Reality Technology Research Articles

Augmented and mixed reality in mandibular reconstructive surgery: a systematic review

Background: Mandibular reconstruction with autologous bone is a challenging procedure that has benefited from the use of 3D printed cutting guides. However, guides present challenges including long preparatory times, high equipment costs and often imperfect alignment to bone. Recent developments in augmented/mixed reality technology may offer an alternative to address these challenges. Methods: This systematic review aimed to assess current applications and feasibility of augmented/mixed reality technology in mandibular reconstructive surgery, in both preclinical and clinical settings. Following extensive screening, 16 articles were included and appraised for workflow and accuracy, as well as user experience, complications, time and procedural costs. Results: Five different systems were described. They were most applied in mandible exposure and resection, donor bone exposure, dissection and osteotomy. Other novel applications were described, including displaying virtual relevant anatomy intraoperatively and assisting in perforator mapping. Accuracy was assessed in 10 studies via six different measures and reporting was highly variable. Of those studies concerned with measuring accuracy of osteotomy, 3D printed guides showed a statistically significant reduction in angular deviation versus the augmented/mixed reality group in at least one plane. Osteotomy plane distance showed mixed results and flap volume was comparable between groups. User experience, specifically surrounding functionality, useability and ergonomics, was varied and no adverse complications were reported. Procedure cost and time were under-investigated across studies. Conclusion: The literature describes interesting emerging applications for augmented/mixed reality in mandibular reconstruction, however further research is required to explore its feasibility as a potential alternative adjunct.

РЕАЛІЗАЦІЯ ФІТНЕС-ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ У ТРЕНУВАЛЬНОМУ ПРОЦЕСІ БАР’ЄРИСТІВ-ЮНАКІВ

The relevance of the research topic. Over the past two decades, interest in the organization and construction of the training process of hurdlers of different ages and different skill levels has increased significantly, which due to the growth of results abroad. This determines the study of the features of of the content of the training process of hurdlers at the stage of preliminary basic preparation. A number of authors substantiated the ways of improvement of the educational and training process of track and field athletes, studied the rhythmic and temporal structure of the running. The most effective modern means of training athletes are fitness technologies, as indicated by recent scientific publications. Varieties of fitness are a universal training tool that can be modified and adapted to the needs of any athlete in any training period. The purpose of the research is to substantiate the ways of realization of fitness technologies in the training process of young men hurdlers. Materials and methods of the research. The study was conducted on the basis of the Children and Youth Sports School No. 1 in Vinnytsia. The study involved boys aged 13-14 years old who specialize in 110-meter hurdles. Results. During the analysis of sources of literature it was established that the structure of an annual cycle of preparation of hurdlers can change as the level of physical abilities, physical fitness of an athlete is unstable. The content and structure of training loads change in relation to periods and stages of the annual cycle. In the training of athletes of different levels, different sports the following types of fitness are mainly used: strength training, stretching, functional training, callanetics, step aerobics. Conclusions. The absence of the use of modern training means in training of hurdlers is revealed, that leads to the decrease of indicators of physical fitness of athletes. The prospect of the further researches consists in the study of indicators of fitness of juniors who are engaged in barrier running.

Opportunities and Challenges in Harnessing Digital Technology for Effective Teaching and Learning

Most of today’s educators are in no shortage of digital and online learning technologies available at their fingertips, ranging from Learning Management Systems such as Canvas, Blackboard, or Moodle, online meeting tools, online homework, and tutoring systems, exam proctoring platforms, computer simulations, and even virtual reality/augmented reality technologies. Furthermore, with the rapid development and wide availability of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) services such as ChatGPT, we are just at the beginning of harnessing their potential to transform higher education. Yet, facing the large number of available options provided by cutting-edge technology, an imminent question on the mind of most educators is the following: how should I choose the technologies and integrate them into my teaching process so that they would best support student learning? We contemplate over these types of important and timely questions and share our reflections on evidence-based approaches to harnessing digital learning tools using a Self-regulated Engaged Learning Framework we have employed in our research in physics education that can be valuable for educators in other disciplines.

A Prospective Metaverse Paradigm Based on the Reality-Virtuality Continuum and Digital Twins

: After decades of introducing the concept of virtual reality, the expansion, and significant advances of technologies and innovations, such as 6g, edge computing, the internet of things, robotics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, quantum computing, and digital twins, the world is on the cusp of a new revolution. By moving through the three stages of the digital twin, digital native, and finally surrealist, the metaverse has created a new vision of the future of human and societal life so that we are likely to face the next generation of societies (perhaps society 6) in the not too distant future. However, until then, the reality has been that the metaverse is still in its infancy, perhaps where the internet was in 1990. There is still no single definition, few studies have been conducted, there is no comprehensive and complete paradigm or clear framework, and due to the high financial volume of technology giants, most of these studies have focused on profitable areas such as gaming and entertainment. The motivation and purpose of this article are to introduce a prospective metaverse paradigm based on the revised reality-virtuality continuum and provide a new supporting taxonomy with the three dimensions of interaction, immersion, and extent of world knowledge to develop and strengthen the theoretical foundations of the metaverse and help researchers. Furthermore, there is still no comprehensive and agreed-upon conceptual framework for the metaverse. To this end, by reviewing the research literature, discovering the important components of technological building blocks, especially digital twins, and presenting a new concept called meta-twins, a prospective conceptual framework based on the revised reality-virtuality continuum with a new supporting taxonomy was presented.

Structural Developments in The Pedagogy Of The Art of Acting: From Student To Actor in The New Dynamics of Performance Art

In this article, I will prove the urgent need to structure courses and adopt a new pedagogical system aimed at catching the attention as well as the interest of students. The use of technology has resulted in students having to face issues related to attention, motor skills, and even interest. Scientific research shows that, currently, even the mere presence of a phone near the brain affects individuals and reduces cognitive activity. Consequently, in pedagogical environments, the structure of acting courses and paradigms must undergo multiple stages of revitalization. This implies continuous adaptation to new social and technological realities, in order to ensure a better understanding and effective communication between educators and students. Additionally, it is necessary to encourage more flexible approaches that take into account the diversity of learning styles and the challenges contemporary students face.

Optimization of strategic management of marketing and logistics of companies as part of the implementation of artificial intelligence

The goal of the study is determining the key aspects of optimizing the strategic management of marketing and logistics of modern companies as part of the realization of artificial intelligence technologies. It has been determined that scaling a business and ensuring its profitability is possible by optimizing business processes and management strategies using the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies. The key aspects of automation of marketing and logistics management strategies of companies and their optimization based on the application of artificial intelligence technologies are substantiated. The main trends in the development of artificial intelligence technologies in the global economy are conceptualized. The evolution of artificial intelligence technologies in the world and its impact on the activities of companies is structured with an argument for the main directions and tools. It has been proven that the application of artificial intelligence into the marketing and logistics strategies of companies determines their transformational development and maximum optimization. To determine the key aspects of optimizing the strategic management of marketing and logistics of companies under the influence of artificial intelligence, multifactor correlation and regression analysis tools were used. The correlation between key indicators of marketing (sales volumes) and logistics (logistics efficiency index), their close relationship and an assessment of the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on the transformation of management strategies of modern companies has been determined. Theoretical and scientific-practical recommendations have been formed that are complete and reliable and can be applied in practice when optimizing the marketing and logistics management strategy companies.

Assessing availability and trainees’ perceptions of simulation and augmented reality in prosthodontics postgraduate education in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundSimulation-based learning (SBL) and augmented reality (AR) /virtual reality (VR) are increasingly adapted and investigated globally to aid traditional teaching methods of clinical skills in several fields of clinical dentistry. This cross-sectional study was, therefore, aimed to assess the availability of such technology to Prosthodontics postgraduate trainees in Pakistan, as well as their introspective views regarding the effectiveness of adapting to simulation-based learning methods.MethodTotal population sampling yielded a sample of 200 participants. Weblink of a pre-validated questionnaire designed using REDCap 0.001 version 11.0.3 software was disseminated to Prosthodontics postgraduate trainees across Pakistan with the ethical review board’s approval. Trainees were inquired regarding the availability of simulation-based learning and augmented/virtual reality technology in their centres and whether they receive regular training. The authors further explored trainees’ perceptions regarding the utility and effectiveness of adopting simulation-based training in the postgraduate education system. Frequencies of categorical responses were reported. Differences in data from all provinces of Pakistan were studied with Fisher’s exact.ResultsNinety completed responses were analysed with SPSS 23.0. A few trainees (n = 18, 20%) were familiar with Augmented Reality. No participant reported having Augmented Reality in their centre. Though simulation-based learning was available to 38 (42.2%) of participants across Pakistan, with differences in distribution among provinces (p = 0.001), only 24% of them received regular simulator training. Participants believe that SBL can reduce procedure-related risks (72.2%). Combining simulation-based learning with traditional teaching was favoured by 81.1% of participants.ConclusionA varied availability of SBL was observed across provinces, whereas AR was unavailable to Prosthodontics postgraduate trainees in Pakistan. Stakeholders and regulatory bodies should continually strive to incorporate technological advancements of simulation-based learning and Augmented/Virtual Reality in teaching strategies to improve Prosthodontics postgraduate students’ academic and clinical training quality.Clinical trial numberNot applicable due to the cross-sectional nature of the study.

Device for calibration of hot air welding machines

Plastics hot air welding techniques involve measuring and maintaining certain values of three physical quantities: temperature, clamping force and the dwell time of the product under load. Technical regulations of the last century do not specify the clamping force value. The value was kept by the mass of the active element of the technology equipment only. The paper considers the newly developed and studied device for calibration of hot air welding machines by clamping force. The device provides calibration of various types of machines with an operating gap of 13 mm and more. The calibration device itself was calibrated by the method of loading with standard weights using a special device. The functioning of the controller board adder was also studied, which allowed controlling the clamping force characteristics of hot air welding machines in case of inhomogeneous distribution of force and non-ideal geometric shape of clamping elements. It is shown that the new device allows controlling one of the main characteristics of hot air welding machines of various designs and manufacturers. The device made it possible to periodically control the actual value of the clamping force of the active element of the machine during the technological process realization. If in a specific model of the machine the measured value is the pressure in the pneumatic system instead of the clamping force, then during the initial calibration the clamping force against the pressure in the pneumatic system matrixes is generated, and its stability is then controlled.

Lynn Good’s green dilemma: leading Duke Energy’s transition

Research methodology This case was developed from secondary sources. The secondary sources included news reports, industry reports, company websites, annual reports and company websites. Case overview/synopsis The case discusses the comprehensive renewable energy transition strategy that Lynn J. Good (Good), CEO and President of Duke Energy and the Chairman of its Board, was undertaking. In September 2019, Good revealed a new climate plan aimed at achieving net-zero carbon emissions with zero methane emissions from natural gas operations by 2030 and zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and one of the major energy generation companies in the USA with two reportable business segments – Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). Good targeted interim carbon emission reduction targets of at least 50% from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and some Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035 and 80% from electric generation by 2040. To achieve this, she invested in large electric grid upgrades and energy storage, as well as in research on zero-emission power generation technologies including hydrogen and advanced nuclear technologies. She helped update the grid system and improved customer experience. As part of the revamped climate strategy, Good invested in crucial energy infrastructure and improved affordability of electricity for customers, especially in the North Carolina region. Despite her efforts at curbing emissions, Good faced criticism from various quarters. This included criticism of Duke’s carbon-cutting plans in 2022 in its core North and South Carolina service zones. The company also faced charges of environmental pollution. Its 2024 strategy, which aimed to address a projected increase in demand for electricity using natural gas plants capable of running on hydrogen, was also met with skepticism by industry groups, advocates, activists and local governments. Good had to face the conflict between environmental ambitions and technological realities that highlighted the difficulties in transitioning to a cleaner energy future. It remained to be seen whether she would be able to successfully navigate the various hurdles and help Duke Energy reach its 2030 emission targets. Complexity academic level This case was written for use in teaching graduate and postgraduate management courses in entrepreneurship and economics, politics and business environment.

The complexities of smartification: Exploring horizontal tensions in smart city governance

Smart cities build on visions for using technology to optimise various infrastructural functions andãmake city management more efficient, sustainable, and reliable. However, scholarship on smart cities has drawn attention to how data-centric planning simplifies the complexity of the urban environment and how a dichotomous approach to smart cities as either top-down or bottom-up may be overly reductive. This paper attempts to remedy this divide by highlighting the horizontal tensions in smart city planning, where tensions around implementing smart technologies appear as multiple actors and discourses converge in creating complex governance structures. We offer a case study of how scalar, temporal and social tensions around implementing smart city technologies are negotiated, based on interviews with employees in a Swedish municipality and several municipal corporations. We elaborate on three themes around time, the role of the municipality and infrastructure to gain a deeper understanding of the governance of and attitudes towards smartification. The interviewees described the complexities of implementing smart technology in reality, spanning various scales and intermingling public and private interests. These issues matter for how the municipality and the municipal corporations work with implementing smart technologies, making it anything but a straightforward process.

Pengaruh Filsafat Hukum Terhadap Dinamika Pembentukan Hukum Modern

Legal philosophy plays an important role in bridging the relationship between law, society, and changing times. Rooted in the principle of "ubi societas, ibi ius" which emphasizes that law and society are complementary entities, this study explores the dynamics of legal philosophy in the digital era. Normative research methods with philosophical and conceptual approaches are used to explore how basic values such as justice, human rights, and utilitarianism are adapted in the modern legal system. The digital era presents new challenges, such as data privacy, cybersecurity, and digital justice. Legal philosophy is expected to be able to develop a new conceptual framework to adapt to technological realities, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data in law enforcement. In addition, the role of legal philosophy is also seen in the development of relevant regulations, such as the protection of personal data and electronic transactions, to answer the needs of the digital era society. The history of legal philosophy shows a significant evolution of thought from ancient Greece to the modern era, which continues to be relevant in supporting the legitimacy of law and justice. In this era, legal philosophy combines ethics with technology to ensure the inclusivity, transparency, and sustainability of the legal system. This study highlights the importance of technology integration in legal education, improving digital regulations, and innovation of the justice system to maintain access to justice amidst social change.

Advancing Towards Energy Self-Sufficiency in Guam and Micronesia through the Development of Workers for the Blue Economy

Seawater and the oceans are the most abundant sources of water on Earth and represent a major reservoir for the production of electrolytic molecular hydrogen (H2), which is the critical clean energy carrier necessary for achieving sustainable social development. However, the high salt content and presence of organic matter in seawater interfere via the water (H2O) electrolysis reaction (2H2O →O2 + 2H2); thus, complicates the direct utilization of seawater. This challenge is particularly relevant for islands in Micronesia, where their remote locations and accessibility to seawater make the delocalized production of H2 and other possible energy carriers a promising strategy for energy independence and regional self-sufficiency.Driving this strategy, the University of Guam (UOG) has partnered with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to upskill UOG faculty and students on the use of electrochemical equipment through activities aimed at building the foundation for fundamental research in carbon neutral H2 generation. The activities focus on developing an understanding of the reaction complexity of the electrode/liquid interface with the goal of controlling reaction pathways for the electrochemical production of H2 via the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER: 4H+ + 4e- →2 H2) at the cathode and molecular oxygen (O2) via the oxygen evolution reaction (OER: 2H2O →O2 + 4H+ + 4e-) at the anode during the electrolysis of seawater. A fundamental understanding of the reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and influence of the complex environments and the simultaneous transformations that are occurring during the HER and OER is necessary in the realization of technologies that efficiently perform direct seawater electrolysis, while avoiding the pretreatments required for current electrolyzer technologies.This collaboration represents an important partnership between the island of Guam and broader Micronesia and PNNL to train future workers for the Blue Economy. In addition to training future workers for the Blue Economy, the partnership is laying the foundation for UOG to become a major clean energy research center in Micronesia, providing the facilities and expertise to engage researchers in the region. The Micronesian region in the Western Pacific Ocean is a vast and culturally diverse region that includes four main archipelagos comprising of over six hundred islands encompassing 6.7 million square kilometers. The four main island groups in Micronesia include the Caroline Islands, Gilbert Islands, Mariana Islands, and the Marshall Islands. The University of Guam is the only four-year post-secondary educational institution located in Micronesia and establishing itself as the flagship research and partnership institution for all of Micronesia.

Near-Strain-Free Anode Architecture Enabled By Interfacial Diffusion Creep for Initial-Anode-Free Quasi-Solid-State Batteries

Anode-free batteries, employing garnet-type solid-state electrolytes, offer a promising avenue for developing safe and high-energy-density battery technologies. However, their practical implementation is hampered by internal strain resulting from the repetitive plating and stripping of lithium metal. To address this challenge, we propose a novel approach utilizing titanium nitrate nanotubes and a silver-carbon interlayer. These components effectively mitigate the anisotropic stress arising from the recurrent formation of lithium deposition layers during cycling. The titanium nitrate nanotubes exhibit a mixed ionic-electronic conducting nature, facilitating the entry of reduced lithium into their free volume space via interfacial diffusion creep. This design achieves nearly strain-free operation with nearly tenfold volume suppression capability compared to conventional copper anodes during lithiation. Notably, our fabricated initial-anode-free quasi-solid-state battery, based on Li6.4La3Zr1.7Ta0.3O12 (LLZTO), paired with a high-voltage cathode infused with an ionic liquid electrolyte, demonstrates remarkable room temperature cyclability, exceeding 600 cycles at 1 mA cm-2, with an impressive average coulombic efficiency of 99.8%. This advancement holds significant promise for overcoming the barriers to practical realization of safe and high-performing battery technologies, paving the way for the development of next-generation energy storage solutions.

(Invited) Engineering Semiconducting and Dielectric Materials and Processes Using Integrative Methods

Plasma-based unit processes are at the core of process technology, enabling future nanosheet and nanowire-based logic. Patterning must deliver pristine surfaces at an atomic scale over films with strict geometric, interfacial, and material property (RI, density, WER, leakage) requirements. Still a silicon world, it is giving way to new materials including 2D structures and dielectrics. Patterning is no longer planar; it is now 3D with plasma process having to grapple with hidden geometries rather than simply lines, spaces, and holes. There is no shortage of challenges to the realization of new device technology. Process hardware options come with increased degrees of freedom. At the same time, however, new options introduce mechanistic complexity that burdens engineering development.Empirical methods alone cannot be used to grapple with current challenges. Integrative methods extend the old concept of concurrent engineering. In this approach, a combination of first principles simulation and experiments targets important unknowns of process and hardware development rather than seek a system level (“simulation-of-everything”) description. First principles simulations include so-called quantum chemistry methods, while first principles experiments include diagnostics that relate species flux directly with surface reactions (for removal or addition) and materials properties. Clarity to the least understood aspects of critical processes is the desired outcome. This leads to a vehicle for understanding what species flux-surface reactions are needed to achieve structures, and films and then ultimately what processes are needed to achieve them. How dielectric films meet many requirements at the same time given process trade-offs is an example of where clarity is needed. From a singular process, geometric requirements, etch resistance, and mechanical and electrical properties must be met and have long lasting integrity. Three component and non-silicon dielectrics, less understood due to their newness in mainstream device manufacturing, are also of current interest. The imperative for a quantitative understanding of process trade-offs for etch is present across all etch technologies.Our integrative approach is described in this presentation. Beyond a discussion of methodology, the presentation will highlight several examples. One related to silicon carbon nitride (SiCN) dielectric film deposition illustrates the trade-offs among leakage current, refractive index, and etch resistance inherent with varying carbon content. We show how precursor-engineered surface matching is critical to achieving desired growth characteristics. Intermediate level theory approaches, such as kinetic Monte Carlo and microkinetic modeling, are used to relate surface kinetics insights to macroscale parameters. Completing the integrative approach are the application of in-situ plasma diagnostics and surface chemistry metrology. These provide a measure of validation and verification. Also, some parameters are more easily measured than computed. Neutral species densities are now measured easily with the combination of computed electron impact cross-sections and advanced mass spectroscopy methods. In another example, the transport of species in narrow spaces is explored with an eye to scaling. Surface diffusion (site to site hopping) becomes important when species are within a nanometer from a surface. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are used to show the impact of different in-feature transport mechanisms on transport times relative to process timescales. In one final example, we show how optimization algorithms of different levels of complexity may be combined with an integrative approach to understand plasma-based unit processes.

Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023: An Overview of Key Amendments

The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (BSA) represents a pivotal legislative development in Indian law, serving as a comprehensive update to the Indian Evidence Act of 1872. This new Act modernizes the approach to legal procedures, placing a particular emphasis on the handling and acceptance of electronic evidence in courts. Comprising 170 sections, the BSA replaces the antiquated colonial terminology found in previous legislation with more relevant and contemporary language that reflects current practices and technological realities. One of the most significant reforms introduced by the BSA is the broadened acceptance of digital records as admissible evidence, which acknowledges the rapid technological advancements that have transformed communication and documentation methods in recent years. The scope of the BSA extends to military courts, indicating a major overhaul in the legal framework of India. Furthermore, the Act redefines key concepts such as "documents" and "evidence," explicitly incorporating digital formats to ensure clarity and consistency in legal proceedings. These vital changes set the stage for a more technologically adept legal system in India, representing a substantial evolution in evidence law while addressing the pressing need for modernization in legal practices and procedures.

The Social Awareness Index as a Tool to Determine the Role of a Companion Robot in the Lives of People with Reduced Mobility

Robots are becoming an increasingly popular element of the developing technological reality. A companion (social) robot can be defined as an autonomous machine that recognises other robots and people and engages in social interactions. Robots of this type are designed to serve people, so they often act as guides, assistants, companions, guardians, teachers and domestic pets. This study aims to define and operationalise the components and synthetically measure the social awareness (index) concerning the usability of a companion robot in everyday life. A comprehensive new research tool was developed as part of the study in the form of an original standardised interview questionnaire by the CATI/CAWI technique. Empirical studies show that an increase in social acceptance requires that potential consumers be provided with the necessary information to know the technologies better and improve their digital skills related to social robots.

The theoretical concept of economic development at the present stage is the process of smartization and digitalization

The principal trends in economic development at the advent of the 21st century evince substantial alterations occurring as a consequence of the advent of cutting-edge technologies, globalization, and social transformation. These developments contribute to the efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of economies, while simultaneously creating new opportunities and challenges for business and society. The principal trends in economic development at this juncture are the processes of «smartization» and «digitalization,» which have become indispensable prerequisites for economic advancement across all sectors of production and social activity. The digital transformation entails the integration of digital technologies into all facets of business and social activities. This includes the automation of business processes, the development of e-commerce, and the use of big data. At the same time, the smartization of cities and economies involves the use of intelligent systems to improve the efficiency of urban management, energy, transportation, and other sectors. The development of information technologies and the growth of artificial intelligence create conditions for economic transformation, and the integration of digital technologies into all spheres of life and economy can lead to changes similar to those that occurred as a result of the Industrial Revolution. In the long run, the smart economy may change not only the ways of production and consumption, but also social structures and the interaction between humans and machines. However, this raises the need for society to adapt to the rapidly changing technological reality and the importance of developing the skills that will be needed in the future digital world.The article identifies the features of digitalization and smartization as socio-economic phenomena that characterize the current stage of development of the global economy. The article analyzes the conceptual differences between digitalization and smartization as basic concepts of economic development and the current stage of its development and identifies the key characteristics of their implementation.

DRONES IN WARFARE: NIGERIA'S ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY IN FIGHTING INSECURITY

Rapid technological advancements have driven the increasing complexity of warfare, positioning unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, at the forefront of military operations globally. This study examines Nigeria's adoption of drone technology in its fight against insurgencies, banditry, and communal violence. As part of its evolving security strategy, Nigeria has integrated drones into its military operations to enhance intelligence gathering, surveillance, and precision strikes. Despite the operational benefits, the use of drones raises ethical concerns, especially related to civilian casualties, and poses challenges due to limited transparency and regulatory oversight. The study employed a systematic literature review (SLR), drawing on secondary data sources and reports that address the role, effectiveness, and challenges of drones in Nigeria's defense strategies. Key findings highlight that Nigeria's military, particularly the Air Force, has successfully deployed both indigenous and foreign-acquired drones, such as the Amebo, Gulma, and Chinese CH-4, to bolster its intelligence and combat operations. However, the lack of a robust legal framework and the need for improved training and data processing infrastructure hinder the full realization of drone technology's potential. Based on the findings, the study recommends enhancing Nigeria's regulatory framework to ensure ethical drone deployment, investing in indigenous UAV development, and improving inter-agency coordination for more efficient use of drone capabilities. These steps are crucial to ensuring that drones can effectively contribute to Nigeria's national security while minimizing the associated risks.

Design of a Novel SiP Integrated RF Front-End Module Based on SOI Switch and SAW Filter.

This paper proposes a novel System-in-Package (SiP) integrated architecture that incorporates Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) switches and Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filters within the chip, aiming to fulfill the demands for miniaturization and multi-functionality for application in emerging wireless technologies. The proposed architecture not only reduces the integration complexity but also considers the architectural design of the integrated module, impedance matching techniques, and signal integrity for carrier aggregation (CA) technology realization. The feasibility of employing SOI switches and SAW filters based on SiP design has been validated through the trial production of a Sub-3GHz radio frequency (RF) front-end diversity receiver module. The resulting RF front-end module demonstrates exceptionally high packaging density and enhanced communication reliability, rendering it suitable for diverse applications in miniaturized RF systems.

Reductive pathways in molten inorganic salts enable colloidal synthesis of III-V semiconductor nanocrystals.

Colloidal quantum dots, with their size-tunable optoelectronic properties and scalable synthesis, enable applications in which inexpensive high-performance semiconductors are needed. Synthesis science breakthroughs have been key to the realization of quantum dot technologies, but important group III-group V semiconductors, including colloidal gallium arsenide (GaAs), still cannot be synthesized with existing approaches. The high-temperature molten salt colloidal synthesis introduced in this work enables the preparation of previously intractable colloidal materials. We directly nucleated and grew colloidal quantum dots in molten inorganic salts by harnessing molten salt redox chemistry and using surfactant additives for nanocrystal shape control. Synthesis temperatures above 425°C are critical for realizing photoluminescent GaAs quantum dots, which emphasizes the importance of high temperatures enabled by molten salt solvents. We generalize the methodology and demonstrate nearly a dozen III-V solid-solution nanocrystal compositions that have not been previously reported.