Structural Analysis Research Articles

Thermophilic β-mannanases from bacteria: production, resources, structural features and bioengineering strategies.

β-mannanases are pivotal enzymes that cleave the mannan backbone to release short chain mannooligosaccharides, which have tremendous biotechnological applications including food/feed, prebiotics and biofuel production. Due to the high temperature conditions in many industrial applications, thermophilic mannanases seem to have great potential to overcome the thermal impediments. Thus, structural analysis of thermostable β-mannanases is extremely important, as it could open up new avenues for genetic engineering, and protein engineering of these enzymes with enhanced properties and catalytic efficiencies. Under this scope, the present review provides a state-of-the-art discussion on the thermophilic β-mannanases from bacterial origin, their production, engineering and structural characterization. It covers broad insights into various molecular biology techniques such as gene mutagenesis, heterologous gene expression, and protein engineering, that are employed to improve the catalytic efficiency and thermostability of bacterial mannanases for potential industrial applications. Further, the bottlenecks associated with mannanase production and process optimization are also discussed. Finally, future research related to bioengineering of mannanases with novel protein expression systems for commercial applications are also elaborated.

Structural analysis and optimal design of a spherical thin-walled stainless steel water tank without reinforced tie ribs

A spherical thin-walled stainless steel water tank without reinforced tie ribs has been designed to address the issues of easy fracture and corrosion of the ribs, difficulty in maintenance and cleaning, and short service life exposed during the use of thin-walled stainless steel water tanks with reinforced tie ribs. Firstly, an analytical model of a flat steel thin-walled water tank without reinforced tie ribs was established and subjected to static analysis under water pressure. The deformation and stress distribution patterns of the side molded plate of the flat box were obtained. Secondly, a spherical non ribbed thin-walled stainless steel water tank structure was designed with circular cross-section under different box bulge parameters, and its mechanical response characteristics under water pressure load were analyzed. A strengthening scheme was designed for the bottom box molded plate. Once again, optimize the combination design of the box scheme and the reinforcement scheme, and analyze their static, thermodynamic, and thermal solid coupling performance. Finally, the Latin Hypercube Sampling method was used to generate experimental design samples, and a response surface approximation model of a spherical thin-walled stainless steel water tank without reinforced tie ribs was constructed. The wall thickness of the box molded plate, skeleton, and reinforcement were used as design variables, and the maximum deformation and maximum equivalent stress were used as constraints. The lightweight design was carried out with the goal of minimizing mass. The research results indicate that the design program and parameter selection method for spherical thin-walled stainless steel water tanks without reinforced tie ribs proposed in the article are efficient and feasible, and can provide technical reference and theoretical support for the layout and overall optimization design of non ribbed thin-walled stainless steel water tank structures.

Performance Evaluation of Architectural Modular Member with Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete for Application

As the modular industry expands, the most widely used building materials are primarily concrete, steel, and wood. However, the use of wood and steel is severely limited compared to concrete for reasons such as durability and economy. To overcome these shortcomings, we aimed to apply ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC), which has excellent compressive strength and tensile strength, high durability, and minimal reinforcement with steel fibers. In this study, research was conducted on the development of unit box-type architectural modules using UHPFRC with a compressive strength of 120 MPa and a tensile strength of greater than 7 MPa. Various amounts of steel fibers (Vf = 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0%) were evaluated to determine the optimal mixing ratio of UHPFRC, in which both the durability and mechanical performance were assessed. The compressive strength and tensile strength of UHPFRC were found to be 132 MPa and 10.1 MPa, respectively, while its resistance to chloride penetration averaged 14.47 coulombs, indicating superior durability compared to conventional concrete. To reduce the weight of the unit components of the architectural modular system, both normal concrete (NC) components and UHPFRC were applied. The main variables in the flexural tests were the cross-sectional thickness, steel fiber content, and presence of an insulation material, comprising a total of three variables for evaluating the flexural performance. The application of UHPFRC with a compressive strength of 120 MPa, a cross-sectional thickness of 120 mm, and a 10 mm diameter reinforcement provided a similar performance to that of NC components while reducing concrete usage by 60% compared to NC components. Additionally, structural analysis was performed to prototype the unit box-type modular structure using UHPFRC. The modular structural system developed in this study was found to reduce construction costs by 18.7% compared to traditional steel structural systems. Further research is necessary to address issues such as floor slab vibration and noise, connections, and expansion to multistory buildings for commercialization of modular structures using UHPFRC.

Post-translational modification sites are present in hydrophilic cavities of alpha-synuclein, tau, FUS, and TDP-43 fibrils: A molecular dynamics study.

Hydration plays a crucial role in the refolding of intrinsically disordered proteins into amyloid fibrils; however, the specific interactions between water and protein that may contribute to this process are still unknown. In our previous studies of alpha-synuclein (aSyn), we have shown that waters confined in fibril cavities are stabilizing features of this pathological fold; and that amino acids that hydrogen bond with these confined waters modulate primary and seeded aggregation. Here, we extend our aSyn molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with three new polymorphs and correlate MD trajectory information with known post-translational modifications (PTMs) and experimental data. We show that cavity residues are more evolutionarily conserved than non-cavity residues and are enriched with PTM sites. As expected, the confinement within hydrophilic cavities results in more stably hydrated amino acids. Interestingly, cavity PTM sites display the longest protein-water hydrogen bond lifetimes, three-fold greater than non-PTM cavity sites. Utilizing the deep mutational screen dataset by Newberry et al. and the Thioflavin T aggregation review by Pancoe et al. parsed using a fibril cavity/non-cavity definition, we show that hydrophobic changes to amino acids in cavities have a larger effect on fitness and aggregation rate than residues outside cavities, supporting our hypothesis that these sites are involved in the inhibition of aSyn toxic fibrillization. Finally, we expand our study to include analysis of fibril structures of tau, FUS, TDP-43, prion, and hnRNPA1; all of which contained hydrated cavities, with tau, FUS, and TDP-43 recapitulating our PTM results in aSyn fibril cavities.

A General Model of Impact Sensitivity for Nitrogen-Rich Energetic Materials: A Combined Incremental Theory and Genetic Function Approximation Study.

In this paper, we report the first example of impact sensitivity prediction based on the genetic function approximation (GFA) as a regression method. The prediction is applicable for a wide variety of chemical families, which include nitro compounds, peroxides, nitrogen-rich salts, heterocycles, etc. Within this work, we have obtained 7 empirical models (with 27-32 basis functions), which all provide 0.80≤R2≤0.83 and 7.2 J≤RMSE≤7.8 J (for 450 training set compounds) and 0.64≤R2≤0.70 and 11.2 J≤RMSE≤12.4 J (for 170 test set compounds). The models were developed using Friedman Lack-of-Fit as a scoring function, which allows avoiding an overfitting. All the models have simple descriptors as basis functions and include linear splines. Furthermore, the applied descriptors do not require expensive calculation procedures, namely, non-empirical quantum-chemical calculations, complex iterative procedures, real space electron density analysis, etc. Most descriptors are based on structural and topological analysis and a part of them require very cheap semi-empirical PM6 calculations. The prediction takes a few minutes as an average, and most of the time is for the structure preparation and manual calculation of the descriptor "Increment", which is based on our recent incremental theory.

Structural EEG signal analysis for sleep apnea classification.

Diagnosing the sleep apnea can be critical in preventing the person having sleep disorder from unhealthy results. The aim of this study is to obtain a sleep apnea scoring approach by comparing parametric and non-parametric power spectral density (PSD) estimation methods from EEGsignals recorded from different brain regions (C4-M1 and O2-M1) for transient signal analysis of sleep apnea patients. Power Spectral Density (PSD) methods (Burg, Yule-Walker, periodogram, Welch and multi-taper) are examined for the detection of apnea transition states including pre-apnea, intra-apnea and post-apnea together with statistical methods. In the experimental studies, EEG recordings available in the database were analyzed with PSD methods. Results showed that there are statistically significant differences between parametric and non-parametric methods applied for PSD analysis of apnea transition states in delta, theta, alpha and beta bands. Moreover, it was also revealed that PSD of EEG signals obtained from C4-M1 and O2-M1 channels were also found statistically different as proved by classification using the K-nearest neighbour (KNN) method. It was concluded that not only applying different PSD methods, but also EEG signals from different brain regions provided different statistical results in terms of apnea transition states as obtained from KNN classification.

A Search for Sars‐CoV‐2 Main Protease Inhibitors: Synthesis and Docking Study of Steroidal Dinitriles

AbstractCoronaviruses are continually evolving, as evidenced by the emergence of three closely related pathogenic variants over the past two decades: SARS (2002), MERS (2012), and SARS‐CoV‐2 (2019); and the appearance of many new SARS‐CoV‐2 strains during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Hence, COVID‐19 has now become a pandemic disease; with a real possibility for the emergence of new deadly SARS‐related coronaviruses. The SARS‐CoV‐2 main protease, Mpro is an attractive drug target for the development of inhibitors against SARS type and other coronaviruses because it is essential for the viral life cycle and highly conserved among a wide range of pathogenic coronaviruses. This motivated the synthesis of novel inhibitors of Mpro, which could be the basis for COVID‐19 drug development. The synthesis of new 5,6 : 16,17‐diseco and 6,7 : 16,17‐disecoandrostane 16,17a‐dinitriles is reported. In silico ADMET analyses suggest that the synthesized compounds possess drug‐like properties with no predicted toxicities. Structural similarity analyses indicates that synthesized B,D‐diseco 16,17a‐dinitrile derivatives have potential as protease inhibitors. Molecular docking simulations suggest that B,D‐diseco 16,17a‐dinitriles could inhibit substrate binding by Mpro. The present study suggests that newly synthesized androstane 5,6 : 16,17‐diseco‐5‐keto‐6‐oic acid and 6,7 : 16,17‐diseco‐6,7‐dioic acid 16,17a‐dinitriles 8 and 11 could represent a starting point for the design of Mpro inhibitors against SARS type coronaviruses.

Multicultural Considerations for the Psychometrics of the Brief Pornography Screen.

Problematic pornography use (PPU) is a burgeoning area of clinical interest. The Brief Pornography Screen (BPS) is a new PPU measure. The BPS has not been psychometrically studied within specific race/cultural groups. We sought to broaden the PPU literature by examining the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) fit, measurement invariance, and structural invariance of the BPS across eight identity groups. Participants came from a survey administered at three U.S. universities. In total, n = 2,475 participants were analyzed, with the following identity group breakdowns: Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) male = 268, AAPI female = 303, Black male = 101, Black female = 189, Latin male = 208, Latin female = 372, White male = 432, and White female = 602. BPS CFA fit was good across all groups. Measurement invariance analyses suggested metric, but not scalar invariance across all groups. We then split participants by sex assignment, full residual invariance was evident across groups for male participants and partial residual invariance was evident for female participants. Structural invariance analyses indicated anxiety as a weak positive BPS correlate in AAPI, Latin, and White male participants (β's = 0.25-0.27), but not meaningfully related in the other groups. Pornography viewing frequency was positively correlated with BPS scores across most groups with a wide range (β's = 0.29-0.52), except for Black male participants (β = 0.15). Our results suggest that the BPS is an appropriate PPU measure across the tested identity groups. While between-group measurement is relatively accurate within sex assignment groups, correlates differed in strength, meaning different variables likely predict PPU for different groups of people.

Structural and cation distribution analysis of Nickel-Copper/Nickel-Magnesium Substituted Lithium Ferrites

Lithium ferrite (Li0.5Fe2.5O4) shows significant promise in electrical and electronic engineering. It possesses a crystal spinel crystal structure denoted as AB2O4, with "A" and "B" representing specific tetrahedral and octahedral lattice sites respectively. Analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns aligns well with the JCPDS card (no. 38-0259), confirming the spinel structure with the Fd3m space group. However, an additional peak at 211 in the basic lithium ferrite suggests a subtle Fd3m to the P4132 phase change with a minor secondary hematite phase. Investigating the cation distribution in these ferrites is crucial for further exploration of their magnetic and dielectric properties. These ferrites find widespread applications in microwave technology and magnetic and electric energy storage devices.

Dielectric anisotropy changes in MBBA liquid crystal doped with barium titanate by a new method

In response to the burgeoning interest in enhancing the properties of liquid crystal composites, this research systematically explores the intricate interplay between MBBA nematic liquid crystals and ferroelectric barium titanate nanoparticles. The focus is modulating dielectric properties under temperature, frequency, and an applied electric field. Nuanced insights into temperature-dependent behavior, parallel and perpendicular component alterations, and a nonlinear correlation between nanoparticle concentration and dielectric constant are revealed. The study delves into dielectric anisotropy, indicating a reduction with increasing temperature. Structural analyses validate size reduction and crystal phase maintenance of barium titanate nanoparticles (NPs), emphasizing their impact on dielectric characteristics. Frequency-dependent investigations underscore a consistent decline in permittivity with rising frequency across nanoparticle concentrations. Application of an electric field in filling process of liquid crystal cells reveals irregular changes in dielectric constant, holding promise for tailored applications in display technologies. These comprehensive findings offer valuable insights into manipulating dielectric anisotropy properties of MBBA liquid crystal by a simple method for potential advancements in optoelectronic devices and display technologies.

Multivalent coiled-coil interactions enable full-scale centrosome assembly and strength.

The outermost layer of centrosomes, called pericentriolar material (PCM), organizes microtubules for mitotic spindle assembly. The molecular interactions that enable PCM to assemble and resist external forces are poorly understood. Here, we use crosslinking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) to analyze PLK-1-potentiated multimerization of SPD-5, the main PCM scaffold protein in C. elegans. In the unassembled state, SPD-5 exhibits numerous intramolecular crosslinks that are eliminated after phosphorylation by PLK-1. Thus, phosphorylation induces a structural opening of SPD-5 that primes it for assembly. Multimerization of SPD-5 is driven by interactions between multiple dispersed coiled-coil domains. Structural analyses of a phosphorylated region (PReM) in SPD-5 revealed a helical hairpin that dimerizes to form a tetrameric coiled-coil. Mutations within this structure and other interacting regions cause PCM assembly defects that are partly rescued by eliminating microtubule-mediated forces, revealing that PCM assembly and strength are interdependent. We propose that PCM size and strength emerge from specific, multivalent coiled-coil interactions between SPD-5 proteins.

Probe Substrate Dependencies in CYP3A4 Allosteric Inhibition: A Novel Molecular Mechanism Involving F-F' Loop Perturbations.

The biochemical basis for substrate dependences in apparent inhibition constant values (Ki) remains unknown. Our study aims to elucidate plausible structural determinants underpinning these observations. In vitro steady-state inhibition assays conducted using human recombinant CYP3A4 enzyme and testosterone substrate revealed that fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors erdafitinib and pemigatinib noncompetitively inhibited CYP3A4 with apparent Ki values of 10.2 ± 1.1 and 3.3 ± 0.9 μM, respectively. However, when rivaroxaban was adopted as the probe substrate, there were 2.0- and 3.2-fold decreases in its apparent Ki values. To glean mechanistic insights into this phenomenon, erdafitinib and pemigatinib were docked to allosteric sites in CYP3A4. Subsequently, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of apo- and holo-CYP3A4 were conducted to investigate the structural changes induced. Comparative structural analyses of representative MD frames extracted by hierarchical clustering revealed that the allosteric inhibition of CYP3A4 by erdafitinib and pemigatinib did not substantially modulate its active site characteristics. In contrast, we discovered that allosteric binding of the FGFR inhibitors reduces the structural flexibility of the F-F' loop region, an important gating mechanism to regulate access of the substrate to the catalytic heme. We surmised that the increased rigidity of the F-F' loop engenders a more constrained entrance to the CYP3A4 active site, which in turn impedes access to the larger rivaroxaban molecule to a greater extent than testosterone and culminates in more potent inhibition of its CYP3A4-mediated metabolism. Our findings suggest a potential mechanism to rationalize probe substrate dependencies in Ki arising from the allosteric noncompetitive inhibition of CYP3A4.

Design and Implementation of Sampling Wells in Phosphate Mine Waste Rock Piles: Towards an Enhanced Composition Understanding and Sustainable Reclamation

Establishing a circular economy in mining begins with a dedicated sampling strategy as its fundamental phase. This specific approach is crucial for enhancing resource retrieval and isolating essential minerals from mining residues. By carefully examining and defining the makeup of waste materials, mining activities can discover overlooked possibilities, promoting sustainability. A thoughtfully planned sampling strategy not only reduces environmental harm but also sets the stage for the effective use of resources. In doing so, the mining industry can shift towards a circular model, adhering to the principles of waste reduction, material reuse, and ultimately promoting a more environmentally conscious and economically viable industry. In the phosphate industry and during the pre-concentration process of phosphate ore through screening, significant amounts of mining waste, consisting of various lithologies including indurated and fine phosphate, coarse-grained silicified phosphate, limestone, and marls, are deposited in waste rock stockpiles. Collecting representative samples from these heterogeneous materials presents challenges in accurately characterizing the entire stockpile. To overcome this issue, circular mining wells were implemented as a novel sampling method in waste rock stockpiles, enabling the collection of intact representative samples. This paper shares a successful experience in constructing three concrete-lined wells within a phosphate mine waste rock stockpile measuring 662 m in length, 240 m in width, and ranging in height from 0 to 65 m. The wells were dug at various depths, ranging from 20 m to 55 m, with a circular section and a diameter of 1.5 m. An integrated method utilizing analytical techniques in conjunction with numerical modeling via Robot Structural Analysis software (version of 2020) was utilized to assess the stress on the well supports and confirm their stability. This methodology serves as a valuable tool for evaluating the stability of similar wells, ensuring the safety of operators. The structural model yielded a stress level of 1 MPa, which aligned with the values obtained from the analytical model. Sensitivity analysis was performed on various parameters (friction angle, Poisson Ratio, and gravity), and the safety factor consistently remained above 1.5 for all scenarios investigated up to a depth of 60 m. Consequently, this study demonstrates that concrete-lined wells can be utilized safely for intact sampling in waste rock stockpiles. This sampling operation will allow the pursuit of optimizing resource utilization and enhancing environmental sustainability, by studying phosphate distribution in the Phosphate Mine Waste Rock (PMWR) for better recovery.

Convenient pre-separation method depends on negative charges suitable for glycan sequencing analysis.

For precise structural analysis of complex glycans, it is necessary to fractionate glycans based on acidity prior to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Conventional fractionation using high-performance liquid chromatography is time consuming and not high throughput. Therefore, we developed a rapid method for the fractionation using a small cartridge column. This enables rapid multi-sample processing for glycan sequencing.

Linear Moments-Based Monte Carlo Simulation for Reliability Analysis With Unknown Probability Distributions

Abstract Within the realm of structural reliability analysis, the uncertainties tied to resistance and loads are conventionally embodied as random variables possessing established cumulative distribution functions (CDFs). Nevertheless, real-world scenarios often involve cases where the CDFs of random variables are unknown, necessitating the probabilistic traits of these variables solely through statistical moments. In this study, for the purpose of integrating random variables characterized by an unknown CDF into the framework of Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), a linear moments (L-moments)-based method is proposed. The random variables marked by an unknown CDF are rendered as a straightforward function of a standard normal random variable, and the formulation of this function is determined by utilizing the L-moments, which are typically attainable from the statistical data of the random variables. By employing the proposed approach, the generation of random numbers associated with variables with unknown CDFs becomes a straightforward process, utilizing those derived from a standard normal random variable constructed by using Box-Muller transform. A selection of illustrative examples is presented, in which the efficacy of the technique is scrutinized. This examination reveals that despite its simplicity, the method demonstrates a level of precision that qualifies it for incorporating random variables characterized by unspecified CDFs within the framework of MCS for purposes of structural reliability analysis.

Recent Research in Wire Cut Electrical Discharge Machining Process

A product's shape and size are developed through the manufacturing process, which is essential to all sectors. With its unique thermal machining technique, Wire Cut Electrical Discharge Machining (WEDM), items with sharp edges and varied hardness that prove challenging to produce using conventional machining methods can be precisely machined. Utilizing the widely used non-contact material removal technique, the practical technology of the WEDM process is based on the typical EDM sparking phenomenon. When the process was first introduced, WEDM has developed from a crude way to make tools and dies to the best way to produce micro-scale parts with the highest level of surface finish quality and dimensional accuracy. This paper reviews the extensive amount of research done from the EDM process to the development of the WEDM. It reports on the WEDM research that involves optimizing the process parameters and examining the impact of various factors on productivity and machining performance. The impact of multiple WEDM process input parameters, including wire speed, peak current, pulse on and off times, and peak on material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness (Ra), and micro structural analysis, on various process output responses is reviewed in this study.

Electrochemically structured tantalum surfaces via anodization for core-shell nanostructures: Optimization and characterization of Zn-ZnO nanoparticle deposition using magnetron sputtering

This study explores the electrochemical anodization of tantalum surfaces to create nanostructured substrates for the deposition of Zn-ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) through magnetron sputtering. The anodization process, conducted at different potentials (25 V and 50 V), resulted in tantalum surfaces with distinct dimple structures. The formation of these nano-level dimples is attributed to the dynamic equilibrium between the continuous formation and dissolution of the anodic TaOx layer. The dimple diameter is observed to increase with applied potential, correlating with the dissolution rate of the anodic oxide. The NP deposition parameters were studied in two steps. First, the effect of the deposition conditions on the nanoparticle size and distribution was evaluated and optimized on silicon substrates. Second, the conditions that resulted in the optimum size and distribution of the nanoparticles were utilized in tantalum substrates and evaluated to which extent these conditions were reproduced onto the anodized Ta substrate. Comparisons of Zn-ZnO nanoparticle depositions on silicon and tantalum substrates reveal similar island growth trends, with differences in nanoparticle size and distribution attributed to substrate properties. Further investigation involves anodized tantalum substrates with varying dimple sizes, and deposition conditions are adjusted with bias voltage, pressure, and deposition time to control nanoparticle characteristics. Characterization of the Zn-ZnO nanoparticles deposited on anodized tantalum surfaces is performed using scanning electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The resulting core-shell structures are confirmed through structural analysis, revealing a core of hexagonal close-packed Zn and a shell of ZnO. The study demonstrates the influence of substrate properties and deposition conditions on the morphology and composition of Zn-ZnO nanoparticles, providing insights for applications in nanoelectronics and catalysis.

Strain partitioning in the Patagonian Broken Foreland: influence of structural inheritance of early Andean deformation

In the context of Andean-type oblique convergence, strain partitioning between thrust and strike-slip tectonics is well documented in the arc region. However, the impact of this configuration in the retroarc remains poorly understood, especially in broken foreland systems where basement structures compartmentalize the retroarc into small intermontane sedimentary basins. The spatiotemporal analysis of tectonic evolution and the role of inherited weaknesses in this area are often debated. This study addresses these uncertainties by integrating geometric and kinematic analyses of tectonic structures within the Sañicó Massif in the North Patagonian foreland. Results reveal two deformational episodes. The initial Late Cretaceous to Paleocene episode represents a contractional deformation phase, with NW–SE shortening direction causing the tectonic inversion of pre-Andean rift depocentres. The second episode records a Neogene transpressional regime with both contractional and strike-slip deformation, with east–west to NE–SW shortening direction, which progressed under reactivation of pre-existing structures and generated new faults. This work demonstrates the Neogene propagation of the strike-slip regime towards the retroarc, defining strain partitioning at various scales and highlighting its interaction with pre-existing structures. These results enhance our understanding of the complex tectonic history in oblique subduction settings, providing significant evidence of the structural inheritance in retroarc systems.

Shape-Changing Wood Joints in Crafts and Industry and Their Potential for Building Construction and Wood Culture

Abstract Timber has regained popularity in construction in recent years due to its ecological benefits. The connection methods used in this study play a vital role in the sustainability of structures and materials. Monomaterial timber connections are sustainable alternatives to metal fasteners and adhesives commonly used in construction. Wood is an anisotropic material with dimensional changes resulting from changes in atmospheric conditions. Understanding and accounting for this property are crucial for the longevity and functionality of wooden structures. The cumulative knowledge of wood´s material characteristics and its use in design, construction, and human culture can be defined as wood culture developed through artists’ and craftsmen’s experiences, science, and industry. The development of various techniques by artisans to leverage the dimensional change in wood to join timber elements is a major contribution to wood culture. In contrast, until now, the timber industry has mainly focused on limiting or controlling these changes in standardized production and has neglected their use for joining timber elements. However, technological advances have changed dramatically. The digital manufacturing and analysis of wood structures have the potential to guide machine tools and may allow the integration of dimensional changes, especially in the design and construction of timber joints. This study explores the state-of-the-art utilization of dimensional changes in timber to join elements in craft, material science, and industrial production. The potential of techniques utilizing this behavior for innovation in modern design and construction and their implications for wood culture were examined. Research gaps and avenues for further research are identified.

Effective alignment method using a diamond notch knife for correlative array tomography.

Correlative array tomography, combining light and electron microscopy via serial sections, plays a crucial role in the three-dimensional ultrastructural visualization and molecular distribution analysis in biological structures. To address the challenges of aligning fluorescence and electron microscopy images and aligning serial sections of irregularly shaped biological specimens, we developed a diamond notch knife, a new tool for puncturing holes using a diamond needle. The diamond needle featured a triangular and right-angled tip, enabling the drilling of deep holes upon insertion into the polished block face. This study describes the application of the diamond notch knife in correlative array tomography.