Technology Facilities Research Articles

Thermally Engineered Ferric Yolk‐Shells for Vaginal Secretion Based Cervical Cancer Screening

AbstractEngineering of materials is crucial for the advanced detection of bio‐molecules, particularly in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI‐MS). However, effective screening with enhanced LDI performance remains challenging due to the lack of engineered substrate materials. Herein, thermally engineered ferric yolk‐shells are designed for enhanced metabolic screening of cervical cancer (CC) using vaginal secretion. A facile thermal engineering strategy is developed to prepare amorphous ferric yolk‐shells with integrated properties. Notably, the amorphous mesoporous yolk‐shells offer signal amplification up to orders of magnitude in LDI‐MS for standard metabolites and diverse bio‐samples. High‐performance CC screening (including identification of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and CC) is achieved, with the areas under the curve of 0.842–0.963. Finally, a metabolic panel for CC screening, covering the stages of HPV, HSIL, and CC, is established. This work elucidates the LDI‐MS mechanism for enhanced metabolic detection and highlights potential applications in cancer screening.

KINERJA SISTEM AGRIBISNIS USAHA PENGGEMUKAN SAPI DI DESA ADIREJO KECAMATAN TERBANGGI BESAR KABUPATEN LAMPUNG TENGAH (STUDI KASUS DI PT INDO PRIMA BEEF)

This study aims to analyze the performance of the agribusiness system of the beef cattle fattening business at PT Indo Prima Beef. The research method used is the case study method, located at PT Indo Prima Beef, Terbanggi Besar District of Central Lampung Regency. Data were collected in November-December 2022. Data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that the performance of the production facilities supply subsystem was good, as analyzed by the agribusiness index analysis and six right. However, there are still insufficiencies, such as locations close to settlements, feed is not in the right place, and labor is not in the right type, quality, and quantity. The performance of the cultivation subsystem is suitable for cultivation because it has an R/C ratio value of >1, but currently, the company has not conducted mating with artificial insemination. The performance of the marketing subsystem is good as analyzed by the agribusiness index and marketing mix analysis (4P). Beef cattle marketing channels are large traders (abattoirs), retailers, and consumers. The performance of the supporting service subsystem is good, the services utilized by PT Indo Prima Beef are financial institutions, research institutions, government policies, transportation facilities, communication and information technology facilities, and supply stores for production facilities. Overall, the performance of the agribusiness system at PT Indo Prima Beef has been running well with a weighted agribusiness index of 81.51%. Keywords: Agribusiness index, agribusiness system, beef cattle.

Provision and Utilization of Physical Resources for Effective Teaching and Learning Effectiveness in Public Universities in Rivers State

The paper explores the role of physical resources in effective teaching and learning in public universities in Rivers State. It emphasizes the importance of managing resources such as money, computers, teaching technology, and internet facilities to achieve educational goals. The paper is based on Wernerfelt's Resource-Based Theory, which suggests that organizations can achieve a sustainable competitive advantage through strategic and efficient use of physical resources. The study concludes that effective provision and utilization of physical resources are crucial for the success of teaching and learning in public universities. It suggests that a multifaceted approach, including infrastructure development, technological integration, library enrichment, and accommodation considerations, can create an environment conducive to academic excellence and a holistic learning experience. The paper also suggests that the state government should establish mechanisms to improve transparency and accountability in the use of physical resources to ensure efficient allocation of funds towards educational priorities.

Developing a profile website for mosque Qori and Imam as a medium for Da'wah

Information technology is getting faster and more advanced. Many activities utilize information technology in helping a job. Currently, information media is not only through print media but there are already media that utilize information technology to be able to reach the wider community. The emergence of websites has a positive impact on getting information widely and can be accessed anytime and anywhere. This provides the best solution for community service partners, namely Al-Barra Studio located in Malang City. Al-Barra Studio is engaged in video content, namely making video recordings for mosque Qori and Imam later people who are interested in using the services of mosque Qori or Imam can contact Al-Barra Studio. The development of this website uses parallel development with the help of using the concept of Custom Management System in the form of WordPress. It is hoped that the presence of this website can help in promotional media from Al-Barra Studio so that it can be known by the public at large and as a media for da'wah through information technology facilities.

Constraints of Reading for Professional Context Courses Online Class During the Covid-19 Pandemic

<p align="center"><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>The Covid-19 pandemic that hit the world in early 2020 has caused impacts on various aspects of life, including the education system. Concerning this pandemic, the Indonesian government has issued policies to regulate the learning system so that it can continue running well. One of them is the existence of a distance learning policy or online learning for all levels of education. Learning activities are carried out from home online. Online learning is considered one of the best solutions during a pandemic. However, in practice, there were constraints faced by both students and teachers. The constraints that arouse in online lectures, especially in the Reading for Professional Context course were time, internet network, internet cost, and technological facilities. These obstacles have bad impacts on the discussion process and the comprehension process of the material. These constraints and impacts are expected to be the initial part to develop strategies that can support online learning effectively.</p><p> </p><p>Keywords: Constraints, Reading for Professional Context, Covid-19 Pandemic</p><p> </p>

Boosting exciton dissociation and charge transfer in CsPbBr3 QDs via ferrocene derivative ligation for CO2 photoreduction

Photo-catalytic CO2 reduction with perovskite quantum dots (QDs) shows potential for solar energy storage, but it encounters challenges due to the intricate multi-electron photoreduction processes and thermodynamic and kinetic obstacles associated with them. This study aimed to improve photo-catalytic performance by addressing surface barriers and utilizing multiple-exciton generation in perovskite QDs. A facile surface engineering method was employed, involving the grafting of ferrocene carboxylic acid (FCA) onto CsPbBr3 (CPB) QDs, to overcome limitations arising from restricted multiple-exciton dissociation and inefficient charge transfer dynamics. Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy and XPS spectral confirmed successfully creating an FCA-modulated microelectric field through the Cs active site, thus facilitating electron transfer, disrupting surface barrier energy, and promoting multi-exciton dissociations. Transient absorption spectroscopy showed enhanced charge transfer and reduced energy barriers, resulting in an impressive CO2-to-CO conversion rate of 132.8 μmol g-1 h-1 with 96.5% selectivity. The CPB-FCA catalyst exhibited four-cycle reusability and 72 h of long-term stability, marking a significant nine-fold improvement compared to pristine CPB (14.4 μmol g-1 h-1). These results provide insights into the influential role of FCA in regulating intramolecular charge transfer, enhancing multi-exciton dissociation, and improving CO2 photoreduction on CPB QDs. Furthermore, these findings offer valuable knowledge for controlling quantum-confined exciton dissociation to enhance CO2 photocatalysis.

Методология и особенности вычислительного эксперимента по оценке ресурса ответственных инженерных объектов

Методология и особенности вычислительного эксперимента по оценке ресурса ответственных инженерных объектов

Uncovering Synergistic Effects of Electrode/Electrolyte Toward Concerted Cathodic Structure Stabilization for Superior‐Performance Aqueous Zn‐δ‐MnO2 Battery

AbstractRechargeable aqueous Zn‐δ‐MnO2 batteries, featuring high safety, high theoretical capacity, and low cost, have emerged as promising candidates for grid‐scale energy storage systems. Nevertheless, the severe cathodic structural degradation greatly hinders its further commercial application. Herein, a facile coupling engineering strategy, employing the Ti3C2Tx MXene skeleton coupled with electrolyte additive K2SO4 to reinforce the structural stability of the δ‐MnO2 cathode is proposed. Notably, the designed K‐birnessite δ‐MnO2/Ti3C2Tx composite cathode (KMO/Ti3C2) coupled with K2SO4 electrolyte additive exhibits unique electrode/electrolyte synergistic effects on inhibiting the cathodic structural collapse and promoting the Mn2+ electrodeposition. Meanwhile, the plating/stripping reversibility of the Zn anode is considerably improved by manipulating the formation of zinc dendrites. Consequently, the Zn//KMO/Ti3C2 battery achieves the remarkable specific capacity of 502.2 mAh g−1 at 0.3 A g−1 and 371.1 mAh g−1 at 2.0 A g−1. Furthermore, after 9500 cycles at a high current density of 10 A g−1, the capacity retention reaches 93.3%. Besides, the dendrite‐free Zn anode delivers excellent cycling stability (over 4800 h at 0.2 mA cm−2) and high coulombic efficiency (99.9% after 2300 cycles). The synergistic effect of electrode/electrolyte provides distinctive insights into the structural stabilization of the manganese‐based cathode to improve the overall performance of batteries.

Robust and Multifunctional Wetting Resistance of de novo Engineered Nonfluorinated Metal–Organic Nanocrystals for Environmental Sustainability

Direct synthesis of zeolitic imidazole framework crystals using bulky alkyl ligands is challenging. Herein, a bottom‐up approach to de novo synthesis of a superhydrophobic zeolitic metal–organic framework called mZIF, using mixed ligands, is developed. The mZIF nanocrystals contain a newly designed alkyl chain‐substituted 4‐imidazolate ligand, achieving tailorable hydrophobicity by varying the alkyl tail length. The molecular structure presenting appropriate ligands coupled with the porosity and roughness of the coated surfaces imparts superhydrophobic properties to various coated surfaces such as glass, steel, aluminum, and plastic. The resulting surfaces exhibit a high contact angle of ≥157° and a minimal rolling‐off angle (<5°), enabling efficient oil–water separation in a filtration setup. Furthermore, dip coating the mZIF nanocrystals onto a melamine sponge modifies its water wettability, allowing for facile and efficient removal and recovery of oil from diverse oil–water mixtures with exceptional reusability. Additionally, the mZIF‐modified surfaces showcase notable self‐cleaning and anti‐icing properties. The mZIF‐coated surface shows remarkable storage stability (>1 year), durability against harsh environmental conditions, and notable resistance to mechanical abrasion. This research represents a significant advancement in the facile engineering of multifunctional metal–organic framework‐based systems tailored for diverse practical applications.

Engineering stable Cu+-Cu0 sites and oxygen defects in boron-doped copper oxide for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to C2+ products

Cu-based catalysts inevitably undergo surface reconstruction during the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) process. Thus, it is a challenge to construct stable Cu+-Cu0 sites of Cu-based catalysts. In this study, we report a simple and facile engineering strategy for stable Cu+-Cu0 sites and oxygen defects derived from the boron-doped copper composite catalyst (B-CuxO) as an efficient CO2RR electrocatalyst. The 5 % B-CuxO exhibited 48.44 % C2+ products Faraday efficiency (FE) for 12 h at −1.0 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in H-cell, which was far superior to CuxO (23.85 %). Combining density functional theory (DFT) and in situ Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (in situ ATR-FTIR), a higher electronic depletion on the catalyst surface inhibited the electrons accumulation around Cu sites, thereby maintaining the positive charge and inhibiting the complete reduction of Cu+. Moreover, the high oxygen defects in 5 % B-CuxO could effectively activate CO2 into *CO. We emphasized that Cu+ functioned as the primary active site by facilitating adsorption and dimerization of *CO, whereas Cu0 assisted in optimizing CO2 activation.

Operational Management Analysis in Increasing Company Turnover

MSMEs are one effort to reduce unemployment in Indonesia. The development of MSMEs in Indonesia cannot be separated from the following factors, including the use of technological facilities; information and communication; ease of borrowing business capital; reduction in final Income Tax (Pajak Penghasilan/PPh) rates. One of the MSMEs in Mojokerto Regency is Haniprint, a business in the printing and gift sector. This business is a new business, which started in 2020. The aim of this research is to explain the operational management implemented at Haniprint; starting from the customer service process to the order finishing process. This research also explains the influence of implementing operational management on increasing Haniprint's turnover. This study uses a qualitative method. This research method aims to explain the situation of a business in the printing and gift sector in depth and is carried out by collecting as much data as possible. The data collection process was carried out by means of interviews and experiencing processes in the printing and gift sector. The results of the research show that good operational management greatly influences the increase in turnover, but this is not the only factor that influences the increase in turnover. Customer needs in certain months of each year also influence the increase in turnover.

An Analysis of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Contribution to the Improvement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Facilities and The Library in Higher Institutions in Kebbi State, Nigeria from 2015 To 2020

This study is on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) contribution to the improvement of Library and ICT facilities in higher institutions in Kebbi State, Nigeria from 2015 to 2020. The study was guided by two research objectives and two research questions. The study adopted descriptive survey research design with population of 1900 academic staff and 2323 non-academic staff. A sample of 161 academic staff and 196 non-academic staff was selected using multi-stage sampling methods. A researcher developed validated questionnaire with 0.76 reliability index was used for data collection. Frequency count and percentage were used to analyze the data. The study found that TETFund constructed and renovated of ICT centres, provided personal computers, chairs, tables and internet facilities in Kebbi State higher institutions. It was also that TETFund contributed in the construction and renovation of library buildings; provision of books, library equipment and furniture, information resources; and subscription of e-resources for the improvement of Kebbi State higher institutions. The study recommended that TETFund should increase its allocation for ICT support intervention. This becomes even more crucial given the consistent increase in the exchange rate of dollars, as most of the ICT facilities are imported into the country. This will greatly aid in the improvement of higher institutions in Kebbi State. It was also recommended that university management should judiciously utilize the TETFund's Library interventions to build new libraries, expand the existing ones, and acquire standby generators and/or solar energy for better library performance in Kebbi State higher institutions.

Facile Deficiency Engineering in a Cobalt-Free Perovskite Air Electrode to Achieve Enhanced Performance for Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells.

As a crucial component responsible for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), cobalt-rich perovskite-type cathode materials have been extensively investigated in protonic ceramic fuel cell (PCFC). However, their widespread application at a commercial scale is considerably hindered by the high cost and inadequate stability. In response to these weaknesses, the study presents a novel cobalt-free perovskite oxide, Ba0.95La0.05(Fe0.8Zn0.2)0.95O3-δ (BLFZ0.95), with the triple-conducting (H+|O2-|e-) property as an active and robust air electrode for PCFC. The B-site deficiency state contributes significantly to the optimization of crystal and electronic structure, as well as the increase in oxygen vacancy concentration, thus in turn favoring the catalytic capacity. As a result, the as-obtained BLFZ0.95 electrode demonstrates exceptional electrochemical performance at 700 °C, representing extremely low area-specific resistance of 0.04 Ω cm2 in humid air (3 vol.% H2O), extraordinarily high peak power density of 1114mW cm-2, and improved resistance against CO2 poisoning. Furthermore, the outstanding long-term durability is achieved without visible deterioration in both symmetrical and single cell modes. This study presents a simple but crucial case for rational design of cobalt-free perovskite cathode materials with appreciable performance via B-site deficiency regulation.

Application of BIM Implementation Process in the Operation and Maintenance of Information Management System in Building Facilities

The appalling state of building facilities in Nigeria, poses a great concern to stakeholders. This stems from lack of adequate information management in the operation and maintenance of building facilities. Therefore, the study is aimed at assessing the application of BIM implementation process in the operation and maintenance of information management system in building facilities. The study made use of a quantitative research approach, making the population for the study to encompass facility management practitioners (Onsite Facility Engineers, Onsite Facility Technicians, Facility Management Professionals [IFMA] and Facility Management Company owners) who are fully registered with International Facility Management Association (IFMA) in Abuja-Nigeria. The sample size for the study is 184 and the respondents were selected by a systematic random sampling method with a close ended questionnaire used for the data collection. The questionnaire is administered via Google forms; and questionnaires shared through the google form link were answered and the results were collected through google response tools, and 121 copies of the questionnaire were duly filled, returned and used for data analysis. The result shows that the implementation of BIM in operation and maintenance of facilities is very low as manual and stand-alone computer system are still predominant in most of the operations carried out by the practitioners and the stakeholders. The study further revealed that Improvement in asset information management that lead to increased efficiency of facility assets is significantly affect by the operational system. The result also shows that Facility managers are traditionally included late in the building lifecycle and posed a high challenge to most practitioners and this has made the application of BIM in operation and maintenance of information management in facility management very negligible, as such the paper suggest that BIM usage in the O&M of buildings should be encouraged and imbibed right from the planning and designing stages of building facilities. Facility managers/professional should also be included right from the inception of a building life cycle to the end of the building.

Development and Fabrication of MOSFET-Based Radiation Dosimeter (RadFET) for Enhanced Performance in Space Missions

This work presents the development and fabrication process of a radiation dosimeter based on Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor (MOSFET) technology, known as RadFET. The aim of this study is to determine the specifications of the RadFET sensor for use in space missions by the Egyptian Space Agency in SPNeX mission. We have successfully determined the sensor specifications, specified the required electronic components for readout circuits, and confirmed the correct operation of the RadFET device through device simulations and radiation-induced damage models. The fabrication process was conducted at Zewail City of Science, Technology and Innovation cleanroom facility, utilizing Sentaurus TCAD for device and process simulations. We have conducted fabrication experiments for phosphorus spin-on dopant application, dry oxide growth, and wet oxidation using water vapor bubblers. The dosimeter readout PCB fabrication and assembly phases have been successfully completed. The developed RadFET dosimeter holds great promise for radiation monitoring in space missions, ensuring enhanced safety and reliability of electronic systems.

Coseismic Deformation Obtained by Various Technical Methods and Its Constraint Ability to Slip Models of Maduo Earthquake

The coseismic deformation field on both sides of the fault, especially the distribution and change characteristics of near-field deformation, not only provides important constraints for the fine inversion of the slip distribution model but also serves as an important basis for the anti-disruption defense of the cross-fault linear engineering facilities. In this paper, we used Sentinel-1 satellite data to obtain the coseismic deformation field of the Maduo earthquake by using InSAR and offset techniques. We quantitatively compared the coseismic displacement of the three types of data: InSAR, offset, and optical images. The results show that optical images and offset provided more robust near-fault (<2 km) deformation insights than InSAR, which exhibited irregular deformation patterns due to incoherence near the fault. The maximum relative displacements for InSAR and offset observations are ~2.8 m and 4 m, respectively. Then we tested various fault slip models with different data constraints, revealing that a combined inversion of GPS, InSAR, and offset data offers superior constraints on slip distribution. This integrative approach effectively captured both shallow and deep fault slip, particularly near the fault zone. The eastern branch fault model, jointly constrained by GPS, InSAR, and offset data, is the optimal coseismic slip distribution model for the Maduo earthquake, and the maximum slip is 5.55 m.

A dual-plasmid CRISPR/Cas9-based method for rapid and efficient genetic disruption in Mycobacterium abscessus.

Mycobacterium abscessus is an opportunistic pathogen of increasing clinical importance due to its poor clinical outcomes and limited treatment options. Drug discovery and development in this highly antibiotic-resistant species will require further understanding of M. abscessus biology, pathogenesis, and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. However, existing methods for facile genetic engineering are relatively inefficient. This study reports on the first application of CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing in M. abscessus using a dual-plasmid workflow. We establish that our method is easily programmable, efficient, and versatile for genetic disruptions in M. abscessus. This is a critical advancement to facilitating targeted gene function studies in this emerging pathogen.

Track and Field Pedagogy: Practices, Trends, and Students' Engagement in Middle Schools

The study was conducted to examine the pedagogical practices and development patterns of track and field education at Xin Ying Middle School, as well as its link to student engagement, and to use the findings to design an enhanced model for sports education. The study utilized a quantitative approach utilizing the descriptive comparative - correlational research design to understand the relationships between the variables presented in the statement of the problem. This approach was used to evaluate the answers of instructors and students and to present the study findings. The research was conducted in Xin Ying Middle School among 100 students and 30 teacher respondents. The research made use of a self-made questionnaire as the research instrument that includes all the necessary information as reflected in the objectives of the study. The findings suggested that there are low levels of assessment on the current situation of pedagogical practices across all indicators as assessed by the students; and according to the teachers, very low level in curriculum and teachers’ level, and low level in facilities and teaching quality. Also, the school do not follow the development trends in track and field education as the teaching platforms are outdated. The results from the level of students’ engagement as assessed by the students and the teachers shows that the students are overwhelmed with the course, do not find the course interesting, always feel like they’re not doing well in the course, are losing interest in the course, and worry a lot about matters related to track and field. The assessment of the students differs significantly based on their year level in the variables of the present situation of pedagogical practices, indicating that students from different class level has different experiences on the pedagogical practices of track and field teachers. There are no significant differences in the overall assessment of the teachers and that of the students in development trends based on their demographic profiles, and over-all assessment of the students on the present situation is significantly higher compared to teachers. There is no relationship between the overall assessment of development trends and the current situation of pedagogical practices in track and field education of the school. The study developed a strategic plan that will help fix the findings on the low level of teaching experiences, outdated curriculum for track and field physical education classes, poor teaching quality, and lack of technological equipment and facilities for teaching track and field education of middle school students.

Stabilizing Zn anode for high-performance Zn-Ni battery through a complexing agent electrolyte addition

Zn-Ni batteries have garnered considerable attention due to their high specific energy, consistent discharge voltage, favorable performance at low temperatures, and environmentally benign nature. Nevertheless, anode interface issues such as dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution, and interfacial side reactions lead to poor cycling stability of Zn-Ni batteries, significantly limiting their further commercial applications. In this study, we propose a facile electrolyte engineering strategy to optimize the Zn anode interfacial environment and stabilize the Zn anode by introducing tannic acid (TA) into the KOH electrolyte. The incorporated TA complexing agent addition will be used to prevent the direct contact of H2O with the anode surface and promote the desolvation of Zn2+ through complexation, thus suppressing the interfacial corrosion. Consequently, the Zn symmetric battery using TA electrolyte cycles stably for 178 h at 1 mA cm−2. The Zn-Ni full batteries with TA electrolyte maintain 98.08 % capacity retention after 2000 cycles at 20C. This study will be of immediate benefit in commercializing large-scale, practical energy storage applications.

Telebehavioral health at a federally qualified health center pre- and peri-COVID-19.

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are a safety net for low-income individuals needing mental and/or physical health care. The COVID-19 pandemic required FQHCs (and other health organizations) to pivot rapidly to telehealth. In theory, telehealth services can expand access to needed care. The COVID-19 pandemic provides a natural opportunity to "test" this assumption. We compared sociodemographic differences in patients accessing behavioral health services pre- and peri-COVID-19 at an FQHC. We also investigated potential patient sociodemographic disparities in telebehavioral health service use during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from a single FQHC (13 sites, 4 integrated primary care medical clinics) in the southern United States. Participants included 5,190 patients (69.2% female, 59.7% persons of color) attending a total of 16,474 behavioral health sessions across 2 years (one pre- and one peri-COVID-19). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 100% of behavioral health visits were conducted in person. During the pandemic, nearly half of behavioral health visits were conducted via telehealth. Telehealth visits were most frequently attended by adults, non-Latinx Whites, women, and people making ≤ 200% of the federal poverty level. A combination of in-person and telehealth service delivery models should be used by FQHCs to maximize access to care for different demographic groups. FQHCs should consider key factors (e.g., access, ableism, technology facility, and language) to increase patients' ability to take advantage of telehealth services where available. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).