Production Engineering Research Articles

Advancements in Microbial Cell Engineering for Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloid Production.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a class of natural compounds found in plants of the Ranunculaceae family, known for their diverse pharmacological activities. However, the extraction yields of BIAs from plants are limited, and the cost of chemical synthesis is prohibitively high. Recent advancements in systems metabolic engineering and genomics have made it feasible to use microbes as bioreactors for BIAs production. This review explores recent progress in enhancing the production and yields of BIAs in two microbial systems: Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It covers various BIAs, including (S)-reticuline, morphinane, protoberberine, and aporphine alkaloids. The review provides strategies and technologies for BIAs synthesis, analyzes current challenges in BIAs research, and offers recommendations for future research directions.

Revolutionizing smart textiles: a comprehensive review of conductive ink printing for sustainable and adaptive wearable applications

Purpose The demand of species monitoring for the benefit of various sectors such as industrial, medicinal and ecological has surged rapidly in the recent past. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to articulate the major developments in synthesizing conductive inks for the structurization of miniaturized as well as disposable or reusable electrochemical equipments. Design/methodology/approach This section is not applicable to a review paper. Findings Numerous times the need for the use point becomes significant for achieving accurate as well as swift quantification. As an alternate, the wearable and effectual reuseable electrochemical sensors are being practiced. The technique of fabricating devices using conductive inks encompasses novelty, as it provides flexibility in designing the electrodes. The increase in the popularity of inks development is governed by its features of simplicity, reduced cost and waste generation, high production and eco-friendly engineering procedures. Further, the electrochemistry aspects of conductive inks highlighting the importance of their compounds and binders has also been discussed emphasizing on the conductive materials. Originality/value This paper is an original review work. This paper will be helpful for manufacturers/researchers from smart wearable textile sector in envisaging innovative developing techniques of sensors as well as biosensors through conductive inks.

Computational role of homogeneous–heterogeneous chemical reactions and a mixed convective ternary hybrid nanofluid in a vertical porous microchannel

Abstract This article mainly scrutinizes the heat transfer and flow characteristics of a mixed convection ternary hybrid nanofluid in a porous microchannel considering the catalytic chemical reaction and nonuniform heat absorption/generation. Using appropriate similarity transformations, the modeled equations are converted into reduced ones and then solved via the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg 4th/5th order method. To strengthen this analysis, the convection mechanism has been deployed. The effect of pertinent physical parameters on the fluid motion and thermal field is displayed, including some important engineering variables like the Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and drag force. The novel outcomes display that the flow reduces with porous permeability and nanoparticle volume fraction. The temperature of the nanofluid improves with nonuniform heat absorption/generation. The concentration decreases in the presence of both homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction intensities. The heat transfer rate enhances for the Eckert number, and a similar influence on the mass transfer rate is noticed for homogeneous reaction parameters. Further, the drag force declines for the Grashof number. The outcomes show that, in all cases, the ternary hybrid nanofluid shows a greater impact than the nanofluid. The attained findings represent applications in the era of cooling and heating systems, thermal engineering, and energy production.

Genetic Engineering in Bacteria, Fungi, and Oomycetes, Taking Advantage of CRISPR

Genetic engineering has revolutionized our ability to modify microorganisms for various applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry. This review examines recent advances in genetic engineering techniques for bacteria, fungi, and oomycetes, with a focus on CRISPR-Cas systems. In bacteria, CRISPR-Cas9 has enabled precise genome editing, enhancing applications in antibiotic production and metabolic engineering. For fungi, despite challenges associated with their complex cell structures, CRISPR/Cas9 has advanced the production of enzymes and secondary metabolites. In oomycetes, significant plant pathogens, modified Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, and CRISPR/Cas12a have contributed to developing disease-resistant crops. This review provides a comparative analysis of genetic engineering efficiencies across these microorganisms and addresses ethical and regulatory considerations. Future research directions include refining genetic tools to improve efficiency and expand applicability in non-model organisms. This comprehensive overview highlights the transformative potential of genetic engineering in microbiology and its implications for addressing global challenges in agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology.

Circinus: An AI-Based Technical Description Plotting

Abstract. The digitization of maps poses a significant challenge for GIS operators and engineers, particularly in encoding bearings and distances into GIS software. This study, titled “Circinus: An AI-Based Technical Description Plotting,” represents a substantial advancement in the digitization process of land records. Leveraging artificial intelligence, this application enhances the efficiency of digitizing land survey maps, potentially surpassing the laborious manual input required for geographic information. By expediting the encoding process of scanned maps, the application enhances the accessibility and availability of digital land records. This advancement holds considerable benefits for effective land asset planning and improved financial operations, particularly benefiting prospective homebuyers and landowners. The tool offers streamlined encoding through its semi-automated features, facilitating ease of use. Additionally, its optimization features have the potential to significantly enhance the productivity of engineers and GIS operators involved in encoding scanned land survey maps.

In silico formulation optimization and particle engineering of pharmaceutical products using a generative artificial intelligence structure synthesis method

Pharmaceutical drug dosage forms are critical for ensuring the effective and safe delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients to patients. However, traditional formulation development often relies on extensive lab and animal experimentation, which can be time-consuming and costly. This manuscript presents a generative artificial intelligence method that creates digital versions of drug products from images of exemplar products. This approach employs an image generator guided by critical quality attributes, such as particle size and drug loading, to create realistic digital product variations that can be analyzed and optimized digitally. This paper shows how this method was validated through two case studies: one for the determination of the amount of material that will create a percolating network in an oral tablet product and another for the optimization of drug distribution in a long-acting HIV inhibitor implant. The results demonstrate that the generative AI method accurately predicts a percolation threshold of 4.2% weight of microcrystalline cellulose and generates implant formulations with controlled drug loading and particle size distributions. Comparisons with real samples reveal that the synthesized structures exhibit comparable particle size distributions and transport properties in release media.

Genetic Engineering Approaches for the Microbial Production of Vanillin.

Vanilla flavour is widely used in various industries and is the most broadly used flavouring agent in the food industry. The demand for this flavour is, therefore, extremely high, yet vanilla bean extracts can only meet about 1% of the overall demand. Vanillin, the main constituent of vanilla flavour, can easily be obtained through chemical synthesis. Nonetheless, consumer demands for natural products and environmentally friendly industrial processes drive the development of biotechnological approaches for its production. Some microorganisms can naturally produce vanillin when fed with various substrates, including eugenol, isoeugenol, and ferulic acid. The characterisation of the genes and enzymes involved in these bioconversion pathways, as well as progress in the understanding of vanillin biosynthesis in Vanilla orchids, allowed the development of genetic engineering and synthetic biology approaches to increase vanillin production in naturally vanillin-producing microorganisms, or to implement novel vanillin biosynthetic pathways in microbial chassis. This review summarises and discusses these genetic engineering and synthetic biology approaches for the microbial production of vanillin.

Natural Antimicrobial Agents from Algae: Current Advances and Future Directions.

Infectious diseases have significantly shaped human history, leading to significant advancements in medical science. The discovery and development of antibiotics represented a critical breakthrough, but the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens now presents a serious global health threat. Due to the limitations of current synthetic antimicrobials, such as toxicity and environmental concerns, it is essential to explore alternative solutions. Algae, particularly microalgae and cyanobacteria, have emerged as promising sources of bioactive antimicrobial compounds. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the antimicrobial properties of algal-derived compounds, including polysaccharides, fatty acids, and phenols, which have shown effectiveness against multi-drug-resistant bacteria. A co-occurrence bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer highlighted five key research clusters: antibiotic resistance, algal extracts, biosynthesis, water treatment, and novel pharmacological compounds. Furthermore, the primary mechanisms of action of these bioactive compounds, such as the inhibition of protein synthesis and cell membrane disruption, were identified, demonstrating their potential against both common and multi-resistant pathogens. Future research should prioritize optimizing algal biomass production, utilizing genetic and metabolic engineering, and creating innovative delivery systems to enhance the efficient production of bioactive compounds.

Enhancing corrosion resistance of Al alloy sheets with potential gradient by arc-sprayed Zn coatings

To improve the corrosion resistance and wide the application of Al alloy sheet in the engineering production, a corrosion potential gradient along the thickness of the Al alloy sheet was fabricated using the sprayed Zn layer. The process of arc spraying was employed to obtain the Zn coating with optimizing the parameters. Electrochemical testing was conducted on the surface of Al alloy sprayed with Zn layers at different depths. As the depth in the thickness direction increases, the content of Zn alloy elements gradually decreases and the potential gradually increases. This exhibits a gradual decrease in corrosion tendency. The results of electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) revealed the existence of pitting corrosion on the surface of the Al alloy. This even extended to the underlying substrate material. In contrast, the Zn coating, when exposed to a corrosive environment, demonstrated the beneficial cathodic effect as a sacrificial anode and the protective function of a passivating film, thus mitigating corrosion. The gradual increase in charge transfer resistance in the impedance spectrum suggested that the corrosion resistance of the sample is increasingly improved. Therefore, it exhibited remarkable resistance to corrosion. Additionally, the SEM surface morphology and XRD pattern were utilized to further explain the corrosion mechanism of the arc-sprayed Zn coating. The Zn coating can provide sacrificial protection to the Al layer due to its higher negative potential and localized corrosion reactivity. This is attributed to the micro-galvanic couples formed between the Zn and Al layer, thus increasing the corrosion resistance of the sheets.

Critical machining parameters for large aircraft casing production considering the influence of clamping systems

AbstractIn recent years, there has been a notable initiation or acceleration in the production of new aeronautical engines. This surge is coupled with a global commitment to reducing emissions and mitigating noise generated by gas turbines used in aeronautical applications. A critical component in this context is the aeronautical casing. The manufacturing process is intricate and time-consuming, compounded by the complexity of the clamping system, which poses a significant challenge to productivity. This study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the critical variables essential for the optimal manufacturing of a zero-defects large-scale casing. The examination encompasses design criteria, raw materials, constraints related to clamping systems and tooling, and process monitoring. Ultimately, the exploration extends to the examination of more sustainable manufacturing techniques. To facilitate this, a case study involving the fabrication of a life-size aeronautical casing is undertaken.

Diversity of the Chicken Growth Hormone Gene and Effects on Growth Desi and Fayoumi Chicken Traits at District Kashmore, Sindh-Pakistan

Chicken growth hormone (cGH) gene, one of the candidate genes for economic traits that control body weight and fat deposition, is associated with regulating both growth-axon patterning and metabolism. The growth hormone gene located on the chromosome 2 it enhances and encodes growth hormones as well as protein which are responsible for regulating of growth and development of body tissues. Growth hormone gene as economically very important because of growth rate, efficiency of feeds, body weight, and also for egg production. It also used for the Genetic Engineering for production of desirable GH- related genes. Genomic DNA from four different chicken breeds were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cGH gene by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography, as well as sequencing. SNPs and Nucleotide Diversity of the cGH Gene PCR amplification of 700 bp region from each individual from two chicken breeds was performed, which covered partial exons/introns encoding fragments corresponding to the investigated translated peptide. An average of one SNP was found every 86 bp, with a total of eight SNPs discovered. Nine SNPs were in introns, while 4 and one each was in the 5'UTR and 3'UTR respectively of these, five of them (01 from GWAS linkage signals) had significant associations.

Analytical and Experimental Study of the Start of the Chip Removal in Rotational Turning

The present challenges in the automotive industry require the development and practical implication of novel machining procedures, which will provide appropriate solutions. These procedures should still meet the requirements of productivity, surface quality and energy efficiency. The further development of novel machining procedures introduces new problems that did not occur (or occurred to a lesser extent) with traditionally applied procedures. Rotational turning has come to the attention of production engineers in the previous decade since it can be used to machine ground-like surfaces in an ecologically friendly and highly productive manner. However, the chip removal characteristic is slightly different from traditional turning due to the applied special kinematic relation and complex tool edge geometry. The run-in phase will take longer, which is the time period between the first contact of the tool and the formation of a constant chip cross-sectional area. The clarification of the chip formation is important in any machining procedure. To achieve this goal, the geometric parameters of the chip must be determined. Since the start of the chip removal is a crucial stage in rotational turning due to its length, the chip height, chip width and the cross-sectional area of the chip should be separately defined in the initial stage. Therefore, in this paper, the initial phase of chip removal in rotational turning is studied. The increasing cross-sectional area of the chip is determined analytically by the application of the previously elaborated equation of the cut surface. Calculating formulas are defined for the different stages of the start of the chip removal, which could be used in the forthcoming studies to analyze the chip formation. The effects of different determining parameters are analyzed theoretically by the deduced formulas of the run-in phase and practical experiments are also carried out. The analytical and experimental analyses showed that increasing feed also increases the dynamic load on the cutting edge, while the depth of cut lowers the growth of the characteristic parameters of the chip, which results in a lower dynamic load on the tool.

Can Whole-heart Tissue Engineering Products by Recellularization from Scaffolds Be Utilized on Humans in the Next Ten Years?

Diseases like organ failure lead to irreversible damage to our body, making organ transplantation the only treatment. However, though organ transplantation may be an effective treatment, problems of organ shortage and post-transplantation immune rejection still remain unresolved, making the development of alternative technologies vital. Organ regeneration is, therefore, a promising treatment as it aims to lower the chance of immune responses and may potentially solve the issue of organ shortage. An average procedure of organ regeneration has two steps: decellularization and recellularization. Decellularization techniques include physical, chemical, and enzymatic treatments, and these methods are often combined to maximize cell depletion, turning the organ into an extracellular matrix scaffold and minimizing the chances of immune rejection. Recellularization is the process of repopulating the scaffold with patient-specific cells, and is often completed through using perfusion systems by performing vascular perfusion and intramyocardial injections with the help of a bioreactor. This article explains the concept of whole-heart regeneration and assesses different methods of decellularization and recellularization to find the treatment with the highest efficacy and efficiency, while also conducting a case study on cultured epidermal autografts and primary research, in the form of a questionnaire, to look at the social acceptance of this technology, estimate the progress of whole-heart regeneration, and discuss its limitations.

Digital twin-enhanced robotic system for remote diesel engine assembly defect inspection

Purpose This study aims to streamline and enhance the assembly defect inspection process in diesel engine production. Traditional manual inspection methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming because of the complex structures of the engines and the noisy workshop environment. This study’s robotic system aims to alleviate these challenges by automating the inspection process and enabling easy remote inspection, thereby freeing workers from heavy fieldwork. Design/methodology/approach This study’s system uses a robotic arm to traverse and capture images of key components of the engine. This study uses anomaly detection algorithms to automatically identify defects in the captured images. Additionally, this system is enhanced by digital twin technology, which provides inspectors with various tools to designate components of interest in the engine and assist in defect checking and annotation. This integration facilitates smooth transitions from manual to automatic inspection within a short period. Findings Through evaluations and user studies conducted over a relatively long period, the authors found that the system accelerates and improves the accuracy of engine inspections. The results indicate that the system significantly enhances the efficiency of production processes for manufacturers. Originality/value The system represents a novel approach to engine inspection, leveraging robotic technology and digital twin enhancements to address the limitations of traditional manual inspection methods. By automating and enhancing the inspection process, the system offers manufacturers the opportunity to improve production efficiency and ensure the quality of diesel engines.

Jurisprudential Rulings Related To Digital Currencies And Linguistic Connotations/ الأحكام الفقهية المتعلقة بالعملات الرقمية ودلالاتها اللغوية

It aims to describe of the provisions of Islamic Sharia of encrypted digital currencies and its linguistic implications. Using a scientific jurisprudential methodology. It also discusses the search for the credibility of encrypted digital currencies that comply with the provisions of Islamic Sharia. The results that production is a basis in addition to the value that financing contributes and its linguistic implications, with the most prominent costs as high. Efficiency of Islamic financial financial services, and that the engineering of financial products is based on innovations and creating new solutions for financial management or reproducing the trader in traditional financial finance, with the participation of a strong entitlement basis and participation in many of the basis of effective management of Islamic finance systems, and a statement of the trading rule in those currencies, This is to achieve economic fundamentals and legal credibility and its linguistic implications.

Initially reactive and concentrated generalized fluid wavy flow with the applications of disorder theory and magnetic field: A computational study

The wavy flow of generalized fluid namely, Cross fluid is mathematically formulated on a gravitationally affected vertical wavy surface with significant physical effects which is the main theme of this work. This particular dynamics of chemically reactive materials is further explored with an irreversible process. A significant heat transfer is measured through thermal resistance during the consideration of entropy optimization. Since entropy generation is associated with the mechanical systemenergy loss is more helpful in monitoring the entropy production in different engineering and industrial processes. Specifically, such irreversibility process appearance causing a noticeable low efficiency in the relevant practical sectors. For better performance in the minimization of friction on the wavy surface, flow is dissipated in terms of heat. However, the measure of loss in terms of work is introduced in the form of thermal radiation, viscous dissipation, magnetic field, and first-order chemical reaction. Additionally, the expected pressure drooping on the wavy surface is another goal of the entire study. The non-linear mathematical equations are determined by following the maximum viscosity approach. Relevant and important results are portrayed to show the various features of the newly developed work. The significant findings are approximated via one of the collocation methods while using MATLAB software. The Richardson number and buoyancy parameter enhanced the flow speed of the materials. The heat transfer rate is decreased by both Eckert number and wavy amplitude and the chemical reaction factor enhanced the mass transfer rate. The heat energy of the materials is escalated with the help of electromagnetic wave radiation and temperature ratio factor. Strengthening the chemical reaction factor declined the mass flow during the typical motion of the liquid. In the last, a comparison is provided to show the accuracy of the numerical approach.

Deciphering the Impact of Lignin on Anaerobic Digestion: Focus on Inhibition Mechanisms and Methods for Alleviating Inhibition.

China has abundant lignocellulosic biomass resources. These resources are converted into biogas by anaerobic digestion (AD), which not only realizes the comprehensive utilization of waste resources but also obtains abundant biomass energy. However, the low biodegradability of lignocellulosic biomass caused by the complex structure has seriously hindered its utilization by enzymes and microorganisms, resulting in low biogas production and limited development of biogas engineering. The purpose of this work is to analyze the mechanism of lignin inhibiting AD and summarize the main methods for alleviating inhibition. Based on this, this review examines the factors influencing lignin's inhibition of methane production during AD from two key perspectives: (1) discussing lignin's biodegradability challenges, with a focus on its structure, functional groups, and the impact of lignin content in lignocellulosic biomass on its methanogenic potential, and (2) analyzing lignin's impact on each stage of AD. In addition, we provide insights into future research directions in this field.

Kalibrasi Wire Feeder Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) Mengacu Pada Standar British Standard (BS) 7570:2000 Dan British Standard (BS) European Standard (EN) 50504:2008

In the fabrication industry, the welding process plays a crucial role in both engineering and repair production processes. Continuous use of welding machines can lead to a decline in their effectiveness. Suboptimal machines may produce low-quality products. A common issue encountered is the poor quality of welds, even when each step has been aligned with the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS). One source of this problem is the welding equipment itself. The objective of this study is to calibrate arc welding equipment to ensure it remains within machine standards. Calibration is performed in accordance with BS EN 50504:2008 and BS 7570:2000. The calibration focuses on measuring constant voltage and wire feed speed (WFS). The measurement results for WFS variation indicate that it does not exceed a 10% error margin. This suggests that the WFS complies with the established standards. Consequently, the Lincoln LN-25X wire feeder speed is ready for use in fabrication and production processes.

Recent trends in metabolic engineering for microbial production of value-added natural products

Microbe-mediated chemical production is a sustainable approach for production of natural products that are important for our society. Traditional fermentation production of natural products viz. drugs, nutraceuticals, pigments, aromatic compounds, and biofuels has limitations such as low yield, high cost and time- consuming process. Significant success in the economical production of these natural products has been established by altering the metabolic pathways of microorganisms through metabolic engineering. Recent advancements in new tools and strategies have led to a significant reduction in the turnaround time in the classic approach i.e. design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle in metabolic engineering. Here, we summarize various tools and strategies developed in the area of metabolic engineering with a focus on value-added natural products Also, this review lists bioprospecting of microorganisms through metabolic engineering in last five years for production of natural products. At the end, outlook, challenges and opportunities for the successful establishment of robust engineered microbial cell factories have been reported.

Höhere Achsdynamik durch Mehrkoordinatenantriebe in Werkzeugmaschinen

Abstract The Institute of Production Engineering and Machine Tools (IFW) at Leibniz University Hannover has developed a novel linear-rotary direct drive for machine tools. This combines linear and rotary movements in a single drive. As a result, the overall dynamics of machine axes can be improved and the installation space reduced.