A review of the advances in composites/nanocomposites for triboelectric nanogenerators

Material development is essential when studying triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). This importance is because the performance of TENGs are highly dependent on the properties of the utilized triboelectric materials. To obtain more specific properties, composites have been developed that combine the features of their components. According to Google Scholar, 55% of published papers related to triboelectric nanogenerators have utilized or mentioned composites. This number is 34.5% if one searches with the keyword nanocomposites instead of composites. The importance of composites is because they can exhibit new dielectric properties, better mechanical strength, enhanced charge affinities, etc. Therefore, the development of new composites has great importance in TENG studies. In this paper, we review the production of nanocomposites, the types of nanocomposites, and their application in TENG studies. This review gives an overview of how nanocomposites boost the performance of TENGs and provides guidance for future studies.

Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid, Polylactic Acid Blends and Their Composites for Advanced Applications

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a thermoplastic polymer produced from lactic acid that has been chiefly utilized in biodegradable material and as a composite matrix material. PLA is a prominent biomaterial that is widely used to replace traditional petrochemical-based polymers in various applications owing environmental concerns. Green composites have gained greater attention as ecological consciousness has grown since they have the potential to be more appealing than conventional petroleum-based composites, which are toxic and nonbiodegradable. PLA-based composites with natural fiber have been extensively utilized in a variety of applications, from packaging to medicine, due to their biodegradable, recyclable, high mechanical strength, low toxicity, good barrier properties, friendly processing, and excellent characteristics. A summary of natural fibers, green composites, and PLA, along with their respective properties, classification, functionality, and different processing methods, are discussed to discover the natural fiber-reinforced PLA composite material development for a wide range of applications. This work also emphasizes the research and properties of PLA-based green composites, PLA blend composites, and PLA hybrid composites over the past few years. PLA’s potential as a strong material in engineering applications areas is addressed. This review also covers issues, challenges, opportunities, and perspectives in developing and characterizing PLA-based green composites.

Teaching Material Development of Islamic Education in Multicultural Perspective at Smk Negeri 4 Manado

This study aims to describe the level of validity, practicality and effectiveness of Islamic Education teaching materials in a multicultural perspective. The procedure for developing teaching materials is conducted by adapting Research and Development (R&D) using the Four-D model. The research subjects were Islamic education teachers and 30 students of class XI. Data collection was conducted using interview techniques, questionnaires, and the feasibility assessment sheet, practicality, and effectiveness of the product. The results showed that the teaching material products in the form of books for students as companion books on Islamic Education subjects were in the very valid category. The results of expert tests on Islamic Education teaching material products showed very valid criteria assessment. While the learning tools which include: learning implementation plans, teacher and student observation sheets and learning outcome assessment instruments are in the very valid category. The teaching material products developed meet practical criteria based on the target user test, namely educators on the ability of educators to manage the learning process with a fully implemented category as well as educators' responses to teaching material products are very positive. Teaching material products are effective because of a positive response from students and an increase in learning outcomes after using these teaching material products.

Pelatihan Model Pembelajaran Speaking dengan Communicative Approach Bagi Guru-Guru Bahasa Inggris di Kabupaten Lampung Selatan

The speaking learning model with communicative approach has been widely adopted in various countries as a method of learning English because speaking learning with communicative approach proved effective to facilitate students actively involved in the learning process of English, especially speaking. The effectiveness / success of speaking learning by communicative approach as a way of English education in helping students improve speaking skills is evidenced by the discovery of some research tried in various countries where English as a foreign language. However, in Indonesia this method is still not popular and very few teachers or practitioners apply this method. Therefore, this community service activity aims to help English teachers in South Lampung Regency improve insight and knowledge about the development / creation of a speaking learning model based on communicative approach through training and workshops by presenting material development of task-based speaking teaching materials theoretically; and conduct simulations of the development of task-based speaking teaching materials. The results of the training showed that the participants of this training gained real efficacy is an increase in professionalism in order to be able to correct the quality of the English education process, especially speaking so that the dialogue skills of students in schools face an increase. Prolonged similar training in the future still really needs to be tried.

Developing an Intercultural-Based Text Book for Teaching Writing

The spread of English as an international language has contributed to the current status of English teaching as a second or foreign language. This means that English teaching not only stimulates students to improve linguistic competence but also to enhance their intercultural competence. Teachers or designers must incorporate the cultural aspects as part of their teaching practices or teaching materials. This research aimed at (1) developing an intercultural-based textbook for teaching writing, (2) evaluating the feasibility of the intercultural-based textbook for teaching writing, and (3) evaluating the effect of the intercultural-based textbook on students’ writing skills. Twenty-one secondary school students participated as the subject of the research. Meanwhile, the ADDIE model (Analysis-Design-Develop-Implement Evaluate) was employed as its material development design. There were two experts who validated the textbook and an English teacher as the user. The result showed that an intercultural-based textbook was feasible to use for teaching writing. It was supported by the assessment results from the experts that were in the valid category. The use of the textbook also had an effect on students’ writing skills even in the low category. This could be seen from the post-test result that showed improvement compared to the pre-test result.Keywords: Intercultural competence, ADDIE Model, Writing Skill, Writing instruction, research, and development

Explore High Thermal Conductivity Amorphous Polymers using Reinforcement Learning

Developing amorphous polymers with desirable thermal conductivity has significant implications, as they are ubiquitous in applications where thermal transport is critical. Conventional Edisonian approaches are slow and without guarantee of success in material development. In this work, using a reinforcement learning scheme, we design polymers with thermal conductivity above 0.4 W/m- K. We leverage a machine learning model trained against 469 thermal conductivity data calculated from high-throughput molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as the surrogate for thermal conductivity prediction, and we use a recurrent neural network trained with around one million virtual polymer structures as a polymer generator. For all newly generated polymers with thermal conductivity > 0.400 W/m-K, we have evaluated their synthesizability by calculating the synthesis accessibility score and validated the thermal conductivity of selected polymers using MD simulations. The best thermally conductive polymer designed has a MD-calculated thermal conductivity of 0.693 W/m-K, which is also estimated to be easily synthesizable. Our demonstrated inverse design scheme based on reinforcement learning may advance polymer development with target properties, and the scheme can also be generalized to other materials development tasks for different applications.

Instructional Material Development for Vocabulary Enhancement of Grade 9 Students of Botolan National High School

This study aimed to determine the level of vocabulary skills of Grade 9 students of Botolan National High. This was identified by using the DepEd E-class Record transmutation table and descriptive rating. The study which used descriptive analysis research was also utilized to know the level of vocabulary of 155 Grade 9 respondents of Botolan National High School SY 2019- 2020. Results and findings of the study led to the development of the supplementary instructional materials to enhance the level of vocabulary of Grade 9 students. The findings revealed that the level of vocabulary skills of the students before exposure to context clues was Fairly Satisfactory, while the level of the vocabulary skills of the students after exposure to context clues was Satisfactory. The level of vocabulary skills of the students before exposure to visual association was Fairly Satisfactory while the level of the vocabulary skills of the students after exposure to visual association was also Fairly Satisfactory. There was significant relationship on the level of vocabulary skills of the students before and after exposure to context clue and visual association strategies. It is recommended therefore that appropriate supplementary instructional materials be devised and utilized in order to enhance the level of vocabulary skills of Grade 9 students.

Explore High Thermal Conductivity Amorphous Polymers using Reinforcement Learning

Developing amorphous polymers with desirable thermal conductivity has significant implications, as they are ubiquitous in applications where thermal transport is critical. Conventional Edisonian approaches are slow and without guarantee of success in material development. In this work, using a reinforcement learning scheme, we design polymers with thermal conductivity above 0.4 W/m- K. We leverage a machine learning model trained against 469 thermal conductivity data calculated from high-throughput molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as the surrogate for thermal conductivity prediction, and we use a recurrent neural network trained with around one million virtual polymer structures as a polymer generator. For all newly generated polymers with thermal conductivity > 0.400 W/m-K, we have evaluated their synthesizability by calculating the synthesis accessibility score and validated the thermal conductivity of selected polymers using MD simulations. The best thermally conductive polymer designed has a MD-calculated thermal conductivity of 0.693 W/m-K, which is also estimated to be easily synthesizable. Our demonstrated inverse design scheme based on reinforcement learning may advance polymer development with target properties, and the scheme can also be generalized to other materials development tasks for different applications.