Application Of Systems Research Articles

Recent Advances in Reversible Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier Systems: From Hydrogen Carriers to Catalysts.

Liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) have gained significant attention for large-scale hydrogen storage due to their remarkable gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity (HSC) and compatibility with existing oil and gas transportation networks for long-distance transport. However, the practical application of reversible LOHC systems has been constrained by the intrinsic thermodynamic properties of hydrogen carriers and the performances of associated catalysts in the (de)hydrogenation cycles. To overcome these challenges, thermodynamically favored carriers, high-performance catalysts, and catalytic procedures need to be developed. Here, significant advances in recent years have been summarized, primarily centered on regular LOHC systems catalyzed by homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, including dehydrogenative aromatization of cycloalkanes to arenes and N-heterocyclics to N-heteroarenes, as well as reverse hydrogenation processes. Furthermore, with the development of metal complexes for dehydrogenative coupling, a new family of reversible LOHC systems based on alcohols is described that can release H2 under relatively mild conditions. Finally, views on the next steps and challenges in the field of LOHC technology are provided, emphasizing new resources for low-cost hydrogen carriers, high-performance catalysts, catalytic technologies, and application scenarios.

Synthesis Methodology for Discrete MIMO PID Controller with Loop Shaping on LTV Plant Model via Iterated LMI Restrictions

This paper presents a methodology for synthesizing discrete MIMO PID controllers through iterative solutions of LMIs. It justifies the necessity of direct synthesis of discrete controllers in digital control systems. The proposed methodology allows for synthesizing an LTI controller for an LTV plant model, ensuring the robust stability of the synthesized system. Robustness is further ensured by the small-gain theorem and a novel approach to loop shaping, enabling the use of arbitrary shape functions. As a result, this methodology provides a broad statement of the problem with performance criteria necessary for practical application in control systems. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the methodology, which is implemented using the MATLAB toolbox, freely available for use.

Modified pentagonal fractal antenna for ultra-wideband applications in communication systems

ABSTRACT Due to the recent expansion in the generations of the communications systems, it is utmost priority to transmit a large amount of data over a wideband frequency spectrum. For this single ultra-wideband (UWB) antennas are the prime choice as compared to the multiple narrow band antennas. A modified pentagonal fractal patch antenna with a modified ground plane covering ultra-wideband has been proposed. The antenna has a compact size of 25 mm × 25 mm × 1.6 mm with peak gain of 2.2 dB. The UWB coverage of the design is achieved by implementing modified co-planar ground, modified fractal geometry and coplanar feed. The proposed design possesses the significant resonance and radiation performance with very compact size on low-cost substrate while covering the whole UWB. Finally, the simulated resonating and radiation characteristics have been validated with the measured characteristics of the fabricated prototype and the results are quite promising.

Modeling skeletal dysplasia in Hurler syndrome using patient-derived bone marrow osteoprogenitor cells.

Dysostosis multiplex is a major cause of morbidity in Hurler syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type IH [MPS IH], OMIM #607014) because currently available therapies have limited success in its prevention and reversion. Unfortunately, the elucidation of skeletal pathogenesis in MPS IH is limited by difficulties in obtaining bone specimens from pediatric patients and poor reproducibility in animal models. Thus, the application of experimental systems that can be used to dissect cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the skeletal phenotype of MPS IH patients and to identify effective therapies is highly needed. Here, we adopted in vitro/in vivo systems based on patient-derived bone marrow stromal cells to generate cartilaginous pellets and bone rudiments. Interestingly, we observed that heparan sulphate accumulation compromised the remodeling of MPS IH cartilage into other skeletal tissues and other critical aspects of the endochondral ossification process. We also noticed that MPS IH hypertrophic cartilage was characterized by dysregulation of signaling pathways controlling cartilage hypertrophy and fate, extracellular matrix organization, and glycosaminoglycan metabolism. Our study demonstrates that the cartilaginous pellet-based system is a valuable tool to study MPS IH dysostosis and to develop new therapeutic approaches for this hard-to-treat aspect of the disease. Finally, our approach may be applied for modeling other genetic skeletal disorders.

Ideal Photodetector Based on WS2/CuInP2S6 Heterostructure by Combining Band Engineering and Ferroelectric Modulation.

Two-dimensional van der Waals (2D vdW) heterostructure photodetectors have garnered significant attention for their potential applications in next-generation optoelectronic systems. However, current 2D vdW photodetectors inevitably encounter compromises between responsivity, detectivity, and response time due to the absence of multilevel regulation for free and photoexcited carriers, thereby restricting their widespread applications. To address this challenge, we propose an efficient 2D WS2/CuInP2S6 vdW heterostructure photodetector by combining band engineering and ferroelectric modulation. In this device, the asymmetric conduction and valence band offsets effectively block the majority carriers (free electrons), while photoexcited holes are efficiently tunneled and rapidly collected by the bottom electrode. Additionally, the ferroelectric CuInP2S6 layer generates polarization states that reconfigure the built-in electric field, reducing dark current and facilitating the separation of photocarriers. Moreover, photoelectrons are trapped during long-distance lateral transport, resulting in a high photoconductivity gain. Consequently, the device achieves an impressive responsivity of 88 A W-1, an outstanding specific detectivity of 3.4 × 1013 Jones, and a fast response time of 37.6/371.3 μs. Moreover, the capability of high-resolution imaging under various wavelengths and fast optical communication has been successfully demonstrated using this device, highlighting its promising application prospects in future optoelectronic systems.

Exploration of Facial Emotion Detection Systems Utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks: A Comprehensive Review

Facial emotion detection systems have witnessed significant advancements, particularly with the utilization of convolutional neural networks (CNNs). This paper provides a thorough survey of such systems, beginning with an introduction to artificial intelligence and the evolutionary trajectory of neural networks, including artificial neural networks (ANNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), and CNNs. The paper elaborates on CNNs' architecture and functionality, elucidating key components such as convolutional layers, pooling layers, and fully connected layers, while also spotlighting prominent CNN architectures like AlexNet and ResNet. It delineates the broad scope and diverse applications of facial emotion detection systems across various domains, including marketing research, crowd testing, AI robots, banking, and entertainment. In the literature review section, recent research papers on CNN models for facial expression recognition are synthesized, highlighting variances in datasets, methodologies, and accuracy levels. The paper concludes that CNNs represent the current pinnacle of facial emotion classification techniques, surpassing previous methodologies such as eigenfaces. It underscores the efficacy of deep CNN architectures trained on extensive facial image datasets in proficiently identifying emotions from facial expressions. Moreover, the paper emphasizes the necessity for ongoing endeavors to enhance accuracy, particularly concerning complex emotions like disgust. In essence, CNNs exhibit substantial promise for the development of real-world facial emotion detection systems, heralding a new era of sophisticated emotion recognition technology.

Genome organization across scales: mechanistic insights from in vitro reconstitution studies.

Eukaryotic genomes are compacted and organized into distinct three-dimensional (3D) structures, which range from small-scale nucleosome arrays to large-scale chromatin domains. These chromatin structures play an important role in the regulation of transcription and other nuclear processes. The molecular mechanisms that drive the formation of chromatin structures across scales and the relationship between chromatin structure and function remain incompletely understood. Because the processes involved are complex and interconnected, it is often challenging to dissect the underlying principles in the nuclear environment. Therefore, in vitro reconstitution systems provide a valuable approach to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms by which chromatin structures are formed and to determine the cause-consequence relationships between the processes involved. In this review, we give an overview of in vitro approaches that have been used to study chromatin structures across scales and how they have increased our understanding of the formation and function of these structures. We start by discussing in vitro studies that have given insight into the mechanisms of nucleosome positioning. Next, we discuss recent efforts to reconstitute larger-scale chromatin domains and loops and the resulting insights into the principles of genome organization. We conclude with an outlook on potential future applications of chromatin reconstitution systems and how they may contribute to answering open questions concerning chromatin architecture.

Switching Go̅-Martini for Investigating Protein Conformational Transitions and Associated Protein-Lipid Interactions.

Proteins are dynamic biomolecules that can transform between different conformational states when exerting physiological functions, which is difficult to simulate using all-atom methods. Coarse-grained (CG) Go̅-like models are widely used to investigate large-scale conformational transitions, which usually adopt implicit solvent models and therefore cannot explicitly capture the interaction between proteins and surrounding molecules, such as water and lipid molecules. Here, we present a new method, named Switching Go̅-Martini, to simulate large-scale protein conformational transitions between different states, based on the switching Go̅ method and the CG Martini 3 force field. The method is straightforward and efficient, as demonstrated by the benchmarking applications for multiple protein systems, including glutamine binding protein (GlnBP), adenylate kinase (AdK), and β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR). Moreover, by employing the Switching Go̅-Martini method, we can not only unveil the conformational transition from the E2Pi-PL state to E1 state of the type 4 P-type ATPase (P4-ATPase) flippase ATP8A1-CDC50 but also provide insights into the intricate details of lipid transport.

Hybrid architecture of Multiwalled carbon nanotubes/nickel sulphide/polypyrrole electrodes for supercapacitor

A hybrid electrode structure consisting of amino functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotube, nickel sulphide, and polypyrrole is successfully synthesized using a two-step synthesis such as hydrothermal and in-situ polymerization method. The resulting MWCNT/NiS/PPy composite exhibits a distinct tube-in-tube morphology with excellent stratification. The combination of different components and the unique structure of the composite contribute to its impressive specific capacitance of 1755 F g−1 at 3 A g−1. The prepared ternary composite enables ample exposure of numerous active sites while improving structural stability, ultimately leading to enhanced energy storage capabilities. They do this by combining the advantages of constituent components, a hierarchical assembly approach, and an integrated composite structure. Furthermore, even after undergoing 10,000 charge-discharge cycles, the supercapacitor retains more than 97% of columbic efficiency. An asymmetric coin cell was fabricated using MWCNT/NiS/PPy//AC device which delivered an energy density and power density of 33.12 Wh Kg−1 and 6750 W kg−1 respectively. These findings highlight the exceptional potential of the fabricated device for future applications in hybrid energy storage systems.

Marine polysaccharides: Biological activities and applications in drug delivery systems

The ocean is the common home of a large number of marine organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. Researchers can extract thousands of important bioactive components from the oceans and use them extensively to treat and prevent diseases. In contrast, marine polysaccharide macromolecules such as alginate, carrageenan, Laminarin, fucoidan, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid have excellent physicochemical properties, good biocompatibility, and high bioactivity, which ensures their wide applications and strong therapeutic potentials in drug delivery. Drug delivery systems (DDS) based on marine polysaccharides and modified marine polysaccharide molecules have emerged as an innovative technology for controlling drug distribution on temporal, spatial, and dosage scales. They can detect and respond to external stimuli such as pH, temperature, and electric fields. These properties have led to their wide application in the design of novel drug delivery systems such as hydrogels, polymeric micelles, liposomes, microneedles, microspheres, etc. In addition, marine polysaccharide-based DDS not only have smart response properties but also can combine with the unique biological properties of the marine polysaccharide base to exert synergistic therapeutic effects. The biological activities of marine polysaccharides and the design of marine polysaccharide-based DDS are reviewed. Marine polysaccharide-based responsive DDS are expected to provide new strategies and solutions for disease treatment.

Development of information systems in road transportation

Nowadays, we face many problems in the field of transport. The application of intelligent transport systems should improve problems related to congestion management, road safety, access to data in the transport environment, and environmental protection. The paper presents two concepts that are key to the improvement and development of the transport sector. The development and application of automatic vehicle location since the 1960s has led to an improvement in the efficiency of transport companies’ operations and the quality of their services. This technology has led to improved efficiency of the transport service, better utilisation of resources and improved quality of service. However, the most modern concept that initiates the improvement of existing solutions and encourages the development of new solutions in the field of transport is the IoT (Internet of Things) concept. In freight transport, the application of IoT technology enables cost management, reduction of CO2 emissions and avoidance of congestion through the use of alternative routes.

A novel double-layer liquid crystal electro-optic switch and its infrared shielding properties investigation

ABSTRACT In this study, a novel light switch was developed by integrating polymer dispersion liquid crystals (PDLC) and polymer-stabilised cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLC), leveraging the infrared shielding properties of these two liquid crystal films. The optimal formulation for each layer of the liquid crystal structure was investigated. Subsequently, the effects of light intensity, high temperature, and humidity on the performance of the light switch were examined. This new light switch can be selectively driven layer by layer at room temperature, achieving three states: the off state, PDLC layer-driven state, and full-driven (on state). This functionality serves the purpose of electrogenerated temperature control. Samples under optimal conditions exhibited a 31% enhancement in infrared shielding compared to a single-layer PDLC film. Moreover, the IR shielding rate could be adjusted according to the voltage applied, realising an intelligent temperature-control effect. The results of this study suggest that such bilayer liquid crystal structures hold significant potential for application in electro-optical devices and smart curtain systems.

Development of sacrificial anode from Al, Mg, and Ti from iron Ore tailings

ABSTRACT This investigation used aluminium, magnesium, iron ore tailings, and low-carbon steel. Iron ore tailings (5–30 wt% Mg and 50 μm in size) in an aluminium matrix formed the anode. In 0.5 M NaCl solution, the weight loss, corrosion rate, and electrochemical properties were measured. Samples A to E have corrosion rates of 0.43, 0.28, 0.36, 0.08, and 0.11 mm/yr, respectively. SEM/EDS examination revealed the presence of elemental Al, Mg, O, and Si in the anode. The XRD patterns indicate intermetallic compounds such as iron nitride (Fe3N), aluminium silver (Ag-Al), and manganese zirconium (Mn2Zr). In samples A, B, and C, Al and Mg formed a protective coating on the anode, while C and Si reduced passivation and released electrons to protect the steel. IOTs and Mg in the aluminium matrix improve the anodic corrosion resistance. The observed improvements in corrosion resistance highlight the potential of these sacrificial anodes for practical applications in corrosion protection systems.

Challenges of Using C-Arm Fluoroscopy Systems: A Mixed Method Study Investigating Orthopedic Surgeons’ Experience

Background: Intraoperative fluoroscopy systems are widely used nowadays, where their use allows a shorter duration of procedure time and better anatomical localization. The current study aims to investigate the most common challenges of C-arm fluoroscopy systems application. Methods: This mixed-method study was carried out in February and March 2022. After the literature review, a qualitative study was designed using semi-structured interviews to find important themes and subthemes required to design a web survey. The web survey was completed by the Persian Orthopedic Trauma Association (POTA) event’s international presenters. Results: Nine orthopedic surgeons participated in interviews and 27 participants filled out the questionnaires. Five main themes including Physical Aspect, Mechanical Aspect, Software Options, Image Quality, and Radiation Exposure were extracted. Generally, over 80% of the web survey participants agreed that the size and shape of the base of C-arm fluoroscopy systems, C-arm diameter (space between tube and detector), and maneuvering and positioning of the C-arm fluoroscopy systems can interfere with surgical procedures. 100% of the participants agreed that providing two different views (e.g., AP and lateral) from the surgical site with one shot can be beneficial. The effectiveness of real-time visualization of radiation exposure on exposure rate was acknowledged by more than 92% of the participants. Conclusion: Although the C-arm fluoroscopy systems are widely used in surgical procedures, there are considerable issues regarding the application of this imaging modality in the operation room, and medical equipment companies should pay more attention to these issues to facilitate the use of these systems.

A graph neural approach for group recommendation system based on pairwise preferences

Pairwise preference information, which involves users expressing their preferences by comparing items, plays a crucial role in decision-making and has recently found application in recommendation systems. In this study, we introduce GcPp, a clustering algorithm that leverages pairwise preference data to generate recommendations for user groups. Initially, we construct individual graphs for each user based on their pairwise preferences and utilize a graph convolutional network to predict similarities between all pairs of graphs. These predicted similarity scores form the foundation of our research. We then construct a new graph where users are nodes and the edges are weighted according to the predicted similarities. Finally, we perform clustering on the graph’s nodes (users). By evaluating various metrics, we found that employing a similarity metric based on a convolutional neural network (SimGNN) with our proposed ground truth called Top-K yielded the highest accuracy. The proposed approach is specifically designed for group recommendation systems and holds significant potential for group decision-making problems. Code is available at https://github.com/RozaAbolghasemi/Group_Recommendation_Syatem_GcPp_clustering.

Two-Phase Fermentation Systems for Microbial Production of Plant-Derived Terpenes.

Microbial cell factories, renowned for their economic and environmental benefits, have emerged as a key trend in academic and industrial areas, particularly in the fermentation of natural compounds. Among these, plant-derived terpenes stand out as a significant class of bioactive natural products. The large-scale production of such terpenes, exemplified by artemisinic acid-a crucial precursor to artemisinin-is now feasible through microbial cell factories. In the fermentation of terpenes, two-phase fermentation technology has been widely applied due to its unique advantages. It facilitates in situ product extraction or adsorption, effectively mitigating the detrimental impact of product accumulation on microbial cells, thereby significantly bolstering the efficiency of microbial production of plant-derived terpenes. This paper reviews the latest developments in two-phase fermentation system applications, focusing on microbial fermentation of plant-derived terpenes. It also discusses the mechanisms influencing microbial biosynthesis of terpenes. Moreover, we introduce some new two-phase fermentation techniques, currently unexplored in terpene fermentation, with the aim of providing more thoughts and explorations on the future applications of two-phase fermentation technology. Lastly, we discuss several challenges in the industrial application of two-phase fermentation systems, especially in downstream processing.

Investigation of swelling behaviour monolayer and double Layer polysaccharide based composite hydrogels

ABSTRACT In this study, monolayer and double layer (core-shell) composite hydrogel beads with and without hydroxyapatite which have potential applications in drug delivery systems were synthesized, and their swelling behaviours were investigated in different pH mediums. The composite hydrogel beads was prepared by crosslinking sodium alginate and kappa-carrageenan (by using Ca+2 and K+1). Core-shell hydrogel beads were formed by coating monolayer composite hydrogel beads with the mixture of sodium alginate and kappa-carrageenan. The structure of hydrogel beads was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The effects of the composite hydrogel beads combination and the concentration of crosslinker on swelling behaviours were investigated. Swelling kinetics data were tested using pseudo-second-order model, and the pseudo-second-order model is estimated as a convenient model to represent the swelling kinetic. The results indicated that swelling behaviours of hydrogel beads changed with composite hydrogel beads combination and concentration of crosslinker.

Liquid-Crystal Polarization Volume Gratings Technology and its Applications in Diffractive Optical Waveguides Systems for Augmented Reality

Liquid-Crystal Polarization Volume Gratings Technology and its Applications in Diffractive Optical Waveguides Systems for Augmented Reality

Analytical solutions and classification of vesicle motion and deformation in shear flow: Uncovering new tank-treading modes.

Using a small deformation approach, a fractional ordinary differential system is proposed to investigate the motion and deformation of a vesicle in shear flow. Closed analytical expressions of the orientation angle and the ellipticity of the vesicle contour (shape deformation) are provided. Three different motions are identified, the classical tank-treading state, and two new types of motions, namely, the over-damped tank-treading mode, in which the vesicle's orientation angle ψ and its shape deformation R tend more slowly toward equilibrium, and the under-damped tank-treading mode, in which ψ oscillates all the time along the flow direction with decreasing amplitude, while R starts making a breathing motion and then tends to an attractive amplitude. The implications of our findings extend widely within the field of fluid dynamics, revealing the potential for further advancements and applications in understanding complex fluid systems.

Comparison of timing discrimination method for pulse-based Lidar

Time discrimination methods of pulse signals serve as the foundation for ranging, identification, and precision in pulse Lidar. Therefore, employing a judicious time discrimination method is pivotal in enhancing Lidar overall performance. This study initially delves into the theoretical distinctions among various time discrimination methods, including constant fraction timing, waveform centroid, dual-threshold waveform, and amplitude with rising edge compensation timing. It meticulously analyzes and compares these diverse methods for time discrimination. Subsequently, employing these methodologies to process Lidar echo signals to contrast their time measurement accuracy. The conclusions will provide valuable guidance for the design and practical application of pulse-type Lidar systems.