ABSTRACT. Strawberry is one of the favorite fruits for health and a source of vitamins. Strawberries can be eaten or processed in drink/smoothies. In Indonesia, many people interest in imported strawberry plant because its benefits in health. However, excellent, jumbo, and sweet strawberry is not resistant to the weather in Indonesia and usually only can grow optimally in the highlands. Therefore, the development of an IoT -Based hydroponic system that can handle the humidity of the root, nutrient and enough photosynthesis process are urgently needed for strawberry in lowland in Indonesia. We proposed a low-cost system of IoT-Based system for hydroponic with UV Lamp, pump for watering and providing enough oxygen to optimize growth of strawberry. Based on experiments the IoT system can control the photosynthesis process and water and improve plant, berry growth and health and minimum intervention from farmer.

ABSTRACT. Oil palms have been the primary source of vegetable oil worldwide due to their high productivity. Compared to other oil-producing plants, oil palm plantations can produce more oil per hectare than other oil crops, with over 50% of the world's palm oil production coming from Indonesia. As a result, oil palm plays a key role in both the Indonesian and global economies. Unfortunately, Indonesia lacks skilled workers that can determine the ripeness of oil palm fruits, which can affect oil palm production. In this evolving era, artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly improved ripeness detection systems, fostering innovation and competitiveness in agriculture. This paper presents an analysis and comparison of methods to determine fresh fruit bunch (FFB) ripeness using YOLOv8s and YOLOv10s. Data were collected during a visit to an oil palm plantation operated by PTPN 4 in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. 250 images were collected and manually classified into folders: “ripe”, “rotten” and “unripe”. Both models successfully identified the ripeness level of palm fruits, with YOLOv8 exhibiting better bounding box placement and standard confidence scores. YOLOv8’s effectiveness reached a mAP50 value of 0.995 after 25 and 50 training periods. Similarly, YOLOv10s reached values of 0.985 and 0.977 after 50 and 25 training periods. Despite the lower accuracy, YOLOv10 has lower latency (24.5 GFLOPs) compared to YOLOv8 (28.4 GFLOPs), indicating improved processing efficiency.

ABSTRACT. This paper proposes a method for detecting specific ingredients on food labels with high accuracy. To meet the needs of foreign tourists, ingredients that are restricted for health or religious reasons should be detected in food labels even written in non-native languages. In this study, we propose a method to detect specific ingredients with high accuracy even in coarse images of food labels by learning combinations of ingredients. In this paper, we conducted an experiment using images of food labels in Japanese taken with smartphones to determine the presence of ingredients that are sometimes restricted by the Islamic religion. The proposed method can detect ingredients with less oversight.

ABSTRACT. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) are evolving rapidly, due to development of several vehical technologies, such as vehicular communications, electric vehicles, autonomous driving and so on. One obstacle for the public integration of ITSs is the design of the current infrastructure. In this work, we build an autonomous traffic light system, which takes into consideration the number of vehicles at each lane of the interseaction and traffic lights stages in other intersections. Our aim is to decrease the total travel time of vehicles, and reduce environmental pollution (CO2). We compared our approach to the traditional traffic light (static intervals) and to sensor-equipped traffic light (less vehicles coming from a certain direction). From simulation results, our approach outperformed other types of traffic lights by reducing the average travel time (~25%) and reducing CO2 emmissions (~30%).

ABSTRACT. The failure of components in a machine or structure often occurs at the stress concentration areas, such as notch, hole, corner, etc. The stress concentration factor is usually used for calculating the stress for machine design. Furthermore, the notch coefficient was proposed for evaluating fatigue strength of notched specimens, which is depending on the hardness and temperature of the material. However, the relationship between the notch coefficients and stress concentration factors is not known. In this study, specimens with different notch radii were used to evaluate the fatigue strength based on either nominal or local stresses. A servo-hydraulic fatigue testing machine was used for the fatigue tests, where a sinusoidal cyclic stress with a stress ratio of 0.1 was applied at a frequency of 30Hz. The local stress analysis was performed using the finite element method. When nominal stresses were used to show the fatigue strength, the fatigue strength of notched specimens was lower than the fatigue strength of smooth specimens when the notch radius was small, but the opposite was shown when the notch radius was large. On the other hand, when using localized stresses, the smaller the notch radius, the higher the fatigue strength. In the finite element elastic-plastic analysis results, the maximum local stresses in the plastic condition are smaller and more uniformly distributed than those in the elastic condition. To clarify this result, the fatigue crack path and fracture surface were observed by using a scanning electron microscope. The effects of local plastic deformation near the notch were considered to study the effect of notch size on fatigue fracture.

ABSTRACT. This study focuses on the characterization and grading of microstructures in bearing steel during heat treatment processes. Specifically, we target the recognition of cementite and ferrite structures after spheroidizing annealing, in accordance with the Chinese standard GB/T1255-2014. Additionally, we address the identification and evaluation of decarburized layer microstructures formed during the heat treatment process. Understanding and accurately characterizing these microstructures is critical for optimizing material properties and ensuring the performance of bearing steels in various applications. To facilitate this research, we have constructed a comprehensive dataset that includes tasks for spheroidized annealing microstructure grading and decarburized layer microstructure identification. The dataset is characterized by its diversity, providing a robust foundation for training and validating deep learning models. We propose a deep learning-based segmentation model with strong generalization capabilities, capable of achieving effective segmentation across these tasks. To further validate the model's efficacy, it is also applied to previously studied dual-phase steels, demonstrating its robustness and versatility in metallographic segmentation tasks. In practical applications, the segmentation results are employed for microstructure grading in spheroidized annealed bearing steel, defect analysis, and decarburized layer microstructure identification. Furthermore, we have developed a software tool integrating these advanced segmentation and grading functionalities, which facilitates real-time analysis and quality control in industrial settings. This research offers a robust and versatile solution for microstructure characterization and analysis, thereby enhancing the understanding and optimization of material properties in both industrial and research contexts.

ABSTRACT. The development of hydrogen gas turbines is a critical technology to achieve carbon neutrality goal. The incomplete combustion of hydrogen fuel can induce changes in the combustion environment, thereby presenting new challenges for the existing thermal barrier coating (TBC) materials. This study aimed to investigate the degradation behavior of TBCs under three environments: air, Ar, and Ar+5%H2. The results indicated that the degree of sintering was significantly inhibited under reducing environments. In addition, the corresponding phase stability, porosity, and mechanical were investigated. Furthermore, potential failure modes induced by the differences in the coating degradation behavior under different environments were further discussed.

ABSTRACT. Inorganic nanosheets are usually obtained by exfoliation of layered crystals and are known to form intriguing colloidal liquid crystals,[1] which have been applied for fabrication of functional materials such as tough elastomers[2] and structural color gels.[3] However, large polydispersity in lateral size limited precise design of the self-assembled structures and materials properties. Here we demonstrate that very unusual superstructures are reversibly formed by self-assembly of monodisperse anionic titanate nanosheets (mNS) with regulated size and shape.[4] In an as-prepared tetramthylammonium (TMA)/mNS aqueous dispersion, mNSs were isotropically and uniformly dispersed. As [mNS] and [TMA] increased, very unusual one-dimensional columnar nanofibers (ColNF) formed; the ColNF was composed of alternating stacking of TMA and mNS with the periodic distance of 1.7 nm as revealed by small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The ColNFs formed fluid columnar nematic liquid crystal phase as observed by crossed polarizer observation. Crystalline needle-like bundles of ColNF were also formed. The formation and dissociation of these superstructures were reversible and controllable by external factors such as temperature and electric field as well as by solvent composition, kind of cations, and concentrations of mNS and the cations. The formation of these superstructures is rationalized by weak nanosheet-nanosheet attractions as well as by an entropic excluded volume effect. This work was supported by the Mazda Foundation. and the Cooperative Research Program (#20231320) of “Network Joint Research Center for Materials and Devices (MEXT).” References 1) N. Miyamoto and T. Nakato, Adv. Mater., 2002, 14, 1267.; 2) T. Morooka, Y. Ohsedo, R. Kato, N. Miyamoto, Mater. Adv. 2021, 2, 1035.; 3) W. Yang, S. Yamamoto, K. Sueyoshi, T. Inadomi, R. Kato and N. Miyamoto, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 8466.; 4). N. Miyamoto, M. Miyoshi, R. Kato, Y. Nakashima, H. Iwano, T. Kato, Sci. Adv. 2024, 10, eadk6452.

ABSTRACT. High urban population growth causes cities to expand and impacts the global environment such as land use, water scarcity, increased runoff and the frequency and extent of flood areas. Increased inundation is also due to climate change or hydrological and hydrometeorological variations caused by environmental changes and accelerated human activities. Increased demand for clean water results in dependence on groundwater utilization to meet the clean water needsneeds in urban areas, feared to have an impact on land subsidence, seawater intrusion, decreased groundwater quality and vulnerability of groundwater services. Eco-friendly and sustainable runoff control and groundwater recharge can be done with the construction of underground water tanks, such as detention tanks, retention tanks to reduce flood peaks, store or harvest rainwater for utilization, infiltrated into the ground for groundwater recharge and the excess flowed into the city drainage network. This study aims to analyze the effect of underground tank to reduce surface flow and recharge groundwater through infiltration, analyze the relationship model between influential parameters and simulate the application of subsurface tank design results in reducing surface flow and groundwater recharge. The research was conducted experimentally in the laboratory using a flume (Length =240 cm; Width = 35 cm; Depth =110 cm), which consists of a detention tank, retention tank and circulation tank equipped with measuring instruments. The research parameters include discharge, rainfall, conveyance coefficient, catchment area, soil permeability, infiltration rate, water table elevation and tank capacity. The research simulation includes 4 variations of discharge, 3 variations of soil permeability and 3 variations of groundwater level. The expected results are the effect of underground tank to reduce runoff and groundwater recharge, the relationship model between influential parameters, and the effectiveness of using underground tanks in reducing surface flow and groundwater recharge by numerical simulation

ABSTRACT. The aftermath of the March 26, 2004 landslide that occurred within the upper Jeneberang River led to the accumulation of 300,000,000 m3 of caldera wall debris material. According to the South Sulawesi Pompengan River Basin Center (BBWS), approximately 80,000,000 m3 of this material had entered the Bili-Bili reservoir by 2019. The hydrometeorological disaster on January 22, 2019 was caused by heavy rainfall of 300 mm/day, leading to a debris flow carrying boulders and wood debris. The investigation revealed that the sand pocket, originally designed to hold sediment of sand grains, has now surpassed its capacity due to the influx of boulders. Sabo dams constructed upstream have struggled to contain significant quantities of boulders, resulting in some of them being carried downstream as debris towards other structures. Not only have some sabo dams reached their maximum capacity, but several have also sustained damage from boulders measuring 1-2 meters in diameter. One potential solution to prevent the flow of boulders and wood debris downstream is the construction of beam sabo dams. These structures are designed to effectively retain such debris, thereby safeguarding the structures located further downstream. In order to assess the effectiveness of beam sabo dams in capturing a combination of boulders and wood debris, a comprehensive study is essential. This research aims to identify the debris flow parameters that influence the performance of beam sabo dams, establish the interrelationships between these parameters, and determine the optimal gap distance between beams to effectively trap debris flow carrying boulders and wood debris. The proposed research methodology will involve experiments with a physical model in a laboratory setting by utilizing a flume.

ABSTRACT. Katimbang urban village is one of the urban villages in Makassar city, Indonesia, whose land use is dominated by settlements, which make up 58% of the area, which indicates a lack of water catchment areas and causes inundation when it rains. The drainage system used is still conventional and unable to handle standing water effectively. This research intends to examine the effectiveness of horizontal and vertical drainage systems in managing inundation. The method used is a descriptive-quantitative approach through a survey and data analysis. The results revealed that the horizontal drainage system failed to handle the design rainfall with a 2-year return period of 129.67 mm for tertiary drainage and the design rainfall with a 5-year return period of 170.60 mm for secondary drainage, resulting in inundation at 13 points with a total inundation of 10.74 m3/sec. The effectiveness of the vertical drainage system against inundation without the use of infiltration wells and rain harvesting has been considered ineffective because it has a low soil permeability coefficient of 3x10-6 m/sec. According to the results, the use of infiltration wells can only decrease flooding by 15% and rain harvesting by 30% of total inundation.

ABSTRACT. This research investigates the morphodynamic evolution of the coastal barrier and dune system in South Java, focusing on the dynamic slope profile changes due to wave actions. The study provides a unique opportunity to analyze natural erosion occurance, which includes the subsequent breaching of the costal barrier observed around the area. Traditional coastal protection methods, such as seawalls or breakwaters, often exacerbate the damage, prompting interest in green engineering alternatives like vegetative coastal protection. Nature-based solution, such as incorporating coastal vegetation, has shown promising results in protecting coastlines observed in tropical regions, hence, this research intends to explore its potential in mitigating coastline damages. Field observations along the Pandansari-Samas Coast in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, revealed that areas with abundant vegetation and dunes experience a decline in erosion severity compared to clear areas. The analysis will delve into analyzing the relationship between wave steepness (H0/L0),) and the resulting dynamic slope profile characteristics (n) caused by wave variations and the effects of incorporating green engineering alternatives, specifically the use of coastal vegetation. This approach not only supports the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) concept currently encouraged in Indonesia, but also provides valuable insights for designing resilient and sustainable coastal areas.

ABSTRACT. This article presents similarities and differences in engineering techniques to implement supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) for tank-level control when using analog and HART transmitters. The studied SCADA system consists of a programmable logic controller (PLC) modeled 1769-L30ER CompactLogix, a human machine interface (HMI) station using Wonderware InTouch software, and two independent level control loops. Each loop includes the level transmitter, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) function block of the PLC, inverter modeled SINAMICS V20. The analog 4-20 mA transmitter is installed for measuring the tank level of the first loop, while the HART transmitter modeled Rosemount 2051 is installed for measuring the tank level of the second loop. The device diagnostic-based engineering techniques to configure the transmitters and PLC input/output (I/O) modules as well as to implement the HMI pages for the analog-based and HART-based control loops are described. The IEC61131-3-Based PLC programs are written by Studio 5000 software. Comparison results indicate that the process variables and the PLC I/O module statuses of both control loops can be monitored, but the diagnostic parameters of the HART-based control loop only can be monitored. Therefore, the utilization of smart devices with diagnostic capabilities can be useful for effective troubleshooting in case of device failures to discover the root causes of problems in order to identify appropriate solutions.

ABSTRACT. This article aims to present a technique to integrate utility monitoring with production monitoring. Interested data of the Internet of Things (IoT) system used for utility monitoring are transferred to be monitored at a human machine interface (HMI) panel used in the operational technology (OT) system for production monitoring. The studied IoT system based on the LoRaWAN communication protocol consists of the LoRaWAN gateway, IoT controller, and temperature and humidity sensor, while the studied OT production system is a color sorting system controlled by the S7-1200 programmable logic controller (PLC). The LoRaWAN gateway is used to forward the IoT sensor data to the LoRaWAN network server on a private cloud by using the MQTT protocol. The IoT 2050 gateway, S7-1200 PLC, and SIMATIC HMI panel are connected via the Ethernet network. In addition, the Node-RED running in the IoT 2050 gateway is used as the platform for integrating the specific IoT data including measured temperature and humidity values and the OT data including the number of sorted items. Experimental results show that the interested IoT data can be monitored on the HMI panel as well as the tower light status connected with the IoT controller can be remotely controlled via the HMI panel. Therefore, utility data integrated into the production HMI can provide insights that enable enhanced decision-making and predictive and proactive analytics for maintenance.

ABSTRACT. The increasing prevalence of dual-income households in Japan has highlighted the stress caused by conflicting values between the husband and wife, contributing to the rising divorce rate. This study employs a game-theoretic approach to quantify and visualize these value differences, aiming to foster more stable marriage. Utilizing z-Tree software, a household chicken game is designed to simulate daily life interactions between married couples, focusing on household chores and childcare, to assess the stress levels of the husband and wife. The intuitive results in the first round show high stress levels for both the husband and wife, which decrease over successive rounds, indicating couples’ efforts to mitigate the stress for each other. Despite these efforts, women exhibit relatively higher stress levels, reflecting their heightened awareness and responsibility towards household chores and childcare. The preliminary outcomes provide insights into the dynamics of the marital relationships and highlight the importance of shared responsibilities in fostering marital stability.

ABSTRACT. This research investigates the complex interplay between network dynamics and systemic risk, introducing a formal definition of endogenous systemic risk rooted in equilibrium network dynamics. By constructing a discounted stochastic game (DSG) model, our study captures the emergence of equilibrium network dynamics and the intricate interactions between network structure, strategic behavior, and risk. The model elucidates how strategic interactions among players in network formation contribute to systemic risk, proposing a novel measure based on the first passage probability of network failure due to endogenous shocks, considering both the state of the network and the timing of failures. We further explore the tipping points, identifying critical networks whose failure can precipitate widespread systemic consequences. These tipping points act as early warning signals, facilitating the detection of systemic and very systemic nodes within the network. Our approach highlights the connections between strategic behavior and systemic risk, demonstrating how the interactions between network evolution and player strategies impact overall network resilience. Moreover, we delve into the practical implications of our findings for financial networks, offering a framework for the development of policies aimed at reducing systemic risk. We propose decentralized incentive mechanisms that can guide strategic behavior towards enhancing network stability and resilience.

ABSTRACT. Recurrent floods have resulted in crop failure in agricultural and plantation sectors and caused infrastructure damage in the Krueng Keureuto watershed in North Aceh District, Aceh Province, Indonesia. One of the key causes of these floods is the reduced river storage capacity due to sedimentation. The worst flooding originates from the Krueng Keureuto tributary, the Krueng Peuto watershed. Information on the sediment rating curve, which is the relationship between flow discharge and sediment discharge, is required for floods management in the watershed. This study aimed to obtain a sediment rating curve and sediment transport model for the Krueng Peuto River. The data used in this study included primary sediment sample data, floating sediment samples, hydrometry, planned flood discharge, river geometry, and river roughness. Sediment transport in the Krueng Peuto River was modeled using the HEC-RAS 6.1 application. The results indicated that the sediment shear stress > the critical shear stress, confirming sediment transport occurs in the Krueng Peuto River. The sediment rating curve graph showed the polynomial regression equation obtained of Qs=0.0142Q_w²-4.485Q_w (upstream) and Qs=0.0093Q_w²+4.653Q_w (downstream), with a coefficient of determination of 0.9957 (upstream) and 0.9995 (downstream), respectively. The modeling of sediment transport in the Krueng Peuto River revealed significant changes in the channel bottom. At the upstream review point (STA 200), there was a noticeable degradation of 0.76 m, while at the downstream review point (STA 5), there was a significant aggradation of 0.085 m. These findings have practical implications for flood management and environmental conservation in the Krueng Peuto River, and it is hoped that they will provide relevant parties with valuable information to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of sedimentation in the area.

ABSTRACT. This research was conducted to determine the level of community participation in controlling the Kelekar River flood in the Tanjung Senai area, Ogan Ilir district, South Sumatra, Indonesia. The high intensity of rainfall in the Ogan Ilir Regency area has caused the discharge of the Kelekar River in the Tanjung Senai Indralaya area of the Ogan Ilir Regency to be greater than normal conditions. The condition of the Kelekar River in Tanjung Senai Indralaya Ogan Ilir at high tide can pose a threat to inundation and even flooding. Data analysis was taken from 140 respondents distributed in the area and analyzed using SPSS ver. 22. The results of the research show that determination R2 is 0.893 or can be said R to be 0.797449 or 79.75% of flood control in the Tanjung Senai area is highly correlated so it is necessary to build flood control infrastructure such as building reservoirs and strengthening river banks.

ABSTRACT. Landslides on cliffs and slopes frequently occur in the Gumitir region during periods of heavy rainfall. The impact of landslides on the Jember-Banyuwangi road, particularly at the peak of Gumitir, results in disruptive and hazardous traffic congestion. Therefore, an effective management strategy is required for the sustainability of this road. This article aims to identify handling solutions based on the assessment of factors influencing landslides and predicting potential landslide locations. Multicollinearity tests are used to detect linear relationships among the factors influencing landslides. The landslide risk level is classified using logistic regression (LR) and random forest (RF) models, based on an inventory of data including 96 historical landslide points and 180 non-landslide points. These data are randomly split, with 70% used for training the model and 30% for testing it. The model's performance is evaluated using the accuracy metric area under the ROC curve, which effectively represents landslide occurrences. The RF model provides better results compared to the LR model. Based on the RF model, the factors influencing landslides in descending order of importance are slope, elevation, TWI, FA, NDVI, and aspect. An effective landslide management strategy requires a comprehensive approach that considers spatial and temporal analysis of all influencing factors to minimize risks and address the root causes holistically, rather than merely implementing partial measures at the affected locations. The results of these analyses can serve as a basis for precise and comprehensive landslide management.

ABSTRACT. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are innovative strategies utilizing natural processes to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. NbS is believed to enhance biodiversity, regulate climate, restore ecosystem services, and mitigate natural disasters. It plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration, water purification, and soil fertility, contributing to ecosystem resilience. Despite these benefits, there is limited understanding of the long-term sustainability as well as challenges in quantifying their economic benefits comprehensively. Previous studies have often focused on isolated aspects of NbS, failing to provide a holistic view of their multifaceted benefits. Economically, NbS offer cost-effective alternatives to conventional engineering, with long-term benefits outweighing initial investments. It creates jobs, support livelihoods, and promote sustainable economic development through eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, and fisheries. Thus, this review synthesizes evidence from diverse case studies and scientific literature to highlight NbS's comprehensive benefits, including the environmental and economic benefits. The findings of this study can demonstrate NbS's potential to provide integrated solutions addressing interlinked environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability, contributing to global sustainability goals.

ABSTRACT. Today, the attractiveness of coastal areas has resulted in coastal communities continuing to grow, giving rise to new settlements, public facilities, port facilities, and tourism development. More than 40% of the world's population lives in coastal areas and more than 570 low-lying coastal cities will face a sea level rise of at least 0.5 m by 2050, public facilities, and residential areas due to extreme ocean wave activity will be lost, and become vulnerable to disaster threats, especially geological hazards of earthquakes accompanied by tsunamis. The growing potential of coastal areas will increase the vulnerability of several communities and supporting facilities to tsunami wave damage, resulting in considerable land destruction and loss of life. Indonesia is ranked second in the world as the country most frequently hit by tsunamis because geographically, the Indonesian archipelago is located in the border zone of three major Plates, namely the Eurasian Plate, the Indo-Australian Plate, and the Pacific Plate with high seismic activity that has the potential to generate earthquakes as the main effect of seismic activity and tsunamis as a secondary effect. Tsunamis occurring in the last 10 years are relatively rare because they occur unexpectedly, suddenly, unusually, and the biggest killer of people living in coastal areas against tsunamis. Although tsunami disasters cannot be avoided, their impact can be wisely mitigated through robust tsunami mitigation measures, as has been successfully demonstrated by several countries that have survived tsunami disasters. This is the background for conducting a tsunami disaster mitigation study with structural countermeasures (coastal protection and coastal forests) as a step towards building disaster-ready coastal communities in the near future.

ABSTRACT. The area downstream of the Palu River has great potential as a site for social and economic development that can contribute to the surrounding community. The characteristics of the river are influenced by the characteristics of the watershed in terms of land slope, topography, area and shape of the watershed, as well as the pattern of deposition and scouring that occurs along the river channel. Sediment transport analysis always requires flow velocity data, and any waterworks design will take into account the sediment transport problems that occur along with the current velocity in the stream. This study aims to analyze the flow velocity that occurs in the lower reaches of the Palu River. The research site is located in the downstream river of Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, at UTM 50S coordinates. The data used in this study were flow velocity and discharge measurements. The measurement was made using ADCP RiverSurveyor SonTek M9 tool, using Eulerian method. The measurement results showed a normal discharge of 137.662 m³/s, a maximum discharge of 182.095 m³/s and a minimum discharge of 96.073 m³/s. The lower Palu River has a width ranging from 72 to 225 meters and a depth ranging from 1 to 3 meters in the gently sloping river area. The flow in the lower reaches of Palu River is more dominant in the left part of the river, and the flow velocity in the lower reaches of Palu River ranges from 0.04 - 2.88 m/s.

ABSTRACT. The development and implementation of solid recovered fuel (SRF) present significant opportunities for sustainable energy management, particularly for small island communities like Lanyu (Orchid Island). Mostly because small islands, challenges can be daunting and overwhelming because of insufficient treatment methods with limited land space for landfill, resources, unique energy constraints due to their geographical isolation, unstable waste generation for incineration that is dependent on seasonal variation with peak tourism season and inconsistent waste recycling rates which are congruent with the resources circularity and circular economy policies in Taiwan. SRF, derived from non-recyclable waste materials, offers an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fossil fuels by converting waste into a valuable energy resource, thus reducing landfill use and minimizing the environmental footprint of waste disposal and lessen incineration waste treatment burden thus contributing to carbon neutrality for small islands. This study aims at quantifying performance and environmental impact using lifecycle assessment (LCA) methods under different scenarios and evaluating the economic possibilities (cost analysis method) as sustainable solution.

Past studies that have integrated SRF with small islands validate promising results in terms of cost savings, waste reduction, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions particularly with the substitution of coal in cement kilns and other industries. These examples highlight the feasibility and benefits of SRF, encouraging potential SRF generation and shipment outside the island as a possibility for energy recovery and further research and investment in this field.

The preliminary results of this study are meant to contribute towards waste management strategies to ensure small island sustainability (Lanyu) and ensuring that Taiwan reaches its net zero targets, comparison amongst other islands and sustainability and also provide impact assessment through the use of LCA for better MSW decision making

ABSTRACT. The study investigates Orchid Island, Taiwan's environmental sustainability, with a focus on assessing the impact of the tourism industry and the implications of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) strategies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It examines the island's carbon footprint spanning from 2011 to 2022, encompassing analysis of energy consumption, waste generation, and transport-related emissions by both residents and tourists. Emphasizing the importance of indigenous land management for sustainable development, the research evaluates waste policies implemented between 1991 and 2022. Motivated by the unique cultural and environmental challenges of Orchid Island, the study aims to propose effective policies that integrate traditional knowledge and modern technologies. These policies are intended to foster sustainable production and consumption practices tailored to the island's specific needs. The ultimate goal is to contribute to Taiwan's net-zero targets and promote environmental stewardship. The findings reveal that successful waste management strategies implemented on larger islands in Taiwan may not be suitable for smaller indigenous islands like Orchid Island. The island's unique cultural heritage and traditional approaches to sustainable material management face challenges and transformations influenced by modern social and economic pressures. Engaging with the Tao people is crucial for Orchid Island to navigate towards sustainability, drawing on their cultural wisdom and knowledge to develop locally appropriate solutions.

ABSTRACT. The increasing risk of drowsiness-related incidents in transportation and daily life highlights the need for an effective, non-intrusive monitoring method. Addressing this, our study introduces a novel drowsiness detection model using electrocardiogram (ECG) data, implemented through a 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) Autoencoder, and further enhanced by incorporating Variational Autoencoder (VAE) techniques. This hybrid model, designed for wearable sensor applications, excels in complex feature extraction from ECG data, crucial for accurate drowsiness detection. The model was evaluated using two-channel ECG signals from the MIT Arrhythmia database, a benchmark for assessing the reliability and accuracy of cardiac monitoring systems. It demonstrates superior performance over traditional methods, including standard 1D CNN and LSTM Autoencoders, particularly in handling noise, artifacts, and the complex temporal dynamics of ECG signals. The efficiency of the model is underscored by its computational speed, with a total training time of just 1.06 minutes, and its effectiveness is evidenced by its lower mean squared error (MSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) compared to other models. This research advances wearable health technology, offering a promising tool for enhancing transportation safety and personal health monitoring through effective, real-time drowsiness detection. It marks a significant step forward in preventing accidents and ensuring well-being through innovative, data-driven solutions.

ABSTRACT. An effective scheduling system can greatly reduce the waste of human and material resources, improve the operational efficiency of an enterprise, and bring great convenience to customers. This study examines the multi-task daily shift scheduling problem in call centers. Currently, there are two approaches to solve such problems: using task patterns for computation or not using them. This study adopts a modeling approach that does not use task patterns to minimize the understaffing penalty. However, this approach may lead to more frequent task changes. To address this shortfall, our previous study proposed a two-stage optimization model to obtain the optimal solution, ensuring that staff members do not change tasks too frequently. Based on current requirements, improvements were made to the two-stage model. In the original model, each timeslot was set to one hour, with only a lunch break included. In the improved model, the timeslot has been reduced to 30 minutes, and adjustments have been made to incorporate both lunch and afternoon breaks. Numerical experiments validated the effectiveness of these improvements, resulting in a generated 30-day staff scheduling plan using the proposed enhanced model.

ABSTRACT. Maintaining an adequate following distance between vehicles is crucial in preventing road accidents. However, many drivers drive their vehicles with insufficient following distance. One of the main reasons for this behavior is the belief that leaving more distance between vehicles will lead to interruptions from vehicles cutting in from the neighboring lane, which will delay their travel time. However, some experiments have shown that, in practice, increasing the following distance does not significantly change the travel time. This is because an equal number of vehicles exit lanes as those that cut in by changing lanes. Previous research has also shown that drivers remember cut-in vehicles more vividly while being relatively unimpressed by vehicles exiting into the neighboring lane. This leads to an overestimation of the impact of interrupting vehicles by drivers in general. To investigate this phenomenon in detail, this study used a driving simulator to examine drivers' gaze times towards vehicles cutting in and exiting from the neighboring lane. As a result, it was found that gaze time for vehicles changing lanes was longer when they were entering the lane than when they were exiting. This suggests that differences in collision risk during lane changes affect how drivers pay attention to the vehicle in front. This finding underscores the importance of educating drivers that their travel time does not significantly change after being interrupted and that they tend to overestimate the impact of cutting-in vehicles in order to discourage aggressive driving.

ABSTRACT. This research was conducted to examine the pattern and intensity of rainfall in Makassar City in the Tallo watershed, with the aim of assessing the suitability of the rainfall patterns that occur. Limitations of observational data, such as data duration that is not long enough, incomplete data, and uneven distribution of stations, make rainfall analysis and prediction difficult, so supporting instruments such as satellites and radar are needed. In this research, analysis of rainfall patterns in December 2022 was carried out using three data sources: observation data (AWS & ARG), satellite data (GSMAP & GPM), and radar data. The analytical methods used include quantitative statistics, error calculations, correlation, and comparison of rainfall patterns from the three data sources. The results of comparing rainfall patterns from 20-31 December 2022 show that the three data sources display the same pattern, with increased rainfall starting on 22 December and peak rainfall occurring on 23 December 2022. Validation of AWS/ARG station data against satellite data GSMaP, GPM, and radar data show a fairly strong correlation with r values between 0.66-0.90, RMSE values between 15.63-20.56, and NSE values between 0.40-0.76. Validation results show that GSMaP satellite data has a weak correlation with AWS/ARG measured data. The MAE and RMSE values indicate the level of accuracy of GPM satellite data, with smaller values indicating better accuracy. The best MAE and RMSE values are zero. However, based on validation of the NSE, Pbias, and R2 values, radar data is more accurate in predicting rain events compared to GPM and GSMaP satellite data.

ABSTRACT. Oxidation process cannot be avoided during the alloy’s functioning. Protecting oxide layer can be formed during high temperature oxidation and the internal stress (IS) can be generated during the oxidation process. The layer protecting effect and the layer kinetics at high temperature can be affected by the IS evolution and the associated mechanical performance. It is important to quantify the internal stress level (layer growth stress, thermal stress and residuals stress) and their distribution in oxide layers during and after high temperature oxidation.

Three alloys have been studied at different temperature (from 600°C to 900°C): INCONEL 600 alloy, AISI 430 and 316L stainless steels. The oxidation kinetics under various humidity levels (from 1% to 12% absolute humidity) and for different isotherm duration (from 2h to 150h) have been obtained by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The thermal stress in oxide layers during cooling has been evaluated by analytic formula, the residual stresses in oxide layers after oxidation has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction method.

ABSTRACT. Flat heat pipes (FHPs) are commonly utilized in many thermal control systems due to their high heat transfer capacity using porous media and phase change of working fluid. Meanwhile, vibration, which are inevitable in most mechanical equipment, can have an impact on the vapor/liquid dynamics inside FHPs, as a result of which the heat transfer performance of the thermal control systems could be influenced. In view of this, this paper intends to experimentally investigate the influence of mechanical vibration on the heat transfer performance of an FHP under different heating powers and inclination angles. The aluminum-acetone heat pipes are chosen, with the size of 40 mm140 mm2 mm and 40 mm250 mm2 mm. The vibration amplitude is 0.5 mm and the frequency is 47.7 Hz. The inclination angles are 0°, ±30°, ±60° and ±90°. The range of heating power is 10W-35W. We mainly focus on the starting time, working temperature, thermal resistance and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) of the FHP. Through this series of research, we hope to effectively improve the evaporation and condensation heat transfer performance of FHPs, optimize the efficiency of vapor-liquid circulation, and provide more efficient and reliable solutions for the heat dissipation problems of thermal control systems.

ABSTRACT. Materials with ultra-high strength and toughness are much required for producing some key structural components applied at various temperatures ranging from room down to liquid helium temperature, e.g. for the storage and transportation of liquefied gas, exploration of outer space and construction of nuclear fusion devices. However, materials that can be used to manufacture some key structures with ultra-high performance and low cost, especially for critical components applied at extremely low temperatures, are currently very limited. In this study, based on traditional Fe-Mn-C high manganese austenitic steel, a novel Fe-Mn-C-Al-Si high manganese steel was designed and prepared, by adjusting the contents of C/Mn and adding Al/Si elements to regulate the stacking fault energy and low-temperature deformation mechanisms, and by optimizing the thermal mechanical processes. The results indicate that as the temperature decreases, the yield strength of the steel increases rapidly while the impact absorption energy decreases slightly. For example, at room temperature, the yield strength of the steel is ~ 300 MPa, and the V-notch impact absorption energy reaches over 300 J, while at liquid helium temperature, the yield strength of the steel reaches as high as 1250 MPa, and its V-notch impact absorption energy remains as high as 200 J/cm2. Regardless of whether at room, or extremely low temperature, the tensile and impact fracture surfaces of the steel are characterized by dimples, typical of ductile fracture, at all testing temperatures. The steel presented here shows potential for low-cost producing some key structural components used in deep-cryogenic environments.

ABSTRACT. Electronic devices such as semiconductor devices and integrated circuits are required to be smaller and more integrated to achieve higher functionality. Copper is used in these electronic devices due to its excellent electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, and workability. In recent years, the minimum line width of copper thin films has reached 100 nm or less due to the miniaturization of device interiors. The nanoscale dimensional shapes described above have mechanical properties that differ from those of ordinary bulk materials, but due to the limitations of experimental approaches, a full understanding of the mechanical properties resulting from dynamic behavior has not yet been achieved. Molecular dynamics (MD), which can track the behavior of atoms, is a useful method to solve this problem. In this study, monotonic loading test simulations were conducted using the MD method to estimate the mechanical properties of copper at the nanoscale. The results show that the crystallographic and numerical values of Young's modulus in the tensile and compression test simulations are close to the experimental results. In addition, the crystallographic orientation was found to affect the tensile and compressive yield strength. The effect of aspect ratio on the mechanical properties of single crystal copper was also investigated. In tensile test simulations, the mechanical properties were improved when the length was kept constant and the width was varied (condition 1), while the mechanical properties were independent of aspect ratio when the length was varied and the width was kept constant (condition 2). In the compression test simulation, the mechanical properties decreased when the length was kept constant and the width was varied (Condition 1), while the mechanical properties showed the same trend as in the tensile test simulation when the length was varied and the width was kept constant (Condition 2).

ABSTRACT. This research was conducted to determine in detail the level of community participation in the use of swamps in the Tanjung Senai area for the development of integrated office areas. This area has a very large swamp and water resources. On the other hand performance of a swamp area management system is influenced significantly by community involvement through what is called participative management patterns. The data taken is the result of a questionnaire from all people living in the area. A total of 134 respondents were considered to represent the population of the Tanjung Senai area and analysis was carried out with the help of the SPSS statistical program ver. 22. The results of the research show that determination R2 is 0.888 or can be said R to be 0.788 or 78.8% of Community participation influences the development of swamp areas in the Tanjung Senai area.

ABSTRACT. An effective and sustainable solution to address the problem of riverbank erosion, protect the environment, and offer economic and operational benefits. In addition, this research also contributes to the development of science and technology in civil engineering and water resources management. The study's objectives were to formulate stability coefficients of rock-pile kribs and analyze how changes in each variable affect the overall stability of the kribs. The research methodology conducted was a literature review, theoretical analysis, and physical modeling. The expected results are to find the relationship between river flow parameters and the stability coefficient of rock piles, to see the flow pattern that affects the stability of rock piles in the krib, and to find the influence of the position of the krib on the stability of the rock pile krib. It is estimated that the weight of the rock pile krib building face layer (W) is influenced by the flow velocity (V), the specific gravity of the rock (S), the stability coefficient (Ks), the slope of the structure (Cot), and the water depth (h). The use of natural materials in river management is effective in controlling erosion, directing water flow, creating new habitats, and protecting riparian infrastructure. Further research on the stability of rock-pile-type river Kribs experimentally under various river conditions, as well as innovations in rock design and materials, is relevant and important at this time.

ABSTRACT. Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, is a compact, low-lying city bordered by mountains and the sea. The drainage systems of Dili primarily designed using simple and rational methods for the past few years frequently fail to manage and convey the surface runoff from the heavy rain, and it leads to recurrent flooding. Rapid urbanization and climate change have exacerbated these drainage system failures, resulting in significant economic, social and environmental consequences. This study evaluates the performance of the drainage system in Kampung Alor, Dili, an area prone to flooding due to poor drainage infrastructure. Utilizing historical rainfall data, ground level information, and the master plan design of Dili, the catchment area was derived from DEM using QGIS and simulated with the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to analyze the water profile elevations of Junction and Conduit of the existing drainage system. The findings reveal that the existing drainage infrastructure needed to be improved to handle the surface runoff from the heavy rainfall event, such as the one on April 4th, 2021. Findings present recommendations for the government of Timor-Leste to upgrade drainage infrastructure in Dili based on historical rainfall data, ground level and catchment area. And evaluate the design based on water profile elevation presented by this study to prevent overflow that leads to flood.

ABSTRACT. Reclamation is a development process that extends towards the sea with the addition of new land on the coast. The Reclamation of Makassar's Center of Point Indonesia made the flow pattern change from before reclamation to after reclamation. The aim of this research is to analyze tidal current patterns around the coast of Center Of Point Indonesia Makassar and analyze the influence of Center Of Point Indonesia (CPI) coastal reclamation on tidal current patterns at Losari beach. This research method involves collecting secondary data and primary data. The required data includes tidal data, wind data, current data, as well as topographic and bathymetric data. After collecting all the data, the next step is to process the data using Mike 21 with the Flow Model FM 2D modeling to get results that showing changes in current patterns due to tides and wind. As for the results obtained, the current flow velocity at high tide conditions on 2/8/2023 at 05.00 Western Indonesia Time shows a current flow velocity of 0.13 m/s in front of the Indonesian Center of Points reclamation and the lowest current flow velocity is in that area. is in the reclamation area or precisely in the front area of Losari Beach. with a flow velocity of 0.022 m/s. in neap tide conditions or when the moon is not aligned with the sun on 8/8/2023 the current flow velocity in front of Losari beach area is 0.032 m/s. As for the results obtained to get the current to improve again, it is necessary to dredge the Losari beach area to a certain depth.

ABSTRACT. Kyoto, one of Japan's representative historical cities, is home to many traditional wooden buildings that are cultural assets and have experienced many earthquake damage due to large earthquakes. It is believed that many of these wooden buildings have escaped past earthquake damage. If we can identify the factors that have prevented these buildings from major damage from strong ground motions, they will contribute to improving the earthquake resistant design of modern buildings. In this study, I reproduced the strong ground motions of the 1596 Keicho Fushimi earthquake using a hybrid method to investigate the reasons why Kyoto's old traditional wooden buildings have escaped damage. To reproduce the strong ground motions, I used fault models based on the latest research results and high-quality observation records obtained from the aftershocks of the 2018 Northern Osaka earthquake. The 1596 Keicho Fushimi earthquake, the target earthquake of this study, occurred on the Arima-Takatsuki fault zone, and the Ujigawa fault zone exists on the eastern extension of this fault zone. Because the Ujigawa fault is blind, I made two fault models based on the linked or non-linked ruptures, of the Arima-Takatsuki fault zone and the Ujigawa fault zone. The fault models were set based on the strong ground motion evaluation procedure by the Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion(2017) and by Dan et al .(2019). The hybrid method used in this study for the strong ground motion reproduction consists of two methods: the wavenumber integration method by Hisada and Bielak(2003) for calculating long-period motions and the empirical Green ’s function method by Dan e t al .(1989) for calculating short- period motions. I will apply the reproduced strong ground motions to response analyses of modern wooden buildings.

ABSTRACT. With wireless LAN's increasing importance in our daily lives, WLAN devices have improved their bandwidth and communication effectiveness for processing the large-volume traffic generated by many WLAN devices. For processing the large number of WLAN devices and the variety of traffic volume, IEEE 802.11ax introduces Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). In OFDMA, the overhead of CSMA/CA of traditional WLAN will be reduced by the simultaneous transmission of multiple stations (STAs) because of the resource units (RU) allocation of each STA. Our previous research showed that the allocation of RU leads to the narrow bandwidth of each STA in our lab experiments using the actual devices, and the adaptive allocation of RU tones based on the WLAN environment will be effective; however, we cannot implement our proposed adaptive RU tones control the actual devices. In this study, we evaluated the performance of IEEE802.11ax wireless LANs employing OFDMA using network simulator version 3 (NS-3) and compared the simulation results with the experimental results obtained by actual devices. We showed the impact of the number of STAs and channel bonding (CB) width through simulation and experimental results. Furthermore, we applied a pre-determined number of RU tones to STAs in the simulation, although we could not specify it in the actual devices. We discussed the validity of the evaluation using NS-3 instead of the experiments using actual devices and the potential of NS-3 in implementing a new adaptive control method for RU tones based on the number of STAs and traffic types in the WLAN through our simulation results.

ABSTRACT. We recently succeeded in obtaining unique columnar nanofibers (Col-NFs) composed of stacked monodisperse nanosheets (mNS) with uniform shape and size[1]. We also found that nanofiber bundles (Col-Bun) were formed by exchanging the counter cation with [Ru(bpy)3]2+. Such mNS-based materials are expected to be applied as wide range of functional materials. In this study, we investigated the orientation and superstructure formation of mNSs under electric fields. The aqueous mNS colloidal solution was obtained by refluxing aqueous mixture of titanium isopropoxide and tetramethylammonium [1]. Col-Bun dispersion was prepared by adding [Ru(bpy)3]2+ aqueous solution to this mNS solution, followed by adjusting the concentrations as: [mNS] = 0.05 wt%, [TMA+] = 10-4-10-6M, [[Ru(bpy)3]2+] = 1.5×10-3 M. This solution was filled into a capillary and a sinusoidal AC electric field (E) of 100 V/mm was applied and observed under a fluorescence microscope. The long-axis of the Col-Buns were aligned parallel to E immediately after application of the E, followed by formation of superstructures. The long-axis of the Col-Buns were aligned parallel to the E immediately after application of the E, followed by formation of superstructures. At high frequencies (100 kHz) or low salt concentration (10-6 M), the Col-Buns were connected end-to-end into chains, forming fiber-like superstructures with the length of sub-mm, that is much larger than the length of the Col-Bun. In contrast, at lower frequencies (10 kHz) or higher salt concentrations (10-4 M), wavy superstructures perpendicular to the E were formed through stacking of Col-Buns side-by-side. The formation of the long fiber is explained by electrostatic attraction between induced dipoles on Col-Buns. References [1] Miyamoto et al., Sci. Adv. 10, eadk6452 (2024)

ABSTRACT. In recent years, medical applications of low-temperature atmospheric pressure plasma have been actively studied. Plasma is the fourth state after solid, liquid, and gas, and is a complex state consisting of electrons, ions, radicals, and light. In addition, regenerative medicine using pluripotent cells has been actively studied. However, there are issues such as the difficulty of culturing pluripotent stem cells and the problem of biocompatibility. In order to solve these problems, research is being conducted using plasma as a method to promote cell growth and to heal defective tissues. Furthermore, plasma is also being studied as a novel therapeutic method to promote cell growth by stimulating cells with plasma. However, the appropriate conditions for plasma irradiation of cells and material changes in cells have not yet been elucidated. Therefore, in this study, yeast is used as a substitute for cells, and plasma irradiation is performed on yeast to investigate the effects of plasma irradiation on the growth promotion of yeast and its components. In this study, plasma irradiation was performed on yeast and culture media. The voltage, gas, flow rate, and irradiation distance were adjusted, and growth was observed. From the results, the average doubling time was determined, and suitable plasma irradiation for yeast was investigated. Furthermore, the amount of sugar contained in yeast was detected using the phenol and sulfuric acid method, and the relationship between yeast growth promotion and the amount of sugar was investigated. Further optimization of plasma irradiation of cells and yeast and analysis of their components are expected to lead to the discovery of cell growth mechanisms and appropriate treatment methods for the medical field.

ABSTRACT. Atmospheric pressure plasmas exhibit high electron temperatures exceeding ten thousand degrees Celsius, compared to ion and gas temperatures. Consequently, their high reactivity has prompted extensive research in medical and agricultural fields in recent years. However, the temperature, density, and their distributions within the plasma regions remain poorly understood, and measurement methods have not yet been established. This uncertainty arises from several factors: the small size of the plasma, typically on the order of millimeters, making it difficult to correlate the emission range with plasma regions such as temperature; the use of gas introduces structural complexity within the plasma; and the extent of the impact of atmospheric gases within the plasma is unclear.

This study aims to measure the temperature distribution within atmospheric pressure plasma and clarify its influence. We have established a non-contact spatial distribution measurement method using laser interferometry and applied it to measure the temperature distribution across the cross-section of atmospheric pressure plasma. Specifically, we conducted detailed temperature measurements at various points within the plasma and visualized the temperature distribution based on the collected data. This method enables a clear understanding of the changes in temperature distribution depending on plasma generation conditions and the type of gas used. Additionally, we investigated the impact of atmospheric particles on the plasma, quantitatively evaluating the range and degree of their influence.

Successful outcomes from this research could further advance plasma technology applications in medical and agricultural fields, leading to the development of new therapies and crop growth promotion techniques using plasma. Understanding the precise characteristics of plasma and expanding its application range is crucial, making such foundational research indispensable. Clarifying the internal structure and behavior of atmospheric pressure plasma is a vital step toward establishing a solid foundation for future applied technologies.

ABSTRACT. A novel real-time in-situ detection method for aquatic plants using probe beam deflection/fluorescence quenching has been reported. The method can measure physiological activities such as respiration and photosynthesis occurring at the outer edge of a leaf by passing a probe beam through the outer edge and monitoring the materials movements-induced beam deflection and dissolved oxygen (DO)-induced fluorescence quenching. However, it is difficult to monitor the most active physiological activities on the leaf surface, because the focused probe beam will be blocked when closing the leaf surface. In this work, the applicability of the method to monitor the materials movements across the leaf surface is discussed. Holding methods of the aquatic plant and optical arrangements were examined. As a result, the developed method could be used for real-time in-situ monitoring of materials movements across the leaf surface. Furthermore, the developed method is applied to study heavy metal stress in aquatic plants.

ABSTRACT. Structural color materials have been developed using a variety of materials. Among these materials, we have been focusing on inorganic nanosheets with a thickness of a few nm, which are obtained by exfoliation of inorganic layered crystals.[1][2] We also succeeded in synthesizing structural color nanosheet hydrogels by compositing the network polymer with the structural color nanosheets. However, the hydrogel was brittle and the solvent, water, in the gel easily evaporated in air so that the low durability in practical applications is a serious problem. In this study, we aimed to synthesize structural color nanosheet elastomers that contain no solvent and stable in air, different from the hydrogel. The structural color nanosheet hydrogel was synthesized by mixing structural color nanosheet dispersion with monomer (N-Isopropylacrylamide), chemical crosslinker (N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide)) and a photoinitiator (2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone), followed by photopolymerization. This hydrogel was immersed in ethanol and then in mixture of the second monomer (ethyl acrylate), the chemical cross-linker (ethylene dimethacrylate), and the photoinitiator, followed by photopolymerization to obtain structural color nanosheet elastomers. Each sample was analyzed by UV-visible reflectance spectra, small-angle X-ray scattering(SAXS), and tensile testing. The maximum reflection wavelength was 512 nm for the structural color nanosheet dispersion solution, 713 nm for the ethanol-swollen gel, and 500 nm for the final elastomer. This indicates that the structural color of the swollen lamellar structure of the nanosheets formed in the nanosheet sol was retained in the final elastomer. SAXS results showed that the nanosheets do not aggregate and are dispersed within the elastomer. The 2D patterns show that the nanosheets are aligned parallel to the surface of the elastomer film. References [1] N. Miyamoto.et al Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 8466 –8471 [2] N. Miyamoto, S. Yamamoto, ACS Omega 2022, 7, 6070.

ABSTRACT. The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) epsilon is a myeloid-specific transcription factor essential for neutrophil differentiation. Mutations in C/EBPε result in immunodeficiency due to the failure of neutrophils to differentiate normally, a condition known as Neutrophil-Specific Granule Deficiency (SGD). SGD is a rare disorder characterized by abnormal neutrophils, evidenced by reduced granules, absence of granule proteins, and atypical bilobed nuclei. Previously, a SGD patient with a homozygous 2-amino acid deletion (ΔRS) in the leucine zipper (bZIP) domain of the C/EBPε gene was reported. In this study, we examined the molecular characteristics of another novel mutant with an 11-bp deletion (del11) causing a homozygous frameshift mutation leading to the loss of the bZIP domain. Biochemical analysis revealed that both mutants showed a marked reduction in transcriptional activity and loss of protein-protein interactions. Interestingly, the del11 mutant exhibited abnormal cellular localization and loss of DNA-binding activity. These results indicate that both mutant C/EBP epsilon variants lack transcriptional activity, although the mechanisms of loss of function differ, suggesting that therapeutic strategies may need to be adjusted to address the specific mutation.

ABSTRACT. Embryonic stem (ES) cells have two major characteristics: pluripotency (the capacity to differentiate into various cell types) and self-renewal (the capacity to proliferate while maintaining a pluripotent state). The self-renewal capacity of ES cells is regulated by the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Specifically, LIF stimulation causes the intracellular activation of JAK2 and subsequent phosphorylation of STAT3, leading to dimer formation and translocation into the nucleus. STAT3 is known to be phosphorylated at two key sites, Y705 and S727. The dimerized and phosphorylated STAT3 in the nucleus induces the expression of self-renewal-related genes. Additionally, LIF stimulation also activates the Grb2/Ras and PI3K/AKT pathways, further supporting the self-renewal and pluripotency of ES cells. Previously, we constructed STAT3ER-expressing ES cells, where 4HT stimulation leads to dimerization of STAT3ER, allowing these cells to maintain an undifferentiated state in the presence of 4HT instead of LIF. In this study, we generated mutant STAT3ER variants, including Y705F (YF), S727A (SA), which are non-phosphorylatable forms, and S727E (SE), a phosphorylation-mimic form. STAT3ER-expressing ES cells, including wild-type, YF, SA, SE, and SAYF, were examined for functional differences in the presence of 4HT. WT, SA, and SE maintained an undifferentiated state in the presence of 4HT, whereas YF and SAYF did not. These findings indicate that YF and SAYF mutants do not function even with artificial dimerization. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of these phosphorylation sites in regulating STAT3 activity and their impact on ES cell pluripotency and self-renewal.

ABSTRACT. Self-renewal ability and pluripotency are major characteristics of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, which originate from the inner cell mass of early mouse embryos at 3.5-4.5 days. Self-renewal means the ability to proliferate while maintaining an undifferentiated state, whereas pluripotency means the ability to differentiate into all cell types. The cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the self-renewal of ES cells, and they differentiate into ectoderm and endoderm in the absence of LIF. LIF stimulation leads to the activation of the transcription factor STAT3, which functions to sustain the undifferentiated state. Recent studies have shown that mutations in STAT3 are found in several cancer cells, including liver tumors, and these mutant STAT3 proteins exhibit constitutive activation. Since the self-renewal of ES cells depends on STAT3 activation, mutant STAT3 might maintain the undifferentiated state without LIF. In this study, we examined the function of mutant STAT3 in ES cells. ES cells expressing mutant STAT3 exhibited an undifferentiated state without LIF, indicating that constitutive activation of STAT3 induces self-renewal. Interestingly, the proliferation of ES cells expressing mutant STAT3 was much slower than that of control ES cells in the presence of LIF, suggesting that overactivation of STAT3 by LIF induces growth repression. These findings indicate that ES cells expressing mutant STAT3 acquire cancer stem cell-like properties in the presence of LIF. Further study is required to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations and to explore potential therapeutic implications.

ABSTRACT. The self-renewal capability (proliferation ability while maintaining an undifferentiated state) of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells is sustained by the activation of STAT3. Previous studies have reported that an anticancer drug effectively inhibits STAT3 functions in breast cancer cells. Consequently, it is possible that treating ES cells with the STAT3 inhibitor may induce their differentiation. Interestingly, however, we have discovered that treatment with the STAT3 inhibitor results in cell death without inhibiting STAT3. Here, we investigated the effects of the STAT3 inhibitor on the proliferation and/or survival of ES cells, including wild-type, p53 knockout, and STAT3 knockout ES cells under both LIF and 2i (2 inhibitors) culture conditions. We found that the STAT3 inhibitor effectively induces cell death in both wild-type and STAT3 knockout ES cells, suggesting that the drug can function even in the absence of STAT3. Notably, the drug also induces cell death in p53 knockout ES cells. Our findings suggest that the drug has cytotoxic activity that is independent of both STAT3 and p53.

ABSTRACT. Inorganic nanosheets (NSs), obtained by exfoliating an inorganic layered substance, are plate-like particles with a high aspect ratio (thickness of 1 nm and a width of several hundred μm) and a large specific surface area. To impart new functions and to expand the range of applications of NSs, modification of the surface of inorganic nanosheets with grafting agents have been investigated. However, since monolayer exfoliated NSs generally do not disperse in organic solvents, direct modification is usually difficult. In this study, we established a new method to graft functional moieties on monolayer NSs, retaining the monolayer state, by utilizing polymer gel. We applied this method to successfully immobilizing single stranded DNA (ssDNA) onto NS surface. Hexaniobate NSs were first immobilized in polymer hydrogels (polyacrylic acid gel) to avoid agglomeration. Then, the NSs in the gel were grafted with the silylating agent 3-mercaptopropyldimethoxymethylsilane. Lastly, biotin, streptavidin, and ssDNA were successfully attached step-by-step. The grafting of ssDNA attached with fluorescent molecule FITC (FITC-ssDNA) onto the NS was confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), in which the fluorescent image matched the scattering image of the nanosheets, indicating that FITC-ssDNA is present on NS. We then investigated whether the hybridization reaction with the complementary ssDNA occurs even in the situation where the ssDNA is immobilized on the niobate nanosheet. By CLSM, when the complementary ssDNA terminated with the quencher molecule BHQ-1 is added, the initially observed FITC-ssDNA modified nanosheets gradually disappeared, and finally, after 24 min, the fluorescence disappeared completely. Thus, the detection of target ssDNA by hybridization with ssDNA on the NS was confirmed. This system has potential applications in biosensors that can detect specific DNA of COVID-19 viruses etc.

ABSTRACT. The decline of the sericulture industry has led to the widespread abandonment of mulberry fields. Converting these fields to common agricultural land is prohibitively expensive, and the recognition of mulberry fruits as edible is steadily decreasing. Consequently, it is essential to identify and develop sustainable methods for utilizing mulberry fruits. The awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is growing worldwide, even in the cosmetic industry. The cosmetic industry has enabled sustainable production and consumption, while protecting the natural environment in the world. Mulberry fruit extract is rich in a variety of polyphenols, including 1-deoxynojirimycin and anthocyanins, which are specific to mulberry and possess numerous health benefits. The inhibitory effects of melanin production with the mulberry fruit extract have been investigated by several researchers. Despite extensive research on the antioxidant properties and melanogenesis-inhibiting effects by phenolic compounds such as polyphenols in plants, their impact on skin aging processes is not yet well understood. In this study, a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of melanin production was observed using B16 melanoma cells. The observed inhibition of melanin production was attributed to both competitive inhibition and antioxidant activity. Furthermore, adding the mulberry fruit extract reduced protein expression of tyrosinase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in melanin production, as well as the suppression of genes associated with melanin synthesis in melanoma. These findings suggested that the mulberry fruit extract inhibited melanin synthesis at multiple levels, indicating its potential as a promising natural raw material for skin-whitening cosmetics. Additionally, the permeability of the extract to the skin was evaluated using a dermal diffusion test model, which was non-animal origin and ethic. This method allows and kinetic analysis of extract in the stratum corneum.

ABSTRACT. Bioactive macromolecules are expected to have medical applications due to their functionality in vivo. However, bioactive macromolecules might not be sufficiently effective with previous methods of administration. Therefore, the methods of administration using by transdermal penetration have been studied by several researchers. The stratum corneum of the skin has a barrier function, and the permeation of bioactive macromolecules is significantly inhibited. A transdermal delivery method has been investigated. This method uses surfactants and the reverse micellar method. Surfactants constating of micelles are used in a wide range of applications such as detergents and food emulsifiers. However, some surfactants are poorly biodegradable and harmful to the human body. In this study, peptide-type surfactants forming reverse micelles were synthesized and their skin permeability was evaluated. The peptide-type surfactants were easily hydrolysable and biocompatible. The synthesis of the surfactants was confirmed by MALDI-TOFMS analysis at each step of synthesis. The fluorescent-labelled heparin sodium (FHNa) was prepared and encapsulated inside the reverse micelles. These solutions were observed by fluorescence microscope. The surfactants were selected as synthesized surfactants and AOT as a comparison. The results of fluorescence microscopy showed fluorescent particles in all reverse micellar formulations. It was assumed that the bioactive macromolecules were encapsulated inside reverse micelles and dispersed in the oil. The reverse micelle formulation was applied to YMP skin. The skin permeability experiments were performed for 24 hours using a Franz-type cell. The dermal slice samples frozen at -80°C were prepared. Skin cross-sections were observed by fluorescence microscopy. The results revealed that the reverse micelle formulation appeared to be more permeated than control. It was considered that the hydrophilic substance FHNa broke through the stratum corneum of the lipophilic skin by encapsulating within the reverse micelles.

ABSTRACT. We have recently demonstrated the formation of columnar nanofibers (ColNF) by self-assembly of anionic monodisperse titania nanosheets (mNS).[1] Furthermore, ion exchange of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMA+), which preexists between ColNF layers as a counterion of mNS, with [Ru(bpy)3]2+ can stabilize ColNF due to the strong electrostatic attraction between [Ru(bpy)3]2+ and mNS. When large amount of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ is introduced, columnar nanofiber bundles (ColBun) formed. In this study, we aimed to obtain macroscopic solid materials in the form of thin films and fibers from the ColNF and ColBun, which can be applied to high-performance photocatalysts, fire-resistance materials, etc. First, mNS solution was synthesized by refluxing a mixed aqueous solution of TMA+ and titanium tetraisopropoxide. [Ru(bpy)3]2+ was then introduced into this solution to form ColBun (Ru(x)-ColBun solution (x = 1.0)). The mNS solution was also concentrated to obtain a solution in which ColNF was formed. The Ru-ColBun solution was cast and dried or dip-coated onto a glass plate to form thin films. Fiberation was also performed by wet spinning, in which the ColNF solution was extruded into acetone. Each sample was then observed with a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and a polarizing optical microscope (POM). Based on these observations, columnar nanofiber bundles composed of monodisperse titania nanosheets (mNS) and [Ru(bpy)3]2+ was synthesized and their thin films were successfully deposited on glass plates by simple casting or dip-coating. Macroscopic fibers of columnar nanofibers composed of mNS and tetramethylammonium were obtained by wet-spinning.

ABSTRACT. Falls significantly impact the quality of life for elderly. With the global aging population, the need for effective fall prevention and injury mitigation strategies is increasingly critical. In our previous study, we developed a system utilizing accelerometer sensors to capture body movement data and predict falls using an LSTM model. Building upon this foundation, we now propose an advanced system designed to prevent injuries following fall predictions. This system comprises four key components: fall prediction, false alarm prevention, fall direction assessment, and an activated protective airbag. Acceleration sensors are employed for data collection related to fall prediction and direction assessment. To minimize false alarms triggered by various unpredictable daily activities, we plan to integrate an EEG(Electroencephalography) detection device. This device will monitor the person’s emotional changes via EEG to enhance the accuracy of the fall prediction system. Once a fall is confirmed and not identified as a false alarm, the system will determine the fall direction and deploy the corresponding protective airbag to safeguard person from injuries.

ABSTRACT. Understanding the functionality of solid materials depends on the type and arrangement of their constituent atoms. Perturbations caused by defects or interactions between adsorbates can significantly alter these functionalities, influencing fields such as catalysis, superconductivity, and carrier transport. Detecting these subtle perturbations, however, remains challenging. Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) offers high-resolution insights into structural, electrical, electronic, and magnetic properties at the nano/atomic level. Despite its capabilities, traditional methods struggle to analyze local interactions from acyclic or complex structural data. To address this, we developed a method that recognizes structures with local features and elucidates local interactions by creating templates from portions of SPM images and locally analyzing differences. This method was demonstrated by analyzing SPM images of lithographically created nanostructures and C60 on Au(111), showcasing its effectiveness. Additionally, we analyzed oxygen defects on titanium dioxide (TiO2) surfaces. Recognizing these defects is crucial due to their significant impact on TiO2 properties. Using SPM, we confirmed the distribution pattern of oxygen defects. First-principles calculations were employed to simulate and validate consistency with experimental observations, revealing that the observed pattern is energetically favorable. Our SPM image analysis technique reveals intricate details of local interactions and defects on material surfaces, opening new avenues in materials science.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this research is to experimentally determine the critical current characteristics of YBCO superconducting tape in different magnetic fields (strength and direction) and temperatures (T), to explore the anisotropy of the upper critical magnetic field (Bc2) and the effects of the longitudinal magnetic field effect in the critical current density (Jc) of YBCO superconducting tape, and then, find a way to improve Jc, which lays the foundation for the power transmission application of the new high temperature superconducting cable of YBCO. Through the experimental results, the following conclusions are drawn: When T is around 40 K, the longitudinal magnetic field effect has a large effect on Jc, and the anisotropy of Bc2 has little effect on Jc. In addition, the component of B on the crystallization axis (c-axis) of YBCO superconducting tape also affects Jc. When the current has a component in the direction of B, Jc will change and will become larger as the component in the direction of B becomes larger. In a longitudinal magnetic field, an increase in B has little effect on Jc. Conversely, in the transverse magnetic field, the change in B has a large effect on Jc, and the effect is more significant at higher temperatures. In the low magnetic field, the longitudinal magnetic field effect has little effect on Jc, and in the high magnetic field, the longitudinal magnetic field effect has a large effect on Jc.

ABSTRACT. Van der Waals (vdW) epitaxy and remote epitaxy have recently garnered significant attention [1]. Zinc telluride (ZnTe) is a promising material for highly efficient light emitting in the green wavelength region and THz generation and detection. While vdW epitaxy of ZnTe on graphene has been demonstrated using vacuum deposition [2], this study explores ZnTe thin film growth on graphene using metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), which is suitable for large-area growth. The influence of substrate temperature on the growth properties was investigated. Polycrystalline monolayer graphene transferred onto SiO2 (90 nm)/Si wafers was used as substrates. ZnTe thin films were grown by using atmospheric pressure MOCVD method. Hydrogen was used as the carrier gas, while dimethylzinc and diethyl tellurium served as the precursors. Each growth was conducted at various substrate temperatures ranging from 340 °C to 440 °C, while keeping all other growth conditions constant. The grown thin films were characterized using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray rocking curve (XRC), visible-infrared reflectance spectroscopy, and scanning probe microscopy. Raman spectroscopy confirmed the growth of ZnTe at all the substrate temperatures. From XRD analysis, 111 and higher order diffraction peaks of ZnTe were observed independent of the substrate temperature, indicating that (111) orientation is dominant for ZnTe growth on graphene/SiO2/Si. The minimum ZnTe 111 XRC-FWHM of approximately 1.5° was observed for the thin film grown at 360 °C (290 nm thickness), demonstrating an improvement over 1.67° (400 nm thickness) reported in the previous study [2]. The results demonstrate that MOCVD can effectively grow ZnTe thin film on graphene and indicate that substrate temperature significantly influences the crystallinity, growth rate, and surface morphology of ZnTe thin film on graphene/SiO2/Si.

[1] Y. Kim, et. al., Nature, 544, 340 (2017). [2] X. Sun, et. al., J. Appl. Phys., 23, 025303 (2018).

ABSTRACT. Currently, superconducting wires and tapes are widely used in DC applications such as MRI and high-field magnets. On the other hand, practical applications in AC power devices are not widespread yet, although demonstration experiments are being conducted. AC loss reduction is one of the most important issues. For the AC loss reduction in the REBa2Cu3Oy (RE=Rare Earth, REBCO) superconducting tapes, multi-filamentation, which limits the range of movement of the magnetic flux lines in the width direction of the tape, is effective. Typically, mechanical cutting with a slitting blade and laser cutting are used. However, these methods are processed after the superconducting thin films have been deposited, so there is a risk of damage to the superconducting layers during cutting, and further narrowing is not easy. Therefore, we have carried out a new method of separating the superconducting layers by using metal-stripe (Zr, Nb, etc.) formed before the deposition of REBCO thin films. In this study, we have measured critical current properties to confirm whether it is possible to separate the superconducting layers by increasing the width of the metal-stripe on SrTiO3 substrate. We fabricated two microbridges of YBa2Cu3Ox. One contains a Zr-stripe of the half width of 5.2 μm vertically in the middle of the longitudinal direction, the other does not. The width and length of the microbridges are both 500 μm. Current-voltage characteristics were measured using the Physical Property Measurement System. As a result, a superconducting transition was observed in both microbridges. In addition, the critical current in the microbridge with Zr-stripe was about 95% lower than that in the microbridge without one. This result suggests that thin films around the Zr-stripe locally consists of superconducting phases. We have also investigated the electrical separation when the width of the Zr-stripe is increased. The results are also reported.

ABSTRACT. In Japan, the concentration of population, assets and central functions in urban centres has led to overcrowding. In response, a number of valuable remaining spaces in large cities have been built underground, including subways, underground shopping malls, roads, parks and car parks. However, a significant number of urban settlements are located on alluvial plains, making them vulnerable to flooding. During periods of heavy rainfall, floodwaters from rivers and sewers can overflow into underground spaces, causing significant damage. In the 1999 floods in Fukuoka, employees left in the basements of buildings were lost when the Mikasa River, which flows through Fukuoka City, overflowed and flooded the underground spaces. Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of short duration intense rainfall events. Therefore, in urban areas with well-developed underground spaces, it is necessary to understand the process of flooding into underground spaces during large-scale flooding and to take countermeasures. Since studies have been conducted on internal flooding in the Fukuoka urban area, but there are few examples of studies that consider external flooding in underground spaces, this study conducted a flooding analysis considering the underground shopping centre in the Tenjin area of Fukuoka City under the assumption that the Naka River, which flows through the urban centre of Fukuoka, causes external water flooding, and investigated the risk of flooding in underground spaces.

ABSTRACT. Waru-Waru Weir is one of the weirs in Bone Regency which was established in 2014, located in Batu Gading Village, Mare District, which serves 1000 Ha of agricultural land in Mare District, where the majority of the population work as rice farmers, and depend on the results of the rice fields for their living. In 2017 there was a flood which caused the upstream right retaining wall to collapse due to overtopping of the flow passing through the weir. This is because the capacity of the spillway is unable to pass the flood discharge estimated at Q100, so it is highly hoped that the function of the weir building will be optimized, so that it can support and maximize agricultural yields. The Waru-Waru Weir should be able to pass a discharge of Q100, but changes in land use upstream have caused a change in the value of Q100, so it is necessary to re-plan the spillway capacity of the Waru-Waru Weir. Based on the results of the hydrological analysis, it was found that Q100 was 420.73 m3/sec, so it was necessary to increase the width of the lighthouse by 20 m towards the right in height. Based on the results of the weir stability analysis, this construction is safe against shear overturning forces and the soil's bearing capacity is safe against up lift, both in terms of normal water conditions and without or in the event of an earthquake with the provisions of SF > 1.5 for conditions without earthquakes and SF > 1.25 for conditions with an earthquake.

ABSTRACT. Imazu Bay is located southwest of Hakata Bay in northern Kyushu, covering an area of approximately 9 km². The Imazu tidal flat is formed at the mouth of the Zuibaiji River on the west side of Imazu Bay. Saita et al. (2019) reported water level fluctuations with periods of 30-60 minutes on the Imazu tidal flat. However, the overall picture of bay water oscillations in Imazu Bay, including the Imazu tidal flat, remains unclear. This study aims to characterize these oscillations. Pressure-type water level gauges were installed at three locations: Imazu Tidal Flat (Sta. 1), Imazu Fishing Port (Sta. 2), and Odo (Sta. 3). The observation period was from Oct. 8 to Nov. 7, 2023, with water levels measured at 1-minute intervals. Data were corrected for atmospheric pressure. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analysis was performed on four periods of 1,024 minutes of continuous data. The spectral analysis showed relatively high values in the periodic band longer than 60 minutes, likely due to tides and the first mode of Hakata Bay (period of about 2 hours). Relatively high values were also observed in the 30-60 minute range, consistent with Saita et al. (2019). The spectra at Odo showed high values below 30 minutes, attributed to wind waves. To further examine the oscillation relationships between sites, coherence and phase difference were calculated using water level data. Results between Sta. 1-3 suggest bay water oscillations with antinodes at both stations, while results between Sta. 2-3 indicate a lack of such oscillation, suggesting the entire bay resonates in response to long-period waves from the mouth of Hakata Bay. This study confirms specific periodic zone oscillations in Imazu Bay through field observations. Long-term continuous data acquisition and additional observation sites are necessary for a more accurate understanding of the vibration system.