Production Methods Research Articles

Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment Method Based on Aczel–Alsina T-Norm and T-Conorm Under Bipolar T-Spherical Fuzzy Information: Design Scheme Selection Application

Selecting optimal design solutions is inherently complex due to multiple criteria encompassing users’ uncertain needs, experiences, and costs. This process must manage uncertainty and ambiguity, making developing a scientific, rational, and efficient guidance method imperative. Bipolar T-spherical fuzzy sets (BTSFS), a hybrid of bipolar fuzzy sets and T-spherical fuzzy sets, effectively handle the bipolarity inherent in all elements. In this work, we propose a Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method based on BTSFS and the Aczel–Alsina T-norm (AATN) and T-conorm (AATCN) to address the problem of selecting conceptual design solutions. We first establish operational rules for BTSFS using AATN and AATCN and introduce weighted aggregation operators (BTSFAAWA) and geometric aggregation operators (BTSFAAWG) while examining fundamental properties, such as idempotency, boundedness, and monotonicity. Subsequently, we propose a two-stage BTSFS-based WASPAS method; criterion weights are calculated using the BTSFAAWA operator, and final rankings are obtained through comprehensive calculations using both the weighted sum method (WSM) based on BTSFAAWA and the weighted product method (WPM) based on BTSFAAWG. Finally, we validate the effectiveness of our method through a case study of the selection of cultural and creative products. Sensitivity and comparative analyses are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of our approach.

Feasibility assessment of Low-Carbon methanol production through 4E analysis of combined cycle power generation and carbon capture Integration

This study evaluates the feasibility of producing methanol without carbon emissions Using a comprehensive 4E (energy, exergy, economic, and environmental) approach. Our study focuses on a single methanol production system, analyzing its efficiency, sustainability, and potential as a clean fuel production method so that focusing on capturing carbon dioxide from combined cycle power generation and using the generated power to produce hydrogen through ion exchange electrolysis. The systems were simulated using Aspen Plus software, considering practical constraints to align with the capacity of existing power plants. The analysis revealed that the studied methanol production systems can produce 65.3 MW of power, with a net production power of 65.2 MW available for sale to the national grid. The annual methanol production, based on 8,000 operational hours, is 46,086 tons. The cost of methanol production is estimated at $556.69 per ton, and the environmental impact rate was calculated at 0.3726 units, with an exergy efficiency of 31.63 %. The study demonstrates that methanol can be produced efficiently using carbon capture from combined cycles, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The results suggest that while the system involves high-cost equipment, it effectively balances power generation and methanol production with a relatively low environmental impact. Future research could focus on advanced exergy analysis to identify and mitigate sources of exergy destruction, as well as optimizing carbon capture configurations and integrating solar thermal energy to enhance system sustainability further.

Enhancement of Water Productivity and Energy Efficiency in Sorption-based Atmospheric Water Harvesting Systems: From Material, Component to System Level.

To address the increasingly serious water scarcity across the world, sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) continues to attract attention among various water production methods, due to it being less dependent on climatic and geographical conditions. Water productivity and energy efficiency are the two most important evaluation indicators. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively and systematically summarize and discuss the water productivity and energy efficiency enhancement methods for SAWH systems based on three levels, from material to component to system. First, the material level covers the characteristics, categories, and mechanisms of different sorbents. Second, the component level focuses on the sorbent bed, regeneration energy, and condenser. Third, the system level encompasses the system design, operation, and synergetic effect generation with other mechanisms. Specifically, the key and promising improvement methods are: synthesizing composite sorbents with high water uptake, fast sorption kinetics, and low regeneration energy (material level); improving thermal insulation between the sorbent bed and condenser, utilizing renewable energy or electrical heating for desorption and multistage design (component level); achieving continuous system operation with a desired number of sorbent beds or rotational structure, and integrating with Peltier cooling or passive radiative cooling technologies (system level). In addition, applications and challenges of SAWH systems are explored, followed by potential outlooks and future perspectives. Overall, it is expected that this review article can provide promising directions and guidelines for the design and operation of SAWH systems with the aim of achieving high water productivity and energy efficiency.

Improvement and Characterisation of the ArCLight Large-Area Dielectric Light Detector for Liquid-Argon Time Projection Chambers

The detection of scintillation light in noble-liquid detectors is necessary for identifying neutrino interaction candidates from beam, astrophysical, or solar sources. Large monolithic detectors typically have highly efficient light sensors, like photomultipliers, mounted outside their electric field. This option is not available for modular detectors that wish to maximize their active volume. The ArgonCube light readout system detectors (ArCLights) are large-area thin-wavelength-shifting (WLS) panels that can operate in highly proximate modular detectors and within the electric field. The WLS plastic forming the bulk structure of the ArCLight has Tetraphenyl Butadiene (TPB) and sheets of dichroic mirror layered across its surface. It is coupled to a set of six silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). This publication compares TPB coating techniques for large surface areas and describes quality control methods for large-scale production.

Modification of Cs/SiO2 with Zr element through sol–gel method for production of methyl methacrylate via one-step aldol condensation

Development of effective cesium-based catalyst is important for methyl methacrylate (MMA) production via one-step aldol reaction. Herein, a kind of Cs/Zr-SiO2 catalyst was prepared by sol–gel method and the acid-base properties and their balance could be controllably regulated. The influence of catalyst preparation conditions including Si/Zr ratio and water content on the structure and acid-base properties of Cs/Zr-SiO2 was demonstrated, which consequentially affected catalytic performance. The formation of Si-O-Zr and Cs-O-Si structure was identified as the dominant Lewis acid and base sites and the acid site density can be enhanced by 1-fold when using sol–gel method. In addition, the MP conversion could reach 37 % with MMA selectivity of 85 % at the optimal condition. Kinetic studies revealed that the activation barrier on the modified 10Cs/Zr-SiO2 exhibited the lowest activation energy of 110.9 kJ/mol. Besides, the initial catalytic activity could still maintain after 800 h recycling, with single-pass life of 160 h.

A novel global multi-level terrain data tile production method

Abstract. Terrain services have increasingly wide applications in urban planning, 3D gaming animation, and other fields. Map websites typically provide terrain services to users in the form of terrain shaded relief tiles. Map tile technology offers a new solution for large-scale concurrent user access. Although terrain shaded relief tiles can effectively represent changes in terrain relief, users cannot adjust the visualized raster images for visualization schemes, making data analysis and applications more challenging. The emergence of Terrain-RGB technology has effectively addressed this limitation. However, currently, internet maps mostly provide multi-level map services to users in the form of web map tile service (WMTS). Terrain-RGB images produced by simple encoding tools may exhibit grid lines when rendered on tiles with a small grid spacing, affecting the usability of Terrain-RGB products. Therefore, this paper proposes a technical approach for producing global multi-level Terrain-RGB products using digital elevation model (DEM), focusing on addressing the issues of gridlines and splicing traces from different scenes DEM data, offering a new solution for map websites to release analyzable terrain services.

Impact of Digital Villages on Agricultural Green Growth Based on Empirical Analysis of Chinese Provincial Data

The construction of digital villages has progressed in tandem with the transformation of traditional production methods, offering new perspectives for agricultural green growth and sustainable development. This study employs the entropy value method alongside the super-efficient global SBM (Slacks-Based Measure) mixed function model, which assesses efficiency by accounting for both inputs and outputs, thereby facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural green growth. This methodology facilitates the examination of the correlation between digital villages and agricultural green growth, as well as the influence of digital villages on this growth. Furthermore, the utilization of financial resources is employed as a mediating variable to elucidate the mechanism of action. The utilization of green finance and agricultural insurance can be facilitated by the establishment of digital villages, and that has been shown to promote agricultural green growth. Additionally, the promotion of agricultural green growth by digital village construction is stronger in middle-altitude regions, non-grain-producing regions, and regions where the digital literacy of the rural labor force is higher than average, as well as areas where the use of agricultural film is higher than average. Accelerating the construction of digital villages and promoting the utilization of rural financial resources while adapting the digital village development to local conditions are crucial for effectively fostering agricultural green growth and sustainable agricultural development.

PH-sensitive polymeric hydrogels coated with cobalt ferrite nanoparticles for combined drug delivery as controlled release carriers: fabrication and in-vitro estimation

In this investigation, we produced pH-responsive hydrogels for the controlled release of drugs by graft copolymerizing Gum ghatti and acrylic acid (AA) in an aqueous medium. N, N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) and ammonium persulphate (APS) served as cross-linkers during the synthesis process. Our research explores the integration of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) magnetic nanoparticles (CFMNPs) in delivering a combination drug comprising metformin hydrochloride and sodium diclofenac. The diverse applications of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles have driven the exploration of innovative and environmentally sustainable production methods. The development of novel materials for nanoparticle synthesis adheres to the principles of “Green Chemistry” through a co-precipitation technique. Characterization of the cross-linked hydrogels involved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. In vitro drug release kinetics were observed under physiological conditions using Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy. The drug-loaded Gg-cl-poly(AA)/CoFe2O4 hydrogels exhibited a sustained drug release profile over 24 h, with significant release occurring at a pH of 4. To comprehend the drug release mechanism, we employed kinetic modeling, encompassing Zero order, First order, Higuchi model, Hixson-Crowell model, and Korsmeyer-Peppas model, for all developed hydrogels. The findings indicated that the drug release mechanism from the hydrogels followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. The study concludes that the developed hydrogel offers a promising solution for the controlled administration of metformin hydrochloride and diclofenac sodium.Graphical

FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC RESILIENCE THROUGH CATFISH FLOSS PRODUCTION IN WEST JAKARTA

This community empowerment program seeks to stimulate economic growth in Meruya Selatan, West Jakarta, by promoting the production of catfish floss, a product that aligns with both environmental sustainability and market expansion goals. The initiative capitalizes on locally available catfish, promoting sustainable practices by minimizing waste and offering an alternative to conventional protein sources. The program is designed to train participants in key areas such as efficient production methods, preserving product quality, packaging, and marketing strategies, all aimed at making catfish floss a competitive product in both local and regional markets. The main objectives include boosting household income, increasing consumer awareness of fish-based products, and fostering the growth of local businesses through skill development. The project employed a comprehensive approach involving initial surveys, educational seminars, hands-on training, and ongoing monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of the training. As a result, participants have gained valuable food processing skills, contributing not only to their economic well-being but also to local food security and sustainable business practices. This initiative successfully demonstrates the potential for community-driven efforts to support both economic development and environmental stewardship.

Life Cycle of LiFePO4 Batteries: Production, Recycling, and Market Trends.

Significant attention has focused on olivine-structured LiFePO4 (LFP) as a promising cathode active material (CAM) for lithium-ion batteries. This iron-based compound offers advantages over commonly used Co and Ni due to its lower toxicity abundance, and cost-effectiveness. Despite its current commercial use in energy storage technology, there remains a need for cost-effective production methods to create electrochemically active LiFePO4. Consequently, there is ongoing interest in developing innovative approaches for LiFePO4 production. While LFP batteries exhibit significant thermal stability, cycling performance, and environmental benefits, their growing adoption has increased battery disposal rates. Improper disposal practices for waste LFP batteries result in environmental degradation and the depletion of valuable resources This review comprehensively examines diverse synthesis approaches for generating LFP powders, encompassing conventional methodologies alongside novel procedures. Furthermore, it conducts an in-depth assessment of the methodologies employed in recycling waste LFP batteries. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of LFP cathode recycling and investigates pretreatment techniques to enhance understanding. Additionally, it provides valuable insights into the recycling process of used LFP batteries, aiming to raise awareness regarding the market for retired LFP batteries and advocate for the enduring sustainability of lithium-ion batteries.

Cost modeling for the GWh-scale production of modern lithium-ion battery cells

Battery production cost models are critical for evaluating the cost competitiveness of different cell geometries, chemistries, and production processes. To address this need, we present a detailed bottom-up approach for calculating the full cost, marginal cost, and levelized cost of various battery production methods. Our approach ensures comparability across research fields and industries, reflecting capital and imputed interest costs. We showcase the model with case studies of a prismatic PHEV2 hardcase cell and a cylindrical 4680 cell in four different chemistries. Our publicly available browser-based modular tool incorporates up-to-date parameters derived from literature and expert interviews. This work enables researchers to quickly assess the production cost implications of new battery production processes and technologies, ultimately advancing the goal of reducing the cost of electrified mobility.

Antibacterial and Photocatalytic Applications of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus.

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) presents an innovative and sustainable approach in nanotechnology with promising applications in fields such as medicine, food safety, and pharmacology. In this study, AgNPs were successfully synthesized using the probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (BCRC16000), addressing challenges related to stability, biocompatibility, and scalability that are common in conventional nanoparticle production methods. The formation of AgNPs was indicated by a color change from yellow to brown, and UV-visible spectrophotometry confirmed their presence with a characteristic absorption peak at 443 nm. Furthermore, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed the involvement of biomolecules in reducing silver ions, which suggests their role in stabilizing the nanoparticles. In addition, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) showed significant morphological and structural changes. At the same time, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analyses provided valuable insights such as average size (199.7 nm), distribution, and stability, reporting a polydispersity index of 0.239 and a surface charge of -36.3 mV. Notably, the AgNPs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity and photocatalytic efficiency, underscoring their potential for environmental and biomedical applications. Therefore, this study highlights the effectiveness of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in the biosynthesis of AgNPs, offering valuable antibacterial and photocatalytic properties with significant industrial and scientific implications.

Implementasi Sistem Pendukung Keputusan Pemberian Reward Karyawan Menggunakan Metode Weighted Product

PT XYZ is a private company in Palembang that supplies medical devices and equipment. This company conducts performance assessments every year to provide appropriate rewards in the form of gifts, bonuses or incentives to employees. In carrying out the performance assessment process for providing employee rewards, it is still done manually. This process is inefficient because it takes a lot of time, is prone to errors in calculation and it is not clear which aspects of the criteria are important. By using the Weighted Product methodology, this study tries to create a decision support system (DSS) that will simplify this evaluation procedure. This application is made website-based, using the laravel framework with the Iterative system development method. The results obtained indicate that the system can help companies improve efficiency by conducting automatic assessments, providing measurable weights, transparently and using the Weighted Product method for more accurate assessments. Overall, the system developed meets the research objectives.

Electrochemical carboxylation: Green synthesis of atrolactic acid using boron-doped diamond electrodes

Electrochemical CO2 fixation is vital for sustainability in the chemical industry, yet the selective synthesis of multi-carbon products remains challenging. Organic electrosynthesis offers promise by enabling precise control over reaction conditions and facilitating novel reactivity patterns. One such technique, electrochemical carboxylation, involves coupling CO2 with organic molecules to produce carboxylic acids. Specifically, electro-carboxylation of acetophenone yields atrolactic acid, a valuable precursor for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, providing a greener alternative to traditional production methods. This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of boron-doped diamond (BDD) films using the microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (MP-CVD) method and synthesized BDD electrodes were then used for the electrolytic carboxylation of acetophenone. Various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and laser microscopy, etc. were employed to characterize the BDD films. Various BDD films synthesized for different durations were utilized in the electrolytic carboxylation of acetophenone, with the highest yield of atrolactic acid (25 %) achieved using a BDD film synthesized over 6 h. Also, the effect of BDD surface modification i.e. oxygen and hydrogen terminated BDD on the synthesis of atrolactic acid was studied. Additionally, different electrolytes were employed in the synthesis process of atrolactic acid. A comparative study between Pt and BDD electrodes for the electrolytic carboxylation of acetophenone was conducted, and a mechanism for the formation of atrolactic acid was proposed.

Nondestructive techniques in pharmaceutical drug product characterization.

Pharmaceutical product development involves multiple steps; therefore, product quality must be assessed to ensure robustness and acceptance. Raw components, production methods, and ambient circumstances yield a highly variable end product with low batch-to-batch consistency. Although end testing is performed to ensure product quality yet intermediate quality checks are limited. Nondestructive techniques like Terahertz, near-infrared, X-ray, and Raman spectra are common tools for in-line quality check and real-time data monitoring. Handheld devices based on these analytical techniques also help in identifying the counterfeit drugs products. This review has discussed modern regulatory thinking on use of nondestructive tools in pharmaceutical quality monitoring.

New methods and applications of structural dynamics modeling for railway freight liquid tank

As railway freight technology advances towards heavy-load, high-speed capabilities, the design of liquid tank products is evolving to prioritize high load capacity, lightweight, high-strength materials, low structural rigidity, and thin-walled construction. These changes result in pronounced nonlinear low-frequency vibrations during rail operation. Addressing these complex liquid-solid coupled vibrations requires accurate dynamic modeling of the structural system. This paper introduces a novel dynamic modeling method for liquid tank products based on acousto-elastic coupling. This approach considers the swaying of the free liquid surface and liquid-solid interactions, enabling precise characterization of these dynamics in a unified model. Specifically, it tackles the challenge of uneven node swaying forces caused by non-uniform liquid surface meshing, presenting a technique and program to adjust swaying recovery forces based on nodes’ actual coverage area. This method’s liquid sway frequency calculations showed a 10% precision increase over traditional methods, more accurately reflecting liquid vibration states. The paper applies these techniques to a single tank container and an LNG tank container on a flatbed trailer. Through theoretical, simulation, and experimental comparisons, the model’s accuracy and reasonableness were validated. This low-dimensionality, high-precision dynamic model is universally applicable, especially valuable in modeling complex engineering structures.

Cell-Free Screening, Production and Animal Testing of a STI-Related Chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein Supported in Nanolipoproteins.

Vaccine development against Chlamydia, a prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI), is imperative due to its global public health impact. However, significant challenges arise in the production of effective subunit vaccines based on recombinant protein antigens, particularly with membrane proteins like the Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP). Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) technology is an attractive approach to address these challenges as a method of high-throughput membrane protein and protein complex production coupled with nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs). NLPs provide a supporting scaffold while allowing easy adjuvant addition during formulation. Over the last decade, we have been working toward the production and characterization of MOMP-NLP complexes for vaccine testing. The work presented here highlights the expression and biophysical analyses, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), which confirm the formation and functionality of MOMP-NLP complexes for use in animal studies. Moreover, immunization studies in preclinical models compare the past and present protective efficacy of MOMP-NLP formulations, particularly when co-adjuvanted with CpG and FSL1. Ex vivo assessments further highlight the immunomodulatory effects of MOMP-NLP vaccinations, emphasizing their potential to elicit robust immune responses. However, further research is warranted to optimize vaccine formulations further, validate efficacy against Chlamydia trachomatis, and better understand the underlying mechanisms of immune response.

Synthesis research on the herbicide safe agent Furilazole

Furfural and nitromethane were utilized as raw materials for the synthesis of the herbicide-safe agent Furilazole through the Henry reaction, nitro reduction and addition-cyclization-acylation. A comprehensive investigation into the involved reaction processes was conducted, leading to the identification of barium hydroxide octahydrate as the catalyst for the Henry reaction. The continuous use methodology of the excess catalyst was determined through TGA/DSC curve analysis, and a rational purification method for Henry reaction products was proposed. The nitro reduction reaction employed Pd/C catalysis, while the subsequent addition-cyclization-acylation reaction was achieved in a single step. Five impurities affecting the reaction process were identified, and their potential mechanisms of formation were postulated. Optimization of synthetic process conditions was carried out for all involved reactions. The structures of intermediates, impurities, and products were characterized using NMR, HRMS, TGA/DSC and FTIR.

Effects of recrystallization degree on structure and digestibility of debranched starch

This study developed a novel method for the facile, green and efficient fabrication of highly crystalline and heat-resistant starch via recrystallization with high concentrations of debranched starch (DBS), which greatly reduced the complexity and period compared to conventional preparation methods. The structural, thermal, and digestive properties of recrystallized DBS obtained from different concentrations (0–50 %) have been systematically investigated. For instance, the peak melting temperature of recrystallized DBS increased from around 77.8 °C to 114.7 °C with increasing DBS concentration. Moreover, the crystallinity of the recrystallized DBS increased from around 23.5 % to 73.6 % when the DBS concentration was raised. In addition, the resistant starch content of the recrystallized DBS increased from around 30.8 % to 72.1 % as the DBS concentration increased. These results show that the DBS concentration in water during recrystallization plays a critical role in determining the molecular, physicochemical, and digestion properties of DBS, which may be an economical and effective method for large-scale production of highly crystalline starch and provides a new method for preparing heat-resistant type-3 resistant starch, which can be used in low glycemic index foods designed to prevent diabetes and obesity.

Atmosphere-driven metal-support synergy in ZnO/Au catalysts for efficient piezo-catalytic hydrogen evolution

Piezo-catalysis, which leverages mechanical energy to drive chemical reactions, is emerging as a promising method for sustainable energy production. While the enhancement of piezo-catalytic performance through metal-support interactions is well-documented, the critical influence of the synthesis atmosphere during metal-loaded piezo-catalyst preparation has been a notable gap in the field. To this end, we systematically investigate how different atmospheric conditions during the synthesis of catalysts—without gas flow or with Ar, N2 and O2—affect metal dispersion, oxidation states, piezo-carrier dynamics, and electronic structure, and subsequently shape the metal-support interactions and piezo-catalytic activity. ZnO/Au, with Au deposited on ZnO, is selected as the model system, and hydrogen evolution reaction is used as the probe reaction. Our results demonstrate that an oxygen-enriched atmosphere significantly enhances the metal-support interactions, achieving an ultrahigh net hydrogen yield of 16.5 mmol·g–1·h–1 on ZnO/Au, a 3.58-fold increase over pristine ZnO. Specifically, the performance improvements substantially surpass those synthesized under other atmospheric conditions. Conversely, exposure to CO2 transforms the ZnO support into ZnCO3, adversely affecting its catalytic activity. These findings reveal the crucial impact of synthesis conditions on piezo-catalyst performance and thereby open new avenues for optimizing catalyst systems for enhanced sustainability.