bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanostructured Materials for Water Purification: Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions and Organic Dyes
Authors: Choi Won San , Lee Ha-Jin
Published: May 2022

Chemical water pollution poses a threat to human beings and ecological systems. The purification of water to remove toxic organic and inorganic pollutants is essential for a safe society and a clean environment. Adsorption-based water treatment is considered one of the most effective and economic technologies designed to remove toxic substances. In this article, we review the recent progress in the field of nanostructured materials used for water purification, particularly those used for the adsorption of heavy metal ions and organic dyes. This review includes a range of nanostructured materials such as metal-based nanoparticles, polymer-based nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials, bio-mass materials, and other types of nanostructured materials. Finally, the current challenges in the fields of adsorption of toxic materials using nanostructured materials are briefly discussed.
A Water-Soluble Core for Manufacturing Hollow Injection-Molded Products
Authors: Lin Chung-Chih , Yang Chao-Long
Published: May 2022

To manufacture a complicated hollow product without any assembly process, for example, the plastic intake manifold, is difficult by the traditional injection molding method. The fusible-core technique, which uses a low-melting-point alloy as a sacrificial core, was developed to solve this problem; however, the limited selection of resin type and the huge capital investment have caused this technique to spread slowly. In this work, a novel method is established that can produce similar products without the limitation of resin type, as well as a lower-energy-consumption process. The concept of the enveloped core defined by a water-soluble core assembled with a shell is proposed herein; it provides both rigidity and toughness to resist the pressure during the injection molding process. The shape of the enveloped core equals the internal contour of the designated product. An insert molding process was introduced to cover the enveloped core with a skin layer. Cut out the end of the enveloped core and immerse it into a water bath. When the water-soluble core inside the shell is dissolved, the product with a special internal contour is accomplished. A tee-joint is presented to demonstrate how the proposed method can be utilized. The optimal ingredient of the core and processing parameters are determined by the Taguchi method. The result shows that the proposed product is molded successfully when the compressive strength of the core is larger than 2 MPa. In addition, the eccentricity measurement of internal contour of the optimal sample exhibits a 56% improvement, and the required time for the core removal is less than 154 s.
Functional Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Composites for Ligament Reconstructions and Their Targeted Applications in the Restoration of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Authors: Wahed Sonia , Dunstan Colin , Boughton Philip , Ruys Andrew , Faisal Shaikh , Wahed Tania , Salahuddin Bidita , Cheng Xinying , Zhou Yang , Wang Chun , Islam Mohammad , Aziz Shazed
Published: May 2022

The selection of biomaterials as biomedical implants is a significant challenge. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and composites of such kind have been extensively used in medical implants, notably in the bearings of the hip, knee, and other joint prostheses, owing to its biocompatibility and high wear resistance. For the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) graft, synthetic UHMWPE is an ideal candidate due to its biocompatibility and extremely high tensile strength. However, significant problems are observed in UHMWPE based implants, such as wear debris and oxidative degradation. To resolve the issue of wear and to enhance the life of UHMWPE as an implant, in recent years, this field has witnessed numerous innovative methodologies such as biofunctionalization or high temperature melting of UHMWPE to enhance its toughness and strength. The surface functionalization/modification/treatment of UHMWPE is very challenging as it requires optimizing many variables, such as surface tension and wettability, active functional groups on the surface, irradiation, and protein immobilization to successfully improve the mechanical properties of UHMWPE and reduce or eliminate the wear or osteolysis of the UHMWPE implant. Despite these difficulties, several surface roughening, functionalization, and irradiation processing technologies have been developed and applied in the recent past. The basic research and direct industrial applications of such material improvement technology are very significant, as evidenced by the significant number of published papers and patents. However, the available literature on research methodology and techniques related to material property enhancement and protection from wear of UHMWPE is disseminated, and there is a lack of a comprehensive source for the research community to access information on the subject matter. Here we provide an overview of recent developments and core challenges in the surface modification/functionalization/irradiation of UHMWPE and apply these findings to the case study of UHMWPE for ACL repair.
Bio-Functionalized Ultra-Thin, Large-Area and Waterproof Silicone Membranes for Biomechanical Cellular Loading and Compliance Experiments
Authors: Uysal Karya , Creutz Till , Firat Ipek Seda , Artmann Gerhard M. , Teusch Nicole , Temiz Artmann Aysegül
Published: May 2022

Biocompatibility, flexibility and durability make polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes top candidates in biomedical applications. CellDrum technology uses large area, <10 µm thin membranes as mechanical stress sensors of thin cell layers. For this to be successful, the properties (thickness, temperature, dust, wrinkles, etc.) must be precisely controlled. The following parameters of membrane fabrication by means of the Floating-on-Water (FoW) method were investigated: (1) PDMS volume, (2) ambient temperature, (3) membrane deflection and (4) membrane mechanical compliance. Significant differences were found between all PDMS volumes and thicknesses tested (p < 0.01). They also differed from the calculated values. At room temperatures between 22 and 26 °C, significant differences in average thickness values were found, as well as a continuous decrease in thicknesses within a 4 °C temperature elevation. No correlation was found between the membrane thickness groups (between 3–4 µm) in terms of deflection and compliance. We successfully present a fabrication method for thin bio-functionalized membranes in conjunction with a four-step quality management system. The results highlight the importance of tight regulation of production parameters through quality control. The use of membranes described here could also become the basis for material testing on thin, viscous layers such as polymers, dyes and adhesives, which goes far beyond biological applications.
Characterization of Dental Pulp Stem Cells Response to Bone Substitutes Biomaterials in Dentistry
Authors: Di Tinco Rosanna , Consolo Ugo , Pisciotta Alessandra , Orlandi Giulia , Bertani Giulia , Nasi Milena , Bertacchini Jessika , Carnevale Gianluca
Published: May 2022

Bone substitute biomaterials (BSBs) represent a promising alternative to bone autografts, due to their biocompatibility, osteoconduction, slow resorption rates, and the ability to define and maintain volume for bone gain in dentistry. Many biomaterials are tailored to provide structural and biological support for bone regeneration, and allow the migration of bone-forming cells into the bone defect. Neural crest-derived stem cells isolated from human dental pulp (hDPSCs) represent a suitable stem cell source to study the biological effects of BSBs on osteoprogenitor cells involved in the physiological bone regenerative processes. This study aimed to evaluate how three different BSBs affect the stem cell properties, osteogenic differentiation, and inflammatory properties of hDPSCs. Our data highlight that BSBs do not alter cell proliferation and stemness markers expression, nor induce any inflammatory responses. Bone metabolism data show that hDPSCs exposed to the three BSBs distinctively secrete the factors supporting osteoblast activity and osteoclast activity. Our data indicate that (i) hDPSCs are a suitable stem cell source to study the effects of BSBs, and that (ii) the formulation of BSBs may condition the biological properties of stem cells, suggesting their versatile suitability to different dentistry applications.
Thermal and Sliding Wear Properties of Wood Waste-Filled Poly(Lactic Acid) Biocomposites
Authors: Singh Tej , Patnaik Amar , Ranakoti Lalit , Dogossy Gábor , Lendvai László
Published: May 2022

In our study, the effects of wood waste content (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt.%) on thermal and dry sliding wear properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites were investigated. The wear of developed composites was examined under dry contact conditions at different operating parameters, such as sliding velocity (1 m/s, 2 m/s, and 3 m/s) and normal load (10 N, 20 N, and 30 N) at a fixed sliding distance of 2000 m. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the inclusion of wood waste decreased the thermal stability of PLA biocomposites. The experimental results indicate that wear of biocomposites increased with a rise in load and sliding velocity. There was a 26–38% reduction in wear compared with pure PLA when 2.5 wt.% wood waste was added to composites. The Taguchi method with L25 orthogonal array was used to analyze the sliding wear behavior of the developed biocomposites. The results indicate that the wood waste content with 46.82% contribution emerged as the most crucial parameter affecting the wear of PLA biocomposites. The worn surfaces of the biocomposites were examined by scanning electron microscopy to study possible wear mechanisms and correlate them with the obtained wear results.
Surface Modification of γ-Al2O3 Nanoparticles Using Conductive Polyaniline Doped by Dodecylbenzene Sulfonic Acid
Authors: Chen Cheng-Ho , Lin Ying-Chen , Lin Hung-Mao
Published: May 2022

In this study, electrically conductive PANDB/γ-Al2O3 core–shell nanocomposites were synthesized by surface modification of γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles using polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid. The PANDB/γ-Al2O3 core–shell nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ polymerization. Pure PANDB and the PANDB/γ-Al2O3 core–shell nanocomposites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and measurement of a four-point probe. The conductivity of the PANDB/γ-Al2O3 core–shell nanocomposite was about 0.72 S/cm when the weight ratio of aniline/γ-Al2O3 was 3/1. The results showed that the conductivity of the PANDB/γ-Al2O3 core–shell nanocomposite decreased with increasing amounts of γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopy results indicated that the γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles were thoroughly coated with PANDB to form a core–shell structure. Transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy images of the conductive PANDB/γ-Al2O3 core–shell nanocomposites also showed that the thickness of the PANDB layer decreased as the amount of γ-Al2O3 was increased.
Recyclability of Opaque PET from High Speed Melt Spinning: Determination of the Structures and Properties of Filaments
Authors: Odet Félix , Ylla Noëllie , Fulchiron René , Cassagnau Philippe
Published: May 2022

Recycling opaque Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which contains 1 to 10 wt % TiO2 submicron particles, has become of interest in the past few years. However, the bottle-to-fiber recyclability of opaque PET has not been assessed yet. In this work, opaque PET packaging has been characterized, and high-speed melt-spun filaments with different amounts of opaque PET (30–50–100%) blended with standard transparent recycled PET (rPET) have been produced in a pilot system. The opaque PET filaments produced have also been compared to a transparent rPET blend with masterbatch PET/TiO2 at different amounts of filler (1–3–6 wt %), produced with the same parameters. The structure-properties relationship of rPET melt-spun fibers has been investigated with crystallinity measurements, amorphous and crystalline phases orientation, and tenacity. It has been observed that the degree of crystallinity, the crystalline and amorphous phases orientation and the tenacity decreases with opaque PET addition and, to a lesser extent, with TiO2 addition. It has been suggested that TiO2 particles are not entirely responsible for the decrease in mechanical properties of opaque PET filaments since opaque rPET filaments have inferior properties to r-PET/TiO2 filaments at the same filler content.
Manufacturing Polymer Model of Anatomical Structures with Increased Accuracy Using CAx and AM Systems for Planning Orthopedic Procedures
Authors: Turek Paweł , Filip Damian , Przeszłowski Łukasz , Łazorko Artur , Budzik Grzegorz , Snela Sławomir , Oleksy Mariusz , Jabłoński Jarosław , Sęp Jarosław , Bulanda Katarzyna , Wolski Sławomir , Paszkiewicz Andrzej
Published: May 2022

Currently, medicine uses typical industrial structure techniques, including reverse engineering, data processing, 3D-CAD modeling, 3D printing, and coordinate measurement techniques. Taking this into account, one can notice the applications of procedures used in the aviation or automotive industries based on the structure of Industry 4.0 in the planning of operations and the production of medical models with high geometric accuracy. The procedure presented in the publication shortens the processing time of tomographic data and increases the reconstruction accuracy within the hip and knee joints. The procedure allows for the partial removal of metallic artifacts from the diagnostic image. Additionally, numerical models of anatomical structures, implants, and bone cement were developed in more detail by averaging the values of local segmentation thresholds. Before the model manufacturing process, additional tests of the PLA material were conducted in terms of its strength and thermal properties. Their goal was to select the appropriate type of PLA material for manufacturing models of anatomical structures. The numerical models were divided into parts before being manufactured using the Fused Filament Fabrication technique. The use of the modifier made it possible to change the density, type of filling, number of counters, and the type of supporting structure. These treatments allowed us to reduce costs and production time and increase the accuracy of the printout. The accuracy of the manufactured model geometry was verified using the MCA-II measuring arm with the MMDx100 laser head and surface roughness using a 3D Talyscan 150 profilometer. Using the procedure, a decrease in geometric deviations and amplitude parameters of the surface roughness were noticed. The models based on the presented approach allowed for detailed and meticulous treatment planning.
Plastic/Natural Fiber Composite Based on Recycled Expanded Polystyrene Foam Waste
Authors: Sriprom Wilasinee , Sirivallop Adilah , Choodum Aree , Limsakul Wadcharawadee , Wongniramaikul Worawit
Published: May 2022

A novel reinforced recycled expanded polystyrene (r-EPS) foam/natural fiber composite was successfully developed. EPS was recycled by means of the dissolution method using an accessible commercial mixed organic solvent, while natural fibers, i.e., coconut husk fiber (coir) and banana stem fiber (BSF) were used as reinforcement materials. The treatment of natural fibers with 5% (w/v) sodium hydroxide solution reduces the number of –OH groups and non-cellulose components in the fibers, more so with longer treatments. The natural fibers treated for 6 h showed rough surfaces that provided good adhesion and interlocking with the polymer matrix for mechanical reinforcement. The tensile strength and impact strength of r-EPS foam composites with treated fibers were higher than for non-filled r-EPS foam, whereas their flexural strengths were lower. Thus, this study has demonstrated an alternative way to produce recycled polymer/natural fiber composites via the dissolution method, with promising enhanced mechanical properties.
Effect of Cross-Linker Length on the Absorption Characteristics of the Sodium Salt of Cross-Linked Polyaspartic Acid
Authors: Xu Junchao , Kim Kyu Oh , Yoon Kee Jong
Published: May 2022

For the development of biodegradable superabsorbent polymers, the effect of the cross-linking length on the absorption characteristics of the Na salt of polyaspartic acid (PAspNa) was demonstrated using different concentrations of diamine cross-linking agents bearing carbon chains of different lengths, viz., ethylenediamine, 1,6-hexamethylenediamine, 1,8-diaminooctane, 1,10-diaminodecane, and 1,12-diaminododecane were used as cross-linking agents. The absorption of PAspNa was measured in deionised water and in a 0.9% aqueous NaCl solution. Under the conditions tested, when the alkyl chain of PAspNa was too short or too long, the absorbency was low and the cross-linking length was optimum. The success of the cross-linking reaction was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The degree of cross-linking was estimated and the ideal concentration for maximum water absorption was determined by elemental analysis. The sample obtained by cross-linking 1,8-diaminooctane at a concentration of 0.11 g/g polysuccinimide (PSI) showed the highest absorption. The thermal properties of each material were determined by dynamic scanning calorimetry. Therefore, the length of the cross-linking agent was found to strongly influence water absorption.
Research on the Desired Dynamic Selection of a Reference Model-Based PID Controller: A Case Study on a High-Pressure Heater in a 600 MW Power Plant
Authors: Shi Gengjin , Wu Zhenlong , Liu Shaojie , Li Donghai , Ding Yanjun , Liu Shangming
Published: May 2022

Nowadays, the proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller dominates industrial process control. Because of the compromise between parameters, its tuning is still a challenge for practitioners. A reference model (RM)-based PID controller—the desired dynamic equational (DDE) PID controller—is regarded as a viable alternative since it can readily eliminate the compromise. However, how to design its desired dynamic equation remains an unsolved problem which limits the application of DDE PID controllers in large-scale industrial systems. Therefore, this paper studies the desired dynamic selection of DDE PID controllers and proposes a simple and practical selection procedure without using the accurate plant model. Simulations, experiments and filed tests demonstrate the convenience and advantages of the proposed method, thus making DDE PID an effective controller type which is specifically appealing to engineers. Moreover, the successful application of DDE PID controllers to a high-pressure (HP) heater in a coal-fired power plant shows their promising prospects in the future power industry with the increasing demand to integrate more renewables into the grid.
Research on Wellbore Instability of Shale Formation in Extremely Complex Geo-Mechanical Environment
Authors: Yuan Junliang , Zhao Kai , Feng Yongcun
Published: May 2022

Borehole instability problems are commonly encountered while drilling highly deviated and horizontal shale gas wells within the shale formations associated with high-dip bedding planes. An integrated rock mechanical study is described in this paper to evaluate the risk of the borehole instability problems in this area. First, a set of uniaxial compressive tests are carried out to measure the strength of the bedding shales on cores with different angles between the load direction and the bedding planes. A critical strength criterion is then proposed based on the test results. Next, the stress state of the borehole with arbitrary inclination and azimuth is determined through coordinate transformations. Finally, through combining the strength criterion and the stress state of the borehole, the risk of borehole instability is investigated for deviated and horizontal wells in shale formations with different bedding dips (0–90°) and dip directions (45° and 90° to the direction of minimum horizontal stress σh). The results show the dependence of borehole instability on the orientation of bedding planes of the formation as well as inclination and azimuth of the well. The most desirable borehole trajectory from the viewpoint of borehole stability is at the direction normal to the bedding planes. For a horizontal well specifically, if the bedding direction is perpendicular to the direction of σh, the risk of instability is relatively high for most drilling directions except drilling along the dip direction of the bedding planes. However, if there is a moderate acute angle (e.g., 45°) between the dip direction and the direction of σh, the risk of instability is relatively low for most drilling directions unless drilling along the direction of σh.
A Novel Bone Gelatin Prepared by Enzymatic Catalysis with High Crosslinking Activity of MTGase for Gelatinization Properties of Minced Pork
Authors: Han Qiaoqiao , Leng Juncai , Dong Tiantian , Ma Yanli , Zhao Wei
Published: May 2022

A novel gelatin prepared by enzymatic catalysis (type-E bone gelatin) was developed in our group. In this study, the high crosslinking activity of type-E bone gelatin with microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) was found and further used for the gelatinization properties of minced pork. The results showed that the contents of lysine and glutamine in type-E bone gelatin were higher than that of traditional gelatin prepared by acid (type-A gelatin) and alkali (type-B gelatin) methods, which are as action sites for MTGase. The crosslinking degree (79%) of type-E was approximately 4.9 times that of type-A and 5.6 times that of type-B at 1.44 U/g MTGase. Moreover, the type-E gel showed thermal irreversibility when the MTGase concentration was higher than 0.90 U/g due to high crosslinking activity. For minced pork gel, the water-holding capacity and texture properties of minced pork modified with type-E bone gelatin crosslinked by MTGase were improved and cooking loss was significantly reduced.
Modification of Quaternary Clays Using Recycled Fines from Construction and Demolition Waste
Authors: Zaharieva Roumiana , Evlogiev Daniel , Kerenchev Nikolay , Stanimirova Tsveta
Published: May 2022

Foundation of buildings in soft soil such as quaternary clay is often associated with difficult compaction, settlement, non-uniform and/or excessive deformation, and unsatisfactory shear resistance. The present study aims to assess the possibility of using recycled fines from construction and demolition waste, such as mechanically treated gypsum and waste concrete powder (WCP), instead of ordinary binders or industrial waste, in the stabilization of quaternary clay. A detailed characterization of soil components is presented. Seven mixes with various proportions of gypsum and WCP are prepared. Main geotechnical parameters of the modified soil are studied by applying standardized methods with a few deviations. XRD analysis and pH measurements are performed. It was found that the effect of 5% to 20% recycled di-hydrate gypsum is limited to improvement in moist soil compatibility. A gypsum content of 10% positively impacts soil cohesion and the oedometer modulus. WCP is an active component, containing non-hydrated cement, portlandite, calcite and calcium silicates hydrate. As a result, by adding 5% of WCP only, significant improvement can be achieved: greater soil cohesion, reduced deformability and higher UCS. When 5% of recycled gypsum is also added, soil cohesion is further improved because of ettringite formation.
Mechanical Behavior and Optimization of Tubing String with Expansion Joint during Fracturing in HTUHP Wells
Authors: Mou Yisheng , Yang Shangyu , Han Lihong , Wang Jianjun , Lian Zhanghua
Published: May 2022

During the formation testing in high-temperature (HT) and ultra-high-pressure (UHP) wells, one of the major challenges is packer failure in the downhole caused by high-rate fracturing. In such a case, the axial shrinkage trend of the tubing string could be caused by the sudden drop in temperature, but the actual axial length of the tubing string would not change because of the constraints at wellhead and packer. Therefore, this could lead to the upward pull-out of the packer that is due to excessive load from the tubing string. This out-of-control downhole pressure often leads to irreversible consequences, even well abandonment. An expansion joint, as a movable splicer, has the characteristic of mitigating packer load, which can theoretically enhance packer safety. To study the protective effect of an expansion joint on the packer quantitatively, the microscopic characteristics and macroscopic properties of the tubing material (13Cr110) are obtained through experimental tests. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the material at different temperatures are also tested. Then, the testing results are extended to modeling the finite element model (FEM) of the whole section of tubing string with the expansion joint—casing and simulating its internal force changes under fracturing conditions with different injection rates. Our simulation results indicated that an expansion joint can significantly change the distribution of the internal forces in the tubing string, and this change can effectively reduce the load on the packer. Eventually, a tubing string buckling identification plate that considers the injection rate and expansion joint–packer length is obtained to optimize the placement of an expansion joint in the tubing string. Our work can provide a detailed theoretical reference and basis for an expansion joint in field application.
Repeated Transient Transfection: An Alternative for the Recombinant Production of Difficult-to-Express Proteins Like BMP2
Authors: Riedl Simon A. B. , Jérôme Valérie , Freitag Ruth
Published: May 2022

Human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) is routinely used in medical applications as an inducer of osteoformation. The recombinant production of BMP2 is typically performed using stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. However, this process is inefficient, resulting in low product titers. In contrast, transient gene expression (TGE), which also enables the production of recombinant proteins, suffers from short production times and hence limited total product amounts. Here, we show that TGE-based BMP2 production is more efficient in HEKsus than in CHOsus cells. Independently of the cell lines, a bicistronic plasmid co-expressing EGFP and BMP2 facilitated the determination of the transfection efficiency but led to inferior BMP2 titers. Finally, we used a high cell density transient transfection (HCD-TGE) protocol to improve and extend the BMP2 expression by performing four rounds of serial transfections on one pool of HEKsus cells. This repeated transient transfection (RTT) process in HEKsus cells was implemented using EGFP as a reporter gene and further adapted for BMP2 production. The proposed method significantly improves BMP2 production (up to 509 ng/106 cells) by extending the production phase (96–360 h). RTT can be integrated into the seed train and is shown to be compatible with scale-up to the liter range.
Bottom-Up Estimates of the Cost of Supplying High-Temperature Industrial Process Heat from Intermittent Renewable Electricity and Thermal Energy Storage in Australia
Authors: Profaiser Andrea , Saw Woei , Nathan Graham J. , Ingenhoven Philip
Published: May 2022

We report the upper and lower bounds for the levelized cost of high-temperature industrial process heat, supplied from electricity generated with solar-photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbines in combination with either thermal or electric battery storage using hourly typical meteorological year (TMY) data, in systems sized to supply between 80% and 100% of continuous thermal demand at a site in the northern part of Western Australia. The system is chosen to supply high-temperature air as the heat transfer media at temperatures of 1000 °C, which is a typical temperature for an alumina or a lime calcination plant. A simplified model of the electrical energy plant has been developed using performance characteristics of real PV and wind systems and TMY data of renewable energy resources. This was used to simulate a large sample of possible system configurations and find the optimal combination of the renewable resources and storage systems, sized to provide renewable shares (RES) of between 80% and 100% of the yearly demand. This allowed the upper and lower bounds to be determined for the cost of heat based on two scenarios in which the excess energy is either dumped (upper bound) or exported to the electricity grid (lower bound) at the average generating cost. The lower bound of the levelized cost of energy (LCOEL), which occurs for the system employing thermal storage, was estimated to range from USD 10/GJ to USD 24/GJ for RES from 80 to 100%. The corresponding upper bound (LCOEU), also estimated for the system using thermal storage, are between USD 16/GJ and USD 31/GJ, for RES between 80% and 100%. The utilization of electric battery storage instead of thermal storage was found to increase the LCOE values by a factor of two to four depending on the share of renewable energy. Compared with current Australian natural gas cost, none of the systems assessed configurations is economical without either a cost for CO2 emissions or a premium for low-carbon products. The estimated cost for CO2 emission that is needed to reach parity with current natural gas prices in Australia is also presented.
Selective Ion Removal by Capacitive Deionization (CDI)-Based Technologies
Authors: Chai Shuqian , Xi Jiarui , Chen Ling , He Wei , Shen Junjie , Gong Hui
Published: May 2022

Severe freshwater shortages and global pollution make selective removal of target ions from solutions of great significance for water purification and resource recovery. Capacitive deionization (CDI) removes charged ions and molecules from water by applying a low applied electric field across the electrodes and has received much attention due to its lower energy consumption and sustainability. Its application field has been expanding in the past few years. In this paper, we report an overview of the current status of selective ion removal in CDI. This paper also discusses the prospects of selective CDI, including desalination, water softening, heavy metal removal and recovery, nutrient removal, and other common ion removal techniques. The insights from this review will inform the implementation of CDI technology.
Performance Optimization on 3D Diffuser of Volute Pump Using Kriging Model
Authors: Han Zhenhua , Wang Wenjie , Huang Congbing , Pei Ji
Published: May 2022

In order to enhance the hydraulic performance of the volute pump, the Kriging model and genetic algorithm (GA) were used to optimize the 3D diffuser of the volute pump, and the hydraulic performance of the optimized model was compared and analyzed with the original model. The volute pump diffuser model was parameterized by BladeGen software. A total of 14 parameters such as the distance between the leading and trailing edges and the central axis, and the inlet and outlet vane angle were selected as design variables, and the efficiency under the design condition was taken as the optimization objective. A total of 70 sets of sample data were randomly selected in the design space to train and test the Kriging model. The optimal solution was obtained by GA. The shape and inner flow of the optimized diffuser were compared with those of the original diffuser. The research results showed that the Kriging model can effectively establish the high-precision mathematical function between the design variables and the optimization objective, and the R2 value is 0.95356, which meets the engineering needs. The optimized geometry model demonstrated a significant change, the vane leading edge became thinner, and the wrap angle increased. After optimization, the hydraulic performance of the volute pump under design and part-load conditions were greatly improved, the efficiency under design conditions increased by 2.65%, and the head increased by 0.83 m. Furthermore, the inner flow condition improved, the large area of low-speed and vortex disappeared, the pressure distribution in the diffuser was more reasonable, and the pressure gradient variation decreased.
Study on the Influence of Flow Distribution Structure of Piston Pump on the Output of Pulsation Pump
Authors: Li Ruichuan , Liu Jilu , Ding Xinkai , Liu Qi
Published: May 2022

According to the working principle of the A10VNO swashplate axial piston pump, the output flow model of an axial piston pump in an ideal state and the output flow theoretical model of an axial piston pump considering the leakage and flow distribution process are established. The output flow pulsations of odd and even piston pumps are simulated and analyzed by Matlab, and the influence of a closed dead angle and a mismatch angle of the port plate on the output flow pulsation of the pump is obtained. Based on the theoretical model, AMESim is used to establish the overall model of the axial piston pump considering leakage, flow distribution process and oil compressibility under constant working conditions. By setting six different flow distribution boundary conditions corresponding to the theoretical research, the influence of flow distribution plate structure on pump output flow pulsation is studied. A test-bed was built and verified by experiments. The results show that when the mismatch angle of the valve plate is 3–5° and the dead angle is 6–10°, the difference between the output flow pulsations of the odd and even piston pumps is very small, so in the hydraulic pump hydraulic motor system, when the hydraulic pump is used as a hydraulic motor under the condition of power recovery, the odd number or adjacent even number of hydraulic motors are appropriate.
Research on Degradation State Recognition of Axial Piston Pump under Variable Rotating Speed
Authors: Guo Rui , Liu Yingtang , Zhao Zhiqian , Zhao Jingyi , Wang Jianwei , Cai Wei
Published: May 2022

Under the condition of variable rotating speed, it is difficult to extract the degradation characteristics of the axial piston pump, which also reduces the accuracy of degradation recognition. To address these problems, this paper proposes a degradation state recognition method for axial piston pumps by combining spline-kernelled chirplet transform (SCT), adaptive chirp mode pursuit (ACMP), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). Firstly, SCT and ACMP are proposed to deal with the vibration signal instability and high noise of the axial piston pump under variable rotating speed. The instantaneous frequency (IF) of the axial piston pump can be extracted effectively by obtaining the accurate time-frequency distribution of signal components. Then, stable angular domain vibration signals are obtained by re-sampling, and multi-dimensional degradation characteristics are extracted from the angular domain and order spectrum. Finally, XGBoost is used to classify the selected characteristics to recognize the degradation state. In this paper, the vibration signals in four different degradation states are collected and analyzed through the wear test of the valve plate of the axial piston pump. Compared with different pattern recognition algorithms, it is verified that this method can ensure high recognition accuracy.
Box-Behnken Design (BBD) Application for Optimization of Chromatographic Conditions in RP-HPLC Method Development for the Estimation of Thymoquinone in Nigella sativa Seed Powder
Authors: Alam Prawez , Shakeel Faiyaz , Taleuzzaman Mohamad , Foudah Ahmed I. , Alqarni Mohammed H. , Aljarba Tariq M. , Alshehri Sultan , Ghoneim Mohammed M.
Published: May 2022

Thymoquinone (THY) is a bioactive compound present in the seed powder of Nigella sativa (NS). This research aims to precisely and accurately estimate THY using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a Quality by Design (QbD) application. Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed to optimize the chromatographic conditions for HPLC method development, taking mobile phase flow rate, pH of the buffer, and λmax as independent variables and retention time and tailing factor as the measured responses. The mobile phase composition was methanol: acetonitrile: buffer (2.2 mM ammonium formate) at the ratio of 35:50:15 v/v/v on a Symmetry® C18 (5 μm, 3.9 × 150 mm) column. In isocratic mode, it had a flow rate 0.9 mL min−1 and eluted analyte was detected at 249 nm. Validation parameters followed the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for the new HPLC method. The method was linear over the range 6.25–100 µg mL−1 with a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.9957. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 2.05 and 6.25 µg mL−1, respectively. The %RSD of system suitability for retention time was 1.42% and for the tailing factor it was 0.695%. In addition, the developed method was precise, accurate, and robust according to ICH criteria. The developed HPLC method is simple, accurate, quick, and robust, and it could be used for the routine analysis of THY in different kinds of formulations.
Sustainable Machining: Tool Life Criterion Based on Work Surface Quality
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Zhao Guolong , Cheok Quentin , He Ning , Nauman Malik M.
Published: May 2022

Extending the use of a component without compromising its intended functionality is the neatest approach to enhance sustainability. From this perspective, limiting the working life of a cutting tool based merely on the blunting of its cutting edge to a specific value is highly questionable. The very question that serves as the motivation for this work is, “why should tool life criterion be based on the shape of the tool when all that matters for business is the quality of the part being machined?”. This work puts forward a tool life criterion based on the surface quality of the machined part. The proof of the concept is provided by a series of face-turning experiments performed on a commonly used alloy steel using the following cutting inserts in dry conditions: (1) uncoated carbide; (2) coated carbide; and (3) cubic boron nitride (CBN). It is found that different combinations of tooling and cutting parameters lead to entirely different values of surface roughness at the same level of flank wear, thus raising the possibility of extending the working life of the tools. Overall, the CBN inserts yielded the longest tool life values, especially at high levels of cutting speed. Being more economical in respect of acquisition cost than the CBN inserts and more effective than the uncoated carbide inserts regarding tool life, the coated carbide inserts came out as the most sustainable tooling option. Finally, it is concluded that a tool life criterion based on work surface roughness can yield longer tool life values and make the machining process more sustainable. For the experimental work reported herein, the surface-quality based tool life criterion yielded on average 23% longer tool life. The presented work is novel as it presents a new approach to extend the working life of cutting tools without compromising the other sustainability measures. The outcomes are expected to find applicability in all sectors of the metal cutting industry, which are striving for elongations in tool life and improvements in work surface quality.
A Feature Engineering-Assisted CM Technology for SMPS Output Aluminium Electrolytic Capacitors (AEC) Considering D-ESR-Q-Z Parameters
Authors: Kareem Akeem Bayo , Hur Jang-Wook
Published: May 2022

Recent research has seen an interest in the condition monitoring (CM) approach for aluminium electrolytic capacitors (AEC), which are present in switched-mode power supplies and other power electronics equipment. From various literature reviews conducted and from a failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) standpoint, the most critical and prone to fault component with the highest percentage is mostly capacitors. Due to its long-lasting ability (endurance), CM offers a better paradigm for AEC due to its application. However, owing to severe conditions (over-voltage, mechanical stress, high temperature) that could occur during use, they (capacitors) could be exposed to early breakdown and overall shutdown of the SMPS. This study considered accelerated life testing (electrical stress and long-term frequency testing) for the component due to its endurance in thousands of hours. We have set up the experiment test bench to monitor the critical electrical parameters: dissipation factor (D), equivalent series resistance (ESR), quality factor (Q), and impedance (Z), which would serve as a health indicator (HI) for the evaluation of the AECs. Time-domain features were extracted from the measured data, and the best features were selected using the correlation-based technique.
Development of a Sustainable Industry 4.0 Approach for Increasing the Performance of SMEs
Authors: Dossou Paul-Eric , Laouénan Gaspard , Didier Jean-Yves
Published: May 2022

The competitiveness of companies in emerging countries implies many European countries must transform their production systems to be more efficient. Indeed, the new context created by the COVID-19 pandemic increases the necessity of digital transformation and focuses attention on its limited uptake by manufacturing companies. In France, the Industry 4.0 concepts are already implemented in large companies. Despite the demonstration and validation of their benefits, SMEs are reluctant to move towards implementation. This problem of SME performance improvement increases with the current geopolitical situation in Europe (raw materials and gasoil cost). It is thus urgent and paramount to find a better solution for encouraging SMEs in their transformation. Taking note of the brakes on uptake of Industry 4.0 concepts in SMEs, the objectives of this paper are to find levers to accelerate implementation of Industry 4.0 concepts in SMEs, through the development and the deployment of a sustainable Industry 4.0 methodology, and to develop an intelligent system for supporting companies’ digital transformation in order to improve their performance. After a literature review, focused on Industry 4.0 concepts, theory of systems, organizational methods, and artificial intelligence, a sustainable methodology will be presented. The SME performance model that has been elaborated will then be shown and the structure of the intelligent system (mainly the decision aided tool) being developed for supporting the digital transformation of SMEs will be described. An illustrative example relating to a food elaboration SME will be presented for validating the concepts that have been developed. The proposed framework helped the company to formulate guidelines and transition towards a sustainable 4.0 company.
Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling in the Circular Economy: A Review
Authors: Islam Md Tasbirul , Iyer-Raniga Usha
Published: May 2022

Lithium-ion batteries have become a crucial part of the energy supply chain for transportation (in electric vehicles) and renewable energy storage systems. Recycling is considered one of the most effective ways for recovering the materials for spent LIB streams and circulating the material in the critical supply chain. However, few review articles have been published in the research domain of recycling and the circular economy, with most mainly focusing on either recycling methods or the challenges and opportunities in the circular economy for spent LIBs. This paper reviewed 93 articles (66 original research articles and 27 review articles) identified in the Web of Science core collection database. The study showed that publications in the area are increasing exponentially, with many focusing on recycling and recovery-related issues; policy and regulatory affairs received less attention than recycling. Most of the studies were experiments followed by evaluation and planning (as per the categorization made). Pre-treatment processes were widely discussed, which is a critical part of hydrometallurgy and direct physical recycling (DPR). DPR is a promising recycling technique that requires further attention. Some of the issues that require further consideration include a techno-economic assessment of the recycling process, safe reverse logistics, a global EV assessment revealing material recovery potential, and a lifecycle assessment of experiments processes (both in the hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes). Furthermore, the application of the circular business model and associated stakeholders’ engagement, clear and definitive policy guidelines, extended producer responsibility implications, and material tracking, and identification deserve further focus. This study presents several future research directions that would be useful for academics and policymakers taking necessary steps such as product design, integrated recycling techniques, intra-industry stakeholder cooperation, business model development, techno-economic analysis, and others towards achieving a circular economy in the LIB value chain.
Relegitimizing Religious Authority: Indonesian Gender-Just ʿUlamāʾ Amid COVID-19
Authors: Nisa Eva F. , Saenong Farid F.
Published: May 2022

Studies have highlighted the increased vulnerability of women during and after disasters. Thus, there has been a call for gender-aware disaster management—an approach which is certainly needed, especially when a patriarchal culture is embedded in a society. Unfortunately, studies on women as vulnerable agents are often not balanced against careful examinations of instances where women help women. Drawing on (digital) ethnography conducted between 2020 and 2022, this article focuses on analysing the voices and activities of gender-just ʿulamāʾ (Muslim scholars) in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected traditional religious gathering practices, has led to creative solutions to social proximity restrictions. Many ʿulamāʾ have been “forced” by the situation to adjust to digital religion. This article analyses how female religious authorities who colour the daily daʿwa (proselytization) landscape in Indonesia deal with the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic. The daʿwa scene in Indonesia has long been the site of contention among various competing ideological understandings. The pandemic and the proliferation of digital religion has led gender-just ʿulamāʾ to relegitimize their authority through an online presence so they can compete and counter the narratives of tech-savvy conservative Muslims.
Domesticating Women, Animals, the Environment, and Spiritual Entities: Navigating Boundaries in the Pastoral Community of Limi, Nepal
Authors: Bate Tara
Published: May 2022

Through a case study of pastoralists in the Limi valley of north-western Nepal, this article revisits the notion of domestication with regards to Limey pastoral practice. Taken in its etymological sense, of “making part of one’s home” (domus), domestication could be seen to draw a line between the inside and the outside. Yet, in Limi, these lines are blurred and shifting in nature: those that are a part of the home are not defined ontologically but relationally. Beyond strictly human–animal relations, domestication is here extended to involve politics and moralities of human differences such as gender and age, politics of relations to spiritual entities, and politics of nature. In Limi, pastoral practice inserts humans in a constellation of relations of co-domestication governed by religious precepts and gender norms, conceived as foundational to multispecies coinhabitation. Domestication is not a solely anthropogenic process but a composition of multiple—including nonhuman—agencies. And yet, pastoralism, as it is practiced today, also contributes to creating a space of hybridity and fluidity of social and ontological boundaries—between women and men, humans and livestock, domestic and wild animals, land and spiritual entities. This article, through a case study of Limey pastoralists’ gendered relation with herds and an animated landscape, adds to the understanding of domestication as not merely the domination of the human over the non-human but as an art of multispecies coinhabitation.