proliferation and toxin production. Effective preharvest management practices include the integrated use of biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma viride and Bacillus subtilis, while postharvest measures involve drying of harvest produce (with moisture content below 9 %), treatment with Andrographis paniculata extracts and storage in jute bags. Further, our findings emphasize the integration of pre and postharvest management strategies to mitigate A. flavus infection and aflatoxin contamination in maize and peanuts, thereby ensuring food security for the growing human population
TESS Giants Transiting Giants. VII. A Hot Saturn Orbiting an Oscillating Red Giant Star
Get PDFWe present the discovery of TOI-7041 b (TIC 201175570 b), a hot Saturn transiting a red giant star with measurable stellar oscillations. We observe solar-like oscillations in TOI-7041 with a frequency of maximum power of ? max = 218.50 ± 2.23 ?Hz and a large frequency separation of ?? = 16.5282 ± 0.0186 ?Hz. Our asteroseismic analysis indicates that TOI-7041 has a mass of 1.07 ± 0.05(stat) ± 0.02(sys) M? and a radius of 4.10 ± 0.06(stat) ± 0.05(sys) R?, making it one of the largest stars around which a transiting planet has been discovered with the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and the mission's first oscillating red giant with a transiting planet. TOI-7041 b has an orbital period of 9.691 ± 0.006 days and a low eccentricity of e = 0.04 ± 0.04. We measure a planet radius of 1.02 ± 0.03 RJup with TESS photometry, and a planet mass of 0.36 ± 0.16 MJup (114 ± 51 M?) with ground-based radial velocity measurements. TOI-7041 b appears less inflated than similar systems receiving equivalent incident flux, and its circular orbit indicates that it is not undergoing tidal heating due to circularization. The asteroseismic analysis of the host star provides some of the tightest constraints on the stellar properties of a TESS planet host and enables precise characterization of the hot Saturn. This system joins a small number of TESS-discovered exoplanets orbiting stars that exhibit clear stellar oscillations and indicates that extended TESS observations of evolved stars will similarly provide a path to improved exoplanet characterization. © 2025. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society
The interaction between values and self-identity on fairtrade consumption: The value-identity-behavior model
No full textThe interplay between egoistic and altruistic values, self-identity, and ethical behaviors remains underexplored, despite its significance in ethical consumption. This study investigates these dynamics by developing and testing the Value-Identity-Behavior model using a robust dataset of 3023 participants from three leading fairtrade markets in Europe: the U.K., France, and Germany. Our findings reveal that self-identity positively influences willingness to pay (WTP) for fairtrade products, as consumers are more inclined to pay a premium when these products align with their self-concept. Both altruistic and egoistic values shape self-identity, although their impacts differ. Specifically, egoistic values such as monetary, visual, and functional considerations negatively affect WTP, while sensory and altruistic values enhance it. Additionally, egoistic values uniformly moderate the relationship between self-identity and ethical behaviors. Interestingly, altruistic values exert a negative moderating effect, suggesting that when altruistic values are dominant, self-identity expression becomes less critical for ethical purchasing decisions. The study concludes with theoretical insights and practical recommendations for promoting fairtrade products
A computational analysis of aspect-based sentiment analysis research through bibliometric mapping and topic modeling
Get PDFWith the rising volume of public and consumer engagement on social media platforms, the field of aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) has garnered substantial attention. ABSA contains the systematic extraction of aspects, the analysis of associated sentiments, and the temporal evolution of these sentiments. Researchers have responded to the burgeoning interest by innovating new methodologies and strategies to address specific research challenges, thereby navigating complex scenarios and evolving challenges within ABSA. While existing reviews on ABSA encompass strategies, methods, and applications utilizing survey methodologies, a conspicuous gap exists in literature specifically addressing the development of methodologies and topics and their interaction in ABSA. Furthermore, the application of topic modeling and keyword co-occurrence has been limited in the extant literature. This study conducts a comprehensive overview of the ABSA field by leveraging bibliometrics, topic modeling, social network analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis to scrutinize 1325 ABSA research articles spanning the years 2009 to 2023. The analyses encompass research themes and topics, scientific collaborations, top publication sources, research areas, institutions, countries/regions, and publication and citation trends. Beyond examining and contrasting the connections between research topics and methodologies, this study identifies emerging trends and hotspots, providing researchers with insight into technical directions, limitations, and future research regarding ABSA topics and methodologies
Emerging horizons in phase-change materials for non-volatile memory
Get PDFPhase Change Memory (PCM) technology, particularly utilizing GeTe-based materials, has emerged as a compelling alternative to traditional nonvolatile memory systems, offering significant advancements in speed, scalability, and endurance. This review provides an in-depth analysis of recent developments in GeTe PCM, focusing on the challenges and breakthroughs that have characterized its evolution. Key aspects of resistance drift, material aging, and crystallization dynamics were explored, with special attention to the fundamental mechanisms, including β-relaxation and the Fragile-to-Strong Transition in supercooled liquids, along with Peierls distortions. Innovations in material engineering, such as alloying and nanoconfinement, have been discussed for their roles in enhancing device performance and reliability. Furthermore, this review examines the impact of advanced fabrication techniques and novel device architectures on the practical applications of PCM. By integrating these technological advancements with a theoretical understanding of the material properties, this review highlights the transformative potential of GeTe PCM across various applications, setting the stage for future research directions aimed at fully realizing the capabilities of this promising memory technology
The 'Checklist of Leisure, Interests and Participation': A contemporary leisure checklist
No full textIntroduction
The Modified Interest Checklist (MIC) is a tool used by therapists to understand past and present occupational engagement, however, is now outdated and lacks contemporary occupations. The aim of this study was to develop an updated valid and reliable checklist tool inclusive of contemporary leisure activities for clinical practice.
Methods
The study consisted of four phases, including feedback in relation to the MIC, two phases of development of an updated tool, and occupational therapists' opinions on the tool.
Consumer and Community Involvement
There was no consumer or community involvement in the development of this manuscript.
Results
More than 50% of participants in phases I and II expressed a need for a contemporary leisure inventory with specific detail to the inclusion of modern activities such as video games. An updated tool was developed, the ‘Checklist of Leisure, Interests and Participation’ (CLIP).
Conclusion
The CLIP presents as a valid and reliable option for leisure profile assessment. Findings suggest that this tool could be used for assessments within mental and physical health services
Time, emotions and moral judgements: how university students position GenAI within their study
Get PDFThe emergence of Generative AI (GenAI) in higher education has prompted considerable discussion within the research community. Despite their centrality, students’ perspectives remain underexplored. We investigated how students position GenAI in relation to their studies, conducting focus groups with 79 students across four Australian universities. Taking a sociotechnical stance and employing reflexive thematic analysis, we identified three primary themes: (1) studying with and without GenAI; (2) mixing messages and assumptions; and (3) ‘coming from me’: self-trust and resistance to dependency. Crossing these themes were axial threads of time, emotions, and moral judgement. Our findings illuminate a complex, dynamic and uncertain landscape of relationships in which students prioritise their developing values and moral positions over institutional messaging. Amongst diverse and changing practices, students generally conveyed a sense that their educational work should come from, and be owned by, themselves. This concept of ownership could productively inform academic integrity discussions. Institutions may need to move beyond rules and restrictions, to foster environments where students can develop nuanced relationships with GenAI whilst maintaining academic autonomy. This research demonstrates the value of centring student voices in shaping scholarly practice and policy, particularly in contexts of significant technological change
PAINTING (celare – duo) #62 [EXPANDER – PART 2: Resonant Systems - 8th Internationale Biennale for Non-Objective Art]
No full textOne artwork in international group exhibition – held at KULTZ gallery, Knon Kaen, Thailand
Layin' it on the line: A duoethnography of anti-racist teachers' praxis-based inquiry
Get PDFDespite the fast-changing education landscape, old and new racisms remain ensconced in school curriculum and pedagogy, concurrently shaping the experiences of both students and teachers, entrenching inequity, and reifying hegemonic dominance. Within the Australian context, such racisms continue to impact First Nations and minority teachers and students alike. In response, this article is a representative case study of the teaching profession, in which two schoolteachers lay claim to undertaking anti-racist work and interrogate critical incidents from their professional praxis. The researchers share Elizabeth Mackinlay’s conceptual struggle to reconcile mixed up personal, professional, political, and pedagogical locations. Their critical interrogation of Australian school-based racialising practices and corresponding antiracist praxis shows relationships between teacher experiences and current education practices and policies. The paper applies duoethnography as method, allowing the researchers to fold in and out of each other’s stories, untangle taken-for-granted assumptions, and disrupt metanarratives. Writing duoethnographically, this article shows an approach to critical and collaborative professional development that is both performative and pedagogical within context-specific exigencies. The researchers identify anti-racist and transformational possibilities of activist and agentic listening, and its pedagogical offerings to inspire ongoing personal, professional, political change both within schools and the academy
Australia and New Zealand Student Services Association Conference 2025 (ANZSSA 2025)
No full textThe Student Success Advising team at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) outreach to first year students to offer academic, pastoral and administrative support. Faced with low phone call pick up rates, the team responded to growing scepticism around phone scams and robocalls by implementing targeted strategies to foster trust and increase call engagement.
The literature highlights that transparent caller identification and targeted outreach enhance trust and response rates. For example, Edwards et al. (2020) and Ridolfo et al. (2013) demonstrated that building trust through the utilisation of recognisable caller identifiers and valid numbers improved answer rates. Similarly, advanced notifications, interviewer training and targeted call times maximised telephone survey response rates (O’Toole et al., 2008) and a single follow-up call more than doubled web-based survey completion rates (Neal et al., 2020). Moreover, peer to peer phone call interventions were found to foster trust and openness and enhance student engagement and progression outcomes (Gilani et al., 2022).
Drawing on these insights, the team adopted a mixed methods approach combining recognisable caller identifiers, pre-call notifications, interviewer training, targeted call timing, and peer to peer support. This resulted in a call pick up and survey completion rate of 32% in 2024, well above average cold calling conversion rates of 4.8% (CloudTalk, 2025).
This innovative approach demonstrates how personal engagement, trust building, and technological strategies can be integrated to enhance student engagement, confidence and connection. As communication technologies continue to evolve, UniSQ’s mixed methods approach demonstrates best practice in student outreach and call engagement