bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation of polypyrrole/titanium nitride composite modified biochar and its application research in microbial fuel cells
Authors: Jing Xinyu , Chen Xi , Zhang Mingchuan , Xu Xinyang
Published: February 2025

A novel porous nano-biochar electrode was successfully prepared, characterized by a high specific surface area, the modified PPy–TiN/CS anode exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance.
Category-specific topological learning of metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Chen Dong , Chen Chun-Long , Wei Guo-Wei
Published: February 2025

Category-specific topological learning enables efficient and accurate prediction of various properties of metal–organic frameworks.
Targeted bismuth-based materials for cancer
Authors: Batool Amna , Kopp Ina , Kubeil Manja , Bachmann Michael , Andrews Philip Craig , Stephan Holger
Published: February 2025

The use of bismuth and its compounds in biomedicine has developed rapidly in recent years. Due to their unique properties, there are great opportunities for the development of new non-invasive...
Correction: Copper nitroprusside analogue nanoparticles against melanoma: detailed in vitro and in vivo investigation
Authors: Tripathy Sanchita , Londhe Swapnali , Patel Arti , Saha Sudipta , Chandra Yogesh , Ranjan Patra Chitta
Published: February 2025

Correction for ‘Copper nitroprusside analogue nanoparticles against melanoma: detailed in vitro and in vivo investigation’ by Sanchita Tripathy et al., Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 13580–13596, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR01857E.
Alteration of internal electron migration pathways in La-doped Ag3PO4 for improved photocatalytic stability
Authors: Wang Bing , Liu Yao , Hao Hong , Zhao YuZhen , He ZeMin , Song WenQi , Liu EnZhou , Li Zhuo , Miao ZongCheng
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the effects of La3+ doping on Ag3PO4via in situ co-precipitation, revealing enhanced charge separation and photocatalytic activity through band gap modification and electron migration pathways.
3D printable organic room-temperature phosphorescent materials and printed real-time sensing and display devices
Authors: Sun Haodong , Xiao Yuxin , He Yunfei , Wei Xiaoyu , Zou Jindou , Luo Yuanda , Wu Yazhang , Zhao Jiaxin , Au Vonika Ka-Man , Yu Tao
Published: February 2025

3D printable RTP resins were constructed by doping the emissive guest molecules into methyl methacrylate. Accordingly, 3D-printable real-time temperature sensing and new-concept displays were fabricated through DLP 3D printing.
Leistung des ADHEAR bei maximaler Schallleitungsschwerhörigkeit aufgrund von Otosklerose
Authors: Brill Ioana , Brill Stefan Michael , Dazert Stefan , Völter Christiane , Stark Thomas
Published: February 2025

Das ADHEAR zählt zu den nichtinvasiven, passiven Knochenleitungshörgeräten. Es hat den Vorteil, dass es keinen Anpressdruck zum Tragen benötigt. Patienten mit Otosklerose und Stapesankylose mit normalem Innenohr bilden eine audiologisch homogene Gruppe, für die der Nutzen des ADHEAR evaluiert wurde.

31 Probanden mit maximaler Schallleitungsschwerhörigkeit wurden präoperativ mit und ohne ADHEAR ton- und sprachaudiometrisch mit dem Freiburger Zahlen- und Einsilbertest getestet. Die Hörleistung wurde bei 4 Angebotsschallpegeln (35, 50, 65 und 80dB) evaluiert. Intraoperativ bestätigte sich die Verdachtsdiagnose Otosklerose bei 28 Patienten.

Durch das ADHEAR verbesserte sich der PTA4 (Mittelwert 500Hz, 1, 2 und 4kHz) der Freifeld-Hörschwelle der Patienten mit Otosklerose um 8,1 (±7,14) dB. Das Zahlenverstehen ohne bzw. mit ADHEAR bei 65dB betrug 69,6% bzw. 87,3% (p=0,002). Das Einsilberverstehen ohne bzw. mit ADHEAR bei 65dB betrug 37,9% bzw. 61,2% (p=0,00008).

ADHEAR verbesserte in den meisten Testsituationen bei den Otosklerosepatienten die Sprachverständlichkeit signifikant. Aufgrund seiner Größe bei den mittleren, für die Alltagssituation repräsentativen Angebotsschallpegeln 50 und 65dB erscheint der Gewinn klinisch relevant. Bei sehr schwierigen und sehr leichten Bedingungen traten Sättigungseffekte auf. Das ADHEAR stellt somit eine gute Versorgungsoption mindestens für die temporäre Anwendung dar.
Utilization of Artificial Dura for Anterior Skull Base Reconstruction Following Transcranial Resection of Benign Cranionasal Communicating Tumors: Technical Note
Authors: He Junhua , Wang Bo , Wang Xingchao , Li Peng , Liuge Mingtian , Bie Zhixu , Yin Jie , Bi Zhiyong , Liu Pinan
Published: February 2025

Objective The purpose of this study was to introduce a watertight duraplasty with artificial dural grafts for anterior skull base (ASB) reconstruction.

Methods Between November 2019 and October 2023, we used artificial dural grafts for the ASB reconstruction in 10 cases of recurrent benign cranionasal communicating tumors. Through a transcranial subfrontal approach, the tumor was totally removed and the skull base defect was repaired using the NormalGEN® and DuraMax® artificial dural grafts. Clinical and imaging follow-ups were conducted to screen for the occurrence of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, intracranial infection, and encephalocele.

Results Gross total resection of tumor and ASB reconstruction with the artificial dural grafts were achieved in 10 patients. The patients were followed up clinically for 11 to 52 months (mean 26.0 months) and underwent medical imaging follow-up for 6 to 36 months (mean 18.4 months). One patient presented with CSF leakage on day 47 after the operation. Another patient endured intracranial infection without CSF leakage on the fifth day after the operation. Both patients were cured. No encephalocele was observed during the follow-up period. All the patients achieved a favorable recovery.

Conclusion Following transcranial resection of benign cranionasal communicating tumors, we utilized artificial dural grafts for ASB reconstruction when the frontal pericranium was impaired by tumor invasion or previous surgery. Our initial experience and postoperative follow-up have proven that the method is feasible and reliable in selected cases.
Reappraising consumption nudging—on liberty in the age of climate catastrophe
Authors: Braganza Oliver , Kapeller Jakob
Published: February 2025

Modern democracies are experiencing a fierce societal and political debate on the climate crisis. Urgent environmental policies are often thwarted by political forces which claim that climate action will erode liberty. Here, we reappraise the issue of consumption nudging (CN), i.e., market practices to promote consumption which act without the full understanding of consumers. In doing so, we argue, CN exacerbates the climate crisis by covertly undermining consumer autonomy and liberty. Our analysis suggests that the effects of pervasive and incessant CN, both for individuals and society, continue to be widely underestimated. The reason is that CN by disparate actors acts synergistically and cumulatively, to influence not only individual behavior, beliefs and preferences, but also social and cultural dynamics—all in a way that systematically evades conscious scrutiny. It thereby creates unsustainable path-dependencies making outcomes appear to be the result of free choices, while they actually subvert the liberty of both present and future generations.
Dust plasma behavior observed in three dimensions in microgravity during parabolic flights
Authors: Liebendorfer Adam
Published: February 2025

Experiments with a tungsten wire placed between electrodes inside reduced-gravity aircraft points to the role of critical densities in how bow shocks shape the fluids around them.
Engineering THz-frequency light generation, detection, and manipulation through graphene
Authors: Vitiello Miriam S. , Viti Leonardo
Published: February 2025

Graphene has been one of the most investigated materials in the last decade. Its unique optoelectronic properties have indeed raised it to an ideal and revolutionary candidate for the development of entirely novel technologies across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, from the microwaves to the x-rays, even crossing domain of intense application relevance, as terahertz (THz) frequencies. Owing to its exceptionally high tensile strength, electrical conductivity, transparency, ultra-fast carrier dynamics, nonlinear optical response to intense fields, electrical tunability, and ease of integration with semiconductor materials, graphene is a key disruptor for the engineering of generation, manipulation, and detection technologies with ad hoc properties, conceived from scratch. In this review, we elucidate the fundamental properties of graphene, with an emphasis on its transport, electronic, ultrafast and nonlinear interactions, and explore its enormous technological potential of integration with a diverse array of material platforms. We start with a concise introduction to graphene physics, followed by the most remarkable technological developments of graphene-based photodetectors, modulators, and sources in the 1–10 THz frequency range. As such, this review aims to serve as a valuable resource for a broad audience, ranging from novices to experts, who are keen to explore graphene physics for conceiving and realizing microscale and nanoscale devices and systems in the far infrared. This would allow addressing the present challenging application needs in quantum science, wireless communications, ultrafast science, plasmonics, and nanophotonics.
Gradient-based optimization of spintronic devices
Authors: Imai Y. , Liu S. , Akashi N. , Nakajima K.
Published: February 2025

The optimization of physical parameters serves various purposes in device development, including in system identification and efficiency. Spin-torque oscillators have been experimentally and theoretically applied to neuromorphic computing, but their physical parameters are usually optimized via grid search procedures. In this paper, we propose a scheme to optimize the dynamics parameters of macrospin-type spin-torque oscillators using the gradient descent method with automatic differentiation. First, we numerically create dynamic data for teaching and tune the parameters to reproduce the dynamics. This approach can be applied to determine the correspondence between spin-torque oscillator simulations and experiments. Next, we solve an image recognition task with high accuracy by connecting a coupled system of spin-torque oscillators to the input and output layers and training all of them through gradient descent. Combining this approach with experimentation makes it possible to design an experimental setup and physical system to solve a task with high precision using a spin-torque oscillator.
Multi-band nonreciprocal thermal radiation based on Weyl semimetals with epsilon-near-zero multilayers
Authors: Li Yu Chen , Fu Shi Hui , Weng Qi , Ou Yang Xuan , Ding Zhen Kun , Hu Jia , Shen Jian , Li Chao Yang
Published: February 2025

Although various nonreciprocal thermal emitters have been suggested to break the balance between absorption and emission, few structures can achieve strong nonreciprocity in more than three bands. To break this constraint, we propose a nonreciprocal thermal emitter device based on GaN/AIN/SiC/Weyl semimetal (WSM), which is capable of three discrete pairs of near-perfect absorption and emission, leading to perfect hexa-band strong nonreciprocal radiation. The enhanced nonreciprocal thermal radiation is attributed to the field enhancement of epsilon-near-zero layer and nonreciprocal guided resonances excited in the WSM film. By studying the magnetic field distribution, the physical mechanism of multi-band nonreciprocal thermal radiation is revealed, which can be verified by the impedance matching theory. Furthermore, the dependence of the structure dimensions and the axial vector b of the Weyl semimetal on the performance of the nonreciprocal radiation is investigated in detail. We believe that this work can provide an approach to the development of energy conversion devices and frequency selective detectors.
Hybrid numerical modeling of bellows effect in supersonic rotating flow using modified continuum solvers
Authors: Ebrahimgol H. , Aghaie Moghanloo M. , Zolfaghari A.
Published: February 2025

The primary objective of this work is to study bellows effect in a compressible rotating isotopic flow using appropriate hybrid numerical model by focusing on evaluating continuum solvers. The hybrid numerical model will be used to analyze the bellows and operating parameters characteristics on separation power. In this regard, two coupled particle–continuum computing frameworks are developed to model supersonic flow inside a gas centrifuge machine for uranium enrichment. These approaches are intended to be more accurate than conventional fluid dynamics solutions (CFD) and more rapid than most pure molecular methods (direct simulation Monte Carlo, DSMC). This study presents a review and the performance comparison of two solvers from the open-source CFD tool OpenFOAM®: the solver based on the rhoSimpleFoam algorithm (PISO and SIMPLE) and rhoCentralFoam which are specifically created for conducting compressible transient and utilize central-upwind schemes for convective fluxes. These are renowned for their ability to effectively balance accuracy and robustness in accurately capturing shock waves and steep gradient phenomena. In this analysis, a coupled DSMC–CFD approach is employed to integrate the modeling of particle and fluid domains to improve the computational efficiency for transitional flows that involve continuum and molecular flows. The DSMC–CFD method is developed into the OpenFOAM framework to simulate the UF6 gas flow in whole regions of a centrifuge machine. OpenFOAM allows solving the molecular region and modeling the interaction between the continuum and molecular flows. In this study, the chosen coupled method is employed to investigate the drives, including bellows and feed mechanisms, in the separation process of a gas centrifuge, as well as the separation power.
Robust encoding of stimulus–response mapping by neurons in visual cortex
Authors: Jonikaitis Donatas , Xia Ruobing , Moore Tirin
Published: February 2025

Neural activity in sensory cortex is modulated by behavioral and cognitive factors, and this modulation is thought to contribute to the selection of specific sensory information needed to achieve behavioral goals. In contrast, more abstract behavioral variables that are independent of stimulus selection, such as stimulus–response mapping, are thought to be encoded by neurons outside of sensory cortex. We show that information about such mapping is robustly encoded in the responses of neurons in primate visual cortex. Monkeys were trained to alternate between two tasks that differed in the rule governing the mapping of a remembered visual cue onto an eye movement response. During the memory-delay period, neurons in area V4 reliably signaled the remembered cue location in both tasks. However, the encoding of cue location depended critically on the stimulus–response mapping rule. Thus, V4 delay activity encoded the mapping rule and signaled the preparation of the appropriate motor response rather than spatial working memory per se, contrary to previous assumptions. In addition, we probed the origins of motor-related delay activity and found that it was reduced during local inactivation of the frontal eye field (FEF). The results demonstrate that behavioral modulation of visual cortical activity is not solely related to the selection of sensory stimuli but instead reflects a distinct mechanism for sensory-guided motor output.
Peering into interfaces in perovskite solar cells: A first-principles perspective
Authors: Liu Xu-Tong , Li Jinshan , Zhang Xie
Published: February 2025

Over the past decade, perovskite solar cells have experienced a rapid development. The remarkable increase in the photoelectric conversion efficiency demonstrates great promise of halide perovskites in the field of photovoltaics. Despite the excellent photovoltaic performance, further efforts are needed to enhance efficiency and stability. Interfacial engineering plays a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells, enabling champion cells to sustain a power conversion efficiency above 26% for over 1000 hours. As a powerful theoretical tool for characterizing interfaces in perovskite solar cells, first-principles calculations have contributed to understanding interfacial properties and guiding the materials design. In this Perspective, we highlight the recent progress in theoretically profiling the interfaces between halide perovskites and other materials, focusing on the effects of energy band alignment and electronic structure on the carrier transport at the interfaces. These first-principles calculations help to reveal the atomic and electronic properties of the interfaces, and to provide important theoretical guidance for experimental research and device optimization. We also analyze potential strategies to enhance carrier separation and transport in perovskite solar cells, and discuss the challenges in accurate modeling interfaces in perovskite solar cells, which will help to understand the fundamental physics of interfaces in perovskite solar cells and to guide their further optimization.
A Lq Proximal Gradient Algorithm for Radio-interferometric Imaging
Authors: Yang Xiaocheng , Cheng Huangfeng , Wu Lin , Yan Jingye , Jiang Mingfeng , Yang Xu
Published: February 2025

The reconstruction from the measured visibilities to the signal in radio interferometry is an ill-posed inverse problem. The compressed sensing technology represented by the sparsity averaging reweighted analysis (SARA) has been successfully applied to radio-interferometric imaging. However, the traditional SARA algorithm solves the L
1 norm minimization problem instead of the L
0 norm one, which has a bias problem. In this paper, a L

q
proximal gradient algorithm with 0 < q < 1 is proposed to ameliorate the bias problem and obtain an accurate solution in radio interferometry. The proposed method efficiently solves the L

q
norm minimization problem by using the proximal gradient algorithm, and adopts restart and lazy-start strategies to reduce oscillations and accelerate the convergence rate. Numerical experiment results and quantitative analyses verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Deep learning-enabled inverse design of polarization-selective structural color based on coding metasurface
Authors: YANG Haolin , NI Bo , GUO Junhong , ZHOU Hua , CHANG Jianhua
Published: February 2025

Structural colors based on metasurfaces have very promising applications in areas such as optical image encryption and color printing. Herein, we propose a deep learning-enabled reverse design of polarization-selective structural color based on coding metasurface. In this study, the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is presented to enable the forward and inverse mapping between coding metasurface structure and corresponding color. The results show that the method can achieve 98% accuracy for the forward prediction of color and 93% accuracy for the inverse design of the structure. Moreover, a cascaded architecture is adopted to train the inverse neural network model, which can solve the non-uniqueness problem of the polarization-selective color reverse design. This study provides a new path for the application and development of structural colors.
Motion path planning algorithm for dynamic graphics in visual arts
Authors: Zhang Yingyu
Published: February 2025

Aiming at the problems of non-smooth motion and unnatural trajectory in motion path planning of dynamic graphics in visual arts, this paper proposes a path planning algorithm based on multi-stage optimization. Firstly, the initial motion path is fitted and smoothed by using Bezier curves to ensure that the motion trajectory of dynamic graphics has high continuity and naturalness. Next, a multi-objective optimization strategy based on a genetic algorithm is introduced to comprehensively optimize the path smoothness, motion speed change, and visual comfort through the adaptive evaluation function. Finally, a dynamic weight adjustment mechanism is adopted to adapt to the changes in the requirements of different visual scenes in real time. Specifically, the standard deviation of the curvature variation of the path generated by the multi-stage optimization-based path planning algorithm is 0.0459, which is much lower than that of the other two algorithms; the mean squared error (MSE) of the speed change rate is 0.65, which is significantly reduced compared with other methods; in the visual comfort test, the fixation point dwell time is 360 ms, which is significantly higher than other methods. The dynamic deviation is the lowest. Experimental data shows that the algorithm in this paper effectively solves the problem of unsmooth motion trajectories of dynamic graphics, significantly improves the naturalness and visual experience of the path, and proves the practicability and superiority of the algorithm in visual art creation.
A lightweight and efficient authentication and key agreement scheme for photovoltaic systems
Authors: Qin Yu , Xu Meng , Zhao Yingjie , Li Baofeng
Published: February 2025

A photovoltaic system employs solar cell modules and supplementary apparatus to transform solar energy into electrical energy. Its stable operation and security are directly related to people’s livelihood and social development. A variety of authentication schemes have been put forth as potential solutions to the security challenges in the photovoltaic system. However, the majority of these approaches continue to exhibit shortcomings in terms of privacy and/or performance. To enhance the efficiency and security of the photovoltaic systems, we propose a lightweight and efficient scheme for authenticating and agreeing keys‥ In this proposed scheme, we adopted lightweight operations such as cascading, XOR, and hashing to reduce the storage and computational overhead, rendering it more suitable for resource-constrained scenarios. Performance analysis and experiments demonstrate that the scheme exhibits advantages in both one-to-one and one-to-many circumstances, rendering it suitable for the photovoltaic system.
A non-intrusive load monitoring data generation method
Authors: Xiao Yong , Tan Zhukui , Qian Bin , Zhang Junwei , Luo Yi , Zhang Fan , Huang Junli , Feng Xiangyong
Published: February 2025

Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) is a technique that does not require access to the interior of the system or to the interior of each electrical appliance. Instead, it only installs monitoring equipment at the entrance of the user bus. In the course of investigating non-intrusive load identification techniques, it is often necessary to collect extensive user load data in order to confirm the applicability of the proposed load identification methods across various situations. This requirement inevitably entails a significant burden of data collection and organization. In order to overcome this challenge, a hybrid approach was proposed that combines the principle of Frequency Invariant Transformation for Periodic Signals (FIT-PS) with Time Series Generative Adversarial Networks (TimeGAN). This method was employed to generate single-loaded waveform and multi-loaded waveforms, in order to meet the test requirements.
Research on the variation of time-frequency domain signals during transmission in high voltage cables as affected by wave speed and attenuation
Authors: Huang Jiaming , Wang Yadi , Chen Yanyi , Mai Yunying , Liu Danbing , Ye Yuting , Dou Hang , Hu Xinxin , Zhu Wuzhou , Liu Gang
Published: February 2025

High-voltage cables play a vital role in urban power transmission. However, cables can become defective during operation due to corrosion, aging, etc., which can lead to power outages, fires, and other accidents. The time-frequency domain reflection method is a cable detection method, but it uses a detection signal that is difficult to calculate the wave speed due to the continuously changing frequency characteristics, which can lead to errors due to wave speed determination. In this paper, a signal transmission model considering the effects of wave speed and attenuation will be established to simulate the process of signal change. The simulations concluded that in 110 kV high voltage cable which has a 150 m fault point, the signal would generate a positioning offset of 1.1758 m due to the wave speed.
Research on dynamic simulation and performance analysis of drilling mechanism of integrated machine for distribution net-work construction
Authors: Pan Jianbing , Zhou Qiukuan , Wu Dongjun , He Xiangyu , Huang Qiang
Published: February 2025

To study the construction efficiency of the drilling mechanism in different sizes and different construction materials, based on the bending moment theory of the drilling mechanism, the kinematics and dynamics of the drilling mechanism of the integrated machine were studied. In this paper, the finite element simulation model of three kinds of drilling mechanisms with spiral blades of different diameters is established, and the maximum stress and maximum torque of different rock masses such as common sandstone, low porosity sandstone, and high porosity sandstone are studied. The results show that the diameter of the helical blade structure of the existing drilling mechanism has a more direct influence on the maximum stress and maximum torque generated by drilling, while the relationship between rock materials and the maximum stress and maximum torque is different. The research results of this paper have important theo-retical and practical significance for exploring the working efficiency of the drilling mechanism of the integrated machine and promoting the intelligence and mechanization of the integrated machine in the construction of the distribution network.
Performance of Coconut Shell as Coarse Aggregate Replacement in Concrete
Authors: Suraya Hani A , Hieszma Narzlyn H , Mohamad Hairi O , Nurain Izzati M Y , Zalipah J , Noor Azlina AH , Ern Peniel Ang Soon , Mohamad Nor Akasyah WA
Published: February 2025

Coconut shells (CS) are frequently discarded, causing environmental and economic challenges in coconut-producing regions. This study examines the performance of using 5%, 10%, and 15% coconut shell as a replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete mixtures. The main objectives are to evaluate how various percentages of coconut shell replacement affect compressive strength and water absorption. The coconut shells were crushed into small pieces similar in size to standard aggregates used in concrete. The results show that the optimum compressive strength after 28 days of curing, with a 5% CS replacement, is 20.87 MPa. Additionally, the optimal water absorption rate observed was 4.28%.
The Effect of Utilising Coal Ash as Substitutes for Cement and Sand on Compressive Strength and Water Permeability of Concrete
Authors: Noor Nurazuwa Md , Yusaini Hanny Yusrina , Patah Dahlia , Dasar Amry , Irmawaty Rita
Published: February 2025

The extensive use of concrete in construction significantly impacts the environment, primarily due to the extraction of natural sand and the high CO2 emissions associated with its production. To mitigate these effects, sustainable concrete alternatives involve replacing cement with fly ash (FA) and sand with coal bottom ash (CBA). This study aims to evaluate the compressive strength and permeability of concrete mixtures incorporating FA and CBA. Six series of mixtures were designed, including a control series and mixtures with 10% FA and varying CBA substitutions of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. The physical properties of the materials, such as specific gravity and water absorption, were assessed and utilized to formulate six mixture series. The control specimen was targeted to achieve a compressive strength of 60 MPa at 28 days. These mixtures were rigorously tested for water permeability and compressive strength at 7 and 28 days. The compression tests employed 100 x 100 x 100 mm specimens, while water permeability was assessed using 150 x 150 x 150 mm specimens. The results indicated a strong correlation between compressive strength and permeability (R2 > 0.85). The optimal substitution levels were found to be 10% FA and 30% CBA, which enhanced the strength and permeability of concrete, making it suitable for construction applications.
Behaviour of low-strength reinforced concrete beam strengthened with deep embedment system
Authors: Ridwan R , Yuniarto E , Kamaldi A
Published: February 2025

Conventional retrofitting methods such as external bonding and near-surface mounted techniques are not always feasible due to their reliance on the bond between the epoxy and the concrete surface, which can lead to structural failure. In response to this challenge, we suggest adopting a deep embedment (DE) system as a strengthening approach. This study examines the performance of low-strength reinforced concrete (RC) beams strengthened with steel DE bars. Two RC beams - one control and one strengthened - were constructed and tested under a four-point bending load system. The strengthened beam was enhanced with 8 mm steel bars embedded in the concrete beam’s core. The results revealed that the control beam collapsed owing to shear, while the strengthened beam experienced failure in flexural tension, with most cracks occurring in the flexural span. The presence of DE bars caused the failure mode of the control beam to shift from shear to flexural in the strengthened beam. Additionally, the maximum load sustained by the strengthened beam increased by 14% compared to the control beam, and the stiffness of the strengthened beam at the ultimate load was 2.45 times higher than that of the control beam.
Construction waste management key drivers: Insights from on-site construction and rebuilding
Authors: Svetozarevic S , Simic A , Rajakovic Ognjanovic V , Lekic B , Savic A R
Published: February 2025

With progressive urbanisation, construction waste management (CWM) has emerged as a prominent environmental challenge, with extensive documentation of its environmental, societal, and economic consequences. Recent studies highlight the human factor as crucial to the efficiency of CWM strategies. However, integrating this factor into CWM research presents methodological challenges due to the diverse personality factors involved, complicating the comparison and generalisation of results. This research views CWM behaviour as a product of social influences shaping beliefs and values, alongside systemic freedoms or restrictions in an individual’s environment. Focusing on the Serbian student population, the study identifies key drivers of CWM behaviour among future psychologists, hydraulic and environmental engineers, and construction engineers. Three critical factors emerged: CWM Organization, CWM Social Support, and Social Network CWM Implementation. Civil engineering students experienced the most favourable organisational conditions for CWM, reinforced by strong social networks and role models. Both civil engineering and hydraulic and environmental engineering students were part of supportive social networks, reflecting a professional culture that strongly endorses CWM efforts. This study underscores the importance of social and organisational contexts in shaping effective CWM practices among future professionals.
Facilitating Future Renovation of Industrialised Building System (IBS)
Authors: Suhalil N I F , Ismail S , Razman R , Aripen A S
Published: February 2025

The construction industry has promoted many efforts and initiatives to ensure optimal energy utilization through sustainable construction practices. The Industrialised Building System (IBS) is a modern construction technique that effectively supports sustainable building practices. Even though IBS is widely adopted, not all IBS building projects have considered future renovation since the beginning. Not to mention, some of the building owners perceive that renovating IBS is challenging as the renovation contractors have limited experience with IBS buildings. Therefore, this research intends to discover the challenges in renovating existing IBS buildings and establish consideration factors for future use. This research adopts a qualitative research approach, conducting in-depth interviews with seven (7) experienced contractors and designers to gain insights into the challenges and best practices related to IBS building renovation. The data analysis reveals key themes such as economic, technical, design, management, safety, material, and aesthetic factors. Based on the findings, it could be inferred that although IBS offers significant potential for improving efficiency, quality, and safety in renovation projects, there are few substantial barriers. The barriers included logistical and financial constraints, Structural Constraints, Leakage & Water Damage, Supply Chain Management, Safety and Materials Concerns, and resistance to change. The findings from this research are expected to contribute to improving building renovation performance, especially for IBS buildings, by addressing the identified challenges and implementing the best practices.
Effect of using Bacillus cereus bacteria on the ability of self-healing concrete
Authors: Syarif F , Kurniawan M , Putri C R , Fajri H
Published: February 2025

Concrete is a very common material used in the construction of infrastructure. Concrete has several problems such as cracking. Cracks occur due to fatigue from loading, environmental factors, creep, and shrinkage in concrete. This method is carried out by mixing Bacillus cereus bacteria in the concrete mixture made with as much as 10% of the amount of water used in the concrete mixture. Based on the research of compressive strength and split tensile strength of concrete, the results obtained the compressive strength value and the tensile strength value of concrete with the addition of Bacillus cereus bacteria as much as 10% of the amount of water increased the compressive strength of concrete by 3.6% from the average normal concrete compressive strength value with a value of 21.35 MPa to 22.12 MPa in concrete with the addition of Bacillus cereus bacteria. The split tensile strength of concrete increased by 24% from the average normal concrete split tensile strength value of 0.25 MPa to 0.31 MPa in concrete with the addition of Bacillus cereus bacteria. From the results of SEM testing on concrete added with Bacillus cereus bacteria, it can be seen that the bacterial cells are needle-shaped.
The Impact of Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activities as Mediating Factors on Subjective Well-being and Physical Health
Authors: Tanjung Liza Evianti , Mohammed Bashar S , Dharmowijoyo Dimas Bayu Endrayana , Yaro Shehu Nura Aliyu
Published: February 2025

This study explores the effect of moderate and vigorous physical activities on subjective well-being and physical health, with moderate and vigorous physical activity as intermediate variables. Survey data were collected from 420 individuals across 92 households between August and October 2019 in Malang Greater Area, Indonesia, including socio-demographics, travel characteristics, time use activity diaries, and Health Quality of Life (HQL) assessments. Using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), the study finds that moderate physical activity is more prevalent among males, young adults (18-25), middle-aged individuals (46-55), middle-income earners, and workers, with positive influences from household dynamics and non-motorized travel modes. At the same time, private vehicle ownership negatively impacts activity levels. Vigorous physical activity is more common among females, young adults, and those aged 23-45, particularly among workers and those engaged in in-home leisure and sports. However, it is negatively associated with the use of multiple private vehicles and public transport. Both moderate and vigorous activities are linked to improved physical health; however, subjective well-being is lower among individuals aged 23-55 and low-income earners, though positively influenced by non-motorized travel and time-use activities. The findings emphasize the importance of fostering socially engaged, physically active lifestyles within sustainable urban environments. This study highlights the intersections of public health, sustainability, and urban planning, supporting strategies that integrate physical activity promotion into broader urban planning and transport policies, ultimately enhancing individual and community well-being and contributing to environmental sustainability goals.
Stabilization of Peat soil using Ordinary Portland Cement and Crushed Seashells
Authors: Hamim Danial H , Noorasyikin MN , Anis Suhailah A , Muhammad Hatta M H , Nazaruddin AT
Published: February 2025

In the fields of environmental and civil engineering, peat soil is regarded as one of the most troublesome types of soil in the world. Furthermore, the peat soil is a high compressible material. This paper discussed about stabilization of the peat soil using an ordinary portland cement and crushed seashells which are to determine the physical properties of the peat soil such as moisture content, specific gravity, liquid limit and organic content and to analyse engineering properties through unconfined compressive strength and scanning electron microscope. The samples were prepared with various ratio of mixture whereas 40% cement 20% mixed seashell (C40CS20), 30% cement 30% mixed seashell (C30CS30) 50% cement 10% mixed seashell (C50MS10) with curing day 14 and 28 days. From the observation, it was found that C40MS20 achieved the highest unconfined compressive strength compared to C30MS30 and C50MS10 which was 67.79 kN/m2 at 28 curing days. Meanwhile, the untreated peat soil had very low compressive strength which was only 18.29 kN/m2. Therefore, the ordinary portland cement and the mixed seashell was proved to have significant effect in reaching moderate compressive strength in peat soil.
Alternation of qu (UCT) and Water Content (w) Parameters of East Borneo Expansive Clay under Wetting-Drying Process
Authors: Agung P A M , Ahmad M A , Hasan M F R , Zainorabidin A , Amir M , Abdurrahman U A
Published: February 2025

Expansive clay is clay having a high potential for swell – shrinkage when soil water content change. A road construction built on expansive soil will be damaged when the water content of soil varies. To determine the level of road damage based on natural compressive strength is required to know some correlation between compressive strength (qu) and water content (w) in the study area. Research aims to determine compressive strength (qu) and water content (w) vales based on Unconfined Compression Test (UCT), so that it can be predicted an optimum moisture content. Percentage of swelling potential of expansive clay sample will be decrease as long as the addition of wetting – drying cycle during the process and water content.
Crack Detection of Rubber Mount through Deep Learning Models in Structural Health Monitoring System
Authors: Soo X J , Adnan Z , Ho J H , Chai A B , How H C , Chai T Y , Kamaruddin S
Published: February 2025

Rubber mounts are widely used as a component to prevent structures from vibration damages associated with various sources that making lifespan at stake. Frequent change of rubber mount can be a waste yet the inspection for faulty rubber mount is impractical. Advancement in technology eases structural health monitoring (SHM) through sensors combined with deep learning (DL) approach. This paper aims to investigate application practicality of DL to detect level of cracks in rubber mounts through vibration signals. Neural network models based on Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and their combinations were developed. An experimental setup simulating bridge structure with rubber isolators supporting its base was created. Cracks were induced on the rubber mount to simulate failure conditions. 5Hz and 10Hz constant sine waves along with simulated bridge waveform from an actual bridge excitation were employed. Neural networks were applied with Bayesian approach via dropout layer to reduce overfitting and increase reliability. Results show the highest accuracy achieved by hybrid CNN-LSTM with 99.9% while CNN with 89.0% in the standard sine wave and bridge excitation scenario respectively. Overall, the study shown the practicality and capability of neural network as a SHM approach for crack detection of rubber mount.
Attracting New Bus Public Transport Users with the “Bandar Lampung Transqual” Service Quality Model in Indonesia
Authors: Yalina Fitri , Ambak Kamarudin , Putranto Leksmono Suryo
Published: February 2025

This research focuses on investigating the quality of Trans Bandar Lampung bus public transport services. The research objective is to find the dominant factors of Trans BL bus service quality in order to attract people to use public transport by adding 3 new criteria to the Bandar Lampung Transqual (BL Transqual) model. The research methodology used quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data was collected through a survey method with a five-point scale electronic questionnaire. Respondents who participated amounted to 526 people. Nonprobability sampling technique with purposive sampling was used to capture respondents with the criteria of men and women who use vehicles or public transport with productive age 15-59 years. The analysis method uses Second Order Confirmatory Factor Analysis from SEM – AMOS. The findings are a model of land public transport service quality with 3 dominant factors: tangible, comfort, security and safety. Practical implications - Public transport managers and stakeholders can use the results of this study in building new urban transportation projects. The BL Transqual service quality model can be used as a reference by other researchers in creating future bus services. The originality of this research is to create a new public transport service quality model, especially buses in Indonesia.
Determination of Groundwater Resources using Geoelectrical Resistivity Method for Drought Mitigation in Bantur, Malang Regency
Authors: Hasan M F R , Juwono A M , Susilo A , Aprilia F , Sheliyana P , Abidin R R , Perdana B K , Agung P A M
Published: February 2025

The drought problem is the biggest threat especially in densely populated areas such as Rejosari Village and Malang Regency. Therefore, the village needs aquifer reserves to meet the need for groundwater supply. This study aims to determine the location of groundwater sources using the geoelectrical resistivity method as a reference for making drilled wells. This acquisition uses a geoelectrical resistivity method schlumberger configuration with a line length of 400 to 600 meters. Then, resistivity data are processed with IP2WIN software to obtain lateral resistivity values for rocks at different depths on each survey point. The study outcomes will lead to recommendations for drilling points, to discover new groundwater sources in the research area. The results show that the aquifer layer consists of sandy tuff and sand rocks. Interpretation of resistivity sections shows varying aquifer depths at six measurement locations, ranging from 2.9 meters for shallow aquifers to 135 meters for deep aquifers. The drilling recommendation is Bantur-1 because, at that point, it has quite large potential reserves, as indicated by the thickness of the aquifer zone. Based on the drilling data, groundwater was found at a depth of 70 meters below the surface. This stage proves that the results of this study correlate with the actual drilling results.
Performance evaluation and error decomposition of CMORPH satellite precipitation estimation for Klang Valley, Malaysia
Authors: Chai V H , Chin R J , Ling L , Huang Y F , Soo E Z X
Published: February 2025

Satellite Precipitation Estimations (SPEs) have gained traction as a viable substitute for estimating urban rainfall. However, their performance assessment in Malaysia continues to be constrained. As an effort to enhance urban rainfall estimations, this study examines the performance of Climate Prediction Center Morphing technique (CMORPH) over urbanized areas of the Klang Valley from 2011 to 2020, through continuous and categorical statistical metrics. The continuous statistical metrics consists Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Percentage Bias (PBIAS) and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient (CC). Meanwhile, the categorical statistical metrics include False Alarm Ratio (FAR), Probability of Detection (POD), Critical Success Index (CSI) and Accuracy (ACC). The performance assessment was conducted on seasonal scale, comprising of Northeast Monsoon (NEM), Southwest Monsoon (SWM), Intermonsoon 1 (IM1) and Intermonsoon 2 (IM2). CMORPH exhibits strongest correlation with rain gauge during IM2 with maximum correlation coefficient (CC) recorded at 0.52. However, it exhibited significant inaccuracies in PBIAS, MAE and RMSE with values of 2514.04%, 111.41 mm/day, and 210.94 mm/day, respectively. Besides, characteristics of errors in CMORPH were identified using the error decomposition technique, which contains overhit bias, underhit bias, false bias and miss bias. The analysis shows that overhit bias is the main error component that contribute to the total bias in CMORPH at seasonal scale. High false bias and substantial total bias, primarily due to overestimation and false detection, underscore the need for further refinement of the CMORPH algorithm.
Evaluation of eigenvector employed in analytical hierarchical procedure for river stability index development
Authors: Haron N A , Yusuf B , Sulaiman M S
Published: February 2025

The development of a river stability index (RSI) marks a significant advancement in understanding river formation and geomorphic responses. One major problem that led to the development of the RSI was the lack of a comprehensive and standardized method to evaluate the stability of rivers, resulting in inconsistent assessments and management strategies. By utilizing an analytic hierarchical procedure (AHP), the RSI provides a systematic approach to quantifying river stability. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the eigenvector of the hierarchical structure employed in AHP. Five parameters have been selected including morphology, geomorphic responses, channel slope, bed materials, and stream power. The results show that the most influential parameters that have a significant effect on river stability based on the eigenvector are as follows: geomorphic responses (51%), morphology (21%), stream power (17%), channel slope (7%), and bed materials (4%). The consistency ratio is 0.07 which is less than 0.1 verifies the eigenvector is accurate and consistent.
Coagulation Performance of Hydrolysed (Alum) and Pre-Hydrolysed (PAC) Coagulants for Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN) Removal from Matured Leachate
Authors: Hazmee M.I.H.M , Zin N.S.M , Zailani L.W.M , Rasid N.A.N.A
Published: February 2025

Coagulation is commonly used in removing pollutants from matured leachate because of the low biodegradability of leachate that only suits the physical-chemical treatment method. Coagulant types are affecting the removal of pollutants as a consequence of leachate variability characteristics. This research aimed to assess the performance of hydrolysed alum (aluminium chloride) and pre-hydrolysed PAC (polyaluminium chloride) coagulants in AN removal from matured leachate under dosage, pH and settling time. It was found that the optimal conditions for hydrolysed alum were obtained at a dosage of 3000 mg/L, pH 4, settling time 30 minutes with 22% AN removal meanwhile for pre-hydrolysed PAC coagulants were obtained at a dosage of 2000 mg/L, pH 7, time of 20 minutes with 29% AN removal respectively. In conclusion, pre-hydrolysed PAC coagulants performed better in AN removal than hydrolysed alum coagulants.