Assembly Cell Research Articles

Interfacing Coacervates with Membranes: From Artificial Organelles and Hybrid Protocells to Intracellular Delivery.

Compartmentalization is crucial for the functioning of cells. Membranes enclose and protect the cell, regulate the transport of molecules entering and exiting the cell, and organize cellular machinery in subcompartments. In addition, membraneless condensates, or coacervates, offer dynamic compartments that act as biomolecular storage centers, organizational hubs, or reaction crucibles. Emerging evidence shows that phase-separated membraneless bodies in the cell are involved in a wide range of functional interactions with cellular membranes, leading to transmembrane signaling, membrane remodeling, intracellular transport, and vesicle formation. Such functional and dynamic interplay between phase-separated droplets and membranes also offers many potential benefits to artificial cells, as shown by recent studies involving coacervates and liposomes. Depending on the relative sizes and interaction strength between coacervates and membranes, coacervates can serve as artificial membraneless organelles inside liposomes, as templates for membrane assembly and hybrid artificial cell formation, as membrane remodelers for tubulation and possibly division, and finally, as cargo containers for transport and delivery of biomolecules across membranes by endocytosis or direct membrane crossing. Here, recent experimental examples of each of these functions are reviewed and the underlying physicochemical principles and possible future applications are discussed.

INDUSTRIAL ASSEMBLY LINE OPERATION

The idea of this paper is to present basic components of a flexible assembly system (FAS), discuss it characteristics, classify the systems and describe an application. This equipment offers professional training according to the industrial reality, simulating a real assembly process and including different technologies from Industry 4.0. The FAS consists of an automated flexible assembly cell with five different stages: assembly, handling, quality inspection, transfer and warehouse. It is the ideal answer to research and training in industrial automation. The main advantage is that it has fully modularity in keeping with industrial reality. The technologies included in its different assembly modules, as well as the assembly process with several variants, allow the user to develop the professional skills required by advanced automation. In this work the conventional control approach is presented with programmable logic controllers (PLC) and SCADA level.

A novel conflict free routing with multi pickup delivery tasks for autonomous vehicles

PurposeThis study aims to propose a novel method for the conflict detection and eradication of autonomous vehicles which has predetermined routes to establish multi pickup and delivery tasks according to task priorities and vehicle capacity status on each pickup and delivery nodes in assembly cells in the automotive production.Design/methodology/approachIn the designed system, the routing of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and scheduling of pickup and delivery tasks are established in production logistics. Gantt chart is created according to vehicle routes, and conflicts are detected using the proposed conflict-sweep algorithm. The proposed conflict-solving algorithm eliminates conflicts on intersections and roads by considering vehicle routes and task priorities.FindingsIn many production systems, there is a need to obtain flexible routes in each pickup delivery task group that changes during day, week, etc. Proposed system provides remarkable advantages in obtaining conflict-free routes for pre-scheduled multi transport tasks of vehicles by considering efficiency in production systems.Originality/valueA novel method is proposed for the conflict detection and eradication of AVs. Proposed system eliminates conflicts on intersections and roads by considering pre-planned vehicle routes for a fleet of heterogeneous AVs. Unlike most of the other conflict-free algorithms, in which conflicts are solved between two points, proposed system also considers multi pickup and delivery points for AVs. This is pioneering paper that addresses conflict-free route planning with backhauls and scheduling of multi pickup and delivery tasks for AVs.

TFCP2 is a transcriptional regulator of heparan sulfate assembly and melanoma cell growth

Heparan sulfate (HS) is a long, linear polysaccharide that is ubiquitously expressed in all animal cells and plays a key role in many cellular processes, including cell signaling and development. Dysregulation of HS assembly has been implicated in pathophysiological conditions, such as tumorigenesis and rare genetic disorders. HS biosynthesis occurs in a non-template-driven manner in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi through the activity of a large group of biosynthetic enzymes. While much is known about its biosynthesis, little is understood about the regulation of HS assembly across diverse tissue types and disease states. To address this gap in knowledge, we recently performed genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screens to identify novel regulatory factors of HS biosynthesis. From these screens, we identified the alpha globin transcription factor, TFCP2, as a top hit. To investigate the role of TFCP2 in HS assembly, we targeted TFCP2 expression in human melanoma cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. TFCP2 knockout cells exhibited decreased fibroblast growth factor binding to cell surface HS, alterations in HS composition, and slowed cell growth compared to wild-type cells. Additionally, RNA sequencing revealed that TFCP2 regulates the expression of multiple enzymes involved in HS assembly, including the secreted endosulfatase, SULF1. Pharmacological targeting of TFCP2 activity similarly reduced growth factor binding and increased SULF1 expression, and the knockdown of SULF1 expression in TFCP2 mutant cells restored melanoma cell growth. Overall, these studies identify TFCP2 as a novel transcriptional regulator of HS and highlight HS-protein interactions as a possible target to slow melanoma growth.

Diallyl Trisulfide, A Major Bioactive Constituent Of The Garlic, Promotes Colonic Mucosal Healing In Ulcerative Colitis Through Accelerating Focal Adhesion Assembly And Consequent Epithelial Cell Migration Via The Rab21-Integrin Β1-Fak Pathway.

Colonic mucosal healing is the terminal goal for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC), but there is currently no specific drug available. This study investigated the beneficial effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS) on the colonic mucosal healing. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to induce colitis in female C57BL/6 mice, and DATS was orally administered during the recovery period. DATS hardly impacted the inflammation of the colonic tissues, but significantly promoted the mucosal repair. DATS promoted the migration but not proliferation of colonic epithelial cells in the colitis mice. In addition, DATS accelerated the wound healing, cell migration, focal adhesion assembly and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) of colonic epithelial cells in vitro, which were evidently reversed by combined use of FAK inhibitor PF-573228. Similar results were shown in colitis mice. Mechanically, DATS promoted the binding of Rab21 to integrin β1 and accelerated the endocytosis of integrin β1, which was significantly attenuated by the knockdown of Rab21. DATS promotes the binding of Rab21 to integrin β1 and the endocytosis of integrin β1, thereby increases FAK phosphorylation and focal adhesion assembly, finally accelerates the migration of colonic epithelial cells and mucosal healing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Indium oxide induced electron-deficient indium hollow nanotubes for stable electroreduction of CO2 at industrial current densities

Despite high selectivity for CO2 electroreduction to formate, the current density and stability over indium-based catalysts are far from the requirements of industrial applications. Herein, we report an aminated In-MOF-derived In/In2O3 hollow nanotube catalyst (In/In2O3 Ho-nt), which can maintain a stable In0/In3+ heterostructure during the CO2 electrocatalysis. The stable In0/In3+ species boosts the formate FE (Faradaic efficiency) to over 90% with a highest current density of ∼ 650 mA cm−2 in a wide potential range from −0.8 V to −1.2 V vs. RHE in flow cells. More impressively, In/In2O3 Ho-nt demonstrates a full-cell EE (energy efficiency) of 44.5% and a long-term stability of 70 h at a current density of 200 mA cm−2 in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) cells by controlling the hydrophobicity of the catalyst interface. DFT calculations reveal that the charge redistribution between In3+ and In0 sites endows In0 sites with an electron-deficient environment, which enhances the adsorption capacity of CO2* intermediate and accelerates charge transfer kinetics, thus improving the activity of CO2 electroreduction to formate.

Achieving batch-size-of-one production model in robot flexible assembly cells

Manufacturing industry is facing new challenges in that fast-changing demands for products and services from customers push manufacturers to be more flexible and adaptive. The concept of batch-size-of-one production is presented in this paper, which defines a fully automated, highly customised, and short lead time production model. The desired batch-size-of-one production model is a promising solution for the above challenges in manufacturing industry, especially for highly customised or families of similar products like in the mobile phone industry. Along with the concept, we introduce a novel control method that enables the desired batch-size-of-one production model in operation of robots in manufacturing and assembly systems. The strategy was developed for robot control based on a distributed system to enable industrial robots to receive job commands on the fly and to conduct different jobs without the need for reconfiguration and reprogramming and without overheads. The aim of the research is to create the basis for a fully automated robot flexible assembly cell to perform batch-size-of-one assembly tasks with minimal human involvement by eliminating interruptions from the reconfiguration and reprogramming processes. The proposed strategy has been validated in practice in a multi-robot, multi-product flexible assembly cell.

Aspects of Bending High-Borated Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheets for Interim Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel

The presented work is aimed at the evaluation of the cold bending capacity of high-borated austenitic stainless steel sheets. Due to their excellent neutron-absorbing capability, borated stainless steels belong to the group of tailor-made structural materials widely used for vertical storage baskets for holding spent nuclear fuel assemblies in cooling pools at dry or wet storage facilities. The basket consists of individual fuel assembly cells. Each polygonal cell is usually welded from several steel strips. It would be advantageous to use bent steel semi-product to avoid welded seams as much as possible. Welded seams are difficult to make, and moreover, they are susceptible to corrosion. However, high-borated stainless steels, because of their boron content, show limited hot and cold workability. Thus, their cold bending capacity would be the primary issue. Their austenitic matrix with embedded hard and brittle boride particles is prone to the evolution and fast propagation of dimple transgranular fracture. This work is focused on the bending aspects of borated steel sheets with respect to the most commonly used hexagonal cell geometry. Experimental results provide practical recommendations for the rack design. The damage criterion has also been proposed using FEM simulations in DEFORM®.

Direct Electro-oxidation of H2S gas in a membrane electrode assembly cell (MEA): A proof of concept

This work focuses on the treatment in gas phase of air polluted with hydrogen sulphide in an electrochemical cell equipped with a MEA and demonstrates that it is a feasible option, in which this pollutant can be efficiently transformed into solid sulphur and sulfuric oxide. This later species can be successfully retained by reactive absorption into a sodium hydroxide solution producing a sodium sulphate solution, while the elemental sulphur obtained is dragged from the electrochemical reactor to a solid trap. This product has a pale-yellow colour and the XRD diffraction analysis shows that it has a S8 crystallization type. An increase in the current density applied produces an increase in the percentages of hydrogen sulphide removal (37.47, 50.67 and 65.33 % at 20, 50 and 100 mA cm−2) from the gas fed and influences on the speciation, favouring the formation of sulphur and the oxidation of water to oxygen over the formation of sulphur trioxide. The gas flowrate increment gives lower H2S elimination percentages (72.73, 50.67 and 51.69 % at 4, 7 and 10 mL min−1) and favours the dragging of sulphur which seems to be very positive to avoid its further oxidation to sulfuric oxide. Electrochemical characterization indicates that direct electro-oxidation of H2S gas takes place in the anode surface and that MEA does not undergo any relevant deterioration during performance of continuous operation tests. The maximum Coulombic efficiency for SO3 production was 60 % at 7 mL min−1 and 20 mA cm−2, while for the S0 production was 9.5 % at 10 mL min−1 at 50 mA cm−2. Energy consumption for H2S removal ranges from 18 to 87 Wh gS-1.

3D scanning method for robotized inspection of industrial sealed parts

This work presents a novel approach for 3D scanning inspection of industrial sealed parts based on data fusion from a 2D-laser beam sensor and the motion pattern of a robotic arm. The method provides as output the 3D geometrical shape and volume of the inspected part in order to allow for automatic compliance check according to process requirements. The solution is implemented and tested in sealed riveted fasteners, which are common in the automotive and aerospace industry. The effectiveness and robustness of the method is evaluated through the comparison of the obtained results with those from a 3D laser scanner system. The evaluation campaign was performed in a noisy environment (i.e., without illumination and temperature control), representative of an industrial shop floor. Statistical analyses show the system can perform geometry prediction with an overall error of 0.340 mm and is able to reject non-compliant sealed structures with a reliability of 96.6%, confirming that the proposed method is suitable to modern collaborative robotized aerospace and automotive assembly cells.

Two-dimensional bimetallic Fe/M- (Ni, Zn, Co and Cu) metal organic framework as efficient and stable electrodes for overall water splitting and supercapacitor applications

2D based bimetallic MOFs have attracted significant attention for energy conversion and storage due to their synergistic effects and high electrocatalytic performance. However, the limited active sites and stability inhibit their multi-functional applicability in water electrolysis and supercapacitor applications. Herein, we report the 2D bimetallic Fe/M-BDC ((M-Ni, Zn, Co and Cu), BDC:1,4 benzene dicarboxylic acid) framework prepared by solvothermal and exfoliation condition, which exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. Electrochemical measurements and spectroscopic analysis establish that 2D Fe/M-BDC (M-Ni, Zn) contains a high surface area and abundant active sites that can accelerate the reaction kinetics. The as-prepared catalyst exhibits very low overpotentials of 78 mV for the hydrogen evolution reaction and 160 mV for the oxygen evolution reaction @ 10 and 20 mA cm−2, respectively. The bifunctional electrode assembly cell using anodic Fe/Zn-BDC and cathodic Fe/Ni-BDC couple provides the very low cell voltage of 1.35 V to drive current density of 10 mA cm−2. In addition, Fe/Zn-BDC and Fe/Ni-BDC exhibit high specific capacitances of 633.21 F/g and 1190.88 F/g at 1 mVs−1, respectively, with good stability when they are used as supercapacitor electrodes.

Inside-out extracellular vesicles-like biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles for efficient screening P-Glycoprotein inhibitors to overcome cancer multidrug resistance

The discovery of P-Glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitors to block chemotherapy drugs efflux is considered an attractive treatment strategy for overcoming cancer multidrug resistance (MDR). Cell membrane biomimetic platform has emerged as a promising candidate method for screening small molecule P-gp inhibitors from natural products. However, randomly oriented cell membrane coating does not guarantee the inward-opening conformation of P-gp, limiting the precise screening of P-gp inhibitors. Herein, inside-out orientation extracellular vesicles camouflaged magnetic nanoparticles (IOVMNPs) were prepared to discover P-gp inhibitors with low toxicity and high efficiency from natural products. The orientation of extracellular vesicles on the surface of IOVMNPs was rigorously confirmed by immunogold electron microscopy and sialic acid quantification assay. Finally, two potential P-gp inhibitors, honokiol and magnolol, were captured by obtained IOVMNPs. The effect of MDR reversal in combination with chemotherapy drugs was further verified by pharmacological activity experiments. The inside-out orientation extracellular vesicles encapsulation strategy provides an effective tool for the discovery of novel P-gp inhibitors from nature products, thus further extending the application field of orientation assembly cell membrane biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles. This inside-out extracellular vesicles coating also proposes a new concept for the assembly of cell membrane biomimetic platform.

Monomeric and dimeric states of human ZO1-PDZ2 are functional partners of the SARS-CoV-2 E protein

The Envelope (E) protein of SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in virus maturation, assembly, and virulence mechanisms. The E protein is characterized by the presence of a PDZ-binding motif (PBM) at its C-terminus that allows it to interact with several PDZ-containing proteins in the intracellular environment. One of the main binding partners of the SARS-CoV-2 E protein is the PDZ2 domain of ZO1, a protein with a crucial role in the formation of epithelial and endothelial tight junctions (TJs). In this work, through a combination of analytical ultracentrifugation analysis and equilibrium and kinetic folding experiments, we show that ZO1-PDZ2 domain is able to fold in a monomeric state, an alternative form to the dimeric conformation that is reported to be functional in the cell for TJs assembly. Importantly, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) data indicate that the PDZ2 monomer is fully functional and capable of binding the C-terminal portion of the E protein of SARS-CoV-2, with a measured affinity in the micromolar range. Moreover, we present a detailed computational analysis of the complex between the C-terminal portion of E protein with ZO1-PDZ2, both in its monomeric conformation (computed as a high confidence AlphaFold2 model) and dimeric conformation (obtained from the Protein Data Bank), by using both polarizable and nonpolarizable simulations. Together, our results indicate both the monomeric and dimeric states of PDZ2 to be functional partners of the E protein, with similar binding mechanisms, and provide mechanistic and structural information about a fundamental interaction required for the replication of SARS-CoV-2.

Assembly cell for the manufacturing of flexible solar modules in building integrated photovoltaics

The current use of photovoltaics is often limited to the utilization of roof surfaces or ground-mounted systems. In particular, building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) have enormous potential to make energy production more sustainable, because the energy is generated where it is used. However, most of these modules either do not meet the aesthetic requirements of the architects as well as the building owner or are uneconomical, since visually appealing building-integrated PV modules cost several times more than standard modules. In this article, an approach for a (semi) automated assembly line that allows geometry- and material-flexible manufacturing of PV modules is presented. The challenges in automating the flexible manufacturing processes include mainly the handling of limp components and the complexity of geometry variability. Appropriate gripper systems are required to ensure safe and reliable handling of the components. A gripper developed in this article offers the ability to flexibly deposit solar strings. Preliminary tests show that 66% of all conducted trials meet the accuracy requirements.

Autonomous assembly and disassembly by cognition using hybrid assembly cells

Autonomous assembly and disassembly by cognition using hybrid assembly cells

The Controllable Ratio of the Polyaniline-Needle-Shaped Manganese Dioxide for the High-Performance Supercapacitor Application.

The nanohybrid development of metal oxide/conducting polymer as an energy storage material is an active research area, because of the device stability, conductive behavior, and easy fabrication. Herein, needle-like MnO2 was coupled with polyaniline fabricated through chemical polymerization followed by the hydrothermal process. The characterization results show that MnO2/polyaniline exhibited a needle-like morphology. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of the MnO2/polyaniline nanohybrids. The electrochemical performance, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), specific capacitance (Csp), and cyclic stability, was examined using a three-electrode assembly cell. The optimized electrode displayed a Csp of 522.20 F g-1 at a current load of 1.0 A g-1 compared with the other electrodes. The developed synergism during MnO2/polyaniline fabrication provided enhanced conductive channels and stability during the charge-discharge process.

Heterogeneous demand–capacity synchronization for smart assembly cell line based on artificial intelligence-enabled IIoT

Heterogeneous demand–capacity synchronization for smart assembly cell line based on artificial intelligence-enabled IIoT

Task allocation strategies considering task matching and ergonomics in the human-robot collaborative hybrid assembly cell

ABSTRACT With the increased use of collaborative robots, a new production model of the human-robot collaborative hybrid assembly cell (HRCHAC) is becoming a new trend in customised production. Collaborative assembly between workers and robots in assembly cells can significantly increase productivity and improve the well-being of workers once the distribution of tasks and resources is optimised. This paper proposes a new integrated task allocation model to better utilise human-robot collaboration to increase productivity and improve worker well-being. The developed model enables the skills of both workers and robots to be fully utilised while ensuring economic efficiency and the effective protection of workers’ physiological and psychological health. First, the product assembly process is decomposed into several assembly tasks, and the characteristics of each task are analysed. Second, a bi-objective mixed-integer planning model is developed with the objectives of minimising unit product assembly time and maximising total task matching. The ergonomics-related objectives are considered in terms of both the physiological and psychological fatigue of the worker, and relevant constraints are established. An improved NSGA-II algorithm is developed to determine the final task allocation scheme. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a real industrial case to verify the effectiveness of the approach.

Dual-RNAseq Analysis Unravels Virus-Host Interactions of MetSV and Methanosarcina mazei.

Methanosarcina spherical virus (MetSV), infecting Methanosarcina species, encodes 22 genes, but their role in the infection process in combination with host genes has remained unknown. To study the infection process in detail, infected and uninfected M. mazei cultures were compared using dual-RNAseq, qRT-PCRs, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The transcriptome analysis strongly indicates a combined role of virus and host genes in replication, virus assembly, and lysis. Thereby, 285 host and virus genes were significantly regulated. Within these 285 regulated genes, a network of the viral polymerase, MetSVORF6, MetSVORF5, MetSVORF2, and the host genes encoding NrdD, NrdG, a CDC48 family protein, and a SSB protein with a role in viral replication was postulated. Ultrastructural analysis at 180 min p.i. revealed many infected cells with virus particles randomly scattered throughout the cytoplasm or attached at the cell surface, and membrane fragments indicating cell lysis. Dual-RNAseq and qRT-PCR analyses suggested a multifactorial lysis reaction in potential connection to the regulation of a cysteine proteinase, a pirin-like protein and a HicB-solo protein. Our study's results led to the first preliminary infection model of MetSV infecting M. mazei, summarizing the key infection steps as follows: replication, assembly, and host cell lysis.

Inside–outside OH– incursion involved in the fabrication of hierarchical nanoflake assembled three-dimensional flower-like α-Co(OH)2 for use in high-performance aqueous symmetric supercapacitor applications

IntroductionThe energy industry has been challenged by the current high population and high energy consumption, forcing the development of effective and efficient supercapacitor devices. The crucial issues until now have been high production cost, deprived cyclic stability, and squat energy density. To resolve these problems, various approaches have been taken, such as the development of long-life electrode materials with high capacity, rapid charging, and slow discharging to overcome poor life cycle stability. ObjectivesIn the present work we focus on fabricating cost-effective unique-morphology, high-surface-area alpha-Co(OH)2 for application in an aqueous-electrolyte symmetric supercapacitor. MethodsIn this study, hierarchical nanoflakes assembled in three-dimensional (3D) flower-shaped cobalt hydroxide (HN-3DF-α-Co(OH)2) electrode were synthesized using the solvothermal method with sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and methanol as solvents. Spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to characterize fabricated HN-3DF-Co(OH)2, which revealed that the materials electrode exhibited the alpha phase with a hierarchical flower-like structure. A half-cell electrochemical assembly (three-electrode assemble cell) and symmetric full cell (two-electrode assemble cell) were examined in an aqueous electrolyte. ResultsIn three-electrode assembly cells, HN-3DF-α-Co(OH)2 exhibited 719.5 Fg−1 specific capacitance (Csp) at 1 Ag−1 with excellent cyclic retention stability of approximately 88% after 3000 cycles. In two-electrode symmetric supercapacitive systems, HN-3DF-α-Co(OH)2 achieved a maximum Csp of 70.3 Fg−1 at 0.4 Ag−1 with the highest energy density of approximately 6.25 Wh/kg at a power density of 328.94 W/kg. The fabricated two-electrode assembly cell with the HN-3DF-α-Co(OH)2 electrode retained cyclic stability of approximately 85% after 5000 repeated charge and discharge cycles. ConclusionSolvothermally-synthesized, optimized HN-3DF-α-Co(OH)2 showed outstanding electrochemical performance results in three- and two-electrode systems. This unique aqueous symmetric supercapacitor can be used to design cost-effective symmetric capacitors based on metal hydroxide.