Device Configuration Research Articles

Assessing mouse, trackball, touchscreen and leap motion in ship vibration conditions: A comparison of task performance, upper limb muscle activity and perceived fatigue and usability

A variety of interaction devices are increasingly used for human-computer interaction (HCI) tasks in ship vibration conditions, but have seldom been well assessed. This study aimed to examine task performance, upper limb muscle activity, and perceived fatigue and device usability for four typical interaction devices (i.e., mouse, trackball, touchscreen, and Leap Motion) under simulated ship vibration conditions. A two-factor within-subjects design was employed in this study, where participants performed basic HCI tasks with the four interaction devices under three conditions (i.e., static condition, and low and high vibration conditions). The results showed that vibration condition significantly reduced task performance, especially for Leap Motion. Differences in task performance, upper arm and shoulder muscle activities, perceived fatigue and device usability were found among interaction devices. Mouse and touchscreen achieved the best task performance, compared with trackball and Leap Motion, while both touchscreen and Leap Motion achieved larger upper limb muscle activities, compared with trackball and mouse. Relevance to industryThe findings provide important implications for the use and configuration of interaction devices, and for the development of prevention interventions for risks of musculoskeletal disorders in using interaction devices under ship vibration conditions.

Synthesis of 3D rice-like BiOCl battery-type electrode material and evaluation of their electrochemical performance in a symmetrical supercapacitor device configuration

3D porous rice-like BiOCl nanostructure was prepared via solvothermal technique with sodium chlorate as a surfactant which serves as electrode material for the supercapacitor applications. The prepared nanoparticles supported on nickel foam textile exhibit high battery-type charge storage ability in a 3 M KOH aqueous electrolyte solution. The dominance of the battery-type charge storage mechanism of the BiOCl electrode was confirmed through the CV study. Furthermore, the GCD study revealed a good specific capacity of 501 C/g at 0.5 A/g current density and cycle stability of 80% over 2500 cycles. In the presence of a 3 M KOH electrolyte, a symmetric supercapacitor device was constructed with two identical 3D rice-like BiOCl electrodes. This configuration unveiled an impressive energy density of 21.8 Wh/kg at 772.5 W/kg power density. To illustrate its practical viability, two BiOCl/BiOCl symmetric devices were connected in series, successfully powering a red LED for approximately 50 s with high light intensity. This underscores the practical potential of the 3D rice-like BiOCl electrode in energy storage systems. In order to maximize the potential of BiOCl material in the future, the focus could be shifted towards mitigating the challenge of potential drop. This hurdle could be tackled by fabricating nanocomposites of BiOCl incorporated with conductive polymers and graphene oxide, thus elevating its overall performance.

Fabricating Planar Perovskite Solar Cells through a Greener Approach.

High-quality perovskite thin films are typically produced via solvent engineering, which results in efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, the use of hazardous solvents like precursor solvents (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)) and antisolvents (chlorobenzene (CB), dibutyl ether (DEE), diethyl ether (Et2O), etc.) is crucial to the preparation of perovskite solutions and the control of perovskite thin film crystallization. The consumption of hazardous solvents poses an imminent threat to both the health of manufacturers and the environment. Consequently, before PSCs are commercialized, the current concerns about the toxicity of solvents must be addressed. In this study, we fabricated highly efficient planar PSCs using a novel, environmentally friendly method. Initially, we employed a greener solvent engineering approach that substituted the hazardous precursor solvents with an environmentally friendly solvent called triethyl phosphate (TEP). In the following stage, we fabricated perovskite thin films without the use of an antisolvent by employing a two-step procedure. Of all the greener techniques used to fabricate PSCs, the FTO/SnO2/MAFAPbI3/spiro-OMeTAD planar device configuration yielded the highest PCE of 20.98%. Therefore, this work addresses the toxicity of the solvents used in the perovskite film fabrication procedure and provides a promising universal method for producing PSCs with high efficiency. The aforementioned environmentally friendly approach might allow for PSC fabrication on an industrial scale in the future under sustainable conditions.

Python toolbox for android GNSS raw data to RINEX conversion

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) data collected from Android devices have gained increasing importance in various applications, ranging from geospatial positioning to environmental monitoring. However, the lack of standardized tools for converting Android GNSS raw data into receiver independent exchange (RINEX) format poses a significant challenge for researchers and practitioners. In response to this need, we present a comprehensive Python toolbox designed to streamline the conversion process and enhance the usability of Android GNSS data. The proposed toolbox leverages Python’s versatility to provide a user-friendly interface for converting Android GNSS raw data into the widely adopted RINEX format. Key features include robust data parsing algorithms, support for multiple GNSS constellations, and compatibility with diverse Android device configurations. Furthermore, the toolbox’s open-source nature encourages community collaboration and allows for continual improvement and adaptation to emerging GNSS technologies. We anticipate that this Python toolbox will serve as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working with Android GNSS data, facilitating standardized data interchange and promoting reproducibility in GNSS-based studies.

A data-driven approach to optimize the design configuration of multi-sleeve cone penetrometer probe attachments

This study uses a data-driven approach to address the complexities associated with research focused multi-sleeve Cone Penetration Test (CPT) devices, particularly focusing on the multi-friction attachment (MFA) and multi-piezo-friction attachment (MPFA) CPT devices. Hindered by time-consuming assembly and susceptibility to sensor stream losses due to extensive electronic components, these advanced devices demand optimization to transform from research devices to practice-suitable devices. This study aims at optimizing the design of the multi-sleeve CPT devices using machine learning, with soil type classification performance as the primary metric for device configuration effectiveness. The research scope centers not on using machine learning for soil classification but on refining the design of multi-sleeve CPT devices. A two-phase data-driven approach is adopted, testing various feature combinations across eight machine learning models. The first phase involves identifying the most suitable model for the dataset, followed by a refinement of features to balance sensor number minimization and soil classification accuracy. The result is a proposed configuration for a multi-sleeve CPT device, simplifying the original design while maintaining robustness, thereby enhancing cost-efficiency and operational effectiveness in geotechnical practice. This work sheds light on how the integration of machine learning can guide the design optimization of geotechnical instruments.

Experimental Study on Atomization Characteristics of Swirl Nozzle under Annular Airflow Impingement

Pressure nozzles are widely used in spray drying and other industries. In order to improve the atomization characteristics of pressure cyclone nozzles, a new type of annular jet gas impingement atomization device is developed. We use high-speed imaging and digital image processing and other methods to analyze the spray characteristics of the different annular device configurations (using four, six, and eight tubes) and under different gas–liquid mass flow rates. It is shown that with an increase in the Air–Liquid mass Ratio (ALR), the liquid film breakup process changes from undulating sheet breakup to perforated sheet breakup and the breakup length decreases. The breakup length decreases the most under the condition of six-tube airflow with the range of 31–55%, while the Sauter mean diameter (SMD) basically does not change. With the increase in ALR and the Weber number of liquid (Wel), the droplet size distribution becomes more uniform. The spray characteristics of the atomizer assisted by gas jets reaches the best state when Wel = 4596.3 and m˙g = 1.97 g/s. The experimental conclusions have some guiding significance for the design and optimization of the atomization devices in spray drying towers.

Left atrial appendage occlusion: On the need of a numerical model to simulate the implant procedure.

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a percutaneous procedure to prevent thromboembolism in patients affected by atrial fibrillation. Despite its demonstrated efficacy, the LAA morphological complexity hinders the procedure, resulting in postprocedural drawbacks (device-related thrombus and peri-device leakage). Local anatomical features may cause difficulties in the device's positioning and affect the effectiveness of the device's implant. The current work proposes a detailed FE model of the LAAO useful to investigate implant scenarios and derive clinical indications. A high-fidelity model of the Watchman FLX device and simplified parametric conduits mimicking the zone of the LAA where the device is deployed were developed. Device-conduit interactions were evaluated by looking at clinical indicators such as device-wall gap, possible cause of leakage, and device protrusion. As expected, the positioning of the crimped device before the deployment was found to significantly affect the implant outcomes: clinician's choices can be improved if FE models are used to optimize the pre-operative planning. Remarkably, also the wall mechanical stiffness plays an important role. However, this parameter value is unknown for a specific LAA, a crucial point that must be correctly defined for developing an accurate FE model. Finally, numerical simulations outlined how the device's configuration on which the clinician relies to assess the implant success (i.e., the deployed configuration with the device still attached to the catheter) may differ from the actual final device's configuration, relevant for achieving a safe intervention.

Ultrafast Dual‐Band Imaging Using Solution‐Processed Stacked Perovskite Diodes

AbstractMultispectral imaging that captures multiple band information for effective environmental or object identification is of great interest in medical, vision, military, and space applications. Monolithic stacked detectors based on epitaxial electronics have been the principal option for infrared dual‐band imagers. However, the integration of these single‐band units would inevitably lead to performance reduction, high fabrication cost, and low reproducibility yield, which limits the widespread application of such technology. Here, a high‐throughput blade coating process is demonstrated to fabricate monolithic double‐perovskite‐layer photodiodes with preferential crystallographic morphology and high reproductivity. The device delivers electrically switchable dual‐band response with a dark current below 10−9 mA cm−2, a selective spectral response of 300–1100 nm, and bandwidths of 16.5/>20 MHz for two distinct bands. Furthermore, such device configuration can concurrently capture dual‐color spectral information under an AC‐driven mode, enabling the complementary dual‐spectral imaging for bioimaging and environmental monitoring.

Predictors of Listening-Related Fatigue in Adolescents With Hearing Loss.

Self-reported listening-related fatigue in adolescents with hearing loss (HL) was investigated. Specifically, the extent to which listening-related fatigue is associated with school accommodations, audiologic characteristics, and listening breaks was examined. Participants were 144 adolescents with HL ages 12-19 years. Data were collected online via Qualtrics. The Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale-Child was used to measure listening-related fatigue. Participants also reported on their use of listening breaks and school accommodations, including an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan, remote microphone systems, closed captioning, preferential seating, sign language interpreters, live transcriptions, and notetakers. After controlling for age, HL laterality, and self-perceived listening difficulty, adolescents with an IEP or a 504 plan reported lower listening-related fatigue compared to adolescents without an IEP or a 504 plan. Adolescents who more frequently used remote microphone systems or notetakers reported higher listening-related fatigue compared to adolescents who used these accommodations less frequently, whereas increased use of a sign language interpreter was associated with decreased listening-related fatigue. Among adolescents with unilateral HL, higher age was associated with lower listening-related fatigue; no effect of age was found among adolescents with bilateral HL. Listening-related fatigue did not differ based on hearing device configuration. Adolescents with HL should be considered at risk for listening-related fatigue regardless of the type of hearing devices used or the degree of HL. The individualized support provided by an IEP a or 504 plan may help alleviate listening-related fatigue, especially by empowering adolescents with HL to be self-advocates in terms of their listening needs and accommodations in school. Additional research is needed to better understand the role of specific school accommodations and listening breaks in addressing listening-related fatigue.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation: materials design and device assembly

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) is an emerging research topic that is gaining attention due to its potential in addressing global water scarcity issues. This review provides a comprehensive overview of base materials, recent innovations in photothermal materials and the design of evaporators for effective water desalination and purification. The recent development of SIE is meticulously discussed, providing a deep understanding of the key performance indicators and state-of-the-art materials. Additionally, this review examines novel strategies that have been reported in the literature for enhancing the efficiency and scalability of SIE systems. These strategies involve using photothermal materials and exploring innovative device configurations. Finally, we discuss the existing challenges and future research directions, emphasizing the potential of SIE in addressing global water scarcity and contributing to a sustainable future.

Mechanical environment influences muscle activity during infant rolling

An infant's musculoskeletal and motor development is largely affected by their environment. Understanding how different mechanical environments affect an infant's movements and muscle use is necessary to inform the juvenile products industry and reduce incidents involving inclined nursery products each year. The purpose of this study was to determine how the coordinated movements and corresponding muscle activation patterns are affected by different mechanical environments, specifically the back incline angle. Thirty-eight healthy infants (age: 6.5 ± 0.7 months; 23 M/15 F) were enrolled in this IRB-approved in-vivo biomechanics study. Surface electromyography sensors recorded muscle activity of the erector spinae, abdominal muscles, quadriceps, and hamstrings while infants rolled in five different mechanical environments: a flat surface and four device configurations representing a range of inclines infants are commonly exposed to. Coordinated movements were determined using video. In all configurations featuring an inclined seatback angle, infants experienced significantly higher erector spinae muscle activation and significantly lower abdominal muscle activation compared to the flat surface. Infants also exhibited a different coordinated movement featuring spinal extension and a pelvic thrust in the inclined device configurations that was not previously observed on the flat surface alone. Understanding how infants coordinate their movements and use their muscles during rolling in different inclined environments provides more insight into motor development and may inform the juvenile products industry. Many factors impact an infant's movements, therefore future work should explore how other environmental interactions influence an infant's movements and muscle activation, particularly for rolling.

In-situ synthesis of SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 nanograss array composite: A redox-active electrode material for battery-type supercapacitors

Nanocomposites containing mixed transition metal oxides demonstrate significant promise as materials for supercapacitors, specifically due to their enhanced surface area, synergistic effect of multiple metal cations, excellent electrical conductivity, and improved electrochemical properties. In this study, we synthesized a nanocomposite with a nanograss array morphology consisting of SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 using an in-situ sol-gel method. For comparison, we synthesized a composite (CoFe2O4/Fe3O4) without SnO2. Through a systematic characterization employing various analytical techniques, we examined the structural, morphological, and textural attributes of the resulting composites. The results reveal that the phase percentages of CoFe2O4, SnO2, and Fe3O4 were 38%, 33%, and 29% in the SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 composite. Also, the nanograss array of SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 is composed of nano-sized primary particles, while CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 showed spherical-like nanoparticle morphology. The BET surface area of the SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 composite was found to be seven times higher than that of CoFe2O4/Fe3O4. We also evaluated the electrochemical performance of the SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 composite as a cathode material for battery-type supercapacitors. The synergistic combination of SnO2 and CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 in the SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 electrode resulted in a high specific capacity of 465C g−1 at 1 A g−1, which is 2.5 times higher than the CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 electrode. Additionally, the SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 electrode exhibited a remarkable rate capability of 87% at 10 A g−1 and excellent cyclic performance with 96% capacity retention after 5000 cycles. A hybrid supercapacitor was fabricated, featuring a cathode composed of a composite electrode consisting of SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 and an anode comprising activated carbon (AC). This fabricated SnO2/CoFe2O4/Fe3O4//AC HSC device configuration exhibited impressive performance characteristics, boasting a notable energy density of 38.4 Wh kg−1 at 1468.2 W kg−1. These findings underscore the significant impact of SnO2 on the physio/electrochemical properties of the CoFe2O4/Fe3O4 composite. The outstanding electrochemical performance of this electrode underscores its potential for application in next-generation hybrid supercapacitors.

Ferroelectric Modulation of ReS2‐Based Multifunctional Optoelectronic Neuromorphic Devices for Wavelength‐Selective Artificial Visual System

AbstractNeuromorphic optoelectronic vision system inspired by the biological platform displays potential for in‐sensor computing. However, it is still challenge to process multiwavelength image in noisy environment with simple device configuration and light‐tunable biological plasticity. Here, a prototype visual sensor is demonstrated based on ferroelectric copolymer poly(vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF‐TrFE)) and 2D rhenium disulfide (ReS2) with integration of recognition, memorization, and pre‐processing functions in the same device. Such synaptic devices achieve impressive electronic characteristics, including a current on/off ratio of 109 and mobility of 45 cm2 V−1 s−1. Various synaptic plasticity behaviors have been achieved owing to the switchable ferroelectricity, enabling them to establish an artificial neural network (ANN) with high digit recognition accuracy of 89%. Through constructing optoelectronic device array, object extraction is achieved with wavelength‐selective capability in noisy environment, closely resembling human retina for color recognition. Above outcomes bring a notable improvement in the image recognition rate from 72% to 96%. Besides, low energy consumption comparable to single biological event can be realized. With these multifunctional features, this work inspires highly integrated neuromorphic systems and the development of wavelength‐selective artificial visual platform.

Nanocomposites of Conducting Polymers and 2D Materials for Flexible Supercapacitors.

Flexible supercapacitors (FSCs) with high electrochemical and mechanical performance are inevitably necessary for the fabrication of integrated wearable systems. Conducting polymers with intrinsic conductivity and flexibility are ideal active materials for FSCs. However, they suffer from poor cycling stability due to huge volume variations during operation cycles. Two-dimensional (2D) materials play a critical role in FSCs, but restacking and aggregation limit their practical application. Nanocomposites of conducting polymers and 2D materials can mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks. This review presents the recent progress of those nanocomposites for FSCs. It aims to provide insights into the assembling strategies of the macroscopic structures of those nanocomposites, such as 1D fibers, 2D films, and 3D aerogels/hydrogels, as well as the fabrication methods to convert these macroscopic structures to FSCs with different device configurations. The practical applications of FSCs based on those nanocomposites in integrated self-powered sensing systems and future perspectives are also discussed.

Impact of HfO2 Dielectric Layer Placement in Hf0.5Zr0.5O2‐Based Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions for Neuromorphic Applications

AbstractThe use of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) films within hafnia‐based ferroelectric tunnel junctions (FTJ) presents a promising avenue for next‐generation non‐volatile memory devices. HZO exhibits excellent ferroelectric properties, ultra‐thinness, low power consumption, nondestructive readout, and compatibility with silicon devices. In this study, Mo/HZO/n+ Si devices are investigated, incorporating a 1 nm HfO2 dielectric layer at the top and bottom of the HZO ferroelectric layer. Comparing the FTJ device configurations, it is observed that the metal‐ferroelectric‐dielectric‐semiconductor (MFIS) outperforms the metal‐dielectric‐ferroelectric‐semiconductor (MIFS) in terms of ferroelectricity, displaying a high 2Pr value of ≈69 µC cm−2. Additionally, MFIS exhibits lower leakage current, higher tunneling electro‐resistance ratio, and a thin dead layer during short pulse switching, as confirmed through DC double sweeping of I−V characteristics. The modified half‐bias scheme demonstrates a maximum array size of 191 for MFIS, showcasing its superior performance over MIFS. Synaptic characteristics, including potentiation, depression, paired‐pulse facilitation, spike‐rate‐dependent plasticity, and excitatory postsynaptic current, are measured using MFIS, highlighting its outstanding ferroelectric properties. As a physical reservoir, the FTJ device implements 16 states of 4 bits in reservoir computing. Finally, pattern recognition using a deep learning neural network achieves high accuracy with using the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology dataset.

Low-cost, stable all-inorganic charge transporting layer based FAPI perovskite solar cells achieving ≈ 26% efficiency using SCAPS-1D

The superior opto-electronic properties of metal halide perovskites have uncovered great potential as light harvesters for thin-film photovoltaics, capturing the dominant research trend for over a decade now. While Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) depict promising results of a successful photovoltaic technology, further replacement of conventional charge transporting layers (CTLs) with inorganic counterparts can impart sustainable device stability and cost-effectiveness. Here, we represent a theoretical study aimed to analyse the performance of Formamidinium Lead Iodide (FAPI) based PSCs using SCAPS-1D simulation tool (version 3.3.09). The solar cell is designed into a novel, and cost-effective inverted p-i-n architecture comprising of inorganic transporting layers. The introduction of a thin CuI buffer layer accompanied with the hole transporting layer (HTL) was found to boost the device performance greatly. Furthermore, a systematic analysis of the device parameters was carried out based on crucial factors like thickness of the absorber, CTLs, and buffer layer, interfacial defect densities (Nit), series resistances (RS) and working temperature (T). In addition to this, we also conducted a study on the combined effect of absorber defect density (Nt) and thickness on our simulated PSC. Our optimized device configuration ITO/CuI/Cu2O/FAPI/ZnO/Al, resulted in an ideal device efficiency of ≈ 26% and a reasonably high efficiency of 21.58% adopting a more realistic approach. This study therefore focuses on an economical architectural design strategy with an emphasis on device efficiency, and its long-term sustainability.

The Benefit of Bimodal Hearing and Beamforming for Cochlear Implant Users

Plain Language SummaryCochlear implantation is the standard treatment for severe to profound hearing loss. While cochlear implant (CI) users can communicate effectively in quiet environments, speech understanding in noise remains challenging. Bimodal hearing, combining a CI in one ear and a hearing aid (HA) in the other, has shown advantages over unilateral electrical hearing, especially for speech understanding in noisy conditions. We analyzed the effect of the addition of the HA to the CI in this paper. There are also other processing techniques available to improve speech understanding in noise for this population. In this paper, one of these techniques, beamforming, is studied in different configurations. Therefore, 17 participants with a CI in one ear and a HA in the other ear are included. They performed a speech test for different configurations with and without beamforming to be able to analyze the effect of beamforming.

SDATA: Symmetrical Device Identifier Composition Engine Complied Aggregate Trust Attestation

Efficient safeguarding of the security of interconnected devices, which are often resource-constrained, can be achieved through collective remote attestation schemes. However, in existing schemes, the attestation keys are independent of the device configuration, leading to increased requirements for the trusted computing base. This paper introduces a symmetrical aggregate trust attestation that is compatible with devices adhering to the device identifier composition engine framework. The proposed scheme simplifies the trusted computing base requirements by generating an attestation key that is derived from the device configuration. Moreover, the scheme employs distributed aggregate message authentication codes to reduce both the communication volume within the device network and the size of the attestation report, thereby enhancing the aggregation efficiency. In addition, the scheme incorporates interactive authentication to accurately identify compromised devices.

The influence of methylammonium iodide concentration on the properties of perovskite solar cells

AbstractThis study focuses on improving the quality of MAPbI3‐based perovskite films by adjusting the concentration ratios of the methylammonium iodide (MAI) precursor using a two‐step sequential deposition method. The primary objective is to explore how altering the MAI concentration influences the microstrain, dislocation density, perovskite film quality, and their subsequent impact on the performance of perovskite solar cells. The examined device configuration CdS/MAPbI3/Spiro‐OMeTAD demonstrates impressive power conversion efficiency of 12.05%, Voc of 1.02 V, Jsc of 16.2 mA cm−2, and fill factor of 0.73. X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope analyses show improved crystal quality and surface characteristics with reduced microstrain, dislocation density, larger crystal grains, and minimized pinholes. The investigation of MAPbI3's optical and electrical characteristics provides in‐depth insights, facilitating the optimization of MAI precursor concentrations for improved perovskite film development and enhanced solar cell performance.

The heat transfer and entropy generation of fin and inclined flat tube heat exchanger

The present work determines the appropriate inclination angles for each flat tube aspect ratio to increase the thermohydraulic performance without extending the heat exchange area. Furthermore, the amount of entropy generation was investigated to evaluate the exergy destruction for device configuration. A numerical simulation was performed with an inlet air velocity in a range from 3.5 to 5.0 m/s, flat tube aspect ratios (e) from 0.3 to 0.6, and tube inclination angles (β) from 10 to 50°. Analysis results indicated that the highest thermohydraulic performance of configuration e = 0.4 and e = 0.5 was obtained at β = 20°, and for configuration e = 0.3, it was obtained at β = 10−20°. The best thermohydraulic performance for configuration e = 0.6 was obtained at β = 20−30°. The thermohydraulic performance at optimal inclination angles extended from 1.011 to 1.069. The lowest entropy generation occurred at configurations with β = 50°. Increasing the aspect ratio and tube inclination angle increased the Colburn factor, increased the friction factor, and decreased entropy generation.