Innovative Engineering Research Articles

Colorimetric and ECL dual-mode aptasensor for smartphone-based onsite sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 in combination with ZnO@MWCNTs/g-C3N4 nanosheets and CuO@CuPt nanocomposites

The development of dual-mode strategies with superior sensitivity and accuracy have garnered increasing attention for researchers in Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) analysis. Herein, a colorimetric-electrochemiluminescence (ECL) dual-mode biosensor was constructed for onsite and ultrasensitive determination of AFB1. The multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were integrated with the ZnO metal organic frameworks (MOFs) to accelerate the electron transfer and boost the ECL intensity of g-C3N4 nanoemitters. Through the aptamer-based DNA sandwich assay, the CuO@CuPt nanocomposites were introduced onto the electrode and acted as the dual functional signal nanoprobes. Due to the good spectrum overlap between the CuO@CuPt nanoprobes and g-C3N4 nanosheets, ECL signal could be efficiently quenched. Additionally, the CuO@CuPt nanoprobes show superior catalytic properties towards the TMB and H2O2 colorimetric reactions, and an obvious color alteration from colorless to blue can be observed using the smartphone. Under optimized conditions, a sensitive and accurate dual-mode analysis of the AFB1 was accomplished with the colorimetric detection limit of 3.26 fg/mL and ECL detection limit of 0.971 fg/mL (S/N = 3). This study combines innovative nanomaterial properties of ZnO@MWCNTs, g-C3N4 and CuO@CuPt for ultrasensitive dual-mode detection, which offers new opportunities for the innovative engineering of the dual-mode sensors and demonstrates significant potential in food safety analysis.

Research and Practice on Project Teaching of Electrical Control and PLC Course based on Engineering Innovation Ability Cultivation

Research and Practice on Project Teaching of Electrical Control and PLC Course based on Engineering Innovation Ability Cultivation

Innovative engineering education for a better future

Innovative engineering education for a better future

Investigating the synergistic performance of masonry buildings with steel slabs in structural Design: A case of historical Mahmut Nedim Kurkcuoglu mansion in Turkey

The main aim of this study is to explore the collaborative performance of masonry structures incorporating steel slabs in their structural design. The focal point of the investigation is the historically significant Mahmut Nedim Kurkcuoglu Mansion located in Urfa, Turkey, renowned for its cultural heritage. The research methodology encompasses a comprehensive analysis of the mansion’s structural design, utilizing both numerical modeling and experimental testing. The findings of the study reveal that integrating steel beams into slabs within the structural design of masonry buildings can exert a significant influence on overall structural performance. This integration contributes to the heightened safety and durability of the structure. The results underscore the importance of accounting for the historical and cultural value of heritage buildings when implementing structural modifications. In terms of methodology, the research adds value to the field of structural engineering by offering insights into the incorporation of steel beams in the design of masonry structures. Moreover, it emphasizes the significance of preserving cultural heritage sites through sustainable and innovative engineering solutions. The study not only enriches the understanding of structural engineering but also holds practical implications for professionals such as architects, engineers, and preservationists engaged in the design and maintenance of heritage buildings. In conclusion, this research significantly contributes to the realms of both structural engineering and heritage preservation. Its implications extend to practical applications and can serve as a foundational platform for further exploration and investigation in this interdisciplinary domain.

Decoupling Plasmonic Hot Carrier from Thermal Catalysis via Electrode Engineering.

Increased attention has been directed toward generating nonequilibrium hot carriers resulting from the decay of collective electronic oscillations on metal known as surface plasmons. Despite numerous experimental endeavors, demonstrating hot carrier-mediated photocatalysis without a heating contribution has proven challenging, particularly for single electron transfer reactions where the thermal contribution is generally detrimental. An innovative engineering solution is proposed to enable single electron transfer reactions with plasmonics. It consists of a photoelectrode designed as an energy filter and photocatalysis performed with light function modulation instead of continuously. The photoelectrode, consisting of FTO/TiO2 amorphous (10 nm)/Au nanoparticles, with TiO2 acting as a step-shape energy filter to enhance hot electron extraction and charge-separated state lifetime. The extracted hot electrons were directed toward the counter electrode, while the hot holes performed a single electron transfer oxidation reaction. Light modulation prevented local heat accumulation, effectively decoupling hot carrier catalysis from the thermal contribution.

Iterative design of satellite structures and topology optimisation methods

Abstract Satellite launches are critical amid increasing demands for advanced services. Rising costs urge innovation in engineering. Enhancing satellite structural integrity during launches is crucial due to intense vibrations. Topology optimisation and additive manufacturing converge as promising solutions. Topology optimisation uses mathematical techniques to iteratively improve structures by reducing mass while enhancing attributes like load capacity. This field, active for about three decades, employs continuum and discrete algorithms to optimise structures. Recent trends show optimised structures through topology optimisation and additive manufacturing promise cost-effective and high-performance solutions. This study aims to extensively review topology optimisation methods, specifically focusing on satellite structures, to shape future developments within the years to come.

Analysis of High-Performance Parallel Computing using TOPSIS Method

High-performance parallel computing involves the simultaneous execution of multiple tasks or processes, orchestrated to achieve improved computational speed and efficiency. This approach leverages the power of parallelism, exploiting both multi-core CPUs and GPUs, distributed computing clusters, and specialized hardware accelerators. The fundamental idea is to divide a task into smaller sub-tasks that can be executed concurrently, thereby reducing processing time and enhancing overall performance. High-performance parallel computing is a transformative approach that enables us to tackle computationally intensive tasks efficiently. This abstract highlight its significance in contemporary computing and sets the stage for further exploration of the intricacies and innovations within this dynamic field. Researchers and practitioners continue to push the boundaries of what is achievable, making high-performance parallel computing a cornerstone of modern computational science and technology. High-performance parallel computing research is of paramount significance due to its transformative impact across diverse fields. It empowers scientists to tackle complex problems that were once computationally intractable, unlocking new frontiers in scientific discovery. It drives innovation in engineering and design, optimizing product development and manufacturing processes across industries. In healthcare, it accelerates genomics research and drug discovery, offering hope for improved medical treatments. Financial institutions rely on it for data analysis and risk assessment, shaping the global economy. Weather forecasting and environmental modelling are enhanced, aiding disaster preparedness and conservation efforts. In the digital age, parallel computing underpins artificial intelligence, enabling advancements in natural language processing and machine learning. Furthermore, it has vital applications in national security, space exploration, and materials science. In essence, high-performance parallel computing research serves as the backbone of technological progress, fostering innovation, efficiency, and problem-solving across a wide spectrum of disciplines, ultimately shaping the future of our world. TOPSIS, this method involves evaluating the geometric distance between each alternative solution and two reference solutions: the positive ideal solution and the negative ideal solution. The underlying principle of TOPSIS assumes that the criteria being assessed are of an ascending nature, where larger values represent better performance. To account for disparate dimensions or scales among the criteria, normalization is often employed within the TOPSIS framework. From the result Scatter- free imaging is got the first rank and object-scatter imaging is having the lowest rank.

Injectable porous microspheres for articular cartilage regeneration through in situ stem cell recruitment and macrophage polarization

In situ mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regenerative therapy holds promising potential for treating osteoarthritis. However, MSCs engraftment and intra-articular inflammation limit the therapeutic efficacy of this approach. This study introduces porous microspheres (PMs) composed of aldehyde-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), that encapsulate platelet derived growth factor-AB and kartogenin. Metformin (Met) is also incorporated onto the microsphere through a Schiff base reaction to create PMs@Met. In vitro, in vivo and ex experiments revealed that PMs@Met can be injected into the joint cavity, effectively recruiting endogenous MSCs in situ. This approach creates a favorable environment for MSCs proliferation. It also controls the intra-articular inflammatory environment by modulating the polarization of synovial macrophages, ultimately promoting cartilage repair. In summary, our study presents an innovative tissue engineering strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis-induced articular cartilage injuries. Statement of significanceCell therapy using autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has potential to slow the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Nonetheless, there are some disadvantages to adopting in situ MSCs therapy, including difficulties with MSC engraftment into cartilage-deficient regions, the effect of intra-articular inflammation on MSC therapeutic efficacy, and attaining selective chondrogenic MSC differentiation. We created injectable PLGA microspheres (PMs) that were loaded with PDGF-AB and KGN. Metformin was bonded to the surface of microspheres using a Schiff base reaction. The microspheres can recruit intra-articular MSCs and encourage their development into chondrocytes. The microspheres actively modulate the inflammatory joint environment by altering synovial macrophage polarization, thereby supporting MSCs in effective cartilage treatment. To summarize, microspheres hold great potential in the treatment of OA.

Influencing Factors Analysis in Railway Engineering Technological Innovation under Complex and Difficult Areas: A System Dynamics Approach

The geological complexity, environmental sensitivity, and ecological fragility inherent in complex and difficult areas (CDAs) present new opportunities and challenges for technological innovation in railway engineering development in China. At the current stage in China, the process of technological innovation in railway engineering within CDAs still faces a series of pressing issues that need addressing. The paper identifies and determines 22 influencing factors for technological innovation in railway engineering within CDAs across five dimensions. Subsequently, a technological innovation model for railway engineering in such areas is constructed based on system dynamics (SD), which is followed by simulation and sensitivity analysis to identify the key influencing factors. The results indicate that key influencing factors for technological innovation in railway engineering within CDAs include technological innovation capability, the adaptability of technology to the environment, R&D funding investment, technological product requirements, technological innovation incentive mechanisms, and the level of technological development. The importance ranking of each dimension is as follows: technological factors > technical factors > management factors > resource factors > environmental factors. The paper provides new insights for promoting technological innovation and management development in complex and challenging railway engineering projects. It offers a fresh perspective to enhance the technological innovation efficiency of railway projects in complex and challenging areas.

Petroleum engineering innovations: Evaluating the impact of advanced gas injection techniques on reservoir management

Gas injection techniques have emerged as a critical aspect of modern reservoir management in petroleum engineering. This paper explores the impact of advanced gas injection techniques on reservoir management strategies and their implications for oil recovery. By evaluating recent innovations in gas injection technology, including the use of CO₂, nitrogen, and hydrocarbon gases, this study sheds light on their effectiveness in enhancing oil recovery rates and extending the productive lifespan of reservoirs. Through a comprehensive review of literature and case studies, this paper examines the mechanisms and benefits of various gas injection methods. It delves into the technological advancements that have revolutionized gas injection techniques, such as real-time reservoir simulation, 4D seismic monitoring, smart well technologies, and machine learning integration. These advancements have provided reservoir engineers with unprecedented insights into reservoir behavior, enabling more informed decision-making processes and optimization of EOR operations. However, alongside these advancements come significant challenges that must be addressed. Economic feasibility, technical hurdles, and environmental concerns pose persistent challenges to the widespread adoption of advanced gas injection techniques. The paper discusses these challenges in detail and explores potential solutions to overcome them, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and cross-industry collaboration. By analyzing real-world case studies and industry trends, this paper provides valuable insights into the current state of gas injection techniques in reservoir management and offers recommendations for future research and development. It highlights the need for continued innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in petroleum engineering to maximize the potential of advanced gas injection techniques and ensure the efficient and responsible recovery of hydrocarbon resources. This review provides a concise overview of the paper's scope, findings, and implications, inviting readers to delve deeper into the topic of advanced gas injection techniques in reservoir management.

Research on Hydraulic Teaching Reform Based on the Background of Emerging Engineering Education

This study explores the necessity and specific approaches of hydraulic teaching reform in the context of emerging engineering education, providing references for improving the quality of hydraulic engineering education. The reform of hydraulic teaching based on the emerging engineering background helps to meet the diverse needs of water conservancy talents in the new era. By optimizing curriculum settings, introducing interdisciplinary courses and cutting-edge technologies, strengthening practical teaching, and innovative teaching methods, the comprehensive quality and practical ability of students are enhanced. Through the construction of laboratories and cooperation with off-campus practice bases, a rich practice platform can be provided for students, cultivating innovative hydraulic engineering talents.

Prospects of Interdisciplinary Research into the Problem of Resource Mobilization of Academic Staff

Introduction. Training students for innovative engineering activity is one of the priority tasks of an engineering university. However, so far all existing approaches to its solution involve changes in the curricula of degree programmes. The aim of the research is to substantiate and develop a methodological system of training future engineers in innovative engineering activity in the educational environment. Materials and Methods. The methodology of innovative engineering education, environmental, project, convergent and other approaches was used. A quantitative assessment of the level of development of innovative competencies was carried out during a comparative training experiment based on the average indicator of time series. The Pearson test was used to assess the statistical significance of the data. Results. The possibility of preparing future engineers for innovative engineering activities during a comprehensive course projecting in general engineering disciplines without departure from the curriculum is substantiated. To create conditions for such training, a project-based and activity-based educational environment has been proposed, pooling into one system all the resources available at the university and ensuring their interaction on the basis of a convergent approach associated with the approximation and interpenetration of scientific, pedagogical and information technology knowledge. A system for teaching innovative engineering activities in this environment has been developed, including conceptual-target, content, procedural-technological and reflective components, implemented within the framework of a business game. Discussion and Conclusion. The conclusions made by authors contribute to the development of the environment approach to learning in terms of designing new educational environments, theory and methodology of teaching technical disciplines, as well as project-based learning – in terms of their focus on innovative training of students.

The influence mechanism of digital technology empowering green innovation of textile firms: a knowledge search perspective

Digital technology is a vital engine for the green innovation of textile firms. In recent years, knowledge search through digital platforms has allowed for obtaining richer knowledge information. Using a data engine for data mining can improve the efficiency of firm knowledge retrieval. Considering these factors, this paper collects data from 226 textile firms and uses multiple regression analysis methods to analyse the impact mechanism and path of digital technology empowering textile firms’ green innovation. The study found that digital technology has a positive impact on the green innovation of textile firms through the mediating role of knowledge search. Environmental dynamism positively moderates the relationship between digital technology and green innovation of textile firms. Based on this, the management enlightenment of textile firms using digital technology to realize knowledge search and promote green innovation is put forward.

Research on the Current Situation and Countermeasures for the Development of the Digital Culture Industry in Shiyan City

With the advent of the digital era, the digital culture industry has become a crucial engine for economic growth and cultural innovation. This paper focuses on Shiyan City in Hubei Province, conducting an in-depth analysis of the current state of its digital culture industry. It identifies several challenges faced by Shiyan's digital culture industry, including small industry scale, insufficient diversification, a shortage of digital culture talent, and inadequate policy support. To address these issues and promote high-quality development of the digital culture industry in Shiyan City, the paper proposes the following countermeasures: strengthening policy guidance for the digital culture industry, establishing and improving mechanisms for talent cultivation and recruitment, actively fostering new business forms in the digital culture industry, and vigorously supporting leading enterprises in the digital culture sector.

AllergenAI: a deep learning model predicting allergenicity based on protein sequence.

Innovations in protein engineering can help redesign allergenic proteins to reduce adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. To accomplish this aim, a better knowledge of the molecular properties of allergenic proteins and the molecular features that make a protein allergenic is needed. We present a novel AI-based tool, AllergenAI, to quantify the allergenic potential of a given protein. Our approach is solely based on protein sequences, differentiating it from previous tools that use some knowledge of the allergens' physicochemical and other properties in addition to sequence homology. We used the collected data on protein sequences of allergenic proteins as archived in the three well-established databases, SDAP 2.0, COMPARE, and AlgPred 2, to train a convolutional neural network and assessed its prediction performance by cross-validation. We then used Allergen AI to find novel potential proteins of the cupin family in date palm, spinach, maize, and red clover plants with a high allergenicity score that might have an adverse allergenic effect on sensitive individuals. By analyzing the feature importance scores (FIS) of vicilins, we identified a proline-alanine-rich (P-A) motif in the top 50% of FIS regions that overlapped with known IgE epitope regions of vicilin allergens. Furthermore, using∼ 1600 allergen structures in our SDAP database, we showed the potential to incorporate 3D information in a CNN model. Future, incorporating 3D information in training data should enhance the accuracy. AllergenAI is a novel foundation for identifying the critical features that distinguish allergenic proteins.

Fabrication and Characterization of Porous PEGDA Hydrogels for Articular Cartilage Regeneration.

Functional articular cartilage regeneration remains an unmet medical challenge, increasing the interest for innovative biomaterial-based tissue engineering (TE) strategies. Hydrogels, 3D macromolecular networks with hydrophilic groups, present articular cartilage-like features such as high water content and load-bearing capacity. In this study, 3D porous polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels were fabricated combining the gas foaming technique and a UV-based crosslinking strategy. The 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels were characterized in terms of their physical, structural and mechanical properties. Our results showed that the size of the hydrogel pores can be modulated by varying the initiator concentration. In vitro cytotoxicity tests showed that 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels presented high biocompatibility both with human chondrocytes and osteoblast-like cells. Importantly, the 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels supported the viability and chondrogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (hBM-MSC)-based spheroids as demonstrated by the positive staining of typical cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) (glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)) and upregulation of chondrogenesis marker genes. Overall, the produced 3D porous PEGDA hydrogels presented cartilage-like mechanical properties and supported MSC spheroid chondrogenesis, highlighting their potential as suitable scaffolds for cartilage TE or disease modelling strategies.

Genetic Engineering for Enhancing Sugarcane Tolerance to Biotic and Abiotic Stresses.

Sugarcane, a vital cash crop, contributes significantly to the world's sugar supply and raw materials for biofuel production, playing a significant role in the global sugar industry. However, sustainable productivity is severely hampered by biotic and abiotic stressors. Genetic engineering has been used to transfer useful genes into sugarcane plants to improve desirable traits and has emerged as a basic and applied research method to maintain growth and productivity under different adverse environmental conditions. However, the use of transgenic approaches remains contentious and requires rigorous experimental methods to address biosafety challenges. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) mediated genome editing technology is growing rapidly and may revolutionize sugarcane production. This review aims to explore innovative genetic engineering techniques and their successful application in developing sugarcane cultivars with enhanced resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses to produce superior sugarcane cultivars.

Applied optics research at Zhejiang University–College of Optical Science and Engineering: Introduction to the feature issue

This institutional focus issue provides a small glimpse into the depth and breadth of innovative optical engineering research taking place today at Zhejiang University–College of Optical Science and Engineering (ZJU-COSE).

Insights into the Clinical, Biological and Therapeutic Impact of Copy Number Alteration in Cancer.

Copy number alterations (CNAs), resulting from the gain or loss of genetic material from as little as 50 base pairs or as big as entire chromosome(s), have been associated with many congenital diseases, de novo syndromes and cancer. It is established that CNAs disturb the dosage of genomic regions including enhancers/promoters, long non-coding RNA and gene(s) among others, ultimately leading to an altered balance of key cellular functions. In cancer, CNAs have been associated with almost all steps of the disease: predisposition, initiation, development, maintenance, response to treatment, resistance, and relapse. Therefore, understanding how specific CNAs contribute to tumourigenesis may provide prognostic insight and ultimately lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes. In this review, we provide a snapshot of what is currently known about CNAs and cancer, incorporating topics regarding their detection, clinical impact, origin, and nature, and discuss the integration of innovative genetic engineering strategies, to highlight the potential for targeting CNAs using novel, dosage-sensitive and less toxic therapies for CNA-driven cancer.

An improved evolutionary structure optimization method considering stress minimization and smooth design

AbstractThe design of continuum structures often presents challenges related to stress concentration, which can cause significant structural damage. To address this issue, the current study presents a new stress minimization method that utilizes the Windowed Evolutionary Structural Optimization (WESO) framework. The method aims to improve algorithm stability by optimizing design variables with an intermediate density. The use of a P‐norm stress aggregation method improves the assessment of global stress levels and enhances computational efficiency. Furthermore, a stable element sensitivity formulation, derived from the adjoint sensitivity analysis of the global stress measure, effectively handles the nonlinear stress behavior. Mesh filtering techniques are utilized to convert sensitivity from elements to nodes, and the structural topological solution is represented using the level set function (LSF) based on element‐node sensitivity. This method addresses the singularity issue commonly found in density‐based optimization methods and facilitates the achievement of smooth topological solutions. Through 2D and 3D benchmark designs, the proposed method's feasibility, stability, and superiority are thoroughly demonstrated. A parametric study is conducted to identify the optimal parameter range for the algorithm, leading to the development of a rational method for parameter selection. The optimized topology, with its smooth boundaries, can guide the design of structures without the need for redesign or post‐processing, helping to drive innovation and development in engineering.