Industrial Platform Research Articles

Expanding the CRISPR Toolbox for Engineering Lycopene Biosynthesis in Corynebacterium glutamicum.

Lycopene represents one of the central compounds in the carotenoid pathway and it exhibits a potent antioxidant ability with wide potential applications in medicine, food, and cosmetics. The microbial production of lycopene has received increasing concern in recent years. Corynebacterium glutamicum (C. glutamicum) is considered to be a safe and beneficial industrial production platform, naturally endowed with the ability to produce lycopene. However, the scarcity of efficient genetic tools and the challenge of identifying crucial metabolic genes impede further research on C. glutamicum for achieving high-yield lycopene production. To address these challenges, a novel genetic editing toolkit, CRISPR/MAD7 system, was established and developed. By optimizing the promoter, ORI and PAM sequences, the CRISPR/MAD7 system facilitated highly efficient gene deletion and exhibited a broad spectrum of PAM sites. Notably, 25 kb of DNA from the genome was successfully deleted. In addition, the CRISPR/MAD7 system was effectively utilized in the metabolic engineering of C. glutamicum, allowing for the simultaneous knockout of crtEb and crtR genes in one step to enhance the accumulation of lycopene by blocking the branching pathway. Through screening crucial genes such as crtE, crtB, crtI, idsA, idi, and cg0722, an optimal carotenogenic gene combination was obtained. Particularly, cg0722, a membrane protein gene, was found to play a vital role in lycopene production. Therefore, the CBIEbR strain was obtained by overexpressing cg0722, crtB, and crtI while strategically blocking the by-products of the lycopene pathway. As a result, the final engineered strain produced lycopene at 405.02 mg/L (9.52 mg/g dry cell weight, DCW) in fed-batch fermentation, representing the highest reported lycopene yield in C. glutamicum to date. In this study, a powerful and precise genetic tool was used to engineer C. glutamicum for lycopene production. Through the modifications between the host cell and the carotenogenic pathway, the lycopene yield was stepwise improved by 102-fold as compared to the starting strain. This study highlights the usefulness of the CRISPR/MAD7 toolbox, demonstrating its practical applications in the metabolic engineering of industrially robust C. glutamicum.

Comparative netnographic analysis of sharia hotel visitor reviews between tripadvisor and google review

Halal tourism is experiencing rapid development, driven by the demand of Muslim tourists. One of which is in the Sharia hotel industry. Few studies compare reviews of Sharia hotel visitors among review platforms. This study used a netnographic comparative method to identify and obtain comparisons of visitor reviews of Sharia hotels on TripAdvisor and Google Review. Comparison reviews are compiled based on the positive and negative reviews felt by visitors to Sharia hotels in Indonesia. A total of 427 reviews on TripAdvisor and 3076 reviews on Google Review of 9 Sharia hotels in Indonesia were analyzed using grounded theory. Sharia hotel facilities (32.15%) became the most dominant positive review on Google Review. At the same time, TripAdvisor reviews showed different results, which made cleanliness, tidiness, and comfort (25.61%) positive reviews with the highest percentage. However, Google Review (57.40%) and TripAdvisor (53.70%) have similarities in highlighting inadequate facilities as negative reviews. The results of this study are beneficial for the government and Sharia hotel managers in improving quality and competitive strategies. This study is one of the initiators of comparative netnography to compare two review platforms in the Islamic hotel industry.

EKONOMI POLITIK PERLINDUNGAN HAK KEKAYAAN INTELEKTUAL: STUDI KASUS KEBIJAKAN PUBLISHER RIGHTS AUSTRALIA TERHADAP GOOGLE DAN FACEBOOK

Australian news media publishers are facing serious challenges as Google and Facebook emerge as digital platforms in the Australian media industry. They have transformed into the main pillars of media industry as they monopolize distribution and monetization of news content as well as the digital advertising market, thus dominate Australia’s digital market share. Their power and dominance in controlling the flow of information and digital advertising have drawn attention of the Australian government. In response, the Australian government enacted the publisher rights policy through adoption of the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code (NMBC). Google and Facebook reacted strongly against the NMBC and threatened to close the services in Australia. This research aims to explain the reasons behind Australia’s enactment of the publisher rights policy against Google and Facebook. Using the analytical descriptive research methods combined with theory of regulatory mercantilism, concept of digital sovereignty, and concept of intellectual property rights, this study argues that enactment of the publisher rights policy is due to the imbalance of bargaining power between the Australian news media publishers and Google and Facebook. In addition, this policy was enacted due to the reduction in traditional revenue received by the traditional news media publishers as a result of declining advertising revenue, content purchases, and subscriptions that pose a threat to sustainability of Australia’s news media industry. Lastly, the adoption of the publisher rights policy is due to the centralized media power of Google and Facebook which endangers diversity of Australian news media.

Integrated Two-Level New Energy Monitoring and Big Data Centers: A Comprehensive Approach for Urban Sustainability

With the help of the quick development of big data, the Internet of Things, and other related technologies, the construction of new energy monitoring and big data centres aims to enhance the control capability of urban new energy stations. Inefficient operation and maintenance of new energy stations, as well as chaotic production control, are the reasons behind this action. Given the limitations of the current stage of new energy big data platform construction, the construction of group-level new energy monitoring and big data centres to achieve a high degree of integration and sharing of resources and experience has become an inevitable development of the new energy industry. This project aims to achieve multi-level integration in decision-making from the bottom up by using the background of the construction of the Wenzhou New Energy Two-Level Centre as a guide, organising the business processes for new energy production and equipment control, designing the technical architecture of the platform for cloud-side collaboration, providing guidance for the heterogeneous data processing and analysis of new energy assets in the cloud, and acting as a model for the development of the group-level intelligent platform for the new energy industry.

Optimizing industrial transport with a connected automated vehicle demonstrator for assembly systems and end-of-line production

In recent years, the automotive industry has witnessed significant progress in the development of automated driving technologies. The integration of advanced sensors and systems in vehicles has led to the emergence of various functionalities, such as driving assistance and autonomous driving. Applying these technologies on the assembly line can enhance the efficiency, safety, and speed of transportation, especially at end-of-line production. This work presents a connected automated vehicle (CAV) demonstrator for generating autonomous driving systems and services for the automotive industry. Our prototype electric vehicle is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and systems for perception, localization, navigation, and control. We tested various algorithms and tools for transforming the vehicle into a self-driving platform, and the prototype was simulated and tested in an industrial environment as proof of concept for integration into assembly systems and end-of-line transport. Our results show the successful integration of self-driving vehicle platforms in the automotive industry, particularly in factory halls. We demonstrate the localization, navigation, and communication capabilities of our prototype in a demo area. This work anticipates a significant increase in efficiency and operating cost reduction in vehicle manufacturing, despite challenges such as current low traveling speeds and high equipment costs. Ongoing research aims to enhance safety for higher vehicle speeds, making it a more viable business case for manufacturers, considering the increasing standardization of automated driving equipment in cars. The main contribution of this paper lies in introducing the general concept architecture of the integration of automated driving functionalities in end-of-line assembly and production systems. Showing a case study of the effective development and implementation of such functionalities with a CAV demonstrator in a more standardized industrial operational design domain.

METHODOLOGY APPLIED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STRUCTURES USING NATURAL AND ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS FOR STABILIZATION WORKS IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

The analysis of the current state of applications and the results of studies carried out at international level have led to the approach of an eco-efficient methodology for the recovery of waste generated from construction activities, demolition, and the addition of alternative stabilising materials to obtain optimized structures capable of providing a higher quality of the works carried out. Three types of stabilising slurry agents were selected for the experimental programme: the water-based polymer product AggreBind (AGB-BT), the Terra 3000 solution based on the Power binder, and the Earthzyme polysemantic product. Experimental studies on the use of these types of products in earthworks for stabilizing embankments, building and repairing road systems and industrial platforms have shown significant increases in strength and bearing capacity. The use of these environmentally beneficial alternative materials has led to significant reductions in construction time, decreasing total construction and maintenance costs in the short and long term.

Synthesis of β-Cyclodextrin@gold Nanoparticles and Its Application on Colorimetric Assays for Ascorbic Acid and Salmonella Based on Peroxidase-like Activities

The peroxidase-like behaviors of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have the potential to the development of rapid and sensitive colorimetric assays for specific food ingredients and contaminants. Here, using NaBH4 as a reducing agent, AuNPs with a supramolecular macrocyclic compound β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) capped were synthesized under alkaline conditions. Monodispersal of β-CD@AuNPs possessed a reduction in diameter size and performed great peroxidase-like activities toward both substrates, H2O2 and TMB. In the presence of H2O2, the color change of TMB oxidization to oxTMB was well-achieved using β-CD@AuNPs as the catalyst, which was further employed to develop colorimetric assays for ascorbic acid, with a limit of detection as low as 0.2 μM in ddH2O. With the help of the host-guest interaction between β-CD and adamantane, AuNPs conjugated with nanobodies to exhibit peroxidase-like activities and specific recognition against Salmonella Typhimurium simultaneously. Based on this bifunctional bioprobe, a selective and sensitive one-step colorimetric assay for S. Typhimurium was developed with a linear detection from 8.3 × 104 to 2.6 × 108 CFU/mL and can be provided to spiked lettuce with acceptable recoveries of 97.31% to 103.29%. The results demonstrated that the excellent peroxidase-like behaviors of β-CD@AuNPs can be applied to develop a colorimetric sensing platform in the food industry.

Affording digital transformation: The role of industrial Internet platform in traditional manufacturing enterprises digital transformation

This study aims to investigate the role of industrial Internet platform in facilitating the digital transformation of traditional manufacturing enterprises. While prior research has predominantly focused on industrial Internet platform enterprises, there is a noticeable dearth of research concerning traditional manufacturing enterprises lacking the resources to establish such platforms. To address this research gap, we conduct an exploratory case study and propose an affordances upgrade model that elucidates the digital business transformation process of these manufacturing enterprises leveraging industrial Internet platforms. The research findings can be summarized from two key perspectives. Firstly, the industrial Internet platform offers valuable technical support and potential opportunities for manufacturing enterprises to achieve digital business transformation through three distinct affordances: consonance, resonance, and adaptation. These affordances enable enterprises to align their operations with the capabilities and possibilities provided by the platform, thus facilitating their digital transformation. Secondly, to effectively harness these affordances, enterprises must strategically leverage the platform's technical services and systems in their production and operational practices. Through the accumulation of practical experiences, enterprises gradually transition their production modes from experience institutionalization and standardization to a state of refinement. The dynamic leapfrogging process of digital transformation in traditional manufacturing enterprises, facilitated by the industrial Internet platform, is reflected in the realization of these three affordances and their underlying resource capabilities. This research significantly contributes to the field by expanding the scope of inquiry to encompass traditional manufacturing enterprises and presenting a stage model for their digital transformation utilizing industrial Internet platform.

A Performance Comparison between Different Industrial Real-Time Indoor Localization Systems for Mobile Platforms.

The flexibility and versatility associated with autonomous mobile robots (AMR) have facilitated their integration into different types of industries and tasks. However, as the main objective of their implementation on the factory floor is to optimize processes and, consequently, the time associated with them, it is necessary to take into account the environment and congestion to which they are subjected. Localization, on the shop floor and in real time, is an important requirement to optimize the AMRs' trajectory management, thus avoiding livelocks and deadlocks during their movements in partnership with manual forklift operators and logistic trains. Threeof the most commonly used localization techniques in indoor environments (time of flight, angle of arrival, and time difference of arrival), as well as two of the most commonly used indoor localization methods in the industry (ultra-wideband, and ultrasound), are presented and compared in this paper. Furthermore, it identifies and compares three industrial indoor localization solutions: Qorvo, Eliko Kio, and Marvelmind, implemented in an industrial mobile platform, which is the main contribution of this paper. These solutions can be applied to both AMRs and other mobile platforms, such as forklifts and logistic trains. In terms of results, the Marvelmind system, which uses an ultrasound method, was the best solution.

Retraction Note: Optimization design and implementation of shared information management system for industrial design network platform

Retraction Note: Optimization design and implementation of shared information management system for industrial design network platform

Reaction kinetics involved in esterification between the fatty acids in castor oil and furfuryl alcohol

Kinetics of esterification reaction between furfuryl alcohol (FA) and castor oil fatty acid (COFA) using immobilized Candida antartica lipase B in a solvent free system is investigated in present study. The well-known ping-pong bi bi mechanism with two-substrate inhibition has been confirmed to correctly describe the governing reaction pathway. Subsequently, the rate equation was used to evaluate pertinent kinetic parameters. Parametric optimization study was also carried out with respect to temperature, molar ratio of reactants and enzyme loading to maximize the equilibrium yield of COFA ester. Furthermore, functional variations of the kinetic parameters, which include Michaelis-Menten constants and inhibition coefficients, were evaluated with respect to three process parameters. Corresponding inferences are of high utility, specifically, in cases where the global optimum is beyond the scope of the existing production facility in any industrial platform.

Optimal integration decision of industrial internet platform for third-party components in two-sided networks

PurposeWith the development of digitalization and interconnection, there is a growing need for enterprise customers to ensure the compatibility of the third-party components they are using in the manufacturing process, thus raising the integration requirements for the Industrial Internet platform and its third-party developers. Therefore, our study investigates the optimal integration decision of the Industrial Internet platform while considering its access price, the integration cost, and the net utility derived by enterprise customers from the third-party components.Design/methodology/approachWe model a two-sided Industrial Internet platform that connects customers on the demand side to the developers on the supply side. We then explore the integration decision of the Industrial Internet platform and its important factors by solving the optimal profit function.FindingsFirst, despite the high integration cost of third-party developers, the platform still chooses to integrate when enterprise customers derive high utility from the third-party components. Second, due to the compatibility effect, charging the enterprise customers a higher price may reduce the platform profits when these customers derive low utility from the third-party components. Third, the platform profits will increase along with the integration cost of third-party developers when it is low in the case where enterprise customers derive low utility from third-party components.Originality/valueOur findings offer insightful takeaways for the Industrial Internet platform when making integration decisions.

Design and research of a novel type of arc fin for heat transfer enhancement in hot water oil-displacement system

Phase change thermal storage system utilizes solar energy to provide continuous heat and electricity for offshore platforms in the petroleum industry. However, the low thermal conductivity of the heat storage medium (phase change material) in the system limits the overall heat transfer efficiency. This study focuses on the design of a novel longitudinal arc fin to enhance heat transfer in the storage system. A comparison is made between the influence of the rectangular fin and the novel longitudinal arc fin structure, as well as the impact of the fin number on the heat storage performance of the heat storage unit. A numerical model is constructed and used to analyze the grid and time step in the numerical process. The resulting data is further validated through experimental comparison. The study also examines the impact of fin structure and fin number on the internal convection and temperature of this phase change heat storage unit, comparing thermal performance parameters such as heat storage time, heat storage rate, temperature response, and overall heat storage. Findings indicate that, under constant overall fin size, increasing fin number significantly enhances the internal temperature of this unit. Additionally, changing the shape of fins from rectangular to arc-shaped results in decreased heat storage performance. Specifically, when compared to the initial rectangular structure, the melting time of 8 arc fins and 10 arc fins decreased by 30.70% and 40.65%, the mean temperature response increased by 45.01% and 67.70%, and the mean rate of heat storage increased by 45.35% and 69.23%. Therefore, increasing the number of arc-shaped fins, while maintaining the same fin volume, substantially improves the heat storage properties of the unit.

Assessing Benzene and TVOC Pollution and the Carcinogenic and Noncarcinogenic Risks to Workers in an Industrial Plant in Southeastern Romania.

The article aims to analyze the pollution with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) emitted from the biggest refinery in Romania, using the daily and monthly series registered for two years in two sites on the industrial platform, and the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks for workers at the industrial plant. Since the values of the basic statistics (minimum, maximum, and average) and outliers indicate that most recorded values exceed the maximum admissible limits established by law, the Peaks Over Threshold (POT) method was utilized to model the maximum values of the series and determine the return levels for benzene and total VOC (TVOC). Given the high values obtained for relatively short return periods, indicating potential danger for the workers, we assessed the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to benzene and TVOC exposure by computing the hazard index (HI) and lifetime cancer risk (LCR). The results indicate that 43.75% of the HI values are above 1, indicating a relatively high noncarcinogenic risk for different categories of workers. LRC indicates a high LRC for 93.75% of the workers in all considered categories exposed to TVOC.

A Critical Review of Existing Methods to Evaluate the Performance of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) on Commercial Roofs (CR) to Mitigate Urban Flooding

The intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events have increased in North America and the world due to climate change. Extreme rainfall events, characterized by a heavy volume of rainfall in a short duration, have triggered the onset of urban flash floods. Over the years, flash flooding has been reported in different cities in Canada, which resulted in many losses. Subsequently, different green roofing systems have been adopted to control urban stormwater runoff as part of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to mitigate urban flood and build a flood-resilient city. Currently, no specific widely recognized standard or code is dedicated to determining the hydrological performance of green roofs as a whole system. Moreover, there are no test protocols to regulate the design of green roof systems in the market. A comprehensive literature review examines existing research methods adopted to evaluate influencing parameters affecting the hydrological performance of NBS-CR. The results indicate several limitations in experimental and field investigations. Consequently, to address these limitations, it is essential to formulate a multi-functional work plan to develop a standardized test method that can become a common platform for the roofing industry to test and quantify the hydrological performance of their systems.

Improve the industrial digital transformation through Industrial Internet platforms

Improve the industrial digital transformation through Industrial Internet platforms

IoT Based Model for Data Analytics of KPI Platform in Continuous Process Industry

IoT Based Model for Data Analytics of KPI Platform in Continuous Process Industry

EXPLORING ONLINE RESERVATION DECISION THROUGH E-COMMERCE PLATFORM IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY

E-Commerce currently has a very high growth rate where the needs that are obtained quickly and precisely become the main target for the world of e-commerce, one of the industries that have started using e-commerce is the hospitality industry that utilizes this internet technology. With the e-commerce platform, people can make reservations online because there are many choices of hotels along with reviews, ratings and facilities that have been listed on the e-commerce platform and there are even discounts, promotions and prices that are cheaper than making walk-in reservations and discounts without having to go to the hotel they want to go to so they can save time, so they have considerations and decisions in making online reservations. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of purchase information and assessment of promotional benefits on online reservation decisions through e-commerce platform in the hospitality industry. The methodology used to conduct this research is quantitative with a causal associative approach. The data was obtained by distributing questionnaires online through people who have used e-commerce platforms in making online reservations in the hotel industry, so that 150 people were obtained, with a Likert scale. The data analysis technique used the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling. Most respondents were between 17-25 years old with 84% of respondents. The results found that purchasing information experience affects online reservation decisions in the hotel industry. Meanwhile, the assessment of promotion benefits does no effect online reservation decisions in the hotel industry. This study concludes that when people want to make an online reservation they will look at the ratings, evaluations, or comments given by individuals or users who have stayed and used services at the hotel and with the many discounts, promotions, price cuts and cheaper prices when making online reservations using e-commerce platforms will increase online reservation decisions in the hotel industry.

LAND-USE AND TRANSPORT INTEGRATED PLANNING AND MODELLING IN CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA

The paper presents an example of successful reconversion of an industrial site located in the built-in area of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This case study shows that land-use and transport integrated planning can be effectively implemented when a transport-oriented development (TOD) is designed for the redevelopment of an industrial site. Using TOD principles identified in the Romanian law and the technical criteria identified in the scientific literature, Sanex platform is analyzed to demonstrate it is a TOD. This would be the first documented TOD designed in Romania. A model is developed for TOD Sanex to estimate the impact that the redevelopment of the industrial platform into a multifunctional area will have on the local traffic. In this regard, two scenarios are analyzed – present scenario and future scenario after completion of the redevelopment. Two variants of the future scenario are discussed in connection to the Northern Mobility Corridor (CMN), the main project in implementation in the area, which is designed as a complete street. The results demonstrate that the induced traffic wouldn’t have a considerable impact on the local traffic now or in the perspective of the redevelopment. It can be integrated by the street network, which could operate in appropriate conditions. Considering the need of revitalization of the urban and rural industrial sites at the national scale in Romania and the benefits of TOD, a methodological framework in four steps is proposed. This framework would be a helpful support in the sustainable urban reconversion process, especially to achieve the reduced impact over the built environment and urban mobility.

Performance Evaluation of Computer Vision Algorithms in a Programmable Logic Controller: An Industrial Case Study

This work evaluates the use of a programmable logic controller (PLC) from Phoenix Contact’s PLCnext ecosystem as an image processing platform. PLCnext controllers provide the functions of “classical” industrial controllers, but they are based on the Linux operating system, also allowing for the use of software tools usually associated with computers. Visual processing applications in the Python programming language using the OpenCV library are implemented in the PLC using this feature. This research is focused on evaluating the use of this PLC as an image processing platform, particularly for industrial machine vision applications. The methodology is based on comparing the PLC’s performance against a computer using standard image processing algorithms. In addition, a demonstration application based on a real-world scenario for quality control by visual inspection is presented. It is concluded that despite significant limitations in processing power, the simultaneous use of the PLC as an industrial controller and image processing platform is feasible for applications of low complexity and undemanding cycle times, providing valuable insights and benchmarks for the scientific community interested in the convergence of industrial automation and computer vision technologies.