bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of factors affecting construction quality, cost, and time in building project using analytical hierarchy process (AHP)
Authors: Nurlia Ramadhanty , Yureana Wijayanti , Putri Arumsari
Published: September 2023

The building construction is a very complex project which requires the collaboration of many project participants and various resources. It is important to identify and mitigate the problems in the project that can hamper the performance of construction such as delay, cost overruns, and low quality. The objective of the study is to determine the factors in building construction projects that can affect cost, quality, and time performance. The method used in this research is the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to analyze the dominant factors causing the constraints. A structured hierarchical matrix was developed based on a preliminary identification of factors affecting time, cost, and quality, and then evaluated by experienced professionals during the survey. The data obtained from the questionnaires were processed using Expert Choice 11 software. Based on the results of the study, it was found that there are five dominant factors affecting the time, cost, and quality constraints, such as the design changes from the project owner during construction phases, planning error, delay in payment, work plan changes during construction phases, and unpredictable bad weather condition. This study also presented the mitigations to these factors, which were obtained both from the interviews with experts and also from the previous literature studies.
Wave transmission at low-crested structures
Authors: Setyandito Oki , Aslami Muhammad Hafiz , Anda Martin , Kristanti Risky Ayu
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates the wave transmission through artificial reefs utilised as low-crested breakwaters to mitigate coastal erosion and reduce wave energy. The study utilises the DualSPHysics smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) solver to evaluate the effectiveness of such structures. Wave transmission coefficients were computed for various reef configurations and wave conditions. Results indicate that the shifted reef configuration provides a higher level of wave height reduction for non-breaking waves, while there is no significant difference for breaking waves. The study further reveals that the efficiency of the breakwater decreases with an increase in wave steepness. However, the total wave energy significantly decreases, leading to a gradual reduction in wave height as it travels further from the breakwater. The outcomes of this research can aid in the optimisation and design of artificial reefs for coastal protection.
Influencing factors of sustainable highway construction
Authors: Maelissa Nelda , Rohman M. Arif , Wiguna I. Putu Artama
Published: September 2023

The triple bottom line, which consists of the three pillars of the environment, society, and economy, must be balanced to achieve sustainable development. Integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects in construction projects is still a challenge. The construction industry tends to use non-renewable and unsustainable resources with energy values contained therein. One of the infrastructures that need to be considered in the concept of sustainable development is highway infrastructure. Highway infrastructure projects are quite complex because they involve a lot of resources, require a wider location, and significantly impact the community and the government. Environmental, social, and economic issues are just a few of the persistent issues that frequently surface during highway construction. Common environmental difficulties include water and energy consumption, road landscape issues, and wildlife conservation. Social issues are common in road projects and include issues with land acquisition, relocation, and worker comfort. Instead, bid prices and production costs that are elevated as a result of the usage of eco-friendly materials could cause economic issues. This study aims to investigate the TBL factors that influence the construction of sustainable roads and highways. A literature study is carried out by searching articles related to sustainable road projects. There are seven factors and 29 sub-factors for sustainable highway development, according to the literature review. Technology, project management, ecology, materials, government, community, and value system are the seven factors. These seven elements all contribute significantly, are interrelated, and are necessary for the realization of a sustainable highway.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic influence mode choice and activity satisfaction?
Authors: Asmaningrum Tri Hardiyanti , Dharmowijoyo Dimas B.E. , Budiarto Arif , Mahmudah Amirotul M.H.
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 outbreak had an impact not only on health but also on new lifestyle changes (economic and environmental), particularly changes in mode choice behavior. Government applied various restrictions such as limited gathering, mandatory face masks to prevent the transmission of pandemic’s spread. Restrictions changes personal decisions about which mode of transportation to use. This study highlighted changes in perspective towards mode choice. People prefer walking, cars, and motorbikes during the pandemic as they feel safer and cost-effective. Numerous studies related to activity satisfaction found daily activities, mode choice, and well-being form process and evaluation of an individual's satisfaction. This study focuses the relationship between public transportation (sustainable transport, safe, green, and efficient) to activity satisfaction levels caused by COVID-19 outbreak. Agglomeration Surakarta, Indonesia, has become the location for this study. The data was taken through of 402 respondents. The level of activity satisfaction is indicated using a Likert Scale. Bivariate analysis is applied to determine the most influencing in mode choice behavior amongst activity satisfaction. The result studies average travel time is 49.07 minutes/day. Travel time with the dominant mode used is cars reaching 55.51%, followed by non-motorized vehicles at 22.43%, motorbikes at 19.77%, public transportation at 1.83%, and ride-sourcing at 0.46%. It can be concluded that people choose to travel safely using private vehicles to avoid interaction with other people. However, using public transportation will provide less activity satisfaction than other modes of transportation. The research may be helpful to policymakers of public transportation in the future.
Systematic literature review: Financing system in railway transportation
Authors: Noviarti Delli , Arliansyah Joni , Kadarsah Edi
Published: September 2023

Trains are one of the least polluting modes of mass transportation. The creation of railway infrastructure aims to promote connection and mobility to spur economic growth. The purpose of this research is to provide an overview of railway funding around the world. The method is based on examining the literature on railway funding over the last 20 years. This research aims to provide an overview of railway funding issues and solutions and answers to challenges using research trends. This study's approach consists of three steps: bibliometric analysis with mapping through the keywords "rail" and "finance" from the Scopus account to get Scopus literature on railway financing, mapping using Vosviewer, and analyzing. The review included 506 articles published between 2008 and 2022 with the keywords "financing" or "finance" and "rail" "engineering" and "economic." The findings demonstrated that the high cost of infrastructure development and railway operations necessitated alternative creative financing to avoid taxing the state. Railway investment is significant, but revenue will be substantial in the future. Thus the PPP financing scheme is one of the alternative methods for acquisition, operating, and maintenance financing in railway transportation.
Liquefaction potential evaluation on reconstruction project of irrigation canal in the Jono Oge and Lolu Village
Authors: Widyanata I. Made , Ismanti Sito , Setiawan Angga Fajar
Published: September 2023

In Indonesia's liquefaction history, the province of Central Sulawesi was severely affected in several locations when a 7.5 Mw earthquake occurred in September 2018. This study aims to evaluate the liquefaction potential and generate the liquefaction hazard map in the reconstruction project of the Gumbasa Irrigation Canals passed through Jono Oge Village and Lolu Village, closely related to the liquefaction event in the Sigi Regency area. Using the simplified procedure method by Idriss and Boulanger, the Liquefaction Factor of Safety (FOS) was calculated for each layer of soil from thirteen (13) locations of soil investigation test at the end of 2021 by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. Furthermore, it was followed by calculating the Liquefaction Potential Index (LPI) and Liquefaction Severity Index (LSI). The analysis results show that the construction work area has the liquefaction potential with the observed groundwater level. It is mapped on irrigation canals along the Jono Oge Village and Lolu Village to know the critical segment of the irrigation project. Hereafter, an irrigation canal segment named BGKN-45 to BGKN-46 in Jono Oge required a specific mitigation plan to prevent damage from liquefaction in the future.
Analysis of different elevation buildings with heights of 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 floors on friction piles
Authors: Susilo Alfred Jonathan , Anderson Kevin
Published: September 2023

Foundation is one of the most important parts of the structure. The design and selection of foundations must be carried out properly to strengthen the structure. Different elevation buildings require more careful foundation design than other structures. The bearing capacity and settlement of the soil acting on the pile foundation will be very important to be taken into consideration in the construction of different elevation buildings, because the different elevation buildings have different heights, so the placement of the foundation depths is also different. There is load data to be used, load data will vary according to the elevation of the building. The difference on structure elevation is four-storey buildings until it reaches 24 storey building. Each floor has a height of three meters. The foundation analyzed by using bored pile. The soil data is from Central Jakarta. The foundation will be analyzed under the following condition. The foundation will be placed at the same pile diameters which is one meter and uses different dephts. In this study, the bearing capacity and soil settlement analysis was carried out using bored piles on the conditions described before. The result of this research will provide information about bearing capacity and settlement that occurs on different elevation building if the foundation uses a friction piles. This research concludes that the use of friction piles in ineffective.
Static and dynamic story shear in split-level building on sloping ground
Authors: Wiyono Daud Rahmat , Desiani Asriwiyanti , Tallar Robby Yussac , Pranata Yosafat Aji , Setiawan Deni
Published: September 2023

Building structures located on slopes behave differently than structures located on flat ground because of the different levels of stepped floors made to overcome the slope of the land, resulting in several layers of basements. Also, due to the existence of these steps and the difference in soil level, a retaining wall is often made to hold the soil. The forces acting on the structure consist of those acting on the structure and those acting on the retaining walls, both against gravity loads and against earthquake loads. Often, there is an avalanche force due to the stability of the slopes. The main objective of this research is to: evaluate the distribution of story-shear forces based on a static and dynamic analysis of building structures. This paper discusses the structure of a seven-story building with stepped floors, which is then used to calculate a similar structure with 14 levels. In this case study, the load due to lateral earth pressure is calculated separately from the building structure with the assumption that the retaining wall (soldier-pile) can carry the lateral earth pressure as well as overcome sliding due to slope stability. Therefore, the building structure can be designed separately without considering the presence of lateral forces due to differences in soil levels. In conclusion, the results of the static and dynamic analysis showed the distribution of the story-shear forces from the first to seventh floors as smaller than those of the eighth floor.
Adaptive mesh refinements for analyses of 2D linear elasticity problems using the Kriging-based finite element method
Authors: Handoko Johanna , Wong Foek Tjong
Published: September 2023

Finite element analyses of irregular structures require adaptive mesh refinement to achieve more accurate results in an efficient manner. This is also true for a non-conventional finite element method with Kriging interpolation, called the Kriging-based finite element method (K-FEM). This paper presents a study of automatic adaptive meshing procedures for analyses of two-dimensional linear elasticity problems using the K-FEM. The Matlab Partial Differential Equation Toolbox was utilized for generating meshes with Delaunay triangulation. Three error indicators, namely, the strain energy error, the gradient of effective stresses, and the element-free Galerkin strain energy error, were employed for estimating the element errors. To find the most effective error indicator, the resulting total number of elements and configurations of the final meshes were compared. The results show that the resulting final meshes were affected by the initial mesh configurations, the refinement criteria, and the termination criteria. The gradient of effective stresses indicator was found to be the most effective error indicator for the K-FEM, as it can accurately estimate the element errors.
Complex Kraenkel-Manna-Merle system in a ferrite: N-fold Darboux transformation, generalized Darboux transformation and solitons
Authors: Shen Yuan , Tian Bo , Zhou Tian-Yu , Cheng Chong-Dong
Published: September 2023

Ferromagnetic materials such as the ferrites are used in the electronic and energy industries. Here, we concentrate on a complex Kraenkel-Manna-Merle system in a ferrite, under some coefficient constraints. An N-fold Darboux transformation of that system is presented via an existing Lax pair, where N is a positive integer. An N-fold generalized Darboux transformation, which admits one spectral parameter, is proposed through a limit procedure. One-, two- and three-soliton solutions of that system are determined via that N-fold Darboux transformation. The second-order and third-order degenerate soliton solutions of that system are derived via that N-fold generalized Darboux transformation. Those solitons are graphically represented for the magnetization and external magnetic field related to a ferrite.
Percutaneous drainage and combined praziquantel-albendazole therapy: a novel approach for the treatment of simple echinococcal liver cysts
Authors: Richter Joachim , Lindner Andreas K. , Geisel Dominik , Fleckenstein Florian Nima , Torsello Giovanni Federico , Millet Pascual-Leone Belén , Ivanov Olga , Zöllner Caroline , Wilde Anne-Christine Beatrix , Equihua Martinez Gabriela
Published: September 2023

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a worldwide helminthic zoonosis causing serious disease in humans. The WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis recommends a stage-specific treatment approach of hepatic CE that facilitates the decision on what therapy option is most appropriate. Percutaneous aspiration, instillation of a scolicide, e.g., ethanol or hypertonic saline, and subsequent re-aspiration (PAIR) have been advocated for treating medium-size unilocular WHO-stage CE1 cysts. PAIR can pose a risk of toxic cholangitis because of spillage of ethanol in the case of a cysto-biliary fistula or of life-threatening hypernatriaemia when hypertonic saline is used. The purpose of our study is to develop an alternative, safe, minimally invasive method to treat CE1 cysts, avoiding the use of toxic topic scolicides.

We opt for percutaneous drainage (PD) in four patients: the intrahepatic drainage catheter is placed under CT-fluoroscopy, intracystic fluid is aspirated, and the viability of intracystic echinococcal protoscolices is assessed microscopically. Oral praziquantel (PZQ) is added to albendazole (ABZ) instead of using topical scolicidals.

Protoscolices degenerate within 5 to 10 days after PZQ co-medication at a cumulative dosage of 250 to 335 mg/kg, and the cysts collapse. The cysts degenerate, and no sign of spillage nor relapse is observed in the follow-up time of up to 24 months post-intervention.

In conclusion, PD combined with oral PZQ under ABZ coverage is preferable to PAIR in patients with unilocular echinococcal cysts.
Circulating Vitamin D Levels in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: a
Meta-Analysis
Authors: Lee Young Ho , Song Gwan Gyu
Published: September 2023

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between
circulating vitamin D levels and systemic sclerosis and to establish an
association between vitamin D deficiency and systemic sclerosis.

Methods We performed a meta-analysis comparing the plasma/serum
vitamin D levels and vitamin D deficiency between patients with systemic
sclerosis and healthy controls and examined correlation coefficients between
circulating vitamin D levels and the Rodnan score.

Results Twenty-one studies involving 1,399 patients with systemic
sclerosis and 1,311 controls were included. The systemic sclerosis group had
significantly lower vitamin D levels than the control group. Stratification by
ethnicity demonstrated significantly decreased vitamin D levels in patients with
systemic sclerosis among European, Asian, Arab, Latin American, and mixed
populations. Stratification by age, sex, and/or body mass index revealed
significantly lower vitamin D levels in the systemic sclerosis group regardless
of the adjustment. Subgroup analysis by sample size revealed significantly lower
vitamin D levels in the systemic sclerosis group by small (n<100) and
large sample numbers (n>100). Stratification by publication year
revealed significantly lower vitamin D levels in the systemic sclerosis group in
both recent and old publication years. However, no significant difference in
vitamin D levels was observed between diffuse and limited types of systemic
sclerosis. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with systemic
sclerosis. The meta-analysis of correlation coefficients revealed a tendency of
inverse correlation between circulating vitamin D levels and the Rodnan
score.

Conclusions Patients with systemic sclerosis had lower circulating vitamin
D levels and higher vitamin D deficiency and there was a tendency of inverse
correlation between circulating vitamin D levels and the Rodnan score.
Straightforward Approach to 5-Substituted 7H-Imidazo[2,1-b] [1,3]thiazines via Cyclization of 2-Alkynylthioimidazoles
Authors: Žutautė Ieva , Misiūnaitė Indrė , Bajarūnaitė Raminta , Bukšnaitienė Rita , Brukštus Algirdas
Published: September 2023

Electrophile-initiated nucleophilic cyclization of 2-alkynylthiobenzimidazoles is a useful tool for synthesizing new heterocyclic systems. However, halogen-initiated cyclization demonstrates poor selectivity between electrophilic addition and substitution reactions using other imidazole analogues. In this research, several different coinage metal catalysts were employed to broaden the scope of 7H-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines in atom-economic manner. Selective 6-endo-dig pathway reactions were achieved in good to excellent yields using various 2-alkynylthioimidazoles with AuCl as the catalyst in DCE/DCM.
Improving indoor soundscapes in primary school classrooms
Authors: Palivela Ananya
Published: September 2023

A primary school soundscape is analyzed on a scale of pleasantness and arousal to determine the suitable sound environment for students.
Investigating geochemical fluid-rock interactions
Authors: Green Leigh Ann
Published: September 2023

Subsurface geo-conditions and chemical environments are simulated in an improved laboratory setup.
Ion beam technology creates advanced catalysts for hydrogen energy production
Authors: Ikenson Ben
Published: September 2023

Low-energy-recoil ion implantation can accurately synthesize high-entropy oxide nanomaterials.
Small-sized bright point-like source of picosecond soft x-ray pulses based on a high-voltage vacuum discharge
Authors: Baryshnikov V. I. , Paperny V. L , Chernikh A. A.
Published: September 2023

A small-sized soft x-ray (energy ≤ 1 keV) source based on a high-voltage vacuum discharge with a current of 20 kA and an ultrashort pulse duration of about 10 ps has been developed. It was shown that the radiation was emitted by a micropinch, which was formed in the discharge plasma and had a size of the order of a micrometer. In a single shot, an image of the test object was obtained with a resolution of several micrometers.
Observation of an abnormally large bandgap in monolayer 1T′-WS2 grown on SrTiO3(001)
Authors: Tian Qichao , Wang Ziyu , Zhao Wei-Min , Xu Yong-Jie , Liu Gan , Wang Li , Wang Pengdong , Dou Li-Guo , Chen Wang , Jin Shaoen , Zong Junyu , Meng Qinghao , Yu Fan , Wang Can , Xi Xiaoxiang , Li Fang-Sen , Li Shao-Chun , Liu Junwei , Zhang Yi
Published: September 2023

The 1T′ structural phase of monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides MX2 (M = Mo, W; X = S, Se, Te) has attracted broad interest because of an exotic quantum spin Hall insulator state. Among them, the investigation on the electronic structures of the 1T′-WS2 monolayer is still lacking due to the difficulty in obtaining the 1T′-WS2 as a metastable phase. Here, we report the growth of 1T′ phase WS2 monolayer on the SrTiO3 (001) substrate using molecular beam epitaxy. Surprisingly, a large bandgap of 0.65 eV is revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling spectroscopy, which is abnormally larger than the theoretical expectance. Moreover, an additional near-flatband emerges in the grown monolayer 1T′-WS2. The abnormally large bandgap and the emerging near-flatband are suggested to be the effect of interfacial interactions. Our findings provide important information about electronic structures and the interfacial effect of the epitaxial 1T′-WS2 monolayer on the SrTiO3(001) substrate and would stimulate future theoretical and experimental research on the 1T′-MX2 family.
A liquid electrolyte-based memristor with application in associate learning
Authors: Dou Gang , Liu Jiandong , Guo Wenhai , Liu Lixin , Zhang Douyin , Guo Mei
Published: September 2023

Most of the existing memristors are complicated to prepare, which is not conducive to actual applications. In this paper, a Zn/ZnSO4/Pt (ZSP) memristor with a simple preparation method is fabricated. The I–V characteristics show good switching characteristics and a stable SET/RESET process. By modulating the weight (current of the memristor) continuously, the ZSP memristor simulates typical synaptic plasticity. The ZSP memristor acts as an artificial synapse in the associate learning circuit, and the learning-forgetting-relearning process is implemented. The experimental results will inspire the development of electrolyte memristors. The advantages of the ZSP memristor such as easy preparation and stable performance can be utilized for future mass manufacturing and commercial applications.
Control of intrinsic polarity for work function modulation of polyvinylidene fluoride crystalline phases
Authors: Kumar Ajay , Mandal Dipankar
Published: September 2023

Ferroelectric polymers with high flexibility and inherent piezo- and pyro-electric properties have gained tremendous importance for next-generation wearable electronics. In this context, we investigate the intrinsic polarity mediated work function modulation in α-, γ-, and β-crystalline phases of a ferroelectric polymer, namely, polyvinylidene fluoride. A wide range of surface potentials (i.e., −5 to −70 V) were observed depending upon the crystalline polymorph and their surface morphologies. For example, upon nucleation of electroactive γ- and β-phases, a reduction in spherulite size is observed in comparison to its α-counterpart. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to realize the effect of surface potential on the valence bands spectrum. In particular, the work function of the non-electroactive α-phase (φα ∼ 5.09 eV) significantly increased when it is converted into the electroactive γ (φγ ∼ 5.99 eV) and β (φβ ∼ 7.39 eV) phases. The advantage of surface potential variation is shown by synergistic charge generation as a result of contact electrification of single active material-based polar interfaces with different work functions.
Study on the characteristics of the transient flow field under different underwater environments
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Yu Yong-gang , Zhang Xin-wei
Published: September 2023

The underwater muzzle transient flow field is an unsteady, multiphase complex flow field interacting with projectiles and containing various shock wave structures. The turbulent mixing of gunpowder gas and water has a significant impact on the development of the muzzle gas flow field. Moreover, the muzzle gas flow field disturbs the motion of the projectile, thereby affecting shooting accuracy. As part of this research, an unsteady multiphase flow model of the underwater muzzle transient flow field is established by combining the theories of multiphase flow and turbulent mixing. The volume of fluid model is employed to trace the two-phase interface, while the gas–liquid turbulent mixing is described by the standard k–ε turbulence model. Furthermore, the cavitation model is used to describe the cavitation phenomenon caused by the motion of the projectile. The established numerical model is validated by comparing underwater launching experimental results. Accordingly, the muzzle flow field of a 30 mm underwater gun under different water depth conditions is numerically calculated. The results demonstrate that, as the water depth increased, the gunpowder gas is exposed to relatively high water pressure during the expansion process, resulting in a continuous decrease in the core area of the gas, and the Mach disk is also increasingly closer to the muzzle. At different water depths, the diameter of the Mach disk conforms to the binomial law with time, while the displacement of the Mach disk from the muzzle increases exponentially with time.
The Harpers THMC flow bench: A triaxial multi-reactor setup for the investigation of long-term coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical fluid-rock interaction
Authors: Harpers Nick , Wen Ming , Miller Paul , Hangx Suzanne , Busch Andreas
Published: September 2023

The scientific analysis and interpretation of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in rocks requires complex and diverse instrumentation. In this study, we introduce the “Harpers THMC Flow Bench,” a multi-cell, flow-through reactor system that allows long-term testing on rock plugs and powdered samples. The setup consists of four small triaxial cells that can hold confining and pore pressure of up to 20 MPa and an axial load of up to 300 MPa. Axial deformation of the samples is measured with linear variable differential transducers. The cells can be heated to 90 °C, and effluents (gas, water, and brine) can be sampled for compositional analysis. An additional Hastelloy-autoclave enables fluid mixing and saturation with gas prior to injection into the samples. Each cell can be operated individually, allowing independent experiments over long testing periods. The sample holders were designed such that they are transparent for X-rays during X-ray computer tomography, minimizing sample handling effects on the imaging results. To demonstrate examples of the capabilities of the flow bench, we present case studies on Carnmenellis granite (Cornwall, UK) and Castlegate sandstone (Utah, USA) samples. Permeability measurements are shown using fractured granite undergoing periodic loading of effective pressure. To demonstrate chemical measurement capabilities, we used deionized water to leach elements from granite powders. We then analyzed effluent compositions using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Finally, we conducted a strength test and a cyclic differential stress test on sandstone to demonstrate the mechanical testing capabilities of the setup.
Relativistic resolution-of-the-identity with Cholesky integral decomposition
Authors: Banerjee Samragni , Zhang Tianyuan , Dyall Kenneth G. , Li Xiaosong
Published: September 2023

In this study, we present an efficient integral decomposition approach called the restricted-kinetic-balance resolution-of-the-identity (RKB-RI) algorithm, which utilizes a tunable RI method based on the Cholesky integral decomposition for in-core relativistic quantum chemistry calculations. The RKB-RI algorithm incorporates the restricted-kinetic-balance condition and offers a versatile framework for accurate computations. Notably, the Cholesky integral decomposition is employed not only to approximate symmetric large-component electron repulsion integrals but also those involving small-component basis functions. In addition to comprehensive error analysis, we investigate crucial conditions, such as the kinetic balance condition and variational stability, which underlie the applicability of Dirac relativistic electronic structure theory. We compare the computational cost of the RKB-RI approach with the full in-core method to assess its efficiency. To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the RKB-RI method proposed in this work, we employ actinyl oxides as benchmark systems, leveraging their properties for validation purposes. This investigation provides valuable insights into the capabilities and performance of the RKB-RI algorithm and establishes its potential as a powerful tool in the field of relativistic quantum chemistry.
An energy efficient reservoir computing system based on HZO memcapacitive devices
Authors: Zhang Pan , Ma Xinrui , Dong Yulong , Wu Zhixin , Chen Danyang , Cui Tianning , Liu Jingquan , Liu Gang , Li Xiuyan
Published: September 2023

Memcapacitor devices based on ferroelectric material have attracted attention recently in application of neuromorphic computing due to lower static power relative to memristors. They have been used for establishing fully connected neural networks but not yet for recurrent neural networks (RNNs), which owns the advantage in temporal signal processing. As an improved network architecture for RNNs, reservoir computing (RC) is easier to train and energy efficient. In this work, an HZO-based ferroelectric memcapacitor is used as the reservoir layer to recognize handwritten digits. A recognition accuracy of 90.3% is achieved. Meanwhile, a task of predicting Mackey–Glass time series is built to demonstrate the advantage of reservoir networks in processing time-series signals. A normalized root mean square error of 0.13 was obtained, indicating that this system can predict the Mackey–Glass chaotic system well. In addition, the energy consumption in the input signal and recognition task is significantly lowered compared with a memristor-based network. Our work provides an energy efficient way to build up the RC network.
A numerical study of the settling of non-spherical particles in quiescent water
Authors: Cheng Xiaoyong , Cao Zhixian , Li Ji , Borthwick Alistair
Published: September 2023

Settling of non-spherical particles is poorly understood with previous studies having focused mainly on spherical particles. Here, a series of particle-resolved direct numerical simulations are conducted using FLOW-3D (commercial computational fluid dynamics software) for spheres and five regular, non-spherical shapes of sediment particles, i.e., prolate spheroid, oblate spheroid, cylinder, disk, and cube. The Galileo number varies from 0.248 to 360, and the particle Reynolds number Rep ranges from 0.002 77 to 562. The results show that a non-spherical particle may experience larger drag and, consequently, attain a lower terminal velocity than an equivalent sphere. If Rep is sufficiently small, the terminal velocity is less affected by particle shape as characterized by the particle aspect ratio. For relatively large Rep, the shape effect (represented by the Corey shape factor) becomes more significant. Empirical correlations are derived for the dimensionless characteristic time t95∗ and displacement s95∗ of particle settling, which show that t95∗ remains constant in the Stokes regime (Rep < 1) and decreases with increasing Rep in the intermediate regime (1 ≤ Rep < 103), whereas s95∗ increases progressively with increasing Rep over the simulated range. It is also found that in the Stokes regime, particle orientation remains essentially unchanged during settling, and so the terminal velocity is governed by the initial orientation. In the intermediate regime, a particle provisionally settling at an unstable orientation self-readjusts to a stable equilibrium state, such that the effect of initial orientation on the terminal velocity is negligible. Moreover, an unstable initial orientation can enhance the vertical displacement and may promote vortex shedding.
A multigrid partition coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian method for fluid–solid interaction problems
Authors: Ning Jianguo , Jin Ziyan , Xu Xiangzhao
Published: September 2023

In this paper, a multigrid partition coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian method (PCELM) is proposed to model fluid–solid interactions between fluids and moving or fixed rigid bodies. In this method, Lagrangian particles are arranged in Eulerian grids to track the interface, and the partition weighted bidirectional mapping method is used to improve the mapping accuracy between particles and grids. The multigrid domain is established to realize independent and contact calculations of the fluid and solid, which can solve for the cross-interference of multiple velocity fields in a single grid domain. Moreover, based on the contact in the particle volume domain, a more accurate fluid–solid interaction method, in which the contact properties of real grid nodes are identified by judgment and search criteria and then corrected, is proposed to overcome false contact and nonphysical penetration problems. Then, the accuracy and stability of the PCELM are verified using representative fluid–solid interactions. Finally, experiments and simulations of dam-break floods impacting the dam board are carried out. These experiments prove that the PCELM can accurately capture the free surface of dam-break floods and can provide suggestions for the installation of dam boards in hydraulic engineering.
The influence of an outer bath on the dewetting of an ultrathin liquid film
Authors: Martínez-Calvo A. , Moreno-Boza D. , Guil-Pedrosa J. F. , Sevilla A.
Published: September 2023

We report a theoretical and numerical investigation of the linear and nonlinear dynamics of a thin liquid film of viscosity μ sandwiched between a solid substrate and an unbounded liquid bath of viscosity λμ. In the limit of negligible inertia, the flow depends on two non-dimensional parameters, namely, λ and a dimensionless measure of the relative strengths of the stabilizing surface tension force and the destabilizing van der Waals force between the substrate and the film. We first analyze the linear stability of the film, providing an analytical dispersion relation. When the viscosity of the outer bath is much larger than that of the film, λ≫1, the most amplified wavenumber decreases as km∼λ−1/3, indicating that very slender dewetting structures are expected when λ becomes large. We then perform fully nonlinear simulations of the complete Stokes equations to investigate the spatial structure of the flow close to rupture revealing that the flow becomes self-similar with the minimum film thickness scaling as hmin=K(λ)τ1/3 when τ→0, where τ is the time remaining before the singularity. It is demonstrated that the presence of an outer liquid bath affects the self-similar structure obtained by Moreno-Boza et al. [“Stokes theory of thin-film rupture,” Phys. Rev. Fluids 5, 014002 (2020)] through the prefactor of the film thinning law, K(λ), and the opening angle of the self-similar film shape, which is shown to decrease with λ.
Surface-plasmon-enhanced MoS2 multifunctional optoelectronic memory for emulating human retinal imaging
Authors: Zhou Chengjie , Niu Wencheng , Li Lei , Hao Dandan , Huang Hao , Fu Houqiang , Liu Xingqiang , Zou Xuming , Shan Fukai , Yang Zhenyu
Published: September 2023

As one of the most important members of the two-dimensional (2D) chalcogenide family, MoS2 plays a fundamental role in the development of 2D electronic and optoelectronic designs. However, MoS2-based optoelectronic devices are hindered by their weak light–matter interactions, which make it challenging to achieve excellent device performance in photoelectronic memory applications. Here, we developed a multifunctional optoelectronic memory by coupling Au nanoparticles with MoS2, where the presence of Au nanoparticles on the surface significantly enhanced the light absorption capacity of MoS2 through the surface-plasmon-enhanced effect. The device achieved a photoresponse capability with a light current-to-dark current ratio exceeding 103, surpassing the majority of values reported for comparable photoconductive detectors. Importantly, it exhibits excellent light writing, storage, and erasuring capabilities, with a storage time exceeding 1000 s. Based on this device, a 3 × 3 array hardware core is designed to mimic human retinal imaging under the irradiation of 660, 532, and 457 nm lasers by using R-CNN algorithm, reducing power consumption, and redundancy. These advancements have the potential to drive future developments in neuromorphic electronics, particularly in optical information sensing and learning.
Plugging characteristics of self-degradable diverters within three-dimensional hydro-fractures: An experimental investigation
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhang Guchang , Sun Zhenglong , Liu Jinjun , Ma Yonggui , Zhou Fujian
Published: September 2023

The dominant fracture can be effectively plugged by injecting self-degradable diverters during temporary plugging fracturing. The subsequent fracturing fluids can divert into the poor fractures. The fracture complexity can be enlarged and the well production can be enhanced. This study established a new diverter temporary plugging evaluation system and carried out 23 groups of temporary plugging experiments to investigate the plugging characteristics of diverters within three-dimensional (3D) hydro-fractures. Experimental results show that (1) the formation process of a temporary plugged zone is determined by the bridging capability of the most significant particulates; (2) the tight plugged zone can undergo diverter attachment, bridging, filling, and compaction or diverter bridging, filling, and compaction; (3) diverters are most likely to plug distorted fractures, followed by inclined-flat fractures, and then axial/transverse-flat fractures due to the varying widths of hydro-fractures; (4) pure fibers can plug hydro-fractures when the fracture width is less than 1.5 mm, and the difference in the diameter of bridging particulates and the fracture width should be less than 1.5 mm when the fracture width exceeds 2.5 mm. Meanwhile, this study investigates the optimal temporary plugging agent formulations for different fracture widths based on economic factors and operational conditions, providing on-site recommendations.
Reduction in drag and vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder covered by a porous layer in the laminar regime
Authors: Chen Jingle , Wu Jie
Published: September 2023

The reduction in drag and vortex-induced vibration (VIV) of a circular cylinder covered by a porous layer is numerically studied in the laminar regime. The mass ratio and damping ratio of the system are fixed at mr = 2 and ξ = 0.01, respectively. The effects of the Darcy number (Da = 10−4, 10−3 and 10−2), the relative layer thickness (b = 0.25, 0.5 and 1), the Reynolds number (Re = 100, 150 and 200), and reduced velocity (2 ≤ Ur ≤ 10) on the vortex shedding pattern, vibration amplitude, and dynamic forces on the system are investigated. Both the one and two degrees of freedom of motion are considered. Results show that the porous layer with Da = 10−2 is effective in drag reduction and VIV suppression for various Reynolds numbers. A porous layer with Da = 10−3 could also suppress VIV while enlarging the drag force on the system.
Near-zero-power infrared relay based on microfluidic switch and metamaterial absorber
Authors: Zhang Zekun , Yan Jiawen , Zhao Jiahao , Li Peng
Published: September 2023

Internet of Things sensor nodes, which integrate information acquisition, processing, exchange, and execution modules, have widely been used for unattended industrial production, environmental monitoring, and other fields. However, limited battery power constrains the lifespan of the sensor nodes. In this paper, we propose a near-zero-power infrared relay consists of microfluidic switches and a metamaterial absorber (MA). When target appears, the MA absorbs the infrared energy emitted from the target and uses it to turn on the microfluidic switch. When valid information is not present, the microfluidic switch is in “off” state with a high resistance of over 109 Ω. The infrared relay with a pair of microfluidic switches shows common mode suppression capability against environmental temperature variation. We further demonstrate a sensor node consists of the infrared relay and a MoS2 photodetector. In a standby mode, the sensor node shows near-zero power consumption. As target infrared signal occurs, the photodetector is wakened by the infrared relay and illustrates excellent optical sensing performance. The simplicity of this approach provides a route for significantly extending the lifespan of sensor nodes powered by batteries, especially the sensor nodes for detecting infrequent but critical events.
Reaction characteristics of non-Newtonian species in a microreactor: The role of electroosmotic vortices
Authors: Mehta Sumit Kumar , Kakati Rahul , Rahman Ayaz , Mondal Pranab Kumar , Wongwises Somchai
Published: September 2023

With a focus on biochemical applications and utilizing relevant physical properties, the current study numerically analyzes the impact of electroosmotic vortex and fluid rheology on the chemical reaction characteristics of species. This is achieved by installing integrated positively charged patches on the extended region of the microreactor with three inlets for injecting the reactants and generating the electroosmotic vortex. In order to produce species “C” in the extended region of the microreactor, it is presumed that reactant species “A” is injected through the upper and lower inlets and reactant species “B” is injected via the intermediate inlet. To solve the associated transport equations with appropriate boundary conditions, a thorough theoretical framework is developed. The results show that the ability of the reactant species to react is boosted when vortices form in the microreactor, increasing the convective mixing strength for reactant species. Furthermore, the fluid rheology significantly affects the reaction characteristics, which is a noteworthy finding. For fluids exhibiting a higher shear-thinning nature, the average concentration of the produced species follows an increasing–decreasing trend with the Carreau number. Additionally, it becomes apparent that the influence of the Damkohler number on the average generated species concentration is negligible at lower Carreau numbers, but it increases with the Damkohler number at higher Carreau numbers. The study also reveals that both rheological and chemical parameters have a substantial impact on the flow rate of product species. Overall, the findings of this investigation provide valuable insights for the development of technologically advanced electroosmotic microreactor capable of effectively generating the intended product species.
Engineered bone marrow as a clinically relevant ex vivo model for primary bone cancer research and drug screening
Authors: Griffin Katherine H. , Thorpe Steven W. , Sebastian Aimy , Hum Nicholas R. , Coonan Thomas P. , Sagheb Isabel S. , Loots Gabriela G. , Randall R. Lor , Leach J. Kent
Published: September 2023

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone cancer in children and adolescents. While numerous other cancers now have promising therapeutic advances, treatment options for OS have remained unchanged since the advent of standard chemotherapeutics and offer less than a 25% 5-y survival rate for those with metastatic disease. This dearth of clinical progress underscores a lack of understanding of OS progression and necessitates the study of this disease in an innovative system. Here, we adapt a previously described engineered bone marrow (eBM) construct for use as a three-dimensional platform to study how microenvironmental and immune factors affect OS tumor progression. We form eBM by implanting acellular bone-forming materials in mice and explanting the cellularized constructs after 8 wk for study. We interrogate the influence of the anatomical implantation site on eBM tissue quality, test ex vivo stability under normoxic (5% O
2
) and standard (21% O
2
) culture conditions, culture OS cells within these constructs, and compare them to human OS samples. We show that eBM stably recapitulates the composition of native bone marrow. OS cells exhibit differential behavior dependent on metastatic potential when cultured in eBM, thus mimicking in vivo conditions. Furthermore, we highlight the clinical applicability of eBM as a drug-screening platform through doxorubicin treatment and show that eBM confers a protective effect on OS cells that parallel clinical responses. Combined, this work presents eBM as a cellular construct that mimics the complex bone marrow environment that is useful for mechanistic bone cancer research and drug screening.
An antioxidant feedforward cycle coordinated by linker histone variant H1.2 and NRF2 that drives nonsmall cell lung cancer progression
Authors: Chen Yuchen , Shi Jiajian , Wang Xiaomu , Zhou Lin , Wang Qing , Xie Yunhao , Peng Chentai , Kuang Linwu , Yang Dong , Yang Jing , Yang Chen , Li Xi , Yuan Yangmian , Zhou Yihao , Peng Anlin , Zhang Yu , Chen Hong , Liu Xinran , Zheng Ling , Huang Kun , Li Yangkai
Published: September 2023

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is highly malignant with limited treatment options, platinum-based chemotherapy is a standard treatment for NSCLC with resistance commonly seen. NSCLC cells exploit enhanced antioxidant defense system to counteract excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), which contributes largely to tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy, yet the mechanisms are not fully understood. Recent studies have suggested the involvement of histones in tumor progression and cellular antioxidant response; however, whether a major histone variant H1.2 (H1C) plays roles in the development of NSCLC remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that H1.2 was increasingly expressed in NSCLC tumors, and its expression was correlated with worse survival. When crossing the
H1c
knockout allele with a mouse NSCLC model (

Kras
LSL-G12D/+

), H1.2 deletion suppressed NSCLC progression and enhanced oxidative stress and significantly decreased the levels of key antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and GCLC, the catalytic subunit of rate-limiting enzyme for GSH synthesis. Moreover, high H1.2 was correlated with the IC50 of multiple chemotherapeutic drugs and with worse prognosis in NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapy; H1.2-deficient NSCLC cells presented reduced survival and increased ROS levels upon cisplatin treatment, while ROS scavenger eliminated the survival inhibition. Mechanistically, H1.2 interacted with NRF2, a master regulator of antioxidative response; H1.2 enhanced the nuclear level and stability of NRF2 and, thus, promoted NRF2 binding to
GCLC
promoter and the consequent transcription; while NRF2 also transcriptionally up-regulated H1.2. Collectively, these results uncovered a tumor-driving role of H1.2 in NSCLC and indicate an “H1.2-NRF2” antioxidant feedforward cycle that promotes tumor progression and chemoresistance.