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Processes, Volume 9, Issue 11 (November 2021) – 238 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): The search for alternative protein sources as a complete or partial replacement to conventional protein ingredients for food and feed applications has gained significant momentum in the past decade. Among the novel protein alternatives, a saprophytic insect known as the black soldier fly satisfies all of the requirements, including waste valorization, nutrition upcycling and circular economy. The objective of this study was to investigate simple wet mode fractionation of the fresh larvae to obtain functional ingredients. The various fractions emerging from the process were characterized and the overall material distribution of the chemical constituents present was articulated.View this paper
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16 pages, 5213 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Wound Healing Potential of Novel Hydrogel Based on Ocimum basilicum and Trifolium pratense Extracts
by Ina Andreea Antonescu (Mintaș), Angela Antonescu, Florina Miere (Groza), Luminița Fritea, Alin Cristian Teușdea, Laura Vicaș, Simona Ioana Vicaș, Ilarie Brihan, Maria Domuța, Mihaela Zdrinca, Marcel Zdrinca and Simona Cavalu
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112096 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3508
Abstract
Plants are an inexhaustible source of compounds with different medicinal properties, suitable as alternative options for the prevention and treatment of various pathologies. They are safe, effective and economical. In this paper, a combined extract made of Ocimum basilicum and Trifolium pratense extracts [...] Read more.
Plants are an inexhaustible source of compounds with different medicinal properties, suitable as alternative options for the prevention and treatment of various pathologies. They are safe, effective and economical. In this paper, a combined extract made of Ocimum basilicum and Trifolium pratense extracts (EOT) was used for the first time to demonstrate its healing effect on dermal pathologies. To evaluate the wound healing effect of EOT, a novel gel formulation was prepared and subsequently tested in vitro (using the scratch test assay) and in vivo (on an animal model). The in vitro tests demonstrated the complete recovery of the dermal fibroblast monolayer when treated with EOT in a concentration of 50 µg/mL. In vivo results using a hydrogel formulation based on EOT demonstrated improved wound contraction time and complete healing after 13 days of treatment. Moreover, a clinical case of Psoriasis vulgaris was presented, in which one week of treatment led to the significant improvement of the patient’s health. In conclusion, the topical use of the novel gel formulation containing EOT is a successful therapeutic alternative in the treatment of dermal diseases. Full article
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15 pages, 4860 KiB  
Article
Random Forest Regression-Based Machine Learning Model for Accurate Estimation of Fluid Flow in Curved Pipes
by Ganesh N., Paras Jain, Amitava Choudhury, Prasun Dutta, Kanak Kalita and Paolo Barsocchi
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2095; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112095 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3610
Abstract
In industrial piping systems, turbomachinery, heat exchangers etc., pipe bends are essential components. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which is frequently used to analyse the flow behaviour in such systems, provides extremely precise estimates but is computationally expensive. As a result, a computationally efficient [...] Read more.
In industrial piping systems, turbomachinery, heat exchangers etc., pipe bends are essential components. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which is frequently used to analyse the flow behaviour in such systems, provides extremely precise estimates but is computationally expensive. As a result, a computationally efficient method is developed in this paper by leveraging machine learning for such computationally expensive CFD problems. Random forest regression (RFR) is used as the machine learning algorithm in this work. Four different fluid flow characteristics (i.e., axial velocity, x-velocity, y-velocity and z-velocity) are studied in this work. The accuracy of the RFR models is assessed by using a number of statistical metrics such as mean-absolute error (MAE), mean-squared-error (MSE), root-mean-squared-error (RMSE), maximum error (Max.Error) and median error (Med.Error) etc. It is observed that the RFR models can produce considerable cost reductions in computing by surrogating the CFD model. Minor loss in estimation accuracy as compared to the CFD models is observed. While the magnitude of intricate flow characteristics such as the additional vortices are correctly predicted, some error in their location is observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Advanced Digital and Other Processes)
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9 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
Performance of a Gasifier Reactor Prototype without a Blower Using Palm Oil Waste
by Arief Suardi Nur Chairat, Vendy Antono, Prayudi Prayudi, Roswati Nurhasanah and Hakimul Batih
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2094; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112094 - 22 Nov 2021
Viewed by 1769
Abstract
The usage of palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFBs) in the gasification process adds value to the empty bunches as a renewable energy source. In this study, we design and manufacture a new updraft type of gasifier reactor without a blower so that [...] Read more.
The usage of palm oil empty fruit bunches (EFBs) in the gasification process adds value to the empty bunches as a renewable energy source. In this study, we design and manufacture a new updraft type of gasifier reactor without a blower so that it does not require electric power in its operation, but uses power from engine suction. Our test results compare the use of biomass waste in conjunction with diesel fuel to run a diesel power plant for 20 min at a load of 10,000 W: diesel with coconut shell charcoal (350 mL), diesel with acacia wood charcoal (380 mL), and diesel with EFB charcoal (400 mL). The test shows that the highest efficient and the most optimal biomass in the gasification process is coconut shell charcoal, because coconut shell charcoal has a dense structure and, at the time of the experiment, the coconut shell charcoal was filled 15 cm below the gas outlet pipe hole. From the standpoint of the economic value of the gasifier reactor that is proposed in this study, the result with the lowest cost is that of diesel with EFB charcoal, because, in this experiment, EFBs were the biomass that was not purchased. The additional use of empty fruit bunches of charcoal is able to save 50% diesel usage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomass to Renewable Energy Processes)
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17 pages, 4758 KiB  
Article
Photoplethysmography Analysis with Duffing–Holmes Self-Synchronization Dynamic Errors and 1D CNN-Based Classifier for Upper Extremity Vascular Disease Screening
by Pi-Yun Chen, Zheng-Lin Sun, Jian-Xing Wu, Ching-Chou Pai, Chien-Ming Li, Chia-Hung Lin and Neng-Sheng Pai
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2093; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112093 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1482
Abstract
Common upper limb peripheral artery diseases (PADs) are atherosclerosis, embolic diseases, and systemic diseases, which are often asymptomatic, and the narrowed arteries (stenosis) will gradually reduce blood flow in the right or left upper limbs. Upper extremity vascular disease (UEVD) and atherosclerosis are [...] Read more.
Common upper limb peripheral artery diseases (PADs) are atherosclerosis, embolic diseases, and systemic diseases, which are often asymptomatic, and the narrowed arteries (stenosis) will gradually reduce blood flow in the right or left upper limbs. Upper extremity vascular disease (UEVD) and atherosclerosis are high-risk PADs for patients with Type 2 diabetes or with both diabetes and end-stage renal disease. For early UEVD detection, a fingertip-based, toe-based, or wrist-based photoplethysmography (PPG) tool is a simple and noninvasive measurement system for vital sign monitoring and healthcare applications. Based on time-domain PPG analysis, a Duffing–Holmes system with a master system and a slave system is used to extract self-synchronization dynamic errors, which can track the differences in PPG morphology (in amplitudes (systolic peak) and time delay (systolic peak to diastolic peak)) between healthy subjects and PAD patients. In the preliminary analysis, the self-synchronization dynamic errors can be used to evaluate risk levels based on the reflection index (RI), which includes normal condition, lower PAD, and higher PAD. Then, a one-dimensional convolutional neural network is established as a multilayer classifier for automatic UEVD screening. The experimental results indicated that the self-synchronization dynamic errors have a positive correlation with the RI (R2 = 0.6694). The K-fold cross-validation is used to verify the performance of the proposed classifier with recall (%), precision (%), accuracy (%), and F1 score. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Machine Learning and Applications)
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16 pages, 583 KiB  
Article
Towards Enterprise Sustainable Innovation Process: Through Boundary-Spanning Search and Capability Reconfiguration
by Ning Cao, Jianjun Wang, Yulu Wang and Li’e Yu
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2092; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112092 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2273
Abstract
In the open innovation environment, enterprise sustainable innovation is no longer the result of individual decision-making. Extensive contact with suppliers, customers, scientific research institutions, and other subjects for boundary-spanning knowledge search, absorption, and reconfiguration is considered a critical path to enterprise sustainable innovation. [...] Read more.
In the open innovation environment, enterprise sustainable innovation is no longer the result of individual decision-making. Extensive contact with suppliers, customers, scientific research institutions, and other subjects for boundary-spanning knowledge search, absorption, and reconfiguration is considered a critical path to enterprise sustainable innovation. Studying the process of “how boundary-spanning search affects enterprise sustainable innovation” has become an urgent and valuable task. Therefore, based on an innovation search perspective, this study explored the path and mechanism of boundary-spanning search affecting enterprise sustainable innovation, revealed the intermediary effect of capability reconfiguration, and clarified the regulatory role of information technology (IT) governance. We also proposed an integrated model promoting enterprise sustainable innovation process. Using questionnaire data from manufacturing companies in China, this study empirically tested the proposed model hypothesis. The results demonstrated that all boundary-spanning searches (supply-side, demand-side, and cross-regional searches) positively and significantly impacted enterprise sustainable innovation. However, the effects of the search types varied. Capability reconfiguration played a partial intermediary role between boundary-spanning search and enterprise sustainable innovation. IT governance positively moderated the relationship between boundary-spanning search and enterprise capability reconfiguration, particularly between cross-regional search and enterprise capability reconfiguration. This study enriches our understanding of the sustainable innovation process and provides theoretical guidance for enterprises to improve their sustainable innovation performance by effectively using boundary-spanning search strategies. Full article
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17 pages, 4232 KiB  
Article
Splitting Physical Exergy by Its Feasible Working Ways
by Dongbo Gao, Xiaoqi Peng, Yanpo Song and Ping Zhou
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112091 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1295
Abstract
This paper analyzed the problems associated with physical exergy splitting, and based on this, presented a new splitting method. This new method splits the physical exergy into three parts according to the feasible working ways, i.e.,: the direct, indirect, and adaptive exergy. The [...] Read more.
This paper analyzed the problems associated with physical exergy splitting, and based on this, presented a new splitting method. This new method splits the physical exergy into three parts according to the feasible working ways, i.e.,: the direct, indirect, and adaptive exergy. The computational method and the physical meaning of the three exergy parts were presented in detail in terms of graphic representation and mathematical derivation. Then, it was applied to the exergy analysis of a thermal power cycle. The results show that compared with the conventional method which splits the physical exergy into thermal and mechanical parts, the current exergy splitting method can better represent the change rule of the working ability of the real working stream in the cycle and the influence of some operation parameters, such as the turbine inlet temperature, on the real working ability. The study suggests that the new method can make the exergy analysis more helpful and guidable in its applications. Full article
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10 pages, 3879 KiB  
Article
Ionic Conductivity of Hybrid Composite Solid Polymer Electrolytes of PEOnLiClO4-Cubic Li7La3Zr2O12 Films
by Parisa Bashiri, T. Prasada Rao, Gholam-Abbas Nazri, Ratna Naik and Vaman M. Naik
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2090; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112090 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1674
Abstract
Ionic conductivity of the polyethylene oxide-LiClO4 (PEOnLiClO4) solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) films with an EO:Li ratio (n) of 10, 12, 15, as well as the hybrid composite solid polymer electrolyte (CSPE) films of PEOnLiClO [...] Read more.
Ionic conductivity of the polyethylene oxide-LiClO4 (PEOnLiClO4) solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) films with an EO:Li ratio (n) of 10, 12, 15, as well as the hybrid composite solid polymer electrolyte (CSPE) films of PEOnLiClO4 containing 50 wt% of cubic-Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) sub-micron sized particles, have been studied by varying Li-salt content in the films. The complex AC dielectric permittivity and conductivity data obtained from electrical impedance measurements were fitted using a generalized power-law, including the effects of electrode polarization applied at low AC frequencies to obtain various relaxation times. In addition to increased mechanical and thermal robustness, the CSPE films show higher values of ionic conductivity, >10−4 S/cm at room temperature compared to those of SPE films with n = 12 and 15. On the contrary, the ionic conductivity of CSPE with n = 10 decreases by a factor of three compared to the corresponding SPE film due to increased polymer structural reorientation and Li-ion pairing effects. The Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher behavior of the temperature-dependent conductivity data indicates a close correlation between the ionic conductivity and polymer segmental relaxation. The PEO12LiClO4-LLZO film shows the lowest activation energy of ~0.05 eV. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Lithium-Ion Batteries and Materials)
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32 pages, 5062 KiB  
Review
Antimicrobial Effect of Phytochemicals from Edible Plants
by Efrat Hochma, Ludmila Yarmolinsky, Boris Khalfin, Marina Nisnevitch, Shimon Ben-Shabat and Faina Nakonechny
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2089; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112089 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6296
Abstract
Current strategies of combating bacterial infections are limited and involve the use of antibiotics and preservatives. Each of these agents has generally inadequate efficacy and a number of serious adverse effects. Thus, there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial drugs and food [...] Read more.
Current strategies of combating bacterial infections are limited and involve the use of antibiotics and preservatives. Each of these agents has generally inadequate efficacy and a number of serious adverse effects. Thus, there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial drugs and food preservatives with higher efficacy and lower toxicity. Edible plants have been used in medicine since ancient times and are well known for their successful antimicrobial activity. Often photosensitizers are present in many edible plants; they could be a promising source for a new generation of drugs and food preservatives. The use of photodynamic therapy allows enhancement of antimicrobial properties in plant photosensitizers. The purpose of this review is to present the verified data on the antimicrobial activities of photodynamic phytochemicals in edible species of the world’s flora, including the various mechanisms of their actions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Antimicrobial in Bioengineering)
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21 pages, 4041 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Polynomial Fuzzy Model-Based Designs with Synchronization and Secure Communications for Chaos Systems with H Performance
by Gwo-Ruey Yu, Yong-Dong Chang and Chih-Heng Chang
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2088; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112088 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1217
Abstract
This paper presents the sum of squares (SOS)-based fuzzy control with H∞ performance for a synchronized chaos system and secure communications. To diminish the influence of the extrinsic perturbation, SOS-based stability criteria of the polynomial fuzzy system are derived by using the polynomial [...] Read more.
This paper presents the sum of squares (SOS)-based fuzzy control with H∞ performance for a synchronized chaos system and secure communications. To diminish the influence of the extrinsic perturbation, SOS-based stability criteria of the polynomial fuzzy system are derived by using the polynomial Lyapunov function. The perturbation decreasing achievement is indexed in a H∞ criterion. The submitted SOS-based stability criteria are more relaxed than the existing linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based stability criteria. The cryptography scheme based on an n-shift cipher is combined with synchronization for secure communications. Finally, numerical simulations illustrate the perturbation decay accomplishment of the submitted polynomial fuzzy compensator. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Process Control and Monitoring)
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14 pages, 1605 KiB  
Perspective
PBPK Modeling and Simulation and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Possible Ways for Antibiotic Dose Adjustment
by Abigail Ferreira, Rui Lapa and Nuno Vale
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2087; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112087 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5291
Abstract
Pharmacokinetics (PK) is a branch of pharmacology present and of vital importance for the research and development (R&D) of new drugs, post-market monitoring, and continued optimizations in clinical contexts. Ultimately, pharmacokinetics can contribute to improving patients’ clinical outcomes, helping enhance the efficacy of [...] Read more.
Pharmacokinetics (PK) is a branch of pharmacology present and of vital importance for the research and development (R&D) of new drugs, post-market monitoring, and continued optimizations in clinical contexts. Ultimately, pharmacokinetics can contribute to improving patients’ clinical outcomes, helping enhance the efficacy of treatments, and reducing possible adverse side effects while also contributing to precision medicine. This article discusses the methods used to predict and study human pharmacokinetics and their evolution to the current physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and simulation methods. The importance of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and PBPK as valuable tools for Model-Informed Precision Dosing (MIPD) are highlighted, with particular emphasis on antibiotic therapy since dosage adjustment of antibiotics can be vital to ensure successful clinical outcomes and to prevent the spread of resistant bacterial strains. Full article
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28 pages, 4320 KiB  
Review
New Analytical Approaches for Effective Quantification and Identification of Nanoplastics in Environmental Samples
by Christian Ebere Enyoh, Qingyue Wang, Tanzin Chowdhury, Weiqian Wang, Senlin Lu, Kai Xiao and Md. Akhter Hossain Chowdhury
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2086; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112086 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3666
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) are a rapidly developing subject that is relevant in environmental and food research, as well as in human toxicity, among other fields. NPs have recently been recognized as one of the least studied types of marine litter, but potentially one of [...] Read more.
Nanoplastics (NPs) are a rapidly developing subject that is relevant in environmental and food research, as well as in human toxicity, among other fields. NPs have recently been recognized as one of the least studied types of marine litter, but potentially one of the most hazardous. Several studies are now being reported on NPs in the environment including surface water and coast, snow, soil and in personal care products. However, the extent of contamination remains largely unknown due to fundamental challenges associated with isolation and analysis, and therefore, a methodological gap exists. This article summarizes the progress in environmental NPs analysis and makes a critical assessment of whether methods from nanoparticles analysis could be adopted to bridge the methodological gap. This review discussed the sample preparation and preconcentration protocol for NPs analysis and also examines the most appropriate approaches available at the moment, ranging from physical to chemical. This study also discusses the difficulties associated with improving existing methods and developing new ones. Although microscopical techniques are one of the most often used ways for imaging and thus quantification, they have the drawback of producing partial findings as they can be easily mixed up as biomolecules. At the moment, the combination of chemical analysis (i.e., spectroscopy) and newly developed alternative methods overcomes this limitation. In general, multiple analytical methods used in combination are likely to be needed to correctly detect and fully quantify NPs in environmental samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental and Green Processes)
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14 pages, 2595 KiB  
Article
Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Spent Coffee Grounds Oil Using Response Surface Methodology
by Malek Miladi, António A. Martins, Teresa M. Mata, Miguel Vegara, María Pérez-Infantes, Rania Remmani, Antonio Ruiz-Canales and Dámaris Núñez-Gómez
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2085; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112085 - 22 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3461
Abstract
Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) generated in coffee processing for beverages and other products are a very significant organic residue that needs to be properly treated. Waste valorization via oil extraction has the potential to obtain compounds that can be used for producing biodiesel [...] Read more.
Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) generated in coffee processing for beverages and other products are a very significant organic residue that needs to be properly treated. Waste valorization via oil extraction has the potential to obtain compounds that can be used for producing biodiesel or other high-value products, such as polymers. This work focuses on the ultrasound-assisted extraction of SCG oil using n-hexane as a solvent. Three key process parameters are analyzed: temperature, extraction time, and liquid/solid (L/S) rate of solvent, using a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), an analysis that, to the author’s knowledge, is not yet available in the literature. The data were analyzed using the software StatSoft STATISTICA 13.1 (TIBCO Software Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA). Results show that all parameters have a statistical influence on the process performance (p < 0.05), being the L/S ratio the most significant, followed by extraction time and temperature. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the empirical model is a good fit to the experimental data at a 95% confidence level. For the range of conditions considered in this work, the optimal operating conditions for obtaining an oil extraction yield in the range of 12 to 13%wt are a solvent L/S ratio of around 16 mL g−1, for a temperature in the range of 50 to 60 °C, and the longest contact time, limited by the process economics and health and safety issues and also, by the n-hexane boiling temperature. Full article
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25 pages, 2511 KiB  
Article
An Effective Communication Prototype for Time-Critical IIoT Manufacturing Factories Using Zero-Loss Redundancy Protocols, Time-Sensitive Networking, and Edge-Computing in an Industry 4.0 Environment
by Kahiomba Sonia Kiangala and Zenghui Wang
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2084; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112084 - 21 Nov 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3017
Abstract
The Industrial Internet of things (IIoT), the implementation of IoT in the industrial sector, requires a deterministic, real-time, and low-latency communication response for its time-critical applications. A delayed response in such applications could be life-threatening or result in significant losses for manufacturing plants. [...] Read more.
The Industrial Internet of things (IIoT), the implementation of IoT in the industrial sector, requires a deterministic, real-time, and low-latency communication response for its time-critical applications. A delayed response in such applications could be life-threatening or result in significant losses for manufacturing plants. Although several measures in the likes of predictive maintenance are being put in place to prevent errors and guarantee high network availability, unforeseen failures of physical components are almost inevitable. Our research contribution is to design an efficient communication prototype, entirely based on internet protocol (IP) that combines state-of-the-art communication computing technologies principles to deliver a more stable industrial communication network. We use time-sensitive networking (TSN) and edge computing to increase the determinism of IIoT networks, and we reduce latency with zero-loss redundancy protocols that ensure the sustainability of IIoT networks with smooth recovery in case of unplanned outages. Combining these technologies altogether brings more effectiveness to communication networks than implementing standalone systems. Our study results develop two experimental IP-based industrial network communication prototypes in an intra-domain transmission scenario: the first one is based on the parallel zero-loss redundancy protocol (PRP) and the second one using the high-availability seamless zero-loss redundancy protocol (HSR). We also highlight the benefits of utilizing our communication prototypes to build robust industrial IP communication networks with high network availability and low latency as opposed to conventional communication networks running on seldom redundancy protocols such as Media Redundancy Protocol (MRP) or Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) with single-point of failure and delayed recovery time. While our two network communication prototypes—HSR and PRP—offer zero-loss recovery time in case of a single network failure, our PRP communication prototype goes a step further by providing an effective redundancy scheme against multiple link failures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalized Industrial Production Systems and Industry 4.0)
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13 pages, 5994 KiB  
Article
Study of the Transcription Effects of Pressing Dies with Ultrasonic Polishing on Glass Molding
by Ken-Chuan Cheng, Chien-Yao Huang, Jung-Chou Hung, A-Cheng Wang and Yan-Cherng Lin
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2083; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112083 - 21 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1661
Abstract
The micro lens array (MLA) has played an important role in optical systems for the past few years, and the precision of pressing dies has dominated the quality of MLAs in glass molding. Few studies have covered the transcription effects on surface roughness [...] Read more.
The micro lens array (MLA) has played an important role in optical systems for the past few years, and the precision of pressing dies has dominated the quality of MLAs in glass molding. Few studies have covered the transcription effects on surface roughness of pressing dies for this technology. Therefore, this research utilized pressing dies to produce a sine-wave lens array on glass molding, to transform the Gauss-distributed spotlight into a uniform straight one and then characterize the transcription effects of these lenses. Pressing dies with a sine-wave shape were firstly cut by wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), and then ultrasonic polishing using diamond abrasives was applied to finish the sine-wave surface with an original roughness of 0.2 μm Ra. Next, the sine-wave lens arrays were pressed by glass molding at the appropriate pressure and temperature, before evaluating the transcription effects of transforming the Gauss-distributed spotlight into a uniform straight one. The result showed that the sine-wave lens array stuck easily to the pressing die and then ruptured during glass molding due to the poor surface roughness of pressing tool. However, the diamond abrasive with appropriate sizes could establish good surface roughness on pressing dies via ultrasonic polishing, and the pressing die with a low surface roughness of 0.08 μm Ra was able to successfully perform MLA in the glass molding. However, only pressing dies with a surface roughness smaller than 0.023 μm Ra could produce precision glass lenses to transform the Gauss-distributed spotlight into a uniform straight one. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Manufacturing Processes and Systems)
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10 pages, 550 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Hydrochar and Liquid Products Obtained by Hydrothermal Carbonization and Wet Torrefaction of Poultry Litter in Mixture with Wood Sawdust
by Rafail Isemin, Natalia Muratova, Sergey Kuzmin, Dmitry Klimov, Vadim Kokh-Tatarenko, Alexander Mikhalev, Oleg Milovanov, Antoine Dalibard, Olayinka Ahmed Ibitowa, Manuel Nowotny, Mathieu Brulé, Fouzi Tabet and Bernd Rogge
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2082; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112082 - 20 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2277
Abstract
Poultry farms with floor-standing poultry generate large amounts of poultry litter waste. The direct application of this waste as an organic fertilizer does not ensure sustainable and cost-efficient utilization of all waste fractions, and can also be linked to environmental hazards. Therefore, the [...] Read more.
Poultry farms with floor-standing poultry generate large amounts of poultry litter waste. The direct application of this waste as an organic fertilizer does not ensure sustainable and cost-efficient utilization of all waste fractions, and can also be linked to environmental hazards. Therefore, the development of new technologies is required for processing poultry litter into a safe product with higher added value. In this work, the characteristics of activated carbon derived from hydrochar, along with the liquid products obtained from hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and the wet torrefaction (WT) of poultry litter, were investigated. Poultry litter (PL) was applied in a mixture with sawdust (SD) in the following ratios: 1:0 (PL/SD 1:0), 1:1 (PL/SD 1:1), 1:2 (PL/SD 1:2), and 2:1 (PL/SD 2:1). WT processing took place in an innovative fluidized bed system in a superheated steam medium with low overpressure (less than 0.07 MPa) at 300 °C and 350 °C for 30–45 min. Conventional HTC processing was performed in a water medium at 220 °C for 1–4 h. The hydrochar produced in the experiments was activated with steam for 1 h at 450–750 °C. The porosity characteristics of activated hydrochar were measured, including pore size, pore volume, and specific surface area, in view of potential industrial applications as an adsorbent. Additionally, the contents of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), as high-value product, were determined in the liquid products obtained from HTC processing, as well as in the condensate obtained after WT processing. Specific surface areas of the activated hydrochars may still be too low for application as adsorbent material. Hence, its use as a biofertilizer and soil improver should be preferred. Interestingly, the liquid fraction obtained from the innovative WT process displayed a significantly higher 5-HMF content compared to the conventional HTC process. Full article
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10 pages, 1304 KiB  
Article
Modelling Sessile Droplet Profile Using Asymmetrical Ellipses
by Du Tuan Tran, Nhat-Khuong Nguyen, Pradip Singha, Nam-Trung Nguyen and Chin Hong Ooi
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2081; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112081 - 20 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2343
Abstract
Modelling the profile of a liquid droplet has been a mainstream technique for researchers to study the physical properties of a liquid. This study proposes a facile modelling approach using an elliptic model to generate the profile of sessile droplets, with MATLAB as [...] Read more.
Modelling the profile of a liquid droplet has been a mainstream technique for researchers to study the physical properties of a liquid. This study proposes a facile modelling approach using an elliptic model to generate the profile of sessile droplets, with MATLAB as the simulation environment. The concept of the elliptic method is simple and easy to use. Only three specific points on the droplet are needed to generate the complete theoretical droplet profile along with its critical parameters such as volume, surface area, height, and contact radius. In addition, we introduced fitting coefficients to accurately determine the contact angle and surface tension of a droplet. Droplet volumes ranging from 1 to 300 µL were chosen for this investigation, with contact angles ranging from 90° to 180°. Our proposed method was also applied to images of actual water droplets with good results. This study demonstrates that the elliptic method is in excellent agreement with the Young–Laplace equation and can be used for rapid and accurate approximation of liquid droplet profiles to determine the surface tension and contact angle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Materials Processes)
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3 pages, 166 KiB  
Editorial
Photocatalytic Processes for Environmental Applications
by Olivier Monfort and Yanlin Wu
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2080; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112080 - 20 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1378
Abstract
Photocatalysis, especially heterogeneous photocatalysis, is one of the most investigated processes for environmental remediation [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Processes for Environmental Applications)
14 pages, 3265 KiB  
Article
Non-Specific Interactions of Rhizospheric Microbial Communities Support the Establishment of Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea in an Amazon Rehabilitating Mineland
by Paulo Henrique de Oliveira Costa, Sidney Vasconcelos do Nascimento, Hector Herrera, Markus Gastauer, Silvio Junio Ramos, Cecílio Frois Caldeira, Guilherme Oliveira and Rafael Borges da Silva Valadares
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2079; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112079 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2577
Abstract
Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea (Fabaceae) is endemic to ferruginous tropical rocky outcrops in the eastern Amazon, also known as canga. Canga are often associated with mining activities and are the target of protection and rehabilitation projects. M. acutistipula stands out in this [...] Read more.
Mimosa acutistipula var. ferrea (Fabaceae) is endemic to ferruginous tropical rocky outcrops in the eastern Amazon, also known as canga. Canga are often associated with mining activities and are the target of protection and rehabilitation projects. M. acutistipula stands out in this biodiversity hotspot with high growth rates, even in rehabilitating minelands (RMs). However, little is known about the diversity of soil microorganisms interacting with M. acutistipula in canga and RMs. This study analyzed the rhizosphere-associated bacterial and fungal microbial communities associated with M. acutistipula growing in an RM and a native shrub canga. The fungal phylum Ascomycota was the dominant taxa identified in the rhizosphere of the canga (RA: 98.1) and RM (RA: 93.1). The bacterial phyla Proteobacteria (RA: 54.3) and Acidobacteria (RA: 56.2) were the dominant taxa identified in the rhizosphere in the canga and RM, respectively. Beneficial genera such as Bradyrhizobium, Rhodoplanes, and Paraconiothyrium were identified in the rhizosphere of M. acutistipula in both areas. However, the analyses showed that the fungal and bacterial diversity differed between the rhizosphere of the canga and RM, and that the microbial taxa adapted to the canga (i.e., Rasamsonia, Scytalidium, Roseiarcus, and Rhodomicrobium) were lacking in the RM. This influences the microbe-mediated soil processes, affecting long-term rehabilitation success. The results showed that M. acutistipula established non-specific interactions with soil microorganisms, including beneficial taxa such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, and other beneficial endophytes, well known for their importance in plant adaptation and survival. High levels of microbe association and a plant’s ability to recruit a wide range of soil microorganisms help to explain M. acutistipula’s success in rehabilitating minelands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Biotechnology for Environmental Remediation and Restoration)
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13 pages, 19236 KiB  
Article
Effects of Albedo and Thermal Inertia on Pavement Surface Temperatures with Convective Boundary Conditions—A CFD Study
by Tathagata Acharya, Brooke Riehl and Alan Fuchs
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2078; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112078 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2632
Abstract
The urban heat island (UHI) effect increases the ambient temperatures in cities and alters the energy budget of building materials. Urban surfaces such as pavements and roofs absorb solar heat and re-emit it back into the atmosphere, contributing towards the UHI effect. Over [...] Read more.
The urban heat island (UHI) effect increases the ambient temperatures in cities and alters the energy budget of building materials. Urban surfaces such as pavements and roofs absorb solar heat and re-emit it back into the atmosphere, contributing towards the UHI effect. Over the past few decades, researchers have identified albedo and thermal inertia as two of the most significant thermal properties that influence pavement surface temperatures under a given solar load. However, published data for comparisons of albedo and thermal inertia are currently inadequate. This work focuses on asphalt and concrete as two important materials used in the construction of pavements. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analyses are performed on asphalt and concrete pavements with the same dimensions and under the same ambient conditions. Under given conditions, the pavement top surface temperature is evaluated with varying albedo and thermal inertia values. The results show that the asphalt surface temperatures are consistently higher than the concrete surface temperatures. Surface temperatures under solar load reduce with increasing albedo and thermal inertia values for both asphalt and concrete pavements. The CFD results show that increasing the albedo is more effective in reducing pavement surface temperatures than increasing the thermal inertia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in CFD Analysis of Convective Heat Transfer)
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15 pages, 878 KiB  
Article
Automatic Tolerance Analysis of Permanent Magnet Machines with Encapsuled FEM Models Using Digital-Twin-Distiller
by Tamás Orosz, Krisztián Gadó, Mihály Katona and Anton Rassõlkin
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2077; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112077 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2446
Abstract
Tolerance analysis is crucial in every manufacturing process, such as electrical machine design, because tight tolerances lead to high manufacturing costs. A FEM-based solution of the tolerance analysis of an electrical machine can easily lead to a computationally expensive problem. Many papers have [...] Read more.
Tolerance analysis is crucial in every manufacturing process, such as electrical machine design, because tight tolerances lead to high manufacturing costs. A FEM-based solution of the tolerance analysis of an electrical machine can easily lead to a computationally expensive problem. Many papers have proposed the design of experiments, surrogate-model-based methodologies, to reduce the computational demand of this problem. However, these papers did not focus on the information loss and the limitations of the applied methodologies. Regardless, the absolute value of the calculated tolerance and the numerical error of the applied numerical methods can be in the same order of magnitude. In this paper, the tolerance and the sensitivity of BLDC machines’ cogging torque are analysed using different methodologies. The results show that the manufacturing tolerances can have a significant effect on the calculated parameters, and that the mean value of the calculated cogging torque increases. The design of the experiment-based methodologies significantly reduced the calculation time, and shows that the encapsulated FEM model can be invoked from an external system-level optimization to examine the design from different aspects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synergies in Combined Development of Processes and Models)
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13 pages, 13623 KiB  
Article
Laminar Burning Velocity of Lean Methane/Air Flames under Pulsed Microwave Irradiation
by Elna J. K. Nilsson, Tomas Hurtig, Andreas Ehn and Christer Fureby
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2076; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112076 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1254
Abstract
Laminar burning velocity of lean methane/air flames exposed to pulsed microwave irradiation is determined experimentally as part of an effort to accurately quantify the enhancement resulting from exposure of the flame to pulsed microwaves. The experimental setup consists of a heat flux burner [...] Read more.
Laminar burning velocity of lean methane/air flames exposed to pulsed microwave irradiation is determined experimentally as part of an effort to accurately quantify the enhancement resulting from exposure of the flame to pulsed microwaves. The experimental setup consists of a heat flux burner mounted in a microwave cavity, where the microwave has an average power of up to 250 W at an E-field in the range of 350–380 kV/m. Laminar burning velocities for the investigated methane/air flames increase from 1.8 to 12.7% when exposed to microwaves. The magnitude of the enhancement is dependent on pulse sequence (duration and frequency) and the strength of the electric field. From the investigated pulse sequences, and at a constant E-field and average power, the largest effect on the flame is obtained for the longest pulse, namely 50 μs. The results presented in this work are, to the knowledge of the authors, the first direct determination of laminar burning velocity on a laminar stretch-free flame exposed to pulsed microwaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Combustion and Combustion Diagnostic Techniques)
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23 pages, 3902 KiB  
Article
Central Composite Design, Kinetic Model, Thermodynamics, and Chemical Composition of Pomelo (Citrus Maxima (Burm.) Merr.) Essential Oil Extraction by Steam Distillation
by Tan Phat Dao, Thanh Viet Nguyen, Thi Yen Nhi Tran, Xuan Tien Le, Ton Nu Thuy An, Nguyen Huu Thuan Anh and Long Giang Bach
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2075; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112075 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3156
Abstract
Pomelo peel-derived essential oils have been gaining popularity due to greater demand for stress relief therapy or hair care therapy. In this study, we first performed optimization of parameters in the pomelo essential oil extraction process on a pilot scale to gain better [...] Read more.
Pomelo peel-derived essential oils have been gaining popularity due to greater demand for stress relief therapy or hair care therapy. In this study, we first performed optimization of parameters in the pomelo essential oil extraction process on a pilot scale to gain better insights for application in larger scale production. Then extraction kinetics, activation energy, thermodynamics, and essential oil quality during the extraction process were investigated during the steam distillation process. Three experimental conditions including material mass, steam flow rate, and extraction time were taken into consideration in response surface methodology (RSM) optimization. The optimal conditions were found as follows: sample weight of 422 g for one distillation batch, steam flow rate of 2.16 mL/min and extraction time of 106 min with the coefficient of determination R2 of 0.9812. The nonlinear kinetics demonstrated the compatibility of the kinetic model with simultaneous washing and unhindered diffusion with a washing rate constant of 0.1515 min−1 and a diffusion rate constant of 0.0236 min−1. The activation energy of the washing and diffusion process was 167.43 kJ.mol−1 and 96.25 kJ.mol−1, respectively. The thermodynamic value obtained at the ΔG° value was −35.02 kJ.mol−1. The quality of pomelo peel essential oil obtained by steam distillation was characterized by its high limonene content (96.996%), determined by GC-MS. Full article
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12 pages, 31759 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Models for the Classification of CK2 Natural Products Inhibitors with Molecular Fingerprint Descriptors
by Yuting Liu, Mengzhou Bi, Xuewen Zhang, Na Zhang, Guohui Sun, Yue Zhou, Lijiao Zhao and Rugang Zhong
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2074; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112074 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1798
Abstract
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is considered an important target for anti-cancer drugs. Given the structural diversity and broad spectrum of pharmaceutical activities of natural products, numerous studies have been performed to prove them as valuable sources of drugs. However, there has been little [...] Read more.
Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is considered an important target for anti-cancer drugs. Given the structural diversity and broad spectrum of pharmaceutical activities of natural products, numerous studies have been performed to prove them as valuable sources of drugs. However, there has been little study relevant to identifying structural factors responsible for their inhibitory activity against CK2 with machine learning methods. In this study, classification studies were conducted on 115 natural products as CK2 inhibitors. Seven machine learning methods along with six molecular fingerprints were employed to develop qualitative classification models. The performances of all models were evaluated by cross-validation and test set. By taking predictive accuracy(CA), the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC), and (MCC)as three performance indicators, the optimal models with high reliability and predictive ability were obtained, including the Extended Fingerprint-Logistic Regression model (CA = 0.859, AUC = 0.826, MCC = 0.520) for training test andPubChem fingerprint along with the artificial neural model (CA = 0.826, AUC = 0.933, MCC = 0.628) for test set. Meanwhile, the privileged substructures responsible for their inhibitory activity against CK2 were also identified through a combination of frequency analysis and information gain. The results are expected to provide useful information for the further utilization of natural products and the discovery of novel CK2 inhibitors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Artificial Intelligence in Industry and Medicine)
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23 pages, 4245 KiB  
Article
Off-Gas-Based Soft Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Biomass and Metabolism in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Continuous Processes in Single-Use Bioreactors
by Tobias Wallocha and Oliver Popp
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112073 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4194
Abstract
In mammalian cell culture, especially in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research, biomass and metabolic monitoring are mandatory for various cell culture process steps to develop and, finally, control bioprocesses. As a common measure for biomass, the viable cell density (VCD) or the viable cell [...] Read more.
In mammalian cell culture, especially in pharmaceutical manufacturing and research, biomass and metabolic monitoring are mandatory for various cell culture process steps to develop and, finally, control bioprocesses. As a common measure for biomass, the viable cell density (VCD) or the viable cell volume (VCV) is widely used. This study highlights, for the first time, the advantages of using VCV instead of VCD as a biomass depiction in combination with an oxygen-uptake- rate (OUR)-based soft sensor for real-time biomass estimation and process control in single-use bioreactor (SUBs) continuous processes with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. We investigated a series of 14 technically similar continuous SUB processes, where the same process conditions but different expressing CHO cell lines were used, with respect to biomass growth and oxygen demand to calibrate our model. In addition, we analyzed the key metabolism of the CHO cells in SUB perfusion processes by exometabolomic approaches, highlighting the importance of cell-specific substrate and metabolite consumption and production rate qS analysis to identify distinct metabolic phases. Cell-specific rates for classical mammalian cell culture key substrates and metabolites in CHO perfusion processes showed a good correlation to qOUR, yet, unexpectedly, not for qGluc. Here, we present the soft-sensoring methodology we developed for qPyr to allow for the real-time approximation of cellular metabolism and usage for subsequent, in-depth process monitoring, characterization and optimization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mathematical Modeling and Control of Bioprocesses)
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20 pages, 9355 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of Uric Acid Optical Detection Using as Sensitive Materials an Amino-Substituted Porphyrin and Its Nanomaterials with CuNPs, PtNPs and Pt@CuNPs
by Camelia Epuran, Ion Fratilescu, Diana Anghel, Mihaela Birdeanu, Corina Orha and Eugenia Fagadar-Cosma
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2072; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112072 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1901
Abstract
Hybrid nanomaterials consisting in 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-amino-phenyl)-porphyrin (TAmPP) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), or both types (Pt@CuNPs) were obtained and tested for their capacity to optically detect uric acid from solutions. The introduction of diverse metal nanoparticles into the hybrid material proved their [...] Read more.
Hybrid nanomaterials consisting in 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-amino-phenyl)-porphyrin (TAmPP) and copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs), or both types (Pt@CuNPs) were obtained and tested for their capacity to optically detect uric acid from solutions. The introduction of diverse metal nanoparticles into the hybrid material proved their capacity to improve the detection range. The detection was monitored by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and differences between morphology of the materials were performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The hybrid material formed between porphyrin and PtNPs hasthe best and most stable response for uric acid detection in the range of 6.1958 × 10−6–1.5763 × 10−5 M, even in the presence of very high concentrations of the interference species present in human environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From Small Molecules to High-Value Chemicals: Theory and Practice)
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14 pages, 2589 KiB  
Article
Research and Implementation of Lean Production Mode in Shipbuilding
by Tingxin Song and Jincheng Zhou
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2071; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112071 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3748
Abstract
This paper studies the production process of a shipbuilding enterprise. The company suffers from long manufacturing cycle, low utilization rate of personnel and an unbalanced production line. To solve these problems, the lean shipbuilding mode, mainly divided into shipbuilding work breakdown, production plan [...] Read more.
This paper studies the production process of a shipbuilding enterprise. The company suffers from long manufacturing cycle, low utilization rate of personnel and an unbalanced production line. To solve these problems, the lean shipbuilding mode, mainly divided into shipbuilding work breakdown, production plan and virtual flow operation in this paper, is put forward, which combines the lean production and modern information management technology with shipbuilding. Supported by the theory of work breakdown structure and task package scheduling, the shipbuilding task package is reasonably divided. The priority of task package manufacturing is determined by calculating the task package manufacturing sequence coefficient, and a reasonable number of operators is calculated to ensure the continuity of segmented manufacturing. After determining the manufacturing priority of the task pack and the number of allocable personnel, the corresponding work can be scheduled. Production planning drives all production activities of the shipbuilding enterprise, and just-in-time production is achieved through the reasonable arrangement of these production plans, thus reducing the waste of personnel and time. Then, the virtual flow operation is carried out, which can achieve high efficiency of flow production and high flexibility of fixed workstation production during the production process of large-scale and heavy-duty products. The virtual assembly production system of the workshop is established according to the characteristics of shipbuilding operation and the actual production situation. On this basis, a lean shipbuilding manufacturing execution system for small and medium-sized shipbuilding enterprises is developed to achieve lean production in a shipbuilding workshop. Through the implementation of the lean shipbuilding mode based on task package scheduling and its manufacturing execution system, compared with the original data, the ship production cycle is reduced to 76.7%, the number of workers is reduced by 16.7% and the production balance rate is up to 81%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Modern Technologies and Manufacturing Systems)
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4 pages, 160 KiB  
Editorial
Control and Optimization of Multi-Agent Systems and Complex Networks for Systems Engineering
by Manuel Herrera, Marco Pérez-Hernández, Ajith Kumar Parlikad and Joaquín Izquierdo
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2070; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112070 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1748
Abstract
Systems engineering crosses multiple engineering disciplines for the design, control, and overall management of engineered systems [...] Full article
31 pages, 3651 KiB  
Review
Low-Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Processes for the Deposition of Nanocomposite Coatings
by Antonella Uricchio and Fiorenza Fanelli
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2069; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112069 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4049
Abstract
Low-temperature atmospheric pressure (AP) plasma technologies have recently proven to offer a range of interesting opportunities for the preparation of a variety of nanocomposite (NC) coatings with different chemical compositions, structures, and morphologies. Since the late 2000s, numerous strategies have been implemented for [...] Read more.
Low-temperature atmospheric pressure (AP) plasma technologies have recently proven to offer a range of interesting opportunities for the preparation of a variety of nanocomposite (NC) coatings with different chemical compositions, structures, and morphologies. Since the late 2000s, numerous strategies have been implemented for the deposition of this intriguing class of coatings by using both direct and remote AP plasma sources. Interestingly, considerable progress has been made in the development of aerosol-assisted deposition processes in which the use of either precursor solutions or nanoparticle dispersions in aerosol form allows greatly widening the range of constituents that can be combined in the plasma-deposited NC films. This review summarizes the research published on this topic so far and, specifically, aims to present a concise survey of the developed plasma processes, with particular focus on their optimization as well as on the structural and functional properties of the NC coatings to which they provide access. Current challenges and opportunities are also briefly discussed to give an outlook on possible future research directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Micro and Nanotechnology: Application in Surface Modification)
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26 pages, 5705 KiB  
Article
Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Ectoine Using Dowex® HCR-S Ion-Exchange Resin
by Yu-Chi Wu, Yu-Hong Wei and Ho-Shing Wu
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2068; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112068 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3509
Abstract
Dowex® HCR-S ion-exchange resin was used to adsorb ectoine in a batch system under varying operation conditions in terms of contact time, temperature, pH value, initial concentration of ectoine, and type of salt. Six adsorption isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Sips, [...] Read more.
Dowex® HCR-S ion-exchange resin was used to adsorb ectoine in a batch system under varying operation conditions in terms of contact time, temperature, pH value, initial concentration of ectoine, and type of salt. Six adsorption isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Sips, and Redlich–Peterson) and three kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion) were used to investigate the ectoine adsorption mechanism of ion-exchange resin. According to the experimental results, the mechanism of ectoine adsorption using an ion exchanger includes the ion-exchange reaction and physisorption. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich models were found to have a high fitting. For the kinetic analysis, the pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models were suitable to describe the ectoine adsorption. Dowex® HCR-S resin has an average saturated adsorption capacity of 0.57 g/g and 93.6% of ectoine adsorption at 25~65 °C, with an initial concentration of 125 g/L. By changing the pH of the environment using NaOH solution, the adsorbed ectoine on the ion-exchange resin can be desorbed to 87.7%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction and Purification of Bioactive Compounds)
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10 pages, 25858 KiB  
Article
The Effect of PVA Binder Solvent Composition on the Microstructure and Electrical Properties of 0.98BaTiO3-0.02(Ba0.5Ca0.5)SiO3 Doped with Dy2O3
by Nak-Beom Jo, Jin-Seok Baek and Eung-Soo Kim
Processes 2021, 9(11), 2067; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/pr9112067 - 18 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2327
Abstract
In this study, the effect of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder solvent composition on the electrical properties of sintered 0.98BaTiO3-0.02(Ba0.5Ca0.5)SiO3 ceramics doped with x wt.% Dy2O3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) was investigated. [...] Read more.
In this study, the effect of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder solvent composition on the electrical properties of sintered 0.98BaTiO3-0.02(Ba0.5Ca0.5)SiO3 ceramics doped with x wt.% Dy2O3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) was investigated. In the absence of the PVA binder, the specimens sintered at 1260 and 1320 °C for 1 h in a reducing atmosphere showed a single BaTiO3 phase with the perovskite structure. The relative densities of the specimens were higher than 90%, and the grain morphologies were uniform for all the solvent compositions. At 1 kHz, the dielectric constant of the specimens depended not only on their crystal structural characteristics, but also on their microstructural characteristics. The microstructural characteristics of the specimens with the PVA binder were affected by the ethyl alcohol:water ratio of the 10 wt.% PVA-111 solution. A homogeneous microstructure was observed for the 0.1 wt.% Dy2O3-doped specimens sintered at 1320 °C for 1 h when the ethyl alcohol/water ratio of the binder solution was 40/60. These specimens showed the maximum dielectric constant (εr = 2723.3) and an insulation resistance of 270 GΩ. The relationships between the microstructural characteristics and dissipation factor (tanδ) of the specimens were also investigated. Full article
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