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Proximity to nature is essential to a child’s development. Well-designed educational environments are crucial to supporting this proximity, particularly in the early years of schooling. The purpose of this paper is to measure children’s experiences of nature within three primary school spaces at various locations in Glasgow, Scotland. The methodology for measuring children’s visual and non-visual sensory experiences is developed to evaluate the connection between naturalness values and spatial environmental qualities across varying “Child–Nature–Distance” ranges.

The approach associates children’s multiple layers of sensory modalities with particular attributes of the spatial environment within primary schools to determine the level of naturalness that children experience, in both internal and external spaces.

The study finds that children’s experiences are significantly influenced by factors relating to urban setting, built environment master planning, architectural features and interior design.

Apart from primary school architecture for children, this methodology could be fully developed to the comprehensive human–nature relationship under the impacts of physical features and societal of other diversified environments in a future study. However, the offering reasonable primary school architecture for a proper children’s multi-sensorial experience with natural environment cannot thoroughly established with a quantitative aspect by the present study only. More qualitative research is recommended to examine the process of altering from “cause” to “perceived” nature of users’ cognitions, attitudes and behaviours within the exposure proximity to nature.

The methodology for measuring visual and non-visual sensorial experiences of nature, and its application to children’s learning and leisure spaces within primary school architecture could offer a tool for assessing current schools, and evaluating future design proposals for new schools.

The authors argue that the applicationof this method can support design decision making for refurbishing schools at the micro level, and in planning urban development involving proposals for new schools at the macro level.

Therapeutic community (TC) is a primary approach that has been used in all Indonesian National Narcotics Board residential treatment centers since 2012. In TC, all daily activities are strengthened into habits and routines without strong therapeutic or educational reasons. But recently, the TC members become more critical and have growing individual needs. Thus, the Indonesian National Narcotics Board (INNB) tried to combine the TC approach with thematic group activities (TGA) intervention using an integrated individual approach to improve the outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the client’s behavioral changes after undergoing a TC approach added with TGA intervention for two months.

A mixed-methods study with the pre-post design was applied to 122 participants from six INNB rehabilitation centers. Pre-post behavioral changes were measured by using Client Evaluation of Self Treatment, University Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale, modified-Addiction Severity Index 3.0 and World Health Organization-Quality of Life instruments. Analysis was done by using univariate and bivariate on quantitative data, focus group discussion, and medical record review.

The participants’ mean age was 30.57 years, majority male, 50% graduated from senior high schools and were employed. Bivariate analysis resulted statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) in tendencies to seek treatment, participate more actively, maintain a good relationship with counselors during the program, and decrease the psychological problems of participants. The client’s social state, as well as adaptation to the program, were also amended.

TGA-added TC approach was proven to improve clients’ behavioral changes, particularly in social functioning, program involvement and psychological conditions, in people with substance use disorders.

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to synthesize modified thermoplastic sago starch (TPS) through in-situ mechanism by reacting sago starch with diphenylmethanediisocyanate (MDI) and castor oil simultaneously, resulting in a more homogenous and finer-sized polyurethane prepolymer (PUP).

Design/Methodology/Approach – The methods used were Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for thermal characterization and stability of PUP, modified TPS non-extracted and extracted with toluene and water.

Findings – TGA test results presented shows that PUP begins to decompose thermally at a temperature of 300–500 °C. Weight loss occurs rapidly between these temperatures and is completely discharged at a temperature of 500°C, which is called weight loss transition.

Research Limitations/Implications – When extracted with toluene and a water solvent, the melting point and latent heat of fusion slightly decreased; however, it is still higher than the original value of sago. In terms of thermal stability, modified TPS decomposes and loses weight at 150–200 °C in small quantities, continues with weight loss rapidly, and is completely discharged at 500°C. The thermal stability is considered high; thus, modified TPS application can be varied.

Practical Implications – DSC analysis and TGA shows that modified TPS has good thermal characteristics and thermal stability. Modified TPS has a melting point of 104.69°C, and the latent heat of fusion (ΔH) is 234.27 J/g. This value is close to the PUP melting point and latent heat of fusion, which reveals the formation of cross-link between the starch and PUP.

Providing improved access to nature within educational settings can promote stronger child–nature connections and is conditional on making evidence-based decisions for the planning, design and refurbishment of school architecture. The study offers insight into ways of reconnecting children with nature by examining the distribution and classification of diverse natural elements for enhancing children's visual and non-visual experiences of educational environments.

This study combines quantitative and qualitative analysis of data gathered through measurement and observation at three schools in Glasgow, with a total of 75 students, to identify key issues influencing child–nature multi-sensorial connections within indoor and outdoor environments and on building envelopes and layouts. It applies children's open-questions and diagrams to investigate children's discovery of nature, their feelings around natural attributes and their environmental preferences within school contexts.

This study's findings reveal that architectural features and landscape settings have significant influence on the quantitative and qualitative degrees of children's natural exploration through visual and non-visual sensorial modalities and environmental preferences.

The limitations of this study are that the data was gathered in the Spring season and with different groups of children from The Glasgow Academy who received the same educational curriculum. Thus, there is a need for further investigation on children's experiences of nature based on temporal and contextual differences, and varying educational-socio-cultural and economic factors.

The findings suggest that applications of natural diversity, accessible and flexible pathways and indoor natural settings, are potential approaches to connect children with nature within their study and play environments.

The authors provide a deeper understanding of how nature-based settings, including indoor and outdoor environments, constructively benefit children's multi-sensorial experiences, knowledge and biophilic feelings toward nature.

The purpose of this paper is to study thermal stability, curing kinetics and physico‐chemical properties of polyurethanes systems for application in in‐mould decoration (IMD) ink.

The thermal stability of three Polyurethane (Pu) systems A, B, C were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The kinetic parameters of the curing reaction of Pu system C were calculated using non‐isothermal curing kinetics analysis, including the activation energy Ea, the reaction rate constant K(T), the reaction order n, the initial curing temperature (Ti), the peak temperature (Tp), and the finishing temperature (Tf). Additionally, physico‐chemical properties were also evaluated such as flexibility, impact resistance, pencil hardness, adhesive attraction and solvent resistance.

TGA showed that thermal decomposition temperature T5 (5 wt.% weight loss), T10 (10 wt.% weight loss) and Tend (decomposition termination temperature) of Pu system C was 344°C, 363°C, and 489°C, respectively. T5, T10, Tend increased by 77°C, 61°C, 4°C, respectively, and the char yield at 600°C increased by 25.1 wt.% comparing with Pu system B. Curing kinetics analysis showed that Ea of Pu system C was 62.29 KJ/mol, 65.98 KJ/mol and 65.95 KJ/mol by Kissinger, Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa and Ozawa method, respectively. The order of the curing reaction (n=0.90) demonstrated that it was a complex reaction. Moreover, Pu system C exhibited good physico‐chemical properties. The results showed that Pu system C was suitable to apply into IMD ink.

The TGA analysis, curing kinetics analysis and evaluation of physico‐chemical properties provided a simple and practical solution to study suitable resins for IMD ink application.

IMD ink for heat transfer printing technology is highly efficient, relatively low cost, clean and environmentally safe. It has been widely applied into medical and pharmaceutical products, electronic devices, telecommunication equipment, computer parts, appliance panels, automotive parts, etc.

In this paper, the thermal stability and curing kinetics of Pu for IMD ink are reported for the first time. The paper gives very interesting and important information about thermal stability, curing kinetics and properties of Pu coating system for IMD ink application.

Most of the electronics packaging materials, especially solders, are temperature dependent. Their temperature‐dependent material properties can be obtained by TMA (thermal mechanical analysis), DMA (dynamic mechanical analysis), DSC (differential scanning calorimetry), and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis). In this study, the thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE), storage modulus, moisture uptake, and melting point of two lead free solders, 96.5wt%Sn‐3.5wt%Ag and 42wt%Sn‐58wt%Bi provided from two different vendors, are measured by, respectively, TMA, DMA, TGA, and DSC. For comparison purpose, the 63wt%Sn‐37wt%Pb solder is also considered.

The mechanisms of the deblocking reaction of the polyurethane with blocking agent were investigated in detail relatively using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). This kind of method for polyurethane as the application of wood adhesives can provide the conditions of application and the main theoretical basis.

The blocking rate and latex particle size distribution were determined using the titrimetric analysis and the laser particle analysis, respectively. TGA, FTIR, XPS and differential scanning calorimetry were used to investigate the deblocking temperature and time of the blocked isocyanate in detail.

The results indicated that the blocking rate was approximately 97 per cent and the average particle size was 360 nm. The results of laser particle analysis have confirmed that the dispersivity of the blocked polyurethane emulsion was good. XPS results showed that the amount of –O = C-N-benzyl groups increased with an increasing deblocking temperature and subsequently reached equilibrium. In summary, the blocked isocyanate was deblocked at temperatures ranging from 50 to 90°C.

An important approach in future wood adhesive work would be to gain access to man-made board application data.

The paper provided some useful information about deblocking mechanisms of blocked polyurethane that would be helpful to guide applied practical applications as wood adhesive.

To promote China’s wood processing technology progress and solve the problem of shortage of the natural quality of wood is of important practical significance.

The paper is the first to use the XPS characterisation method to characterise deblocking polyurethane solution.

Thermoanalytical spectra of the components of a typical rosin based flux and the interactions of the components with each other, the substrate and the solder are presented. The study includes heating rates up to those experienced in typical soldering operations.

Natural dye (Sambucus nigra, whose common name is elder) is used to dye silk fabric. The dyed fabric samples have been post mordanted with three different mordants, including alum; ferrous and chrome. A thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC) of all the samples are used to investigate the thermal stability of the dyed mordanted silk fabrics. The TGA provides the changes in the sample weight loss as a function of time and temperature. The DSC gives information about the possible changes in the fiber structure. In addition, the DSC is a method commonly used to determine crystallinity in polymers and involves measuring the melting enthalpy. The TGA tested results for silk samples mordanted with ferrous has the highest thermal stability. The endothermic peak at 318°C shifts to a lower or higher temperature than in the case of blank samples according to the type of mordant used. Fastness to light, washing and perspiration of the examined silk fabrics have also been examined and the results are reported.

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of silver on the high‐temperature oxidation behaviour of the Sn‐8.5Zn‐xAg‐0.01Al‐0.1Ga (x=0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) solder alloys.

The weight gains of the studied solders are measured using thermal gravimetric analyzers (TGA) at temperatures of 250, 300, 350 and 400°C. The weight gains measured are used to compare the oxidation behaviour of the studied solders. The surfaces of the solders are also analyzed with Auger emission spectroscopy (AES) depth profiling and thin‐film X‐ray diffractometry (thin‐film XRD) to identify the elements present on the surface of the studied solders.

The TGA results show that the weight gains decrease with increasing silver content in the studied solders. It meant that increasing silver content could help improve the high‐temperature oxidation behaviour of the studied solder. AES and thin‐film XRD confirm that the formed oxide layers on the surface of the studied solder are Zn‐based oxide layers.

The findings of this paper will help provide an understanding of the effects of silver on Sn‐8.5Zn‐xAg‐0.01Al‐0.1Ga solder.