Interdisciplinary Engineering Research Articles

Coin-sized, fully integrated, and minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring system based on organic electrochemical transistors.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs) are critical toward closed-loop diabetes management. The field's progress urges next-generation CGMs with enhanced antinoise ability, reliability, and wearability. Here, we propose a coin-sized, fully integrated, and wearable CGM, achieved by holistically synergizing state-of-the-art interdisciplinary technologies of biosensors, minimally invasive tools, and hydrogels. The proposed CGM consists of three major parts: (i) an emerging biochemical signal amplifier, the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) beyond traditional electrochemical sensors; (ii) a microneedle array to facilitate subcutaneous glucose sampling with minimized pain; and (iii) a soft hydrogel to stabilize the skin-device interface. Compared to conventional CGMs, the OECT-CGM offers a high antinoise ability, tunable sensitivity and resolution, and comfort wearability, enabling personalized glucose sensing for future precision diabetes health care. Last, we discuss how OECT technology can help push the limit of detection of current wearable electrochemical biosensors, especially when operating in complicated conditions.

A Fully-Integrated Memristor Chip for Edge Learning

HighlightsThe fully-integrated memristor chip for edge learning provides a solidfoundation for neural network computation.The fully-integrated memristor chip enables efficient object recognition innoisy backgrounds while minimizing energy consumption.The computing-in-memory chip represents an innovative and interdisciplinary technology that extends beyond multiple research domains.

DESIGNING AN INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSE: CASE STUDY OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECT COMBINING MARKETING RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, AND MEDIA ARTS

ABSTRACT Interdisciplinary courses and activities are becoming more popular as the benefits of collaboration have become apparent. For example, collaboration between different disciplines in organizations, such as engineering and marketing, has been shown to significantly enhance the product development process. Various strategies have been used to encourage this collaboration. One strategy is to provide instruction in collaboration across disciplines at the undergraduate collegiate level. This case study discusses an interdisciplinary project between Marketing Research, Engineering, and Media Arts. The basic design of the initial course, strategies used to enhance collaboration, student learning outcomes, identification of key issues affecting the interdisciplinary project, and a revised design for teaching future interdisciplinary projects are included. Also included are some of the major challenges and design issues with interdisciplinary work.

Brain-Computer Interface for Emotion Recognition Based on Electroencephalography

Human emotions are erratic, and so are their brain signals throughout the day. Brain-computer interface devices must handle high signal throughputs in the form of electroencephalography from different areas of the human brain for us to learn more about these emotions. Researchers can recognize emotions from these signals after data acquisition, preprocessing, feature extraction, and feature selection to the classifier. Efficient machine learning algorithms for the process are imperative to quickly provide emotional feedback to a device. Models of such devices are already applicable in medical fields, gaming, and more. In the meantime, ethical considerations arise. Most people are concerned about their privacy infringements. This paper aims to assist researchers in swiftly comprehending the basic theory of emotion recognition while also offering insights into the future development of this highly interdisciplinary technology. Furthermore, it underscores the need for a delicate equilibrium between technological progress and human values.

Strategies to achieve effective nitrogen activation

AbstractAmmonia serves as a crucial chemical raw material and hydrogen energy carrier. Aqueous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), powered by renewable energy, has attracted tremendous interest during the past few years. Although some achievements have been revealed in aqueous NRR, significant challenges have also been identified. The activity and selectivity are fundamentally limited by nitrogen activation and competitive hydrogen evolution. This review focuses on the hurdles of nitrogen activation and delves into complementary strategies, including materials design and system optimization (reactor, electrolyte, and mediator). Then, it introduces advanced interdisciplinary technologies that have recently emerged for nitrogen activation using high‐energy physics such as plasma and triboelectrification. With a better understanding of the corresponding reaction mechanisms in the coming years, these technologies have the potential to be extended in further applications. This review provides further insight into the reaction mechanisms of selectivity and stability of different reaction systems. We then recommend a rigorous and detailed protocol for investigating NRR performance and also highlight several potential research directions in this exciting field, coupling with advanced interdisciplinary applications, in situ/operando characterizations, and theoretical calculations.

AI-enhanced biomedical micro/nanorobots in microfluidics.

Human beings encompass sophisticated microcirculation and microenvironments, incorporating a broad spectrum of microfluidic systems that adopt fundamental roles in orchestrating physiological mechanisms. In vitro recapitulation of human microenvironments based on lab-on-a-chip technology represents a critical paradigm to better understand the intricate mechanisms. Moreover, the advent of micro/nanorobotics provides brand new perspectives and dynamic tools for elucidating the complex process in microfluidics. Currently, artificial intelligence (AI) has endowed micro/nanorobots (MNRs) with unprecedented benefits, such as material synthesis, optimal design, fabrication, and swarm behavior. Using advanced AI algorithms, the motion control, environment perception, and swarm intelligence of MNRs in microfluidics are significantly enhanced. This emerging interdisciplinary research trend holds great potential to propel biomedical research to the forefront and make valuable contributions to human health. Herein, we initially introduce the AI algorithms integral to the development of MNRs. We briefly revisit the components, designs, and fabrication techniques adopted by robots in microfluidics with an emphasis on the application of AI. Then, we review the latest research pertinent to AI-enhanced MNRs, focusing on their motion control, sensing abilities, and intricate collective behavior in microfluidics. Furthermore, we spotlight biomedical domains that are already witnessing or will undergo game-changing evolution based on AI-enhanced MNRs. Finally, we identify the current challenges that hinder the practical use of the pioneering interdisciplinary technology.

Developing Liver Microphysiological Systems for Biomedical Applications.

Microphysiological systems (MPSs), also known as organ chips, are micro-units that integrate cells with diverse physical and biochemical environmental cues. In the field of liver MPSs, cellular components have advanced from simple planar cell cultures to more sophisticated 3D formations such as spheroids and organoids. Additionally, progress in microfluidic devices, bioprinting, engineering of matrix materials, and interdisciplinary technologies have significant promise for producing MPSs with biomimetic structures and functions. This review provides a comprehensive summary of biomimetic liver MPSs including their clinical applications and future developmental potential. First, the key components of liver MPSs, including the principal cell types and engineered structures utilized for cell cultivation, are briefly introduced. Subsequently, the biomedical applications of liver MPSs, including the creation of disease models, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity, are discussed. Finally, the challenges encountered by MPSs are summarized, and future research directions for their development are proposed.

Edge AI for Early Detection of Chronic Diseases and the Spread of Infectious Diseases: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions

Edge AI, an interdisciplinary technology that enables distributed intelligence with edge devices, is quickly becoming a critical component in early health prediction. Edge AI encompasses data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) using machine learning, deep learning, and federated learning models deployed and executed at the edge of the network, far from centralized data centers. AI enables the careful analysis of large datasets derived from multiple sources, including electronic health records, wearable devices, and demographic information, making it possible to identify intricate patterns and predict a person’s future health. Federated learning, a novel approach in AI, further enhances this prediction by enabling collaborative training of AI models on distributed edge devices while maintaining privacy. Using edge computing, data can be processed and analyzed locally, reducing latency and enabling instant decision making. This article reviews the role of Edge AI in early health prediction and highlights its potential to improve public health. Topics covered include the use of AI algorithms for early detection of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer and the use of edge computing in wearable devices to detect the spread of infectious diseases. In addition to discussing the challenges and limitations of Edge AI in early health prediction, this article emphasizes future research directions to address these concerns and the integration with existing healthcare systems and explore the full potential of these technologies in improving public health.

Understanding Lattice Oxygen Redox Behavior in Lithium‐Rich Manganese‐Based Layered Oxides for Lithium‐Ion and Lithium‐Metal Batteries from Reaction Mechanisms to Regulation Strategies

AbstractLithium‐rich manganese‐based layered oxides (LMLOs) are considered to be one type of the most promising materials for next‐generation cathodes of lithium batteries due to their distinctive anionic redox processes contributing ultrahigh capacity and energy density. Unfortunately, their practical applications are still plagued by several challenges such as undesirable interfacial reactions and structural evolution, as well as voltage hysteresis/recession, in which irreversible anionic redox behavior bears the brunt as the primacy factor. Undoubtedly, a deep understanding of anionic redox reaction mechanisms and irreversible behavior of oxygen species is crucial in order to provide essential guidance for modification strategies for LMLOs. In this paper, the fundamental understanding of intricate anionic redox reaction mechanisms from thermodynamics models to kinetic anionic redox reaction pathways is comprehensively reviewed, and the existing challenges of LMLOs related with irreversible oxygen reaction behavior are analyzed. Furthermore, numerous representative modification strategies for overcoming these challenges, coupled with their underlying mechanisms for regulating anionic redox reversibility are summarized. In addition, the aspects of multi‐scale structural modifications, integration of interdisciplinary technologies, and application in quasi‐/all‐solid‐state battery systems are given some emphasis in terms of further improvement of LMLOs‐based cathode materials for advanced lithium batteries‐based energy storage systems.

DFT-Spread Orthogonal Time Frequency Space System With Superimposed Pilots for Terahertz Integrated Sensing and Communication

Terahertz (THz) integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) is a promising interdisciplinary technology that realizes simultaneously transmitting Terabit-per-second (Tbps) and millimeter-level accurate environment or human activity sensing. However, both communication performance and sensing accuracy are influenced by the Doppler effects, which are especially severe in the THz band. Moreover, peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) degrades the THz power amplifier (PA) efficiency. In this paper, a discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal time frequency space (DFT-s-OTFS) system with superimposed pilots is proposed to improve the robustness to Doppler effects and reduce PAPR for THz ISAC. Then, a two-phase sensing parameter estimation algorithm is developed to integrate sensing functionality into the DFT-s-OTFS waveform. Meanwhile, a low-complexity iterative channel estimation and data detection method with a conjugate gradient based equalizer is proposed to recover the data symbols of DFT-s-OTFS. The proposed DFT-s-OTFS waveform can improve the PA efficiency by 10% on average compared to OTFS. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed two-phase sensing estimation algorithm for THz DFT-s-OTFS systems is able to realize millimeter-level range estimation accuracy and decimeter-per-second-level velocity estimation accuracy. Moreover, the effectiveness of the iterative method for data detection aided by superimposed pilots in DFT-s-OTFS systems is validated by the simulations and the bit error rate performance is not degraded by the Doppler effects.

Проектная подготовка будущих инженеров в интересах устойчивого развития

Education as the main driver of sustainable development is recognized as the motto for the forthcoming evolution of civilization. All over the world, there is an intensive search for new models of the 21st century education, engineering education in particular, that could meet the needs of the present and future generations, aimed at preserving the natural environment and resources necessary for sustaining human life. The article outlines the optimal contours for a new concept of sustainable development, which will be introduced into education in the near future. The modern content of the project training for future engineers is considered, the absence of interdisciplinary engineering project training in educational programs of various levels is noted: the case of Volgograd State Technical University (VSTU). According to the author, at the present time there are big changes in the educational programs of engineering training, and the return of engineering project training to academic interdisciplinary is in demand. In addition, interdisciplinary course/final degree projects should provide for a comprehensive socio-humanitarian expert examination of engineering design solutions, initiating students to acquire experience in environmentally and anthropologically oriented engineering and design activities that meet the needs of the time.

Current Status Of Global Engineering Education: Mini Review

This mini review addresses global engineering education, its diversity, its challenges, and its geographical disparities. Engineering education is essential to sustainable development. The review stresses the need for interdisciplinary engineering that considers social, economic, and environmental concerns. Specialised engineering education packages are increasingly emphasising sustainability. This combination gives engineers the knowledge and abilities to create solutions that meet present needs while preserving resources and future generations. Despite its importance, this brief study highlights global engineering education challenges. Access to high-quality education is unequal, favouring pupils with strong math and science backgrounds. The lack of academic and student diversity may limit perspectives and innovation. Curriculum should also adapt to rapid technological change and industry needs. Internationalising engineering education is complicated by varied standards and teaching methods in different nations, making global comparison and collaboration difficult. The review compares educational systems in India, Malaysia, the US, the UK, China, Australia, Germany, and Indonesia. Regional variances are monitored by certification authorities to ensure compliance with local industry standards. The study emphasises the need for a flexible, well-planned curriculum. Optimal curriculum should align educational goals with industry-specific competencies, be flexible to meet technological developments, and be interdisciplinary. This aims not only meet student educational and career goals but also ensure a workforce with the skills and knowledge to address today's important concerns, particularly sustainability.

Cryptos Control of Humanoid Intelligent Digital Twin Based on Spectral and Holographic Approaches

A person perceives his environment through the influence of various complexes of conjugated vibrations on the eyes, ears and other sensitive components of the body. The psyche and neural systems of a person form the impression of vibration impact. The mind creates a language equivalent and connects it with the impression that has formed. Communication links are formed between impressions and language equivalents. Live vibrational information involves a person in a communicative creative process. In the creative communicative process, human intelligence develops. The combination of modern interdisciplinary technologies can contribute to the creation of an intelligent digital twin, similar to humans on spectral and holographic principles, relying on achievements in the field of artificial intelligence. The digital twin fixes the effects of the environment in the form of a spectrogram, and stores the effect result in the form of a hologram. Multilayer neural network systems with additional training work with spectra and holograms and their communications. Language communications are associated with spectra, holograms and their communications. A humanoid digital twin with an ensemble of intellectual agents will be able to form and develop intelligence in interaction with similar digital twins and people.

(Invited) micro-Nanoscale Living Lasers for Healthcare Applications

Have you imagined of carrying a laser in your cell or body? Lasers are ubiquitous in our daily lives from industry, communication to medicine. The scale of lasers has also shrunk down to micron and nanoscales. As the scale of laser become smaller, the functions of lasers have also been redefined by transforming living biologicals into micro- and nanoscale lasers, so called living lasers. Such tiny lasers could therefore be used to detect or monitor critical chemical or physical signals in living cells or human body with distinctive sensitivity and intensity. In this talk, I will introduce the recent development of biological lasers and showcase how this interdisciplinary technology bridges laser physics and biology to tackle biomedical problems. In the first part, the talk will be focused on its application in detecting cancer and neurological diseases. In the second part, I will introduce how tiny lasers can be transformed with intelligent functions for information encoding and healthcare. This will cover applications including sensing at multiscales in biology, imaging in tissues, tracking and monitoring, as well as biomedical devices. Finally, discussion and outlook will be made on the strategies to pioneer novel on-chip and wearable laser devices for future medical diagnosis and bio-intelligent technology. Figure 1

Teaching embedded control system design of electromechanical devices using a lab-scale smart farming system

This article presents the design and monitoring of a lab-scale smart farming system through the integration of control and app designs that can be used for teaching embedded control application to electromechanical systems. A combination of sensors and actuators is used to develop an Arduino-based embedded feedback control system that could be implemented in a smart farming environment. Specifically, we look at controlling electromechanical devices to actuate the fan and water pump to provide the optimal temperature and moisture, respectively, to enhance plant growth in a smart farming setting. The effectiveness of the feedback control is tested by conducting a plant growth experiment. Using garden cress ( Lepidium sativum) as a case study, the plant grown in the controlled temperature and moisture settings shows substantially healthier growth compared to the one grown in the non-controlled environment. In addition, an app is designed and developed to transform the Arduino data stream from the sensors into valuable insights that could help the users to monitor and improve the overall crop health. The developed system in this paper enables students to learn integral skills from interdisciplinary engineering fields (e.g. systems, control, mechanical and computer) to solve an agricultural problem.

Data management of process plants as complex systems: systematic literature review and identification of challenges and opportunities

Abstract Led by the manufacturing industry, virtual replicas of production systems also known as digital twins (DTs) are gradually moving into all areas of industry. Their advantages are characterized by the possibility of product optimization, simulations, improved monitoring and prediction of downtimes and optimized maintenance, to name just a few. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) of process plants as mechatronic systems is characterized by a high degree of project-specific modifications and interdisciplinary engineering effort with low reusability, in contrast to unit-production-driven areas such as automotive. This results in a high cost-benefit ratio for the creation of DTs over the life cycle of process plants, especially when suppliers are integrated into the value chain. The objective of this paper is to analyze the state of plant lifecycle management, data exchange and the possibilities of optimized supplier integration during the planning and EPC of process plants regarding DT creation and usage. Three research questions (RQs) were used to narrow down a total of 356 identified publications to 54, which were then examined. The papers covered a variety of topics, including combining discipline-specific models, plant management approaches and the combination of both.

Engineering thermochemistry to cope with challenges in carbon neutrality

More than 90% of anthropogenic carbon emissions are from uses of organic carbon resources and carbonate minerals that cannot be abandoned any time soon. In this context, we have realized that the most effective strategy to cope with carbon-neutral challenges is to focus on a few super-emitters, which are all associated with heat-induced or heat-driven thermochemical reactions. To assist in reducing CO2 emissions from these super-emitters, we introduce an emerging interdisciplinary Engineering Thermochemistry (ETC) that focuses on heat-induced/driven thermochemical reactions and their engineering. Combined with some exemplary processes, we demonstrate how and why ETC can play a vital role in innovating CO2 super-emitting processes to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions substantially at the scale of several billion tons. The approaches discussed in this study can help governments and researchers to establish applicable policies and develop practical techniques to meet the challenges of CO2 emission reductions toward a green and carbon-neutral future.

INTERDISCIPLINARY TECHNOLOGIES OF THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT PSYCHOLOGY

The article examines the presence of interdisciplinary technologies in the theory and practice of marketing and management psychology. It is substantiated that interdisciplinary technologies are used in practical activities using interdisciplinary theoretical knowledge at the intersection of sciences that have points of contact and are aimed at achieving common strategic goals. It is substantiated that the integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills within the framework of marketing and management psychology comprehensively reveals the meaning of the same concepts, methods, tools, and allows to create modern interdisciplinary marketing technologies. The presence of interdisciplinary connections, which are based on an interdisciplinary approach and the complexity of knowledge from individual academic disciplines or elements of disciplines, and are actively used by various sciences that have a common interest in several directions, has been proven. This approach allows you to use various integrative theoretical approaches and practical methods in marketing and management psychology. It was found that the interdisciplinary connection between the theory and practice of marketing and management psychology is formed on the basis of management of traditional and modern concepts: strategic marketing, marketing, emotional marketing, management psychology, management of interaction with consumers, branding, marketing - MIX, company promotion and of the product to consumer markets. It is substantiated that in all modern marketing functions there are interdisciplinary connections of marketing and management psychology. It has been proven that modern marketing in practice actively uses technologies based on interdisciplinary connections and interdisciplinary approaches from marketing and management psychology, which is reflected in emotional marketing. The concept of business and marketing technologies is considered. It is proposed to introduce the concept of interdisciplinary technologies and the concept of marketing interdisciplinary technologies, which are based on interdisciplinary technologies, marketing and management psychology.

Toward best practices in embedded ethics: Suggestions for interdisciplinary technology development

With current developments in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) comes an increased focus on the ethical production and use of such novel technologies. Accordingly, a trend toward “embedded ethics” is seen in recent research, reflecting an increase in efforts to integrate social and ethical considerations in computer science education and early in the development phases of AI and robotics. What remains to be established, however, is a more concrete understanding of the best working modalities for such interdisciplinary collaborations. In this brief discussion paper, we provide reflections derived from our interdisciplinary Responsible Robotics project which integrates ethicists and social scientists at early stages of development. We put forward several suggestions on how to integrate ethics and social science within technological development. We believe these suggestions can serve as a working taxonomy of best practices for embedded ethics.

Imageable AuNP-ECM Hydrogel Tissue Implants for Regenerative Medicine.

In myocardial infarction, a blockage in one of the coronary arteries leads to ischemic conditions in the left ventricle of the myocardium and, therefore, to significant death of contractile cardiac cells. This process leads to the formation of scar tissue, which reduces heart functionality. Cardiac tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary technology that treats the injured myocardium and improves its functionality. However, in many cases, mainly when employing injectable hydrogels, the treatment may be partial because it does not fully cover the diseased area and, therefore, may not be effective and even cause conduction disorders. Here, we report a hybrid nanocomposite material composed of gold nanoparticles and an extracellular matrix-based hydrogel. Such a hybrid hydrogel could support cardiac cell growth and promote cardiac tissue assembly. After injection of the hybrid material into the diseased area of the heart, it could be efficiently imaged by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Furthermore, as the scar tissue could also be detected by MRI, a distinction between the diseased area and the treatment could be made, providing information about the ability of the hydrogel to cover the scar. We envision that such a nanocomposite hydrogel may improve the accuracy of tissue engineering treatment.