Material Costs Research Articles

A Realistic Ingeniously Designed Cleft Palate Simulator for Training of Residents: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice.

Cleft palate is a congenital deformity that presents significant challenges in surgical correction. Proper training with an educational model for can greatly enhance the learning curve and improve patient outcomes. This article discusses the development and evaluation of an economical cleft palate model designed to enhance surgical skills and confidence among residents. The model was constructed using dental casts, acrylic resin, foam sheets, double-sided adhesives, infant feeding tubes, and red dye. Tertiary care center. Surgical residents. The assembly time and material costs were recorded. To evaluate its effectiveness, participants' feedbacks were collected and analyzed. The cleft palate model was produced at a cost of 250 INR per unit, with assembly taking approximately 15 minutes. Overall, 32 residents completed the simulation exercise of cleft surgery on the model. Participants gave the model an average score of 4 (±0.60) for realistic anatomical appearance, 3.5 (±1.3) for replicating the tactile nature of human tissue. Anatomical accuracy and ability to manipulate tissue and perform suturing received a rating of 3.4 (±1.1) and 3.7 (±0.81), respectively. The model's value as a training tool scored 4.4 (±0.51), with an overall satisfaction rating of 4.6 (±0.22) among residents. Our cleft palate model offers an economical, practical, and accessible solution for surgical training. This model is a viable alternative to more complex and expensive training tools and potentially enhancing the training of healthcare professionals in cleft palate repair.

Aerodynamic performance characteristics of low Re airfoils: A parametric and multi criteria decision study

This research aims at investigating the aerodynamic performance of 51 low Re airfoils and applying a Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) approach for selecting airfoils that align with the specific requirements of small wind turbines (SWTs). The study was carried out by varying the Re from 5 × 104 to 5 × 105; angle of attack (AOA) from −10° to 20°, thickness to chord ratio (0.1–0.9), camber ratio (0.1–0.9), and camber position (10 %–80 %) to evaluate the impact of these parameters on the airfoils’ performance. Furthermore, MCDM approach was applied to identify suitable airfoils optimized for their average lift to drag ratio, stall angle, operating range of AOA, strength, manufacturability, and material cost. The findings showed that of the teste parameters, the AOA and airfoil profile have the most pronounced effects on the airfoil performance. Among the tested airfoils, the E63 provided superior performance at 105 Re with LDR of 76.32, a 37.7 % improvement over that of NACA 4412 which is commonly used for wind turbine blade design. Furthermore, the MCDM results revealed that SG6043, FX63-137, E216 and E62 airfoils were the top-ranked airfoils suitable for SWTs application. These findings can help to produce optimized airfoil designs for increased performance and efficiency of SWTs.

Mass Transportation Facilitated Porous Fe/Co Dual‐Site Catalytic Cathodes for Ultrahigh‐Power‐Density Al–Air Fuel Cells

AbstractThe development of oxygen‐dependent fuel cells is frequently hindered by the high cost of cathode materials and the sluggish kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). It is thus crucial to explore low‐cost and high‐activity catalysts with accelerated mass transport. Here, a high‐throughput screening method is developed by integrating an explicit solvation model with machine learning potential‐based molecular dynamics simulations, which enables the efficient evaluation of a vast array of diverse diatomic combinations and ultimately identifying Fe–Co dual‐atomic sites as the optimal ORR electrocatalysts. The superior electrocatalytic performance of the diatomic Fe/Co sites loaded on 3D‐interconnected ordered macroporous carbon (FeCo‐3DMNC) is experimentally verified, achieving high ORR activity with half‐wave potentials of 0.806 V in acidic and 0.905 V in alkaline environments. Additionally, innovative hybrid acid/alkali aluminum–air fuel cells (hA/A‐AAFCs) incorporating FeCo‐3DMNC as the cathode catalyst demonstrate a notably high open‐circuit voltage of 2.72 V and a record‐breaking power density of 827 mW cm−2, significantly outperforming conventional alkaline aluminum–air fuel cells. This work marks a significant advancement by combining cutting‐edge computational screening with rigorous experimental validation to develop promising electrocatalysts, potentially paving the way for the advanced energy storage and conversion technologies.

Effects of Oxide Powders as Activating Flux on AMIG 304L Welds

Activating metal inert gas (AMIG) welding was designed to address difficulties with MIG welding, such as the limitation on workpiece thickness that may be welded in a single pass. This investigation was carried out on 304L stainless steel using ER 308L as a filler metal. Five oxides (SiO2, TiO2, Fe2O3, Mn2O3, and Cr2O3) have been investigated without edge preparation. The welded joints were evaluated for weld morphology, microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion, and the findings were compared. The depth of the AMIG weld was determined to be greater than that of the MIG weld. The microstructure is composed of austenitic and retained delta ferrite with 3.3% for MIG and up to 8% for AMIG weld carried out with Cr2O3 oxide flux, the tensile strength is up to 604 MPa when using Cr2O3 oxide against MIG weld (532 MPa), and the resistance to sudden load in AMIG welds (189 J/cm2) is higher than that of MIG weld (149 J/cm2). The corrosion resistance of the weld made with Fe2O3 oxide flux is greater than that of the other AMIG and MIG welds, as well as the parent metal. The AMIG welding technique variant enhances productivity and decreases the cost and energy consumption of the welding material compared to the traditional MIG process. This allows for joining the same thickness without affecting mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, meeting the industry’s requirements.

Variation of Heliostat Wind Loads in a Radial Field Array Model

The design of heliostats throughout a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant are currently of uniform design, however, research into the variation in heliostat wind loading within a radially staggered field array can provide insight into potential material cost savings in heliostat field design. Experimental investigation was carried out on a field array model in the University of Adelaide large wind tunnel. A total of 64 heliostat models of size 0.1 × 0.1 m were radially arranged over four surround rows. Four 3-axis load cells were utilized to analyze field array cases of morning (0700 hours), noon (1200 hours), and evening (1700 hours) configurations. Angle calculations for beam reflection were made for the 21st March (equinox). Results show mean and peak drag force coefficients reduce with distance into the field for a 1700 hour case due to high upstream blockage. Comparing the downstream drag and lift force coefficients against each test configuration, when heliostats are at steep elevation angles, high flow blockage leads to a reduction of coefficients downstream (0700 hour and 1700 hour cases). When elevation angles are reduced (1200 hours), drag and lift coefficients increase with distance from the central tower in the downstream direction. Results also show the central tower increases load coefficients on downstream heliostats, and therefore should be considered in heliostat wind loading and field design.

BioTRY: A Comprehensive Knowledge Base for Titer, Rate, and Yield of Biosynthesis.

Synthetic biology is rapidly evolving into a data-intensive science that increasingly relies on massive data sets; one of its applications is the evaluation of the economic viability of fermentation processes. However, the key economic indicators, namely titer, rate, and yield (TRY), which respectively reflect the downstream processing, reactor size, and raw material costs, are not well captured in bioinformatics databases. In this paper, we present BioTRY, an intuitive and user-friendly tool that contains >5,000 biochemicals and >3,800 strains, along with over 52,000 corresponding TRY entries with original references. It is freely available at http://www.synbiohealth.cn/biotry. To our knowledge, BioTRY is the first available database on biosynthesis TRY data from original research. We anticipate that BioTRY will become a useful tool that aids researchers and decision-makers in understanding the current development state of biosynthesis and allows them to foresee potential prospects and applications for biosynthesis.

Biomimetic Cooling: Functionalizing Biodegradable Chitosan Films with Saharan Silver Ant Microstructures.

The increasing occurrence of hot summer days causes stress to both humans and animals, particularly in urban areas where temperatures can remain high, even at night. Living nature offers potential solutions that require minimal energy and material costs. For instance, the Saharan silver ant (Cataglyphis bombycina) can endure the desert heat by means of passive radiative cooling induced by its triangular hairs. The objective of this study is to transfer the passive radiative cooling properties of the micro- and nanostructured chitin hairs of the silver ant body to technically usable, biodegradable and bio-based materials. The potential large-scale transfer of radiative cooling properties, for example, onto building exteriors such as house facades, could decrease the need for conventional cooling and, therefore, lower the energy demand. Chitosan, a chemically altered form of chitin, has a range of medical uses but can also be processed into a paper-like film. The procedure consists of dissolving chitosan in diluted acetic acid and uniformly distributing it on a flat surface. A functional structure can then be imprinted onto this film while it is drying. This study reports the successful transfer of the microstructure-based structural colors of a compact disc (CD) onto the film. Similarly, a polyvinyl siloxane imprint of the silver ant body shall make it possible to transfer cooling functionality to technically relevant surfaces. FTIR spectroscopy measurements of the reflectance of flat and structured chitosan films allow for a qualitative assessment of the infrared emissivity. A minor decrease in reflectance in a relevant wavelength range gives an indication that it is feasible to increase the emissivity and, therefore, decrease the surface temperature purely through surface-induced functionalities.

PTFE-based antistatic coatings by incorporating modified carbon black

A kind of antistatic coatings which were applied to nonconductive surfaces were prepared with Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as matrix, modified carbon black (CB) as conductive filler. Compared to sodium dodecyl sulfate, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), the TMN-10 modified CB has better wettability, dispersion, stability and re-disperse. When CBTMN-10content is 5 wt.%, the surface resistivity of coating reach to 106Ω*cm, which denotes the coating performance good antistatic behavior. The antistatic coating of 5 wt.% CBTMN-10content is found to exhibit excellent hydrophobicity and high HV hardness. Meanwhile, the low average friction coefficients and wear rate were achieved in antistatic coating of 5 wt.% CBTMN-10content. Furthermore, compared to MXene, reduced graphene oxide, carbon nanotube, the modified CB as conductive material in PTFE antistatic materials could be an useful way not only excellent properties but also large-scale production as well as a reduction in unit cost in antistatic materials.

Full-spectrum solar water decomposition for hydrogen production via a concentrating photovoltaic-thermal power generator-solid oxide electrolysis cell system

This study introduces a novel solar-powered concentrating photovoltaic-thermal power generator-solid oxide electrolysis cell system designed to enhance hydrogen production efficiency by optimizing both electrical and thermal energy utilization. The system incorporates a thermal power generator to convert excess high-temperature thermal energy into electrical energy, addressing energy losses associated with high-temperature water electrolysis. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the integration of the thermal power generator improves energy and exergy efficiencies to 0.60 and 0.52, while lowering the optimal operating temperature to 1173 K. The system’s efficiency is sensitive to the proportion of electrical energy supplied by the thermal power generator, with an optimal range identified between 0.1 and 0.2. Higher temperatures improve hydrogen production and efficiency, but increased voltage negatively impacts thermodynamic efficiency. These findings demonstrate that the proposed system offers substantial improvements over conventional solar hydrogen production methods, making it a promising candidate for sustainable hydrogen production. Further research will focus on system integration, material costs, and scalability for commercial use.

Оценка стоимости проектирования локальной вычислительной сети предприятия водного транспорта

The main stages of designing a local area network at a water transport enterprise are considered. The goals and objectives of each stage are outlined, the most significant stage in the design is highlighted – a pre-design survey, within which a thorough collection of information from the customer (industry enterprise) should be carried out and the parameters and conditions for the functioning of the future network should be determined. It is important to take into account the need for employees to work in industry information systems and the specifics of working with them, as well as to provide appropriate reliable equipment for the correct and uninterrupted operation of the enterprise. An example of a room plan for water transport enterprises is given, it is noted which physical characteristics must be taken into account when developing the plan. A general list of equipment for the future local area network is defined, active and passive equipment are noted. The main advantages and disadvantages of communication lines are considered. Examples of a physical circuit and a logical circuit for connecting computers to a network in an enterprise are given. The federal and regional information systems used at water transport enterprises for the implementation of state functions are listed. Enterprises can use a large number of such systems simultaneously, as well as real-time access from several workplaces to one system. The cost of designing the local network of a water transport enterprise was estimated, it was determined that the largest part falls on material costs.

Viability and Profitability of Cage Fish Farming on Lake Victoria: A Case of Bugiri-Kiwuulwe Cage Fish Farms in Wakiso District, Uganda

Fisheries and aquaculture have crucial contributions to world’s wellbeing and prosperity. Among aquaculture practices, cage fish farming ranks highest in fish production. This study was set out to assess viability and profitability of cage fish farming on Lake Victoria, a case of Bugiri-Kiwuulwe cage fish farms in Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District, Uganda. The study sought to assess water quality physico-chemical parameters within and around fish cages, investigates costs of materials used in fish cage fabrications and production, and to find profitability of cage fish farm units. A case study design with quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed to obtain data for the stated objectives. A total of 66 respondents from a target population of 79 study participants were used to generate data, which were entered into SPSS version 23 for analysis. Both male and females, including a few youths participated in the study. Their education levels ranged from primary to university. Majority were single, while others were married and a few were widows and widowers. Most of the water parameters tested were in the recommended ranges by WHO and supported aquatic life, hence promoted cage fish farming apart from total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, calcium, chemical oxygen demand and potassium which were slightly below the recommended ranges. Majority of the farmers had participated in the business for less than 5 years and the activity brought profits to the farmers an equivalent of UGX 8,943,200 ($ 2,354) to the farmers per season, an indicator that the business venture is very profitable and viable. Hence, it can easily be adopted by members of the community for improvement of their livelihoods. It is recommended that more research be undertaken such that there is formulation of the fish feeds at the local level aimed at the reduction of the higher costs incurred on the imported fish feeds. The government is also encouraged to subsidize on the taxes imposed on implements used in cage fish farming for encouraging more and more farmers to join in the business venture.

Impact of Cost Structure on Indonesia Food Industry Value Added

The food industry is a consistently growing sector, even in challenging economic conditions, driven by population growth and increased demand. Recognizing its importance, the Indonesian government has identified the food and beverage industry as a key sector in its Industry 4.0 roadmap. However, challenges such as reliance on imported raw materials and high labor absorption rates persist. This study analyzes the impact of cost structure on the value-added in Indonesia's food industry from 2017 to 2021, using data from Indonesia Statistics on large and medium industries. The Panel Data Regression results reveal that raw material costs and fixed capital costs positively and significantly affect value-added. These findings suggest that effective cost management, innovation, and the use of advanced technology are crucial for optimizing value-added in this sector.

Purification of T7 RNA polymerase for large scale production of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics

The COVID-19 Pandemic has revolutionized the field of mRNA vaccine technology, highlighting its utility and rapidly expanding potential, propelling it to the forefront of future vaccines & therapeutics for cryptic diseases. T7 RNA Polymerase (T7 RNAP) is a high-fidelity enzyme used for the synthesis of single-stranded mRNA from DNA templates using In vitro transcription (IVT). T7 RNAP is now the mainstay for the development of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, accounting for 34 % of the overall raw material cost for mRNA manufacturing. Although small-scale purification processes for T7 RNAP exist, scalable process platforms and comprehensive analytical characterization are still lacking. Moreover, to address global raw material supply chain issues and to facilitate the efficient and large-scale production of mRNA vaccines & therapeutics, here we report a three-step purification process platform, yielding ∼ 85–100 mg/L of T7 RNAP from E. coli fermentation harvest. Also, to demonstrate its high-level purity and structural integrity, we have characterized it using orthogonal analytical techniques. Furthermore, when evaluated in an IVT system, this highly pure T7 RNAP showed activity that was comparable to the commercial T7 RNAP in producing integral RNA (10 kb) from a linearized plasmid DNA template. Collectively, these findings establish a purification process platform for the commercial production of T7 RNAP enzyme to support the future development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics.

Minimal assay detects population-level senescence in the aquatic plant <i>Lemna minor</i>

At the population level, senescence occurs when older individuals have increased risk of death and reduced reproduction compared to younger individuals. We investigated senescence in the aquatic plant <i>Lemna minor</i> (common duckweed), an important species for plant senescence research. Our objectives were to (1) confirm or refute the presence of population-level senescence in this model species; (2) develop a minimal assay of senescence requiring only once-weekly data collection; and (3) test whether there were appreciable differences in senescence in plants grown in glass compared to polystyrene petri dishes, with an aim to reducing single-use plastic waste and long-term research materials costs. We found that weekly survival arced downward with age when viewed on a semi-log plot, and weekly production of descendants decreased with age, with both findings indicating population-level senescence that matched previous work using more frequent data-collection (per Objectives 1 and 2). Additionally, we found no noteworthy differences in senescence between plants grown in glass versus polystyrene petri dishes (per Objective 3). The use of weekly data collection could liberate personnel resources for other research-group functions, and could make the <i>Lemna</i> system suitable for senescence- or demography-education exercises. The use of glass dishes could reduce lab waste and expense.

Lightweighting an automotive fuel tank through formability analysis

For lightweighting automotive sheet metal parts, it is important to use the right grade/material with the minimum possible initial blank thickness in the forming processes. Fuel tank is one of the most critical sheet metal parts in automobiles due to its complex shape and large depth. In this work, a simulation-based approach has been employed to study the feasibility of lightweighting an automotive fuel tank (for two wheelers) by reducing blank thickness and changing steel grade. Formability analysis has been carried out using numerical simulations of a 0.8 mm thick sheet of Extra Deep Drawing (EDD) steel which is being used to manufacture the fuel tanks. Simulations have been performed to find out the minimum initial sheet thickness which can be formed successfully without failure or excessive thinning. From the predictions of formability, thinning, and strain distributions in the formed parts, it has been found that the weight of the part can be reduced by 12.5% by reducing the initial thickness from 0.80 to 0.70 mm. To reduce the thickness further, simulations have also been carried out by changing the grade from EDD steel to Interstitial Free (IF) steel which has superior drawability than EDD steel. It has been found that the blank thickness can be further reduced to 0.65 mm in the case of IF steel which is expected to result in 19.0% reduction in the weight of the component. The predictions have been validated by the actual press trials in the industry with reduced sheet thickness. The predicted strain distribution and thinning in the formed parts have also been validated with the experimental press trails. In addition to the weight reduction, the proposed change in thickness and grade would lead to a reduction of 16.5% and 4.0%, respectively, in the raw material cost of the fuel tank.

Review of Wear and Mechanical Characteristics of Al-Si Alloy Matrix Composites Reinforced with Natural Minerals

Al-Si alloys are vital in the aerospace and automotive industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent ductility, and superior corrosion resistance. These properties, along with good thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion, and enhanced wear resistance due to silicon, make them ideal for lightweight, high-performance components like engine parts exposed to harsh conditions and thermal cycling. In recent years, the development of aluminium metal matrix composites using Al-Si alloys as the base material has gathered significant attention. These composites are engineered by integrating various reinforcing particles into the aluminium matrix, which results in remarkable improvements in the wear resistance, hardness, and overall mechanical performance of the material. The stir casting process, a well-established and cost-effective method, is frequently employed to ensure a uniform distribution of these reinforcing particles within the matrix. This review delves into the influence of different types of reinforcing particles on the properties of Al-Si alloy-based AMCs. The incorporation of these reinforcements has been shown to significantly enhance wear resistance, reduce friction, and improve the overall strength and toughness of the composites, making them ideal candidates for high-performance applications in the automotive and aerospace sectors. Moreover, this review highlights the challenges associated with the fabrication of these composites, such as achieving a homogeneous particle distribution and minimizing porosity. It also discusses the latest advancements in processing techniques aimed at overcoming these challenges. Additionally, this review addresses the potential environmental and economic benefits of using natural reinforcements, which not only reduce material costs but also contribute to sustainable manufacturing practices.

Zr4+ and Al3+ coordinated cross-linked conductive collagen fibers/solvent-free polyurethane foam with ultra-low reflective electromagnetic shielding properties

In recent years, electromagnetic shielding materials with low reflectance have developed rapidly. However, high material cost, poor bonding fastness, weak mechanical properties and other problems seriously limit its effect in practical use. In this work, flexible conductive collagen fibers (CLF-Zr4+/Al3+-CNTs) were prepared using chromium tanned waste leather as ingredient, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive filler and transition metal ions as coordination crosslinking agents, and their molecular dynamics were investigated by quantum chemical simulation software. On this basis, a flexible conductive foam with the double layer and double core-clad structure containing carbon nanotubes was constructed using the solvent-free polyurethane (SFPU) chemical foaming technology, and their electromagnetic shielding properties and reflectance were studied. The experiment results showed that when the ratio of CLF-Zr4+/Al3+-CNTs to SFPU polyol is 1:9 and the impregnation times of CNTs are 2, the loading capacity of CNTs in conductive foam is 0.14 mg/cm3, the electrical conductivity is 57.8 S/m, and the thermal conductivity is 0.061 W/(m·K). Meanwhile, when the thickness is 3 cm, the electromagnetic shielding performance is 42.09 dB, and the reflection efficiency is 0.66 %, the lowest reflection efficiency reaches 0.16 % in the experiment. The mechanism of electromagnetic shielding in conductive foams with the double layer and double core-clad structure has been further explored. The experiment results proved that the flexible conductive foam has excellent mechanical properties, stability, heat insulation and flame retardant properties, and has excellent electromagnetic shielding and low reflection characteristics due to its abundant holes, functional group, interface and hierarchical structure.

Explaining Public Demands for Border Militarization

The militarization of border control is a defining feature of contemporary international politics. Why do states flock toward these policies despite their questionable efficacy? We theorize that border militarization stems in part from public reactions to the threat of international and domestic decline. We test this argument with two conjoint experiments that randomize the implementing agency, strategy, costs, and effectiveness of different policies. First, we evaluate whether the public has a baseline preference for militarization, holding constant the material costs and consequences of the border policy. Second, we prime threats of decline—in terms of either America’s dominant status in the world or the majority position of white-identifying Americans within the U.S.—and track changes in preferences for militarized border policies. The results indicate that both threats of decline can increase support for border militarization, with important partisan differences. Border militarization plausibly stems from the reactionary politics of domestic audiences.

Utilizing copper waste to develop silicon-carbon anode materi als for lithium-ion batteries

This study dedicated to a novel method for synthesizing silicon-carbon (Si/C) and silicon dioxide-carbon (SiO2/C) nanocomposite anodes for lithium-ion batteries, utilizing industrial copper slags from the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex as a cost-effective source of SiO2. The synthesized nanocomposites address key challenges in lithium-ion battery anodes, including the volumetric expansion of silicon and its low conductivity, by leveraging the high lithiation capacity of silicon combined with the structural stability and conductivity of carbon. Amorphous SiO3 was extracted from copper slags via ammonium fluoride (NH4F) treatment and subsequently reduced to metallurgical-grade silicon through carbothermal reduction. The resulting SiO2/C and Si/C composites were thoroughly characterized using SEM, XRD, and electrochemical analyses, demonstrating improved electrochemical performance, favorable particle size distribution, and stability. This approach not only reduces material costs but also promotes environmental sustainability by repurposing industrial waste, offering promising candidates for high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes.

Cu–Cu joint with great strength using In/Sn–58Bi hybrid soldering at low temperature (90 °C)

This study investigates Cu single-sided solder joints using hybrid soldering (In + Sn58Bi) at reflow temperatures ranging from 80 to 130 °C. The wetting angles of 27° at 90 °C and 22° at 130 °C demonstrated good wettability. The hybrid solders were composed of γ-In(Sn, Bi) and Bi(In, Sn)2 phases, forming Cu6(In, Sn)5 interfacial intermetallic compounds (IMCs). Thermodynamic calculations proved that the hybrid soldering possessed a low liquid temperature of 86.8 ° C, making it suitable for low-temperature applications. The hybrid solders demonstrated notable mechanical performance, with microhardness values exceeding 10 HV—higher than Sn–52In solder (6 HV). Sandwich hybrid-solder joints, reflowed at 90 and 130 ° C, outperformed Sn–52In soldering strength (30.1 and 35.5 MPa) by over 135% and 175%. Additionally, the hybrid solder contains only 41.9 wt% In, lower than Sn–52In, reducing material costs. This study reveals the hybrid solder system offers a promising low-cost and good-strength solution for low-temperature soldering applications.