New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 2

Integrating PDCA into University Waste Management for Green Campus Advancement

Julalak Phrophayak — 2025-06-21

Sustainable development in higher education institutions requires consistent implementation of strategic initiatives. This study examines Mahasarakham University’s waste management practices over a five-year period (2019–2023), in alignment with the UI Green Metric World University Ranking criteria. Using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) framework, the study identifies key operational strategies that contributed to the university’s progressively increasing evaluation scores in waste management. Five strategic guidelines were synthesised: (1) policy formulation with integrated KPIs, (2) budget allocation aligned with evaluation metrics, (3) inclusive participation of students and personnel, (4) structured data-driven management committees, and (5) continuous assessment through PDCA cycles. The university's waste management score improved from 900 in 2019 to 1350 in 2023. The findings provide a practical model for other institutions seeking to enhance sustainability through data-informed and participatory waste management practices.

A Scholarly Deficit on Contextualising Physics Instruction to Agriculture and Related Fields: A Systematic Literature Review

Rey-Mark G. Basagre — 2025-06-21

Contextualization is a process of embedding knowledge in history, culture, philosophical inquiry, and personal experiences. In education, it is defined as the process of making the curriculum relevant to certain settings, situations, or real-life applications in which learning will be meaningful and useful to all students. The promotion and integration of agriculture concepts can be strengthened by teaching physics in the context of agriculture, such as in the Philippines, with a majority of farming, livestock, and fishing communities.

This is a study of the literature on contextualization of physics education on agriculture and related fields conducted to determine the agriculture and related fields used to contextualize physics instruction, to determine the parts of physics instruction were contextualized to agriculture and related fields, and to determine the areas of physics in which instruction is contextualized to agriculture and related fields.

After reviewing published research articles from ScienceDirect, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar publications, ResearchGate, and other online research repositories used for scholarly literature, results showed that very few studies were conducted that contextualised physics instruction using agriculture and related fields.

In the available literature, 5.26% used farming as context of their physics instruction, another 5.26% used fishing practices as context, 31.58% used environmental context, 15.79% used Indigenous/Cultural Practices as context, and 42.11% used other contexts such as household chores, biking, and other recreational activities. Of the different fields of physics, mechanics is the most contextualised to agriculture with 52.63% of the available studies, while no study contextualised Modern Physics to agriculture and related fields. The study emphasises that educators can use concepts and practices from agriculture to make science learning more meaningful, practical, and responsive. Contextualising science activity should be an important aspect of this scientific sense-making of concepts. Based on the literature reviewed, physics can be contextualised in a manner that talks about the related experiences of the students while it fits the parts and instructional cycle of lesson development. There is a vast amount of science and technology embedded in agricultural processes and practices that educators can harness to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of science education.

The study concluded that the teaching-learning/instruction and learning activities are part of a lesson often contextualised to agriculture, and no available study has contextualised the motivation part of the lesson. Most publicly available scholarly works contextualising physics lessons to agriculture are foreign; thus, efforts in this area should be pushed forward in the Philippines.

Development of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon (a-Si: H) Charge-Selective Contact Devices on a Polyimide Flexible Substrate for Dosimetry and Beam Flux Measurements

Mauro Menichelli — 2025-06-21

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si: H) devices on flexible substrates are currently being studied for application in dosimetry and beam flux measurements. The low deposition temperature of a-Si: H allows its layering on flexible materials like polyimide (PI). The necessity of in vivo dosimetry requires thin devices with maximal transparency and flexibility. For this reason, a thin (<10 µm) a-Si: H device deposited on a thin polyimide sheet is a very valid option for this application. Furthermore, a-Si: H is a material that has an intrinsically high radiation hardness. In order to develop these devices, the HASPIDE (Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Pixel Detectors) collaboration has implemented two different device configurations: n-i-p type diodes and charge-selective contact devices. Charge-selective contact devices are based on a three-layer structure featuring a thin layer of metal-oxides with a small activation energy (like TiO₂), a thick layer of intrinsic a-Si: H, and a thin layer of metal-oxides with a large activation energy (like MoOx or WOx). Charge-selective contact-based devices have been studied for solar cell applications, and recently, the above-mentioned collaboration has tested these devices for X-ray dose measurements. In this paper, the HASPIDE collaboration has studied the X-ray and proton response of charge-selective contact devices deposited on Polyimide.

The linearity of the photocurrent response to X-ray versus dose rate has been assessed at various bias voltages. The sensitivity to protons has also been studied at various bias voltages, and the wide range linearity has been tested for fluxes in the range from 8.3 × 107 to 2.49 × 1010 p/(cm² s). The results show a very good linearity in the dose rate range tested, in addition to a good sensitivity and quite low leakage current below 4 V bias. Dosimetric sensitivity is related to bias voltage, in a very linear behaviour.

Safety Analysis of Cross-border Ferry Transportation: A Case Study of Batam–Singapore and Batam–Johor Routes

Danny Faturachman — 2025-06-21

As a border in Sumatra, Batam acts as a bridge between Indonesia and Singapore, and also Indonesia and Malaysia. Batam is located in locations strategic considering the sea border area, crossing between in Sumatra, Singapore and Johor, Malaysia. The objective of this study is to conduct a safety analysis of cross-border sea transportation between Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. Specifically, this study assesses whether the ASEAN Economic Community, in order to facilitate ASEAN connectivity, since the 2015 application, has effectively facilitated safe and efficient maritime transportation. Because connectivity between ASEAN countries is considered an important part in the context of creating the implementation of the ASEAN economic community characterised by an open market in Southeast Asia, sea border transportation needs to develop again. This chapter adopted a case study approach that involves discussions of different facts of ferry routes between Batam – Singapore and also Batam – Johor, and gained information about the ferries, terminals and also the impact on the sea border transportation of three countries between Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Terminal facilities and ferry operations were examined. Safety analysis of the ship is already fulfilled and satisfies the requirements of safety according to the Indonesian regulation.

Enhanced Image Protection Using Discrete Fractional Fourier Domain and Dual Random Phase Encoding

Deepak Sharma — 2025-06-21

In the digital era, secure image transmission is critical for applications ranging from medical imaging to military surveillance. Encryption is one of the well-known techniques to provide security in the transmission of multimedia content over the internet and wireless networks. There is use of image in all the areas, so its security is of great concern nowadays. In this paper, we propose a novel method of image encryption using discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFrFT) using an exponential random phase mask. The proposed method employs a two-phase masking approach, where the input image is first modulated with a random phase mask in the spatial domain and subsequently transformed using the DFrFT with tunable fractional orders. A second random phase mask is applied in the fractional frequency domain to further obscure image content. This technique makes it almost impossible to retrieve the image without using both the right keys. The combination of multidimensional DFrFT and random phase modulation significantly increases the key space and sensitivity to initial conditions, making brute-force and plaintext attacks computationally infeasible. Experimental results validate the robustness of the proposed method in terms of Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of maximum 42.02 dB, keyspace analysis for security, computational complexity same as FrFT, processing time 2.8654 seconds and mean square error -1.5735 dB obtained.

Determining Viscosity and Water Content of Silicate Melts from Melt Inclusion Data Using Stokes-Einstein Relation

Rainer Thomas — 2025-06-21

Silicate melts are the ubiquitous components of igneous processes in the Earth's crust and mantle and serve as the key transport agents for physico-chemical differentiation and evolution of the Earth. The viscosity is a fundamental property that influences the dynamic behaviour of silicate melts (melt segregation, magma mixing, crystal fractionation, fluid exsolution, the ascent rate of a magma). This study presents a new and straightforward method for estimating the viscosity and water content in hydrous silicate melts using homogenization measurements on melt inclusions in rock-forming minerals in granites and rhyolites from the Erzgebirge, the Slavkovsky les, Thuringia, the Caucasus, the Fichtelgebirge, and the Oberpfalz. A combination of the Stokes-Einstein equation and Shaw's (1972) viscosity calculation, along with data on temperature, inclusion diameter, run time, and inclusion chemistry, was employed. The viscosity at the minimum observable homogenization temperature is 3.6 * 10⁴ Pa ^. s Generally, the water content ranges from 2.5 to 9 wt. %. The accuracy of the method and the potential for diffusive water loss are critically assessed.

The relationship between diffusion and viscosity, as described by the classic Stokes-Einstein relation, and the direct connection with viscosity (e.g., Shaw 1963) combine all-important physical quantities: temperature, time, length, and chemistry.

Unlocking Fingerprint Intelligence: Extracting Ridge, Minutiae, and DWT Features

Sayed Abulhasan Quadri — 2025-06-21

A fingerprint image captures the unique spatial pattern of ridges and valleys on the human fingertip, serving as a powerful and widely adopted A fingerprint image is a digital representation of the intricate and unique spatial configuration of ridges and valleys found on the human fingertip. These patterns are distinct for every individual and remain virtually unchanged throughout a person’s life, making fingerprints one of the most reliable forms of biometric identification. Their inherent individuality and permanence have made fingerprint recognition systems indispensable across a wide range of applications, including forensic investigations, national identity verification programs, secure access control systems, and personal device authentication.

This chapter, inspired by advancements in biometric sciences, anthropometry, and computational pattern recognition, investigates refined and more efficient methods of extracting rich and diverse features from fingerprint images. The emphasis lies on enhancing the accuracy and reliability of classification and identification tasks by focusing on extracting ridge information, minutiae patterns, and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) features. These advanced features not only facilitate accurate fingerprint matching but also enable the derivation of soft biometric indicators such as gender, age, and potentially even blood type. This opens up promising avenues for the development of lightweight, non-invasive, and cost-effective biometric classification systems, which are particularly valuable in resource-constrained settings.

Fingerprint-based systems offer several key advantages over other biometric modalities, such as iris scans, facial recognition, or voice analysis. They typically require less storage space, involve simpler data acquisition procedures, and demand relatively low computational resources. These attributes make fingerprint recognition an ideal candidate for large-scale biometric applications, especially in densely populated or economically limited regions. The methodology explored in this chapter revolves around an automated framework that systematically analyses the spatial and structural features of fingerprints. It leverages both spatial domain and frequency domain analysis techniques to achieve a high-fidelity representation of fingerprint traits. By focusing on the precise extraction of ridge flows and minutiae points such as bifurcations and endings, and further enriching this representation with wavelet-based descriptors, the approach ensures robustness across various acquisition conditions, including variations in scanner types, resolutions, lighting conditions, and finger orientation.

Unlike traditional systems that rely solely on features such as ridge counts, thickness, and basic minutiae, the proposed approach employs enhanced feature extraction strategies that significantly improve identification accuracy. Through the application of Discrete Wavelet Transform, fingerprint images are analysed at multiple resolutions, enabling the capture of both global and fine-grained local details. This multiresolution capability allows the system to identify subtle fingerprint variations that might otherwise go undetected, making the overall classification more precise and resilient. Further, ridge structure is assessed in terms of quantifiable metrics like minimum, maximum, and average ridge lengths across the fingerprint. These measurements add another layer of distinguishing information, especially useful in scenarios where individuals have similar minutiae layouts but different ridge formations. In addition to these features, a rich set of minutiae descriptors-such as the number of ridge bifurcations, ridge endings, and total minutiae points-is extracted to enhance the discriminatory capability of the system.

By integrating these diverse features-spatial, geometric, and frequency-based-into a cohesive fingerprint recognition pipeline, this chapter presents a powerful and holistic approach to automated fingerprint classification. The comprehensive feature representation facilitates accurate and efficient matching of test fingerprint samples with stored templates, making the system suitable for use in high-security environments, law enforcement databases, and scalable authentication solutions.

In essence, this chapter contributes to the ongoing evolution of biometric technologies by introducing refined feature extraction techniques that enhance the reliability and versatility of fingerprint-based systems. The emphasis on improved accuracy, computational efficiency, and adaptability underscores the relevance of these techniques in shaping the future of secure and intelligent biometric identification.

Allan-Herndon-Dudley-Syndrome: An Overview of an Extremely Rare Disorder in Childhood

Stefan Bittmann — 2025-06-21

Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) is a rare X-linked disease with severe neuropsychiatric abnormalities including psychomotor retardation, lack of speech development, dystonia, and severe intellectual deficits. William Allan, Florence C. Dudley, and C. Nash Herndon first described a syndrome which results from the disturbed formation of two thyroid hormone transporters, MCT8 and Oatp1c1. Nearly 320 individuals of around 130 families have been described so far with MCT-8 deficiency. The first individual treatment attempt with LT4 and Propylthiouracil was introduced in 2008; the development of therapies for Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome has gained momentum in recent years. Treatment options range from symptomatic interventions, including botulinum toxin injections, levodopa/carbidopa, assistive devices, functional therapies, rehabilitation to replacement therapies (LT3, LT4, DIPTA, TRIAC, TETRAC), and gene therapy. Diagnosis, treatment and cure of Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome in childhood remains challenging for the future. Due to the low number of cases, conducting large-scale studies is challenging, and therefore, it is difficult to find clear guidelines for this extremely rare disease in childhood.