Journal Description
Applied Sciences
Applied Sciences
is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal on all aspects of applied natural sciences published semimonthly online by MDPI.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Engineering, Multidisciplinary) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Engineering)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 16.9 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.6 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Testimonials: See what our authors say about Applied Sciences.
- Companion journals for Applied Sciences include: Applied Nano, AppliedChem, Applied Biosciences, Virtual Worlds, Spectroscopy Journal and JETA.
Impact Factor:
2.7 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
2.9 (2022)
Latest Articles
Modeling Volumetric Block Types in Residential Building Construction
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3565; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093565 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The article focuses on the erection of residential buildings from large-sized volumetric blocks as a modern and progressive trend in housing construction. It is noted that one of the major tasks in the development of this promising area of construction is to justify
[...] Read more.
The article focuses on the erection of residential buildings from large-sized volumetric blocks as a modern and progressive trend in housing construction. It is noted that one of the major tasks in the development of this promising area of construction is to justify the choice of type of volumetric blocks. The authors propose a method of type formation that, depending on the set objective, can either be composed of large-sized volumetric blocks only, or include combinations of large-sized and smaller-sized blocks. The article details the steps and procedure of modeling the type of volumetric blocks, which comprises three stages. At the first stage, the parameters of boundary blocks are determined, and then, by changing these parameters step by step, the parameters of blocks between the boundary blocks are set. The second stage involves developing options for the placement of blocks in accordance with the space and layout design solutions employed in the residential buildings to be erected. At the third stage, blocks are selected, and their actual type is approved. The stages of modeling of the volumetric blocks type are illustrated by practical examples, tables, and figures.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technical, Material, Structural, and Managerial Issues in Prefabricated Construction)
Open AccessArticle
A Generative Deep Learning Approach for Improving the Mechanical Performance of Structural Components
by
Nurullah Yüksel and Hüseyin Rıza Börklü
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3564; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093564 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of 3D concept designs by combining the design capability of a generative adversarial network with finite element analysis. This approach offers an innovative perspective on the conditioning of generative models while improving design properties and
[...] Read more.
This study aimed to improve the mechanical properties of 3D concept designs by combining the design capability of a generative adversarial network with finite element analysis. This approach offers an innovative perspective on the conditioning of generative models while improving design properties and automation. A new design and evaluation framework has been developed for GAN models to generate 3D models with improved mechanical properties. The framework is an iterative process that includes dataset generation, GAN training, and finite element analysis. A “joint” component used in the aerospace industry is considered to demonstrate the proposed method’s effectiveness. Over six iterations, an increase of 20% is recorded in the average safety factor of the designs, and the variety of designs produced is narrowed in the desired direction. These findings suggest that the direct generation of structural components with generative models can expand the potential of deep learning in engineering design. Another innovative aspect of this study is that it provides a new option for the conditioning of data-dependent generative design models.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
Open AccessArticle
Detecting Fatigue during Exoskeleton-Assisted Trunk Flexion Tasks: A Machine Learning Approach
by
Pranav Madhav Kuber, Hrushikesh Godbole and Ehsan Rashedi
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3563; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093563 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Back-Support Industrial Exoskeletons (BSIEs) can be beneficial in reducing the risk of injury due to overexertion during trunk flexion tasks. Most real-world tasks include complex body movements, leading to mixed outcomes that necessitate field-based methods for detecting overall physical demands. Monitoring fatigue can
[...] Read more.
Back-Support Industrial Exoskeletons (BSIEs) can be beneficial in reducing the risk of injury due to overexertion during trunk flexion tasks. Most real-world tasks include complex body movements, leading to mixed outcomes that necessitate field-based methods for detecting overall physical demands. Monitoring fatigue can be beneficial in this regard to ensure that benefits of BSIEs are translated to the real world. Our experiment included 14 participants, who performed 30 repetitions of 45° trunk-flexion while assisted by a BSIE, first without fatigue and then at medium-high back fatigue (7/10 in the Borg scale). We extracted 135 features from recorded muscle activity, trunk motion, and whole-body stability across bending, transition, and retraction portions of each trunk-flexion cycle. Four classification algorithms, namely Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), and XGBoost (XGB), were implemented to assess fatigue prediction. XGB (Accuracy: 86.1%, Recall: 86%, Specificity: 86.3%) was effective in classifying fatigue with data obtained from a single EMG sensor located on the lower back (erector spinae) muscle. Meanwhile, stability measures showed high predictability with both RF (92.9%, 91.9%, 94.1%) and XGB (93.5, 94.1%, 93.1%). Findings demonstrate the success of force plates, and when replaced by pressure insoles, they can facilitate real-world fatigue detection during BSIE-assisted trunk-flexion tasks.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches and Applications in Ergonomic Design III)
Open AccessArticle
Virtual Reality in Cultural Heritage: A Setup for Balzi Rossi Museum
by
Saverio Iacono, Matteo Scaramuzzino, Luca Martini, Chiara Panelli, Daniele Zolezzi, Massimo Perotti, Antonella Traverso and Gianni Viardo Vercelli
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3562; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093562 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study presents the creation of a virtual reality experience for the Museo Preistorico dei Balzi Rossi e Zona Archeologica (hence Balzi Rossi Museum) commemorating the centenary of Prince Albert I Grimaldi’s archaeological work at the site. The project aims to preserve and
[...] Read more.
This study presents the creation of a virtual reality experience for the Museo Preistorico dei Balzi Rossi e Zona Archeologica (hence Balzi Rossi Museum) commemorating the centenary of Prince Albert I Grimaldi’s archaeological work at the site. The project aims to preserve and convey the site’s heritage through advanced VR technology. Photogrammetry was used for 3D reconstruction of the entire Balzi Rossi coastal cliffs, including the notable “Caviglione” and “Florestano” caves, known for their upper Paleolithic rock engravings. Two subsequent development phases produced the final public VR experience, incorporating Nanite technology for enhanced visual fidelity. This advancement resulted in a more detailed and immersive VR experience, presenting the Balzi Rossi cliffs across different historical periods, including the Würm glaciation. Key to this phase was optimizing the VR experience for performance, focusing on stable frame rates and minimizing motion sickness, and integrating a multi-lingual interface for broader accessibility. Since November 2023, the VR setup at Balzi Rossi Museum has been an educational and interactive feature enabling visitors to virtually explore the site’s history. This study aims to describe a process for optimizing and enabling the creation of VR experiences while maintaining a high polygon count within the context of small teams.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in 3D Reconstruction, 3D Imaging and Virtual Reality)
Open AccessArticle
Beacon, a Lightweight Deep Reinforcement Learning Benchmark Library for Flow Control
by
Jonathan Viquerat, Philippe Meliga, Pablo Jeken-Rico and Elie Hachem
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3561; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093561 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Recently, the increasing use of deep reinforcement learning for flow control problems has led to a new area of research focused on the coupling and adaptation of the existing algorithms to the control of numerical fluid dynamics environments. Although still in its infancy,
[...] Read more.
Recently, the increasing use of deep reinforcement learning for flow control problems has led to a new area of research focused on the coupling and adaptation of the existing algorithms to the control of numerical fluid dynamics environments. Although still in its infancy, the field has seen multiple successes in a short time span, and its fast development pace is certainly partly imparted by the open-source effort that drives the expansion of the community. Yet this emerging domain is still missing a common ground to (i) ensure the reproducibility of the results and (ii) offer a proper ad hoc benchmarking basis. To this end, we propose beacon, an open-source benchmark library composed of seven lightweight one-dimensional and two-dimensional flow control problems with various characteristics, action and observation space characteristics, and CPU requirements. In this contribution, the seven considered problems are described, and reference control solutions are provided. The sources for the following work are publicly available.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Active and Passive Techniques for Fluid Flow Manipulation)
Open AccessArticle
Barley Malt as a Binder for Moulding Sands—Gas Evolution and Surface Quality of Iron Castings
by
Daniel Nowak, Artur Bobrowski, Bartłomiej Samociuk, Sylwia Żymankowska-Kumon and Daniel Medyński
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3560; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093560 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The requirements placed on the foundry industry are mainly related to the need to maintain an appropriate quality–price ratio of the product and to maintain an appropriate production regime that takes into account modern legal solutions related to environmental protection. This work is
[...] Read more.
The requirements placed on the foundry industry are mainly related to the need to maintain an appropriate quality–price ratio of the product and to maintain an appropriate production regime that takes into account modern legal solutions related to environmental protection. This work is part of the trend of searching for new or previously unused materials from renewable sources in moulding sand technology. This article concerns the possibility of using barley malt in moulding material technology as a binding material. The presented work contains the results of research on the release of gases during casting, where high temperatures cause the decomposition of chemical substances. The tests confirmed that moulding sands with barley malt as a binder do not cause excessive emissions of harmful gaseous products when pouring moulds with liquid casting alloy. The volume of gases formed was smaller than that of commonly used moulding sands with other binders. The total volume of gases produced and the kinetics of their release indicate that casting in this type of moulding sand did not cause any technological inconvenience or casting defects of gaseous origin. This was confirmed by research involving obtaining iron castings in industrial conditions using barley malt as a binder in moulding sand technology, which were then subjected to visual assessment and roughness analysis.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Materials Science and Engineering)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
A Complex Meso–Cenozoic History of Far-Field Extension and Compression: Evidence from Fission Track Analysis in the Helanshan Mountain Tectonic Belt, NW China
by
Cheng Wu, Yu Wang, Wanming Yuan and Liyun Zhou
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3559; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093559 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The Helanshan Mountain tectonic belt (HTB) is an intraplate deformation belt along the northwestern border of the Ordos Block in the North China Craton. When and why this intracontinental tectonic belt formed, its subsequent uplift and erosion, and the relationships between ranges and
[...] Read more.
The Helanshan Mountain tectonic belt (HTB) is an intraplate deformation belt along the northwestern border of the Ordos Block in the North China Craton. When and why this intracontinental tectonic belt formed, its subsequent uplift and erosion, and the relationships between ranges and adjacent basins remain unclear. To better assess the connections between the temporal and structural activity in HTB, apatite fission-track (AFT) and zircon fission-track (ZFT) analyses were conducted in this study. The lack of adequate FT data from the HTB is a source of contention and dispute. This paper collected samples for AFT and ZFT techniques from the central and southern HTB, trying to improve the research. The ZFT and AFT ages could be divided into the following 7 groups: 279 Ma, 222–213 Ma, 193–169 Ma, 151–147 Ma, 130–109 Ma, 92–77 Ma, and 65–50 Ma. The inverse modeling results of AFT indicate 4 fast cooling episodes of 170–120 Ma, 120–95 Ma, 66–60 Ma, and ~10–8 Ma to the present. Combining the results of FT analysis with radial plot and inverse modeling of AFT, the following eight age groups are believed to reveal the distinct tectonic activities in HTB: the first age group of 279 Ma mainly represented the back-arc extension of the southern HTB; the age group of 222–213 Ma was bounded with NNE-SSE trending contraction between the South China block and North China Craton; the event of 193–169 Ma responded to the post-orogenic collapse followed after the second event; the 151–147 Ma group was interpreted as the eastward extrusion induced by the subduction between Qiangtang and Lhasa blocks; the Early Cretaceous (130–109 Ma) group was not only affected by the rollback of the Pacific Plate, but also denoted the collapse of the thickened lithosphere formed in the Late Jurassic; the Late Cretaceous (92–77 Ma) group was attributed to long-distance impact from the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate; the event during 65–50 Ma was a correspondence to far-field effect of the onset collision between the Eurasian and Indian Plates; and from 10–8 Ma to the present, the progressive collision of the Indian and Eurasian Plates have a significant impact on the HTB and the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances, Challenges, and Illustrations in Applied Geochemistry)
Open AccessArticle
All in How You Ask for It: Simple Black-Box Method for Jailbreak Attacks
by
Kazuhiro Takemoto
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3558; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093558 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, encounter `jailbreak’ challenges, wherein safeguards are circumvented to generate ethically harmful prompts. This study introduces a straightforward black-box method for efficiently crafting jailbreak prompts that bypass LLM defenses. Our technique iteratively transforms harmful prompts into benign
[...] Read more.
Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, encounter `jailbreak’ challenges, wherein safeguards are circumvented to generate ethically harmful prompts. This study introduces a straightforward black-box method for efficiently crafting jailbreak prompts that bypass LLM defenses. Our technique iteratively transforms harmful prompts into benign expressions directly utilizing the target LLM, predicated on the hypothesis that LLMs can autonomously generate expressions that evade safeguards. Through experiments conducted with ChatGPT (GPT-3.5 and GPT-4) and Gemini-Pro, our method consistently achieved an attack success rate exceeding 80% within an average of five iterations for forbidden questions and proved to be robust against model updates. The jailbreak prompts generated were not only naturally worded and succinct, but also challenging to defend against. These findings suggest that the creation of effective jailbreak prompts is less complex than previously believed, underscoring the heightened risk posed by black-box jailbreak attacks.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Computing and Artificial Intelligence)
Open AccessArticle
Influence of Transport Distance, Animal Weight, and Muscle Position on the Quality Factors of Meat of Young Bulls during the Summer Months
by
Alejandro Poveda-Arteaga, Alexander Bobe, Johannes Krell, Volker Heinz, Nino Terjung, Igor Tomasevic and Monika Gibis
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3557; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093557 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
This study investigated the potential effects of transport distance, animal weight, and muscle position on meat quality in young bulls under commercial conditions across four slaughtering weeks during the summer months (May to September). Data on transport distance, lairage time, and ambient temperature
[...] Read more.
This study investigated the potential effects of transport distance, animal weight, and muscle position on meat quality in young bulls under commercial conditions across four slaughtering weeks during the summer months (May to September). Data on transport distance, lairage time, and ambient temperature during slaughtering days were collected from 80 young bulls from North German farms. Meat quality parameters, including pH, temperature, and meat color were also recorded at several post-mortem times from two different carcass locations (shoulder clod and silverside). Meat texture was evaluated both by sensory and instrumental analysis, and their values were compared to find possible correlations between them. All of the aforementioned main factors (transport distance, animal weight, and muscle position), as well as the interaction between animal weight and transport distance, significantly influenced (p < 0.01) meat quality traits. The results of the assessment of the meat texture from the cooked meat patties suggested that silverside cuts were consistently harder than shoulder clod cuts, despite having lower pH48 values.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Meat Quality and Processing)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Conjugate Heat Transfer Advancements and Applications in Aerospace Engine Technology
by
Hao Zha, Yaqian Xu, Zhigong Tang, Bin Li and Dongzhi Wang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3556; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093556 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Over the past few decades, conjugate heat transfer (CHT) technology has been instrumental in predicting temperature fields within aerospace engines, guiding engine design with its predictive capabilities. This paper comprehensively surveys the foundational technologies of CHT and their applications in engine design, backed
[...] Read more.
Over the past few decades, conjugate heat transfer (CHT) technology has been instrumental in predicting temperature fields within aerospace engines, guiding engine design with its predictive capabilities. This paper comprehensively surveys the foundational technologies of CHT and their applications in engine design, backed by an extensive literature review. A novel coupling iteration methodology, su-F-TFTB, was proposed. Following this, it introduced grid splicing technology tailored for heat flux conservation, which significantly enhances the adaptability of CHT grids. Ultimately, this study employed the self-developed Aerospace Engine Numerical Simulation (AENS v4.0.1) software to perform CHT analyses on NASA-C3X turbine blades equipped with ten radial cooling systems. A comparative analysis of pressure distributions across various density meshes was undertaken to affirm mesh independence. Furthermore, the impacts of the Spalart–Allmaras (SA) one-equation model and k–ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) two-equation model on the temperature distribution in conjugate heat transfer were investigated. The results indicated that the k–ω SST model exhibited superior performance, aligning closely with NASA experimental data. This validation confirmed the effectiveness of the software.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Heat and Mass Transfer Technologies)
Open AccessArticle
Robust Airport Surface Object Detection Based on Graph Neural Network
by
Wenyi Tang and Hongjue Li
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3555; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093555 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Accurate and robust object detection is of critical importance in airport surface surveillance to ensure the security of air transportation systems. Owing to the constraints imposed by a relatively fixed receptive field, existing airport surface detection methods have not yet achieved substantial advancements
[...] Read more.
Accurate and robust object detection is of critical importance in airport surface surveillance to ensure the security of air transportation systems. Owing to the constraints imposed by a relatively fixed receptive field, existing airport surface detection methods have not yet achieved substantial advancements in accuracy. Furthermore, these methods are vulnerable to adversarial attacks with carefully crafted adversarial inputs. To address these challenges, we propose the Vision GNN-Edge (ViGE) block, an enhanced block derived from the Vision GNN (ViG). ViGE introduces the receptive field in pixel space and represents the spatial relation between pixels directly. Moreover, we implement an adversarial training strategy with augmented training samples generated by adversarial perturbation. Empirical evaluations on the public remote sensing dataset LEVIR and a manually collected airport surface dataset show that: 1. our proposed method surpasses the original model in precision and robustness; 2. defining the receptive field in pixel space performs better than that on representation space.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision for Detection and Analysis)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
A Method for Identifying the Wear State of Grinding Wheels Based on VMD Denoising and AO-CNN-LSTM
by
Kai Xu and Dinglu Feng
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3554; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093554 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Monitoring the condition of the grinding wheel in real-time during the grinding process is crucial as it directly impacts the precision and quality of the workpiece. Deep learning technology plays a vital role in analyzing the changes in sensor signals and identifying grinding
[...] Read more.
Monitoring the condition of the grinding wheel in real-time during the grinding process is crucial as it directly impacts the precision and quality of the workpiece. Deep learning technology plays a vital role in analyzing the changes in sensor signals and identifying grinding wheel wear during the grinding process. Therefore, this paper innovatively proposes a grinding wheel wear recognition method based on Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) denoising and Aquila Optimizer—Convolutional Neural Network—Long Short-Term Memory (AO-CNN-LSTM). The paper utilizes Acoustic Emission (AE) signals generated during grinding to identify the condition of the grinding wheel. To address noise interference, the study introduces the VMD algorithm for denoising the sample dataset, enhancing the effectiveness of neural network training. Subsequently, the dataset is fed into the designed Convolutional Neural Network—Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) structure with AO-optimized parameters. Experimental results demonstrate that this method achieves high accuracy and performance.
Full article
Open AccessArticle
New Fat Bases in Model Emulsion Systems in Physicochemical and Consumer Evaluation
by
Małgorzata Kowalska, Magdalena Woźniak, Paweł Turek and Anna Żbikowska
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3553; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093553 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to indicate the validity of using enzymatically interesterified fats as a fat emulsion base. A study was conducted to determine the stability of emulsion systems based on enzymatically interesterified fats and fats containing mixed fats. The fats
[...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to indicate the validity of using enzymatically interesterified fats as a fat emulsion base. A study was conducted to determine the stability of emulsion systems based on enzymatically interesterified fats and fats containing mixed fats. The fats used in the modifications were mutton tallow and hemp oil. It was found that emulsions based on esterified fats, regardless of the type of modified fat, showed a higher shelf life and had high homogeneity. On the other hand, emulsions based on mixed fats already showed destabilization characteristics in the first days. Their structure was heterogeneous. Microscopic evaluation clearly showed large droplets of the dispersed phase, indicating a tendency to delaminate. Consumer evaluation showed that the sensory quality of the presented emulsion systems based on enzymatically interesterified fats was fully accepted by the participating consumers. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that all of the consumer-evaluated emulsions received good or very good acceptance in terms of the sensory characteristics evaluated.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Improvement of Colloidal Systems’ Stability)
Open AccessReview
Enhancing Deposit Exploitation Efficiency Utilizing Small-Diameter Radial Boreholes via Hydraulic Drilling Nozzles for Optimal Resource Recovery
by
Przemyslaw Toczek and Rafal Wisniowski
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3552; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093552 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The exploration and development of new hydrocarbon deposits is facing increasing challenges as the global shift to renewable energy sources, such as shallow geothermal deposits, wind farms, and photovoltaics, reduces the dependence on hydrocarbons. To navigate this evolving landscape, it becomes crucial to
[...] Read more.
The exploration and development of new hydrocarbon deposits is facing increasing challenges as the global shift to renewable energy sources, such as shallow geothermal deposits, wind farms, and photovoltaics, reduces the dependence on hydrocarbons. To navigate this evolving landscape, it becomes crucial to find solutions that optimize the energy extraction efficiency while maximizing the use of hydrocarbon deposits. This requires exploring opportunities in existing fields and wells, including those slated for decommissioning. This article discusses the potential for extracting resources from seemingly depleted fields, where some 60–70% of the resources remain unrecoverable due to low reservoir energy. Meeting this challenge requires the implementation of secondary and tertiary EOR methods that involve the introduction of external energy to increase reservoir pressure and enhance resource recovery. One of the proposed innovative tertiary methods involves reaming the reservoir using multiple small-diameter radial boreholes generated by a hydraulic drilling nozzle. This strategy is designed to intensify the contact between the production hole and the reservoir layer, resulting in increased or commenced production in certain cases. The described method proves to be a practical application in hydrocarbon deposits, offering the dual benefits of mitigating environmental pollution by eliminating the need for drilling new boreholes and providing a cost-effective means of accessing resources in decommissioned deposits with insufficient reservoir energy for self-exploitation. Another article points out the design variation of a hydraulic drilling nozzle tailored specifically for reaming a reservoir layer. Taking the above into account, this article provides very practical information for future projects in which paths should be sought for the design and development of hydraulic wellheads, among other things, in order to intensify the production from hydrocarbon deposits.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Science and Technology)
Open AccessFeature PaperArticle
Decentralized Identity Authentication Mechanism: Integrating FIDO and Blockchain for Enhanced Security
by
Hsia-Hung Ou, Chien-Hsiu Pan, Yang-Ming Tseng and Iuon-Chang Lin
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3551; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093551 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
FIDO (Fast Identity Online) is a set of network identity standards established by the FIDO Alliance. It employs a framework based on public key cryptography to facilitate multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric login, ensuring the robust protection of personal data associated with cloud
[...] Read more.
FIDO (Fast Identity Online) is a set of network identity standards established by the FIDO Alliance. It employs a framework based on public key cryptography to facilitate multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric login, ensuring the robust protection of personal data associated with cloud accounts and ensuring the security of server-to-terminal device protocols during the login process. The FIDO Alliance has established three standards: FIDO Universal Second Factor (FIDO U2F), FIDO Universal Authentication Framework (FIDO UAF), and the Client to Authenticator Protocols (CTAP). The newer CTAP, also known as FIDO2, integrates passwordless login and two-factor authentication. Importantly, FIDO2’s support for major browsers enables users to authenticate their identities via FIDO2 across a broader range of platforms and devices, ushering in the era of passwordless authentication. In the FIDO2 framework, if a user’s device is stolen or compromised, then the private key may be compromised, and the public key stored on the FIDO2 server may be tampered with by attackers attempting to impersonate the user for identity authentication, posing a high risk to information security. Recognizing this, this study aims to propose a solution based on the FIDO2 framework, combined with blockchain technology and access control, called the FIDO2 blockchain architecture, to address existing security vulnerabilities in FIDO2. By leveraging the decentralized nature of the blockchain, the study addresses potential single points of failure in FIDO2 server centralized identity management systems, thereby enhancing system security and availability. Furthermore, the immutability of the blockchain ensures the integrity of public keys once securely stored on the chain, effectively reducing the risk of attackers impersonating user identities. Additionally, the study implements an access control mechanism to manage user permissions effectively, ensuring that only authorized users can access corresponding permissions and preventing unauthorized modifications and abuse. In addition to proposing practical solutions and steps, the study explains and addresses security concerns and conducts performance evaluations. Overall, this study brings higher levels of security and trustworthiness to FIDO2, providing a robust identity authentication solution.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Research of Park and Ride Parking Spaces Tiered Pricing Methodology Based on Subway Ride Distance
by
Hao Miao, Hongzhi Guan, Yan Han and Hongfei Wang
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3550; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093550 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Park and Ride (P&R) as a demand management tool has the effect of reducing traffic congestion in urban centers, saving energy and reducing pollutant emissions. Since 2000, many cities in China have been constructing P&R facilities, which have partially alleviated urban traffic congestion
[...] Read more.
Park and Ride (P&R) as a demand management tool has the effect of reducing traffic congestion in urban centers, saving energy and reducing pollutant emissions. Since 2000, many cities in China have been constructing P&R facilities, which have partially alleviated urban traffic congestion and provided a time-reliable mode of travel for commuters heading to urban centers. However, in recent years, due to the pricing policy of the P&R facility, there has been an insufficient supply of P&R facilities in many places. In fact, the P&R system prefers to welcome travelers who make long-distance subway rides and does not want those who make short-distance subway rides to occupy more parking spaces. To address this, this paper proposes a tiered pricing strategy that considers charging parking fees based on the distance traveled by commuters after switching to public transportation, to improve the utilization of P&R. That is, charge less for parking for long-distance subway riders and more for short-distance subway riders. Firstly, based on questionnaire data from SP surveys, a fixed pricing mixed logit model (FP model) and a tiered pricing mixed logit model (TP model) for P&R facilities are constructed. Utilizing two models, we explored the mechanisms underpinning traveler’s mode choice influenced by daily habits and travel considerations through the comparison of the two models to validate the effectiveness of the tiered pricing for P&R facilities. The study found that the implementation of a tiered pricing method for P&R facilities increases its attractiveness to long-distance subway ride travelers, resulting in a higher proportion of long-distance subway riders among P&R commuters. In the study’s last section, a marginal effect analysis was conducted on the per-kilometer cost (Pkm) within the P&R model. This analysis determined the optimal Pkm for three subway travel distances within the P&R model. Consequently, it calculated the corresponding P&R parking fees for these three subway travel distances. Additionally, we have predicted the implementation effects of the tiered pricing scheme.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Transportation and Future Mobility)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Research and Design of the RF Cavity for an 11 MeV Superconducting Cyclotron
by
Yue Wu, Zi-Feng He, Wei-Shi Wan, Pan-Pan Zheng and Hua-Fei Yu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3549; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093549 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
In contrast to the room temperature cyclotron, the superconducting cyclotron’s high operational magnetic field and small extraction radius lead to a magnet design with a reduced radius. This limits the space available for the RF cavity in the 11 MeV superconducting cyclotron, necessitating
[...] Read more.
In contrast to the room temperature cyclotron, the superconducting cyclotron’s high operational magnetic field and small extraction radius lead to a magnet design with a reduced radius. This limits the space available for the RF cavity in the 11 MeV superconducting cyclotron, necessitating a more compact RF cavity design. By using the transmission line theory, the complex structure of the quarter-wavelength coaxial cavity can be represented as a microwave circuit. Through relevant theoretical analytical formulas, equivalent circuit parameters can be derived. The resonant frequency of the RF cavity is then determined using the equivalent circuit method. The optimization of the RF cavity structure was achieved by creating a numerical model and conducting finite element numerical calculations on the high-frequency resonant system. The comparative results between the equivalent circuit and numerical calculations indicate that the frequency error remains within 0.1%, validating the compact RF cavity design. A multiple linear regression analysis facilitates the prediction of resonance frequency across various parameter variables. By analyzing the fitting formula, RF cavity machining error requirements are established, ensuring a prediction error within 1%, thus meeting engineering design criteria.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Particle Acceleration: Novel Techniques, Instruments and Applications)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Sensory Factors Influence Dynamic and Static Bi-Manual Finger Grip Strength in a Real-World Task Context
by
Birgitta Dresp-Langley, Rongrong Liu and Michel de Mathelin
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3548; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093548 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Individual grip strength provides a functional window into somatosensory processes and their effects on motor behaviour in healthy, impaired, and ageing individuals. Variations in grip strength during hand–tool interaction are therefore exploited in a variety of experimental tasks to study the effects of
[...] Read more.
Individual grip strength provides a functional window into somatosensory processes and their effects on motor behaviour in healthy, impaired, and ageing individuals. Variations in grip strength during hand–tool interaction are therefore exploited in a variety of experimental tasks to study the effects of pathology or ageing-related changes on sensory, motor, and cognitive ability. However, many different factors may influence individual grip strength systematically in a given task context without being explicitly identified and controlled for. Grip strength may vary as a function of the location of the measurement device (sensor) on the fingers/hand, the shape, weight and size of object(s) being gripped, the type of grip investigated (static versus dynamic grip), and the hand (dominant versus non-dominant) used for gripping. This study tests for additional factors such as sight, sound, and interactions with/between any of the other factors in a complex task context. A wearable biosensor system, designed for measuring grip strength variations in operators gripping cylindrical objects bi-manually, was used. Grip force signals were recorded from all sensors of the wearable (glove) system, including three directly task-relevant sensors for bi-manually gripping cylindrical objects with the dominant and non-dominant hands. Five young male participants were tested for the effects of sound, movement, and sight on grip strength. The participants had to pick up two cylindrical objects of identical size and weight, then hold them still (static grip) or move them upwards and downwards (dynamic grip) for ten seconds while listening to soft or hard music, with their eyes open or blindfolded. Significant effects of sensor location, hand, movement, sight, and sound on bi-manual grip strength were found. Stronger grip force signals were produced by task-relevant sensors in the dominant hand when moving the cylindrical handles (dynamic grip) in comparison with the static grip condition, depending, as expected, on whether grip signals were measured from the dominant or the non-dominant hand. Significantly stronger grip strength was produced blindfolded (sight condition), and grips were significantly stronger with exposure to harder music (sound factor). It is concluded that grip strength is significantly influenced by sensory factors and interactions between the other factors tested for, pointing towards the need for identifying and systematically controlling such potential sources of variation in complex study task contexts.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Biomechanical Analysis of Human Movement)
►▼
Show Figures
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Highway Subgrade in Cold Regions under Different Conditions
by
Zecheng Wang, Dongwei Li, Zhiwen Jia, Zhenhua Wang and Qiao Sun
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3547; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093547 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
In order to study the changes in the mechanical properties of road subgrade in cold areas after the freezing and thawing of highways in cold areas, indoor mechanical tests were carried out to investigate the effects of the number of freeze–thaw cycles, freezing
[...] Read more.
In order to study the changes in the mechanical properties of road subgrade in cold areas after the freezing and thawing of highways in cold areas, indoor mechanical tests were carried out to investigate the effects of the number of freeze–thaw cycles, freezing temperature, water content, and circumferential pressure on the mechanical properties of road subgrade soil in cold areas after thawing. The mechanical properties of road subgrade soil in cold areas after thawing were measured under different conditions. The test results show that, within the study range: (1) After 7 freeze–thaw cycles, the destructive stress of the subgrade soil decreased from 321.7 kPa to 289.9 kPa, a decrease of 9.9%, and the elastic modulus decayed by 19.9%. (2) When the freezing temperature was reduced from −5 °C to −15 °C, the destructive stress of the subgrade soil decreased from 303.9 kPa to 290.1 kPa, a decrease of 13.8 kPa, approximately 4.5%, and the decrease in modulus of elasticity was about 1.6%. (3) The water content increased from 6% to 12%, and the destructive stress decreased from 405.43 kPa to 288.4 kPa, a decrease of 29.1%, and the modulus of elasticity decreased approximately linearly, with an attenuation of 50.4%. (4) The peripheral pressure increased from 50 kPa to 150 kPa, and the destructive stress increased from 194.7 kPa to 367.7 kPa, a growth of 88.8%, and its modulus of elasticity increased with the increase in peripheral pressure, an increase of 154.1%. The results of this research can provide a reference for highway and engineering construction in the western silt–soil distribution area.
Full article
Figure 1
Open AccessArticle
Research on the Contrast Enhancement Algorithm for X-ray Images of BiFeO3 Material Experiment
by
Xinze Li, Qiang Yu, Xiuhong Pan and Zehua Yu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3546; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093546 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
►▼
Show Figures
High-Temperature Materials Science Experiment Cabinet on the Chinese Space Station is mainly used to carry out experimental research related to high-temperature materials science in microgravity. It is equipped with an X-ray transmission imaging module, which is applied to realize transmission imaging of material
[...] Read more.
High-Temperature Materials Science Experiment Cabinet on the Chinese Space Station is mainly used to carry out experimental research related to high-temperature materials science in microgravity. It is equipped with an X-ray transmission imaging module, which is applied to realize transmission imaging of material samples under microgravity. However, the X-ray light source is far away from the experimental samples, and the images obtained by the module are blurred, so it is impossible to accurately observe the morphological changes during the melting and solidification processes of high-temperature materials. To address this issue, this paper proposed a contrast enhancement algorithm specifically designed for X-ray images obtained during the experiments of high-temperature materials. The algorithm is based on gradient three-interval equalization, and it is combined with a Gaussian function to expand the gradient histogram. Meanwhile, the local gray level information within each gradient interval is corrected by designing an improved adaptive contrast enhancement algorithm. By comparing with Adaptive Histogram Equalization (AHE) and Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) algorithms, EnlightenGAN, and Wavelet algorithms, the Contrast Enhancement based contrast-changed Image Quality measure (CEIQ) and Measure of Enhancement (EME) are improved by an average of 56.97%, 10.58%, and Measure of Entropy (MOE) are improved by an average of 7.74 times. The experimental results show that the algorithm makes the image details clearer on the basis of image contrast enhancement. The solid-liquid interface in the image can be clearly observed after contrast enhancement. The algorithm provides strong support for the study of interface dynamics during the experiment process of high-temperature materials.
Full article
Figure 1
Journal Menu
► ▼ Journal Menu-
- Applied Sciences Home
- Aims & Scope
- Editorial Board
- Reviewer Board
- Topical Advisory Panel
- Instructions for Authors
- Special Issues
- Topics
- Sections & Collections
- Article Processing Charge
- Indexing & Archiving
- Editor’s Choice Articles
- Most Cited & Viewed
- Journal Statistics
- Journal History
- Journal Awards
- Society Collaborations
- Conferences
- Editorial Office
Journal Browser
► ▼ Journal BrowserHighly Accessed Articles
Latest Books
E-Mail Alert
News
Topics
Topic in
Applied Sciences, Energies, Materials, Nanoenergy Advances, Nanomaterials
Applications of Nanomaterials in Energy Systems, 2nd Volume
Topic Editors: Eleftheria C. Pyrgioti, Ioannis F. Gonos, Diaa-Eldin A. MansourDeadline: 30 April 2024
Topic in
Materials, Nanomaterials, Photonics, Polymers, Applied Sciences, Sensors
Optical and Optoelectronic Properties of Materials and Their Applications
Topic Editors: Zhiping Luo, Gibin George, Navadeep ShrivastavaDeadline: 20 May 2024
Topic in
Applied Sciences, Energies, Minerals, Mining, Sustainability
Mining Innovation
Topic Editors: Krzysztof Skrzypkowski, René Gómez, Fhatuwani Sengani, Derek B. Apel, Faham Tahmasebinia, Jianhang ChenDeadline: 1 June 2024
Topic in
Applied Sciences, Electricity, Electronics, Energies, Sensors
Power System Protection
Topic Editors: Seyed Morteza Alizadeh, Akhtar KalamDeadline: 20 June 2024
Conferences
Special Issues
Special Issue in
Applied Sciences
Advances in Sustainable Materials for Engineering
Guest Editors: Richard Critchley, Rachael HazaelDeadline: 27 April 2024
Special Issue in
Applied Sciences
Hearing Loss: From Pathophysiology to Therapies and Habilitation
Guest Editors: Ronen Perez, Liat Kishon-RabinDeadline: 30 April 2024
Special Issue in
Applied Sciences
Oral and Systemic Implications of Periodontal Disease – an Integrated Approach
Guest Editor: Petra SurlinDeadline: 25 May 2024
Special Issue in
Applied Sciences
Functional Fermented Food Products II
Guest Editor: Pawel GlibowskiDeadline: 30 May 2024
Topical Collections
Topical Collection in
Applied Sciences
Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity
Collection Editors: Sergio Ricci, Paolo Mantegazza, Alessandro De Gaspari, Jonathan E. Cooper, Afzal Suleman, Hector Climent
Topical Collection in
Applied Sciences
Distributed Energy Systems
Collection Editor: Rodolfo Dufo-López
Topical Collection in
Applied Sciences
Intelligent Transportation Systems II: Beyond Intelligent Vehicles
Collection Editors: Javier Alonso Ruiz, Jeroen Ploeg, Angel Llamazares, Noelia Hernández Parra, Carlota Salinas, Rubén Izquierdo
Topical Collection in
Applied Sciences
Optical Design and Engineering
Collection Editors: Zhi-Ting Ye, Pin Han, Chun Hung Lai, Yi Chin Fang