bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geoheritage of the Gua Ikan Karst Complex (GIKC), Stong Geopark, Dabong, Kuala Krai District, Kelantan, Malaysia: Evaluation for Geotourism Opportunities
Authors: Mansor Hafzan Eva , Mohammad Saad Nurul Najwa , Mohamed Kamal Roslan , Khan Mohammad Muqtada Ali , James Elvaene , Mohd Amin Mohamad Faiz , Sulaiman Nursufiah , Hassan Hasram Mohamed
Published: October 2024

The Gua Ikan Karst Complex (GIKC) is one of the geosite in the Stong Geopark. It consists of spectacular Middle Permian–Late Triassic Gua Musang Formation karst topography, represented by four (4) caves i.e., Gua Ikan, Gua Keris, Gua Pagar, and Gua Gelap. The GIKC can be potentially developed for nature-based tourism since it holds great geoheritage values. The aim of this research is to evaluate the current state of geotourism condition (qualitatively/quantitatively) and geoheritage features of the GIKC using two (2) values in the Modified Geosite Assessment Model (M- GAM) i.e., the Main Value (MV) and Additional Value (AV). The results indicate that the GIKC offers high Scientific/Educational Value (VSE); in the aspect of karst geomorphology (underground river caves, valley/wang, cave chambers, unique shape of stalactite/stalagmite/columns), lithology (metamorphosed limestone of the Gua Musang Formation and the Taku Shist), and palaeogeographic features (coral fossils, sea notch). In summary, the Total Main Value (∑MV) are Gua Ikan (9.73), Gua Keris (9.39), Gua Pagar (9.27) and Gua Gelap (8.66). The Total Additional Value (∑AV) are Gua Ikan (11.56), Gua Keris (11.25), Gua Pagar (11.04) and Gua Gelap (10.98). This paper’s findings reveal a comprehensive base for the improvement, planning, and management of the GIKC to become a geotourism end-point.
REEs Prospects in Laterites Profiles of Ibra, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: Siddhiqui Farhan , Ali Khan Mohammad Muqtada , Eva Mansor Hafzan
Published: October 2024

REEs now days are acting as an alternative source of low- sustainable energy economy and got strategic significance in the development of most of the current high-end technologies in industries and Laterite deposits provide one of the major natural sources of REEs. Laterite soil or rock is a product of intensive and prolonged weathering of underlying parent rock formed in hot and wet tropical areas. It is mainly rich in iron and aluminum oxides. The development of laterite profiles in most of Oman Mountains is mainly related to the late Cretaceous (Coniacian to late Companion) tectonic evolution of the Oman Mountains which are part of the Alpine–Himalayan fold belt. Laterite and regolith formations can be found overlie the Samail ophiolite in Oman. Samail Ophiolite is a part of upper mantle & Oceanic lithosphere which over thrusted on to the continental crust. The Samail ophiolite is considered as one of the major features of the Oman Mountains. The present study focuses on the REEs prospects in the Ibra region of Sultanate of Oman and study area of Ibra region lies within the Samail Ophiolite. The fieldwork was carried out for geological evaluation at the Ibra region. Total 3 number of Laterite profiles were observed during the fieldwork. Samples were collected from the Harzburgite rock. All samples were analyzed for ICPMS analysis to know the REEs. Field observation and chemical analysis clearly indicates that the Ibra region might have good prospect for REEs exploration and mining based on their REEs content
Finite Element Analysis of a Robotic Arm for Electronic Devices Transportation: Design and Simulation
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Iqbal , Chelliah Shaarany , Amin Mohamad Faiz Mohd , Mat Rasat Mohd Sukhairi , Fauzi Ahmad Zul Izzi
Published: October 2024

Automation of various routine operations using the robotics arm in industrial automation is crucial for bridging innovative systems and production procedures, thereby speeding up the manufacturing process by reducing overall cycle times. In this work, Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to simulate a robotic arm for handling electronic printers to foster their transportation. The analysis considers different loads and materials which include AISI 304, cast carbon steel, aluminium alloy 1060, malleable cast iron and AISI 1020. The effects of discrete particulate mechanical properties, concerning material, load zone and design configuration parameters were revealed. The remarkable result of these simulations shows displacement, tensile and compressive strain distribution values as a conclusion of the better capacity for anticipated lightweight operation using aluminium alloy 1060 robotic arm transporting device. In addition, the current simulations give a profound picture of how materials are selected to maximize the operational process.
Impact of Dumpsite Leachate Contamination on Surface Water at Beris Lalang Dumpsite, Kelantan
Authors: Mohamad Zaidi Nur Fatin Azahara , Mohd Ghazi Rozidaini
Published: October 2024

Leachate from dumpsites poses a significant threat due to its potential to contaminate surface water, damage local biodiversity, and negatively impact human health. This research focuses on assessing the environmental risks associated with leachate from the Beris Lalang Dumpsite. The aim of the study is to analyze the physical and chemical properties of leachate contamination in nearby surface water. Water samples were collected from four different locations, and the physical and chemical characteristics were evaluated. The Water Quality Index (WQI) and Leachate Pollution Index (LPI) were also calculated. The findings reveal the levels of pollutants were high at surface water samples close to the landfill. According to the WQI assessment, all locations fall under Class III. The LPI assessment indicates that the locations have a low pollution level. Although heavy metals such as zinc, arsenic, and iron were detected, the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) shows that all locations are considered safe and not highly contaminated. The study highlights the environmental impact of leachate and its potential effects on surface water near the Beris Lalang dumpsite. Additionally, it offers important insights into preventing pollution and safeguarding water resources.
Bonding Properties and Morphological Characteristics of Torrefied Pelletised Biochar from Palm Oil Industry’s Residues Empty Fruit Bunch
Authors: Mat Rasat Mohd Sukhairi , Mohd Amin Mohamad Faiz , Ahmad Muhammad Iqbal , Mohamed Noor An’amt , Moktar Janshah , Mohd Yunus Ag Ahmad , Jemali Noor Janatun Naim , Abdul Majid Nur Kyariatul Syafinie , Amaludin Nazahatul Anis , Bukhari Siti Noor Balqis , Darus Dasrul Iskandar , Alamjuri Roziela Hanim
Published: October 2024

The utilization of palm oil industry’s residues on empty fruit bunch (EFB), for biochar production has gained considerable attention due to its potential in waste management and sustainable resource utilization. In this study, the investigation of bonding properties and morphological characteristics of torrefied pelletised biochar derived from EFB was done through torrefaction process which is a thermal treatment process under low oxygen conditions to enhance the energy density and stability of the biochar. Torrefied pelletised biochar was formed from the torrefied EFB biochar utilising the strand size of 750µm, holding temperature of 274°C, and residence time of 90 minutes, and later mixed with a binding agent at proportions (10%–30% of weight). The bonding properties of torrefied pelletised biochar were further analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for identifying functional groups present in the torrefied pelletised biochar. Morphological characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyse the surface morphology and pore structure. Results indicate that torrefaction significantly improved the bonding properties of the torrefied biochar but not for the pelletised biochar. SEM images revealed a more compact and homogeneous structure with enhancing the porosity of the torrefied biochar in preparing them as pelletised due to the help of pores size for binder. FTIR analysis demonstrated alterations in functional groups, suggesting chemical transformations induced by torrefaction. The enhanced bonding properties and morphological characteristics contribute to its suitability for practical implementation in agricultural and environmental sectors, thereby promoting sustainable waste management practices and resource utilization.
The potential of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) in the removal of paracetamol from water
Authors: Shahrim Nurul Syazwina , Khadafi Nur Insyirah , Ahmad Muhammad Iqbal , Muda Khalida , Mohd Amin Mohamad Asyraf , Mat Rasat Mohd Sukhairi , Rahman Mokhlesur , Mohd Amin Mohamad Faiz
Published: October 2024

While pharmaceuticals are typically found in trace amounts, their continuous discharge into the environment could eventually lead to significant, lasting concentrations, potentially harming humans, animals, and ecosystems. Studies have identified various pharmaceutical compounds, including paracetamol, in sewage treatment plants and water sources like groundwater and drinking water. Recent research has explored the effectiveness of advanced wastewater treatment methods, mainly focusing on adsorption, to remove pharmaceuticals. This report highlights the challenge of substantial oil palm waste, specifically the oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB), posing disposal issues. OPEFB, as an absorbent for pollutants in wastewater, appears to be a viable solution. This study evaluates OPEFB’s capacity to adsorb paracetamol contaminants from water matrixes. It shows that 2.5 grams of OPEFB achieved a removal rate of 99.32% for paracetamol at an initial concentration of 100 ppm after 24 hours while using 5.0 grams of OPEFB resulted in a 99.28% removal rate for paracetamol at the same concentration and duration. This shows that OPEFB have the potential to eliminate pollutants from wastewater through the adsorption process effectively.
Enhancing customer dining experience through biophilic design: A case study analysis of restaurants
Authors: Ibrahim Ismi Luqman , Khairuddin Rizal , Jain Azri , Othmani Nurul Izzati , Mustapa Nor Diyana , Mohamad Juliza , Awang Ayub
Published: October 2024

Biophilic design (BD) is the integration of nature into built environments to best improve human well-being. This paper aims to investigate how biophilic elements affect the dining experience in particular Klang Valley, Malaysia, restaurants. The study applies quantitative as well as qualitative approaches. This research examined the BD elements present in many restaurant settings using qualitative observation. In line with accepted BD theory, the findings were documented and investigated utilising site images. Apart from the qualitative studies, a quantitative survey was carried out among customers of the restaurants to assess their dining experiences with particular reference to the integration of BD elements. This research aimed to explore the effect of BD implementation on dining experiences of restaurant occupants and maybe identify the preferred BD of the restaurant by means of a purposive sample technique. The survey findings imply that the dining experience is much improved by include BD components, particularly those that provide a visual connection to nature. This research provides important new perspectives on the usage of BD in Malaysian restaurants, therefore guiding designers and architects in selecting and implementing effective biophilic approaches to possibly improve customers satisfaction.
Assessment on future rainfall variability for adaptive water resource management in Sabah
Authors: Leong Marieanne Christie , Ngui Min Fui Tom , Ayog Janice Lynn
Published: October 2024

Climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and the increasing demands of the growing population will place further pressures on the climate and environment. Water infrastructures such as water treatment plants often face increased stress during extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall or prolonged drought, disrupting societal needs and prompt urgent upgrades to adapt to the changing climate. The use of climate model projections is increasingly adopted in engineering practices for assessing climate risks and impacts to inform adaptive design and strategy of new infrastructures or upgrades. Using a bias-corrected ensemble member of the fifth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) tailored for applications in the water sector, we assessed the variability of projected rainfall from 2021 to 2050 under the moderate warming scenario (RCP 4.5). The findings from this study aim to inform adaptive strategies for upgrading 22 water treatment plants across 18 sites in Sabah, Malaysia, where these plants have experienced numerous disruptions due to high turbidity resulting from heavy rainfall in recent years. The average annual rainfall amount ranges from 1630 mm to 4415 mm, with average total monthly rainfall peaks (>460 mm) in June and August at most sites. The observed shift in June and August is a deviation from historical patterns and is also reflected in the maximum consecutive 1- to 5-day rainfall, ranging from 22 mm to 760 mm across all sites, particularly in the interior and west coast districts. This highlights the need for resilient infrastructure upgrade strategy and adaptive water resource management, such as the introduction of off-site river storage to accommodate the anticipated future rainfall.
Evaluating the Growth and Development of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) Under Traditional Farming Practices and Controlled Conditions
Authors: Mohamad Asraf-Fizree , MZ Norhazlini , Hamzah Zulhazman
Published: October 2024

In Malaysia, specifically Kelantan, there is limited information on the variety of species and optimal production practices for edible Araceae. The study’s objectives are to examine the growth development and survival rates of domesticated edible Araceae species, specifically Cocoyam (
Xanthosoma sagittifolium), cultivated in Kelantan, Malaysia. Two environments were evaluated: a controlled condition using the minisett technique and under natural conditions that using farmers’ traditional management practices. The controlled condition utilized 50% using shade cloth, planted in 20×20 inch polybags, and a mixture of organic soil as the growing media. Fertilizer was applied at weeks 8 and 16, with the control condition receiving twice-daily irrigation. Over 20 weeks, leaf length, leaf width, plant height, stem diameter, and petiole length were recorded weekly for 50 plants. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Based on these results, it can be concluded that X. sagittifolium exhibits strong growth performance, with higher growth rates and better overall development under farming conditions compared to controlled conditions. The survival rate of X. sagittifolium was higher under traditional farming practices (92%) compared to controlled conditions (84%). These findings suggest that the traditional farming practices may be more reliable for cultivating X. sagittifolium in Kelantan.
Investigating the potential of chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol and activated carbon combinations for antibacterial electrospun fibers
Authors: Ghazali Zulkarnain , Idris Nor Shahirul Umirah , Abdul Malek Nur Hanisah , Appalasamy Suganthi , Abdul-Halim Nurul Syazana
Published: October 2024

Electrospun fibers have attracted a lot of attention in industries due to their exceptional properties and diverse applications. Chitosan (CS) is a promising polymer for electrospun fibers because it is a natural polymer that can easily biodegraded and has antibacterial compound. Whereas, activated carbon (AC) has been demonstrated as a powerful adsorbent. Thus, this study investigated the optimal concentration of polymer solutions made from combination of CS, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and AC for antibacterial elctrospun fibers. The results show that all polymer solutions with CS and PVA combination have antibacterial properties for E. coli and S. aureus bacteria but showed stronger bactericidal effects with E. coli. Results also revealed that polymer solution with AC have higher inhibition zone compared to polymer solution without AC for both bacteria strains. It can be concluded that the additional of AC into the polymer solution has improved the antibacterial efficiency of CS-PVA solution.
The influences of upscaling furniture towards tomorrows sustainable: A case study at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
Authors: Mohd Jain Noordin Mohd Azri , Ibrahim Ismi Luqman Hamadi , Khairuddin Muhammad Rizal , Othmani Nurul Izzati , Maharimi Mohammed Fadzli , Bahauddin Azizi
Published: October 2024

This research delves into the sustainability practices, at Universiti Malaysia Kelantan by investigating the impact of implementing student-led furniture upcycling projects within university premises to address sustainability concerns effectively. The study meticulously explores the benefits and challenges associated with student driven initiatives for upcycling and enhancing furniture in education institutions. A significant amount of furniture labeled as beyond repair, in universities is frequently discarded unnecessarily. Upon examination though it becomes evident that numerous items exhibit slight imperfections which present a golden opportunity, for refurbishment or transformation into state of the art products. The research conducted in this study employed methodologies such as observations and interviews in addition to a survey targeting university faculty members and students along with members of the local recycling community. The primary objective is to discover approaches that leverage the creativity and ingenuity, in student projects. The study aims to enhance the university communitys dedication to responsibility and ignite a future by refurbishing furniture that seems neglected.
Preparation and Characterization of PVA/ CNC/ ε-Polylysine Biocomposites for Potential Food Packaging Application
Authors: Abdullah Nor Hakimin , Mohamad Senusi Nur Aiman , Mohamed An’amt , Wan Abdullah Noor Wan Nazwanie , Mohd Shukri Nurasmat , Abdul Razab Mohammad Khairul Azhar , Ismardi Abrar
Published: October 2024

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on creating sustainable and biodegradable materials for use in food packaging. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of incorporating Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC)/ε-Polylysine (ε-PL) additives into a Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) matrix for food packaging. Different filler concentrations and PVA/ε-PL ratios (5:0.3 wt%), (5:0.6 wt.%), and (5:0.9 wt.%) were used to produce the PVA/CNC/ε -PL nanocomposite films through solvent casting. Additionally, PVA and PVA/CNC were prepared for control purposes. The thin film samples were then characterized using a visual inspection, thickness, optical microscopy, FTIR-ATR and XRD. Visual inspection of the nanocomposite films against the logo showed that the increasing weight ratio of CNC/ε-PL did not significantly affect the transparency of the nanocomposites, while those under the polarized optical microscopy exhibited the birefringent patterns observed in the samples with CNC. The FTIR-ATR analysis of the nanocomposite films revealed the functional groups associated with the PVA, CNC, ε-PL, and the mixtures are consistent. The tensile test demonstrated a substantial enhancement in the presence of CNC and CNC/ε-PL. In summary, the PVA/CNC/ε-PL nanocomposites present a promising potential as biodegradable materials for food packaging applications.
Spatial Identification of the Flood-Prone Area in Jeli, Kelantan
Authors: Muhamad Nor Amal Najihah , Mohammad Aina Sofiyyah , Nawawi Siti Aisyah , Mohd Jamil Rohazaini , Abas Muhamad Azahar , Hambali Kamarul Ariffin , Amaludin Nazahatul Anis , Amir Hamzah Aainaa Syazwani , Ibrahim Norfadhilah , Rafaai Nur Hairunnisa
Published: October 2024

Flooding is a serious environmental threat with no quantitative assessment of its consequences. It is necessary to understand which places are at risk of flooding to implement flood mitigation strategies. However, landscape factors are still lacking in the development of a flood-prone area map. This study aims to examine the landscape structure that has the potential to cause flood events in Jeli and develop a flood-prone area map in Jeli. The study used satellite images, ground truthing technique, image classification, landscape structure analysis, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results indicate that the higher density of the built-up area, the area near the water bodies, lower elevation ground surface, and surfaces with a steep slope have a high level of flood-prone areas and are the most vulnerable to flood. 38.11 % of the land use/land cover has a high level of flood-prone area, 43.13 % for medium level, and 18.75 % for low level. The findings can contribute to the sustainable planning and management of land use for flooding mitigation strategies.
Optimisation of Extraction Conditions of Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) Rind using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Mohammad Azmin Siti Nuurul Huda , Ahamad Shahirah , Ganasan Jivashree , Jefferi Noor Salehah , Mat Nor Mohd Shukri
Published: October 2024

Watermelon white rind is considered the most underutilised fruit resource as it is usually discarded as waste due to its unappealing flavour. Utilising watermelon rind by generating new products could decrease the amount of biological waste, thus recognising the rind’s potential economic value in various industries, mainly in the food and cosmeceutical industries. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimum conditions for extracting watermelon rind. The watermelon rind sample was dried using an oven before extracting the rind. Four factors were used: time, solvent concentration, solid-to-solvent ratio and drying time. These factors were set in Design-Expert version 13 to get the optimum conditions for the best extraction yield. The response surface methodology reveals that four conditions which are 30 mins extraction time, 90 % ethanol concentration, 40 % solvent-to-solid ratio, and 45 hrs sample drying time, showed maximum extract yield at 22 % when extracted using a sonication technique.
A Study on the Potential Microplastic Removal in Water
Authors: Azmi Amiza Izzati , Ahmad Nurul Suhana , Subki Noor Syuhadah , Mohd Fauzi Norashikin , Saipolbahri Nurain , Mat Zain Nuramirah
Published: October 2024

Water pollution is one of the major types of pollution in this world. Water pollution refers to the contamination of water with hazardous substances or chemicals that are harmful to human health, animals, and plants. Plastic comes in a wide variety of sizes, forms, and colours. Plastics can be dumped into the environment as poorly managed garbage and have the potential to indiscriminately contaminate water. Therefore, this study is focusing on the microplastic pollutants removal from contaminated water. Microplastics can be treated and removed in wastewater treatment using a variety of techniques such as membrane filtrations, adsorption, electrocoagulation, photocatalyst and many more. This study aim is to ascertain how effective it is to remove microplastics using magnetic activated carbon that has been produced from agriculture waste. As for the result, the highest percentage removal is Polyethylene (PE) which is 89.05% compared to other microplastic samples which is percentage removal for Polystyrene (PS) is 85.79% and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is 86.53%.
The preliminary study of applications waste banana peel and egg shell filler as agricultural waste for paper applications
Authors: Alnur Auli bt Nik Yusuf Nik , bt Yusoff Mahani , bin Abdullah Hakimin , bt Ameran Nadiah , bt Mamat Sakinah , bt Ali Arlina , bin Abu Bakar Bashree
Published: October 2024

This research investigates the use of banana peel ingredients that are removed from leftover banana peels to make paper. The paper was prepared by using hand sheet press machine. The study explores this non- starch elements’ potential by thoroughly examining their characteristics in an oven setting. Despite being seen as agricultural waste; banana peels include cellulose-rich components that make them a promising resource for the manufacturing of sustainable paper. The investigation uses oven-based procedures to extract and analyse non-starch components, looking at their structural and thermal characteristics. The results show that the waste banana peel with 5g of egg shell showed the highest of tensile strength which is 0.614 MPa followed by 2g of egg shell added. The combinations of waste of waste carbon box (WCB), waste banana peel and egg shell filler as paper gives the maximum loads, deflections and tensile strength. By reusing agricultural by-products for useful purposes, this project aims to support the development of environmentally responsible methods in the paper sector via a comprehensive assessment of oven qualities.
Eco-friendly Enzymatic Dehairing of Cowhide Using Thermostable Alkaline Serine Protease 50a
Authors: Ng Ton Chie , Radhi Asanah , Abdul Rahim Ainihayati , Wee Seng Kew , Ibrahim Noor Azlina
Published: October 2024

The leather goods sector faces ecological issues caused by typical dehairing technique, which requires an environmentally friendly solution. The incorporation of synthetic compounds in the conventional dehairing practice could pose an important contribution to the water pollution. The study analyses enzymatic and conventional treatment, examines at the implications of different enzyme concentration and measures the effluent quality of wastewater. A range of dehairing treatment including conventional, enzyme assisted and single enzyme. The performance of dehairing treatments were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile tests. The effluent from dehairing process was focused on pH and chemical oxygen demand (COD) level. The findings demonstrate that enzyme assisted methods, particularly with a 20% thermostable alkaline serine protease 50a (TAP50a) showed superior dehairing efficiency. SEM results from enzymatic method indicated improved grains surface quality of cowhides. The mechanical tests demonstrated that the cowhides dehaired using enzyme dehairing exhibited greater tear resistance compared to conventional methods. Water quality assessment indicates pH level under acceptable ranges and able to reduce COD level compared to conventional method. Thus, the developed enzymatic treatment using the TAP50a offers an alternative dehairing method to replace a conventional method by improved leather properties and decreased ecological implications.
Macronutrient composition, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Pleurotus pulmonarius’s fruiting body vs. stem waste
Authors: Zakaria Nik Nur Azwanida , Fadzil Norsyafiera Syuhada , Tuan Harith Zuharlida , Abdul Wahab Ikarastika Rahayu , Idris Akmal Adilah , Abdul Rahman Kharul Azmi Muazzam , Saidan Noor Hafizoh , Abdul Rahman Nurhanan , Naher Laila
Published: October 2024

The increasing cultivation of mushrooms has led to substantial waste production, ranging from 5-20% of total volume mushroom harvested. This study aimed to compare the macronutrient composition and bioactivities of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius), focusing on its stem waste versus fruiting bodies. Macronutrients analyzed include moisture, ash, fat, fiber, protein, and carbohydrates using proximate analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed via DPPH and ABTS assays, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated using microdilution techniques. Results indicated that mushroom stem waste contained significantly higher levels of carbohydrates (46.2 ± 0.69%), ash (8.2 ± 0.04%), and fiber (15.4 ± 0.10%) compared to the fruiting bodies (carbohydrates: 38.1 ± 0.84%, ash: 6.7 ± 0.12%, fiber: 9.1 ± 0.02%). Conversely, the fruiting bodies exhibited superior antioxidant activity with IC50 values ranging from 166.1 to 503.5 μg/mL. Similar minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were observed between both parts, except for E. coli, where the fruiting bodies showed an MIC of 2000 μg/mL compared to 1000 μg/mL for stem waste. In conclusion, this study highlights the bioactive potential of mushroom stem waste and further purification could enhance its suitability for diverse bioactive applications.
Exascale Computing and Its Impact on Multiphysics Simulations: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Siegel Andrew
Published: October 2024

This talk provides a detailed analysis of the current landscape and future directions in high-performance computing (HPC) systems, with a particular focus on the impact of evolving hardware trends on complex, multiphysics simulations. The recent deployment of the Frontier Supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory marked the beginning of the exascale computing era, closely followed by the introduction of the Aurora system at Argonne National Laboratory. Their deployment enabled the successful completion of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Exascale Computing Project (ECP)—a complementary, high-risk effort in re-designing software and scientific applications to take efficient use of these systems. Both Frontier and Aurora utilize specialized accelerators to achieve the power performance necessary for practical exascale deployment. This shift toward GPU-based systems has strongly influenced the HPC community’s approach to algorithms, impacting everything from implementation specifics to numerical strategies and mathematical modeling. Looking ahead, further specialization is inevitable, driven largely by the need for energy efficient neural network training and inference. This talk addresses the potential impact of these trends on multiphysics simulations, discussing both conventional and more innovative approaches to progress.
High fidelity calculations vs. the simple models: The perspective of an educator in nuclear reactor physics
Authors: Dulla Sandra
Published: October 2024

The evolution of technology and computer power in the last decades have significantly impacted the approach to modelling and simulation in nuclear reactor physics, with the development and large utilization of complex code, providing extremely accurate and refined results, and the progressive discard of legacy, simplified models for the steady-state and transient analysis of fission nuclear reactors. How to correctly represent this shift in the frame of higher education, without losing track of the rich physical understanding that “simple models” can provide, is a challenge faced by all educators in reactor physics. Building on the experience gained in university teaching at the bachelor and master level, as well as in the more recent experience in innovative didactic approaches, in this talk I will provide a personal vision of how to approach the teaching in reactor physics in this scenario.
Unearthing the Chicago Piles: A Monte Carlo perspective
Authors: Zoia Andrea , Mancusi Davide
Published: October 2024

The divergence of the Chicago Pile 1 (CP-1) on December 2nd, 1942, marks the birth of the nuclear age. Built under the West Stands of the Stagg Field in Chicago in slightly over two weeks, CP-1 was the first man-made nuclear reactor, conceived as a proof-of-principle physics experiment to demonstrate the feasibility of a self-sustained neutron chain reaction. The fuel consisted in a mixture of uranium oxide and metal uranium, with lumps of several sizes and shapes stacked within bricks of graphite used as moderator to form a cubic lattice. After only three months of operation, CP-1 was dismantled due to safety reasons and rebuilt at the Argonne Site in twenty-one days, under the name of Chicago Pile 2 (CP-2): the new pile had a longer life, contributing vastly to research on material science and nuclear reactor theory, and was finally decommissioned in 1954. Prompted by the eightieth anniversary of the Chicago Pile(s), in this talk we celebrate these astonishing scientific artifacts by building fully detailed three-dimensional digital twins of CP-1 and CP-2 using TRIPOLI-4®, the Monte Carlo code developed at CEA. Technological data for the models have been retrieved from published and unpublished documents of the Manhattan Project. We compare the simulation results to the available experimental measurements, encompassing the reactivity of the piles, the control rod worth, the kinetics parameters and several reactivity coefficients. For each, we examine the associated uncertainties due to missing or incomplete technological data as well as the bias due to nuclear data libraries.
2D/3D GPU-accelerated deterministic neutronics solver based on planar method of characteristics and hybrid finite element method
Authors: Kim Kyung Min , Lee Han Gyu , Im Jaeuk , Shim Hyung Jin
Published: October 2024

The newly developed 2D/3D method operating over the unstructured mesh geometry is introduced. Implemented in the NuDEAL code, the method alternates the planar method of characterization (MOC) and the diffusion-based hybrid finite element (HFEM), with planar MOC solving the 2D decoupled fine mesh and HFEM providing 3D coarse mesh flux distributions based on the MOC solution. The consistency between the planar MOC and the diffusion HFEM is made with the devised consistency factors operating on volumetric and surface flux distributions. Furthermore, the consistent HFEM is fully accelerated using GPUs, which results in a 50-speedup in the red-black sweep compared to the runtime of the single CPU core. As a result, the accelerated HFEM takes less than 30 seconds to solve the multigroup benchmark problem, which is 20 times faster with a single gaming GPU than with a single CPU core.
Multi-output gaussian processes for the reconstruction of homogenized cross-sections
Authors: Truffinet Olivier , Ammar Karim , Argaud Jean-Philippe , Gérard Castaing Nicolas , Bouriquet Bertrand
Published: October 2024

Deterministic nuclear reactor simulators employing the prevalent two-step scheme often generate a substantial amount of intermediate data at the interface of their two subcodes, which can impede the overall performance of the software. The bulk of this data comprises “few-groups homogenized cross-sections” or HXS, which are stored as tabulated multivariate functions and interpolated inside the core simulator. A number of mathematical tools have been studied for this interpolation purpose over the years, but few meet all the challenging requirements of neutronics computation chains: extreme accuracy, low memory footprint, fast predictions…

We here present a new framework to tackle this task, based on multi-outputs gaussian processes (MOGP). This machine learning model enables us to interpolate HXS’s with improved accuracy compared to the current multilinear standard, using only a fraction of its training data – meaning that the amount of required precomputation is reduced by a factor of several dozens. It also necessitates an even smaller fraction of its storage requirements, preserves its reconstruction speed, and unlocks new functionalities such as adaptive sampling and facilitated uncertainty quantification. We demonstrate the efficiency of this approach on a rich test case reproducing the VERA benchmark, proving in particular its scalability to datasets of millions of HXS.
Efficient sweep kernels on shared-memory architectures for the discrete ordinates neutron transport equation on Cartesian and hexagonal geometries
Authors: Suau Gabriel , Calloo Ansar , Baron Rémi , Le Tellier Romain , Gautier Thierry
Published: October 2024

This paper describes the implementation of DONUT, a small multi-group SN-DG transport solver that aims at providing efficient and portable sweep kernels on shared-memory architectures for Cartesian and hexagonal geometries. DONUT heavily relies on the Kokkos C++ library for portability and genericity. First encouraging performance results are presented for multicore CPU architectures.
Adaptive sampling of homogenized cross-sections with multi-output gaussian processes
Authors: Truffinet Olivier , Ammar Karim , Argaud Jean-Philippe , Gérard Castaing Nicolas , Bouriquet Bertrand
Published: October 2024

In another talk submitted to this conference, we presented an efficient new framework based on multi-outputs gaussian processes (MOGP) for the interpolation of few-groups homogenized cross-sections (HXS) inside deterministic core simulators. We indicated that this methodology authorized a principled selection of interpolation points through adaptive sampling. We here develop this idea by trying simple sampling schemes on our problem. In particular, we compare sample scoring functions with and without integration of leave-one-out errors, and obtained with single-output and multi-output gaussian process models. We test these methods on a realistic PWR assembly with gadolinium-added fuel rods, comparing them with non-adaptive supports. Results are promising, as the sampling algorithms allow to significantly reduce the size of interpolation supports with almost preserved accuracy. However, they exhibit phenomena of instability and stagnation, which calls for further investigation of the sampling dynamics and trying other scoring functions for the selection of samples.
Presenting the multi-phase solver implemented in the open source TrioCFD code based on the TRUST HPC platform
Authors: Reiss Corentin , Gerschenfeld Antoine , Saikali Elie , Gorsse Yannick , Burlot Alan
Published: October 2024

A new open source CFD-scale multi-phase flow environment has been developed in the TrioCFD code using the TRUST HPC platform. Mass, momentum and energy equations can be solved for an arbitrary number of phases. This environment is scalable, can use multiple numerical schemes and resolution algorithms, and enables easy modification of the physical closures. It has been verified on adiabatic and boiling two-phase simulations.
Performances of the CFD open-source HPC platform TRUST on GPUs
Authors: Saikali Elie , Bruneton Adrien , Ledac Pierre
Published: October 2024

TRUST is a versatile open-source CFD tool developed by the CEA since 1993. Initially designed for nuclear applications, TRUST has evolved to tackle a range of thermohydraulic challenges, from one-phase to multiphase flows. It offers various numerical methods and supports different mesh types for efficient computation on diverse computing platforms, including high-performance computers. Recently, efforts have been made to integrate GPU computing libraries like AmgX, rocALUTION, and Kokkos aiming for a hybrid CPU/GPU code achieving better performance portability. This paper provides an overview of the TRUST platform, discusses its GPU computing strategy, and presents selected associated results.
GPU-enabled ensemble data assimilation for mesh-refined lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Hasegawa Yuta , Idomura Yasuhiro , Onodera Naoyuki
Published: October 2024

We implemented the ensemble data assimilation (DA) method, the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF), into the mesh-refined lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) for turbulent flows. Both the LETKF and the mesh-refined LBM were fully implemented on GPUs, so that they are efficiently computed on modern GPU-based supercomputers. We examined the DA accuracy against the flow around a cylinder. The result showed that our method enabled accurate DA with spatially- and temporarily-sparse observation data; the error of the assimilated velocity field with the observation interval of τK/2 and the observation resolution D/16 (1.56% of the total computational grids) was smaller than the amplitude of the observation noise, where τK is the period of the Kármán vortex and D is diameter of the square cylinder.
Discontinuous Galerkin schemes for the Stokes problem
Authors: Mroueh Mayssa , Jamelot Erell , Omnes Pascal
Published: October 2024

Our aim is to develop a robust and flexible code to simulate flows in nuclear core reactors. Discontinuous Galerkin schemes are thus proposed here to solve the Stokes problem, which stands as a fundamental element in fluid mechanics. A priori error estimates are provided when the solution is weakly regular. Details on how to solve the large-scale linear system are given. We moreover explain how to discretize a singular source term. Finally, we give numerical results of two test-cases for which the solution is weakly regular.
Coupled neutronics and thermal-hydraulics using TRUST-NK for high performance computing in molten salt reactor simulation
Authors: Ouazzani Ayoub , Gorsse Yannick , Gerschenfeld Antoine
Published: October 2024

Molten Salt Reactors display a strong coupling between neutronics and thermal-hydraulics for which various simulation tools have been developed. In this paper we describe TRUST-NK, a neutronics code based on TRUST, CEA’s High Performance Computing (HPC) platform. TRUST-NK provides a multi-group diffusion solver with transport of delayed neutron precursors, for both steady-state and transient simulations. Being based on TRUST allows TRUST-NK to take advantage of the platform’s HPC capabilities and to easily couple to CFD solvers provided by other derivatives of TRUST. After a brief description of the code, we present an example of application to a simplified MSR model.
Topological Representations for Data Analysis: Use Cases on Instabilities and Turbulences
Authors: Vivodtzev Fabien , Nauleau Florent , Casner Alexis , Tierny Julien
Published: October 2024

Understanding physical phenomena implied in the design of a system or in the guarantee of its performances require to run high fidelity simulation codes and to create experimental campaigns at different scales. Thanks to the use of advanced sensors or imaging capabilities in large facilities such as the Laser Mega Joule and the use of High Performance Computing, very large and complex dataset are generated. The analysis of such data is a real challenge due to the size and the complexity of the data. When dealing with chaotic phenomena, traditional analysis methods often try to average the answer. In this paper, we introduce the use of Topological Data Analysis (TDA) to improve the understanding of the results and avoid costly traditional analysis methods. The key concepts of TDA are presented such as the notion of critical points, persistence and different simplification representations. Then we illustrate the advantages of TDA on successful use cases on the analysis of hydrodynamic instabilities observed during Laser shooting or turbulences computed with a computational fluid dynamic simulation code.
Accelerating split-exponential track length estimator on GPU in TRIPOLI-4®
Authors: Antonsanti Pierre-Louis , Hutinet Henri , Mancusi Davide , Le Loirec Cindy
Published: October 2024

In the context of computing 3D volumetric scores for nuclear applications, combiningMonte Carlo methods andHigh Performance Computing is key to achieve precise, computationally tractable simulations andmeet the industrial deadlines. The next-event “split exponential track-length estimator” (seTLE) is typically adapted to the estimation of a tally in a mesh. We take advantage of the computing capabilities of Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to mitigate the CPU-intensive tasks involved in the application of the seTLE: the estimation of cross section, the sampling of many out-going pseudo-particles at collision, the ray tracing across the geometry and the accumulation of scores in volumes. We discuss the performance improvements brought by porting each of these steps to GPU. We discuss the influence of the many parameters involved, and select a working point providing the best trade-off between the acceleration factor and the GPU utilization. We show on two examples thatwe obtain an acceleration factor of 8.56 on average over the entire map for the shielding application (up to 50 behind the concrete shield), and of 6.30 on average for the criticality application (up to 16 in the burnable poison tubes), compared to standard TLE on CPU.
Improving Computational Efficiency in Monte Carlo Simulation for Radiation Portal Monitor
Authors: Sim Hayoung , Seo Hee
Published: October 2024

At the border and airports, a radiation portal monitor (RPM) system has been installed and is operated to detect illegal radioactive materials in cargo containers. To evaluate the RPM's performance and determine the optimized alarm criteria in various conditions, the Monte Carlo simulation technique is considered essential; however, the calculation efficiency has to be improved when we are dealing with complex geometries and a wide range of source term (e.g., a few hundred meters in diameter). In the present study, the applicability of the various techniques to improve calculation efficiency was evaluated. For example, as a simple but highly effective way, a simple box was used to surround the complex geometry of the RPM, resulting in 1.75 times of improvement in the calculation efficiency. Additionally, when the simple box and Surface Source Write and Read (SSW/SSR) techniques were combined, the computational efficiency increased by 374 times. These results could significantly enhance the calculation efficiency of the Monte Carlo simulation, not only for the RPM but also for other radiation detectors in radiation transport applications.
XSBench on FPGAs using Intel oneAPI
Authors: Pecák Oldřich , Matěj Zdeněk , Přenosil Václav
Published: October 2024

Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are becoming an interesting component for heterogeneous computing systems in the post-Moore era thanks to their reconfigurable nature. The current generation of FPGAs includes specialized hard blocks for floating point operations, making them attractive for scientific computing. FPGA programming has historically been done in hardware description languages, which required a deep understanding of hardware design. Emerging high-level synthesis tools, such as Intel oneAPI and AMD Vitis™, provide a more common programming environment for FPGAs. In this paper, we explore the capabilities of FPGAs for acceleration in the context of nuclear particle transport simulators. As a case study, we implement XS-Bench in Intel oneAPI targeting FPGAs, including basic optimizations. We then compare the performance of Intel Stratix10 FPGA and Intel Xeon CPU-based systems and evaluate the viability of FPGA use in heterogeneous systems.
Performance Portable Monte Carlo Particle Transport on Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD GPUs
Authors: Tramm John , Romano Paul , Shriwise Patrick , Lund Amanda , Doerfert Johannes , Steinbrecher Patrick , Siegel Andrew , Ridley Gavin
Published: October 2024

OpenMC is an open source Monte Carlo neutral particle transport application that has recently been ported to GPU using the OpenMP target offloading model. We examine the performance of OpenMC at scale on the Frontier, Polaris, and Aurora supercomputers, demonstrating that performance portability has been achieved by OpenMC across all three major GPU vendors (AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel). OpenMC’s GPU performance is compared to both the traditional CPU-based version of OpenMC as well as several other state-of-the-art CPU-based Monte Carlo particle transport applications. We also provide historical context by analyzing OpenMC’s performance on several legacy GPU and CPU architectures. This work includes some of the first published results for a scientific simulation application at scale on a supercomputer featuring Intel’s Max series “Ponte Vecchio” GPUs. It is also one of the first demonstrations of a large scientific production application using the OpenMP target offloading model to achieve high performance on all three major GPU platforms.