Continuous Process Research Articles

Flow Chemistry and Continuous Processing: More Mainstream than Ever!

Flow Chemistry and Continuous Processing: More Mainstream than Ever!

An in-line dye tracer experiment to measure the residence time in continuous concrete processing

An in-line dye tracer experiment to measure the residence time in continuous concrete processing

Challenges in the Synthesis and Processing of Hydrosilanes as Precursors for Silicon Deposition.

Liquid hydrosilanes are required for the production of silicon films. The silicon layers can be processed for electronic devices like transistors or thin-film solar cells. Hydrosilanes are highly reactive and pyrophoric. Therefore, the synthesis of these compounds is challenging and dangerous. The available synthesis methods for hydrosilanes are reviewed and compared. Hydrosilanes are highly attractive compounds, which can be processed as liquids with printing technology to amorphous silicon films on nearly any solid substrate. The silicon layers can be processed for electronic devices like transistors or thin-film solar cells. The endothermic character of hydrosilanes with their positive enthalpies of formation results in favorable properties for processing. The larger the molecules, the lower their decomposition temperature and the higher their photoactivity. Cyclic hydrosilanes such as cyclopentasilane and cyclohexasilane can be easily deposited. The branched neopentasilane is more difficult to deposit but yields better-quality films after processing. The key challenge is the complex synthesis of the precursors and the hydrosilanes. The available preparative methods are presented in this review and their advantages and disadvantages are evaluated. The following synthesis methods are presented and discussed in this article: Wurtz coupling and other reductive coupling processes, dehydrogenative coupling of silanes, plasma synthesis of chlorinated polysilanes, amine- or chloride-induced disproportionations, and transformation of monosilane to higher silanes. Plasma synthesis is already carried out today as a continuous industrial process. The most effective synthesis methods in the laboratory are currently amine- and chloride-induced disproportionations. There is a great need to further optimize the syntheses of hydrosilanes and to develop new simple synthesis variants.

Variation of stable isotope signals in precipitation during Typhoon In-Fa (2021), Eastern China

High-resolution stable isotope records of precipitation are crucial for our understanding about the mechanism of isotope variations during typhoon precipitation events. Here we present hourly-resolution stable isotope time series of precipitation during the Typhoon In-Fa (2021) in Kunshan and Yangzhou, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Eastern China. Precipitation δ18O in Kunshan and Yangzhou ranged from -1.3‰ to -12.3‰ and -2.8‰ to -17.1‰, respectively. Both δ18O time series have shifted to more negative values as the typhoon approached. The evolution of precipitation δ18O during the typhoon is likely caused by a combination of Rayleigh distillation and microphysical processes. Precipitation δ18O values in Yangzhou are more negative than those in Kunshan with a lag of approximately 14 hours. This was mainly controlled by further continuous rainout processes during the movement of the Typhoon In-Fa from Kunshan to Yangzhou and higher condensation efficiency. This study improves our understanding about underlining mechanisms of stable isotope changes during the typhoon precipitation.

What Is It Like to Be in Alcohol Addiction Recovery? A Dialectical Phenomenological Analysis.

Currently, there is no scientific consensus on the concept of alcohol addiction recovery beyond substance use control. This conceptual issue challenges the implementation of therapeutic strategies and mental health policies that are unrestricted to symptomatic remission. Aiming to contribute to its definition, this study aimed to examine the recovery experience of individuals with alcohol addiction using dialectical phenomenological psychopathology (DPP) as a theoretical and methodological framework. A dialectical phenomenological analysis was conducted through an examination of online interviews with eight Brazilian, São Paulo state citizens who were self-declared to be undergoing alcohol addiction recovery (or who declared that they had completely recovered). Participants' reports generated eight categories that were subdivided into two groups. The first group indicated experiential elements of recovery, such as changes in self-relation, changes in interpersonal relations, and changes in time relations, giving new meanings to suffering and alcohol use, and recovery as a continuous process. The second group referred to how the participants interpreted recovery according to their worldviews: as a spiritual experience, moral reformation, and mentality change. These categories can be understood through the lens of DPP as a process of change in the subjects' being in the world, characterized by the continued management of their existential imbalances in the dimensions of spatiality, temporality, selfhood, and intersubjectivity. The results are preliminary when it comes to conceptualizing recovery but may help future studies to develop recovery-oriented therapeutic strategies.

Q-learning based scheduling method for continuous pickling process of titanium strips

Q-learning based scheduling method for continuous pickling process of titanium strips

Analysis of Hot Continuous Process of Special Gas Storage Vessel for Semiconductor Cleaning Process

Analysis of Hot Continuous Process of Special Gas Storage Vessel for Semiconductor Cleaning Process

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity – primary preventive options. An overview

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) has been known since the 1970s but remains relevant, mainly due to the widespread use of anthracyclines in oncological practice. Currently, AIC is viewed as a prolonged and continuous process that starts with the initial dose at molecular and cellular levels and advances, ultimately resulting in cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Many contemporary studies aim to discover methods for early detection of anthracycline-related myocardial injury. Additionally, ongoing research focuses on agents for primary prevention of AIC, examining their effectiveness, place, and timing of administration. This review aims to present the available preventive options, interconnecting them with their mechanisms of action and the mechanisms of AIC. According to current recommendations, primary prevention is indicated for high- and very high-risk patients and includes general measures to lower cardiovascular risk, neurohormonal therapy, and statins. Regular cardiology assessments are a crucial component of heart damage prevention. Evidence of mild myocardial injury (deteriorated Global Longitudinal Strain and troponin release) justifi es cardioprotective measures. Some aspects remain unanswered, including whether early cardioprotection is required, as well as the role and effi cacy of sacubitril/valsartan and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) for AIC prevention. Physical activity is a promising method to reduce the cardiac damaging effects of anthracyclines. 

Economia și societatea sub lentila multiculturalismului. Contraste: heterocromie și heterocronie economico-socială

Multiculturalism implies social acceptance: it does not involve consensus, but social awareness. As witnesses of diversity, we identify change itself, as a continuous process, relativised by aspects of heterochromy and socioeconomic heterochrony. The dichotomy of differentiated development does not follow a particular pattern. Simultaneously, it seems dual: it seduces through a certain degree of freedom (discernible, perceptible, or apparent), but it also makes itself guilty through the reticence that singles it out. In the end, differentiation brings advantages and requires sacrifices, but it is as much a part of the spirit of the individual as it is of the way economic entities act.

Artificial Neural Network Modeling in the Presence of Uncertainty for Predicting Hydrogenation Degree in Continuous Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Processing

The transition from batch to continuous production in the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) into hydrogenated NBR (HNBR) marks a significant advance for applications under demanding conditions. This study introduces a continuous process utilizing a static mixer (SM) reactor, which notably achieves a hydrogenation conversion rate exceeding 97%. We thoroughly review a mechanistic model of the SM reactor to elucidate the internal dynamics governing the hydrogenation process and address the inherent uncertainties in key parameters such as the Peclet number (Pe), dimensionless time (θτ), reaction coefficient (R), and flow rate coefficient (q). A comprehensive dataset generated from varied parameter values serves as the basis for training an artificial neural network (ANN), which is then compared against traditional models including linear regression, decision tree, and random forest in terms of efficacy. Our results clearly demonstrate the ANN’s superiority in predicting the degree of hydrogenation, achieving the lowest root mean squared error (RMSE) of 3.69 compared to 21.90 for linear regression, 4.94 for decision tree, and 7.51 for random forest. The ANN’s robust capability for modeling complex nonlinear relationships and dynamics significantly enhances decision-making, planning, and optimization of the reactor, reducing computational demands and operational costs. In other words, this approach allows users to rely on a single ML-based model instead of multiple mechanistic models for reflecting the effects of possible uncertainties. Additionally, a feature importance study validates the critical impact of time and element number on the hydrogenation process, further supporting the ANN’s predictive accuracy. These findings underscore the potential of ML-based models in streamlining and enhancing the efficiency of chemical production processes.

Sensitivity of the Modified Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Sign-Rank Control Chart to Process Changes in Counted Data

Control charts are generally used to detect mean process changes in continuous processes. However, counting procedures that characterize product quality are popular in production processes, such as the number of defects or the proportion of defective products. This research aims to investigate using the Modified Exponentially Weighted Moving Average combined with a nonparametric Sign Rank control chart, namely MEWMA-SR chart is a novel tool. Comparative analyses involving different run length measures are conducted to evaluate the proposed scheme against MEWMA, MEWMA-SR, and classical EWMA charts. The performance of the MEWMA-SR chart is assessed using Monte Carlo simulations based on its run-length profiles. It was found that the proposed combination control chart was effective in detecting changes better than other control charts along with presenting applications with real data. A study further validates the proposed chart’s practical utility through a case study analyzing COVID-19 mortality data.

Integration of MoS2 Memtransistor Devices and Analogue Circuits for Sensor Fusion in Autonomous Vehicle Target Localization.

In contemporary autonomous driving systems relying on sensor fusion, traditional digital processors encounter challenges associated with analogue-to-digital conversion and iterative vector-matrix operations, which are encumbered by limitations in terms of response time and energy consumption. In this study, we present an analogue Kalman filter circuit based on molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) memtransistor, designed to accelerate sensor fusion for precise localization in autonomous vehicle applications. The nonvolatile memory characteristics of the memtransistor allow for the storage of a fixed Kalman gain, which eliminates the data convergence and thus accelerates the processing speeds. Additionally, the modulation of multiple conductance states by the gate terminal enables fast adaptability to diverse autonomous driving scenarios by tuning multiple Kalman filter gains. Our proposed analogue Kalman filter circuit accurately estimates the position coordinates of target vehicles by fusing sensor data from light detection and ranging (LiDAR), millimeter-wave radar (Radar), and camera, and it successfully solves real-word problems in a signal-free crossroad intersection. Notably, our system achieves a 1000-fold improvement in energy efficiency compared to that of digital circuits. This work underscores the viability of a memtransistor for achieving fast, energy-efficient real-time sensing, and continuous signal processing in advanced sensor fusion technology.

Effects of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease on Bone Density and Fragility Fractures: Associations and Mechanisms.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has profound adverse effects on bone health and homeostasis. MASLD appears to be associated with changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture rate. However, the data are ambiguous and conflicting. Although several studies have shown that children and adolescents with MASLD have decreased BMD, the data on the prevalence of fragility fractures among children are scarce. In adults, increasing evidence suggests that MASLD decreases BMD and increases the risk of fragility fractures, which appears to be due to deterioration of bone architecture in addition to a decrease in BMD. Effects of MASLD on bone health may also be age- and race-specific. MASLD does not seem to increase fracture risk in children and adolescents but increases the risk of fractures in elderly men, especially those of Asian origin. From a mechanistic perspective, bone remodeling is a continuous process between osteoblasts (bone-forming) and osteoclasts (bone-resorbing), with any imbalance resulting in metabolic bone disease. In individuals with MASLD, loss of anabolic insulin receptor signaling (insulin resistance) in osteoblasts and increased receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL) signaling in osteoclasts (proinflammatory cytokines) swings the pendulum toward accelerated bone loss. These processes are further complicated by the concomitant presence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, or sarcopenia in individuals with MASLD. This study reviews the current literature associated with the effects of MASLD on BMD and fragility fractures in children/adolescents and adults. This review also discusses the pathomechanisms that link MASLD with changes in BMD and fragility fractures.

Revisiting Interconnection Between Technological Evolution and The Dynamics of Employment and Income Distribution

Technological development has been a continuous process. In fact, this signifies the strength of the process of development. There has been quantitative as well as qualitative changes in the way the human being produces its means of production as well as the means of livelihood. One must say that the development in the means of production (the machines and tools) determines the availability of quality and quantity of means of livelihood. Hence, it may be assumed that the availability of means of livelihood to the common masses should be a direct function of the evolution of the technology of production. But, the benefits of the development of technology spreads among the stakeholders in varying proportions. Distribution of means of livelihood, (income and output) depends on the distribution of ownership of the means of production as well as the number of people and the labor hours utilized in the production process. Distribution of means of production and income and output is a socio-political process. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, the world faced changing socio-political structure through constitutional and democratic movements. At various milestones of technological evolution, various provisions determining the quality of life of the workforce like the number of working days and working hours and the disbursement of the reward for production kept changing. Different parts of the world experienced a reduction in the number of working hours and days at various stages under pressure of democratic movements. In light of this, the paper attempts to revisit the impact of the technological evolution, particularly, information technology and artificial intelligence, on the distribution of income and wealth and, also its connection with the growth of employment (or, unemployment). For this it takes a journey through the history since the Industrial Revolution in general and the post-liberalization era (since 1990s) in particular, in view of the qualitative changes in the production process owing to the emergence computer and information technology, robotics and artificial intelligence. The paper finds that there has been a mismatch between the rate of growth of production and the allocation of the output among the stakeholder, particularly the workforce. This has resulted into widening inequality of income along with high rate of unemployment.

Cultivating High-Performance Flexible All-in-One Supercapacitors with 3D Network Through Continuous Biosynthesis.

Flexible supercapacitors are potential to power next-generation flexible electronics. However, the mechanical and electrochemical stability of flexible supercapacitors under different flexible conditions is limited by the weak bonding between adjacent layers, posing a significant hindrance to their practical applicability. Herein, based on the uninterrupted 3D network during the growth of bacterial cellulose (BC), w e have cultivated a flexible all-in-one supercapacitor through a continuous biosynthesis process. This strategy ensures the continuity of the 3D network of BC throughout the material, thereby forming a continuous electrode-separator-electrode structure. Benefitting from this bioinspired structure, the all-in-one supercapacitor not only achieves a high areal capacitance (3.79 F cm-2) of electrodes but also demonstrates the integration of high tensile strength (2.15MPa), high shear strength (more than 54.6kPa), and high bending resistance, indicating a novel pathway towards high-performance flexible power sources. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Influence and regulation of hydrogen content in pure copper rod billet during negative pressure continuous casting process

Influence and regulation of hydrogen content in pure copper rod billet during negative pressure continuous casting process

Continuous flow process optimization aided by machine learning for a pharmaceutical intermediate

Continuous flow process optimization aided by machine learning for a pharmaceutical intermediate

The gut metabolome in a cohort of pregnant and lactating women from Antioquia-Colombia

Nutrition during the perinatal period is an essential component of health and one that can severely impact the correct development of a human being and its overall condition, in all the subsequent stages of life. The availability of several compounds, mainly macronutrients and micronutrients, plays a key role in the balanced nutrition of both mother and baby and is a process with direct relation to the gut microbiome. Thus, we hereby refer to the set of small molecules derived from gut microbiome metabolism as the gut metabolome. These continuous processes occurring in the gut of a gestating or lactating mother related to microbial communities and nutrients, can be revealed by metabolomics. In this study, we explore for the first time the gut metabolome of pregnant and lactating women, from our region of Antioquia-Colombia, applying untargeted metabolomics by LC-QTOF-MS, and molecular networking. Regarding the gut metabolome composition of the cohort, we found, key metabolites that can be used as biomarkers of microbiome function, overall metabolic health, dietary intake, pharmacology, and lifestyle. In our cohort, pregnant women evidenced a significantly higher abundance of prostaglandins, alkaloids, corticosteroids, organosilicons, and natural toxins, while in lactating women, lipids stand out. Our results suggest that unveiling the metabolic phenotype of the gut microbiome of an individual, by untargeted metabolomics, allows a broad visualization of the chemical space present in this important niche and enables the recognition of influential indicators of the host’s health status and habits, especially of women during this significant perinatal period. This study constitutes the first evidence of the use of untargeted LC-QTOF-MS coupled with molecular networking analysis, of the gut microbiome in a Colombian cohort and establishes a methodology for finding relative abundances of key metabolites, with potential use in nutritional and physiological state assessments, for future personalized health and nutrition practices.

La formación del docente de Educación Primaria. Reflexiones y perspectivas

Contemporary teacher training in Mexico is conditioned by the demands of the Educational Reform of the New Mexican School, in terms of the promotion of knowledge in the new generations, which transcend to situations of the socio-educational context in which they live. This implies a critical reflection based on a self-analysis that accounts for the exercise of self-diagnosis and a self-critical awareness that implies the recognition of continuous training needs throughout professional life, in order to generate better dynamics and instruments to detonate in educational alternatives that meet the own training needs and generate better links with the educational community. Some background students on teacher training are presented, as a support for initial and continuous understanding, from which professionalization processes are triggered, in which individual and collegiate reflection is revitalized, based on the experiential knowledge that emerges in the field of the processes of how to teach to learn, in order to activate cognitive processes in students, which condition the internalization and significance of their learning, as a support for continuous training processes. Therefore, different studies on the subject have been reviewed in order to identify references in the field of initial and continuing education, which allow rethinking the organization of teacher training programs in light of the demands of today's society.

MENUMBUHKAN KESADARAN DAN MOTIVASI ANAK TK HIDUP SEHAT HEMAT MELALUI FUN LEARNING

The learning process from an early age needs to be introduced to children as a fundamental means of personal development. One important aspect that needs to be instilled is awareness and motivation for living a healthy and economical life. It's not just about physical health, but financial health as well, which is a factor influencing future well-being. Establishing habits cannot be achieved overnight, but require continuous processes and training to shape character and habits. This activity aims to raise awareness and motivation among kindergarten students about the importance of living a healthy and economical life through fun learning, so that they are motivated to live healthily and save for the future. Methods include preparation, implementation, and evaluation stages. Preparation involves initial visits and meetings with school principals. Implementation is carried out through interactive activities to help students understand the benefits of living a healthy and economical life. Evaluation is done by observing students' reactions after the activity. The results can be seen in the increased understanding of students regarding healthy and economical living. Students are able to differentiate between expensive and cheap foods, and identify healthy foods in their packed meals. The enthusiasm and active behavior of students in answering questions reflect their increased motivation. Furthermore, the series of activities and interactions conducted by students with the children are able to nurture and stimulate artistic sensibilities, creativity, thinking skills, and motor skills. This can be seen through the development and ability of students to complete each activity faster than in previous sessions. The approach through fun learning activities is able to provide understanding, build awareness, and motivate children to adopt healthy and economical living habits.