Enhancing User Engagement through Gamification

Gamification—the use of game elements in non-game contexts—is gaining interest among researchers and practitioners. How gamification enhances user engagement, though, remains unclear, largely due to the lack of a theoretical framework. To narrow the theory gap, this study develops a theoretical model, which draws on cognitive evaluation theory to explain the effects of game dynamics on user engagement, and tests it using data collected from 164 users of a gamified information system. The results reveal that gamification enhances user engagement through the mediation of psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) between game dynamics and enjoyment. The results suggest that gamification should go beyond merely providing fun and enjoyment; gamification should also generate diverse game dynamics, such as rewards, competition, altruism, and self-expression in a way that helps people to satisfy their psychological needs. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the success of gamification.     

Monodisperse polymer/metal composite particles by electroless chemical deposition: Effect of surface functionality of polymer particles

Micron‐sized polymer particles were coated with layers of nickel compounds by plating electrolessly in the presence of aqueous solutions of nickel chloride, sodium hypophosphite, sodium citrate, and ammonium chloride at elevated temperature. The uniform functional polymer particle could be obtained by seeded polymerization. To investigate the effect of surface functionality on the conditions for nickel deposition, the polymer particle was functionalized with the thiol group. From morphological observation, it was found that the mode of nickel deposition was greatly dependent on the surface functionality of the polymer particle. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 420–424, 2003     

Physicochemical and functional characteristics of a novel fermented pepper (Capsiccum annuum L.) leaves-based beverage using lactic acid bacteria

Two lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus homohiochii JBCC 25 and L. homohiochii JBCC 46, were isolated from a naturally fermented vinegar beverage. Fermented pepper leaves beverage (FPLB-3) which indicated good assessment based on a sensory evaluation test was prepared using the mixed strains. The prepared FPLB-3 showed enhanced functional aspects based on γ-aminobutyric acid (23.6 mg%), total polyphenol (2,828.2 gallic acid equivalents μg/g), and flavonoid contents (2,008.8 catechin equivalents μg/g). Moreover, FPLB-3 showed significantly stronger scavenging activities for the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (84.6%) and superoxide radical (90.8%) and outstanding inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase of 65.9% at 50 mg/mL compared to the raw material. Based on the results, the newly developed FPLB using Wongi-1 pepper leaves and Lactobacillus is expected to be a novel functional food with natural antioxidant and antidiabetic capacities.     

Low-temperature mechanical properties of superconducting radio frequency cavity materials

Low-temperature mechanical behaviors have been investigated for the constituent materials of superconducting radio frequency cavities. Test materials consist of small grain Nb, single crystal Nb, large grain Nb (bicrystal), Ti45Nb-Nb weld joint (e-beam welded), and Ti-316L bimetal joint (explosion welded). The strength of all test metals displayed strong temperature dependence and the Ti-316L bimetal showed the highest strength and lowest ductility among the test materials. The fracture toughness of the small grain Nb metals decreased with decreasing test temperature and reached the lower shelf values (30-40 MPa √m) at or above 173 K. The Ti45Nb base and Ti45Nb-Nb weld metals showed much higher fracture toughness than the small grain Nb. An extrapolation and comparison with existing data showed that the fracture toughness of the small grain Nb metals at 4 K was expected to be similar to those at 173 and 77 K. The results from optical photography at a low magnification and fractography by a scanning electron microscope were consistent with corresponding mechanical properties.     

Demonstrative testing of honeycomb passive autocatalytic recombiner for nuclear power plant

Passive autocatalytic recombiners (PAR) are widely being used as hydrogen control device in the current and advanced light water reactors (ALWRs). The PARs lend themselves to very effective means of circumventing buildup of combustible or detonable hydrogen gas mixtures in the reactor containment. Korea Nuclear Technology Inc. has recently developed a new PAR system with high porous catalyst material in the shape of honeycomb. The honeycomb PAR catalyst has a design characteristic of improved hydrogen removal performance by increasing the surface area and enhancing the flow rate through the catalyst at the same time, without increasing PAR size compared to the conventional PARs. The experimental study was focused on the development of the hydrogen depletion rate correlation of the honeycomb PAR. Two different sizes of PARs, KPAR-40 and KPAR-T2, have been employed in the tailor-made Integral Test Facility and Performance Test Facility. Multiple tests were conducted in various conditions of pressure, temperature, and hydrogen concentration. The hydrogen depletion rate correlation and the PAR performance constant were determined from the experimental results, which can be applied to the honeycomb PAR system. Also determined was the scale effect due to the PAR size, i.e., the number of catalysts in a PAR.     

A Finite Element Modeling for Dilatometric Nonisotropy in Steel

It is well known that nonisotropic volume changes in dilatometry were observed during the phase transformation in steel. In this study, a finite element (FE) model incorporating the transformation plasticity was adopted to describe the nonisotropic dilatometric behavior during the phase transformation in steel. An implicit numerical solution procedure to calculate the deformation during the dilatometric experiment was incorporated into the general purpose implicit FE program. The nonisotropic dilatometric behavior could be successfully reproduced by using the FE simulation considering the transformation plasticity. The transformation plasticity was caused by the small amount of stress that naturally developed in the specimen during the dilatometric experiment. In conventional low carbon steel, the stress in the specimen mainly forms due to the very small external force supplied to support it during the dilatometric experiment. As regards ultralow carbon steel, whose phase transformation occurs within an extraordinarily narrow temperature range, the inhomogeneous phase transformation due to the temperature deviation in the specimen was mainly responsible for the stress field in the specimen during the dilatometric experiment.     

Rapid on-site detection of shrimp allergen tropomyosin using a novel ultrafast PCR system

Food Science and Biotechnology - Shrimp is seafood that can commonly trigger allergic reactions. In this study, the ultrafast real-time PCR assay with portable device was developed to detect a...     

Generalized thermo-elastodynamics for semiconductor material subject to ultrafast laser heating. Part I: Model description and validation

A generalized thermo-elastodynamic formulation applicable to the investigation of coupled thermomechanical responses of a silicon thin structure excited by ultrafast laser pulses is presented. Hyperbolic energy transport equations with two relaxation times is incorporated along with the relaxation-time approximation of the Boltzmann equation and a set of balance equations that consider temperature-dependent multi-phonons, free-carrier absorptions, and the recombination and impact ionization processes. A staggered-grid finite difference scheme allows the coupled equations system that govern the transport dynamics in silicon wafer to be solved without having to be concerned with non-physical numerical oscillations. The time evolution of carrier density and the non-thermal melting fluence level at which damages are inflicted in response to a given pulse duration are examined and compared favorably with experimental data. The feasibility of using the model formulation in describing near-field, short time scale thermal–mechanical responses induced by ultrafast laser pulses is thus validated.