bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grape stalks: From wastes to source of antioxidants and nutraceuticals
Authors: Antonella Costantini , Silvia Tabasso , Roberto Mazzoli , Paola Ponsetto , Vitale Pietro , Gaudino Emanuela Calcio , Giorgio Grillo , Bertolino Andrea , Christos Tsolakis , Giancarlo Cravotto , Enrica Pessione , Emilia Garcia-Moruno
Published: February 2024

Wine production is one of the most significant agricultural activities worldwide. The winemaking process generates large amounts of by-products: grape marc, stalks, and exhausted grape marc. Until now, many studies have been focused on marc valorization, very few on stalks. The aim of this research was to deeply explore the potential of residual stalks in the wine industry from a circular economy perspective.

Polyphenols were extracted from stalks with new sustainable technologies in the frame of “green chemistry” without the use of hazardous solvents. Extracts were analyzed for total phenolic compound content (TPC) and their antioxidant activity was determined.

As polyphenols can have antimicrobial activity, the effect of the extracted polyphenols against wine-spoiling yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis was determined. The percent reduction of the culture optical density, in the presence or absence of polyphenols, was compared to assess the antimicrobial activity of the samples.

The results obtained underline the importance of winemaking by-products (stalks) and their eco-friendly valorization to obtain molecules for food, nutraceutical and cosmetic industries.
Process optimization in viticulture using functionalized biomimetic Hydroxyapatite (HAB) nanostructured particles, spectrographic analysis, and drone spraying systems
Authors: Marengo Enrico , Roveri Norberto , Marengo Dario
Published: February 2024

Today's agriculture must find increasingly innovative technological solutions with a perspective of conservation agriculture with systems that have less and less environmental impact by means of automatic control instruments for the distribution of products and the monitoring of site-specific ecological- environmental parameters. Since the symptoms of a disease attack vary depending on the nature of the pathogen and certain optical characteristics allow the development of imaging techniques for diseases detection, the plot monitoring allows to distribute the dose of product deemed suitable for the different areas into which it is divided: it is carried out by drones that, through multi-spectral analysis and specific artificial intelligence algorithms, make it possible to choose the appropriate doses of products to treat the disease at its onset or to prevent it. Processes can thus be optimised by spraying at variable rates in the quantities required at the time when pathologies are detected in order to intervene promptly for their treatment or containment. The use of these technologies allows a further reduction in Cu utilisation, compared to what was exposed at the 43° congress, thanks to applications with functionalised HAB: the timely and precise intervention suggested by the algorithms reduces the use of Cu to the bare minimum, the water consumption, the precision spraying with drones, the amount of product, its dispersion in the environment and the treatment time, safeguarding the health of the operator.
Stability Analysis of the Genetic Profile of Drought-Stressed Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Achyar Afifatul , Fuadiyah Sa’diatul , Kanaya Oliv Nurul , Pratiwi Nurul , Chatri Moralita , Violita Violita
Published: February 2024

Global climate change might cause a region to have a prolonged dry or rainy season. A long dry season can create drought stress in rice plants, resulting in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) compounds in cells and causing damage to plants, one of which is damage to DNA. The purpose of this study is to examine the stability of rice's genetic profile in order to assess the effect of drought stress treatment on rice DNA itself. Previous research classified three rice varieties into three groups based on their drought stress resistance: Harum (tolerant), Situbagendit (moderate), and Rosna (sensitive). These three rice plants were germinated and then treated with drought stress using PEG. Rice roots before and after being treated with drought stress were collected and the DNA was extracted. Genetic profile stability analysis was carried out by RAPD PCR using 10 types of primers. The DNA band patterns in rice samples before and after drought stress were differed, according to the electropherograms of ten RAPD primers and Jaccard's similarity index. This suggests that drought stress may disrupt the genetic stability of the three rice varieties studied.
Nanopriming of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Seeds Against Heavy Metal Stress During Germination and Seedling Formation
Authors: Sembada Anca Awal , Lenggoro I. Wuled
Published: February 2024

Abiotic stress can have a negative impact on plant growth. Heavy metal is one of the examples. One approach to overcome this issue is to use seed priming. The priming used in this study was nanopriming. We used colloidal silica nanoparticles (size of 10 nm) as the priming agent and copper (Cu) and barium (Ba) as the model heavy metals. This treatment was implemented for tomato (S. lycopersicum var. Momotaro) seed germination. The results showed that the presence of heavy metals during germination may lead to prolonging the germination time. The presence of Cu and Ba at 1 ppm could increase germination time by 28.38% and 26.9%, respectively, compared to control. When primed seeds were subjected to heavy metal stress, the use of silica nanopriming could reduce the germination time by 10.45% for Cu and 11.54% for Ba compared to the unprimed seeds. This evidence demonstrated that nanopriming could make seeds more resilient to heavy metal stress. We also found that heavy metal ions became less detectable in the seedlings when nanopriming was applied. This ion transport alteration essentially allowed seeds to cope with heavy metal stress. This method can be potentially used on various kinds of crops and heavy metals.
Invasive Alien Plant Species on Hiking Trails in Mount Prau, Indonesia
Authors: Abdullah Muhammad , Hakim Luchman , Siswanto Dian , Setyowati Dewi Liesnoor
Published: February 2024

Hiking tourism activities create habitats that support the introduction of non-native (alien) plant species and encourage their further spread in mountainous areas. Consequently, this will change the species composition of mountain plant communities. This research aims to investigate the richness of plant species and examine alien plant species that have the potential to be invasive on one of the mountains that is popular as a tourist destination, namely Mount Prau, Indonesia. Plant data collection was carried out using exploration methods according to hiking routes. PAST statistical software was used to carry out cluster analysis based on the composition of the plant community species and the composition of invasive alien species. The results of exploration on several hiking routes on Mount Prau found 192 species of plants. A total of 22 species are known to be invasive alien plants dominated by the Asteraceae family. Traditional hiking routes have a higher species richness value than commercial hiking routes for nature tourism. The research results also strengthen predictions that hiking routes for tourism activities have potentially increased the presence of invasive alien species of plants in mountainous areas.
Evaluation of the Phytochemical, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Banto Grass (Leersia hexandra) Using an Ecological and Ethnobotanical Approach
Authors: Farma Siska Alicia , Kardiman Reki , Selaras Ganda Hijrah , Annisa Novia
Published: February 2024

Banto (Leersia hexandra) is an essential plant for the Minangkabau people. Banto grass is a weed plant that easily grows anywhere. This plant can live in dry, watery, or damp areas. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and total phenolic content of banto grass using an ecological and ethnobotanical approach. Banto grass samples originate from Lintau Buo and Pariaman. The phytochemical content of banto grass was determined using a qualitative screening method, and the total phenolic content was determined using gallic acid (GAE) standards. The ecological and ethnobotanical aspects of banto are studied through literature studies including information on botany, ecology, distribution, local names and traditional medicine. The results showed that both banto grass from the high and lowlands extracted with methanol had positive results for flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and steroids. However, quantitatively, the total phenolic content of highland banto extract has a higher value than lowland, namely 842.593 mg/L and 649.471 mg/L respectively. Based on ethnobotanical aspects, the leaves of Banto have long been used to make a drink which functions to eliminate toxins in the body, asthma, and shortness of breath. Apart from that, our ancestors also used banto leaves as a toothbrush. Banto grows scattered around areas with lots of water, therefore, the Minang people also use banto as an indicator for digging wells.
Bearing Health Evaluation Model using Segmentive Technique and Cosine KNN in Different Loading Situations
Authors: Yap J.S. , Lim M.H. , Leong M. Salman
Published: February 2024

Bearing faults are a common cause of machinery failure, and bearing vibration analysis is critical in preventing any unacceptable consequences of such failures. Advancements in smart data and computing make Artificial Intelligence (AI) preferable for bearing vibration analysis. Typically, signal processing and feature engineering are essential for achieving satisfactory classification accuracy. Additionally, a drop in classification accuracy is commonly observed during different loading situations due to the vastly varying vibration characteristics under different loads. This paper evaluates an AI model in variable loading situations using raw vibration signals, devoid of signal processing and feature engineering. The proposed AI model, Segmentive Cosine K-Nearest Neighbours (SCosKNN), demonstrated a higher overall classification accuracy of 90.6–94.3% in same loading situations, and 72.1–84.2% in different loading situations. An improvement of around 9% in same loadings and 10–14% in different loadings were observed compared to a model without Segmentive Technique
COVID-19 Detection using Deep Learning Classifiers with Histogram Equalization and Contour-Based X-Ray Images
Authors: Hijazi Mohd Hanafi Ahmad , Abdul Yazid Nur Dinie Balqis , Nohuddin Puteri Nor Ellyza
Published: February 2024

The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 has significantly impacted both lifestyle and healthcare. Accurate and prompt medical diagnosis is crucial in combating the spread of the disease. However, the time required for laboratory interpretation and the high cost of a Computed Tomography (CT) scan can lead to inaccurate predictions of this disease. Several existing works have addressed this issue by using the Chest X-ray (CXR) images, however, achieving high accuracy is still a challenge in this domain. In this paper, features extracted from various modified CXR images that could produce more informative features, coupled with deep learning architectures, were evaluated to address the accuracy issue. First, the original CXR images were preprocessed and generated two subsequent different sets: the enhanced CXR images using histogram equalisation and the CXR contour images using contour-based methods. VGG16, InceptionV3, and Xception were used as feature extractors and classifiers; trained on public datasets to classify the CXR images into three categories: health, pneumonia, and COVID-19. The results demonstrate that the proposed work is able to accurately differentiate CXR images based on their respective classes. The best individual model was trained using InceptionV3 with histogram equalisation, achieving an accuracy of 98.25%.
Dissecting Denial of Service (DoS) Syn Flood Attack Dynamics and Impacts in Vehicular Communication Systems
Authors: Zamrai Muhammad Arif Hakimi , Mohamad Yusof Kamaludin , Azizan Afizi
Published: February 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of vehicular networks, the resilience of vehicular communication systems against Denial of Service (DoS) attacks is critical. Existing research often overlooks the nuanced dynamics of such attacks, particularly in terms of packet size variability and vehicle mobility within Software-Define Internet of Vehicles (SD-IoV) systems. This study addresses this research gap by conducting a detailed analysis of SYN flood DoS attack patterns and their impact on SDN-controlled vehicular networks. This research examines the effects of different packet sizes in SYN packet—1 byte, 200 bytes, 360 bytes, and 1400 bytes—and explore how these packet size variations influence the efficacy of the attacks and the resultant downtime experienced by the victim car. This research findings reveal that SYN flood attacks employing minimal 1-byte packets can cause prolonged unresponsiveness in the victim vehicle, leading to a drastic drop in packet throughput. This research underscores the subtleties of DoS attack strategies and their significant implications on the functionality and safety of IoV environments. The alarming potential of such refined and coordinated DoS attack highlights an urgent need for the development of robust defense mechanisms that can adapt to the sophisticated landscape of vehicular cyber threats.
Cost-Optimized Dynamic Access Control Policy Using Blockchain and Machine Learning for Enhanced Security in IoT Smart Homes
Authors: Hussain Hafiz Adnan , Mansor Zulkefli , Shukur Zarina , Jafar Uzma
Published: February 2024

The rapid adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in smart homes has led to growing security vulnerabilities, primarily due to the limitations of traditional, static access control mechanisms. This paper presents a novel, dynamic access control policy that leverages the immutable and transparent nature of Blockchain technology, specifically Ethereum, along with machine learning algorithms to enhance security measures. By integrating machine learning algorithms like Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Neural Networks, the proposed system can adapt and respond to changing behavioural patterns and potential threats in real time. Additionally, a caching mechanism implemented on the Ethereum Blockchain is introduced to optimize system performance and reduce latency. Experimental results demonstrate significant improvements in access control security, system efficiency, and adaptability. The findings of this paper not only contribute to the advancement of secure access control policies for IoT smart homes but pave the way for future research in integrating Blockchain and machine learning for robust and scalable IoT security solutions.
A 3-point point quinary approximating subdivision schemes and its application in geometric modeling and computer graphics
Authors: Ghaffar Abdul , Mustafa Ghulam , Abdul Karim Samsul Ariffin
Published: February 2024

This article discusses the significance of a subdivision scheme with shape parameters in geometric modeling and computational geometry. A new recursive method for generating the mask of 3-point quinary approximating subdivision schemes (ASSs) is presented. The proposed subdivision scheme exhibits all the geometric properties and offers better shape control than non-parametric subdivision schemes. The article includes several numerical examples to demonstrate the high practical value of the proposed schemes in geometric modeling and computer graphics.
Agri-Water: An loT-based System for Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Hanafi Muhammad Azamuddin Adli Bin , Fattah Salmah , Tahir Asni , Tanalol Siti Hasnah , Syed Hassan Jamil
Published: February 2024

Climatic conditions intricately influence agriculture, impacting optimal crop growth and reproduction through environmental factors. This study introduces a technological solution leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT), with Raspberry Pi 3 as the central controller. The system systematically collects crucial data on temperature, humidity, and soil moisture, ensuring the quality of crops. Subsequently, this information is used to formulate systematic crop watering plans. By efficiently using Raspberry Pi, the system regulates and monitors crops, contributing to water conservation by directing it precisely to the crops. This technology offers a practical and efficient approach to crop management, especially during challenging agricultural periods.
Preliminary Emotion-Based Model for Realistic 3D Animation
Authors: Azlan Noorsyuhada , Asli Mohammad Fadhli , Hamzah Muzaffar
Published: February 2024

3D animators commonly employ facial expressions to convey emotions, yet this method has limitations in fostering audience immersion. Existing guidelines prioritize storytelling, offering limited insight into character construction for immersive experiences. Our investigation seeks to enhance the lifelike movement of animated characters, focusing on audience engagement at specific points. This paper presents empirical findings highlighting the importance of facial and body movements in authentically portraying animated characters’ emotions. Drawing on Shapiro’s 15 controllers for character animation, we conducted an empirical study, examining distinct elements associated with each emotion. Data collection via Likert-scale assessments determined the average agreement for each controller concerning specific emotions. Our results indicate that varied emotions demand unique controllers for optimal realism. Although facial and gaze controllers are integral to all emotions, their intensity differs across emotional states. In response, we propose a preliminary model rooted in basic emotions, offering guidance to animators crafting realistic 3D characters. This model addresses the nuanced requirements of diverse emotions, providing a valuable resource for those seeking to enhance the authenticity of animated character expressions.
Virtual Reality and Emotional Responses: A Comprehensive Literature Review on Theories, Frameworks, and Research Gaps
Authors: Hariyady Hariyady , Ag Ibrahim Ag Asri , Teo Jason , Suharso Wildan , Firjaun Barlaman Muhammad Balya , Aulanas Bitaqwa Muhammad , Ahmad Azhana , Md Yassin Fouziah , Salimun Carolyn , Weng Ng Giap
Published: February 2024

This extensive literature review examines virtual reality (VR) and emotional responses, including theories, paradigms, and research gaps. Foundational to VR is its ability to evoke profound emotional involvement through heightened presence. The study synthesizes presence theory, appraisal theory, and transportation theory to explain how they affect virtual emotional experiences. It also examines affective computing and multisensory integration frameworks for emotional design for VR and their importance in creating emotionally engaging VR experiences. Furthermore, the study highlights key research gaps and issues in the field. These include individual variances in emotional responses, the undiscovered long-term effects of repeated VR exposure, and ethical issues surrounding emotion manipulation and user permission. To fill these gaps, computer science, psychology, and allied sciences should work together to comprehend the complex relationship between VR and human emotions. The ethical, theoretical, and practical aspects of VR’s emotional landscape are explored in this synthesis to guide future research.
Design and Development of loT-Smart Mirror Information Display System for Organizational Efficiency
Authors: Alebaba Daimler Benz , Sura Suaini , Mohd Tuah Nooralisa , Lee Seungwon
Published: February 2024

In the realm of the Internet of Things (IoT), a smart mirror is akin to a regular mirror possessed with intelligence, incorporating technology to provide useful information. The need for an integrated multi-functional information display, efficiently consolidating global information, optimizing electricity consumption, and monitoring fire hazards, has become crucial for increasing awareness among organizational staff and visitors. However, many organizations still rely on traditional information displays, leaving them vulnerable to issues such as electricity wastage and hazard oversight. To tackle these issues, we developed a smart mirror enhanced with voice recognition to quickly retrieve global information, simultaneously reducing electricity costs and enabling early detection of fire hazards. This paper details the design and development of smart mirror, following a systematic approach based on the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology. As a result, evaluations of user acceptance measured through the System Usability Scale (SUS) tool, confirms the operational efficiency and positive reception of the system. This paper significantly contributes to advancing smart mirror research, providing a valuable resource for developers, researchers, and practitioners constructing their iterations and offering inspiration for future enhancements.
Effects of Eccentric Phase Velocity on Bench Press Concentric Bar
Velocity in the Young and Elderly
Authors: Calandrini Antenor , Penna Eduardo Macedo , Monteiro Elren Passos , Boullosa Daniel , Coswig Victor Silveira
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of bar velocity during the eccentric
phase on subsequent concentric performance in the young and elderly. Twelve
elderly women (65.2+4.2 years) and 16 young women (23.1+2.1
years) were randomly assigned to four experimental conditions that combined
high-velocity eccentric actions (HVECC; maximum velocity) and
moderate-velocity eccentric actions (MVECC; 2.0 s), using
30% and 60% of their 1-repetition maximum (1RM) on the Smith
machine bench press. Measurements of mean propulsive velocity (MPV), peak
velocity (PV), and mean power (MP) were recorded. Two-way ANOVA with repeated
measures was applied for each variable, when needed, the Bonferroni post hoc was
used. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05, and effect size (ES)
was established by Cohen’s d
z. The results
demonstrated that elderly women showed improved performance in MPV
(+10.0%; ES=− 0.58; p=0.009) and
MP (+11.7%; ES=− 0.14; p=0.045)
when utilizing HVECC at 30% 1RM only. Moreover, young women
exhibited superior performance for both 30% and 60% 1RM when
using HVECC for all variables analyzed (p<0.05). The
HVECC appears to have an impact on the subsequent performance of
the concentric phase, particularly when lighter loads (30% 1RM) are
utilized, regardless of the age group.
Tertiary Amines as Temporary Masked Secondary Amines: A Direct Access to 5-Dialkylamino-1,2,4-oxadiazoles from 1,2,4-Oxadiazol-5(4H)-ones
Authors: Phakhodee Wong , Alfliadhi Muh , Pattarawarapan Mookda , Hongsibsong Surat , Wiriya Nittaya
Published: February 2024

A novel strategy utilizing tertiary amines as temporary masked secondary amines to synthesize 5-dialkylamino 1,2,4-oxadiazoles via Ph3P-I2 mediated amination of 1,2,4-oxadiazol-5(4H)-ones was developed. A one-step N-dealkylative functionalization of tertiary amines with the 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring enables a convenient access to diverse 5-amino-1,2,4-oxadiazoles. Additionally, orthogonally functionalized piperazine derivatives can be effectively constructed through site-selective reaction of 1,4-dialkylpiperazines or via a sequential N-functionalization of 1-methylpiperazine obviating laborious protection/deprotection steps.
Cytogenetic Alterations and Correlation with Age and Gender in Patients of Multiple Myeloma: A Study from a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern India
Authors: Jha Karuna , Saha Sandeep , Bhattacharyya Maitreyee
Published: February 2024

Background Multiple myeloma is a cytogenetically heterogeneous, evolving, and incurable disease. Differences in prevalence of myeloma already exist in Indian subcontinent as compared with Western world countries. This study attempts to investigate differences in incidence of cytogenetic abnormalities (CA) in Eastern Indian patients and study differences in incidence with respect to age and gender.

Materials and Methods Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied on purified plasma cells of 280 newly diagnosed myeloma cases using specific probes.

Statistical Analysis Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 25.

Results Note that 51.07% patients were FISH positive. Del13q was the most common CA. Significant association of del 13q with t(4;14), del 17p, and gain of 1q was seen. The frequencies of FISH positive and negative groups differed in the different age groups; higher number of cases in 41 to 50 years group in FISH positive group (p < 0.05) and lower number of cases in FISH positive group in 61 to 70 years (p < 0.05) as compared with FISH negative group. Del 17p had higher number of cases in age group 41 to 50 years and 51 to 60 years as compared with other age groups. Incidence of t(11;14) was in 5th to 7th decade while del 13q and t(4;14) had the widest range of age at presentation. Gender disparities were seen in high-risk cytogenetics like del 17p and 1q gain.

Conclusion The differences in incidence rate of CAs per se in myeloma cases diagnosed in Indian subcontinent and the differences in incidence with respect to age and gender warrant further multicentric studies.
The Role of Level III Dissection in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy—A Prospective Study
Authors: Bhargavan Rexeena V. , Prasannan Nisha , Krishna K.M. Jagathnath , Augustine Paul , Cherian Kurian
Published: February 2024

Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in India, with a significant number presenting as locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Level III clearance is routinely performed in our institute in LABC following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). In our previous retrospective study, level III positivity rate was 15.5%. We aim to prospectively assess level III positivity rate in LABC patients post-NACT. This is a prospective study of female patients with LABC (defined as cT3N1–3M0 or cT4N0–3M0 or cTanyN2,3M0) who received NACT and underwent surgery including level III dissection from November 2019 to October 2021. Data collected included age, menopausal status, TNM stage at presentation, grade, hormone receptor and HER2 status, treatment response, ycT and ycN stage, and final histopathology. Univariate and multivariate analysis was undertaken. p-Value less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant. Study recruited 598 patients. Level III node positivity rate was 8.4%. The clinical complete response rate (cCR) was 36% (215/598). On univariate analysis, significant association was present between level III node and cCR (p < 0.01), ycT0 stage (p = 0.001), ycN0 stage (p = 0.028), level II node positivity (p = 0.001), ypT stage (p = 0.001), and ypN stage (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, significant association was present between level III node and ycT stage (p < 0.001), ypT stage (p = 0.001), and ypN stage (p = 0.001). Level III positivity rate in LABC post-NACT is high. In patients with advanced ycT stage, it would be advisable to offer complete axillary dissection including level III. Level III dissection may be avoided in patients with ycT0 or ycN0 or with cCR.
Investigation of the In Vivo Performance of Metal-on-Metal Motec Total Wrist Arthroplasty – An Explant Analysis
Authors: Kandemir Göksu , Julian Harriet S. , Joyce Thomas J. , Brown Daniel J.
Published: February 2024

Background Despite the Motec metal-on-metal (MoM) total wrist arthroplasty (TWA) being among the most implanted and most reported implants, there remains concern about the articulation following the issues in hips, where early wear led to catastrophic failure.

Methods Explant analysis was undertaken on seven MoM Motec wrists, explanted for technical issues in the first 3 years postimplantation, at the macro-, micro-, and nanoscales.

Results Compared with unworn Motec implants, five of the explanted heads and five of the cups became smoother in vivo. The articulating surfaces of every explanted component had negative skewness. The articulating surfaces of the components did not show any of the major damage associated with hip implants but did demonstrate multidirectional scratches and dark marks mainly situated toward their equator. Four explants showed indentation marks on the rims of their cups and necks from component impingement. The nano- and macroscale observations suggested abrasive wear to be the dominant wear mechanism. Most components demonstrated evidence of self-polishing.

Conclusion In the short term, the MoM Motec TWA does not seem to be affected by the wear issues seen in failing MoM total hip replacements with all of the explanted Motec components remaining within manufacturing tolerances
Digital art exhibitions and psychological well-being in Chinese Generation Z: An analysis based on the S-O-R framework
Authors: Xia Yanqing , Deng Yili , Tao Xuanyu , Zhang Sainan , Wang Chengliang
Published: February 2024

In the post-pandemic era, there has been a heightened global focus on the mental health challenges facing individuals, with a particular emphasis on innovative and effective therapeutic approaches. Despite the extensive body of research within the realm of art therapy addressing individual psychological healing, the potential of digital mediums in this field has been largely overlooked. This gap is especially pronounced in studies targeting the unique demographic of Generation Z, known as ‘digital natives.’ This study aims to investigate the role of engagement in online digital exhibitions as a potential restorative intervention for enhancing the mental well-being of Generation Z users. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework and the theory of restorative environments, this research examines the psychological responses of Generation Z participants to online digital art exhibitions, particularly from the perspective of website aesthetics. The impact of these responses on users’ place attachment and loyalty behaviors is also explored. Utilizing a structural equation modeling approach, an online digital art exhibition was deployed on the ZEPETO app, a platform popular among Chinese Generation Z users. Participants were subsequently invited to partake in an online survey post-exhibition, yielding a dataset of 332 valid responses. The findings reveal that: (1) the four design elements of website aesthetics (coherence, novelty, interactivity, immersion) significantly influence the perceived restoration among Generation Z users, with immersion being the most influential factor; (2) perceived restoration and place attachment are crucial predictors of loyalty behavior; (3) perceived restoration has a positive impact on the place attachment of Generation Z users towards online digital art exhibitions. This study demonstrates that online digital art exhibitions can facilitate an emotional healing journey for Generation Z, contributing to the alleviation of psychological stress and the promotion of psychological well-being. Moreover, digital technology exhibitions have the potential to transcend human creativity and imagination, offering a unique and promising pathway for future research and practices in design related to emotional healing.
Individual entrepreneurial orientation for entrepreneurial readiness
Authors: Adeniyi Adeshina Olushola , Gamede Vangeli , Derera Evelyn
Published: February 2024

Low business start-ups due to poor entrepreneurial competence among the youth has continued to attract the interest of entrepreneurship educators and practitioners. Previous investigations have explored individual entrepreneurial orientation, with little attention given to entrepreneurial readiness of students from science and technology colleges in Nigeria. This research shortcoming forms the motivation for this study. The study aims to explore the effect of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation (IEO) components on students’ entrepreneurial readiness for business start-ups. The philosophical approach is framed within the positivist perspective, with a survey of 289 exit-level students as the sample size. The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test and Bartlett’s test were performed to measure the sample adequacy. Pearson’s correlation and regression analysis were conducted to validate the hypotheses. The results indicated that IEO risk-taking shows insignificant association with the students’ entrepreneurial readiness, while IEO innovation and IEO proactivity show significant association with the students’ entrepreneurial readiness. The study further reveals that there is no gender difference in the students’ entrepreneurial readiness as influenced by IEO towards starting a business. Managerial implication suggests the promotion and development of an entrepreneurial mindset with practical translations.
A piezoelectric-driven nanoindentation system for scanning electron microscope with improved analog compensation method
Authors: Gu Sen
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a novel piezoelectric-driven nanoindentation system for a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with an improved analog compensation (IAC) method. This system mainly consists of a piezoelectric-driven indenter head, a rectangle-shaped transducer, and a nanopositioner module. Compared with the state-of-the-art piezoelectric-driven nanoindentation system with a circle-shaped transducer, the proposed nanoindentation system is capable of multi-direction operation inside a SEM with a rectangle-shaped transducer. Self-matched semiconductor strain gauges are selected as the position sensor for the piezoelectric-actuator. The Wheatstone bridge output voltage cannot achieve a zero temperature coefficient because the temperature coefficients of self-matched semiconductor strain gauge pairs become significantly different from each other after installation in practice. An IAC method is proposed to compensate the temperature coefficients further. Compared with the existing analog compensation method, the IAC method solves the problem of amplifier saturation and improves the sensitivity of the self-matched semiconductor strain gauge pairs position sensor by 27%. The multi-direction operation results inside a standard SEM HITACHI SU5000 validate the advantage of the developed nanoindentation system.
GradDFT. A software library for machine learning enhanced density functional theory
Authors: M. Casares Pablo A. , Baker Jack S. , Medvidović Matija , Reis Roberto dos , Arrazola Juan Miguel
Published: February 2024

Density functional theory (DFT) stands as a cornerstone method in computational quantum chemistry and materials science due to its remarkable versatility and scalability. Yet, it suffers from limitations in accuracy, particularly when dealing with strongly correlated systems. To address these shortcomings, recent work has begun to explore how machine learning can expand the capabilities of DFT: an endeavor with many open questions and technical challenges. In this work, we present GradDFT a fully differentiable JAX-based DFT library, enabling quick prototyping and experimentation with machine learning-enhanced exchange–correlation energy functionals. GradDFT employs a pioneering parametrization of exchange–correlation functionals constructed using a weighted sum of energy densities, where the weights are determined using neural networks. Moreover, GradDFT encompasses a comprehensive suite of auxiliary functions, notably featuring a just-in-time compilable and fully differentiable self-consistent iterative procedure. To support training and benchmarking efforts, we additionally compile a curated dataset of experimental dissociation energies of dimers, half of which contain transition metal atoms characterized by strong electronic correlations. The software library is tested against experimental results to study the generalization capabilities of a neural functional across potential energy surfaces and atomic species, as well as the effect of training data noise on the resulting model accuracy.
p-GaAs/n-Ga2O3 heterojunction diode with breakdown voltage of ∼800 V
Authors: Xie Shuwen , Sheikhi Moheb , Xu Shining , Alam Md Tahmidul , Zhou Jie , Mawst Luke , Ma Zhenqiang , Gupta Chirag
Published: February 2024

As an attractive next generation ultrawide bandgap material, Ga2O3 has been demonstrated to be capable of high voltage operation. However, the lack of shallow p-type dopant in Ga2O3 leads to difficulties in developing Ga2O3 based bipolar devices. The semiconductor grafting technology, by bonding a single crystalline p-type semiconductor nanomembrane (NM) to n-Ga2O3 to from abrupt heterojunction, offers a way to expand the application of Ga2O3 in bipolar areas. In this Letter, we report a p-GaAs/(001)-Ga2O3 heterojunction diode fabricated using semiconductor grafting technology. The single crystalline GaAs NM was prepared and transferred onto a Ga2O3 substrate, showing good integrity. Diodes of a mesa diameter of 25 μm were fabricated, showing a high breakdown voltage of ∼800 V, a power figure of merit of 126.5 MW/cm2, and a calculated 1D peak electric field of 1.60 MV/cm. The turn on voltage of the diode was determined to be around 1.91 V with an on–off ratio to be 6 × 106 at −4/4 V and the specific on resistance to be 5.06 mΩ cm2. The ideality factor was extracted to be approximately 1.34, indicating reasonable interface quality. The interfacial defects and the self-passivation effects of Ga2O3 are discussed, and the theoretical band diagram was analyzed for the p-GaAs/n-Ga2O3 heterojunction. By managing the peak electric field with suitable edge termination techniques, higher breakdown voltage can be expected. In addition, by taking advantage of the InGaAsP alloy system, a wide variety of GaAs-Ga2O3 based high voltage HBT can be further developed.
The migration mechanism of temporary plugging agents in rough fractures of hot dry rock: A numerical study
Authors: Zheng Chen , Wang Daobing , Wang Qiuyan , Sun Shuyu , Sun Dongliang , Yu Bo
Published: February 2024

Plugging and diverting fracturing is a promising technology that aims to enhance the heat extraction efficiency in hot dry rock. The key to the success of this technique is the formation of effective plugging zones in existing fractures. However, given the high temperature and high stress of hot dry rock, the migration and sealing mechanisms of temporary plugging agents in such reservoirs are quite different from those in conventional tight reservoirs. Using the computational fluid dynamics/discrete element method coupled method, this paper numerically investigates the migration mechanism of temporary plugging agents in rough fractures of hot dry rock. First, we construct a model of a rough fracture surface in hot dry rock by performing computerized tomography scanning. Second, we adopt the well-established theory of the joint roughness coefficient to describe the fracture surface roughness. Then a discrete phase model that considers the effect of temperature is constructed to characterize the interparticle interaction of temporary plugging agents. A bidirectional coupling algorithm between the fluid flow in the fracture and the migration of temporary plugging agent particles is adopted. Finally, the effects of key factors such as fracture wall temperature, fracture roughness, injection angle, and injection location on the migration mechanism of granular temporary plugging agents in rough fractures are analyzed in detail. The results show that fracture roughness and temperature have a significant impact on the migration process in hydraulic fractures. When the fracture surface roughness increases by 10.44 as measured by the joint roughness coefficient, the particle force and particle temperature increase by 12.0% and 37.8%, respectively. When the fracture surface temperature increases by 200 K, the particle force and particle temperature increase by 88.2% and 14.4%, respectively.
Valence shell electronically excited states of norbornadiene and quadricyclane
Authors: Cooper Joseph C. , Holland David M. P. , Ingle Rebecca A. , Bonanomi Matteo , Faccialà Davide , De Oliveira Nelson , Abid Abdul R. , Bachmann Julien , Bhattacharyya Surjendu , Borne Kurtis , Bosch Michael , Centurion Martin , Chen Keyu , Forbes Ruaridh J. G. , Lam Huynh V. S. , Odate Asami , Rudenko Artem , Venkatachalam Anbu S. , Vozzi Caterina , Wang Enliang , Weber Peter M. , Ashfold Michael N. R. , Kirrander Adam , Rolles Daniel
Published: February 2024

The absolute photoabsorption cross sections of norbornadiene (NBD) and quadricyclane (QC), two isomers with chemical formula C7H8 that are attracting much interest for solar energy storage applications, have been measured from threshold up to 10.8 eV using the Fourier transform spectrometer at the SOLEIL synchrotron radiation facility. The absorption spectrum of NBD exhibits some sharp structure associated with transitions into Rydberg states, superimposed on several broad bands attributable to valence excitations. Sharp structure, although less pronounced, also appears in the absorption spectrum of QC. Assignments have been proposed for some of the absorption bands using calculated vertical transition energies and oscillator strengths for the electronically excited states of NBD and QC. Natural transition orbitals indicate that some of the electronically excited states in NBD have a mixed Rydberg/valence character, whereas the first ten excited singlet states in QC are all predominantly Rydberg in the vertical region. In NBD, a comparison between the vibrational structure observed in the experimental 11B1–11A1 (3sa1 ← 5b1) band and that predicted by Franck–Condon and Herzberg–Teller modeling has necessitated a revision of the band origin and of the vibrational assignments proposed previously. Similar comparisons have encouraged a revision of the adiabatic first ionization energy of NBD. Simulations of the vibrational structure due to excitation from the 5b2 orbital in QC into 3p and 3d Rydberg states have allowed tentative assignments to be proposed for the complex structure observed in the absorption bands between ∼5.4 and 7.0 eV.
Global rotation of skyrmion bags under vertical microwave fields
Authors: Bo Lan , Zhao Rongzhi , Zhang Xichao , Mochizuki Masahito , Zhang Xuefeng
Published: February 2024

Magnetic skyrmion bags are composite topological spin textures with arbitrary topological charges. Here, we computationally study the transient rotational motion of skyrmion bags, which is characterized by a global rotation of inner skyrmions around the central point. Distinct from conventional rotational modes found in skyrmions, the observed rotation is a forced motion associated with the breathing mode induced solely by vertical microwave fields. The driving force behind this rotation originates from the interactions between outer and inner skyrmions, with the angular velocity determined by the phase difference resulting from their asynchronous breathing behaviors. It is also found that skyrmion bags with larger skyrmion numbers are more conducive to the occurrence of the rotation. Our results are useful for understanding the cluster dynamics of complex topological spin textures driven by dynamic fields.
Motion characteristics and wear analysis of particles in the clearances of a twin-screw pump
Authors: Sun Shuaihui , Wang Zhenhao , Guo Pengcheng , Wu Pengbo , Ma Jinyang
Published: February 2024

The rotors of twin-screw pumps would be worn by hard particles for deep-sea oil and gas mixture transport. It led to the destruction of the seal clearance and the deterioration of pump performance. Based on the Euler–Lagrange method and dynamic grid technology, the transient numerical simulation of solid–liquid two-phase flow in a twin-screw pump was carried out and validated by experiment. The motion characteristics of particles in the tip, interlobe, flank clearance, and the causes of rotor wear were clarified. The results revealed that the severe wear at rotor tips was caused by the particles when they enter the tip clearance rather than leaving the tip clearance with the leakage jet flow. Particles passing through the flank clearance had high velocity and contributed to the wear at rotor tips. The main flow in the tooth chamber was disturbed by the interlobe and flank clearance leakage, even resulting in local high-speed reflux near the engagement. With the increase in the particle concentration and diameter, the collision frequency between particles and rotor tips increased, aggravating the risk of wear at rotor tips. The research could reveal the motion nature of particles following the liquid phase and their wear mechanism in twin-screw pumps.
Shape optimization to enhance energy harvesting from vortex-induced vibration of a circular cylinder
Authors: Chen Wengang , Li Xintao , Yang Wenkai
Published: February 2024

In previous research on energy harvesting from vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs), the cross section of the structure commonly utilizes basic geometric shapes like circular, ellipse, square, and semicircle. Nevertheless, exploring optimized shapes for energy harvesting from VIV remains an understudied area. To address this gap, this paper employs adjoint-based unsteady shape optimization to increase the efficiency of energy harvesting from VIV of a circular cylinder at low Reynolds numbers. The goal of the optimization is to maximize the plunge-damping derivative of a single-degree-of-freedom transversely vibrating cylinder, which represents the rate of energy injected into the structure by the flow. To facilitate this process, an efficient method to evaluate the gradient of the objective function with respect to shape parameters is provided via the proposed unsteady discrete adjoint method. Results show that, through optimization, the low-pressure region behind the cylinder is significantly enlarged and the separation points move forward, resulting in the faster development of separation vortex and reduced stability of the fluid–structure coupling system. As a consequence, the intensity of VIV as well as the corresponding power generation efficiency is remarkably enhanced, accompanied by a notable expansion in the energy harvesting region.
Unveiling the multicomponent phase separation through molecular dynamics simulation and graph theory
Authors: Yan Zeng-Shuai , Ma Yu-Qiang , Ding Hong-Ming
Published: February 2024

Biomolecular condensates formed by multicomponent phase separation play crucial roles in diverse cellular processes. Accurate assessment of individual-molecule contributions to condensate formation and precise characterization of their spatial organization within condensates are crucial for understanding the underlying mechanism of phase separation. Using molecular dynamics simulations and graph theoretical analysis, we demonstrated quantitatively the significant roles of cation-π and π–π interactions mediated by aromatic residues and arginine in the formation of condensates in polypeptide systems. Our findings reveal temperature and chain length-dependent alterations in condensate network parameters, such as the number of condensate network layers, and changes in aggregation and connectivity. Notably, we observe a transition between assortativity and disassortativity in the condensate network. Moreover, polypeptides W, Y, F, and R consistently promote condensate formation, while the contributions of other charged and two polar polypeptides (Q and N) to condensate formation depend on temperature and chain length. Furthermore, polyadenosine and polyguanosine can establish stable connections with aromatic and R polypeptides, resulting in the reduced involvement of K, E, D, Q, and N in phase separation. Overall, this study provides a distinctive, precise, and quantitative approach to characterize the multicomponent phase separation.