Research Applications Research Articles

La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials with exceptional magnetic functionalities: a review

The field of magnetic functional materials continues to garner significant attention due to its research and diverse applications, such as magnetic storage and spintronics. Among these, La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials exhibit abundant magnetic properties and emerge as highly captivating subjects with immense potential. This review provides an overview of the diverse magnetic structures and itinerant electron metamagnetic transition observed in La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials. The transformation of different magnetic configurations elicits the phenomena such as negative thermal expansion, magnetostriction, magnetocaloric effect, and barocaloric effect. In addition, the pivotal role of spin and lattice coupling in these phenomena is revealed. The magnetic functionalities of La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials can be controlled through adjustments of magnetic exchange interactions. Key methods, including chemical substitution, external field application, and interstitial atom insertion, enable precise modulation of these functionalities. This review not only provides valuable insights into the design and development of magnetic functional materials but also offers significant contributions to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing their magnetic behaviors.

Phase-selective in-plane heteroepitaxial growth of H-phase CrSe2

Phase engineering of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) offers opportunities for exploring unique phase-specific properties and achieving new desired functionalities. Here, we report a phase-selective in-plane heteroepitaxial method to grow semiconducting H-phase CrSe2. The lattice-matched MoSe2 nanoribbons are utilized as the in-plane heteroepitaxial template to seed the growth of H-phase CrSe2 with the formation of MoSe2-CrSe2 heterostructures. Scanning tunneling microscopy and non-contact atomic force microscopy studies reveal the atomically sharp heterostructure interfaces and the characteristic defects of mirror twin boundaries emerging in the H-phase CrSe2 monolayers. The type-I straddling band alignments with band bending at the heterostructure interfaces are directly visualized with atomic precision. The mirror twin boundaries in the H-phase CrSe2 exhibit the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid behavior in the confined one-dimensional electronic system. Our work provides a promising strategy for phase engineering of 2D TMDs, thereby promoting the property research and device applications of specific phases.

Unveiling the potential of starch-blended biodegradable polymers for substantializing the eco-friendly innovations

The extensive industrialization of polyethylene during the 1950s resulted in the mass production of petrochemical-derived plastics that remain widely used today. However, the harmful environmental impact of these non-biodegradable plastics has become increasingly evident. The non-degradability of conventional plastics has led to the filling of landfill sites, raising water and land pollution, and rapid depletion of fossil resources. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop sustainable alternatives that can reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. One promising solution is the production of starch-blended biodegradable polymers. These polymers are produced from renewable resources such as corn and have the potential to be biodegradable or compostable. The compatibility between starch and other biopolymers, like polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is being researched in several areas of food processing. The environmental impact and sustainability aspects of starch-blended biodegradable polymers are addressed, emphasizing their renewable nature, reduced carbon footprint, and potential to mitigate plastic waste. They offer a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative that can significantly reduce plastic waste and minimize the reliance on fossil resources. Studying starch-blended biodegradable polymers as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics is crucial in addressing the detrimental environmental effects of non-degradable plastics. The review discusses the influences of starch content, compatibilizers, and plasticizers on the mechanical, thermal, and barrier characteristics of the blends also provides valuable insights into the current research trends and applications of starch-blended biodegradable polymers, highlighting their potential to contribute to sustainability and environmentally friendly polymer materials in various industries.

Gene doping detection in the era of genomics.

Recent progress in gene editing has enabled development of gene therapies for many genetic diseases, but also made gene doping an emerging risk in sports and competitions. By delivery of exogenous transgenes into human body, gene doping not only challenges competition fairness but also places health risk on athletes. World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has clearly inhibited the use of gene and cell doping in sports, and many techniques have been developed for gene doping detection. In this review, we will summarize the main tools for gene doping detection at present, highlight the main challenges for current tools, and elaborate future utilizations of high-throughput sequencing for unbiased, sensitive, economic and large-scale gene doping detections. Quantitative real-time PCR assays are the widely used detection methods at present, which are useful for detection of known targets but are vulnerable to codon optimization at exon-exon junction sites of the transgenes. High-throughput sequencing has become a powerful tool for various applications in life and health research, and the era of genomics has made it possible for sensitive and large-scale gene doping detections. Non-biased genomic profiling could efficiently detect new doping targets, and low-input genomics amplification and long-read third-generation sequencing also have application potentials for more efficient and straightforward gene doping detection. By closely monitoring scientific advancements in gene editing and sport genetics, high-throughput sequencing could play a more and more important role in gene detection and hopefully contribute to doping-free sports in the future.

Covalently-Bonded Laminar Assembly of Van der Waals Semiconductors with Polymers: Toward High-Performance Flexible Devices.

Van der Waals semiconductors (vdWS) offer superior mechanical and electrical properties and are promising for flexible microelectronics when combined with polymer substrates. However, the self-passivated vdWS surfaces and their weak adhesion to polymers tend to cause interfacial sliding and wrinkling, and thus, are still challenging the reliability of vdWS-based flexible devices. Here, an effective covalent vdWS-polymer lamination method with high stretch tolerance and excellent electronic performance is reported. Using molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 )and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a case study, gold-chalcogen bonding and mercapto silane bridges are leveraged. The resulting composite structures exhibit more uniform and stronger interfacial adhesion. This enhanced coupling also enables the observation of a theoretically predicted tension-induced band structure transition in MoS2 . Moreover, no obvious degradation in the devices' structural and electrical properties is identified after numerous mechanical cycle tests. This high-quality lamination enhances the reliability of vdWS-based flexible microelectronics, accelerating their practical applications in biomedical research and consumer electronics.

The Application of Intestinal Stem Cell Organoids in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) comprises chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract, such as Crohn’s Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). The escalating global incidence of IBD is multifactorial, involving genetic, microbial, environmental and immunological factors. Despite current therapies emphasizing immune suppression, sustained efficacy remains elusive. Recently, Stem Cell Therapy (SCT) has emerged as a potential avenue for inducing remission in IBD patients. Intestinal Stem Cells (ISCs) have gained attention for their recent emergence in research and potential cultivation into organoids, offering a promising source for IBD treatment. This review focuses on the potential of ISC SCT, emphasizing its organoid culturing capabilities. It highlights organoids’ applications in IBD research, monitors advancements in animal and human trials and examines current limitations and future directions in organoid research for IBD treatment.

Thermal performance analysis of a novel Conical-Cylindrical-Conical cavity receiver for a Scheffler concentrated solar system

The thermal efficiency of a receiver is a critical component of the point focusing concentrated solar system, significantly impacting the overall system efficiency. A thermal performance analysis of the developed novel Conical-Cylindrical-Conical cavity receiver is carried out for the enhancement of its efficiency. The analysis involves varying aspect ratios (0.8, 1, and 1.2) of the receiver utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics with ANSYS (Fluent 2023R1) and the discrete ordinates modeling technique. The simulation results reveal a peak thermal efficiency of 80.9 % for the receiver at mass flow rate of 0.035 kg/s. The experimental validation is performed using a 16 m2 concentrator solar Scheffler dish under real outdoor conditions in a hilly terrain of India. The average percentage error between the experimental results and the Computational Fluid Dynamics model simulation, is found to be 0.52 %.The results of study highlights the significant impact of design and aspect ratio on the thermal efficiency of the cavity receiver. This study is the first investigation into the aspect ratio of the novel Conical-Cylindrical-Conical cavity receiver for point focusing concentrated solar system, providing valuable insights for further research and industrial applications worldwide.

A Bayesian robustness measure in significance tests for equivalence tests

In this article, the local sensitivity of non linear prior quantities in Bayesian significance tests with respect to the choice of a prior distribution is considered. We propose sensitivity indices using the Gâteaux derivative to evaluate the rate of change of statistical functionals defined over the space of prior probability measures. These sensitivity indices are easy to interpret and calculate. We apply the proposed methodology to equivalence tests for two independent binomial proportions to quantify the local sensitivity of quantities in significance tests, such as adaptive significance level and power, with respect to the choice of the prior distribution. We present an application in sensory analysis and consumer research to illustrate the proposed methodology.

Applied AI for finance and accounting: Alternative data and opportunities

Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have transformed the finance industry by altering the way data and information are generated, processed, and incorporated into decision-making processes. Data and information have emerged as a new class of assets, facilitating efficient contracting and risk-sharing among corporate stakeholders. Researchers have also increasingly embraced machine learning and AI analytics tools, which enable them to exploit empirical evidence to an extent that far surpasses traditional methodologies. In this review article, prepared for a special issue on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Finance in the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, we aim to provide a summary of the evolving landscape of AI applications in finance and accounting research and project future avenues of exploration. Given the burgeoning mass of literature in this field, it would be unproductive to attempt an exhaustive catalogue of these studies. Instead, our goal is to offer a structured framework for categorizing current research and guiding future studies. We stress the importance of blending financial domain expertise with state-of-the-art data analytics skills. This fusion is essential for researchers and professionals to harness the opportunities offered by data and analytical tools to better comprehend and influence our financial system.

Social Signal Processing in Affective Virtual Reality: Human-Shaped Agents Increase Electrodermal Activity in an Elicited Negative Environment.

Prior research on affect elicitation indicates that stimuli with social content (pictures or videos) are more arousing than nonsocial stimuli. In particular, they elicit stronger physiological arousal as measured by electrodermal activity (EDA; i.e., social EDA effect). However, it is unclear how this effect applies to virtual reality (VR), which enables an enhanced sense of presence (SoP) and ecological validity. The study here approached this question from a social-emotional VR framework. A sample of N = 72 participants (55 percent women) experienced a set of six virtual environments (VEs) in the form of emotional parks specifically designed to elicit positive, negative, or neutral affectivity. Half of these VEs included human-shaped agents (social context) and the other half omitted these agents (nonsocial context). The results supported the social EDA effect, which in addition was amplified by the reported SoP. Importantly, the VE featuring a social negative content qualified this observed social EDA effect. The finding is discussed in the light of a negativity bias reported in affect literature, through which negative stimuli typically mobilize attention and bodily activation as a mechanism linked to stress responses. The study's implications extend to the use of VR in both research and practical applications, emphasizing the role of social content in influencing affective and physiological responses.

Automated mitral inflow Doppler peak velocity measurement using deep learning

Doppler echocardiography is a widely utilised non-invasive imaging modality for assessing the functionality of heart valves, including the mitral valve. Manual assessments of Doppler traces by clinicians introduce variability, prompting the need for automated solutions. This study introduces an innovative deep learning model for automated detection of peak velocity measurements from mitral inflow Doppler images, independent from Electrocardiogram information. A dataset of Doppler images annotated by multiple expert cardiologists was established, serving as a robust benchmark. The model leverages heatmap regression networks, achieving 96% detection accuracy. The model discrepancy with the expert consensus falls comfortably within the range of inter- and intra-observer variability in measuring Doppler peak velocities. The dataset and models are open-source, fostering further research and clinical application.

Cold atom technology applied to ultra-high vacuum (UHV) measurements

Accurate measurements in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) are increasingly critical for scientific research and industrial applications. Here, we report an experimental study of UHV measurements performed on a 7Li cold atom vacuum measurement setup. The setup enables cold atom vacuum measurements in the magneto-optical and magnetic traps (CAVM-MOT and CAVM-MT), respectively. The precision of the vacuum measurements in both traps was effectively improved after optimisation of the excited-state fraction data processing for CAVM-MOT and the initial loading control method for CAVM-MT. A comparison of the measurement methods was carried out in combination with an ionisation gauge, revealing the good linearity and accuracy of the CAVM. We believe that CAVM in the two potential traps have their own application situations and development directions, respectively.

Ion and Water Transport in 2D Nanofluidic Channels

AbstractTwo‐dimensional (2D) lamellar membranes, featuring organized nanochannels, tunable interlayer spacing, and modifiable chemical properties, are emerging as promising candidates for both theoretical research and practical applications. Rational design and regulation of the physical/chemical properties of the nanofluidic channels as well as manipulation of external factors are crucial to achieve desirable performance for the applications related to mass transport. Focusing on the recent advances in ion and water transport within 2D nanofluidic channels, this work gives a brief overview of the fabrication of 2D lamellar membranes based on the strategy of exfoliation and reconstruction. Then the transport phenomena within 2D nanofluidic channels along with the mechanisms and influential factors are highlighted. The representative applications of 2D lamellar membranes are also covered, especially in the areas of osmotic energy conversion, water purification and desalination, as well as single‐ion separation and extraction. It is concluded with a discussion of the current challenges and future perspectives in this potential field.

Investigating the Influence of Fluctuating Humidity and Temperature on Creep Deformation in High-Performance Concrete Beams: A Comparative Study between Natural and Laboratorial Environmental Tests.

To investigate the influence of temperature and humidity variations on creep in high-performance concrete beams, beam tests were conducted in both natural and laboratory settings. The findings indicate that the variations in creep primarily stem from temperature changes, whereas humidity changes have little influence on fluctuations in both basic creep and total creep. The influence of humidity on creep is more strongly reflected in the magnitude of creep. Functions describing the influence of temperature and humidity on the creep behavior of high-performance concrete (HPC) subjected to fluctuating conditions are proposed. The findings were employed to examine creep deformation in engineering applications across four places. This study complements the correction method for the creep of members under fluctuating temperature and humidity. This research application can provide a basis for the calculation of the long-term deformation of HPC structures in natural environments.

Detecting Psychological Interventions Using Bilateral Electromyographic Wearable Sensors.

This study investigated the impact of auditory stimuli on muscular activation patterns using wearable surface electromyography (EMG) sensors. Employing four key muscles (Sternocleidomastoid Muscle (SCM), Cervical Erector Muscle (CEM), Quadricep Muscles (QMs), and Tibialis Muscle (TM)) and time domain features, we differentiated the effects of four interventions: silence, music, positive reinforcement, and negative reinforcement. The results demonstrated distinct muscle responses to the interventions, with the SCM and CEM being the most sensitive to changes and the TM being the most active and stimulus dependent. Post hoc analyses revealed significant intervention-specific activations in the CEM and TM for specific time points and intervention pairs, suggesting dynamic modulation and time-dependent integration. Multi-feature analysis identified both statistical and Hjorth features as potent discriminators, reflecting diverse adaptations in muscle recruitment, activation intensity, control, and signal dynamics. These features hold promise as potential biomarkers for monitoring muscle function in various clinical and research applications. Finally, muscle-specific Random Forest classification achieved the highest accuracy and Area Under the ROC Curve for the TM, indicating its potential for differentiating interventions with high precision. This study paves the way for personalized neuroadaptive interventions in rehabilitation, sports science, ergonomics, and healthcare by exploiting the diverse and dynamic landscape of muscle responses to auditory stimuli.

Fabrication of an affordable and sensitive corticosteroid-binding globulin immunosensor based on electrodeposited gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode

Herein, we fabricated an ultrasensitive electrochemical immunosensor for the quantitative detection of corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). CBG is a protein that regulates glucocorticoid levels and is an important biomarker for inflammation. A decrease in CBG levels is a key biomarker for inflammatory diseases, such as septic shock. To enhance the electrochemical performance and provide a large surface area for anti-CBG immobilization, we functionalized the glassy carbon electrode surface with AuNPs. Electrochemical characterization methods including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to examine the construction of the fabricated immunosensor. The electrochemical signal demonstrated a remarkable sensitivity to the CBG antigen, with a detection range from 0.01 to 100 μg/mL and a limit of detection of 0.012 μg/mL, making it suitable for both clinical and research applications. This label-free immunosensor offers significant advantages, including high sensitivity, low detection limits and excellent selectivity, making it a promising tool for detecting CBG in complex biological samples. Its potential applications include early disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring and studying CBG-related physiological processes.

Characterization of a NEG cartridge under high pressure conditions

The development of advanced sintered pumping elements based on the ZAO® alloy, characterized by a high affinity towards hydrogen and its isotopes, make Non Evaporable Getter (NEG) pumps particularly appealing for applications in fusion research, which typically deal with large fluxes of these gaseous species. NEG getters show high pumping speeds and capacity, excellent reliability with ability to withstand a high number of loading and unloading cycles without showing any type of failure, ease of integration within a complex system (such as a fusion reactor) because of their high specific properties and the simplicity of the mechanism that regulates its operation. These properties make NEG technology particularly suitable for the development of compact, efficient and easily scalable solutions, which are also very safe, since the release of absorbed hydrogen is prevented in the case of power outage or subsystem failures, as it can occur only by providing an adequate amount of heat to the getter material. This paper reports the results of an experimental campaign conducted on a new type of NEG pump, aimed to obtaining an accurate characterization in response to different operating conditions. Hydrogen pumping speed was investigated in a range of pressures of particular interest for the activities of the Divertor Tokamak Test facility (between 0.1 and 10 Pa). The influence of nitrogen absorption and getter material operating temperature on the pumping performances of the NEG pump were also examined. Finally, numerical simulations have been performed to estimate the nominal pumping speed of the NEG pump, that is, the one acting at the absorbing surface, stripped of the effects of the conductance of the paths from the pump NEG to the pressure gauges.

PRODUCTION OF "PODCAST KOMUNIKASI": AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEDIUM FOR LEARNING IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCE

This article is about the process and development of an audio podcast series titled "Podcast Komunikasi", driven by the recognition of communication science's pivotal role in contemporary society. Traditional educational media often struggle to effectively engage learners in this dynamic field, prompting the exploration of podcasting as an innovative learning medium. The primary objective is to bridge the gap between academic research and practical application, offering valuable insights into communication theory, practice, and trends for students and professionals. The "Podcast Komunikasi" aims to harness the popularity and accessibility of podcasts as a unique platform for communication science education. The content will be meticulously researched through a multidisciplinary approach that combines communication science expertise with podcast production skills to identify key topics and themes within the field. This ensures that the episodes are informative, relevant, and engaging. A collaborative team comprising communication experts, podcast producers, and audio engineers will work cohesively to script, record, and edit each episode, guaranteeing high-quality production and effective delivery of the subject matter. The podcast's accessibility will be enhanced by incorporating storytelling techniques and expert interviews, making it appealing to a diverse audience. The ultimate goal of this project is to publish the podcasts on platforms such as Anchor and Spotify. In conclusion, this initiative seeks to create an innovative and accessible medium for learning about communication science. The "Podcast Komunikasi" aspires to expand knowledge, encourage practical applications, and foster a thriving community of communication science enthusiasts by integrating research, expert collaboration, and compelling storytelling

Job characteristics and employee outcomes: criterion validity of the U.S. Occupational Information Network (O*NET) job analysis database in the Australian context

ABSTRACT Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is a comprehensive job analysis repository, developed and periodically updated in the U.S. The study aims to validate O*NET in the Australian context and illustrate the potential to use O*NET as a source of robust occupational research data internationally. We first link O*NET data at the occupational level with individual-level data in the Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) database containing a sample of 3,829 individuals working in 209 occupations. We then conceptually replicate the primary hypothesized relationships from nine published studies that used O*NET ratings of four job characteristics (job hazards, emotional labour requirements, job autonomy, and task significance) to predict work-related outcomes. Specifically, we selected the same O*NET job descriptors used in the nine studies and linked them to similar but not identical employee outcomes obtained from the AWB database. Multi-level analyses showed that the hypothesized relationships were predominantly supported at the occupational level, demonstrating the criterion validity of the O*NET job characteristic profiles in the Australian context. Overall, our research highlights the potential to use O*NET in research and policy applications on a broader international scale, predicated on obtaining solid validation evidence.

Japanese midwifery preservice professionals’ journal reflections on practicum experiences working with mothers and infants

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to examine Japanese preservice professionals’ socialization experiences while working with mothers and infants during midwifery practicum experiences. This study utilized an interpretive case study research design (Merriam, Sharan B. 1998. Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass). Data were collected from reflective journals (Janesick, Valerie. 1999. A journal about journaling: Writing as a qualitative research technique history issues and reflections. Qualitative Inquiry 5(4). 505–524) and electric portfolios. Participants were ten female students enrolled in a midwifery certification program at one private university located in central Tokyo in Japan. A constant comparative analysis method was used to interpret the data, with four themes emerging from the data: (a) struggling to make decisions related to lesson procedures, (b) adjusting lesson content to meet mothers’ and infants’ unique needs, (c) paying less attention to partners’ roles and responsibilities, and (d) applying knowledge and skills to future midwifery settings. Results indicated that the preservice professionals struggled to prepare and plan lessons and activities in a timely manner, and had the challenge of modifying activities based on the infant’s unexpected and unpredictable behaviors. However, the preservice professionals believed that the practicum course was beneficial for their professional learning and development, and applicable to various educational and professional settings. In order to advance the quality of practicum experiences in the midwifery program, instructors, department chairs, and researchers need clear and focused goals related to the status, quality, and relevance of the midwifery program mission and curricula. Due to the paucity of research in this area, it is essential to further explore these issues in Japan.