bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and evaluation of β-Ga2O3 junction barrier schottky diode with p-GaN heterojunction
Authors: Than Phuc Hong , Than Tho Quang , Takaki Yasushi
Published: August 2024

A novel design for a junction barrier Schottky (JBS) diode based on a p-GaN/n-Ga2O3 heterojunction is proposed, exhibiting superior static characteristics and a higher breakdown capability compared to the traditional Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diode (SBD). By utilizing wide-bandgap p-type GaN, the β-Ga2O3 JBS diodes demonstrate a turn-on voltage (V

on
) of approximately 0.8 V. Moreover, a breakdown voltage (V

br
) of 880 V and a specific on-resistance (R

on,sp
) of 3.96 mΩ·cm2 are achieved, resulting in a Baliga’s figure of merit (BFOM) of approximately 0.2 GW /cm 2. A forward current density of 465 A cm−2 at a forward voltage of 3 V is attained. The simulated reverse leakage current density remains low at 9.0 mA cm−2 at 800 V. Floating field rings, in conjunction with junction termination extension (JTE), were utilized as edge termination methods to attain a high breakdown voltage. The impact of β-Ga2O3 periodic fin width fluctuations on the electrical characteristics of JBS was investigated. Due to the enhanced sidewall depletion effect caused by p-type GaN, the forward current (I

F
) and reverse current (I

R
) decrease when the β-Ga2O3 periodic fin width decreases. The findings of this study indicate the remarkable promise of p-GaN/n-Ga2O3 JBS diodes for power device applications.
Non-polynomial spline method for computational study of reaction diffusion system
Authors: Haq Mehboob Ul , Haq Sirajul
Published: August 2024

This work addresses an efficient and new numerical technique utilizing non-polynomial splines to solve system of reaction diffusion equations (RDS). These system of equations arise in pattern formation of some special biological and chemical reactions. Different types of RDS are in the form of spirals, hexagons, stripes, and dissipative solitons. Chemical concentrations can travel as waves in reaction-diffusion systems, where wave like behaviour can be seen. The purpose of this research is to develop a stable, highly accurate and convergent scheme for the solution of aforementioned model. The method proposed in this paper utilizes forward difference for time discretization whereas for spatial discretization cubic non-polynomial spline is used to get approximate solution of the system under consideration. Furthermore, stability of the scheme is discussed via Von-Neumann criteria. Different orders of convergence is achieved for the scheme during a theoretical convergence test. Suggested method is tested for performance on various well known models such as, Brusselator, Schnakenberg, isothermal as well as linear models. Accuracy and efficiency of the scheme is checked in terms of relative error (E

R
) and L
∞ norms for different time and space step sizes. The newly obtained results are analyzed and compared with those available in literature.
Obtained Berry phase and cyclotron mass of Bi2Se3 topological insulator thin film through weak anti-localization and Shubnikov-de haas oscillation studies
Authors: Kander Niladri Sekhar , Gajar Bikash , Biswas Sajib , Moulick Shubhadip , Das Amal Kumar
Published: August 2024

Bi-based binary alloys have drawn enormous attention in modern condensed matter research for their novel topological property. Here, we have explored the quantum-transport properties of a 100 nm Bi2Se3 topological insulator thin film grown by an indigenously developed electron-beam-evaporator through co-deposition technique. A detailed study about the structural, elemental, and morphological analysis has been presented through the GI-XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, EDX, SEM, and AFM characterization. Finally, we have investigated the angle and temperature-dependent magneto-conductance properties of our deposited films, which indicate the surface-electron dominated quantum-transport has occurred. Interestingly, our Bi2Se3 film exhibits 2D weak anti-localization and Subnikov-de Hass oscillation features. From which some novel topological parameters are explored, such as, Berry phase (β), phase-coherence-length (l
ϕ
), Fermi velocity (vF), wave vector (kF), Dingle temperature (TD), quantum mobility (μ
q), and cyclotron mass (mc). The estimated β = 0.7π and mc = 0.17me, indicate that the topologically protected massless Dirac particles can be achieved in this kind of system.
Generation of a tripartite photonic state via a double-Λ configuration in a four-level system
Authors: Yang Jie , Yan Xiang
Published: August 2024

Triphotons have a more abundant energy structure compared to biphotons. Furthermore, as the number of photons increases, excellent properties such as entangled multi-qubit states, high security, flexibility, and information capacity are observed. This leads to a growing demand for multi-body quantum information processing. Here, a method is proposed to generate a three-photon entangled state using a single six-wave mixing process in an atomic ensemble. The research examines the temporal correlation characteristics of the triphoton produced in photon coincidence counting measurements, with a focus on the linear and nonlinear susceptibilities of the six-wave mixing process. These properties primarily depend on the fifth-order nonlinear coupling coefficients responsible for the damping Rabi oscillations and the group delay determined by the longitudinal detuning function. To enhance the nonlinear interaction between the optical field and the atomic ensemble, placing the atomic ensemble in a high-quality cavity and utilizing laser cooling techniques to eliminate the internal Doppler broadening effect in the atomic gas hold promise.
Noise-induced transport in a periodic square-well potential
Authors: Benjamin Ronald
Published: August 2024

We investigate a thermal ratchet based on a Brownian particle in a spatially periodic square-well potential driven by a time-dependent square-wave signal. In this model, we rock the Brownian particle between two square-well potentials tilted in opposite directions to induce a net current. Employing the Stratonovich formula and an independent approach using suitable boundary conditions and a normalization condition, we obtain an exact expression for the current in the adiabatic limit, and we observe that there are optimal values of various parameters at which the current can be maximized. In several parameter regimes, our simple non-linear model displays a behavior distinct from some other models of a rocked ratchet. For example, a reversal in the current direction is observed as the square-wave signal’s amplitude or the thermal bath’s temperature is varied. However, under similar conditions, no such current reversal was seen in the case of a periodically rocked Brownian motor in a sawtooth or a smooth potential. Furthermore, unlike the latter type of rocked Brownian motors, the square-well model yields zero current in the deterministic limit, as thermal energy is indispensable for the functioning of the motor.
Optimizing mechanical behavior in polymer bio-composites reinforced with basalt, graphene, and PP-g-MA
Authors: Taghipoor Hossein , Mirzaei Jaber
Published: August 2024

This paper aims to investigate the mechanical properties of bio-composites reinforced with basalt natural fibers/nanographene in polypropylene by incorporating pp-g-ma compatibilizer. The study employs the Response Surface Method with the Behnken box approach to formulate a novel mathematical model for bio-composite behavior based on the parameters of basalt fiber weight percentage, nanographene weight percentage, and PP-g-MA weight percentage. Unlike previous studies, our work uniquely integrates basalt fibers and nanographene to enhance tensile, bending, and impact strengths, achieving a composite with optimal mechanical properties. The performance of the research samples was evaluated through tensile, bending, and impact tests, with the results substantiated using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy images. The failure surface in these samples revealed that the central mechanism influencing the performance of the introduced bio-composite is the failure of the fibers and their separation, accompanied by the stretching of the fibers from the base material. Subsequently, multi-objective optimization was conducted with the aim of increasing tensile strength, bending strength, and impact strength while reducing the weight of the samples. A Pareto diagram is presented based on the design goals. The outcomes indicate that the bio-composite sample values in the most suitable state for three mechanical characteristics including, tensile, impact, and bending strength are equal to 28, 90, and 49 MPa, respectively. This innovative combination and optimization significantly improve performance metrics, demonstrated through extensive testing and multi-objective optimization, which reveals the bio-composite’s superior mechanical characteristics.
Frequency-dependent capacitance and conductance characteristics and current transport mechanisms of Schottky diodes with TPA-IFA organic interfacial layer
Authors: Çavdar Şükrü , Oruç Pınar , Eymur Serkan , Tuğluoğlu Nihat
Published: August 2024

In this study, a Schottky barrier diode with an Al/TPA-IFA/p-Si structure was fabricated using spin coating and thermal evaporation methods. Using forward and reverse bias

I
–
V

measurement, we examined the key electrical characteristics of the Al/TPA-IFA/p-Si diode, including

Φ

b

,

n
,

R

s

,

and

N

ss

;

we also estimated

V

D

,

N

A

,

E

F

,

∆
Φ

b

,

W

D

,

Φ

b

and

N

ss

using

C
–
V

measurements under the different frequencies (10, 50, 100, 500 kHz, and 1 MHz) at room temperature. Using

I
–
V

data and the Thermionic Emission (TE) theory, basic electrical parameters such as ideality factor (

n

), and barrier height (

Φ

b

) values were computed as 3.01 and 0.716 eV. The fundamental diode parameters are highly frequency-dependent. It was also found that the series Resistance (

R

s

) values reduced with increasing frequency, but the barrier height (

Φ

b

) and the width of the depletion layer (

W

D

) increased. It was found that when frequency increased, the diode capacitance reduced for our new Schottky-type diode. The diode’s potential conduction mechanisms were examined through the utilization of reverse

ln
I
−

V

0.5

and forward

ln
I
−
V

graphs. The transport properties of Al/TPA-IFA/p-Si diode are primarily governed by ohmic conduction, Space Charge Limited Current (SCLC), and Trap Charge Limited Current (TCLC) mechanisms at low, moderate, and high voltages, respectively. It was concluded that the Poole–Frenkel Emission (PFE) mechanism was dominant for the Al/TPA-IFA/p-Si diode. Ultimately, the findings confirmed that the TPA-IFA-based diode could be obtained for the electronic application.
Resonant reheating
Authors: Barman Basabendu , Bernal Nicolás , Xu Yong
Published: August 2024

We investigate a novel reheating scenario proceeding through s-channel inflaton annihilation, mediated by a massive scalar. If the inflatonϕoscillates around the minimum of a monomial potential ∝ϕn, we reveal the emergence of resonance phenomena originating from the dynamic evolution of the inflaton mass forn>2. Consequently, aresonanceappears in both the radiation and the temperature evolution during the reheating process. By solving the coupled Boltzmann equations, we present solutions for radiation and temperature. We find non-trivial temperature characteristics during reheating, depending on the value ofnand the masses of the inflaton and mediator. Some phenomenological aspects of the model are explored. As a concrete example, we show that the same mediator participates in the genesis of dark matter, modifying the standard freeze-in dynamics. In addition, we demonstrate that the resonant reheating scenario could be tested by next-generation low- and high-frequency gravitational wave detectors.
Quantized Redshift and its Significance for Recent Observation
Authors: Mal Arindam , Palit Sarbani , Fulton Christopher C. , Roy Sisir
Published: August 2024

With the recent observational evidence in extragalactic astronomy, the interpretation of the nature of quasar redshift continues to be a research interest. Very high redshifts are being detected for extragalactic objects that are presumably very distant and young while also exhibiting properties that are characteristic of a more mature galaxy such as ours. According to Halton Arp and Geoffrey Burbidge, redshift disparities consist of an intrinsic component and are related to an evolutionary process. Karlsson observed redshift periodicity at integer multiples of 0.089 in log scale and Burbidge observed redshift periodicity at integer multiples of 0.061 in linear scale. Since Singular Value Decomposition based periodicity estimation is known to be superior for noisy data sets, especially when the data contain multiple harmonics and overtones, mainly irregular in nature, we have chosen it to be our primary tool for analysis of the quasar-galaxy pair redshift data. We have observed a fundamental periodicity of 0.051 with a confidence interval of 95% in linear scale with the site-available Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7) quasar-galaxy pair data set. We have independently generated quasar-galaxy pair data sets from both 2dF and SDSS and found fundamental periodicities of 0.077 and 0.089, respectively, in log scale with a confidence interval of 95%.
Sustainable Concrete Pavements: A Comparative Analysis of Biochar-Supplemented and Conventional Concrete in terms of Strength, Carbon Emissions, and Cost
Authors: Vijaya Gowri T. , Siva Rama Krishna U. , Baswaraj K. , Biradar Sangmesh V
Published: August 2024

The pavement engineering communities worldwide have deep concerns about the concept of sustainability. The cement concrete pavements can be constructed by replacing supplementary contentious materials (SCM). Biochar is a carbon-rich green material, a fine-grained residue obtained from the thermos-chemical conversion of waste biomass through pyrolysis or gasification. In this project, Biochar was used as a supplementary cementitious material with different percentages of 0% to 20% in preparation of concrete mixes for concrete pavements. Tests for mechanical properties such as compressive strengths of conventional concrete (CC) and Biochar Concrete (BC) were conducted and compared for 7, 14 and 28 days. The results showed that compressive strength of biochar concrete with 20% of biochar is exhibiting higher values than CC and other mixes of Biochar. In addition, BC, with 20% biochar, has reduced life cycle cost and carbon footprint by up to 19% and 17%, respectively, compared with the cement concrete mix without Biochar. So, it is inferred that the optimum replacement of Biochar as an SCM is 20% for cement concrete mix, and it makes concrete pavement sustainable.
Characterizing the Dilemma Zone at Intersections by Introducing the Break Point
Authors: Goud Arukala Vineeth , Sai Sahitya K
Published: August 2024

The dilemma zone at signalized intersections presents a critical challenge for drivers, often leaving them uncertain about whether to stop or proceed when the yellow light appears, resulting in dangerous red-light running and a heightened risk of traffic accidents. To mitigate this confusion and enhance intersection safety and efficiency, the introduction of break points is proposed. These break points serve as visual cues to guide drivers in initiating the deceleration process when the amber light is activated. This study focuses on evaluating the impact of break points by conducting simulations in PTV Vissim. The goal is to assess the changes in stop delay for intersections with varying traffic volumes and lane configurations. The study involves a comparative analysis of average stop delay in different directions at the intersection before and after the introduction of break points. The results consistently demonstrate a reduction in average stop delay across all directions after the implementation of break points. This reduction indicates a clear enhancement in the overall efficiency of the intersection, with a smoother flow of traffic, reduced congestion, and a decreased risk of abrupt stops and potential accidents. The findings underscore the effectiveness of break points in addressing the dilemma zone challenge, contributing to safer and more efficient intersections in urban and suburban settings.
Traffic Sign Board Recognition Using Computational Techniques
Authors: Anand Battu , NagaTeja T.
Published: August 2024

Traffic signs are essential for traffic management, regulating driving conduct, and lowering accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Any Intelligent Transportation System must have automatic traffic sign detection and identification. This work describes a deep-learning-based autonomous technique for traffic sign recognition in India. End-to-end learning with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and a Support Vector Machine (SVM) provided inspiration for automatic traffic sign detection and recognition. The proposed concept was evaluated using a cutting-edge dataset consisting of 12933 images with divided into training set and testing set. In training set total of 8422 images of 10 categories and testing Data consists of 4511 images with 10 categories representing multiple instances of Indian traffic signs. Real-time photographs are taken on metropolitan city roads for the testing dataset and training dataset. By using Google Collab, the suggested system starts by detecting traffic signs in photos using CNNs, which are well-suited to feature extraction in visual data. After detecting the indications, a mixture of CNN and SVM classifiers is used to accurately recognize the indicators. The suggested technique achieves excellent accuracy and real-time performance, as demonstrated by experimental findings on Realtime traffic sign recognition datasets. After analyzing of the training dataset and testing dataset the results we achieved with a test accuracy of 1.0 for the proposed CNN model and test accuracy for the SVM model is 0.84 which is lower than the CNN model. This study advances traffic sign recognition systems, which are critical for increasing road safety, navigation, and allowing autonomous cars to make educated judgments in real-world traffic conditions. The combination of CNNs and SVMs offers a potential method for accurate and dependable traffic sign identification, solving the problems provided by complex and dynamic traffic scenarios.
Analysis of multi-storey buildings with and without floating columns by using construction sequence analysis in different seismic zones in India
Authors: Seshagiri Rao M.V. , Bommisetty Jagadeesh , Vaibhavi Chennoji
Published: August 2024

In recent times multi-storied urban constructions require no-column space due to several reasons such as space, population, and aesthetic requirements. Especially by placing floating columns at baselevel provide us column free space for parking and free movement of vehicles. These structures often have floating columns, which can be dangerous in actives seismic zones. This study examines the detrimental impacts of floating columns in multi-storey buildings using construction sequence analysis (CSA) in different seismic zones as prescribed in Indian standard code of practice. The study compares designs of multistorey structures with and without floating columns for various seismic zones and determine storey displacement, storey shear, storey drift, Response spectrum, The findings show that installing floating columns in zones 2 and 3 is allowed, when necessary, as displacement values produced are within allowable limits. However, installing floating columns in zones 4 and 5 causes displacement values to exceed allowable ranges. To develop a safe and economically advantageous floating column construction, the structure should be strengthened with special remedial features like shear wall, bracings, and dampers.
Seismic Analysis of a Real-time PEB using Etabs
Authors: Madhava Reddy N , Jyothirmayee S , Punith Reddy K , Gangothri T , Nagamani A , Ashok Naik P
Published: August 2024

This abstract presents a Seismic analysis of a Real-time PEB (Pre Engineered Building) using ETABS software. The study begins with the establishment of the building’s geometric and material properties within the ETABS environment. The analysis incorporates both linear and nonlinear, static and dynamic methods to evaluate the building’s response to seismic loading. Linear static analysis provides an initial understanding of the structural behaviour under seismic forces, while nonlinear dynamic analyses offer more precise assessments, accounting for material nonlinearity and dynamic effects. The analysis aims to characterize the building’s behaviour under various seismic loading scenarios, facilitating the identification of potential weaknesses and informing necessary design enhancements to optimize its seismic resilience.

This study helps engineers assess how a building will respond to ground motion and design it to withstand seismic forces, protecting the safety of occupants and the integrity of the structure. It performs response spectrum analysis to determine the building’s response to ground motion and also ensure that the response spectrum reflects the design earthquake for our location. The outcomes of this research contribute to a deeper understanding of seismic performance and helps in formulating effective strategies for the seismic design and retrofitting of structures, ultimately leading safer and more resilient built environments.
Sustainable Development of 3D-Printable Quaternary Geopolymer Concrete
Authors: Charan Kumar Reddy B , Sameer Sk Khaja , Ramesh V , Sriya B , Gayatri A , Mahesh Babu K.
Published: August 2024

The construction industry has been looking a cost-effective way to build structures with unique and intricate designs, mass customization, and reduced labor costs, material consumption and environmental impact. One promising possibility is geopolymer 3D printing concrete(3DPC). The interlocking that takes place when materials are bound in an alkaline environment is known as geopolymerization. A potential utility for pozzolanic materials as GPC binding agents is their high silica and alumina content. The primary objective of this research is to determine the viability of quaternary blended 3D printing geo polymer concrete (GPC). As “quaternary” means “fourth in sequence (Since “quaternary” implies “fourth in sequence,),” the four binder components that make up Geopolymer Concrete are glass powder, silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), and fly ash. The paper describes mix design methodologies and emphasizes various aspects of mixture compositions and how they affect the features of 3DPC. The results represent that printability, extrudability were satisfied for the mix proportion of 1:1.3 with 40% Fly ash, 40% GGBS, 10% glass powder, 7% silica fume, 3% Viscosity modifying agent (VMA) including 1.5% of Auramix 200 and 2% of CAC hyper fluid plus. Further, buildability was attained by replacing 40% river sand with M sand. Mechanical properties like compressive strength, flexural strength and split tensile strength are studied for the ideal mix. The obtained results for compressive strength, flexural strength, split tensile strength, are 91 MPa, 5.93 MPa, 4.5 MPa, respectively.
Investigation of AlGaN/GaN HEMT trap barrier height variation under mechanical stress and voltage stress
Authors: Zhang Yiqun , Zhu Hui , Liu Xing , Zhang Zhirang
Published: August 2024

The variation of the trap barrier height of AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) under the mechanical stress and voltage stress was investigated. It was found that the compressive stress and small voltage stress mitigated the slowing down of the intra-layer strain, and the decrease of the gate leakage current was related to the increase of the trap barrier height. Tensile stress and large voltage stress exacerbated the intra-layer strain, and the additional traps due to the inverse piezoelectric effect caused an increase in the gate leakage current, which was verified by the decrease in the trap barrier height.
Research on measuring method of arc length of P-TIG welding in annular seam of tube plate
Authors: Cai Ze , Li Jianghui , Li Zhou , Liu Xiufeng , Li Min
Published: August 2024

We study the arc length detection technology in P-TIG welding of tube-plate annular seams and characterize the trend of arc length variation by the peak welding arc voltage signal. A linear relationship between arc length and arc voltage was established through sampling of welding arcs, extraction of peak arc voltage, and noise reduction processing. The experiment found that this method can detect abnormal points during the welding process, providing support for automatic control of arc length in the future, thereby ensuring the stability of welding quality.
Design of a low-power and high-efficiency charge pump
Authors: Zhao Hongfei , Bao Jiaming
Published: August 2024

Low power consumption and high efficiency have been a difficult problem in power management chips. In this paper, a pulse-spanning modulation mode (PSM) is proposed for loop control to reduce the static power consumption of the circuit. To further improve the conversion efficiency, a cross-coupled charge pump is used. Meanwhile, the output voltage is adjustable in 8 steps and the clock frequency is adaptive to achieve high conversion efficiency. Simulation results show that the proposed circuit structure has a static power consumption of only 4 μA under the state of driving light load, and the power conversion efficiency reaches 80%.
A digital LDO with adaptive sampling frequency and asynchronous loop
Authors: Cai Xinyu , Dai Lan
Published: August 2024

The development of semiconductor processes has led to a decrease in the operating voltage of transistors. Digital low dropout linear regulators (DLDO) have been proposed to address this low-voltage operating environment. However, DLDOs with conventional structures need help meeting the requirements of fast response and low power consumption simultaneously. This paper proposes a DLDO based on coarse-fine dual loop regulation with asynchronous loop regulation and adaptive clock frequency. The scheme enhances transient response speed and reduces system power consumption in a steady state.
Research on the integrated evaluation model of database based on LDA and entropy weight method
Authors: Mao Junyun , Wen Hao , Huang Jing
Published: August 2024

With more emphasis placed on the transferable acquisition and sustainable development of knowledge and data, the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and scientificity of databases are further called for. However, how to evaluate the effectiveness of the database needs further research. Thus, this paper builds an integrated evaluation model adopting the latent Dirichlet allocation model and entropy weight method. First, we calculate the contents of the database evaluation index system by the latent Dirichlet allocation model, which integrates the core orientation of evaluation with the characteristics of the target database. Second, the entropy weight method is used to ensure the weights of each index. Third, through empirical research, the reliability of the model is fully verified and suggestions to improve the database quality are specifically provided. The integrated evaluation model of a database is more comprehensive, accurate, and user-oriented, which provides effective reference for better evaluation of database quality.
Amorphous TiO2 nano-coating on stainless steel to improve its biological response
Authors: Garcia-Perez Victor I , Hotchkiss Kelly M , Silva-Bermudez Phaedra , Hernández Miryam Martínez , Prado-Prone Gina , Olivares-Navarrete Rene , Rodil Sandra E , Almaguer-Flores Argelia
Published: August 2024

This study delves into the potential of amorphous titanium oxide (aTiO2) nano-coating to enhance various critical aspects of non-Ti-based metallic orthopedic implants. These implants, such as medical-grade stainless steel (SS), are widely used for orthopedic devices that demand high strength and durability. The aTiO2 nano-coating, deposited via magnetron sputtering, is a unique attempt to improve the osteogenesis, the inflammatory response, and to reduce bacterial colonization on SS substrates. The study characterized the nanocoated surfaces (SS-a TiO2) in topography, roughness, wettability, and chemical composition. Comparative samples included uncoated SS and sandblasted/acid-etched Ti substrates (Ti). The biological effects were assessed using human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and primary murine macrophages. Bacterial tests were carried out with two aerobic pathogens (S. aureus and S. epidermidis) and an anaerobic bacterial consortium representing an oral dental biofilm. Results from this study provide strong evidence of the positive effects of the aTiO2 nano-coating on SS surfaces. The coating enhanced MSC osteoblastic differentiation and exhibited a response similar to that observed on Ti surfaces. Macrophages cultured on aTiO2 nano-coating and Ti surfaces showed comparable anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Most significantly, a reduction in bacterial colonization across tested species was observed compared to uncoated SS substrates, further supporting the potential of aTiO2 nano-coating in biomedical applications. The findings underscore the potential of magnetron-sputtering deposition of aTiO2 nano-coating on non-Ti metallic surfaces such as medical-grade SS as a viable strategy to enhance osteoinductive factors and decrease pathogenic bacterial adhesion. This could significantly improve the performance of metallic-based biomedical devices beyond titanium.
Conceptualising global cultural transformation—developing deep institutional scenarios for whole of society change
Authors: Hughes Ian , Hernandez Ariel Macaspac , Glynn James , Hynes William , Gallachóir Brian Ó
Published: August 2024

This paper aims to contribute to current efforts to improve methodologies to find more ambitious and integrated strategies to jointly pursue the Paris climate target and other Sustainable Development Goals. It suggests a means of further expanding the underlying societal perspectives in scenarios modelling through a model of deep institutional innovation for sustainability and human development (DIIS), which aims to reframe the narrative from sociotechnical transition to deep global cultural transformation. The paper posits the need for capturing irreversible transformation change through a fundamental reimagining of the key social institutions that together comprise contemporary societies. To illustrate the application of the DIIS framing to pathway scenarios an indicative scenario is offered to indicate the radical global cultural changes required to move to pathways capable of bringing about greater sustainability and human flourishing.
Unequal economic consequences of coastal hazards: hurricane impacts on North Carolina
Authors: Liu Dahui , Li Junkan , Sue Wing Ian , Blanton Brian , Kruse Jamie , Nozick Linda , Millea Meghan
Published: August 2024

The eastern North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act region is one of the most hurricane-prone areas of the United States. Hurricanes incur substantial damage and economic losses because structures located near the coast tend to be high value as well as particularly exposed. To bolster disaster mitigation and community resilience, it is crucial to understand how hurricane hazards drive social and economic impacts. We integrate detailed hazard simulations, property data, and labor compensation estimates to comprehensively analyze hurricanes’ economic impacts. This study investigates the spatial distribution of probabilistic hurricane hazards, and concomitant property losses and labor impacts, pinpointing particularly hard hit areas. Relationships between capital and labor losses, social vulnerability, and asset values reveal the latter as the primary determinant of overall economic consequences.
The impact of ecological aging on the mechanical performance of jute-banana fibre phenol-formaldehyde hybrid composites
Authors: B H Maruthi Prashanth , Gowda Shivakumar , Dutt K Mahesh , M Chalkapuri Ramesh , K Rajesh , B Prashanth , S Ramesh , Anne Gajanan
Published: August 2024

Natural fiber composites provide an environmentally favorable and sustainable alternative to traditional materials, greatly reducing environmental impact. Aging tests are required to evaluate the long-term mechanical performance and durability of these composites under varied situations, ensuring their dependability and safety over time. This study investigates the effects of ecological aging on jute-banana fiber reinforced phenol-formaldehyde (JBP-F) composites. The experiment involved fabricating JBP-F composites using jute and banana fibers with varying weight ratios (60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 30:70) and subjecting them to various aging tests like long-time water resistance, accelerated water resistance, thermal aging, hydrothermal aging, soil burial test, and accelerated weathering test. The result showed that the composite with a 50:50 jute-banana fiber to resin ratio (JBP-F50) outperformed the other compositions examined in terms of aging resistance. This balanced ratio likely optimized fiber-matrix interaction, leading to superior strength and water resistance. Higher fiber content composites (like JBP-F60) absorbed more water due to weaker bonding, while lower fiber content (JBP-F30) suffered more in high temperatures. All composites experienced strength loss during thermal and hydrothermal aging due to heat and moisture cycles. JBP-F50 again showed the least degradation, possibly due to the resin’s ability to recover. In soil burial tests, biodegradation impacted strength, with higher fiber content composites (JBP-F60) degrading more. Finally, weathering tests revealed some surface deterioration due to UV radiation. However, the resin offered protection, with JBP-F30 (higher resin content) experiencing the most weight loss.JBP-F50, with its balanced fiber-resin ratio, demonstrated the best resistance to various environmental stresses, making it a promising option for sustainable composite applications.
Unlocking bioremediation potential: harnessing an indigenous bacterial consortium from effluent treatment plants for industrial wastewater treatment
Authors: Rai Ashita , Yadav Virendra Kumar , Ali Daoud , Fulekar M H
Published: August 2024

Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) wastewater poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating advanced treatment technologies to meet discharge standards. This study focuses on the collection and characterisation of wastewater from CETP Vatva, Ahmedabad, to evaluate physicochemical parameters heavy metal concentrations, and identify indigenous bacterial species. Using Taguchi’s systematic orthogonal array, an effective indigenous bacterial consortium (EIBC) was created for bioreactor-based CETP wastewater treatment. The 16S rDNA analysis revealed the presence of various bacterial strains, including the newly reclassified bacteria Stutzerimonas stutzeri. The analysis of the SI sample indicated substantial reductions in the concentrations of total dissolved solids (1090 mg L−1), biological oxygen demand (28 mg l−1), chemical oxygen demand (180 mg l−1), and total phosphorus (1.4 mg l−1) compared to their initial values of 7504 mg l−1, 29 6 mg l−1, 58 8 mg l−1, and 3.04 mg l−1, respectively, with a similar trend observed in samples SII and SIII. While turbidity was significantly reduced from initial concentrations ranging between 36–42 NTU to 4 NTU in SI, 5 NTU in SII, and 3 NTU in SIII samples, resulting in clear water, odour remained a persistent concern throughout the study. Heavy metal concentrations were within permissible discharge limits, with notable removal rates for Cu, Fe, and Cd. The study concludes that integrating systematic design modelling with bioreactor-based remediation effectively mitigates water pollution and safeguards human well-being.
The adult large bowel: describing environment morphology for effective biomedical device development
Authors: Norton Joseph C , Martin James W , Winters Conchubhair , Scaglioni Bruno , Obstein Keith L , Subramanian Venkataraman , Valdastri Pietro
Published: August 2024

An understanding of the biological environment, and in particular the physical morphology, is crucial for those developing medical devices and software applications. It not only informs appropriate design inputs, but provides the opportunity to evaluate outputs via virtual or synthetic models before investing in costly clinical investigations. The large bowel is a pertinent example, having a major demand for effective technological solutions to clinical unmet needs. Despite numerous efforts in this area, there remains a paucity of accurate and reliable data in literature. This work reviews what is available, including both processed datasets and raw medical images, before providing a comprehensive quantitative description of the environment for biomedical engineers in this and related regions of the body. Computed tomography images from 75 patients, and a blend of different mathematical and computational methods, are used to calculate and define several crucial metrics, including: a typical adult size (abdominal girth) and abdominal shape, location (or depth) of the bowel inside the abdomen, large bowel length, lumen diameter, flexure number and characteristics, volume and anatomical tortuosity. These metrics are reviewed and defined by both gender and body posture, as well as—wherever possible—being spilt into the various anatomical regions of the large bowel. The resulting data can be used to describe a realistic ‘average’ adult large bowel environment and so drive both design specifications and high fidelity test environments.
Quantifying the impact of energy system model resolution on siting, cost, reliability, and emissions for electricity generation
Authors: Jacobson Anna F , Mauzerall Denise L , Jenkins Jesse D
Published: August 2024

Runtime and memory requirements for typical formulations of energy system models increase non-linearly with resolution, computationally constraining large-scale models despite state-of-the-art solvers and hardware. This scaling paradigm requires omission of detail which can affect key outputs to an unknown degree. Recent algorithmic innovations employing decomposition have enabled linear increases in runtime and memory use as temporal resolution increases. Newly tractable, higher resolution systems can be compared with lower resolution configurations commonly employed today in academic research and industry practice, providing a better understanding of the potential biases or inaccuracies introduced by these abstractions. We employ a state-of-the art electricity system planning model and new high-resolution systems to quantify the impact of varying degrees of spatial, temporal, and operational resolution on results salient to policymakers and planners. We find models with high spatial and temporal resolution result in more realistic siting decisions and improved emissions, reliability, and price outcomes. Errors are generally larger in systems with low spatial resolution, which omit key transmission constraints. We demonstrate that high temporal resolution cannot overcome biases introduced by low spatial resolution, and vice versa. While we see asymptotic improvements to total system cost and reliability with increased resolution, other salient outcomes such as siting accuracy and emissions exhibit continued improvement across the range of model resolutions considered. We conclude that modelers should carefully balance resolution on spatial, temporal, and operational dimensions and that novel computational methods enabling higher resolution modeling are valuable and can further improve the decision support provided by this class of models.
Parallel Masterpieces
Authors: Steenbakkers Piet
Published: August 2024

Though Spinoza’s two masterpieces, the Ethics and the Tractatus theologico-politicus, were written for different audiences and for different purposes, they belong to one master plan—a coherent project of individual and collective liberation. This chapter develops two arguments. First it offers a detailed chronological reconstruction: Spinoza worked on the Ethics between 1662 and 1665 and again between 1669 and 1675; and on the TTP between 1665 and 1669. The second argument presents the hypothesis that the Ethics and the TTP are systematically coherent. This is set out by analysing a number of textual correspondences and divergences. Two cases are worked out in more detail: the notion of the model (exemplar) of a true life (identified with the free person in the Ethics and with God in the TTP); and the seeming tensions between God in the Ethics and the seven tenets of the universal faith in the TTP. The key is the definition of faith (TTP ch. 14).
Finding Oneself in God
Authors: Primus Kristin
Published: August 2024

This chapter argues that the cognition Spinoza calls “intuitive knowledge” (scientia intuitiva) is a confluence of two powerful intuitions, each of which can be understood as a Spinozistic version of a well-known Cartesian intuition. The first component intuition is an extension of Descartes’s Fifth Meditation ontological argument: that is, for Spinoza, given a clear and distinct idea of God, one does not just intuit, with the Cartesian Meditator, that God necessarily exists, but also that all of God’s effects are necessary, infinite, eternal modes, that perceived finite, enduring things and infinite, eternal modes are one and the same essences conceived in different ways, and that everything can be conceived under different attributes. The second component intuition modifies the Cartesian cogito, in which one proceeds directly from a first-personal experience of thinking to the knowledge that one exists as a thinking thing. For Spinoza, one can proceed from the first-personal experience of understanding the monist structure of reality (i.e. from the experience of having the first intuition) to the knowledge that one’s own mind, insofar as it understands, exists as an infinite, eternal mode in God. Scientia intuitiva is thus a metaphysically self-locating thought: one does not just understand a metaphysical structure—one has a first-personal understanding of oneself as within that structure. This interpretation helps clarify the different sorts of salvation Spinoza presents in the Ethics and TTP.
Concepts at the Interface
Authors: Shea Nicholas
Published: August 2024

Research on concepts has concentrated on the way people apply concepts online, when presented with a stimulus. Just as important, however, is the use of concepts offline, when planning what to do or thinking about what is the case. There is strong evidence that inferences driven by conceptual thought draw heavily on special-purpose resources: sensory, motoric, affective, and evaluative. At the same time, concepts afford general-purpose recombination and support domain-general reasoning processes—phenomena that have long been the focus of philosophers. There is a growing consensus that a theory of concepts must encompass both kinds of process. This book shows how concepts are able to act as an interface between general-purpose reasoning and special-purpose systems. Concept-driven thinking can take advantage of the complementary costs and benefits of each. The book lays out an empirically-based account of the different ways in which thinking with concepts takes us to new conclusions and underpins planning, decision-making, and action. It also spells out three useful implications of the account. First, it allows us to reconstruct the commonplace idea that thinking draws on the meaning of a concept. Second, it offers an insight into how human cognition avoids the frame problem and the complementary, less discussed, ‘if-then problem’ for nested processing dispositions. Third, it shows that metacognition can apply to concepts and concept-driven thinking in various ways. The framework developed in the book elucidates what it is that makes concept-driven thinking an especially powerful cognitive resource.
Informational Models
Authors: Shea Nicholas
Published: August 2024

This chapter discusses the variety of ways that information can be represented in order to support planning, prospection, and inference—here referred to as ‘informational models’. It outlines several types, focusing on key features of representational structure and computational process. These include domain-specific perceptual and reinforcement learning systems; ‘model-based’ systems that rely on representing causal structure; structural representations in cognitive maps; relational reasoning with concepts; using one relation to stand for another; and conceptual models of domains like number, natural kinds, and causation. The informational models differ along various dimensions: organized vs. structural vs. conceptual representation; content-specific vs. content-general computations; local vs. non-local inferences; whether inferences are automatic or deliberative; and whether the model itself or just its outputs are relied on in deliberation. This diversity raises the important question of how conceptual thought can integrate with and rely on such heterogeneous informational models—answered in the next chapter.
Concepts as an Interface
Authors: Shea Nicholas
Published: August 2024

Concepts act as an interface between general-purpose conceptual thought and special-purpose informational models. A concept is a ‘plug-and-play’ device connecting deliberative thinking to simulations in sensory, motor, affective, and evaluative systems. Concept-driven thinking starts with a conceptually structured thought. This drives the construction of a ‘suppositional scenario’—an interconnected representation of a situation built up using special-purpose informational models. For example, thinking ‘will the chair fit in my car?’ prompts a mental simulation assessing spatial configurations. Conclusions are expressed back in conceptual thought. Concepts facilitate this as working memory labels that sustain and manipulate special-purpose representations, while also plugging into compositional structures in conceptual thought for content-general composition and reasoning. This gives concepts a crucial interfacing role. Evidence supports working memory labels providing such access, combination and control. This framework explains the power of human thought—flexibly combining concepts to construct integrated scenarios from which new conclusions can be drawn.
Metacognition
Authors: Shea Nicholas
Published: August 2024

This chapter argues that deliberative, concept-driven thinking incorporates metacognitive monitoring and control. First, thinkers have an appreciation of the reliability of concepts for categorization and inference. Second, conclusions reached through inference elicit an epistemic feeling of rightness that reflects the plausibility of the conclusion. Inference patterns themselves likely attract feelings of reliability that constitute a phenomenological and epistemic guide for the thinker. Third, the integrated collection of representations constructed in the ‘cognitive playground’ during deliberation is plausibly monitored for coherence, affecting the thinker’s confidence. Together, these forms of metacognitive appraisal enable the thinker to appreciate what is going on in concept-involving thinking. This appreciation is part of what makes deliberation a cognitive process attributable to the person. The chapter elaborates this idea and shows how it is supported by philosophical arguments and psychological evidence.