is an evergreen shrub widely used in folk medicine due to the high biological potential of the leaves’ phenolic compounds. Since phenolic compounds are susceptible to degradation under different heat, light and oxygen conditions, various microencapsulation techniques, such as spray drying, can be used to increase their stability. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of different carriers (gum arabic (GA), maltodextrin 13−17 DE (MD), β-cyclodextrin (BCD) and their mixtures), carrier concentrations in feed (12.8, 16 and 19.2% (m/V)) and drying temperatures (120, 150 and 180 °C) on the physiochemical properties, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AOA) of Pistacia lentiscus leaf extract powders. Product yields of powders ranged from 23.53 to 65.51%, moisture content from 2.89 to 12.03%, hygroscopicity up to 4.45 g/100 g, solubility from 27.11 to 86.84% and bulk density from 0.24 to 0.45 g/mL. All obtained powders had satisfactory physicochemical prop... [more]

Liquid−liquid equilibrium (LLE) data are critical for the design and optimization of processes for extracting aromatics. Partial LLE data for the non-aromatic−aromatic−sulfolane ternary system were acquired at 313.15 K and 101.3 kPa. The LLE data for the extraction of aromatics using sulfolane were predicted using the COSMO-RS model. Correspondingly, the predicted and experimental data were analyzed using the root mean square deviation (RMSD), distribution coefficient (D), and separation factor (S). The COSMO-RS model could better predict the LLE data for the extraction of aromatics by sulfolane. The results of quantum chemical calculation show that hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions between sulfolane−benzene and sulfolane−toluene were responsible for the strong selectivity of sulfolane for benzene and toluene over alkanes. The LLE data predicted by the COSMO-RS method using the UNIQUAC thermodynamic model were subjected to correlation analysis. The calculated RMSD values we... [more]

The main objective of this research was to create two different configurations of a flat-plate solar air heater, namely, Conventional-Case A and Modified-Case B, and develop a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model using ANSYS R15.0. The purpose of the CFD model was to simulate the heat transfer behavior of the proposed solar air heaters under unsteady conditions. The RNG k-ε turbulence model was employed for this CFD study. The experiments were conducted on sunny days, under the same conditions as the Egyptian climate. The results of the experiments show that the simulated CFD model and the measured outlet airflow temperatures, relative humidity, and velocities of the two tested solar air heaters were compared. The developed model made very satisfactory predictions. Moreover, the deviations between the average CFD outlet air temperatures and the experimental results were 7% and 7.8% for Case B and Case A, respectively. The CFD-simulated average relative humidity wa... [more]

This work proposes a new multi-objective optimization technique for concurrent diminution of torque ripple with the regulation of the speed of a 75 Kilowatt, 8/6, 4-phase SRM based on a double close loop, modified whale algorithm optimized fractional order proportional integral (MWAO FO-PI) control with a commutation angle controller. The system is analyzed and designed in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment. First, the performance of MWAO is tested on 30-dimensional standard benchmark functions. It is found that MWAO performance is better when examined on 30-dimensional standard benchmark functions, compared with WOA, and another six recently proposed state-of-art functions. Then, a double loop control based on the MWAO FO-PI controller is designed and implemented for concurrent diminution of torque ripple with the regulation of the speed of a 75 Kilowatt, 8/6, 4-phase SRM with a commutation angle controller. It was found that the percentage improvement achieved in the combined objective opti... [more]

A significant effort is required to reduce China’s dependency on fossil fuels while also supporting worldwide efforts to reduce climate change and develop hydrogen energy systems. A hydrogen economy must include renewable energy sources (RESs), which can offer a clean and sustainable energy source for producing hydrogen. This study uses an integrated fuzzy AHP−fuzzy TOPSIS method to evaluate and rank renewable energy sources for developing a hydrogen economy in China. This is a novel approach because it can capture the uncertainty and vagueness in the decision-making process and provide a comprehensive and robust evaluation of the alternatives. Moreover, it considers multiple criteria and sub-criteria that reflect the environmental, economic, technical, social, and political aspects of RESs from the perspective of a hydrogen economy. This study identified five major criteria, fifteen sub-criteria, and six RES alternatives for hydrogen production. This integrated approach uses fuzzy AHP... [more]

Good practices are among the direct/indirect components that influence agrofood safety knowledge, and occupying quality assurance control facets within the (agrofood) product industry. Cleaner production involves an integrated preventive environmental strategy applied to processes, products, and services, which increases overall efficiency, and reduces risks to humans/environment. However, ‘cleaner food production’ appears neither yet clearly defined nor well established. In this preliminary survey analysis, how good practices would contribute towards achieving cleaner food production in the context of food retail sector was performed. Specifically, Wrocław-Poland served as a case reference targeting managers/supervisors given their expected service, experience, and expertise. The sampling technique used was the judgment/purposive type, and the research instrument took the form of a questionnaire. Managers’/supervisors’ responses revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) across va... [more]

The processing quality of steel bar thread has a large influence on its performance. Using the traditional thread processing technology, it is difficult to meet the requirements of steel bar thread processing with large diameter and high strength. A technical process for HRB500 high-strength steel bar thread processing, including face milling, rib stripping, chamfering, necking formation, and thread rolling, was proposed. The influences of cutting parameters on the cutting force of steel bar surface in face milling were analyzed by the finite element method. For the necking formation process, the effect of springback amount on necking formation was studied. The main parameters in rolling formation were analyzed and calculated, including extrusion pressure, rolling speed, and rolling feed. Experiments for uniaxial tensile of the processed high-strength steel bar threads were carried out. The results showed that cutting depth has the largest influence on the cutting force; the second is... [more]

Four different bacteria capable of degrading butachlor, as well as five different syntrophic pairs of bacteria able to break down butachlor, were isolated from rice paddy soils in Korea. Genetic and phenotypic analyses were conducted to better understand their characteristics and behavior. All single isolates and syntrophic pairs were able to utilize butachlor as a sole carbon and energy source. Analysis of the 16S rRNA sequence showed that the isolates were related to members of the genus Rhodococcus and a new type of butachlor-degrading genus Sphingobium. The chromosomal DNA fingerprinting patterns of the butachlor-degrading bacteria and syntrophic pairs were analyzed using a technique called repetitive-sequence-based PCR (REP-PCR). The results showed that there were two different REP-PCR patterns found among the four independent butachlor-degrading bacteria, and ten strains of five different syntrophic pairs produced a total of eight distinct DNA fingerprints. Through the use of gas... [more]

Model compounds were used to provide some chemical boundaries for the eight-fraction SAR-ADTM characterization method for heavy oils. It was found that the Saturates fraction consists of linear and highly cyclic alkanes; the Aro-1 fraction consists of molecules with a single aromatic ring; the Aro-2 fraction consists of mostly 2 and 3-ring fused aromatic molecules, the pericondensed 4-ring molecule pyrene, and molecules with 3−5 rings that are not fused; and the Aro-3 fraction consists of 4-membered linear and catacondensed aromatics, larger pericondensed aromatics, and large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The Resins fraction consists of mostly fused aromatic ring systems containing polar functional groups and metallated polar vanadium oxide porphyrin compounds, and the Asphaltene fraction consists of both island- and archipelago-type structures with a broad range of molecular weight variation, aromaticity, and heteroatom contents. The behavior of the eight SAR-ADTM fractions during... [more]

Design parameters such as initial bonding section, prestress, and bonding stiffness have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the full-length bonded prestressed bolt. In order to understand the influence of the above three parameters on the axial force and shear stress of anchor bolts under the condition of rock separation, theoretical and numerical models were established, and the sensitivity of different parameters was analyzed based on the grey correlation method. Results indicate that the bonding stiffness had the greatest impact on the mechanical properties of the bolt and largely determined the peak axial force, peak interfacial shear stress, and number of sliding elements. Moreover, prestress had a significant impact on the peak axial force and the distribution of shear stress in the initial bonding section, while the length of the initial bonding section had a significant impact on the number of sliding elements and the peak axial force after sliding. The grey c... [more]

The cement industry is an important industrial entity responsible for implementing carbon emission reduction targets. Considering the carbon trading and green certificate trading mechanisms, this paper presents a multi-stage planning approach for the constructed Cement-Industrial Integrated Energy System (Cement-IIES). Carbon reduction technologies represented by low-temperature waste heat recovery, as well as phased changes in economic and technical parameters, are considered in the model. The case study shows that the proposed method not only optimizes the design economy of the Cement-IIES but also achieves a substantial carbon emission reduction in the cement production process and energy supply system. Compared with the traditional single-stage planning, the proposed method improves the system’s economic efficiency by 13.88% and flexibly adapts to changes in policies such as “coal reform”, green certificate trading and carbon quotas. The low-temperature waste heat recovery technolo... [more]

This study explores the responses of manufacturing and service provision companies in Santiago de Cali to stimuli during the COVID-19 pandemic. The responses included changes in demand, absenteeism, and the development of new products, which affected the supply chain (SC). The qualitative methodology of the multiple-case study was used. The evidence for the multiple-case studies was collected through semi-structured interviews, where the interviewees were SC experts from four manufacturing companies and one service company. The data analysis was performed in two phases. In phase one, the case study protocol was completed, and in phase two, thematic analysis was used to identify supply chain response (SCR) patterns. The results revealed two aspects of the SCR. First, to respond to a stimulus, SC adapted activities other than those of suppliers and manufacturers, such as product design and development, human resources, budgeting, and logistics. Second, the SCs used several alternatives t... [more]

The field of industrial biotechnology has shown an increasing interest in adopting digital twins for improving process productivity and management efficiency. Despite its potential benefits, digital-twin-based biomanufacturing has not been fully implemented. As a preliminary undertaking, we developed an open-source digital twin framework for cell culture. The core models of the digital twin were coded in C++ and compiled as a reusable Python library. A web-based, cloud-native HMI application that links the physical and virtual systems was developed. A microbioreactor digital twin system was implemented using the framework as a proof of concept. The system features a 3D-printed rocking platform that is customized to fit T25 flasks, enabling automated rocking rate and angle control and in-place optical cell density measurement. The digital twin was validated using Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and was found to be able to predict the changes in cell density, glucose consumption, lacti... [more]

In order to investigate the operational performance of the high-pressure (HP) cylinder towards a 300 MW boiler unit, the three-dimensional calculation method was applied to simulate the aerodynamic flow characteristics of the last five stage cylinder blades, including limiting streamline, isentropic efficiency along the blade height, and relative work amounts. Simulation results show that with the back pressure controlled at 3.4 MPa and the inlet steam flow decreasing to a certain extent, the flow state of the last three stage blades begins to deteriorate. When the back pressure continues to drop, the flow state becomes unstable at the blade root and the blade tip on the suction surface of the rotor blade, while the flow state is stable on the pressure surface of the rotor blade and the surface of the stationary blade. If the flow rate decreases, the flow separation area on the suction surface of the moving blade decreases, and the flow performance can be improved. With the decrease in... [more]

Composites of (1-x)Gd2Zr2O7·xMgO were prepared by mixing gadolinium zirconate with freshly precipitated Mg(OH)2 followed by heat treatment at 1500 °C. Small concentrations of magnesium oxide dissolved in the complex oxide matrix of Gd2Zr2O7. This led to decrease in the lattice parameters of the matrix phase and a complex redistribution of Gd and Zr over the A and B sublattices. According to the impedance spectroscopy results of the studied samples, for (1-x)Gd2Zr2O7·xMgO (x = 0.05, 0.07, 0.10), the ionic conductivity was slightly higher than that for the undoped Gd2Zr2O7. The share of dominant ion transport did not change upon doping with magnesium oxide. The composites showed chemical resistance in a lithium halide (LiCl) melt and interacted with LiCl-xLi2O (x = 2 wt.%, 4 wt.%) melts at 650 °C with the formation of a Gd2O3 phase or a mixture of phases (Gd2O3, Li2ZrO3, ZrO2, LiGdO2, or LiGdCl2) on the ceramic surface, respectively.

Gas electron multipliers (GEMs) have been widely used for particle collection and signal amplification. Because of the advantages of glass, such as high hardness, aging resistance, and dielectric strength, research into its application as a substrate material in GEM design and process has attracted extensive attention in recent years. This paper compares two commonly used glass GEM structural designs and shows that the optical transparency of the hexagonal symmetric structure is superior to that of the rectangle structure. An electric field model is developed to characterize the negative correlation between the hole diameter and the electric field strength. The structure of glass GEM is designed according to the feasibility of the process. A new process method of surface metal patterning using hole filling to form a mask is proposed, which can meet the high alignment and shaping requirements of the perfect match between the opening of metal layer and the aperture shape of the substrate... [more]

Advances in additive manufacturing (AM) processes have increased the number of relevant applications in various industries. To keep up with this development, the process stability of AM processes should be monitored, which is conducted through the assessment of the outputs or product characteristics. However, the use of univariate control charts to monitor an AM process might lead to misleading results, as most additively manufactured products have more than one correlated quality characteristic (QC). This paper proposes a framework for monitoring the multivariate quality characteristics of AM processes, and the proposed framework was applied to monitor a fused filament fabrication (FFF) process. In particular, specimens were designed and produced using the FFF process, and their QCs were identified. Then, critical quality characteristic data were collected using a precise measurement system. Furthermore, we propose a transformation algorithm to ensure the normality of the collected da... [more]

The mixing tank is important equipment for industrial applications in the wet vanadium extraction process, but in practice, there are problems, such as uneven mixing of minerals. In this study, the effect of different types of impellers and different mixing tank structures on the suspended mass of particles was simulated using the discrete element method and volume of fluid method (DEM-VOF). The simulation results show that the round-bottomed tank performed mixing better than the flat-bottomed tank at different particle densities, and the flat-bottomed tank was prone to particle stratification and other phenomena. The round-bottomed mixing tank could better improve the solid−liquid suspension effect. In this study, the coefficient of variation σ was introduced to characterize the suspended mass of particles. By monitoring the σ value, it was found that the blade pitch angle 45 (BPA45) had the best mixing uniformity in the inclined pitched blade turbine (PBT). As the PBT impeller pitch... [more]

The failing tube-to-tubesheet joint is identified as a primary quality defect in the fabrication of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. Operating in conditions of high pressure and temperature, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger may be susceptible to leakage around faulty joints. Owing to the ongoing low performance of the adjacent tube-to-tubesheet expansion, the heat exchanger eventually experiences malfunction. A quality improvement study on the assembly process is necessary in order to delve into the tight-fitting of the tube-to-tubesheet joint. We present a non-linear screening and optimization study of the tight-fitting process of P215NL (EN 10216-4) tube samples on P265GH (EN 10028-2) tubesheet specimens. A saturated fractional factorial scheme was implemented to screen and optimize the tube-to-tubesheet expanded-joint performance by examining the four controlling factors: (1) the clearance, (2) the number of grooves, (3) the groove depth, and (4) the tube wall thickness reduction. Th... [more]

By adjusting the synthesis process, silver nanoparticles (AgNp) of various shapes, sizes, and structures can be obtained, all of which have a substantial impact on the biological effect, notably, the regulation of antibacterial activity in the present circumstances of growing bacterial resistance. Due to their relatively small size, nanoparticles may be disseminated evenly throughout the body of the experimental animal, even at low doses, and exert more potent antibacterial activities. Our research was centered on the synthesis, production, and biological evaluation of antibacterial silver nanoparticles. Using the Turkevich method, we were able to effectively synthesize and characterize nanoscale silver particles, with an average crystallite size of 9.49 nm. We examined their acute toxicity and pharmacokinetic characteristics in rats after administering a single dosage. In addition, we evaluated the biological effect of topical AgNp suspension on the progression of burn-type lesions in... [more]

In the medical domain, early identification of cardiovascular issues poses a significant challenge. This study enhances heart disease prediction accuracy using machine learning techniques. Six algorithms (random forest, K-nearest neighbor, logistic regression, Naïve Bayes, gradient boosting, and AdaBoost classifier) are utilized, with datasets from the Cleveland and IEEE Dataport. Optimizing model accuracy, GridsearchCV, and five-fold cross-validation are employed. In the Cleveland dataset, logistic regression surpassed others with 90.16% accuracy, while AdaBoost excelled in the IEEE Dataport dataset, achieving 90% accuracy. A soft voting ensemble classifier combining all six algorithms further enhanced accuracy, resulting in a 93.44% accuracy for the Cleveland dataset and 95% for the IEEE Dataport dataset. This surpassed the performance of the logistic regression and AdaBoost classifiers on both datasets. This study’s novelty lies in the use of GridSearchCV with five-fold cross-valida... [more]

A method of steel structure surface crack identification based on artificial intelligence technology is proposed to solve the problem that steel cracks can not be detected and forewarned in time when they appear in the railway industrial environment. The appearance of steel cracks greatly weakens the stability of steel structures, and will seriously endanger the safety of the railway industry if it is not detected and repaired in time. However, the common steel crack detection methods cannot achieve real-time monitoring of steel structures. In order to monitor the surface of steel structure in real-time and explore the recognition effect and model the advantages of common classification neural network models for surface cracks of railway industrial steel, this study evaluates the network model with multiple indicators and parameters under two experimental conditions. In this study, the steel surface cracks in the railway industrial environment are taken as samples, and the steel cracks... [more]

Efficient waste management, especially in relation to swaste reuse, has become a pressing societal issue. The waste bittern generated during salt production and discarded oyster shells present formidable environmental challenges and a waste of resources for some coastal regions. Therefore, this work developed a two-stage circular process for the environmentally friendly and efficient utilization of both waste materials. In the first stage, CO2 gas and an organic extraction phase comprising Tri(octyl-decyl)amine (R3N) and isoamyl alcohol were introduced into the waste bittern to obtain MgCO3·3H2O (s). The second stage involved reacting the reacted organic extraction phase with oyster shell powders to produce CaCl2·2H2O (s) and CO2 (g) and regenerate R3N. This work focused on investigating the yield of MgCO3·3H2O and the regeneration ratio of R3N, which are crucial indicators for the two stages involved in the process. The results indicate that, under optimal operating conditions, a maxi... [more]

Heat release rate (HRR) is the principal fire characteristic of materials. There are three known methods for the measurement of HRR (based on oxygen consumption, mass loss rate, and combustion products temperature rise). The method based on oxygen consumption is considered to be the reference. However, this method is expensive and for a large part of laboratories and universities unavailable. The simplest method is based on combustion products’ temperature rise. However, this method has a fundamental problem with the temperature dependence of the heat capacity of combustion products and the thermal inertia of the measurement system. This problem has been solved by training neural networks to predict molar heat capacity and the amount of substance (chemical amount) flow rate of combustion products in the cone calorimeter exhaust duct. Data were obtained for six different wood species: birch (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.), oak (Quercus robur L.) spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), locust (Rob... [more]

To handle the gangue well and control the settlement of the surface, as well as to reduce the risk of water bleeding, settlement and even blockage and pipe breaking of the gangue slurry in the process of conveying, the rheological characteristics of the slurry should be studied. The rheological properties of slurry with different concentrations prepared from gangue samples of the Ningtiaota coal mine were tested, and the correlation between the rheological characteristics of the coal gangue filling slurry and three factors, namely the gangue mass fraction, grain gradation and standing time, were studied by a single factor method and response surface methodology. The results show that the fitting curve of the Herschel−Bulkley model is mostly linear, that is, the shear stress of coal gangue paste increases as a function of the shear rate. Therefore, these two concentrations are too small to form a stable network structure to wrap large particles and can easily cause pipe blockage. The yi... [more]