Immersion Process Research Articles

Virtual Reality Game for Physical and Emotional Rehabilitation of Landmine Victims.

Landmine victims require an engaging and immersive rehabilitation process to maintain motivation and therapeutic adherence, such as virtual reality games. This paper proposes a virtual reality exercise game called Exogames, which works with Nukawa, a lower limb rehabilitation robot (LLRR). Together, they constitute the general Kina system. The design and development process of Exogames is reported, as well as the evaluation of its potential for physical and emotional rehabilitation. In an initial survey designed ad-hoc, 13 health professionals evaluated compliance with various requirements. They agreed that Exogames would help the user focus on rehabilitation by providing motivation; 92.3% said that the user will feel safe in the virtual world, 66.7% of them agreed or totally agreed that it presents characteristics that may enhance the physical rehabilitation of lower limbs for amputees, 83.3% stated that it would promote the welfare of landmine victims, and 76.9% responded that the graphical interface and data report are useful for real-time assessment, and would be helpful for four interventional areas in all rehabilitation stages. In a second evaluation, using standardized surveys, five physical therapists and one lower limb amputee tried the Kina system as users. They filled out the System Usability Scale (SUS), the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), and the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ). The usability of the Kina system overall score was 69 (66, 79) out of 100, suggesting an acceptable though improvable usability. The overall PACES score of 110 (108, 112) out of 126 suggests that users enjoyed the game well. Finally, users indicated a positive effect with a good sense of immersion and smooth of gameplay during the tests, as indicated by the GEQ results. In summary, the evaluations showed that Exogames has the potential to be used as a virtual reality game for the physical and emotional rehabilitation of landmine victims.

Biomimetic Mineralization in External Layer of Decalcified Fish Scale

The mineralization process of the osseous layer, which is highly calcified in vivo, was successfully imitated by the immersion process of the decalcified fish scales in simplified simulated body fluid (SSBF). An alkali treatment was used to modify the native collagen in the decalcified Tilapia fish scale. After the alkali treatment, the mineralization was facilitated in SSBF. The XRD patterns and SEM-EDS observation results demonstrated that the externally-mineralized layers by the immersion process were highly similar to the osseous layer containing lower-crystalline hydroxyapatite, suggesting that the simple biomimetic precipitation process was developed.

Grading patterning perovskite nanocrystal-polymer composite films for robust multilevel information encryption and decryption

Ensuring the concealment and integrity of the loaded information during delivery remains a key challenge to cryptography. In this study, we synthesized CsPbBr3 nanocrystals-polycarbonate composite films using the swelling-deswelling method, improved the stability and maintained the flexibility of the polymer. More importantly, we developed a novel patterning method using a nanosecond laser to engrave the composite selectively in three power grades: destroy the composite in high-power to present the patterns in bright field; damage the nanocrystals in medium-power to quench the fluorescence permanently; induce some defects to the nanocrystals in low-power to quench the fluorescence temporarily. A subsequent water immersion process allowed trace water penetration to passivate defects and recover the fluorescence locally to present the encrypted information. Our technology shows excellent performance by triple encryption level, convenient decryption (ultraviolet and water), low cost (2.8 × 10-3 USD/cm2) and high precision (minimum patterning size down to 15 μm).

Dissolution Behavior of Hydrothermally Treated Hydroxyapatite-Titanium Nitride Films Coated on PEEK: In Vitro Study.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has become an alternative material for orthopaedics and dental implants. However, bio-inertness is an important limitation in this material. In the present study, a hydroxyapatite (HA)–titanium nitride (TiN) coating was fabricated via pulsed DC magnetron sputtering and treated with hydrothermal treatment to improve the bioactive property of PEEK. The dissolution behavior of the coating was studied in simulated body fluid solution (SBF) at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 56 days. The coating surface was analyzed before and after the immersion process by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscope (AFM), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The calcium and phosphorus concentration alteration in SBF was quantified by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Coating dissolution and the precipitation of calcium phosphate complex from SBF were observed as occurring suddenly and continuously throughout the immersion times. These processes resulted in an alteration in both physical and chemical coating properties. After 56 days, the coating remained on PEEK surfaces and the Ca/P ratio was 1.16. These results indicate that HA-TiN coating via pulsed DC magnetron sputtering followed by hydrothermal treatment improved the bioactivity of materials and provided a potential benefit to orthopedics and dental applications.

Dopamine monomer functionalized Ti3C2 nanosheets and their anticorrosion improvement for waterborne epoxy coatings

MXene is becoming more and more active in the field of anticorrosion coatings. In this work, Ti3C2 nanosheets were modified with dopamine monomer and then introduced into waterborne epoxy coatings (EP). Composite coatings with unmodified Ti3C2 nanosheets were also prepared for comparison. Anticorrosion properties of the coatings were evaluated via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and salt spray tests in detail. Dopamine monomer was readily attached to Ti3C2 nanosheets via chemical bond and saturated at 0.075 mg/mg Ti3C2. The modified Ti3C2 (D-Ti3C2) showed slightly deteriorated dispersibility in water but better dispersibility in waterborne epoxy resin relative to unmodified Ti3C2. The impedance modulus of D-Ti3C2 coatings achieved four and two orders of magnitude enhancement compared with EP and unmodified Ti3C2 coatings, respectively. The addition of D-Ti3C2 reduced the water absorption of EP by 80% after a prolonged immersion process. Superior barrier ability and enhanced dispersion of D-Ti3C2 nanosheets were responsible for the efficient enhancement of the anticorrosion performance of waterborne epoxy resin coating.

A composite of carbon nanofiber/copper particle-anchored thiol-incorporated silica nanoparticles utilizable for heavy metal adsorption

We report a design and synthesis of a composite comprised of carbon nanofiber (CNF) and Cu particles which thiol-incorporated silica particles are surface-bound. The CNFs bearing homogeneously distributed Cu particles were fabricated via electrospinning of Cu2+/polymer solution and subsequent pyrolysis for carbonization. Thiol-incorporated silica nanoparticles (T-Sil) were synthesized via a modified Stöber method and attached to the surface of Cu particles by a simple immersion process to result in T-Sil anchored Cu particle-embedded CNF (T-Sil/Cu–CNF). The morphology of the resulting composite and the formation of Cu particles in the CNF were thoroughly examined and further utilized as an adsorbent material for heavy metal ions of Ni2+ and Cu2+ in water. The chemical route not only opened the potential of CNF-based composite materials for water remediation applications, but also provided the possibility for CNF material functionalization without structural damage which is beneficial toward expanding its applicability in complex composite materials.

Waste Skin of Hawaiian Ladyfish (Elops hawaiensis) Utilization as Gelatin Raw Material With Immersion Solution Combination

Bontot from Domas Village, Pontang District, Serang Regency is a fish jelly product. The manufacture of Bontot produces fish skin waste with a percentage of 10% of the whole weight of the fish. This waste can be reduced by applying the concept of zero waste in the processing of bontot which is reused as a raw material in the manufacture of gelatin. This research aims to determine the best NaOH concentration in the manufacture of gelatin from the skin of Hawaiian ladyfish ( Elops hawaiensis ) and to determine the effect of NaOH immersion on the organoleptic, chemical, and physical qualities of the gelatin. This study used an alkaline solution (NaOH) with a concentration of 0.1%; 0.3%; and 0.5%, which is then followed by a 6% acid solution immersion process. The production of gelatin from the skin of Hawaiian ladyfish was carried out using a one-factor completely randomized design (CRD) with 2 replications (duplo) accompanied by non-parametric analysis which was carried out for organoleptic testing with a hedonic scale using the Kruskal Wallis test. The results showed that the best combination was 0.1% NaOH and 6% HCl with a hedonic value of 3.7 with a whitish-yellow color; odor hedonic value 3.13; 11% yield; gel strength 280.43 g bloom; viscosity 36.95 cP; water content 8.75%; ash content 0.58%; and a pH value of 6.88

Ex Africa Aliquid Novum [There is something new coming from Africa]: Herman Haan and Aldo van Eyck’s Journeys in a Pseudo-Ethnographic Vein

To the field of professional architecture in Europe in the aftermath of World War II, the deserts of Western Africa were a margin that was viewed as an exterior to the modern metropolis and as a realm of escapism. However, to the ethnographic practices that had developed since the late 1800s, the notion of a desert hinterland supposed a primordial land, reflected in forms of habitation. For architects Herman Haan (1914‐96) and Aldo van Eyck (1918‐99), the desert was a tense geography that moved between being outside and at home. Revisiting the diaries from Haan and van Eyck’s journeys and their mediation of ethnographic methodologies alongside their engagement with modernist design, this article proposes that Haan’s impressions connect two seemingly opposite contexts: the Dogon lands on the Niger River, and Rotterdam. I argue that, in the architectural and ethnographic amateurism of Haan, the modernist metropolis and its exteriors were not delimited, distinct realms, but were rather engaged in a fluctuating relationship reflective of the contemporary fascination with post-Eurocentric landscapes in the discipline of architecture. I assert that this process of immersion was in fact a process of internalization of spatial experience.

The involvement of actors in the English Channel through a socio-ecological approach applied to artificial reefs

For more than fifty years, Artificial Reefs (AR) have been deployed in France to respond to the decline in fish stocks with a high deployment on the Mediterranean coast. However, from 40 sites listed, less than a quarter have not been the subject of any known published ecological or socio-economic monitoring reports, over the past five years. The lack of data on the evaluation of these structures therefore raises questions about their interest, both from an ecological and social point of view. By relying on the theory of organizations and more specifically on the translation resulting from the sociology of innovation applied to the environment, we will develop an original socio-ecological approach intended to meet this need for evaluation, in particular for managers. Based on two case studies on the coasts of the French Channel (Etretat and Cherbourg), we will highlight the interests and roles of human and non-human actors in an AR immersion process. The analysis will highlight the social and ecological objectives of these two projects from an analytical framework designed to verify the adequacy between the socio-ecological network "artificial reefs" formed and the objectives initially expected by the actors, especially decision-makers and funders. The limits posed by these approaches to improve the evaluation of artificial reefs will finally be discussed.

Recycling of Construction Waste Concrete as a Stabilizer for Gypseous Soils

This study presents the possibility of recycling Crushed Waste Concrete resulting from the demolition of buildings, and making practical use of these abundantly available materials, by grinding them and adding them in different proportions to gypseous soils to increase their maximum bearing capacity and reduce compressibility. A laboratory model with dimensions (300*300 *600mm) of galvanized steel, 4 mm thick, was used to study the effect of mixing (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) Crushed Waste Concrete with three types of water-flooded natural gypseous soils with different percentages of gypsum (30%, 46%, and 66%). Loading tests were carried on square steel footing (70*70mm) and 9mm thick, placed on these soils. More than 15 tests were conducted on the laboratory model, in addition to the usual classification tests on the soils used in the study. All tests were carried after submerging gypseous soils due 24 hours. The study showed a clear improvement in the susceptibility of the three gypseous soils using all the addition percentages of concrete powder, the best percentage was 8%, while the improvement rates were less using 2%, 4%, and 6%. As the bearing capacity of the soil increased after mixing it with this ratio due to filling the voids formed as a result of melting gypsum during the water immersion process, which compensated for it at this stage. Mixing gypseous soil with crushed waste concrete by 8% increases ultimate bearing stress about 8 times, while it is 2.5 times for model mixed with 2% of this additive, compared with the untreated one.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATION CAMPAIGNING ON PUBLIC AWARENESS TO CONSERVE THE TAPI RIVER WITH REFERENCE TO IDOL IMMERSION: A STATISTICAL EVALUATION

India is the culturally diversified country where large numbers of festivals are celebrated everyyear. Among these festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi is one of the important festivals and during this festivaldifferent sized Ganesh idols are worshiped for few days and later on immersed in nearby water body. Theidol immersion process is the major cause of water quality deterioration and ultimate increase the pollutionin water resources. The present study focused on evaluation of the municipal corporation campaigning andpublic awareness to conserve the Tapi river which gets polluted due to idol immersion. To fulfill the objectiveof the present study, water samples were collected during the Ganesh festivals of 2010, 2014 & 2019 andwere analyzed for important water quality parameters including temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, totalhardness, total alkalinity, bio-chemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, oil & grease and totalcalcium. Results showed that the water quality parameters were more fluctuated during the idol immersionof 2010 and 2014 compared to 2019. These results were statistically verified and observed that temperatureand BOD had significant changes in the year 2014 whereas total alkalinity, COD and oil & grease exhibitedsignificant changes during the year 2010 and 2014. Insignificant changes in temperature, BOD, totalhardness and significant changes in COD were noted during immersion and post immersion period of 2019.The outcome of present study clearly indicated that campaigning of municipal corporation is effectivelywork to aware the public to use of ecofriendly idols, idol immersion in artificial small water holdings etc.to conserve the Tapi River during the idol immersion.

Nanostructured copper hydroxide-based interfaces for liquid/liquid and liquid/gas separations

Development of an under-liquid super-repellent (ULSR) surface that can act as a versatile platform for separating both liquid/liquid and liquid/gas mixtures is highly desirable, yet still hard to realize. Herein, to address this challenge, a Cu(OH)2 nanowire textured surface on copper mesh was developed through a simple immersion process. The resulting Cu(OH)2 nanowire surface displayed underwater superoleophobicity, underoil superhydrophobicity, and unusual dual superoleophobicity under immiscible oil-oil system. Exploiting its superlyophobicity under-liquid, the Cu(OH)2 nanowire covered copper mesh was applied to separate oil/water mixtures, emulsions, and oil/oil mixtures effectively, even though the surface tension between two liquids was just 2.4 mN/m. The separation efficiency is higher than 99% for all mixtures, and the oil/water separation efficiency can maintain above 98% even after 40 cycles. Furthermore, owing to its superaerophobicity underwater and underoil, the obtained copper mesh was also able to separate gas from bulk water and oil efficiently. This work is hoped to provide a key addition to the fields of ULSR surfaces as well as membrane-based separation techniques.

New Narratives and Social Engagement

These published proceedings draw from the various and impressive contributions to the III Interactive Film and Media Conference in August 2021. They are organized into five sections according to themes. In the first two sections, the papers concentrate on social engagement. The first set of papers focuses on racism in the time of COVID-19, indigenous identity and incarceration. The second involves interactive responses to social issues such as migration, sexual harassment, and refugees. Sections three and four foreground debates about the levels of interactivity experienced in films and games. In the third set of papers, the authors focus on the medium’s capacities to involve the player or the user in interactivity, while papers comprising the fourth set question the process of immersion and explore levels of interactivity more fully. Finally, in the fifth and final section, the papers focus on the environment of digital art, literature, and media, challenging our understanding of what is an “art” in a digital world. Here we invite you to explore the second set of the published papers in the proceedings of the #IFM2021 Virtual Conference.

Lightweight and salt spray corrosion resistant porous SiC/FeSiCr hybrids for enhanced microwave absorption in the C-band

Lightweight, high-strength –electromagnetic(EM) absorption materials are in pressing requirement in both military and civilian fields. Porous silicon carbide (SiC) has attracted increasing attention as an EM absorption material. However, it’s absorption performance is still limited. In this work, the SiC foam/FeSiCr composites were prepared by a simple sacrificial template method coupled with an immersion process. FeSiCr particles were anchored on the three-dimensional porous SiC skeletons with polyurethane resin serving as a binder. Benefiting from the multiscale synergistic effect and coating strengthening efficacy, the obtained SiC foam/FeSiCr hybrids exhibited excellent EM absorption properties and high mechanical strength. Especially, the SiC foam/FeSiCr-40 sample possessed the best EM absorption ability with a minimum reflection loss (RL min ) value of −31.2 dB at 4.3 GHz at a thickness of 5 mm. Meanwhile, it also had a relatively high compressive strength of 5.62 MPa which was superior to that of the pure SiC foam (3.25 MPa). Moreover, the SiC foam/FeSiCr composites exhibited preferable salt spray corrosion resistance properties due to the chemical inertness of SiC and FeSiCr particles. Due to their excellent overall performance, SiC foam/FeSiCr composites have a great potential for application as structural absorption materials in ocean environments with high salt fog atmosphere. In addition, this work also provides guidance regarding the design and preparation of other structural absorption materials. • A high efficiency porous SiC/FeSiCr absorbent was prepared by a facile strategy without complicated procedures. • The enhanced microwave absorption is attributed to the combination of muti-loss mechanisms and multi-scale structural effects. • The environmental suitability of the samples is also investigated in our study. • SiC/FeSiCr samples with excellent overall performance show great application prospects in marine electronic devices.

Anarchiving

This essay is the outcome of my affective immersion in a century-old family archive. Through writing as a method of inquiry, I focus on a particular episode that happened within my family and use it as a starting point to question the archive as a performative, patriarchal system. Accompanied by post-structural concepts, I wander through its rooms unsettling their order; through anarchiving I attend the archive’s marginal spaces and silences by wonder. In this immersive process, I question my own research and position within the family history while also abandoning myself to a feeling of nostalgia for what the archive used to be.

Feasibility of a pharmacist-led physical health monitoring for patients on antipsychotic medications: protocol for a longitudinal study

IntroductionPhysical health conditions are the leading causes of death in people living with severe mental illness. In particular, the risk of metabolic syndrome; the constellation of abnormalities in weight, blood...

Comparison on long-term corrosion performance of WC-CoCr and Al2O3-TiO2 ceramic coatings in sulphide-containing 3.5 wt% NaCl solution

In this study, the WC-CoCr coating and Al2O3-TiO2 coating were deposited by high-velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spraying and atmospheric plasma spraying (APS), respectively. Both coatings were immersed in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution with 20 ppm Na2S to investigate their long-term corrosion resistances in the simulated seawater environment. The corrosion behaviors of both coatings for different times were investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, EIS, XRD, EDS and SEM. The electrochemical measurement results showed that the corrosion resistance of both coatings decreased obviously after long-term immersion in sulphide-containing solution, while the Al2O3-TiO2 coating exhibits more stable corrosion performance during the whole immersion process compared with the WC-CoCr coating. The corrosion resistance of the WC-CoCr coating in sulphide-containing solution after long-term immersion was inferior to that of the Al2O3–40TiO2 coating.

Fabrication of superhydrophobic/oleophilic starch cryogel via a simple sol-gel immersion process for removing oil from water

Superhydrophobic/oleophilic adsorbents have attracted considerable attention for removing oil spill that poses a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem. Porous starch–based materials have been proved to have good oil absorption performance, but superhydrophobicity of these materials has not yet been realized. Herein, a superhydrophobic starch-based adsorbent (HTSC) was fabricated through a simple sol–gel immersion process of hexadecyltrimethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of starch cryogel. The adsorbent was simultaneously provided with low surface energy and hierarchical micro/nanostructures via hydrolysis–condensation reaction. HTSC exhibited high water contact angle (>153.0°) and low sliding angle (<8.0°) as well as excellent self-cleaning and anti-fouling properties. The structural support and stable chemical bonding endowed the material with good mechanical and chemical durability. HTSC also possessed reasonable oil adsorption performance (2.6–7.5 g/g), which was dominated by its porosity and followed pseudo-second-order model. Its selective wettability towards oil and water allowed it to be applied for oil removal under water and from the water surface. This novel superhydrophobic starch–based adsorbent shows promising application in oil spill cleanup.

Oxyhydroxide-Coated PEO–Treated Mg Alloy for Enhanced Corrosion Resistance and Bone Regeneration

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is widely used as a surface modification method to enhance the corrosion resistance of Mg alloy, the most likely applied biodegradable material used in orthopedic implants. However, the pores and cracks easily formed on the PEO surface are unfavorable for long-term corrosion resistance. In this study, to solve this problem, we used simple immersion processes to construct Mn and Fe oxyhydroxide duplex layers on the PEO-treated AZ31 (PEO–Mn/Fe). As control groups, single Mn and Fe oxyhydroxide layers were also fabricated on PEO (denoted as PEO–Mn and PEO–Fe, respectively). PEO–Mn showed a similar porous morphology to the PEO sample. However, the PEO–Fe and PEO–Mn/Fe films completely sealed the pores on the PEO surfaces, and no cracks were observed even after the samples were immersed in water for 7 days. Compared with PEO, PEO–Mn, and PEO–Fe, PEO–Mn/Fe exhibited a significantly lower self-corrosion current, suggesting better corrosion resistance. In vitro C3H10T1/2 cell culture showed that PEO–Fe/Mn promoted the best cell growth, alkaline phosphatase activity, and bone-related gene expression. Furthermore, the rat femur implantation experiment showed that PEO–Fe/Mn–coated Mg showed the best bone regeneration and osteointegration abilities. Owing to enhanced corrosion resistance and osteogenesis, the PEO–Fe/Mn film on Mg alloy is promising for orthopedic applications.

UJI AKTIVITAS EKSTRAK BUAH ARA (Ficus carica Linn) TERHADAP TIKUS YANG DI INDUKSI ALOKSAN

Diabetes is a disease in which the blood sugar level rises above the normal level. When blood sugar levels are regulated by the hormone insulin produced by the pancreas. The fig fruit (Ficus carica Linn) is a plant that is thought to be used as an herbal remedy in the management of diabetes. Contains flavonoids which are thought to have potential as antidiabetic. Flavonoid mechanism in reducing blood glucose levels is to reduce glucose absorption and increase insulin secretion. Flavonoids are phenol compounds that have several pharmacological activities. Objective knowing antidiabetic activity of fig extract (Ficus carica Linn) against mice induced by alloxan. The process used is a 70% ethanol solvent immersion process. This study method is designed before and after the control group. Fifteen rats were divided into 5 treatment groups. 1 (negative control) received the CMC Na 1% group, 2 (positive control) received glibenclamide 0.09 mg / kgBB, 3, 4 and 5 received 9 mg / kgBB, 18 mg / kgBB, and 36 mg / kg. The fig extract was administered at a dose of kgBB. Previously, rats were given alloxan 125 mg / kg BB intraperitoneally for 3 days and mice with a blood glucose level of ± 200 mg / dL were used in this study. The results of this study showed that glibenclamide 0,09 mg/kgBB and fig extract dose 36 mg/kgBB could reduce the best glucose levels for seven days. Conclusion the best glibenclamid as antidiabetic in male white rats induced by alloxan and fig extract at a dose of 36 mg/kgBB 1,5% concentration is good as antidiabetic mellitus in male white mice induced by alloxan.