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Polyaniline hydrogel in flexible energy systems: Synthesis techniques, hybrid architecture, sustainability and techno-economic analysis
No full textThis review presents the progressive advances in polyaniline (PANI)-based conductive polymer hydrogels (CPHs) for next-generation flexible energy storage systems, revealing a significant improvement in synthesis methodologies, sustainable progress, and applications. The review demonstrates how surfactants, crosslinkers, co-polymerization, and binder-free formulations can effectively achieve superior electrochemical performance and mechanical solidity. The analysis uncovers the developments addressing key challenges like cycle stability and capacitance fading through novel hybrid architectures of PANI with emerging materials like MXenes, Graphene, and Carbon nanotubes. An exceptional specific capacitance of 936.8 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and energy density reaching 40.98 Wh kg−1 is also observed from the assisted dynamically crosslinked PANI/PVA hydrogel sheet. Moreover, dual-doping strategies and controlled crystallinity have led to remarkable stability improvements, with capacitance retention exceeding 92 % after 10,000 cycles. Crucial correlations between synthesis parameters and performance metrics reveal that γ-radiation-induced synthesis can enhance elongation up to 1400 % while maintaining superior conductivity. The control of optimum porosity has enabled the development of high-mass-loading electrodes (>43.2 mg cm−2) with outstanding rate capability (92.7 % retention from 20 to 500 mA cm−2). Novel freeze-thaw-shrink treatments and self-healing mechanisms have produced mechanically robust devices capable of operating under extreme conditions (−30 °C∼90 °C). Sustainable production approaches incorporating bio-friendly dopants and electrolytes demonstrate reduced environmental impact. This work also emphasises the optimum synthesis strategies for production scalability from a techno-economic viewpoint. These findings establish a framework for developing cutting-edge flexible supercapacitors with significant implications for advanced portable electronics, wearable devices, and grid-scale energy storage solutions
Empowers Students' Communication Skills Through ‘News Flash!’
Full text linkIn alignment with its ambitious mission to cultivate students who are not only confident, and articulate but also exceptionally well-rounded, the Centre for Modern Languages (CML), Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), on 24 April 2025 carried out a transformative community service programme titled Game On: English Edition at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kuantan
Empowering the steel industry with solar: Sustainable energy for a greener future
No full textSteel manufacturing is an energy-intensive industry that grappling with rising electricity costs and substantial carbon emissions. While renewable energy is gaining attention, the integration of large-scale industrial solar photovoltaic (PV) systems remains challenging due to space constraints, fluctuating energy demands, and financial limitations. Most existing research focuses on small-scale commercial and residential solar installations. It leaves a gap in large-scale industrial systems, which require customized stringing, adaptive inverter sizing, and optimized DC/AC ratios. This research explores how to design an optimized large-scale rooftop PV system for steel manufacturing to maximize performance and profitability. The methodology involves designing and simulating a 2.8 MWp rooftop solar PV system using PVsyst software. Following this, technology selection, technical performance, economic, environmental, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. The performance ratio analysis identified a 1.43 DC/AC ratio as optimal, achieving a PR of 81.67 %. A comparative analysis between self-consumption (SELCO) and Net Offset Virtual Aggregation (NOVA) demonstrated that SELCO is the superior option, yielding RM 7.87 million in annual savings with a 9.5-month payback period. Electricity consumption of 312,417.25 kWh/month contributes to a greenhouse gas emission reduction of approximately 236.81 tons CO2-eq. The sensitivity analysis revealed that as DC voltage drop increased from 2.70 % to 3.30 %, energy output declined, leading to a simultaneous rise in DC losses from 0.78 % to 1.14 %.These findings highlighted large-scale solar PV as a viable decarbonization strategy. Additionally, the design integrates technical performance, financial, and environmental factors into a holistic framework to facilitate solar PV adoption in heavy industries
Development of bionically inspired lightweight design method for 3D printed components
Full text linkAdditive manufacturing methods, particularly 3D printing, are widely utilized in research and engineering for crafting lightweight yet durable materials capable of withstanding substantial forces. Leveraging insights from biomechanical structures offers a deeper understanding of reinforcement techniques and optimal design strategies to enhance strength. This paper focuses on the development of a Draisine design, historically significant in Karlsruhe, as part of the BWSplus project "Drais3D-Trinational" workshop. Through a comprehensive analysis of bionic influences on lightweight design and 3D printing parameters, this study aims to create an optimal design framework for the workshop. Utilizing Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software such as SolidWorks and Creo Parametric, along with Finite Element Analysis using ANSYS R2023 Workbench, deformation and stress analysis are conducted. Investigation into 3D printing parameters, including infill patterns, temperature, support systems, and orientation, seeks to identify optimal solutions considering factors like processing time, robustness, and filament wastage. The objective is to explore the biomechanical influence on construction methods, concept design, and parameter construction in preparation for the Drais3D-Trinational workshop in March 2023. The expected outcomes include the presentation of two main designs with varied parameters, alongside analyses such as Finite Element Analysis and optimization of 3D printing parameters, emphasizing the role of bionic structures in defining the optimal Draisine design
Implementation of a virtual reality-environment for a simulator
Full text linkWithin the scope of the development of the project, the acceleration and gyro signal, VR implementation, and User Control for VR were realized. The starting point was a list of MPU9250 data, which are acceleration and gyro data. The goal is to do the signal processing of the signal that is got from MPU9250 and implement the data with a specific format so that the LINAK LA36 actuator can be controlled in such a way that it performs as desired position. For this purpose, a multi-axis acceleration and position sensor is mounted on a surfing board which then collects the acceleration and Gyro data. A MATLAB Program had been written to convert the desired position into a CAN message. Before that, the raw acceleration data and gyro must be converted and filtered into actual data. First, the acceleration data was collected from another group. A signal processing method has been implemented. This includes gravitational force filter, noise filter, integration, and complementary filter method was used in order to get the accurate actual data that is able to be implemented into the system. For those methods, it was necessary to deal extensively with the characteristics of signal processing. VR application was implemented in this project to give the user a sensational surfing experience in the virtual world. User control has been implemented as well to allow users to control the video. Unity with Arduino work together so that both Arduino and Unity can communicate with each other, and signal messages will be sent to the Arduino from Unity and vice versa to achieve the synchronization of the video signal and Unity VR application
ESL writing apprehension: Level, causes and strategies to overcome It
No full textWriting, whether in the first or second language, is often regarded as a challenging process. On top of that, the feelings of fear, anxiety and worry would make the learning process more difficult as these negative feelings will affect the learners’ focus. Hence, this study aims to explore Diploma Engineering students’ level and causes of writing apprehension, as well as their preferred learning strategies to reduce writing apprehension. A total of 125 Diploma students from 4 engineering faculties at a local public Malaysian technical university were involved in this study and the data was collected through an online questionnaire that consists of 22 items adopted from the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI), 10 items on the Causes of Writing Anxiety Inventory (CWAI), and another 10 items on strategies to reduce writing apprehension. The findings revealed that 44% of the students experienced a high level of writing apprehension, while 36.8% experienced moderate level of writing apprehension, and only 19.2% were reported to have low level of writing apprehension. In addition, it was discovered that fear of the teacher’s negative comments, linguistic difficulties and pressure for perfect work are the top 3 factors contributing to the students’ writing anxiety. As for the strategies to reduce writing apprehension, it was revealed that interactive pedagogy, scaffolding students’ writing skills and clear instructions were crucial in helping the students to overcome their fear of writing. The findings of this study may alert English language instructors of the negative effects of writing anxiety, and the need for differential instructional methods and materials to support highly anxious writers to gradually improve their writing skill performance
Investigating the potential compounds of Kalanchoe pinnata plant for the treatment of inflammation utilizing molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation approach
Full text linkTargeting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in therapeutic treatments is essential since it is a critical enzyme implicated in the inflammatory response. The goal of the research is to find tiny compounds that resemble natural medicinal possibilities that can reduce inflammation. Using extensive in silico drug design methods, such as molecular docking, physicochemical properties, and molecular dynamics (MD) modelling, we screened 78 phytocompounds that were taken from the IMPPAT database and isolated from Kalanchoe pinnata. After evaluating these drugs' binding affinities against COX-2 by molecular docking modelling, two interesting candidates were chosen for more investigation. After being evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics, these chosen compounds outperformed a reference substance. The stability of the protein-ligand complexes was next investigated using molecular dynamic simulations, which verified that IMPHY004388 and IMPHY004619 continued to have stable interactions with the COX-2 binding site. The amalgamated outcomes of molecular docking, physicochemical analysis, and MD simulations indicate that these two compounds have promise as prospective COX-2-targeting anti-inflammatory medicines
Factors influencing speaking proficiency improvement in EFL students under SPOC-based blended learning
Full text linkThis study examines the impact of a SPOC-based blended learning model on enhancing EFL learners' willingness to engage in speaking practice, with a particular focus on Chinese university students. Although English education has gained prominence in China, many students still face significant challenges in developing spoken proficiency due to a lack of practice opportunities and high levels of anxiety. By integrating insights from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Expectation Confirmation Model (ECM-ISC), this research addresses these issues by demonstrating how the SPOC blended learning approach can effectively support language learning. Using a sample of 396 students from Chengde, Hebei Province, data analysis through SPSS and AMOS showed that the SPOC model enhances learners' confirmation and perceived usefulness. This increased perception of usefulness and alignment with expectations contributes to a reduction in anxiety, ultimately leading to a greater willingness to participate in speaking activities. As a result, the SPOC model not only improves learner engagement but also provides a practical and scalable solution for overcoming key obstacles, such as anxiety, in EFL speaking practice. These findings highlight the model’s potential as an effective approach for fostering spoken English proficiency in higher education settings
Evaluating the effectiveness of coastal protection structures in flood mitigation using hydrodynamic modeling: A case study in a tropical environment
No full textThe coastal zone is complex and vulnerable to flooding, especially in low-lying areas. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of coastal protection structures as mitigating factors through the application of the hydrodynamic model, MIKE 21. The model utilizes numerical methods to analyze scenarios involving bathymetry, tidal effects, river discharge, digital elevation model (DEM), and sea level rise (SLR). Three scenarios were outlined: the first, K1, represents a simulation without a coastal protection structure; the second, K2, includes the existing coastal protection structure; and the third, K3, presents a modified coastal protection structure designed for the study location. The K3 scenario was segmented into two regions: the northern region (NA) and the southern region (SA), both of which utilize hard and soft engineering coastal protection approaches, respectively. The results demonstrated that K2 and K3 significantly reduced flood areas, decreasing the potential inundation zones in the NA from 228 ha to 304 ha and in the SA from 31 ha to 10 ha, respectively, compared to K1. Statistical analysis (Friedman Test) showed a significant difference between K1 and K2 (chi-square = 4.0, p < 0.05), which validated the models' inclusion of coastal structures for flood risk assessment. In brief, hydrodynamic modeling that incorporates coastal structures can effectively evaluate the risk of coastal flooding in impacted areas while also enhancing the accuracy and reliability of the output
Mechanical properties and stress-strain relationship of early strength polymer-modified concrete at different ages
No full textEarly-strength polymer-modified concrete (ES-PMC) has demonstrated considerable promise for rapid repair applications, where its performance is critical to ensuring the safety and quality of concrete structure construction. This study examines the mechanical properties and stress-strain behavior of ES-PMC at various curing ages (1.5 h, 2 h, 3 h, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 28 days), with early-strength concrete (ESC) serving as the control group. The results indicate that ES-PMC generally surpasses ESC in terms of cube compressive strength, uniaxial compressive strength, and flexural strength, achieving values of 35.8 MPa, 25.4 MPa, and 4.4 MPa, respectively, at 2 h. Furthermore, a strong linear correlation is observed between the cube compressive and uniaxial compressive strengths of both ESC and ES-PMC. Under uniaxial loading, as the curing age increases, both materials undergo greater damage, with peak stress, elastic modulus, and toughness increasing over time, while peak strain, ultimate strain, and relative energy absorption capacity decrease. Additionally, a modified stress-strain model for ES-PMC was developed, incorporating age-related factors to accurately depict its stress-strain behavior across different ages. This model provides a theoretical basis for promoting its application in practical engineering and predicting its performance at various stages