bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Herpetofauna diversity in Tengah Waterfall (Coban Tengah), Krajan, Pandensari village, Pujon district, Malang regency, Indonesia
Authors: Hanifa B F , Hasyim M A , Hasanuddin M A
Published: March 2024

Data on herpetofauna diversity in the East Java area is still very minimal, especially in the Malang area. Malang Regency has many rivers which can become herpetofauna habitat. One of the river flows in Malang Regency is the Coban Tengah flow which is in Pandesari Village, Pujon District, Malang Regency. This area has the potential for biodiversity, but there is still minimal exploration and there is no data on reptiles and amphibians. Diversity data collection is important as a first step in conservation efforts. The aim of this research is to determine the diversity of herpetofauna in Coban Tengah. This research uses the Visual Encounter Surveys (VES) method, namely by searching for specimens in a predetermined area and time. The species found are recorded. The data obtained were analyzed using the Shannon weaner diversity index, dominance index, and evenness index. The research data shows the Shannon Weaner diversity value (1.61), which indicates that diversity is moderate. There were 171 individuals found consisting of 10 species, namely Chalcorana chalconota, Odorrana hosii, Polypedates leucomystax, Leptobrachium hasseltii, Phrynoidis aspera, Microhyla achatina, Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Cyrtodactylus marmoratus, Elapoidis fusca, and Bronchocela jubata.
Pest-potential organisms on Begoniaceae collection of Eka Karya Bali Botanic Garden
Authors: Li’aini A S , Triwiratno A , Sari A R K , Wibawa I P A H , Kuswantoro F , Lugrayasa I N , Semarayani C I M , Kusuma R M
Published: March 2024

Begonia thrives in shady plantations but can tolerate more sun if the soil moisture is maintained. Therefore, the collection of begonia in Eka Karya Bali Botanic Gardens (BBG) is planted in a greenhouse. This increases the potential damage due to pest attacks. The purpose of this study was to identify the pest-potential organisms on begonia. The research was carried out in April–June 2019 at Begonia Park of BBG using survey methods to identify potential organisms and their damage symptoms. We found three species of insects that attack begonia collection, i.e. Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Aleurodicus destructor and Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and two species of Gastropods namely Parmarion martensi (Gastropoda: Ariophantidae) and Bradybaena similaris (Gastropoda: Bradybaenidae). This result could be utilized as a reference to determine the pest-controlling technique on Begoniaceae.
The potential and prospects for the implementation of precision farming for soybean production in Indonesia
Authors: Harnowo D , Susanto G W A , Bayu M S Y I , Prayogo Y , Harsono A , Mejaya I M J
Published: March 2024

Precision farming is a modern agricultural technology using various ITs. This technology is considered very potential to be applied for developing soybean production in Indonesia. This is because with the use of conventional technology it is difficult to achieve maximal productivity as expected, especially with the limited facilities and infrastructure. Based on research results, precision farming is able to increase productivity and farming efficiency, reduce negative impacts on the environment and increase farmer’s income so that it can support sustainable farming management. Precision farming is very prospective to be developed in Indonesia to increase soybean productivity and production to support the achievement of soybean self-sufficiency. Support for the implementation of precision farming has been provided by the government, the private sector, and also farmers. The success of implementation of precision farming is greatly influenced by the development of IT technology, especially those related to various aspects of soybean cultivation.
Comparative studies on chemically synthesized and biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using Desmodium sp. and their potential as UV filters
Authors: Maryani F , Filailla E , Krismastuti FSH
Published: March 2024

Plant-based synthesis of nanoparticles has been a great interest topic due to reducing the use of toxic materials and the presence of bioactive compounds. This study investigated the chemically synthesized and biosynthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using Desmodium triquetrum leaf extract and their potential as UV filters. These ZnO were evaluated using FE-SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. The in-vitro Sun Protector Factor (SPF) was determined using a spectrophotometer. SEM image revealed the flower shape morphology of biosynthesized ZnO and chemically synthesized ZnO with different particle sizes. The biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles exhibited smaller particle sizes than chemically synthesized ZnO. XRD analysis demonstrated that the average crystallite sizes of biosynthesized and chemically synthesized ZnO were 10.34 nm and 15.08 nm, respectively. The biosynthesized ZnO showed an SPF value of 25.12, indicating stronger UV protection ability than chemically synthesized ZnO (SPF=9.72) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. These results indicate that the biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles could be a great candidate as a UV filter for further sunscreen formulations.
Effect of welding parameters on microstructure, mechanical properties and environment
Authors: Suprianto  , Hasmin N R , Karsono M F
Published: March 2024

Welding methods are one of the promising methods to join similar or dissimilar materials. In particular, Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding is widely used in the field of industry. However, correct selected parameters and their effect on the environment are important factors in obtaining a good metal join. The aims of this study to investigate the role of the filler and heat treatment on mechanical properties of the similiar joint 6061 Aluminum, and also discuss the effect of this method on the enviroment based on literature review. Three different fillers consist of ER 4043, ER 4047, ER 5556 and artificial aging with temperatures of 125°C, 155°C, 185°C respectively were conducted using TIG welding. To investigate mechanical properties, the Vickers hardness, tensile test and also microstructure observations were carried out at room temperature. The result shows that the maximum hardness is 91.6 HV and the tensile strength is 180 MPa obtained by using filler ER 5556. On the other hand, artificial aging successfully enhances the mechanical properties of the 6061 aluminum welding.
Eco-friendly biopesticide of Beauveria bassiana to control sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Prayogo Y , Bayu M S Y I , Indiati S W , Sumartini  , Indriani F C , Ginting E , Susanto G W A , Harnowo D , Mejaya M J
Published: March 2024

Cylas formicarius is a major pest of sweet potato in various countries, with yield losses reaching 100%. Control technology using chemical pesticides is not successful. This study aims to examine the efficacy of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana compared to chemical pesticides against C. formicarius, which was conducted in Lumajang Regency, East Java, from May to September 2021. The results showed that the highest tuber productivity occurred in innovative technology, reaching 43 t/ha with only 1% tuber damage. While the productivity of the existing technology is only 20 t/ha with a tuber damage rate of 21%. The advantages of innovative technology can also be seen in the abundance of both predatory an parasitoid insects. The application of B. bassiana to control the tuber borer at the base of the stem is safer for the survival of useful insects, especially predators, and parasitoids. In addition, the tubers obtained are more organic, so the selling price of these commodities is more expensive than conventional ones. The entomopathogenic fungus B. bassiana has a great opportunity to be used as a potential biopesticide candidate to be developed as a technological innovation to replace the efficacy of chemical pesticides.
3D rooms map concept based augmented reality for green library
Authors: Bahtiar F S , Putra D D , Nugroho F , Rifqi A N , Hariyanto W
Published: March 2024

Green libraries are an exciting topic for creating environmentally friendly buildings. Libraries are synonymous with book lending services and comfortable reading rooms. The green library concept will be in line with increasing the comfort of library visitors. Libraries with large buildings need room maps for visitors to find room information. This research aims to create a room map with the concept of Augmented Reality (AR). Room maps generally use 2D images that provide information or instructions for all rooms in a building. The Augmented Reality approach as a 3D-based room map will undoubtedly provide a different experience to library visitors. Creating an AR room map will apply the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) method. This method is suitable for application in multimedia product development. However, the resulting product is not only used as room map information but can also be used as a library promotional tool.
Preliminary study: Potency metal complexes with UV-active ligands as dye sensitizer in Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Setyawati H , Akhlus S , Murwani I K
Published: March 2024

The use of metal complexes as a dye sensitizer in DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells) provides many promising opportunities. Complex compounds with ligands that actively absorb UV rays have the potential to be applied in technology solar cells in areas rich in UV rays such as Indonesia. This research aim is to investigate the potential of several complex compounds with UV active ligands and apply them as dye sensitizer in DSSC. Ligand phenanthroline (phen), and morin will be synthesized with several transition metals. The synthesized metal complexes were characterized by spectrophotometer UV-VIS (for all metal complexes) and spectrophotometer FTIR (for morin complexes). The performance of metal complexes as dye sensitizer will be analyzed from the current and voltage obtained and in this research was limited to the phenanthroline complex compound because the research was still in the ongoing process. The highest current produced by [Ni(phen)3]2+ with 0.452 mA while the highest voltage produced by complex [Fe(phen)3]2+ with 711 mV.
Operation-driven modeling of depot charging stations for electric bus rapid transit (eBRT) power demand projection for the new capital city of Indonesia
Authors: Syamroni A W , Albachrony M A , Dinanta G P , Windaru A
Published: March 2024

The use of electric mobility (e-mobility) for urban eBRT is expanding globally as more carbon abatement backend technologies are put into practice. Supportive electric power build-up capacity and adequacy readiness infrastructure must be accurately prepared or reconfigured to accelerate the sector’s decarbonization pathway. However, due to the integration of new technologies, which has never been done before, the unavailability of historical data gathered from practical field data or artificially generated data is likely unavoidable. Meanwhile, using as-built data referring to other countries or common presumptions is becoming problematic due to the high possibility of mismatches and uncertainty variables of the diverse scenario, which could lead to oversights and, thus, investment misconduct. Therefore, we construct a model replicating operation-driven eBRT depot charging stations, which focuses on the uncertain domains related to the fleet’s attributes, lane destination, and recharging interval based on the predictive Monte Carlo model (PMCM) to generate time series charging demand required in the early stage of infrastructure expansion within the logical and scientific acceptance. The findings provide insights for all relevant actors, i.e., grid planners, stakeholders, and operators, emphasizing the evidence-based research for climate mitigation action toward Indonesia’s new capital city (INCC) 2045 target.
The intersection between knowledge, government support, and technological support in ecotourism entrepreneurship
Authors: Suwanan A F , Sayono J , Serino M N V , Nuraini F , Adi D L
Published: March 2024

Students will be prepared to become a milestone in the progress of a country, one of which is by creating new jobs as a counter to the negative impact of AI and technological advances. The desire to become an ecotourism entrepreneur is one manifestation of this statement. This study analyses how the latent variables of procedures, formalities, difficulties opening a business; financial constraints; technological support; government support; and challenges in starting an ecotourism business affect the desire for ecotourism entrepreneurship. The research method is a quantitative descriptive approach through the SEM-PLS analysis technique. Data collection used a questionnaire with 51 questions distributed online through G-Form to 346 active student respondents throughout Indonesia. The results of the study show that the latent variables of procedures, formalities, and difficulties in opening a business; financial constraints; technological support; government support; and challenges that will be faced in starting an ecotourism business have a significant favourable influence on both directly and indirectly on the desire for student ecotourism entrepreneurship. The high desire to start ecotourism entrepreneurship is influenced by the support of green technology that can attract students’ attention. Student awareness of ecotourism continues to increase by committing to innovate to create fundamental business ideas.
GC-MS profile, total phenolic, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of Saurauia minahassae stembark ethyl acetate extract
Authors: Praptiwi  , Windadri F I , Sulistiarini D , Hafid L , Sahroni D , Surya D
Published: March 2024

Several species of the genus Saurauia have been traditionally used as remedies. However, Saurauria minahassae, as an endemic plant, is still understudied. This study aims to reveal the total phenolics, GC-MS profile, and bioactivity as DPPH free radical scavengers of ethyl acetate extract of S.minahassae collected from Banggai Island, Indonesia. Determination of Total Phenolic Content (TPC) was conducted using the colorimetry method by spectrophotometer. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and TLC-bioautography performed analysis of secondary metabolites and qualitative DPPH free radical scavenging activity, respectively. GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify the chemical compounds of the extract. The extract’s IC50 value and Antioxidant activity index (AAI) were performed by serial microdilution method on the 96-microwell plate. The results showed that TPC was 432.33 mg GAE/g extract. TLC analysis revealed several metabolites, and TLC-bioautography also revealed several compounds active as DPPH free radical scavengers. The ethyl acetate extract of S. minahassae is categorized as a very strong DPPH free radical scavenger or potent antioxidant with an IC50 value of 3.29 ug/ml and AAI of 9.32. GC-MS profile of the ethyl acetate extract of S.minahassae stembark contained several compounds with antioxidant activity. The potential antioxidant activity of S. minahassae stembark extract was contributed by phenolic content and several compounds with antioxidant activity in the extract. This extract could be a good source of natural antioxidants, and S. minahassae sustainability as an endemic plant should be maintained.
Improvement of phycocyanin stability at different temperatures using microencapsulation by whey protein isolate
Authors: Tedjakusuma F , Widyaningrum D
Published: March 2024

Phycocyanin is a blue pigment in cyanobacteria known for its antioxidant activity and can be applied as a natural food colorant. However, one drawback to applying phycocyanin in food products is their high-temperature instability. In this research, we investigated the effect of encapsulation of phycocyanin using whey protein isolate (WPI) as the wall material to improve high-temperature stability. The study also assessed the physiochemical properties of microencapsulated phycocyanin. Phycocyanin was extracted from dry biomass Spirulina using a cold maceration method. Then, phycocyanin extract was encapsulated with prepared emulsions containing 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, and 1.00% WPI as wall materials. The result showed all microencapsulated phycocyanin, regarding various concentrations of WPI, showed lower phycocyanin degradation at 60°C and 70°C at various heating times compared to control, suggesting higher stability. The control sample had 35.55±0.33% and 62.61±0.55% concentration degradation at 60°C and 70°C after 10 min heating. The microencapsulated phycocyanin with 0.50% WPI had 12.67±2.08% and 19.95±2.02% at 60°C and 70°C after 10 min heating. The encapsulation efficiency achieved 98-99% regarding various concentrations of WPI. There was no significant difference in solubility between the control and microencapsulated phycocyanin. Our result concluded that microencapsulation, using WPI as wall material, improved the high-temperature stability of phycocyanin.
Biological control of damping-off and plant growth promotion in soybean using Trichoderma virens
Authors: Yusnawan E , Uge E , Inayati A , Baliadi Y
Published: March 2024

Rhizoctonia solani is soil borne pathogen that causes damping-off in legumes including soybean. To reduce disease infection of R. solani in soybean, seven isolates of Trichoderma virens were used as seed treatments. Soil was artificially infected using R. solani grown in organic media. Agronomic parameters and total phenolics were recorded at vegetative phase. Treatments with T. virens T.v6, T.v4, T.v7, and T.v3 showed lower disease incidence (22% to 34%) than that of the control (46%). T. virens T.v6 induced higher shoot and root length compared to plants grown in sterile soil. Phenolic in T. virens T.v7 treated plants showed the highest content (2.69 mg GAE/g) and the increase of this content was 13.7% compared to the control. Higher number of normal seedling growth and lower disease incidence than the control were observed in these treated plants. Another treatment with T. virens T.v6 showed lower amount of phenolic content (2.53 mg GAE/g) and lower increase of this content (7.2%) than those of T. virens T.v7 treated plants. However, the T. virens T.v6 treated plants performed higher normal seedling growth, lower disease incidence than the control. T. virens T.v6 and T.v7 were promising for plant growth promotion and biological control agents.
The effect of UV radiation on the frequency of crossing over in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Buroidah H , Agustin M , Choirunisa N , Maghfiroh H , Hayuana W , Najib M I , Setiawan D
Published: March 2024

The increasing ozone layer depletion due to exposure to high environmental pollutants may contribute to the high probability of cells being exposed to UV radiation, causing various cellular responses, such as genomic instability. This study aimed to determine the effect of UV on the frequency of crossing over in a cross between the wild-type and the black vestigial strain of Drosophila melanogaster, using four variations of duration UV exposure as follows: 0’, 3’, 6’, and 9’. Recombinant progeny were calculated and analyzed using single-factor ANOVA. The results showed that: (1) The longer the duration of the UV exposure, the higher the percentage of recombinant progeny. (2) The body size of the D. melanogaster progeny exposed to UV light was more petite, and their movements were slower. (3) The single factor ANOVA showed that the length of UV had not affected the frequency of crossing over; but there was a phenomenon of crossing over, which has been showed that UV exposure made higher the percentage of recombinant progeny and affected to the body size of D. melanogaster. Therefore, further research is needed to examine the effect of UV radiation with longer periods of crossing over frequency and molecular analysis needs to be considered.
The potency of lempuyang wangi (Zingiber zerumbet) as aldose reductase inhibitor: an alternative of anti-diabetes drugs
Authors: Minarno E B , Belina V S , Rimadhani D , Pramudja A A , Punjungsari T N , Jannah A , Imamudin M
Published: March 2024

Aldose reductase is an enzyme that plays a role in glucose metabolism. An increase in aldose reductase will trigger an increase in blood sugar concentration by converting glucose to sorbitol. Increased sorbitol conditions will result in diabetes complications such as diabetic cataracts. So we need an inhibitor that can inhibit the working system of the aldose reductase enzyme. One of the medicinal plants that has anti-diabetic properties is lempuyang wangi. Lempuyang wangi has a secondary metabolite compound which has the potential as an antidiabetic. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-diabetic properties of lempuyang wangi using the in silico method. In this research, docking was carried out with Pymol and Pyrx software, and visualization using Biovia Discovery Studio to see the interaction between zerumbone compounds and aldose reductase and compared with zopolrestat compounds. The docking result of zopolrestat as a comparison compound is -9 kcal/mol, while xanthorrhizol has a binding affinity value of -8,7 kcal/mol and has the same amino acid bonds with zopolrestat, making it a potential candidate as an antidiabetic herbal drug in inhibiting the working system of the aldose reductase enzyme
Endophytic fungi: isolated from Cosmos caudatus Kunth and Cosmos sulphureus Cav.: a histologic observation, identification, and secondary metabolites chemical analysis
Authors: Hastuti U S , Sulisetijono S , Zahida N S , Labibah S B , Abdini A , Pratama A W , Sulistiyowati N , Arlan L
Published: March 2024

Cosmos caudatus and Cosmos sulphureus are sorts of plant commonly use for side dish vegetables. Some plant live in mutualism symbiotic interaction with some endophytic fungi that protect the host plant. This research is done to: 1) determine the endophytic fungi colonization in the Cosmos plant tissues by histologic observation, 2) isolation and identify the endophytic fungi species from Cosmos leaf, branch bark and flower petal tissues, 3) analyze alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin, saponin, and phenolic contents produced by the each endophytic fungi species. The endophytic fungi culture on PDA medium were cut into 5×1 cm in size and inoculated in PDB medium, then shake in the rate of 120 rpm for 7×24 hours. Afterwards the liquid centrifugated. The secondary metabolites contents were analyzed by using spectrophotometric method. This research result showed that: 1) the endophytic fungi position was found on the leaf palisade cell wall, epidermal cell wall, sponsa cell wall, neighbour cell wall; on the branch bark parenchyme cell wall; on the flower petal epidermis cell wall; 2) eleven endophytic fungi have been identified; 3) some variation in the secondary metabolites contents produced by each endophytic fungi.
Effectiveness of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer on the growth and yield of shallot
Authors: Arifin Z , Aisyawati L , Anggraeni L , Krismawati A , Trijaya DS
Published: March 2024

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer on the growth and yield of shallot. This research was carried out in Malang Regency on DS 2019, using of plot 3.5 m x 5 m with 9 treatments, using RBD, repeated 3 times. The treatment includes: A. Control, B. Half of Fertilization Recommended/HFR, C. HFR + NPK 2 g.l-1 water, D. HFR + NPK 4 g.l-1 water, E. HFR + NPK 6 g.l-1 water, F. Full of Fertilization Recommended/FFR, G. FFR + NPK 2 g.l-1 water, H. FFR + NPK 4 g.l-1 water, I. FFR + NPK 6 g.l-1 water. The results showed the application of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer as much as 6 g.l-1 water combined with 150 kg Urea.ha-1 +250 kg ZA.ha-1 +100 kg SP36.ha-1 +100 kg KCl.ha-1 (treatment E) obtained of dry tuber weight of 14.28 t.ha-1 with an R/C ratio of 4.10. Applying liquid of NPK (11-11-28) fertilizer on shallot plants can reduce the use of inorganic fertilizers of full recommendation and is economically feasible.
The renewable energy sources impact on vernacular architecture’s ability to be built sustainably: case study of Rumah Gadang
Authors: Abidah D Y , Dewi R F , Muchlis N
Published: March 2024

Rumah Gadang has the physical appearance of traditional architecture and was founded on human interaction with the environment. The natural resources of each area in Indonesia are said to have the greatest environmental effect on traditional vernacular architecture. Rumah Gadang is prominent for its ability to successfully combine elements of sustainability with a variety of other factors, including the environment, aesthetics, and social character. However, only a few studies discuss sustainability elements combination within Architecture Nusantara, Rumah Gadang. Therefore, this study will aim to reveal how these elements affect the sustainability of Rumah Gadang and how they contribute to the development of regional architectural styles. The qualitative method was used in this study with literature studies followed by descriptive analysis. The result of the study indicates two things, 1) The nature of these elements’ characteristics in Rumah Gadang fit with social, and environmental sustainability standards. 2) The descriptive analysis reveals that the impact of the variations in natural energy sources on these elements’ characteristics in Rumah Gadang is reflected in its physical appearance. The findings shown that Rumah Gadang’s architectural elements, including the Gonjong roof, wall linings, raised floor, openings, and stone foundation, respond to renewable energy sources based on sun, wind, and humidity factors. Rumah Gadang fulfills three pillars of sustainability: Social sustainability is achieved through traditional values and Minangkabau culture, while economic sustainability is achieved through regionally produced materials and construction methods. Lastly, the primary goal is to offer thermal comfort with minimal waste, making environmental sustainability the most crucial outcome component.
Utilization POME as growth substrate for local indigenous bacteria Bacillus sp. ALP D1 in producing biosurfactant
Authors: Damayana H , Nurhasanah  , Kiswandono A A , Juliasih N L G R , Bahri S
Published: March 2024

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) is a liquid palm oil waste that has beneficial value because of the nutritional content it contains. This research aim to obtain biosurfactant by using POME as a growth substrate. The methods used include biosurfactant production, extraction using acid precipitation, and characterization using TLC, FTIR, and LC-MS. The results showed that the local indigenous bacteria Bacillus sp. ALP D1 can produce biosurfactant under conditions of growth of POME 3%, NaNO3 3%, pH 6, salinity 7% with an IE24 of 69.44%, diameter of oil spreading test at 8.5 cm, and positive at drop collapse test. The extraction stage produces a brownish-yellow crude extract of 0.068 g/L. Biosurfactant characterization using TLC showed pink spots with ninhydrin reagent indicating the presence of nitrogen groups from peptide in the biosurfactant. This is supported by the results of FTIR analysis with the presence of an N-H peak from the peptide group in the absorption area 3384 cm-1. The results of the LC-MS analysis showed that the biosurfactant obtained had Rt 14.64 minutes and 332.22 m/z. Based on the results, it is suspected that the biosurfactant produced by Bacillus sp. ALP D1 is a lipopeptide.
Utilization of Ipomoea batatas L. tuber extract for the development of dye-sensitized solar cell with modified electrode from rice husk ash
Authors: Subagyo T , Wardana I N G , Widhiyanuriyawan D , Widodo A S
Published: March 2024

A dye-sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) is a solar cell device that works based on electro photochemical principles in which sensitive dyes are absorbed in the layer of photoelectrode. The utilization of natural dyes as a substitute for high-cost material in DSSC has been developed. Purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) has high anthocyanin content, is safe to use, and has renewable properties that can be used as dyes in a layer of DSSC. Purple sweet potatoes contain a lot of fiber, carbohydrates, vitamins C and B1, and minerals needed in DSSC. The semiconductor compiler to produce solar cells is expensive and requires many. Rice husk has a relatively high silica content, about 87-97%, that can be used as a low-cost and environmentally friendly silicon. The result of this study showed the absorbance peak for the mixture of extract and rice husk ash at 320 nm. DSSC fabrication obtained the highest efficiency of 1.1 x 10-3 with Imax = 0.0015 mA and Vmax = 0.02 mV. The physical characteristics were observed using SEM and XRD. Natural dye from purple sweet potato and rice husk ash semiconductors can be alternatives for DSSC production.
The effect of molasses and yeast extract concentration on yeast growth as leavening agent for bread
Authors: Utami U , Nadiya R A , Harianie L
Published: March 2024

Yeast is a microorganism that is widely used in food and industrial products, such as a fermentation agent in the production of bread dough from yeast biomass. The goal of this study to see how variation concentrations of molasses and yeast extract affect yeast growth parameters biomass and the live cells, as well as the quality of bread fermented by the yeast Candida tropicalis. The treatment media was repeated three times with a 50 ml mixture. Sugarcane molasses concentrations are 0.8, 0.9%, and 1% (w/v), while yeast extract concentrations are 0% and 0.75%. The ANOVA test results showed that the combination of molasses and yeast extract media had a significant effect on yeast biomass but had no effect on living cells number. The highest biomass gain of 0.47 g/50 ml was obtained with a combination treatment of molasses 8% and yeast extract 0.75%. However, the 0.9% molasses and 0% yeast extract treatment had the most cells, 12,24 x 106 cells/ml, and thus the isolate was used to make bread. Bread dough with C.tropicalis increased higher and faster than fermipan isolate. Based on organoleptic properties, the panelists liked the taste of bread dough with C.tropicalis as much as dough with fermipan.
Optical signatures of charge- and energy transfer in TMDC/TMDC and TMDC/perovskite heterostructures
Authors: Gillespie Sarah C , van der Laan Marco , Poonia Deepika , Maiti Sourav , Kinge Sachin , Siebbeles Laurens D A , Schall Peter
Published: March 2024

Heterostructures (HSs) based on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are highly intriguing materials because of the layers’ pronounced excitonic properties and their nontrivial contributions to the HS. These HSs exhibit unique properties that are not observed in either of the constituent components in isolation. Interlayer excitons (IEs), which are electron–hole pairs separated across the HSs, play a central role in determining these HS properties and are of interest both fundamentally and for device applications. In recent years, a major focus has been on understanding and designing HSs composed of two or more TMDC materials. Less attention has been paid to HSs composed of one TMDC layer and a layer of perovskite material. A central challenge in the understanding of HS properties is that basic measurements such as optical spectroscopic analysis can be misinterpreted due to the complexity of the charge transfer dynamics. Addressing these aspects, this review presents an overview of the most common and insightful optical spectroscopic techniques used to study TMDC/TMDC and TMDC/halide perovskite HSs. Emphasis is placed on the interpretation of these measurements in terms of charge transfer and the formation of IEs. Recent advances have started to uncover highly interesting phenomena, and with improved understanding these HSs offer great potential for device applications such as photodetectors and miniaturized optics.
Thermal deformation behavior and microstructure analysis of the as-cast super austenitic stainless steel Sanicro35
Authors: Li Yang , Li Min , Zhao Guanghui , Wei Yinghui
Published: March 2024

Thermal compression experiments on the super austenitic stainless steel Sanicro35 were carried out using a Gleeble 3800 thermal simulation laboratory machine to investigate its thermal deformation behavior at different deformation temperatures (900 °C–1150 °C) and strain rates (0.001–10 s−1). The microstructure of the large deformation zone of the specimen was investigated using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results show that the thermal compression rheological stress of the super austenitic stainless steel Sanicro35 decreases with increasing temperature and decreasing strain rate. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is the main softening mechanism for this material. The morphology characteristics, recrystallization fraction, dislocation density and twin grain boundary distribution of the microstructure were analyzed by EBSD. With the increase of deformation temperature, the higher grain boundary mobility contributed to the growing of DRX grains. As the strain rate increases, the larger deformation storage energy provides sufficient activation energy for DRX grain nucleation, and the nucleation of DRX grains becomes denser. The twin boundaries are mainly distributed within the DRX grains. The smaller the grain size of DRX, the denser the nucleation of twin boundaries, and the generation of twins can promote the development of DRX. The softening mechanism under most deformation conditions is discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX). However, at 10 s−1, the high strain rate causes microbands to be generated within the deformed grains, and the microband boundaries evolve toward the high-angle grain boundaries (HAGBs) with increasing temperature, which promotes the occurrence of Continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX).
Estimating domestic water usage in a tropical environment: exploring socio-demographic perspectives
Authors: Ogunbode Timothy O , Odusina Emmanuel K , Oyebamiji Victor O , Owoeye Michael O , Afolabi Christiana O
Published: March 2024

Water demand at any given time, particularly at the household level, depends on various factors, including climatic variables, social, economic, and demographic factors. Achieving consistent availability and accessibility, coupled with effective resource management, is crucial, particularly in tropical regions. Understanding all these variables is essential to achieving these goals. This research aimed to assess the impact of ten socio-demographic variables on predicting household water demand in Iwo. Two hundred and twenty-five households were randomly selected, with 196 completing and returning the survey. Both descriptive and multivariate analyses, specifically Factor and Regression Analysis, were employed to analyse the data. Factor analysis (FA) identified four variables: (i) housing characteristics; (ii) marital status; (iii) income level; and (iv) gender distribution, in that sequence. These four variables collectively accounted for 68.608% of the variance in household water demand in Iwo. This outcome underscores the importance of giving due consideration to these variables in water supply planning by relevant authorities. The study contributes to a better understanding and quantification of the significant variables influencing household water demand. However, it is advisable that future investigations into household water use incorporate additional variables beyond socio-demographic factors to comprehensively comprehend factors influencing water demand at the household level.
Influence of soil characteristics on the concentrations of Cr, Pb, and Zn in tobacco leaves from Longyan, China, and the associated predictive models
Authors: Ping Yuanye , Xi Wei , Cai Haiyang , Tan Qian
Published: March 2024

In Longyan City, Fujian Province, a hub for premium tobacco in China, our study explored the connection between soil properties and heavy metal levels in tobacco leaves, focusing on chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). We observed that the soil’s average concentrations for Cr, Pb, and Zn were 0.165, 9.53, and 5.17 mg kg−1, respectively. In stark contrast, tobacco leaves presented elevated mean concentrations of these metals, measuring 0.936, 2.19, and 102 mg/kg for Cr, Pb, and Zn, respectively. This disparity was further highlighted by the soil’s exceedance rates for Pb and Zn at 2.93% and 0.472%, and the significantly higher enrichment coefficients in tobacco, 23.1 for Pb and 19.7 for Zn, compared to Cr, suggesting a substantial health risk. Our study identified critical soil parameters, including pH, organic matter, and levels of available potassium and phosphorus, as influential factors determining heavy metal content in tobacco. Utilizing these findings, we formulated predictive regression models for estimating Cr, Pb, and Zn concentrations in tobacco leaves. The regression models for estimating the concentrations of chromium, lead, and zinc in tobacco leaves are as detailed below: YCr = 0.889 + 0.001 * XK + 0.001 * XN − 0.005 * XOM + 0.101 * XCr (R2 = 0.852), YPb = 2.608–0.069 * XpH − 0.001 * XN + 0.008 * XZn + 0.01 * XPb (R2 = 0.738) and YZn = 101.892–0.141 * XP + 0.32 * XOM − 0.123 * XPb + 0.614 * XZn (R2 = 0.801), respectively. These offering essential tools for assessing and controlling heavy metal risks in tobacco cultivation within the region.
A numerical Poisson solver with improved radial solutions for a self-consistent locally scaled self-interaction correction method
Authors: Chang Po-Hao , Buschmann Zachary , Zope Rajendra R
Published: March 2024

The universal applicability of density functional approximations is limited by self-interaction error made by these functionals. Recently, a novel one-electron self-interaction-correction (SIC) method that uses an iso-orbital indicator to apply the SIC at each point in space by scaling the exchange-correlation and Coulomb energy densities was proposed. The locally scaled SIC (LSIC) method is exact for the one-electron densities, and unlike the well-known Perdew–Zunger SIC (PZSIC) method recovers the uniform electron gas limit of the uncorrected density functional approximation, and reduces to PZSIC method as a special case when isoorbital indicator is set to the unity. Here, we present a numerical scheme that we have adopted to evaluate the Coulomb potential of the electron density scaled by the iso-orbital indicator required for the self-consistent LSIC calculations. After analyzing the behavior of the finite difference method (FDM) and the green function solution to the radial part of the Poisson equation, we adopt a hybrid approach that uses the FDM for the Coulomb potential due to the monopole and the GF for all higher-order terms. The performance of the resultant hybrid method is assessed using a variety of systems. The results show improved accuracy than earlier numerical schemes. We also find that, even with a generic set of radial grid parameters, accurate energy differences can be obtained using a numerical Coulomb solver in standard density functional studies.
Optimization of PEMFC pressure control using fractional PI/D controller with non-integer order: design and experimental evaluation
Authors: Routh Avijit , Ghosh Sankhadeep , Dey Indranil , Rahaman Mehabub , Ghosh Avijit
Published: March 2024

The fuel-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a promising technology for clean energy production owing to the several advantages including high efficiency (around 80% theoretical), quiet in operation, and almost zero emission as compared to conventional internal combustion engine. Only hydrogen and oxygen are supplied at the anode and cathode, respectively to generate power and water is produced as by product. However, it suffers to achieve its maximum theoretical efficiency due to lack of flow/pressure management of hydrogen and oxygen in the PEMFC stack which also causes flooding within the cell and reduce the performance of the catalyst and reduces the efficiency. The higher efficiency can be achieved with the proper control of the hydrogen and oxygen inlet flow rate and pressure at the PEMFC. Since it’s crucial to maintaining a consistent supply of exponential pressure, the main focus of this work is pressure regulation at the PEMFC cathode side. A fractional PI/D controller is designed to operate the PEMFC system more realistically. There are three primary objectives of this research work. In the first step, monitoring the PEMFC operating pressure to find out the suitable fractional PI-D controller for a given resilience level, which has the lowest Integration Absolute Error (IAE) to disturbances. The robustness level and/or threshold peak is considered as a tuning parameter for the evaluation. Second, compare the best IAE performance of the fractional PI-D controller with that of simple SIMC rules, where a certain level of resilience is achieved by varying the SIMC tuning variable. Through this comparison, the effectiveness of the recommended controller in achieving the optimal plant performance is evaluated. Thirdly, design a non-integer order PEMFC plant with a fractional controller using MATLAB software and compare the results with existing models. This comparison provides insight into the practical performance of the proposed controller. The results shows that the developed fractional PI/D controller is able to control the pressure very efficiently at the PEMFC cathode side. The findings further emphasise on the important to consider the resilience and robustness levels at the time of developing control systems for PEMFCs. The efficacy of the suggested unique technique is further confirmed by contrasting the suggested controller with the developed models.
Active robotic search for victims using ensemble deep learning techniques
Authors: García-Samartín Jorge F , Cruz Ulloa Christyan , del Cerro Jaime , Barrientos Antonio
Published: March 2024

In recent years, legged quadruped robots have proved to be a valuable support to humans in dealing with search and rescue operations. These robots can move with great ability in complex terrains, unstructured environments or regions with many obstacles. This work employs the quadruped robot A1 Rescue Tasks UPM Robot (ARTU-R) by Unitree, equipped with an RGB-D camera and a lidar, to perform victim searches in post-disaster scenarios. Exploration is done not by following a pre-planned path (as common methods) but by prioritising the areas most likely to harbour victims. To accomplish that task, both indirect search and next best view techniques have been used. When ARTU-R gets inside an unstructured and unknown environment, it selects the next exploration point from a series of candidates. This operation is performed by comparing, for each candidate, the distance to reach it, the unexplored space around it and the probability of a victim being in its vicinity. This probability value is obtained using a Random Forest, which processes the information provided by a convolutional neural network. Unlike other AI techniques, random forests are not black box models; humans can understand their decision-making processes. The system, once integrated, achieves speeds comparable to other state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of exploration, but concerning victim detection, the tests show that the resulting smart exploration generates logical paths—from a human point of view—and that ARTU-R tends to move first to the regions where victims are present.
Generative adversarial networks for data-scarce radiative heat transfer applications
Authors: García-Esteban J J , Cuevas J C , Bravo-Abad J
Published: March 2024

Generative adversarial networks (GANs) are one of the most robust and versatile techniques in the field of generative artificial intelligence. In this work, we report on an application of GANs in the domain of synthetic spectral data generation for data-scarce radiative heat transfer applications, an area where their use has not been previously reported. We demonstrate the proposed approach by applying it to an illustrative problem within the realm of near-field radiative heat transfer involving a multilayered hyperbolic metamaterial. We find that a successful generation of spectral data requires two modifications to conventional GANs: (i) the introduction of Wasserstein GANs (WGANs) to avoid mode collapse, and, (ii) the conditioning of WGANs to obtain accurate labels for the generated data. We show that a simple feed-forward neural network (FFNN), when augmented with data generated by a CWGAN, enhances significantly its performance under conditions of limited data availability. In addition, we show that CWGANs can act as a surrogate model with improved performance in the low-data regime with respect to simple FFNNs. Overall, this work contributes to highlight the potential of generative machine learning algorithms in scientific applications beyond image generation and optimization.
Estimated Pulse Wave Velocity and Cognitive Outcomes: A Post hoc Analysis of SPRINT-MIND
Authors: Hao Peng , Feng Siting , Suo Min , Wang Shen , Zheng Keyang , Wu Xiaofan
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

Arterial stiffness has been confirmed to be associated with cognitive impairment. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is widely regarded as the gold standard for assessing arterial stiffness, yet it is not readily accessible. In response, the use of estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) has been proposed as a more accessible and cost-effective alternative. ePWV not only offers ease of calculation but also covers a broader spectrum of vascular aging processes, some of which may be distinct from those detected by cfPWV. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between ePWV and cognitive outcomes in SPRINT-MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension).

METHODS

This study was a post hoc analysis of the SPRINT-MIND. The primary endpoint was a composite outcome including probable dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The calculation of ePWV was based on age and mean blood pressure. The association between ePWV and cognitive outcomes was assessed Using Cox regression analysis. The response of ePWV to antihypertensive treatment at 12 months was used to define treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

8,563 patients were enrolled. The ePWV was found to be independently associated with risk of probable dementia (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 1.70, 1.08–2.68, P = 0.023, P for trend = 0.013), MCI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 2.35, 1.71–3.23, P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001), and the composite outcome of probable dementia or MCI (Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1: HR, 95% CI: 2.17, 1.65–2.86, P < 0.001, P for trend < 0.001). The combined effect of treatment allocation and the response of ePWV to treatment exhibited that intensive/ePWV responders had the lowest risk of the primary outcome (Log-rank P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

EPWV demonstrated independent predictive value for cognitive outcomes in SPRINT-MIND.