Production Costs Research Articles

Cost Management Accounting in Korean Direct Investment Enterprises in Vietnam

Cost management accounting provides information for the process of controlling production costs compared to standard costs, cost estimates... to point out differences and evaluate the implementation of cost plans. Through studying the current status of applying cost management accounting in Korean enterprises directly investing in Vietnam, specifically a typical enterprise is Samsung Electronics Vietnam. The group of authors proposes appropriate solutions related to cost management accounting, helping foreign direct investment enterprises to perform management work more effectively.

Enhancing Agriculture Resilience to Climate Change: Insights from NICRA in Lakhimpur, Assam, India

Aims: This study investigates the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices in Lakhimpur, Assam, under the NICRA project. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews, the study identifies key adaptive strategies and their socioeconomic impact. Results highlight increased crop yield and farmer awareness as critical outcomes. These findings underscore the role of sustainable techniques in mitigating climate risks and ensuring agricultural sustainability. Study Design: A multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw samples for the present study. In the first stage, out of nine development blocks of Lakhimpur district, the block where the NICRA project was implemented was selected. In the second stage, all five villages where the NICRA project was implemented in the block were selected purposively. In the third stage, 80 NICRA beneficiary farmers were selected randomly from five villages, which were treated as respondents. Place and Duration of Study: The present study on NICRA project interventions on climate resilient agriculture was taken up in the Lakhimpur district of Assam. As the project was implemented in the district in 2011, the district was selected for the study. The primary data were collected for the year 2021-22. Methodology: An attempt had been made in the study to identify the NICRA interventions, economics of selected interventions and constraints faced by the farmers in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were collected to fulfil the stated objectives. A well-structured pre-tested schedule was developed for the collection of primary data as per the objectives Cost concepts were used to estimate the cost of cultivation (cost of production) and derive the various income measures, viz., farm business income, family labour income, net income, and farm investment income. The cost concepts of Commission for Agricultural Cost and Prices (CACP, New Delhi), viz., Cost A1, Cost A2, Cost B1, Cost B2, Cost C1, Cost C2 and Cost C3 were used in the present study. Identifying the constraints that NICRA beneficiary farmers face, closed-ended questions were asked to determine the most significant challenges they were facing, and recommendations for resolving those issues were also sought. The frequency of respondents was then calculated for each constraint. Finally, ranking was done based on finding out both the frequency and the percentage. Results: The NICRA project includes a "Technology Demonstration" component in which emphasis was given to detecting exact climatic stress and demonstrating site-specific climate resilient solutions in the farmer's field to persuade farmers to adopt locally accessible technology through different interventions. The economics of selected interventions i.e. change in crop variety (rice) & alternative land use system (mushroom) were analysed. Climate resilient agro interventions by NICRA, like real-time contingency planning, preparedness, Climate Risk Management Committee, Custom Hiring 64 Centre, Village Seed Bank, and alternate land use system were identified to be prevailing in the study area. The costs of production of rice per hectare in marginal farmers were found to be Rs. 27484.90 and for small and medium farmers it was found to be Rs. 30055.43 & Rs. 32096.23 respectively. Cost of cultivation per hectare in medium farmers was found to be maximum. The per hectare cost of cultivation as well as return from the rice cultivation varied directly with farm size. The average yield of rice per hectare was found to be 34.21 quintals. The average gross return was found to be Rs. 44477.42. The average costs of mushroom growers were found to be Rs. 1932.60 and gross return was observed to be Rs. 6152.98. The Gross return over cost was found to be 3.18. The results depicted that constraints confronted by respondent farmers were inversely proportional to the size of the farm holding. The constraint faced by the NICRA beneficiary farmers that ranked at the top was identified to be a poor economic condition of the farmers. Conclusion: The study revealed the presence of diverse climate-resilient agro-technological interventions introduced by NICRA, such as real-time contingency strategies, preparedness initiatives, Climate Risk Management Committees, Custom Hiring Centres, Village Seed Banks, and innovative alternate land use systems. As land holding size increased, farmers tended to use more machine labour instead of bullock labour. As indicated by the computed gross return over cost ratio of rice, is profitable in the study area. Hence the “change in crop variety” intervention in the study area was found to be economically feasible. It is found that the per hectare cost of cultivation as well as return from the rice cultivation varied directly with farm size. Mushroom cultivation under the intervention of “alternate enterprise selection” was found to be very profitable for the farmers. Spawn cost shares the highest operational cost percentage for mushroom growers. The constraint faced by the NICRA beneficiary farmers that ranked at the top was identified to be the poor economic condition of the farmers.

Sustainable Recycling of Perovskite Solar Cells: Green Solvent‐Based Recovery of ITO Substrates

ABSTRACTPerovskite solar cells (PSCs) emerge as a leading next‐generation photovoltaic (PV) technology, with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) reaching 26.7% for single cells and 36.1% for hybrid tandem cells. As commercialization progresses, the inverted (p–i–n) structure of PSCs gains attention due to its enhanced thermal stability, lower moisture sensitivity, and reduced processing temperatures compared to the conventional (n–i–p) structure. However, sustainability concerns, particularly regarding production costs and end‐of‐life disposal, become increasingly critical. Recycling PSCs provides a viable solution to these challenges by recovering valuable indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates, which significantly impact material costs. Existing recycling methods for conventional PSCs often use toxic solvents like chlorobenzene (CB) and N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), posing environmental and health risks. This study introduces an eco‐friendly recycling process for ITO‐based inverted PSCs using acetone as a green solvent. The results show that recycled ITO substrates maintain their physical, electrical, and optical properties without significant degradation in PSC performance, even after multiple recycling cycles. This green solvent‐based approach not only preserves device efficiency but also supports future environmental regulations, highlighting its potential in promoting sustainable and cost‐effective PV technologies.

Contribution of goats to climate change: how and where?

This review examines the contribution of domestic goats (Capra hircus) to climate change, particularly through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The review seeks to outline the global numerical importance and physical characteristics of domestic goats; Compare goats with other main livestock species in terms of their climate impacts; Assess the types of environments and farmers most likely to raise goats; Investigate the climate change impacts of raising goats, focusing on variables such as feed sources, management systems (intensive vs. extensive), and methodologies used to measure these impacts. The conclusion is that the negative reputation of goats needs to be re-evaluated, given their importance to poorer farm families and the potential overstatement or misunderstanding of their climate impact. Goats are the third most common ungulate livestock globally, with an estimated population of 1.1 billion. They are particularly suited to harsh environments due to their physiological advantages, such as efficient utilization of fibrous woody material and resilience to extreme climates. Goats are crucial for poorer farmers, especially in lower and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia. They provide milk, meat, and other products, are readily sold and have low labour requirements, making them ideal for families with limited resources. Goats emit less methane per unit body weight compared to other ruminants like cattle and sheep. However, the extent of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions varies significantly based on their diet, management system (extensive vs. intensive), and environmental conditions. Extensive systems, where goats forage on natural pastures, may result in low GHG emissions per unit of land area due to carbon sequestration and minimal reliance on high-energy feed. Intensive systems, which use more cultivated energy feed, produce lower methane emissions per unit of product but incur carbon costs arising from feed production. In sum, this review suggests that the negative reputation of goats regarding climate change may be overstated or misunderstood. More research is needed to accurately measure the GHG impacts of goats, considering factors like feed quality, management practices, and carbon sequestration.

Mechanisation applied to entomological production cannot ignore insect reactivity: a case study on Bombyx mori in the context of the 'Serinnovation' project.

In December 2017 the Venetian Region (local Authority), financed the creation of the Operational Group (OG) 'Serinnovation', within the framework of the Rural Development Plan supported by the European Community. The OG aims at coordinating and spreading innovation in sericulture through mechanisation of processes and centralisation of some rearing steps, the use of waste as by-products and traceability to promote local productions. The project acts on perceived quality by increasing the added value, through production cost efficiency, and on the recovery of the waste material for further applications (circular economy). The final target was to develop a niche-process to obtain traceable 'Made-in-Italy' silk for the luxury market and non-textile applications. A first strategy to increase the efficiency of the process was to build an automatic leaf cutting machine to prepare the feed for the first three instars of the silkworm (Bombyx mori Linnaeus). This new machine - based on a patent - was validated through several tests and compared with the cutting system previously used. The study was completed by a bioassay of production and survival rate associated with the introduction of this innovation. The results showed that labour saving is in the order of 10% compared to a semi-manual process, the leaf quality is not affected, survival of larvae and silk production are not significantly different from the control. This methodology is proposed as a study case for other similar mechanisation processes in entomological production, as the impact of innovations on insect physiology should be carefully considered.

Post-harvest processing methods have critical roles on the contents of active metabolites and pharmacological effects of Astragali Radix

BackgroundProcessing methods of traditional Chinese medicinal materials are critical in influencing the active metabolites and pharmacological effects. The fresh processing method effectively prevents the loss and degradation of metabolites, common in traditional drying and softening processes, while also reducing production costs. Astragali Radix (AR), a leguminous botanical drug, is widely utilized in clinical practice and functional foods. Therefore, optimizing its the post-harvest processing method is crucial for enhancing production and application.MethodsAR samples were processed using different methods with varying moisture content, including unpretreated samples and those subjected to kneading and sweating treatments. These samples were evaluated for physical appearance and active metabolite content. The entropy weight method, combined with the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), was employed to optimize the fresh processing method. A comparative study between freshly processed AR (AR-F) and traditionally processed AR (AR-T) assessed active metabolites, pharmacological effects and mechanisms.ResultsThe appearance and active metabolites content of AR samples were affected by moisture content, kneading, and sweating treatments. After these treatments, the content of polysaccharides and calycosin-7-O-glucoside increased compared to unpretreated samples at the same moisture level. Entropy weight-TOPSIS analysis showed that the sample with 35% moisture, 100 kneading cycles, and 12 h of sweating had the highest score. Comparative studies revealed that AR-F had significantly higher content of total polysaccharides, total flavonoids, and calycosin-7-O-glucoside compared to AR-T, along with an increased flavonoid glycoside/aglycone ratio. However, no significant differences were observed in the total saponins and their metabolites. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that total flavonoids in AR-F exhibited superior macrophage RAW264.7 activation, compared to AR-T. Furthermore, we confirmed that the enhanced immunomodulatory capacity of AR-F was linked to its ability to stimulate the release of TNF, SRC, ER-α, AKT, HSP90, and Caspase-3 in RAW264.7 cells.ConclusionOur study optimized the fresh processing method of AR, and conducted a systematic comparative analysis between fresh and traditional processing samples, providing a basis for post-harvest processing in the AR production areas.

Implantable Biomaterials for Cancer Immunotherapies

AbstractCancer immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by leveraging the immune system to target and eliminate tumor cells. Implantable biomaterials, such as hydrogels, sponges, scaffolds, implantable microdevice platforms, and macrobeads, offer localized and sustained release of immunomodulatory agents, improving the delivery of treatments such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and adoptive cell therapies like CAR‐T cells. This review examines the emerging role of these biomaterials in modulating the tumor microenvironment, enhancing immune cell recruitment, and reducing systemic side effects, positioning them as significant tools for treating solid tumors. Recent advances in material engineering are also discussed, including the integration of bioactive molecules and real‐time therapeutic adjustments based on patient‐specific immune responses, which offer new potential in personalized cancer treatments. However, challenges such as biocompatibility, high production costs, variability in patient response, and the necessity of surgical manipulations remain key obstacles. Nonetheless, ongoing research and technological advancements are steadily addressing these issues, paving the way for more effective and accessible cancer immunotherapies. Overall, this review highlights the promise of implantable biomaterials overcoming the current limitations of cancer immunotherapy and expanding the scope of effective, targeted cancer treatments.

Process Optimization and Techno-Economic Analysis for the Production of Phycocyanobilin from Arthrospira maxima-Derived C-Phycocyanin

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a photosynthetic pigment found in cyanobacteria, notably in Arthrospira species. The extraction of phycocyanobilin (PCB), the chromophore of C-PC, is a common approach to address the instability of C-PC under light, heat, and acidic conditions. Methanol is typically used for PCB extraction. However, its use poses challenges for industrial applications owing to the need for solvent removal, extensive purification, and safety validation. Therefore, this study proposes ethanol as an alternative to methanol, optimizing the ethanol extraction conditions through response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) and techno-economic analysis. The parameters evaluated were the extraction temperature, time, and C-PC/solvent ratio. Optimal conditions—68.81 °C, 14.91 h, and a C-PC to solvent ratio of 1:95 (w/v)— yielded a predicted PCB yield of 29.18%, closely aligning with the actual value of 29.67 ± 1.33%. A techno-economic analysis for pilot-scale PCB production showed that optimized ethanol extraction could yield 147.13 kg/year with 506 batches, compared with 84.31 kg/year standard methanol extraction with 317 batches. Furthermore, it was evaluated to have a unit production cost of USD 1,413,588/kg, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 53.36%, and a payback time of 1.6 years with increased yields and reduced toxic solvent disposal costs. This study supports scalable PCB production with a natural blue pigment suitable for the food, beverage, and cosmetics industries.

Potential for Cattle Business Development in the Buffer Zone of Mount Leuser National Park, Bahorok District, Indonesia

Local communities in Bahorok District are highly dependent on the agricultural and livestock sectors as their main livelihoods. The environment and abundant natural resources cause a profitable for the community to raise livestock.This study aims to to examine potential development of cattle farming (financial and economic aspects) in the buffer zone of Gunung Leuser National Park, Bahorok District.The type of data used in this study is primary data obtained through observation and interviews and secondary data through literature and the North Sumatra Central Statistics Agency. Determination of the sample by Purposive Sampling with 100 cattle breeders. Data analysis was carried out by calculating income, financial analysis of Net Present Value (NPV), Net Benefit-Cost (B/C), Payback Period (PP), and economic analysis. The results of this study indicate that the average income of cattle breeders in the Buffer Zone of Gunung Leuser National Park, Bahorok District is IDR 24,551,421 for semi-intensive and IDR 8,235,155 for extensive per year. The income of breeders can cover production costs so that income is positive or profitable. The cattle farming business shows that by using an interest rate of 8%, the NPV is obtained >0 or has a positive value, the Gross B/C value is obtained 1.97 and the Net B/C value is 1.25, meaning BCR>1 means a positive value, the PP value is 3.1 and 4.2 years, and the economic analysis shows that the cattle farming business has an important role in the economy in Bahorok District

Efficient Synthesis of γ-Aminobutyric Acid from Monosodium Glutamate Using an Engineered Glutamate Decarboxylase Active at a Neutral pH

The efficient production of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at a neutral pH remains a challenge due to the pH sensitivity of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) enzymes. Our study addressed this limitation by identifying and engineering GAD enzymes with high activity under neutral conditions. Through gene mining, we discovered a wild-type GAD from Enterococcus faecalis (EfGAD) with high activity at pH 7.0 and, using zero-shot (ZS) predictor-guided mutagenesis and C-terminal truncation, we developed an EfGAD variant with a significantly enhanced catalytic efficiency. This variant demonstrated a 1.3-fold increase in GABA production (~300 g/L) from monosodium glutamate (MSG) compared to the wild-type EfGAD in 5 L bioreactor experiments. The ability to operate at a neutral pH without the need for acidic conditions reduces production costs and facilitates scalability. Our findings underscore the potential of integrating machine learning tools for enzyme optimization and provide a sustainable approach to GABA biosynthesis using MSG as a substrate.

Role of Organic Products for Achieving A Sustainable Green Economy

Sustainable green economy is the need of time, and orogenic products can play a decisive role in this goal. Growing demand for organic food is due to the increase in disposal income at urban along with the Government supports, innovative technologies & investments and these factors are the drivers for organic farming and its marketing. These drivers provide immense potential and scope for the Indian organic sector but there are many challenges faced at producers, processors and consumer level, low consumption of Orogenic products is a serious concern of researchers and policymakers. To address this issue, we have studied the phenomenon in rural areas and provided insights to researchers and policymakers about the factors that influence the consumers’ behaviour in rural areas awareness among consumers, the high cost of organic food products, limited availability of organic food products, busy work schedule are Challenges faced by Consumer level We have designed an integrated model based on PCA to study the rural areas consumers’ behavioural intentions towards Orogenic products. 300 useable sample is obtained to analyse by implying PCA- Model. Results revealed that environmental knowledge is a significant predictor and a moderator, but consumers are less educated about ecological issues in rural areas. Results also revealed that Orogenic products and non-orogenic products users or consumers’ preferences are differently influenced by factors studied to measure adoption intentions of orogenic products. Sensitivity analysis results revealed that social influence followed by effort expectance and perceived expectancy of orogenic products are more important for rural areas’ customers. The study also provides empirical evidence of methodological advancement using PCA- Model, Multiple Regression Model and ANOVAand these studies involving human behaviour.

Growth and Yield of Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo var. sunny house) in Response to Organic and Inorganic Mulching Materials at Rampur, Chitwan

Mulching, a widely employed agricultural practice, has been recognized for its influence on soil moisture retention, temperature regulation, and weed suppression, thereby improving growth and yield of crops. An experiment was conducted to study the effect of mulching materials on growth and yield attributes of summer squash under water constraint condition during March to May 2023 in Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was laid in single factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four different mulches (rice straw, wheat straw, rice husk and silver on black plastic mulch 30 microns) and control replicated 4 times. All the Plant growth parameters, including plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant spread, were highest in silver plastic mulch and the poorest in the un-mulched plots. Mulching also significantly influenced floral characters, with plastic mulch demonstrating superiority in traits such as days to flowering, number of flowers per plant, and sex ratio compared to organic mulches and the control. Fruit length, diameter, and weight exhibited the highest values under plastic mulch and the lowest values under the control, while all organic mulches showed similar results. The highest yield of 41.44 Mt ha-1 was achieved with silver plastic mulch, highlighting its effectiveness in enhancing crop productivity, while the lowest yield of 11.77 Mt ha-1 was recorded in the control plots. Despite its higher cost, silver pastic mulch exhibited highest net return and benefit-cost ratio. Rice husk mulch, with the second highest benefit-cost ratio and relatively low cost of production, emerged as promising alternative. Although mulching did not notably affect the soil pH, the varying soil organic matter percentages were observed, with the highest on rice straw mulch and the lowest on silver plastic mulch. The study suggests that while plastic mulch can significantly boost productivity during water scarcity, rice husk mulch offers a cost-effective alternative with substantial economic benefit.

Functional Nanocellulose Derivatives for Global Environmental Solutions

Nanocellulose, a sustainable and biodegradable material derived from natural cellulose, holds immense potential for addressing global environmental challenges. This article reviews the production methods, structural modifications, and applications of nanocellulose derivatives in environmental contexts, emphasizing their role in water purification, pollutant adsorption, and renewable energy solutions. The systematic literature review highlights the unique properties of nanocellulose, such as high mechanical strength, large specific surface area, and tunable chemical functionalities, which enable its use in various industrial, biomedical, and environmental applications. Results indicate that nanocellulose-based materials outperform conventional materials in efficiency and sustainability, particularly in water treatment and biodegradable packaging. Despite its advantages, challenges remain, including production costs, dispersibility in polymer matrices, and stability under high humidity. These limitations necessitate further research and collaborative innovation to enhance its applicability and affordability.

Aptamer’s Structure Optimization for Better Diagnosis and Treatment of Glial Tumors

Background: Oncological diseases are a major focus in medicine, with millions diagnosed each year, leading researchers to seek new diagnostic and treatment methods. One promising avenue is the development of targeted therapies and rapid diagnostic tests using recognition molecules. The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly exploring nucleic acid-based therapeutics. However, producing long oligonucleotides, especially aptamers, poses significant production challenges. Objectives: This study aims to demonstrate the efficacy of using molecular modeling, supported by experimental procedures, for altering aptamer nucleotide sequences while maintaining their binding capabilities. The focus is on reducing production costs and enhancing binding dynamics by removing nonfunctional regions and minimizing nonspecific binding. Methods: A molecular modeling approach was employed to elucidate the structure of a DNA aptamer, Gli-55, facilitating the truncation of nonessential regions in the Gli-55 aptamer, which selectively binds to glioblastoma (GBM). This process aimed to produce a truncated aptamer, Gli-35, capable of forming similar structural elements to the original sequence with reduced nonspecific binding. The efficiency of the truncation was proved by flow cytometry, fluorescence polarization (FP), and confocal microscopy. Results: The molecular design indicated that the new truncated Gli-35 aptamer retained the structural integrity of Gli-55. In vitro studies showed that Gli-35 had a binding affinity comparable to the initial long aptamer while the selectivity increased. Gli-35 internalized inside the cell faster than Gli-55 and crossed the blood–brain barrier (BBB), as demonstrated in an in vitro model. Conclusions: The success of this truncation approach suggests its potential applicability in scenarios where molecular target information is limited. The study highlights a strategic and resource-efficient methodology for aptamer development. By employing molecular modeling and truncation, researchers can reduce production costs and avoid trial and error in sequence selection. This approach is promising for enhancing the efficiency of therapeutic agent development, particularly in cases lacking detailed molecular target insights.

Optimizing integrated distributed flexible job-shop scheduling and customer order delivery

ABSTRACT This study addresses the Distributed Flexible Job-Shop Scheduling Problem (DFJSP) while considering the delivery of customer orders and transportation time. To tackle the problem, a mathematical model is presented, and a novel variant of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), called Time-Travel GA (TTGA), is developed. The optimization objectives include minimizing the total orders’ delivery time to the related customers, reducing transportation and production costs, reducing manufacturing pollution, and maximizing the quality of completed orders. The performance of TTGA is tested by implementing it in a real-life manufacturing setting. Additionally, TTGA results are compared with those of four other algorithms over a set of test problems. Furthermore, the solutions obtained by TTGA are compared with the optimal solutions obtained by a commercial solver for small-size problems. The results of these comparisons collectively demonstrate the promising performance of TTGA in addressing the DFJSP.

Economic Viability of Organic Fertilization in Forage Oats (Avena sativa L.) in the Mexicali Valley

O Objective: To economically evaluate the use of chemical, organic and organic-mineral fertilizers in of forage oat production in the Mexicali Valley; and to determine the profitability of each fertilization type. Design/methodology/approach: Three treatments were established, one chemically fertilized (T1), one with organic fertilization (T2), and one with organic-mineral fertilization (T3) with two replications under a completely randomized design. Cash flow, financial costs and economic costs were calculated. Results: Fertilization costs accounted for between 37% and 52% of the cost structure. Treatments T2 and T3 did not cover production costs. Only treatment T1 treatment demonstrated the ability to cover both production and financial costs. None of the treatments covered economic costs. Limitations on study/implications: It is suggested to replicate the economic viability analyses in consecutive productive cycles, as other studies have shown positive impacts on soil fertility. Findings/conclusions: The organic and organic-mineral fertilization systems (T2 and T3) were not profitable in the short term. The chemical fertilization system (T1) demonstrated the ability to cover, in addition to production costs, the depreciation costs of fixed assets. However, none of the treatments showed the ability to compensate the risk of investing in the activity.

Topology Optimization, Part Orientation, and Symmetry Operations as Elements of a Framework for Design and Production Planning Process in Additive Manufacturing L-PBF Technology

This paper investigates the possibility of the application of different optimization techniques in the design and production planning phase in the metal additive manufacturing process, specifically laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive technology. This technology has a significant market share and belongs to the group of mature additive technology for the production of end-use metal parts. In the application of this technology, there is a space for additional cost/time reduction by simultaneously optimizing topology structure and part orientations. Simultaneous optimization reduces the production time and, indirectly, the cost of parts production, which is the goal of effective process planning. The novelty in this paper is the comparison of the part orientation solutions defined by the software algorithm and the experienced operator, where the optimal result was selected from the aspect of time and production costs. A feature recognition method together with symmetry operations in the part orientation process were also examined. A framework for the optimal additive manufacturing planning process has been proposed. This framework consists of design and production planning phases, within which there are several other activities: the redesign of the part, topological optimization, the creation of alternative build orientations (ABOs), and, as a final step, the selection of the optimal build orientation (OBO) using the multi-criteria decision method (MCDM). The results obtained after the MCDM hybrid method application clearly indicated that simultaneous topology optimization and part orientation has significant influence on the cost and time of the additive manufacturing process. The paper also proposed a further research direction that should take into consideration the mechanical as well as geometric, dimensioning and tolerances (GDT) characteristics of the part during the process of ABOs and OBO, as well as the uses of symmetry in these fields.

Immediate Effect of Floating Solar Energy Deployment on Greenhouse Gas Dynamics in Ponds.

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) solar energy offers promise for renewable electricity production that spares land for other societal benefits. FPV deployment may alter greenhouse gas (GHG) production and emissions from waterbodies by changing physical, chemical, and biological processes, which can have implications for the carbon cost of energy production with FPV. Here, we use an ecosystem-scale experiment to assess how GHG dynamics in ponds respond to installation of operationally representative FPV. Following FPV deployments of 70% array coverage, daily whole-pond GHG emissions increased by 26.8% on a carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2-eq) basis, and dissolved oxygen availability rapidly decreased. Despite increased emissions following FPV deployment, FPV-derived GHG emissions from waterbodies are likely lower than landscape GHG emissions associated with terrestrial solar and hydropower production on a CO2-eq kWh-1 basis. Adaptive management strategies like bubbler installation may reduce the magnitude of FPV impacts on GHG and dissolved oxygen dynamics.

Exploring the Feasibility of a Bracketing Approach Utilizing Modeling for Development of Long-Acting Injectables for Regulatory Approval—A Case Study Using Levonorgestrel

Background: The development of long-acting products of a characterized drug substance is of great interest. It is possible to support the development of these products with available clinical data by matching the exposure to a predefined bracket of a minimal concentration for efficacy and a maximal concentration for safety. This bracketing approach would cut down on the time and cost of new long-acting contraceptive products progressing to market. The current study describes the assessment of the data available to support a bracketing approach to conclude comparable levels of efficacy and safety for a postulated novel long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) product of levonorgestrel. Methods: Literature evidence of levonorgestrel efficacy, as quantified by the Pearl Index, was utilized and modeled by incorporating three LARC products for the estimation of a minimal concentration required for efficacy. Further literature was reviewed to quantify the maximal concentration required to ensure product safety. Additionally, a review of the regulatory precedence for the approach was conducted using European and UK databases. Results: There was a reasonable definition of the minimal concentrations for efficacy where the target concentrations of levonorgestrel were in the range of 200–400 pg/mL. Maximum concentrations for safety were less well defined. Although regulatory guidance supports the bracketing approach, there is little precedence for licensing new products based on pharmacokinetic data only, despite much reduced clinical and non-clinical packages being evidenced. Conclusions: Understanding of the exposure response is not currently considered sufficient to support a bracketing approach for a new levonorgestrel product. If additional safety data are established, current regulations may allow for a reduced application package. Additional work is needed to support the approach, and this could utilize the wealth of information in real-world datasets combined with systems models.

Motion Control of a Low-Cost Underwater Vehicle with Three-Position Cross Rudder

Underwater vehicles are widely employed as platforms for marine monitoring and operations, with rudders playing a crucial role in controlling their movements. Traditional underwater vehicles utilize servos to steer rudders, which results in high production and maintenance costs. To reduce the manufacturing costs of small underwater vehicles, this paper proposes a design featuring a three-position cross rudder driven by a binary-controlled electromagnet. Additionally, a novel virtual rudder angle controller is developed, which utilizes PWM frequency conversion to perform rudder control, ensuring motion performance comparable to that of conventional underwater vehicles. By establishing kinematic and dynamic models of a typical underwater vehicle (REMUS100), a corresponding virtual rudder angle control strategy is introduced. Based on the binary-controlled three-position cross rudder and virtual rudder angle controller, the effectiveness of the motion control method is verified by numerical simulation. The results confirm that the proposed virtual rudder angle controller successfully executes turning and spatial path-tracking tasks. The binary-controlled three-position cross rudder, together with the virtual rudder angle controller, offers a cost-effective solution for the practical application of small unmanned underwater vehicles, particularly for disposable underwater vehicles that do not require recovery.