Abstract Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a product used in the form of panels that presents as a challenge the simultaneous consideration of the orthogonal arrangement of lamellae with the orthotropic behaviour of wood. In order to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of CLT panels in bending, it is possible to resort to plate theories, numerical and simplified methods. Within this context, this paper proposed to analyse the normal and shear stresses, as well the vertical displacements in a given CLT panel through three plate theories, three simplified methods, Finite Element Method and a proposed analytical method. For the study, a five-layered CLT panel with lamellae thickness of 20 mm, at first, with sides of 3 m. Afterward, parametric variations of the ratio between spans were also stipulated. The structural analysis permitted to obtain the stresses and the vertical displacements for the aforementioned panel. The parametric variations carried out made it possible to verify the sensitivity of the proposed panel in terms of stresses and vertical displacements against variations in the ratio between the panel’s plan dimensions.

Resumo Amadeira lamelada colada cruzada (MLCC) é um produto empregado na forma de painéis que apresenta como desafio a consideração conjunta da disposição ortogonal de lamelas com o comportamento ortotrópico da madeira. Para avaliar o comportamento mecânico de painéis de MLCC, em flexão simples, é possível recorrer a teorias de placas, métodos numéricos e simplificados. Dentro desse contexto, este trabalho se propôs a analisar as tensões, normais e de cisalhamento, bem como os deslocamentos verticais em um dado painel de MLCC por meio de três teorias de placas, três métodos simplificados, método dos elementos finitos e um método analítico proposto. Para o estudo, foi considerado um painel de MLCC com cinco camadas de 20 mm de espessura, inicialmente quadrado com lados de 3 m, sendo, posteriormente, realizadas análises paramétricas da razão entre as dimensões em planta. Com as análises estruturais, foi possível a obtenção das tensões, bem como os deslocamentos verticais do referido painel. As análises paramétricas realizadas permitiram averiguar a sensibilidade do painel de MLCC proposto, em termos de tensões e deslocamentos verticais, frente às variações da razão entre as dimensões em planta do painel.

Abstract Hygrothermal computer simulations consider transient and simultaneous exchanges of heat and moisture between the building elements and the environment. They are an important tool to support the design and performance assessment of buildings. These simulations require the description of the building element, the environmental conditions to which it is exposed, and the hygrothermal characteristics of the materials that compose it as input data. This paper presents an exploratory analysis of the results of the hygrothermal simulation of a concrete wall varying the hygrothermal characteristics of the material. The internal environmental conditions were obtained using EnergyPlus ® and the hygrothermal simulation was done in WUFI ® Pro, with post-processing in WUFI ® Bio to evaluate the risk of mold occurrence. The hygrothermal behavior of the walls varied significantly with the variation in hygrothermal characteristics of the materials, especially for one type of concrete that had a very different capillary transport function. The results indicate the importance of analyzing hygrothermal characteristics and functions for hygrothermal simulations and the need to experimentally determine such characteristics for Brazilian building materials.

Resumo Simulações computacionais higrotérmicas consideram trocas transientes e simultâneas de calor e umidade entre os elementos construtivos e o ambiente, sendo uma ferramenta importante de apoio ao projeto e à avaliação de desempenho de edifícios. Essas simulações requerem como dados de entrada a descrição do elemento construtivo, as condições ambientais às quais ele está exposto e as características higrotérmicas dos materiais. Este artigo apresenta uma análise exploratória dos resultados da simulação higrotérmica de uma parede de concreto variando-se as características higrotérmicas do material. As condições ambientais internas foram obtidas utilizando o EnergyPlus™ e a simulação higrotérmica foi feita no WUFI® Pro, com pós-processamento no WUFI® Bio para avaliar o risco de ocorrência de fungos emboloradores. Houve diferenças significativas no comportamento higrotérmico das paredes em função da variação das características higrotérmicas dos materiais, sobretudo para o tipo de concreto cuja função de transporte capilar mostrou-se diferente dos demais. Os resultados indicam a importância de analisar as características e funções higrotérmicas para simulações higrotérmicas e a necessidade de sua determinação experimental para os materiais de construção brasileiros.

Resumo Ainfluência do comportamento dos usuários em edificações é amplamente discutida como uma das causas para discrepâncias entre consumos energéticos esperados, durante a fase de projeto, e consumos durante a operação. Conhecer os principais motivadores para ajustes nos sistemas de edificações é imprescindível para aprimorar a modelagem desses comportamentos. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar os principais agentes motivadores para o ajuste das janelas, luminárias e aparelhos de ar-condicionado em escritórios. Dois escritórios foram monitorados por meio de sensores que coletaram dados de qualidade do ambiente interno e comportamento de usuário. Foram consideradas influentes para a interação com sistemas de janelas a pluviometria e as temperaturas do ar externo e interno. O aumento das temperaturas interna e externa apresentou ainda mais influência na interaçãocom aparelhos de ar-condicionado. Duas foram as principais conclusões: há influência do layout dos escritórios no compartilhamento e controle das janelas e eficiência de estratégias passivas, como o uso de ventilação natural e cruzada; e há influência do aumento da temperatura interna em comparação à externa na previsibilidade de abertura de janelas e acionamento de aparelhos de ar-condicionado. esperados projeto operação comportamentos arcondicionado condicionado usuário arcondicionado. condicionado. conclusões passivas cruzada

Abstract The influence of occupant behaviour in buildings is widely discussed as one of the causes for the gap between energy use estimated via computer simulation and during building operation. Knowing the main drivers for adjustments in building systems is essential to guide the development of mathematical models for such behaviours. The aim of this study is to evaluate the main motivating agents for adjusting windows, luminaires, and air-conditioning in offices. Two offices were monitored using sensors that collected data from the internal environment and user interaction with such systems. Rainfall and external and internal air temperatures were considered influential for the interaction with window systems. The increase in internal and external temperatures had even more influence on interactions with air-conditioners. The main conclusions were: there is influence of the layout of the offices in the sharing and control of windows and efficiency of passive strategies, such as the use of natural and cross ventilation; and there is an influence of the increase in internal temperature compared to external temperature in the predictability of opening windows and turning air-conditioning devices on. operation behaviours luminaires airconditioning conditioning airconditioners. airconditioners conditioners. conditioners air-conditioners strategies ventilation

Resumen: Esta investigación analiza la relación entre comportamiento de consumo sostenible con la percepción, las prácticas y los atributos percibidos en los productos y los fabricantes en torno al consumo responsable en la generación Z. Para esto se hizo un estudio descriptivo, con enfoque cuantitativo. Se aplicó una encuesta en formato digital a 903 adultos nacidos a partir de 1995 en la ciudad de Bogotá. El análisis estadístico se realizó mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio para identificar si las variables se agrupan en los constructos propuestos, seguido se realizó un modelo causal a partir de un análisis de ecuaciones estructurales, con la metodología de bootstraping con el fin de validar las hipótesis propuestas. Los resultados comprueban la existencia de los factores propuestos y se identificó que los hábitos de consumo responsable, la actitud hacia el consumo responsable y los atributos del producto inciden en el comportamiento de consumo sostenible, sin embargo, los atributos percibidos del fabricante no tienen una relación directa con este, aunque cuando los atributos del fabricante son mediados por los atributos del producto existe incidencia. Estos hallazgos aportan al conocimiento científico ya que la literatura actual no ha analizado la relación entre el fabricante con producción responsable y los atributos de productos de consumo responsable percibidos por el consumidor. Por tal razón, los fabricantes deben mejorar sus esfuerzos en comunicar y llevar al mercado productos amigables con el medio ambiente.

Abstract: This research analyzes the relationship between sustainable consumption behavior with perception, practices and perceived attributes in products and manufacturers around responsible consumption in generation Z. For this a descriptive study was made, quantitatively. A digital survey was carried out on 903 adults born in Bogotá since 1995. The statistical analysis was performed using a confirmatory factor analysis to identify if the variables are grouped in the proposed constructs, followed by a causal model based on an analysis of structural equations, with the bootstraping methodology in order to validate the proposed hypotheses. The results prove the existence of the proposed factors and it was identified that responsible consumption habits, attitude towards responsible consumption and product attributes affect sustainable consumption behavior, However, the perceived attributes of the manufacturer do not have a direct relationship with it, although when the attributes of the manufacturer are mediated by the attributes of the product there is incidence. These findings contribute to scientific knowledge since the current literature has not analyzed the relationship between the manufacturer with responsible production and the attributes of responsible consumer products perceived by the consumer. For this reason, manufacturers must improve their efforts to communicate and bring environmentally friendly products to market.

Resumo O comportamento alimentar pode exercer uma influência substancial no desenvolvimento da obesidade, uma condição intrinsecamente ligada a um espetro de comorbilidades (e.g., cancro, doenças cardiovasculares, endócrinas). A obesidade é mais prevalente nas mulheres de meia-idade, particularmente durante a menopausa, coincidindo com um aumento da incidência de comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais. Este estudo tem como objetivo identificar a estrutura fatorial e as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa do Three Fator Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) em mulheres de meia-idade. Um total de 1895 mulheres portuguesas de meia-idade (M=52,22 anos, DP=5,10) preencheram um questionário sociodemográfico e o TFEQ-R21, composto por 21 itens, distribuídos por três dimensões (restrição cognitiva, descontrolo alimentar e alimentação emocional). Foram realizadas análises descritivas, validade de construto, de critério, e fiabilidade, através do R-Lavaan. O modelo de estrutura de três fatores apresentou um bom ajustamento (Comparative Fit Index=0,97; Tucker-Lewis Index=0,97; Root mean square error of approximation= 0,08 (p<0,001); Standardized root mean square residual=0,07). O TFEQ-R21 apresenta evidências de validade convergente (variância extraída da média: 0,41<VEM<0,80) e fiabilidade (α de Cronbach: 0,82<α<0,96, e ómega de McDonald: 0,66<ω<0,92). O TFEQ-R21 apresentou evidências de validade e fiabilidade com invariância entre mulheres com e sem obesidade, na avaliação do comportamento alimentar em mulheres de meia-idade. É um instrumento útil no domínio das intervenções de gestão de peso, facilitando a identificação e a atenuação de comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais, especialmente durante esta fase da vida.

Abstract Eating behaviour can exert a substantial influence on the development of obesity, a condition intricately linked with a spectrum of comorbidities (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine disorders). Obesity is more prevalent among middle-aged women, particularly during menopause, coinciding with an increase in the incidence of disordered eating behaviours. This study aims to identify the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-R21) in middle-aged women. A total of 1895 middle-aged Portuguese women (M=52.22 years, SD=5.10) completed a sociodemographic questionnaire alongside the TFEQ-R21, comprising 21 items distributed across three dimensions (cognitive restraint, uncontrolled eating, and emotional eating). Descriptive analyses, construct and criterion validities, and reliability were performed using the R-Lavaan. The three-factor structure model presented a good fit (Comparative Fit Index=0.97; Tucker-Lewis Index=0.97; Root mean square error of approximation=0.08 (p<.001); Standardized root mean square residual=0.07). The TFEQ-R21 attests to its convergent validity (average variance extracted: 0.41<AVE<0.80) and reliability (Cronbach´s α: 0.82<α<0.96, and McDonald´s omega: 0.66<ω<0.92). The TFEQ-R21 tool has shown evidence of validity and reliability, displaying invariance between obese and normative women when assessing eating behaviour among middle-aged women. It offers valuable utility within the domain of weight management interventions, facilitating the identification and mitigation of dysfunctional eating behaviours, especially during this life stage.

Resumo A alimentação e ritmos circadianos são influenciados por comportamentos que terão impacto na saúde do adolescente. A dependência alimentar (DA) está relacionada com a fraca regulação emocional e impulsividade. No entanto, a evidência ainda é escassa em relação à forma como esta tem impacto no sono. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é explorar se a DA prediz a insónia nos adolescentes e se o autocontrolo (funcional e disfuncional) medeia esta relação. A amostra foi constituída por 1566 jovens a frequentar escolas da ilha da Madeira, com idades entre os 12 e os 19 anos (M =14,79; DP = 1,89) que preencheram um questionário online que incluía uma recolha de dados sociodemográficos, seguida da versão portuguesa da Yale Food Addiction Scale (P-YFAS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) e Escala Breve de Autocontrolo (EBAC). Realizou-se um modelo de mediação paralela tendo como covariáveis o sexo e a idade. Existe um efeito direto positivo significativo da DA na insónia (β = 0,068; p = < 0,001) e um efeito indireto positivo da DA na insónia, mediado pela dimensão Autocontrolo Disfuncional (β = 0,224). Destaca-se a pertinência do desenvolvimento de intervenções focadas na impulsividade juvenil, fornecendo estratégias focadas na promoção do controlo de impulsos, higiene do sono (acautelando também comportamento alimentar compulsivo) e de tomada de decisões pró-saúde.

Abstract Eating habits and circadian rhythms are influenced by behaviours that impact adolescent health. Food addiction (FA) is linked to weak emotional regulation and impulsivity. However, evidence on its impact on sleep remains limited. Thus, this study aims to explore whether FA predicts insomnia in adolescents and whether self-control (both functional and dysfunctional) mediates this relationship. The sample consisted of 1566 young individuals attending schools in Madeira, aged between 12 and 19 years (M =14.79, SD = 1.89), who completed an online questionnaire including sociodemographic data, the Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (P-YFAS), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Brief Self-Control Scale (EBAC). A parallel mediation model was conducted, with gender and age as covariates. There is a significant positive direct effect of FA on insomnia (β =.068, p = <.001) and a positive indirect effect of FA on insomnia, mediated by the Dysfunctional Self-Control dimension (β = .224). The results highlight the relevance of developing interventions focused on youth impulsivity, providing strategies aimed at promoting impulse control, sleep hygiene (also addressing compulsive eating behaviour), and making pro-health decisions.

Abstract This article examines how a business school's environment encourages the formation of entrepreneurial intentions among its students. Building on insights from the theory of planned behaviour and the business event model, a structural equation model was applied on a sample of 283 Costa Rican university students. The main results of the study suggest that the entrepreneurial training provided by the business school contributes to improve students' entrepreneurial intentions. However, this effect develops through an indirect mechanism: that is, entrepreneurial training positively influences students’ attitudes toward entrepreneurship which, in turn, impact students’ perception on entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The proposed model rooted in cognitive frameworks allows business schools, and higher education institutions in general, to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of their entrepreneurial training programs in promoting entrepreneurial intentions.

Resumen Este artículo examina cómo una escuela de negocios fomenta la formación de intenciones emprendedoras entre sus estudiantes. Sobre la base de los conocimientos de la teoría del comportamiento planificado y el modelo de eventos de negocios, se aplicó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales en una muestra de 283 estudiantes universitarios costarricenses. Los principales resultados del estudio sugieren que la formación emprendedora que imparte la escuela de negocios contribuye a mejorar las intenciones emprendedoras de los estudiantes. Sin embargo, este efecto se desarrolla a través de un mecanismo indirecto: es decir, la formación emprendedora influye positivamente en las actitudes de los estudiantes hacia el emprendimiento que, a su vez, impactan en las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre la autoeficacia emprendedora. El modelo propuesto basado en marcos cognitivos permite a las escuelas de negocios, y las instituciones de educación superior en general, medir y evaluar la eficacia de sus programas de formación empresarial en configurar intenciones empresariales.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare systems reflect worldviews, specifically in mental health, where norms dictate what is normal and abnormal. The era of coloniality promoted Western dogma over collectivist cultures, which were marginalised. This study explored the perspectives and experiences of Black, isiZulu-speaking, South Africans who utilised multidisciplinary services, based on a Western-based therapy model at a private psychiatric facility in KwaZulu Natal. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was utilised. Purposive sampling was utilised to recruit 10 participants. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Braun and Clarke's six phases of thematic analysis were used to guide the data analysis. FINDINGS: Three themes with sub-themes emerged from the data: personal perceptions, which explored how isiZulu-speaking people made sense of mental health and mental illnesses. Cultural perceptions were the collectivist method of problem-solving, which stressed the importance of spiritual beliefs. Health-seeking behaviour considered the experience of the isiZulu-speaking mental health care user. Cognitive dissonance prevailed due to the difference between westernised mental health treatment and traditional healing systems. CONCLUSION: The family and community are intertwined in participation, reputation, and healing. There is an emphasis on enduring hardship and following traditions, which are preserved by valued elders. Disregarding these norms can outcast the Zulu individual who strives toward inclusion within the community. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: • Intervention cannot only be at individual level but also community level. • Including the family in psychoeducation and therapeutic goal settingwould be beneficial to the Zulu MHCU. • Group programmes should address gender-specific issues. • Occupational therapists must recognise the importance of participating in spirituality for the healing of the Zulu MHCU and appropriately include it in intervention. • Mental health resources and awareness programmes need to be disseminated atcommunity level. • Competency in the isiZulu language is recommended.

SIGNIFICANCE: Social media data are essential for studying human behaviour and understanding potential systemic risks. Social media platforms have, however, begun to remove access to these data. In response, other countries and regions have implemented legislation that compels platforms to provide researchers with data access. In South Africa, we have lagged behind the Global North when it comes to using platform data in our research and, given the recent access restrictions, we risk being left behind. In this Commentary, I call attention to this critical issue and initiate a conversation about access to social media data in South Africa.

Classic depictions of human evolutionary ecology cast Homo as predator and other hominins, including Paranthropus robustus, as prey. Such hypotheses rest on a small number of fossils that exhibit evidence of carnivore predation, including the iconic SK 54 cranium from Swartkrans in South Africa. Here we demonstrate that the SK 54 cranium shares its closest affinities with H. erectus sensu lato rather than P. robustus. Demonstrating that Homo was prey for leopards at Swartkrans weakens the historically significant hypothesis that Homo was better able to avoid predation because of being behaviourally and technologically advanced compared to Paranthropus. Subsequent ideas about hominin palaeobiology derived from this hypothesis warrant reconsideration. SIGNIFICANCE: • The small sample of early Homo from southern Africa is increased by the allocation of the SK 54 cranium to that genus. • Evidence from Swartkrans suggests that Homo was prey for leopards. • Hypotheses concerning the biology, behaviour, and technological capabilities of Homo and P. robustus stemming from Brain's seminal work, The Hunters or the Hunted?, should be reassessed.

Hydropedology is an interdisciplinary field that studies the interactions between soil and water, recognizing that soils influence hydrological processes through their hydraulic properties, and serve as indicators of hydrological behaviour through their morphological properties that are shaped by water regimes. Given the practical implications of hydropedology and its integration into South Africa's latest soil classification system, an updated categorization of soil forms and 1 657 (1 629 + 28) families was necessary, organizing them into three overarching response groups based on their predominant hydrological responses: recharge, interflow, and responsive. Within these groups, recharge soils are further classified into deep, shallow, and slow subgroups, interflow soils encompass soil/bedrock, shallow, and slow categories, while responsive soils are subdivided into responsive shallow and responsive wet. This paper aims to enhance the reader's comprehension of hydrological responses and simplify the intricacies integrated into South Africa's official soil classification system.

Eisenhower, Dulles, Eden and Macmillan played crucial roles in the Suez crisis, which had significant repercussions for the Middle East and the global balance of power. However, none of them entirely escaped the crisis unscathed. Eisenhower viewed containment of communism as his primary objective. He believed that it was untenable for the USA to identify with Britain's colonial past. Dulles rarely lost sight of the colonial dimension during the crisis. Ultimately, the crisis had a significant impact on Britain's international standing, confirming its status as a second-rate nation and revealing its waning status as a global power. As the international aspect of decolonisation was crucial for Macmillan to address, he pursued withdrawal from Africa as a vital objective to maintain and expand Britain's status as a powerful nation. He was unable to eradicate the stigma associated with the fact that Britain was a colonial power. His efforts to strengthen the status of Britain as a significant power through the Commonwealth were similarly ineffectual. The importance of British colonialism had attained its pinnacle. In some quarters, it was believed that Macmillan had always played a dubious role targeting Eden's removal as prime minister. Reasons for these apparent misrepresentations remain a matter of conjecture. The most favourable interpretation was that he attempted to use his association with Eisenhower from World War II to bolster Eden's domestic position against cabinet opponents. Alternately, he may have led Eden intentionally into a political catastrophe from which he expected to profit. He was the ultimate beneficiary of Suez. Macmillan was involved in all of the crucial decisions during the crisis and may have had greater intent than Eden to bring down Nasser. Added to the suspicions about Macmillan's behaviour was his reluctance, if not outright refusal, to formally evaluate Suez that prompted him to collaborate closely with the Cabinet Office in order to authorise ministerial memoirs and official publications that were required to be submitted to him prior to publication. As it involved extremely delicate concerns of foreign and domestic politics, he ruled that nothing could be published regarding Suez without his permission. In his ruthless and violent pursuit of vindication, it was common knowledge that Eden disregarded the norms of confidentiality. His conservative administration was fatally undermined by internal discord. Suez ruined him politically, materially and emotionally. Eden made the final decision to invade Egypt without extensive consultation with his cabinet, without playing open cards with the United States, and while keeping members of the Commonwealth in the dark. Suez remained a highly visible and fiercely contested issue in British academic, media and political circles, and a parliamentary campaign continued as new publications, radio and television programmes addressed new aspects of the issue. The crisis resulted in moral defeat and diplomatic catastrophe for the two former colonial powers. Their authority and prestige among Arab powers were irreparably harmed. They were now dependent on Israel, the youngest and most rapidly expanding military power in the Middle East. The crisis had an enduring effect on the international relations of France. Mollet, the French premier, disapproved of Nasser's support for Algerian insurgents who presented France with substantial challenges and even posed a threat to its political stability. Following the collapse of the Fourth Republic, General Charles de Gaulle was elected president of France. He held his own opinion about France's indispensable role in international affairs. Nasser was at ease within the Soviet sphere of influence due to hostility and vilification from the West. The Soviet Union and its allies took advantage of the concurrent Hungarian insurrection to condemn Western imperialism, thereby diverting global attention away from their own brutality in Hungary. Nasser emerged from the crisis with distinction owing to his Pan-Arab nationalism and neutrality. It allowed him to strengthen his position as an advocate for the Arab cause and decolonisation. The new realities, which the West encountered in the Middle East, turned out to be the decline of colonialism and the rise of nationalism.

Eisenhower, Dulles, Eden en Macmillan was instrumenteel tydens die Suezkrisis wat beduidende implikasies vir die Midde-Ooste en die globale magsbalans meegebring het, maar nie een van hulle het heeltemal ongeskonde uit die krisis gekom nie. Eisenhower het die inperking van kommunisme as sy hoogste prioriteit geag en het Brittanje se koloniale erfenis as onhoudbaar beskou, en Dulles het die koloniale dimensie dikwels opgehaal. Brittanje se dalende status as 'n wêreldmoondheid is blootgelê en as 'n tweederangse moondheid bevestig. Die feit dat Brittanje 'n koloniale mag was, het 'n stigma gelaat waaraan Eden en Macmillan weinig kon doen. Dit was alombekend dat Eden die reëls van geheimhouding verontagsaam het in sy meedoënlose en bloedige strewe na regverdiging. Wat Eden se konserwatiewe regering noodlottig ondermyn het, was die onenigheid in sy eie geledere. Hyself was polities, fisies en emosioneel deur Suez verpletter. Macmillan het uit die wrak van Suez getree om 'n gedemoraliseerde Konserwatiewe Party te lei en 'n land wat nog in die dieptes van vertwyfeling verkeer het. Frankryk was diep gegrief oor Nasser se steun aan rebelle in Algerië. Die nagevolge van die krisis het die agteruitgang van Europese kolonialisme beklemtoon en 'n blywende impak op Frankryk se internasionale verhoudings gehad. Algerië het ontsaglike probleme vir Frankryk veroorsaak en selfs sy politieke stabiliteit bedreig.

Pyrometallurgical furnaces, essential for metal extraction, operate at temperatures exceeding 1600°C and represent complex multiphase systems that challenge direct industrial research. Multiphysics models play a key role in shedding light on their intricate behaviours, supporting the refinement of design and operational strategies. Integral to the operation are the tap-holes, which facilitate the removal of molten products and are routinely opened by lancing, a process comparable to the use of a cutting torch, where high temperatures result from oxygen reacting with an iron lance. When the lance pierces the clay, oxygen gas enters the furnace, which could influence the behaviour of the molten material inside. In this work, a multiphase fluid flow model was used to investigate bulk flow dynamics, with a focus on the effects of the lancing process on the inside of the furnace, immediately behind the tap-hole. Incompressible and compressible multiphase fluid solvers were used and compared with respect their performance - the intention was to assess whether using a compressible solver would yield a different solution to the incompressible one. It was concluded that there are negligible disparities in bulk fluid flow behaviour between the solvers for the case studies examined, indicating that solver selection might be less consequential for certain aspects of oxygen lancing.

The transient infiltration and lubrication behaviour of slag during continuous casting of steel is important for billet quality. A two-dimensional coupled mathematical mould model was developed to investigate these phenomena. The accuracy of the model was verified by comparing the calculated slag consumption with measurements by the plant. The results show that the liquid slag is consumed from the middle and late period of positive strip time to the next early period of positive strip time, including the entire negative strip time. The maximum downward infiltration velocity and positive pressure in the slag channel is at the middle of the negative strip time. Increasing the positive pressure of the slag channel is conducive to lubrication. The shear stresses acting on the shell surface and at the mould side were determined by the lubrication slag consumption and total slag consumption, respectively, and gradually decreased with increasing slag consumption. The negative strip time was lengthened to increase the slag consumption and prolong the time near the maximum downward shear stress, so as to be conducive to the demould.

Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) is a globally recognised publication outlet for the field of Computer Science, including in South Africa. In this study, spanning from 1973 to 2022, we investigated the research participation of South African based authors in LNCS. The publication output and citation impact of these authors were compared to the global Computer Science and LNCS output. The authorship patterns and collaborative behaviour of South African LNCS papers were explored, and a keyword or topic analysis also conducted. Of the total of 518 662 LNCS papers published globally between 1973 and 2022, South African based researchers contributed 1150 papers (0.22%). The LNCS papers from South Africa exhibit a strong collaborative publication culture, with 1043 (91%) co-authored and 107 (9%) single-authored works. Local LNCS researchers prefer institutional collaboration (43%), followed by international (37%) and national collaboration (11%). Europe emerged as the most significant collaboration partner for LNCS researchers in South Africa. Of the 1150 papers, 836 (73%) had received citations, while 314 (27%) had not. On average, papers published by South African based authors received 6.05 citations, compared to the global LNCS average of 9.49 citations per paper. A keyword analysis revealed that the majority of papers by South African authors focus on artificial intelligence. The results indicate that, although LNCS serves as a reputable dissemination platform for Computer Science research output both globally and locally, South African authors should consider publishing more journal articles to build and improve their researcher profiles. SIGNIFICANCE: • The study shows that LNCS is the most frequent publication outlet for Computer Science researchers, globally and in South Africa. • The study offers insight into the publication output, authorship patterns, collaborative behaviour and citation impact of South African based Computer Science researchers.