Low-cost Production Research Articles

Routine childhood rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis can be cost effective in low- and middle-income countries.

Pre-exposure prophylactic rabies vaccination (PrEP) is advised for travellers to countries with high rabies incidence, but rarely available for local residents. Some studies suggest poor cost-effectiveness of PrEP in such settings, but have generally focused upon post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) cost savings as the main benefit of PrEP, without considering lives saved by PrEP efficacy. We compared incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of use of rabies PrEP, against an alternative of using only PEP, by adapting a decision-tree model previously used to inform Gavi's investment in rabies PEP. We consider scenarios including: a range of PrEP efficacies in individuals unable to access PEP; PrEP costs significantly below current prices (through single-dose approaches, inclusion in childhood vaccination schedules, increased manufacturing volume and/or new low-cost products); and variable rabies exposure risk and PEP access. We also present results from a simplified model, designed for ease of understanding. Modelled ICERs were<1000 USD per quality adjusted life year (QALY) across a range of plausible combinations of rabies exposure risk, PEP access, PrEP cost and PrEP efficacy. If PrEP efficacy exceeds 50% over 15years, we estimate ICERs <500 USD/QALY where rabies incidence ≥3 per 100,000 per year and cost of vaccination is ≤5 USD/child. Under scenarios with lower rabies incidence of around 0.3 per 100,000 per year, due either to more limited exposure or greater access to PEP, ICERs <3000 USD may still be achieved even if PrEP efficacy is as low as 30%. Routine childhood PrEP may be cost-effective in settings with modest willingness-to-pay, and rabies exposure risks plausible across much of Africa and South Asia. Cost-effectiveness requires low-cost PrEP regimes and some efficacy of PrEP in individuals unable to access PEP. Under such conditions, PrEP may be an attractive additional tool in the fight against rabies.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for improved cofactor regeneration in lactate to acetoin via whole-cell conversion

Background: Acetoin is a crucial intermediate in asymmetric syntheses of high-value chemicals and pharmaceuticals. However, its production still relies on traditional fossil-based processes. Developing efficient microbial cell factories for green and low-cost acetoin production is urgently needed. Methods: Acetoin was produced from inexpensive and shortcut lactate substrate using whole-cell Escherichia coli through overexpression of highly active α-acetolactate synthetase and decarboxylase from Bacillus subtilis (annotated as SD). Precise stepwise optimization of pathway and enzymatic reaction was executed by (1) harboring the most efficient cofactor-regenerating system, (2) tuning expression design, (3) disrupting byproduct pathway, and (4) optimizing a series of biotransformation parameters. Significant Findings: The recombinant E. coli successfully produced acetoin. The titer was gradually increased by expressing a pyruvate-producing gene from NAD+ dependent or independent system and its cofactor regeneration systems. Co-expressing lactate oxidase (lox) and catalase (cat) achieved a conversion efficiency of 50% and eliminated NAD+ usage. The conversion efficiency was further pulled by knocking out acetate-generating genes (pta and poxB), thus boosting acetoin conversion to 92.4%. Under optimized whole-cell biotransformation parameters, the highest acetoin titer reached 20.6 g/L within 30 h. This work provides an economical biomanufacturing process for acetoin from lactate via whole-cell bioconversion with remarkable yield.

Agro-Industrial Wastes as Low-Cost Production Media for the Phytochemical Constitutes and Biological Activity of Cadophora sp. (strain MERV20-1)

Agro-Industrial Wastes as Low-Cost Production Media for the Phytochemical Constitutes and Biological Activity of Cadophora sp. (strain MERV20-1)

From Efficiency to Growth Strategy Along the Global Value Chains

Offshore outsourcing has been considered a low cost production site. There is rare studies that addressed the offshore outsourcing strategy as a growth strategy where offshoring focal firm can develop their capabilities for competitive advantage. This paper explores how SMEs enhance their dynamic capabilities by entering into offshore outsourcing relationships. The dynamic capabilities development process includes increasing focus on the Core competency, developing innovation capabilities, increasing market share in existing and/or new markets, and improving its flexibility to face the dynamic business ecosystem. This exploratory case study on ten manufacturing SMEs from Quebec (Canada) shows that offshore outsourcing contributes to developing dynamic capabilities with varying degrees of success. It shows an evolutionary path of the dynamic capability development process. Managers can enhance their understanding on how offshoring can enable firms to improve their dynamic capabilities to face challenging business eco-system and remain competitive in the high cost countries (HCC).

Plant-Based Antigen Production Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein and RBD and Its Application for Detection of Antibody Responses in COVID-19 Patients

During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the development of efficient serological tests for monitoring the dynamics of the disease as well as the immune response after illness or vaccination was critical. In this regard, low-cost and fast production of immunogenic antigens is essential for the rapid development of diagnostic serological kits. This study assessed the plant-based production of nucleoprotein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 and chimeric receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 presented by hepatitis E virus capsid (HEV/RBD) and validation of the plant-derived proteins as diagnostic antigens for serological tests. The target proteins were expressed in and purified from Nicotiana benthamiana plants. The resulting yield of chimeric HEV/RBD protein reached 100 mg/kg fresh weight and 30 mg/kg fresh weight for N protein. The purified N protein and HEV/RBD protein were used to develop an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) for the detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human sera. To validate the iELISA tests, a panel of 84 sera from patients diagnosed with COVID-19 was used, and the results were compared to those obtained by another commercially available ELISA kit (Dia.Pro D. B., Sesto San Giovanni, Italy). The performance of an HEV/RBD in-house ELISA showed a sensitivity of 89.58% (95% Cl: 75.23–95.37) and a specificity of 94.44% (95% Cl: 76.94–98.2). Double Recognition iELISA based on HEV/RBD and N protein is characterized by a lower sensitivity of 85.42% (95% Cl: 72.24–93.93) and specificity of 94.44% (95% Cl: 81.34–99.32) at cut-off = 0.154, compared with iELISA based on HEV/RBD. Our study confirms that N and fusion HEV/RBD proteins, which are transiently expressed in plants, can be used to detect responses to SARS-CoV-2 in human sera reliably. Our research validates the commercial potential of using plants as an expression system for recombinant protein production and their application as diagnostic reagents for serological detection of infectious diseases, hence lowering the cost of diagnostic kits.

Releasing Intramolecular Stress of Curved Fused‐Core to Enhance n‐Type Carrier Transport Performance in A‐D‐A’‐D‐A Type Non‐Fused Small Molecule

N‐type organic semiconductors based on non‐fused rings offer concise synthesis routes and low–cost production. Leveraging intramolecular non‐covalent interactions, non‐fused organic semiconductors can achieve fine regulation of molecular spatial configurations, thereby influencing the electrical performance. Herein, we successfully developed a non‐fused n‐type organic semiconductor with an A‐D‐A'‐D‐A structure, designated as IMIC. Compared to the fused A‐DA'D‐A molecule, IMIC not only simplifies the synthetic steps but also significantly improves solubility and optical absorption properties. The non‐fused molecular architecture relieves the internal stress of rigid, curved polycyclic fused rings, granting greater spatial freedom to the components of the IMIC molecule, which is conducive to optimizing the spatial configuration of the molecule in the aggregated state. Ultimately, the electron mobility of OFET devices based on IMIC is tripled compared to TIIC, reaching 1.1×10‐3 cm2 V‐1 s‐1 in ambient conditions.

Electrical Contacts to Graphene by Postgrowth Patterning of Cu Foil for the Low-Cost Scalable Production of Graphene-Based Flexible Electronics.

Numerous studies have focused on graphene owing to its potential as a next-generation electronic material, considering its high conductivity, transparency, superior mechanical stiffness, and flexibility. However, cost-effective mass production of graphene-based electronics based on existing fabrication methods, such as graphene transfer and metal formation, remains a challenge. This study proposes a simple and efficient method for creating electrical contacts with graphene. The method involves patterning a Cu foil after graphene growth, enabling the low-cost scalable production of graphene-based flexible electronics. The fabricated graphene devices exhibited linear current-voltage characteristics, indicating good electrical contact between the postgrowth-patterned Cu electrodes and graphene. The proposed postgrowth patterning method allows for the fabrication of Cu-contacted graphene devices on large areas and various flexible substrates, including ultrathin and stretchable films (<10 μm). The feasibility of the proposed method for electronic devices was demonstrated by implementing gas and flexible force sensors. The proposed approach advances the field of graphene-based electronics and holds potential for practical applications in various electronic devices, paving the way for scalable, cost-effective, and flexible technology solutions.

Review—Carbon-Based Multi-Functional E-Inks for Full Printed Tattoo-Like Sensing Systems

Abstract This review explores the advancements in carbon-based multifunctional electronic inks (CMFEIs) for the development of fully printed, tattoo-like sensing systems. CMFEIs, comprising materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, and carbon black, offer a unique combination of biocompatibility, mechanical flexibility, and electrical conductivity, making them ideal for wearable electronic applications. We highlight the synthesis, properties, and applications of these inks in creating sensors for monitoring physiological parameters, such as heart rate, temperature, and sweat composition. Notably, the work emphasizes the development of scalable, low-cost production methods that enable the mass production of these sensors without compromising performance. Additionally, it introduces novel fabrication techniques, such as inkjet printing and roll-to-roll processing, that enhance the resolution and flexibility of the sensors, ensuring their seamless integration with the skin. This review also addresses the environmental impact of CMFEIs, emphasizing their potential for sustainable healthcare and flexible electronics. The findings reveal CMFEIs potential to revolutionize wearable technologies by enabling the creation of highly sensitive, low-cost, and flexible sensors that could be widely used in biomedical monitoring, environmental sensing, and smart healthcare systems. This work presents a transformative outlook on the future of wearable electronics and the integration of CMFEIs in next-generation sensing technologies.

Unveiling the amalgamation of growing substrates and cultivars for low-cost plantlet multiplication in banana

The cultivated bananas (Musa spp.) have a complex reproductive physiology which favours the vegetative methods of propagation, particularly sucker or tissue culture, as the commercial methods. Propagation of banana through macro-propagation technique can be employed to produce quality planting materials using less inputs. With this background, a scientifically designed investigation was carried out for optimizing composition of growing substrate for low-cost planting material production in banana. This study investigates the efficacy of macro-propagation techniques using different growing substrates and bio-fertilizers for two banana cultivars: ‘Grand Naine, AAA’ and ‘Alpan, AAB’. The experiment was laid out in complete randomized design (CRD) with eight different combinations of growing substrate with five replications. Results showed significant differences in the emergence of primary, secondary and tertiary buds, as well as root development. The treatment comprising sawdust (50 %) and banana fiber waste (50 %) with Trichoderma consistently outperformed others in terms of days taken primary (21.45), secondary (46.91) & tertiary bud emergence (58.99), and maximum number of primary (4.21), secondary (7.16) & tertiary shoots (19.91). Same growing media also recorded minimum days taken for root emergence (17.61 days), maximum number of roots per shoot (161.10), primary roots (24.89), secondary roots (46.32), tertiary roots (89.90) & highest root length (21.88 cm). The cultivar ‘Grand Naine, AAA’ exhibited superior performance across most parameters compared to ‘Alpan, AAB’. Overall, the treatment comprising sawdust (50 %) and banana fiber waste (50 %) with Trichoderma found to be a cost-effective and efficient method for producing high-quality banana planting materials, enhancing banana production and sustainability.

Sustainable and energy-saving hydrogen production via binder-free and in situ electrodeposited Ni-Mn-S nanowires on Ni-Cu 3-D substrates.

Electrochemical water splitting, with its oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), is undoubtedly the most eco-friendly and sustainable method to produce hydrogen. However, water splitting still requires improvement due to the high energy consumption caused by the slow kinetics and large thermodynamic potential requirements of OER. Urea-water electrolysis has become increasingly appealing compared to water-splitting because of the remarkable decline in the cell potential in the hydrogen production process and less energy consumption; it also offers a favorable opportunity to efficiently treat wastewater containing a significant amount of urea. In this work, Ni-Mn-S/Ni-Cu nano-micro array electrocatalysts were synthesized by a two-step and binder-free electrochemical deposition technique and investigated as an effective electrode for the HER and urea oxidation reaction (UOR). According to the electrochemical results, the optimized electrode (Ni-Mn-S/Ni-Cu/10) showed excellent electrocatalytic activity for the HER (64 mV overpotential to achieve the current density of 10 mA cm-2 and Tafel slope of 81 mV dec-1) in alkaline solution. When Ni-Mn-S/Ni-Cu/10 is employed as a UOR anode in an alkaline solution containing urea, it achieves a current density of 10 mA cm-2 at 1.247 V vs. RHE. In addition, when the optimized sample was utilized as a bi-functional electrode for overall urea-water electrolysis (HER-UOR), the cell voltage reached 1.302 V at 10 mA cm-2 (which is 141 mV less than that for HER-OER). The electrocatalytic stability results unequivocally revealed small changes in voltage during a 24 h test and showed good durability. This non-noble metal electrocatalyst, prepared by the electrodeposition synthesis method, is a promising solution to implement low-cost hydrogen production and wastewater treatment.

Electrolessly Deposited Cobalt–Phosphorus Coatings for Efficient Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution Reactions

Hydrogen production via water splitting is one of the latest low-cost green hydrogen production technologies. The challenge is to develop inexpensive and highly active catalysts. Herein, we present the preparation of electrocatalysts based on cobalt–phosphorus (Co-P) coatings with different P contents for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). The Co-P coatings were deposited on the copper (Cu) surface using the economical and simple method of electroless metal deposition. The morphology, structure, and composition of the Co-P coatings deposited on the Cu surface were studied via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), while their activity for HER and OER in 1 M KOH was investigated using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and chrono-techniques. It was found that the catalyst activity for both HER and OER depends on the P content of the catalyst and varies based on the highest efficiency for each reaction. The Co-P coating with 11 wt% P exhibited the lowest overpotential value of 98.9 mV for the HER to obtain a current density of 10 mA cm−2 compared to the Co-P coatings with 8, 5, 1.6, and 0.4 wt% P (107.6, 165.9, 218.2, and 253.9 mV, respectively). In contrast, the lowest OER overpotential (378 mV) was observed for the Co-P coating with 8 wt% P to obtain a current density of 10 mA cm−2 as compared to the Co-P coatings with 5, 11, 1.6, and 0.4 wt% P (400, 413, 434, and 434 mV, respectively). These results suggest that the obtained catalysts are suitable for HER and OER in alkaline media.

Food Styling and Food Photography with Generative AI

In the research, 8 dishes from Turkish Cuisine (İmambayıldı and zeytinyağlı enginar (artichoke with olive oil) for the olive oil theme, Adana kebab and Hünkâr beğendi for the main course theme, fırında sütlaç (baked rice pudding) and pumpkin dessert for the dessert theme, çay (Turkish tea) and Turkish coffee for the beverage theme) were produced separately using Adobe Firefly 3 and Dall-E 3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, and the same number of real food photographs were added to them. Thirty-one volunteer professional food stylists and photographers participated in the study. Consequently, a total of 24 food images were created and evaluated by professionals according to aesthetic criteria. The participants indicated that there is no significant difference between food photos produced according to AI 1 application and real food photos. There was no significant difference between half of the photos produced with the AI 2 application and real food photos. There is a significant difference between 5 food images between the two AI applications. Participants emphasize low cost, fast and flexible production as strengths in the use of AI applications in food styling and photography. Weaknesses include surreal image production and aesthetic concerns. The potential opportunities include the acquisition of new perspectives, innovation and creativity. Conversely, the potential threats to be considered include ethical and moral concerns and copyright issues, as well as the risk of over-dependence on AI tools and the possibility of job losses.

Results of an expedition survey on population of rare, aboriginal, local and endangered Brown Carpathian cows

From the expedition survey of the cow’s population, it appears that 7 breeds and genotypes of cattle are bred in Transcarpathia, part of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The materials presented in the work and their analysis show that during the years 1911-2023 there were changes in the breed composition and numbers. The state of distribution, the number of breeding stock of one of them - a rare, aboriginal, local and disappearing brown Carpathian breed is currently insufficiently studied. From a scientific point of view it represents a valuable object of preserving the biological diversity of cattle and establishing the history of the development of cattle breeding. From a practical point of view - with low-cost production technologies, it provides high-quality milk and meat to the local population, the stability of ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole. It provides also the sustainable development of the regional communities and international cooperation. In the current and future global warming and energy crisis, this breed is suitable for operation under the conditions of application of new "Green Architecture" technologies recommended by the European Commission, which fundamentally change traditional approaches in dairy farming. The results of our research will help clarify the status of the brown Carpathian breed, the number of cows and the breeding area as well as draw attention to the problems of implementation of the provided protection and conservation measures, their financing mechanisms.

Ultrahigh-gain colloidal quantum dot infrared avalanche photodetectors.

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are promising for infrared photodetectors with high detectivity and low-cost production. Although CQDs enable photoinduced charge multiplication, thermal noise in low-bandgap materials limits their performance in IR detectors. Here we present a pioneering architecture of a CQD-based infrared photodetector that uses kinetically pumped avalanche multiplication. By applying a strong electric field to a thick CQD layer (>540 nm), electrons acquire kinetic energy beyond the bandgap of the CQD material, initiating kinetically pumped charge multiplication. Optimizing the dot-to-dot distance to approximately 4.1 nm improves performance by balancing impact ionization and electron hopping. Our optimized CQD-based infrared photodetector achieved a maximum multiplication gain of 85 and a peak detectivity of 1.4 × 1014 Jones at 940 nm. This architecture offers potential for single-photon detection and ultrahigh detectivity applications.

Unlocking Photosynthetic Potential: Harnessing Rosa roxburghii Derived Carbon Dots as Nanofertilizers for Enhanced Plant Growth.

The synthesis of nanomaterials from renewable resources has emerged as an environmentally friendly alternative. This approach helps to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural production, further reducing the potential harm to the ecosystem and effectively reducing the burden on the environment. In this work, we synthesized Rosa roxburghii derived carbon dots (CDs) using the microwave hydrothermal method (RR-CDs) and the electrolytic oxidation method (GRR-CDs), and the results showed that RR-CDs had a wider ultraviolet absorption range and emitted blue fluorescence. These properties make RR-CDs more effective as light-harvesting materials in plants, thus promoting photosynthesis. In the cultivation of lettuce, RR-CDs significantly enhanced both the biomass and the quality of the lettuce. In addition, compared to the control group, the chlorophyll content of lettuce treated with RR-CDs increased by 31.83%, the net photosynthetic rate increased by 60.76%, and the electron transport rate of photosystem II increased by 38.72%. Therefore, we found that the microwave hydrothermal method could bring better benefits, with a yield of up to 40.20% after just 2 h of reaction. RR-CDs promote photosynthesis by promoting light conversion and improving nutrient efficiency while also boasting the dual advantages of low cost and easy large-scale production, thus opening up avenues for sustainable agricultural production.

Efficient Production of N-Acetyl-β-D-Glucosamine from Shrimp Shell Powder Using Chitinolytic Enzyme Cocktail with β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase from Domesticated Microbiome Metagenomes

The conventional methods used to produce N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) from seafood waste require pretreatment steps that use acids or bases to achieve the extraction and decrystallization of chitin prior to enzymatic conversion. The development of an enzymatic conversion method that does not require the pretreatment of seafood waste is essential for the efficient and clean production of GlcNAc. In this study, the annotated metagenomic assembly data of domesticated microbiota (XHQ10) were analyzed to identify carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), and an in-depth analysis of the high-quality genome FS13.1, which was obtained from metagenomic binning, was performed; this enabled us to elucidate the catabolic mechanism of XHQ10 by using shrimp shell chitin as a carbon and nitrogen source. The only β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (named XmGlcNAcase) was cloned from FS13.1 and biochemically characterized. The direct production of GlcNAc from shrimp shell powder (SSP) via the use of a chitin enzyme cocktail was evaluated. Under the action of a chitin enzyme cocktail containing 5% recombinant XmGlcNAcase and a crude XHQ10 enzyme solution, the yield and purity of the final conversion of SSP to GlcNAc were 2.57 g/L and 82%, respectively. This is the first time that metagene-derived GlcNAcase has been utilized to achieve the enzymatic conversion of untreated seafood waste, laying the foundation for the low-cost and sustainable production of GlcNAc.

Physico-chemical and Sensory Analysis of Calcium-Fortified Cracker with Cricket Protein Source

Calcium (Ca) deficiency is a major public health problem that leads to bone health complications. This study aimed to develop a Ca-fortified cracker with a cricket protein source, a high-quality alternative source of protein that involves low-cost production. Four recipes of the cracker with cricket protein (Acheta domesticus) were prepared; control recipe, 15% of Ca by RDA per serving recipe (15% formula), 25% of Ca by RDA per serving recipe (25% formula), and 50% of Ca by RDA per serving recipe (50% formula). All recipes were assessed for satisfaction by 30 participants using the sensory evaluation method. The Ca-fortified cracker recipe which obtained the most acceptable rating by participants was sent for analysis, together with the control recipe. The findings of this study indicated that the 50% formula obtained significantly higher scores in taste and texture when compared with the other two Ca-fortified recipes (p&lt;0.05). In addition, its overall satisfaction score stayed at an acceptable level. The proximate analytical results indicated there were comparable results between the 50% recipe and control recipe, such as ash (2.42 g/100g for 50% recipe and 2.03 g/100g for control), moisture (3.66 g/100g for 50% recipe 2.99 g/100g for control), and protein (4.46 g/100g for 50% recipe and 4.33 g/100g for control). For Ca, the 50% recipe obtained Ca 183.38 mg/100g and the control recipe obtained 68.89 mg/100g. In conclusion, the cracker recipe with cricket protein contained 50% of Ca by RDA per serving, was acceptable to participants and comparable on proximate composition with the control recipe.

Brazilian Food Waste as a Substrate for Bioethanol Production.

Food waste (FW) is a common source of contamination, contaminating both soils and water bodies by releasing greenhouse gases. FW holds great potential for biofuel and bioproduct production, which can mitigate its environmental impact and become a valuable addition to the circular bioeconomy. Therefore, this work aimed to investigate the use of food waste as a substrate to produce fermentable sugars and bioethanol. FW was pretreated by lipid removal. Raw and treated FW was hydrolyzed by amylases. Also, FW was hydrolyzed using sulfuric acid under different residence times (20, 40, and 60 min), sulfuric acid concentrations (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% v·v-1), solid loads (5, 10, and 15% m·v-1), and temperatures (111, 120, and 127 °C). The best reducing sugar concentration was obtained at a 1.5% concentration of sulfuric acid and a 15% solid load applied for 1 h at 127 °C. The acid hydrolysis process was more efficient (76.26% efficiency) than the enzymatic one (72.7%). Bioethanol production was carried out as static submerged fermentation, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 10% (humidity m·v-1) being used as the producer and the acid and enzymatic hydrolysates being used as carbon sources. Lipid removal from FW did not influence the acid or enzymatic hydrolytic processes. For fermentation, the highest bioethanol yield was obtained from the acid hydrolysate of raw FW (0.49 kg·kg glicose-1). Thus, the processes used were efficient for bioethanol production, presenting alternatives for sustainable food waste destinations and low-cost biofuel production.

A novel 3D-printed clamping interface for the tensile testing of biological specimens

A novel 3D-printed clamping interface was designed to address challenges associated with the tensile testing of soft biological tissues, particularly specimen slippage and failure at the grips. To improve specimen adherence, four contact patterns, based on retrograde teeth, serrated, atraumatic wavy teeth, and flower patterns, were added to the interface surface. A smooth transition was considered to diminish the likelihood of transverse cutting of specimens. The 3D-printed clamping interface was produced using additive manufacturing. We performed tensile tests on porcine skin specimens considering the original serrated jaw faces (reference condition), the jaw faces with sandpaper, and the 3D-printed clamping interface with and without contact patterns. The maximum force supported by the specimens (before slippage or failure), for each test condition, was compared using statistical analysis (statistical level of p < 0.05). Compared to the reference condition (148.50 ± 31.71 N), we observed significant improvements for the 3D-printed clamping interface with the retrograde teeth (247.41 ± 31.17 N, p ≤ 0.001) and flower (220.40 ± 19.86 N, p = 0.004) contact patterns. In the reference condition, failure mostly occurred at the grips. The use of the 3D-printed clamping interface reduced the spreading of the fibers, promoting failure within the gauge section. Additionally, we observed a reduction in tissue damage at the grips for the flower and atraumatic wavy teeth conditions. In conclusion, the proposed 3D-printed clamping interface significantly improved the adherence of the porcine skin specimens while promoting failure within the gauge section. This approach can be easily customized to the available grips, has a low-cost and fast production, and uses easily accessible technology.

Thermochemical effects in hydrogen production with a dissolvable aluminum anode system

This study presents the results of experimental determination and theoretical calculations of the thermal effect of aluminum dissolution in alkaline solutions accompanied by hydrogen evolution. The experiments were conducted using an EK1 calorimeter, with temperature measurements recorded every 10 seconds. Potassium hydroxide solutions with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5 mol/L were utilized. It was demonstrated that the temperature variation curves over time, the temperature dynamics at different solution concentrations, and the aluminum dissolution rate exhibit an S-shaped profile. The rate of aluminum dissolution in aqueous alkaline solutions depends on the KOH concentration. As the KOH concentration increases from 0.5 to 2 mol/L, the thermal effect of the reaction rises. Further increasing the alkali concentration to 5 mol/L results in almost no change in the thermal effect. The thermal effect of aluminum dissolution in 3–5 mol/L sodium hydroxide solutions was found to be 1300 J/g. The experimentally determined thermal effect falls within the range of values calculated from thermodynamic data (from 1165 to 1528 J/g). The results obtained in this study can be applied to the development of relatively low-cost hydrogen production technologies.