Potential Improvements Research Articles

Reflexive dialogues of multidisciplinary care professionals and clients as part of the development of integrated maternity care: bridging perspectives, building resilience

Background: Limitations of traditional structures and approaches in the health care system to further enhance patient safety, satisfaction and systemic sustainability, are becoming increasingly visible. Amplifying resilience is considered important to defy these issues in the complex adaptive system that health care has become. There is increasing recognition that embedding reflexive learning would contribute to realizing this. However, health care organizations are still reticent, and struggling with whether and how this could be implemented in health care practice. Through participatory action research (PAR), we aimed to develop a method with and for professionals and clients in maternity care, to systematically reflect on daily care practice and explore potential improvements, while balancing their values, interests and perspectives. 
 Methods: To improve quality of care, two groups of multidisciplinary and multiorganizational maternity care professionals and clients (n=30) from two regions in the Netherlands, participated in ‘reflexive learning meetings’. Cases from participants’ own practice were discussed, with a Safety-2 approach and using the functional resonance analysis method (FRAM) to explore variability in everyday performance. 22 meetings took place from 2020-2022, mostly online, supported by an independent chairperson and two researchers. Additionally, 22 participants were interviewed. All data were audio recorded, transcribed and thematically analyzed. Stakeholders (maternity care professionals, clients and managers from the participating regions) were engaged in all stages of the project; from the initial design, through constant monitoring and until the project evaluation and development of an ‘Intervision Toolkit’ to share lessons learned and practical tools with the field.
 Findings: Although critical about working with the FRAM, participants were generally positive about the meetings and Safety-2 approach. Learning from everyday care practice instead of adverse events (common in Safety-1) was considered valuable and motivating. Barriers for partaking predominantly related to organizational and systemic impediments, especially high workload and lacking support from superiors. In the meetings, participants felt psychologically safe and challenged to critically reflect on their own and each other’s care practices. Through this, insight in and understanding of alternative perspectives and approaches grew, as well as awareness of interpersonal and interorganizational similarities. This fostered mutual relationships and job satisfaction, and helped to discover potential for further alignment. Although implementing improvements beyond the individual level proved difficult within the time frame and context of the study, participants became more conscious of their acting and decision-making habits, which in turn stimulated them to experiment with alternatives and share new insights with colleagues and peers. Evaluating the project, participants articulated the wish to continue and embed multidisciplinary and multiorganizational reflexive meetings as standard practice in maternity care. Some initiated actions to contribute to realizing this.
 Conclusions: This study indicates that reflexive dialogues between multidisciplinary and multiorganizational professionals and clients foster alignment, quality, people centeredness and resilience in maternity care. By structurally stimulating, facilitating and embedding such meetings, their transformative potential could be further unleashed and reinforce the development of an integrated and sustainable maternity care system.

Environmental impacts of carbon fiber production and decarbonization performance in wind turbine blades

The application of carbon fiber in the wind power industry is of great interest in declining CO2 emissions but the carbon fiber manufacturing process is still a long way heading cleaner production. Since little to no information clarifies the dual effects from carbon fiber production to application, this study carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) to recognize the environmental performances of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fiber production and explore the decarbonization effects of carbon fiber application in wind turbine blades. Based on on-site data from a leading carbon fiber production chain in China, potential environmental impacts of carbon fiber production predominantly originated from the precursor spinning stage (accounted for 13–91%). Fossil depletion (20.24 kg oil eq.), climate change (67.79 kg CO2 eq.), terrestrial ecotoxicity (165.63 kg 1,4-DCB eq.) and photochemical ozone formation (0.14 kg NOx eq.) were the four noteworthy areas to improve the sustainable development. Different scenarios in energy and advanced technology were set to explore the potential improvement of the environmental performance of carbon fiber products. Energy structure (wind power) can improve an average of 22.58% environmental benefit compared with the background scenarios. Regarding the decarbonization effects, the energy payback time and the carbon payback time were estimated to be 0.73 and 0.37 months respectively. Therefore, carbon fiber is a trustworthy material in the strategy to achieve sustainable development from a life cycle perspective.

Improving Sonication Efficiency in Transcranial MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound Treatment: A Patient-Data Simulation Study.

The potential improvement in sonication efficiency achieved by tilting the focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer of the transcranial MR-guided FUS system is presented. A total of 56 cases of patient treatment data were used. The relative position of the clinical FUS transducer to the patient's head was reconstructed, and region-specific skull density and porosity were calculated based on the patient's CT volume image. The total transmission coefficient of acoustic waves emitted from each channel was calculated. Then, the total energy penetrating the human skull-which represents the sonication efficiency-was estimated. As a result, improved sonication efficiency was by titling the FUS transducer to a more appropriate angle achieved in all 56 treatment cases. This simulation result suggests the potential improvement in transcranial-focused ultrasound treatment by simply adjusting the transducer angle.

A model for the effective design of customized recycling programs through audience segmentation and modularity approaches

One-size-fits-all approaches to encouraging household recycling behavior remain ineffective in densely populated urban areas due to their failure to address the heterogeneity in household needs/motivations for recycling. In contrast, extensive service customization escalates costs, requiring finding ways to use available resources effectively. We aim to develop a model to resolve this dilemma based on empirical research on 526 households sampled from a densely populated district of İzmir, Turkey. We applied a model-based recursive partitioning method to identify recycling behavior segments with their critical determinant factors. We then conducted a focus group study to investigate strategies for exploiting commonalities and considering differences across segments regarding their determinant factors. The decision tree analysis revealed the existence of 12 segments differentiated by the determinant factors of task knowledge, perceived convenience, moral norms, social norms, how to dispose of waste, and marital status. The focus group study suggested a range of informative, operational, and social intervention methods that address these factors in pairs or individually. Drawing on these findings, we develop a model that guides the design of recycling programs in which customized intervention methods can influence multiple segments simultaneously. Our empirical analysis shows that the methods elevating ‘perceived convenience’ and ‘task knowledge’ even slightly above the moderate level would increase the likelihood of recycling for more than half of households. Our model further suggests customized intervention methods which consider the segments' sizes, their current recycling likelihoods, and the potential improvements in these. This study contributes mainly by developing a model for designing customized recycling programs that maximize household contributions with the available budget/resources. Public managers can use our model to design effective recycling programs considering budget limitations.

How crop breeding programs can improve plant factories' business and environmental sustainability: Insights from a farm level analysis

Plant factories, being more weather independent, can potentially contribute to global food security under climate change scenarios, but their profitability and environmental sustainability are debatable. This study quantitatively assessed the business sustainability and life-cycle-based carbon footprint of a hypothetical plant factory. A system dynamic model was constructed to simulate yearly profit and global warming potential (GWP) of a 2-ha hypothetical farm over 20 years using experimental data from growing 397 Brassica oleracea and 204 Eruca sativa accessions in a prototype plant factory in Singapore. Experimentally derived parameters include resource use data, maximum potential yield improvement, and the effect of increasing planting density on yield. Model simulations predicted that with accession-wide average yield (status quo), the hypothetical plant factory would meet 0.8 % of the leafy vegetable requirement of the population but earn negative profit. The estimated carbon footprint at the end of the simulation period was approximately 21 kg CO2-eq per kg of vegetables with lighting operations being the major contributor. A univariate-sensitivity analysis was conducted to understand how model parameters could affect the plant factory's profit represented by net present value (NPV) and environmental sustainability represented by GWP. Yield improvement was identified as the strongest influencer of NPV followed by price elasticity and annual fluctuations in vegetable price. Yield improvement was also the strongest influencer of GWP followed by planting density and unit light use. This study acknowledged the importance of crop breeding in plant factories' profit and environmental sustainability. The results indicated breeding high-quality unique varieties with improved yield and light use efficiency can potentially benefit plant factories' business and environmental sustainability.

Student engagement in a higher education course: A multidimensional scale for different course modalities

In higher education courses, student engagement has the potential to influence many outcomes, such as learning, retention, satisfaction, and academic success. Measuring student engagement in a course based on a multidimensional perspective provides important information for researchers, teachers, or even students, looking to target potential actions or improvements. This study presents an upgraded version of the Multidimensional Scale of Student Engagement in a Higher Education Course (MSSEC) resulting in a four-factor structure: emotional-cognitive, social, agentic, and behavioral. Engagement measures for a sample of university students (n = 465) were collected across different modalities (e.g., face-to-face, blended, online), at various faculties and university levels. Validity evidence was obtained through confirmatory factor analyses, internal consistency, and invariance of the measure using multi-group comparison. A first-order model with four correlated factors best fits the data, with good internal consistency for each factor of student engagement. Furthermore, multi-group confirmatory factor analyses support the scale's partial invariance across gender, age (traditional vs. non-traditional students), university levels (undergraduate vs. graduate), and course modalities (face-to-face vs. blended and online courses). From a multidimensional psychological perspective, the improved version of the MSSEC provides a sound scale to measure student engagement in a higher education course and thus obtain detailed and rich information for researchers, teachers, and students alike.

Incorporating Environmental Impact Analysis into Louisiana’s Balanced Asphalt Mixture Design

To meet the asphalt pavement industry’s net zero carbon emission goals, increasing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) levels to greater than 25% is considered a critical tactic. However, many state departments of transportation are cautious in adopting high RAP content into their designs because of durability issues resulting from aged RAP binders. This paper assesses the effectiveness of using the Lewis acid catalyst, FeCl3, in improving the cracking resistance of high-RAP asphalt mixtures to meet Louisiana’s balanced mixture design (BMD) criteria, and lower embodied carbon of asphalt mixtures. Four asphalt mixtures were designed and tested against permanent deformation, intermediate- and low-temperature cracking, and durability. Mixture 1 is conventional, which contains performance grade (PG) 76-22 polymer-modified asphalt binder with no RAP. Mixture 2 is unmodified PG 67-22 and 30% RAP without catalyst. Mixtures 3 and 4 incorporated an unmodified asphalt binder PG 67-22, a catalyst, and 30% and 50% RAP, respectively. A life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis was conducted on asphalt mixtures that complied with Louisiana’s BMD specifications to quantify global warming potential improvements. Because the performance of both mixtures is expected to be similar, the scope of the LCA analysis was limited to only those life cycle stages that are expected to be different, modules A1–A3 (i.e., cradle-to-gate stages). Results showed that the use of FeCl3 can improve asphalt mixtures’ cracking resistance containing high RAP contents, whilst it did not have a negative impact on permanent deformation resistance. Further, the addition of FeCl3 to asphalt mixtures with 30% and 50% RAP levels showed a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 28% and 43.4%, respectively.

Speaker identification using Ultra‐Wideband measurement of voice

AbstractVoice identification is being increasingly adopted in various domains, including security infrastructures, intelligent home systems, and personalised digital assistants. Notably, it harbours significant promise in transforming healthcare, especially in electronic health record detecting and speech impairment monitoring such as aphasia. Current strategies such as acoustic models based on deep learning, voice bio‐metrics, and spectrogram analysis, have been identified with several drawbacks including vulnerability to altered voices, susceptibility to ambient noise, and the necessity for significant computational power. In response to these issues, the authors introduce a ground‐breaking method of voice identification using Ultra‐Wideband (UWB) technology. This method capitalises on the micro‐Doppler shifts associated with movements of the laryngeal prominence. The distinctive nature of these bio‐metric traits related to speech production provides superior resistance against common pitfalls of voice identification. The proposed model leverages the high‐resolution characteristics of UWB to register tiny variations in laryngeal movements produced during speech, thus forming a distinct voice profile for each speaker. Through rigorous testing, the proposed system demonstrated significant progress in voice identification, achieving close to 90% accuracy in controlled experimental settings. This breakthrough indicates that UWB‐enabled voice identification could have a profound effect on medical applications, providing potential improvements in diagnosing, monitoring, possibly treating speech disorders, and thereby shaping a future of enhanced and secured healthcare services.

Face Recognition-Based Room Access Security System Prototype using A Deep Learning Algorithm

Writing Mandarin characters is considered the most challenging component for beginners due to the rules and character formations. This paper explores the potential of a machine learning-based digital learning tool to write Mandarin characters. It also conducts a comparative study between MobileNetV2 and MobileNetV3, exploring different configurations. The research follows the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) method to create both application and machine learning models. Participants from higher education institutions that offer Mandarin courses in Batam, Indonesia, participated in a User Acceptance Test (UAT). Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using the System Usability Scale (SUS) methods. The results show positive user acceptance, with an SUS score of 77.92%, indicating a high level of acceptability. MobileNetV3Small was also preferred for recognizing user handwriting, due to comparable accuracy size, rapid inference time and smallest model size. Although the application was well received, several participants provided constructive feedback, suggesting potential improvements.

MobileNetV3-based Handwritten Chinese Recognition Towards the Effectiveness of Learning Hanzi

Writing Mandarin characters is considered the most challenging component for beginners due to the rules and character formations. This paper explores the potential of a machine learning-based digital learning tool for writing Mandarin characters. It also conducts a comparative study between MobileNetV2 and MobileNetV3, exploring different configurations. The research follows the Multimedia Development Life Cycle (MDLC) method to create both the application and machine learning models. Participants from higher education institutions that offer Mandarin courses in Batam, Indonesia, were involved in a User Acceptance Test (UAT). Data was gathered through questionnaires and analyzed using the System Usability Scale (SUS) methods. The results show positive user acceptance, with an SUS score of 77.92%, indicating a high level of acceptability. MobileNetV3Small was also preferred for recognizing the user’s handwriting, due to comparable accuracy size, rapid inference time, and smallest model size. While the application was well-received, several participants provided constructive feedback, suggesting potential improvements.

Advances in Physical Unclonable Functions Based on New Technologies: A Comprehensive Review

A physical unclonable function (PUF) is a technology designed to safeguard sensitive information and ensure data security. PUFs generate unique responses for each challenge by leveraging random deviations in the physical microstructures of integrated circuits (ICs), making it incredibly difficult to replicate them. However, traditional silicon PUFs are now susceptible to various attacks, such as modeling attacks using conventional machine learning techniques and reverse engineering strategies. As a result, PUFs based on new materials or methods are being developed to enhance their security. However, in the realm of survey papers, it has come to our attention that there is a notable scarcity of comprehensive summaries and introductions concerning these emerging PUFs. To fill this gap, this article surveys PUFs based on novel technologies in the literature. In particular, we first provide an insightful overview of four types of PUFs that are rooted in advanced technologies: bionic optical PUF, biological PUF, PUF based on printed electronics (PE), and PUF based on memristors. Based on the overview, we further discuss the evaluation results of their performance based on specific metrics and conduct a comparative analysis of their performance. Despite significant progress in areas such as limited entry and regional expertise, it is worth noting that these PUFs still have room for improvement. Therefore, we have identified their potential shortcomings and areas that require further development. Moreover, we outline various applications of PUFs and propose our own future prospects for this technology. To sum up, this article contributes to the understanding of PUFs based on novel technologies by providing an in-depth analysis of their characteristics, performance evaluation, and potential improvements. It also sheds light on the wide range of applications for PUFs and presents enticing prospects for future advancements in this field.

Using Helminths to Fight Cancer: An Innovative Approach

As an alternative treatment in cancer therapy, there has been a growing interest in using helminths, such as Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus), Toxocara canis (T. canis), and Taenia solium (T. solium). This study aimed to investigate the antigens and mechanisms that contribute to the anticancer properties of helminths, providing insights into how helminths may be used as a new and innovative treatment modality for cancer. The current review analyzed preclinical and clinical studies published between 2000 and 2023. The present study sought to obtain information on helminths, such as E. granulosus, T. spiralis, T. canis, and T. solium, to treat cancers of the breast, pancreas, melanoma, and leukemia by exploring databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Studies focusing on helminth therapy against particular cancer types for in vitro and animal models were included. Several studies have shown the possibility of inhibiting breast, colon, melanoma, and leukemia tumor growth, inducing apoptosis, and modulating the tumor microenvironment with E. granulosus, T. spiralis, T. canis, and T. solium based on in vitro and animal models studies. Some studies have indicated that helminth therapy can improve survival rates, reduce tumor growth, and stimulate the immune system in cancer patients. A potential improvement in treatment outcomes can be used for combination therapies, such as antigen selection, immune profiling, and individualized approaches based on helminth therapy. Helminth therapy is an additional option for cancer treatment, emphasizing T. spiralis, E. granulosus, T. canis, and T. solium. These helminth antigens could modulate immune responses and directly cause cytotoxicity in cancer cells.

Rethinking 'Res Judicata Pro Varitate Habetur' in Indonesian Judiciary

This research explores the principle of "Res Judicata Pro Varitate Habetur," a legal doctrine asserting that a judicial decision with legal authority must be considered correct and binding. Focusing on its application in the decisions of the Constitutional Court (MK) and the Supreme Court (MA) of Indonesia, the study emphasizes the authority and differences in the finality of their rulings. It proposes a conceptual update to "Res Judicata Pro Varitate Habetur" aimed at enhancing public access to legal truth, considering the need to balance legal certainty with judicial system improvements. The research employs a Juridical-Normative method, incorporating conceptual, juridical, and case study approaches. The conceptual approach underscores the importance of understanding legal concepts as a preliminary step in analyzing legal norms. This approach involves the analysis of legal texts, the objectives of the law, and the relevant legal system. The juridical approach involves understanding and analyzing law by referring to the applicable written norms, while the case study approach involves analyzing court decisions or relevant legal cases. The findings highlight the role of this principle in maintaining legal certainty, and suggest that its conceptual update could enhance public access to legal truth and contribute to legal thought on future judicial system reform.
 Highlights:
 
 Conceptual Reevaluation: The study emphasizes rethinking the 'Res Judicata Pro Varitate Habetur' principle to better balance legal certainty and judicial fairness in Indonesia.
 Methodological Approach: Employing a Juridical-Normative method, the research integrates conceptual analysis, legal norms study, and case examination for comprehensive insights.
 Implications for Judicial Reform: Findings suggest potential improvements in public access to justice and contribute to broader discussions on reforming the Indonesian judicial system.
 
 Keywords: Res Judicata Pro Varitate Habetur, Indonesian Judiciary, Legal Certainty, Judicial Reform, Public Access to Justice

Synthesis and biological evaluations of 8-biaryl-2,2-dimethylbenzopyranamide derivatives against Alzheimer's disease and ischemic stroke

Alzheimer's disease, the commonest cause of dementia, is a growing global health concern with huge implications for individuals and society. Stroke has still been a significant challenge in clinics for a long time, which is the second leading cause of death in the world, especially ischemic stroke. Both Alzheimer's disease and stroke are closely related to oxidative stress and HIF-1 signaling pathways in nerve cells. Herein, we describe our structure-based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a new class of 8-biaryl-2,2-dimethylbenzopyranamide derivatives as natural product derivatives. Our efforts have resulted in the discovery of highly potent neuroprotective agents, as exemplified by compound D13 as a HIF-1α inhibitor, which significant improvement in the behavior of Alzheimer's disease mice and shows great potential improvement of brain infarct volume in pMCAO model rats, improves the increase of blood–brain barrier permeability after cerebral ischemia in rats, neuroprotective effect, reduce the level of apoptotic cells in rats after cerebral ischemia, better than Edaravone.

Real-time diagnostic synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon-coated VC@C(Nx) core-shell nanoparticles by DC arc plasma as efficient ORR electrocatalysts

The high complexity and cost of synthesis methods, along with the instability of catalytic activity, pose significant challenges in the search for viable non-precious metal alternatives to commercial Pt/C catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In this study, we employed a highly efficient and cost-effective method, namely, DC arc plasma, to synthesize carbon-coated vanadium carbide (VC@C) core-shell nanoparticles in a one-step process. The synthesized VC@C material was subsequently nitrogen-doped using urea as a nitrogen (N) source in a tube furnace, resulting in the formation of N-doped carbon-coated VC [VC@C(Nx)] catalysts for ORR electrocatalysis in alkaline media. Real-time optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analysis offers an in-depth comprehension of the energy states involved in the synthesis process of VC@C nanocrystalline powders. Highlighting the plasma states at various stages throughout the synthesis, provides a solid basis for dissecting the formation of VC@C nanoparticles and elucidating the intricate nature of their core-shell structures. Compared to the VC@C catalyst, the VC@C(N10) catalyst exhibited a significant improvement in both half-wave and onset potential, approaching the performance levels comparable to Pt/C catalysts. Moreover, VC@C(N10) demonstrated superior ORR kinetics, stability, and methanol tolerance. The exceptional performance of VC@C(N10) could be primarily attributed to the introduction of nitrogen doping, which generated more active sites and enhanced the synergistic cooperation between the VC core and the nitrogen-doped carbon shell. Additionally, the protective effect from the carbon shell prevented corrosion and oxidation of the VC core. This study represents a new exploration in the quest for the development of stable and efficient non-precious metal catalysts for ORR applications.

Emerging strategies for combating Fusobacterium nucleatum in colorectal cancer treatment: Systematic review, improvements and future challenges

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is generally characterized by a high prevalence of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), a spindle‐shaped, Gram‐negative anaerobe pathogen derived from the oral cavity. This tumor‐resident microorganism has been closely correlated with the occurrence, progression, chemoresistance and immunosuppressive microenvironment of CRC. Furthermore, F. nucleatum can specifically colonize CRC tissues through adhesion on its surface, forming biofilms that are highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Accordingly, it is crucial to develop efficacious non‐antibiotic approaches to eradicate F. nucleatum and its biofilms for CRC treatment. In recent years, various antimicrobial strategies, such as natural extracts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, polymers, inorganic‐organic hybrid materials, bacteriophages, probiotics, and vaccines, have been proposed to combat F. nucleatum and F. nucleatum biofilms. This review summarizes the latest advancements in anti‐F. nucleatum research, elucidates the antimicrobial mechanisms employed by these systems, and discusses the benefits and drawbacks of each antimicrobial technology. Additionally, this review also provides an outlook on the antimicrobial specificity, potential clinical implications, challenges, and future improvements of these antimicrobial strategies in the treatment of CRC.

New Advances in Graded PEMFC Catalyst Layers

Ohmic and mass transport overpotentials remain investigation and optimization areas for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) applications. One potential optimization approach involves the preferential distribution of the chemical substituents spatially in the catalyst layer. This would ultimately result in graded catalyst layers (GCLs). The spatial grading directions can thereby be in the in plane and/or through plane direction(s). Chemical constituents often graded in both directions include the binder and the catalyst[1, 2]. The ionomer, an essential constituent for PEMFC applications has also been a key focus area for many research institutes and groups. Novel optimization approaches include finding new ionomers with low equivalent weights (EWs).Typically, in a PEMFC, the highest proton conduction rate is at the membrane interface and decreases towards the GDL[3, 4]. Hence, previous studies with gradients containing high ionomer contents close to the membrane and lower ones at the GDL interface resulted in improved performances. The higher ionomer content at the membrane interface resulted in better protonic conductions, and the bigger void spaces in the GDL interface resulted in improved mass transport properties[1, 5]. Though precise electrochemical analysis is lacking, it is commonly agreed that the graded layers have lower mass transport and ohmic resistances. However, the studies encountered in the literature are almost exclusively based on high EW ionomers, such as Nafion. In contrast, low EW ionomers, which have higher protonic conductivity and water uptake capabilities have not yet been a focus of researchers. Additionally, the few reports encountered in the literature focus solely on GCLs while often disregarding other contributing effects to the overall cell voltage such as the equivalent weight.Low EW ionomers offer a wider operation range for PEMFCs in terms of relative humidities. By combining the low EW ionomers with graded catalyst layers, the operation range becomes even more flexible, and the limits are further stretched. In this study, we push the operating range limits of low EW graded catalyst layers and compare them to non-graded ones. We investigate different manufacturing techniques and use suitable scalable coating methods for the manufacturing of the electrodes. Afterwards, suitable in situ and ex situ analysis techniques are used in detail to trace down the improvements for the gradients. Among the key findings, we notice that potential improvements for low EW ionomer graded catalyst layers become apparent at considerable low relative humidities. The improvements are visible in the kinetic, ohmic, and mass transport regions.

Influence of Coconut Fiber Waste and Rice Husk Ash on Green Concrete

Purpose: To develop cementitious materials, concrete, incorporating coconut fiber waste (CFW) and rice husk ash (RHA), with the aim of producing innovative, cost-effective, and readily available products for use in economically and environmentally friendly construction applications. Environmental impacts can be minimized by making these practices efficient and sustainable through the utilization of these waste materials. Theoretical framework: The use of agro-industrial waste in concrete matrices has been extensively studied due to their effectiveness in influencing material properties. The incorporation of coconut fiber waste and rice husk ash into concrete can lead to improvements in compressive strength, increased durability, and a reduction in the amount of CO2 generated during production. The concrete developed with the incorporation of waste products has the potential to minimize environmental impacts, reduce costs, and extend its lifespan. The pursuit of sustainability drives the exploration of innovative materials to preserve natural resources and mitigate ecological impact in the construction industry. Method: The coconut fiber waste was subjected to 24-hour drying process in an oven at 100°C to remove moisture and was subsequently crushed in a ball mill until its particle size exhibited characteristics similar to the binder. The CFW and RHA were characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Specific Surface Area analysis. Different percentages of CFW (0.25% - 0.75%) and RHA (2% - 10%) were separately incorporated into the concrete mix. The mixing ratio used was 1:1.9:3.1 (cement, sand, aggregate), with a water-to-cement (w/c) ratio of 0.60. Workability tests, electrical resistivity tests, capillary water absorption by capillary rise, and axial compressive strength tests were conducted. Additionally, a sulfate ion penetration test was performed by immersing specimens in a 2.5% sulfuric acid (H2SO4) solution for 7 days. Results: SEM images of CFW reveal an angular and fibrous microstructure, maintaining the original properties of the waste even after its transformation into ash. RHA particles exhibit irregular shapes and sizes with microporous cellular structures on the surface, consistent with literature. X-Ray Diffraction patterns of CFW indicate a material without a distinct crystalline structure. However, Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis suggests the predominance of carbon (C), potassium oxide (K2O), and silica (SiO2). RHA shows broad amorphous diffraction at 22° and some sharp diffraction peaks, suggesting the formation of crystallites, consistent with cristobalite. There was a slight improvement in the workability of fresh concrete compared to the reference mix as the percentage of waste incorporation increased. The electrical resistivity of the produced specimens showed a significant increase in all cases, except for the 0.25% RHA sample. The 5.0% CFW content exhibited the best performance, with a 29.47% increase, indicating a microstructure with few voids and suggesting greater material durability. Samples with higher fiber percentages showed higher water absorption values. Concrete incorporated with RHA exhibited higher porosity and suboptimal performance. However, the incorporation of 0.25% CFW showed a slight improvement compared to the reference concrete. The best performances observed in the compressive strength test were with 5.0% RHA and 0.5% CFW, with the latter showing the best result compared to the reference specimens. In the sulfate attack test, only the concrete with 5.0% RHA showed better performance in an aggressive environment. Increasing the percentage of CFW also reduced mass loss, suggesting potential improvement of the compound at higher proportions. The study demonstrated that agro-industrial residues can be satisfactorily utilized in construction, and the implementation of this new process can reduce global warming and mineral resource depletion. Research implications: This work contributes to a sustainable circular economy with a novel process for utilizing agro-industrial waste in concrete. Originality/Value: The findings will be promising for the utilization of coconut fiber waste and rice husk ash in the production of environmentally sustainable concrete.

Interactive Hand Gesture Control System for Augmented Reality-based Games

This research paper presents the development of an innovative 2D augmented reality (AR) car game utilizing Python, OpenCV, and Pygame. The primary objective of the game is to provide an interactive platform for individuals with motor skill challenges, such as Parkinson’s disease, to enhance their hand and gesture control abilities. The game involves controlling a virtual car superimposed onto the real-world environment using an AR marker. Hand gestures captured by a webcam control the car's movements, creating a novel and accessible gaming experience. The implementation incorporates computer vision techniques from the OpenCV library to detect an AR marker, interpret hand gestures, and map them to specific actions within the game. The Pygame library facilitates the creation of an engaging gaming environment, where users can employ intuitive hand movements to navigate the virtual car. The system's performance is evaluated in varying lighting conditions, and the results demonstrate a promising accuracy rate in gesture detection. The limitations and potential improvements are discussed, emphasizing the system's application in assisting individuals with motor impairments and its broader implications for human-computer interaction. This research provides insights into the intersection of augmented reality, computer vision, and assistive technology, offering a foundation for further advancements in accessible gaming experiences. Keywords: Augmented Reality, Hand Gesture Control, Computer Vision, Game Interaction, Assistive Technology

Resource and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Effects through Recycling of Platinum-Containing Waste

When disposing of waste metal resources in landfills, environmental issues such as soil contamination may arise. Recycling these resources not only recovers valuable metals but also mitigates environmental pollution. Platinum (Pt), a valuable metal used in fuel cells for its high water production activity, will see increased future demand as a fossil fuel alternative. This study analyzes the environmental and resource reduction effects of recycled Pt, considering the growing emphasis on its recycling for stable supply and demand of Pt. The environmental impact and resource consumption of recycled Pt with primary Pt (from natural mines) were compared and analyzed using the Life Cycle Assessment technique. The results revealed that resource consumption for primary Pt was 8.25 × 101 kg Sb-eq./kg, significantly more than the 5.45 × 100 kg Sb-eq./kg for recycled Pt. This represents an environmental reduction effect of approximately 93%. In the case of greenhouse gas emissions, primary Pt emitted 1.35 × 104 kg CO2-eq./kg, while recycled Pt emitted 6.94 × 102 kg CO2-eq./kg, resulting in an environmental reduction effect of approximately 95%. In conclusion, recycling Pt, compared to primary extraction, offers substantial environmental and resource reduction benefits. This study underscores the significance of recycling and highlights the potential environmental improvements achievable through sustainable practices.