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Overcoming challenges and transitioning from school to work is particularly problematic for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, presenting significant issues for both the labor market and vocational training institutions. Due to the lack of research addressing the career maturity and distinctive obstacles faced by this population, this paper endeavors to investigate performance disparities within the machining field. The specific focus is on assessing whether hearing loss may impact students' machining performance. Considering the essential human capabilities for perception in machining, especially in industrial settings, encompass a range of faculties including visualization, hearing, and tactile senses. Thus, addressing concerns related to accommodating individuals with disabilities is important, prompting inquiries into optimizing training programs and quantifying potential disparities in learning or schooling outcomes, behavioral patterns, and overall performance in future careers. The conducted studies involved multiple participants, including hearing, deaf, and hard-of-hearing students with various machining training backgrounds. The investigation will delve into data concerning the qualities of manual machining outputs and the subject’s self-rating feedback. The outcomes from this study are expected not only to allow to obtain more insights into human behavior in machining operations, but also to identify key differences between machinist trainees who exhibit no underlying hearing problems and ones who are deaf/hard of hearing. The findings of this work provide valuable takeaways concerning machinists with hearing loss, revealing little to no effect of hearing loss on trainee performance, alleviating concerns about potential performance weaknesses. The outcomes from this study have shown that trainee experience seems to relate directly to machining proficiency, regardless of hearing loss. 

Abstract BaTiS₃, a quasi-1D complex chalcogenide, has gathered considerable scientific and technological interest due to its giant optical anisotropy and electronic phase transitions. However, the synthesis of high-quality BaTiS₃crystals, particularly those featuring crystal sizes of millimeters or larger, remains a challenge. Here, we investigate the growth of BaTiS₃crystals utilizing a molten salt flux of either potassium iodide, or a mixture of barium chloride and barium iodide. The crystals obtained through this method exhibit a substantial increase in volume compared to those synthesized via the chemical vapor transport method, while preserving their intrinsic optical and electronic properties. Our flux growth method provides a promising route toward the production of high-quality, large-scale single crystals of BaTiS₃, which will greatly facilitate advanced characterizations of BaTiS₃and its practical applications that require large crystal dimensions. Additionally, our approach offers an alternative synthetic route for other emerging complex chalcogenides. Graphical Abstract