Package Model Research Articles

Granular packaging analysis for UHPC production

ABSTRACT The optimisation of the UHPC granular skeleton shows resistance, durability and environmental gains. However, for the manufacture of UHPC, it is not feasible to sieve the aggregates in order to obtain an optimum curve of granular skeleton. An existing alternative is to mix the aggregates in order to obtain a curve close to the optimal curve. In this sense, the present research presents a methodology to perform mixtures of aggregates by means of matrix analysis combining the packaging models of Andreasen and Andersen modified and of Toufar while analysing the best packaging coefficient to be used with the objective to reduce cement consumption. The results indicate that matrix analysis can be used, leading to a low void rate in the granular mixture.

Research and Evaluation of Multi-Sensory Design of Product Packaging Based on VR Technology in Online Shopping Environment

The development and application of virtual reality (VR) technology significantly enhances consumer immersion. Exploring a multi-sensory evaluation model for virtual packaging is valuable for integrating VR technology with packaging. This study developed a multi-sensory evaluation model for virtual packaging using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Eye-tracker experimentation was conducted to identify consumer attention indicators when interacting with virtual packaging. These indicators were quantified using Saaty’s nine-level importance scale and expert input, resulting in a comprehensive multi-sensory evaluation model. Subsequently, a VR shopping system focused on potato chips and cola as packaging design objects. This system was evaluated using the established model, and the results were analyzed. Based on the findings, improvements were made, and the system was re-evaluated using the modified model. The post-improvement evaluation demonstrated significantly enhanced sensory experiences. These results validate that the developed evaluation model effectively guides multi-sensory design approaches for packaging within a VR environment.

Digital bead modeling for wire-arc directed energy deposition

Prediction of 2D cross-section and full 3D geometry for stacked weld beads is critical for the outcome of wire-arc directed energy deposition (DED) parts; however, most additive path planning software packages model beads as extrusions of a rectangle. Weld beads are not rectangular, and the resulting shape is dependent upon physics effects at the moment of deposition. Physics phenomena such as the geometry of the underlying surface, the heat input of the welding mode, and the direction of gravity contribute to bead shape. This paper presents a novel implicit modeling method that discretizes a 2D area or 3D volume of space into pixels or voxels and constructs fields based on these physics phenomena. The fields are combined using a weighting scheme trained on 3D scan measurements of welds and wire-arc DED prints. Pixels or voxels are added until the known amount of deposited volume has been achieved. Thereby, a strong conservation of mass principle is applied to the process. Utilizing machine learning techniques, the present model can be trained on a database of scans allowing for the representation of a wide variety of prints. Results show that this method can produce predictions with realistic bead morphology and sub-millimeter form error.

Microbe Profile: Bacteriophage ϕ6: a model for segmented RNA viruses and the evolutionary consequences of viral 'sex'.

Bacteriophage ϕ6 is a segmented dsRNA virus with a lipid envelope, which are unusual traits in bacterial viruses but common in eukaryotic viruses. This uniqueness allowed ϕ6 and its Pseudomonad hosts to serve as a molecular model for RNA genetics, mutation, replication, packaging, and reassortment in both bacterial and eukaryotic viruses. However, an additional uniqueness of ϕ6, created by its high mutation rate, was its use as an experimental system to study key questions such as the evolution of sex (segment reassortment), host-pathogen interactions, mutational load, rates of adaptation, genetic and phenotypic complexity, and game theory.

Marine Ecological Damage Assessment Model for Offshore Oil Extraction

<p>With the progress of society and the development of the economy, people’s awareness of environmental protection is also becoming stronger. Therefore, the damage caused by marine oil spills caused by offshore oil extraction to marine ecology is also receiving more and more attention from people. Marine ecological damage assessment involves various disciplines such as environmental chemistry, biology, toxicology, and hydrodynamics, and requires a large amount of data support, making it a challenge in the field of marine claims. To quantitatively evaluate marine oil spill accidents, the Spill Impact Model Application Package model is used as the system framework to build a marine ecological damage assessment model. The MIKE21 model is used for physical fate simulation, while the biological effects model is used for resource damage assessment of the ecological environment and aquatic organisms. The model is validated using the oil spill accident in Dongshan Bay as an example. The validation results show that the total loss of aquatic organisms under conditions 1 and 2 is 67.30 tons and 56.03 tons, respectively. Under condition 1, the ecological environment of coral and mangroves is affected by an area of 8.805km2 and 5.859km2, respectively, resulting in a loss of 19.5168 million yuan in ecological resources. Under condition 2, the ecological environment of coral and mangroves is affected by an area of 7.646 km2 and 13.515 km2, respectively, resulting in a loss of 26.322 million yuan in ecological resources. In summary, it can be seen that the research on marine ecological damage assessment models for offshore oil extraction provides certain reference value for the field of marine ecological damage assessment in China.</p>

Meta-analysis of intrauterine hCG perfusion efficacy in recurrent implantation failure as defined by ESHRE guidelines

PurposeThis study evaluates the efficacy of intrauterine hCG perfusion for RIF, as defined by ESHRE 2023 guidelines, highlighting hCG as a cost-effective alternative to other immunotherapies, especially suitable for less developed regions. It aims to clarify treatment guidance amidst previous inconsistencies.MethodsThis meta-analysis, registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024443241) and adhering to PRISMA guidelines, assessed the efficacy and safety of intrauterine hCG perfusion in enhancing implantation and pregnancy outcomes in RIF. Comprehensive literature searches were conducted through December 2023 in major databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and key Chinese databases, without language restrictions. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were strictly aligned with the 2023 ESHRE recommendations, with exclusions for studies lacking robust control, clear outcomes, or adequate data integrity. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, ROBINS-I, and RoB2 tools. Data analysis was performed in R using the ‘meta’ package, employing both fixed and random effect models to account for study variability. Subgroup analyses by dosage, volume, hCG concentration, timing of administration, and type of embryo transfer were conducted to deepen insights, enhancing the reliability and depth of the meta-analysis in elucidating the role of hCG perfusion in RIF treatments.ResultsData from 13 studies, comprising six retrospective and six prospective studies from single centers, along with one multi-center RCT, totaling 2,157 participants, were synthesized to evaluate the effectiveness of intrauterine hCG perfusion in enhancing implantation and pregnancy outcomes in patients with RIF. Significant improvements were observed in clinical pregnancy and embryo implantation rates across various dosages, timing of administration, and embryo developmental stages, without impacting miscarriage rates. Notably, the most significant efficacy within subgroups occurred with a 500 IU dosage and perfusion parameters of ≤ 500µL volume and ≥ 2 IU/µL concentration. Additionally, a limited number of studies showed no significant increases in ectopic pregnancy or multiple pregnancy rates, and a modest improvement in live birth rates, although the small number of these studies precludes definitive conclusions.ConclusionsThe analysis suggests that intrauterine hCG perfusion probably enhances embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates slightly in RIF patients. Benefits are indicated with a dosage of 500 IU and a maximum volume of 500µL at concentrations of at least 2 IU/µL. However, substantial heterogeneity from varying study types and the limited number of studies necessitate cautious interpretation. These findings underscore the need for more rigorously designed RCTs to definitively assess the efficacy and safety.

Phoenix: an R package and Python module for calculating the Phoenix pediatric sepsis score and criteria.

The publication of the Phoenix criteria for pediatric sepsis and septic shock initiates a new era in clinical care and research of pediatric sepsis. Tools to consistently and accurately apply the Phoenix criteria to electronic health records (EHRs) is one part of building a robust and internally consistent body of research across multiple research groups and datasets. We developed the phoenix R package and Python module to provide researchers with intuitive and simple functions to apply the Phoenix criteria to EHR data. The phoenix R package and Python module enable researchers to apply the Phoenix criteria to EHR datasets and derive the relevant indicators, total scores, and sub-scores. The transition to the Phoenix criteria marks a major change in the conceptual definition of pediatric sepsis. Applicable across differentially resourced settings, the Phoenix criteria should help improve clinical care and research. The phoenix R package and Python model are freely available on CRAN, PyPi, and GitHub. These tools enable the consistent and accurate application of the Phoenix criteria to EHR datasets.

Application of Quality Function Development (QFD) to Improve Quality and Develop Porang Rice Product XYZ

Porang rice is one of the alternatives to rice but porang rice producers are still very few and fairly new in the field. XYZ porang rice is one of the porang rice products that is quite in demand by various groups. The purpose of this research is to provide information to companies to develop their products. Because developing this product requires the voice of consumers in the product development process with the hope that if the company develops the product in accordance with consumer expectations, an increase in sales will occur. So that later this XYZ brand porang rice can continue to improve its products and services for consumers. In this study, the steps taken at the beginning were to deepen the strengths and weaknesses of the product using the EFAS and IFAS matrices This study uses the Quality Function Development (QFD) approach with the initial stage of identifying customer needs and getting 19 attributes of consumer expectations of XYZ brand porang rice products. After that, a customer satisfaction performance (CSP) is made by comparing other brand products. related to determining the CSP value, the CSP value for XYZ Brand Porang Rice is 4.75 with a durable attribute within a day and the lowest is on a more creative and attractive product packaging model with a value of 2.35 while for its competitors with Shirataki Rice with the K brand, the attribute that has the greatest value is the high fiber and the size of the intact rice grains with a value of 4.70 and the lowest is the attribute of the packaging model with a variety of sizes, namely 1.45. Then processed into HOQ calculations and obtained the results of the 3 largest value of priority improvements in the production tool, then followed by marketing, and the third is in the texture produced.

Analysis of packaging design its colour coding and labelling of contained sugar in dairy and cereal products

The purpose of developing the colour coding system is to create better awareness and help consumers monitor and understand the sugar content of foods. Our research focused on food products (dairy products and cereal products on the Slovenian market) that contain so-called hidden sugars, as these can cause many health risks. The aim of the study was to raise awareness of the sugar content in dairy products and cereals through a packaging design with a uniform labelling and coding system. During the process of this research, few answers were provided to the following questions: How can a labelling system be designed to be clear and impartial, what is the hierarchy and layout of food information on packaging, and how can the system be coherently integrated with existing packaging? The impact of the information design on the consumer in the food packaging industry, which helps in further execution, was analysed. Based on the research, variants of a multi-colour labelling system were created, differing in primary information graphics, colour, placement and formats. The packaging for an imaginary brand and the placement of the code system were designed. Finally, the packaging design was implemented in the 3D models for each food group. The result of this research is a collection of packaging models with a labelling system that informs consumers about sugar content, facilitates decision-making and helps them control their food intake. The colour-coded labels were applied to the packaging in a uniform and coherent manner, which can provide sufficient attention and information.

Cryo-electron tomography reveals the packaging pattern of RuBisCOs in Synechococcus β-carboxysome

Carboxysomes are large self-assembled microcompartments that serve as the central machinery of a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM). Biogenesis of carboxysome requires the fine organization of thousands of individual proteins; however, the packaging pattern of internal RuBisCOs remains largely unknown. Here we purified the intact β-carboxysomes from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 and identified the protein components by mass spectrometry. Cryo-electron tomography combined with subtomogram averaging revealed the general organization pattern of internal RuBisCOs, in which the adjacent RuBisCOs are mainly arranged in three distinct manners: head-to-head, head-to-side, and side-by-side. The RuBisCOs in the outermost layer are regularly aligned along the shell, the majority of which directly interact with the shell. Moreover, statistical analysis enabled us to propose an ideal packaging model of RuBisCOs in the β-carboxysome. These results provide new insights into the biogenesis of β-carboxysomes and also advance our understanding of the efficient carbon fixation functionality of carboxysomes.

The Development of a Cold-Chain-Packaging Risk Management Model Based on Fuzzy Bayesian Network

Cold chain packaging faces high levels of uncertainty due to its complex nature and dynamic environments during transportation, and the importance of safety and risk management. This study aims to propose a risk assessment model for cold chain packaging based on a fuzzy Bayesian Network. A case study on vaccine cold chain shipping containers is conducted for the illustration of the risk management model, and risk factors like container risk, packaging risk, monitoring risk and handling risk, occupational and product safety risk have been identified and assessed. This paper will add new knowledge to the field of cold chain packaging, which still lacks research attention, and will be useful for industry managers to gain a better understand of the dynamics and risks of cold chain packaging.

A Kriging Surrogate Model for Ball Grid Array Electronic Packaging With Stochastic Material and Geometrical Parameters

Abstract Ball grid arrays (BGAs) offer significant advantages in the automotive industry, such as their small size and high integration density, making them a promising electronic packaging approach. However, the operating environment of automobiles is more complex compared to other applications, primarily due to vibrations generated by power engines and oscillations caused by pavement roughness. The resonant frequencies of electronic packaging structures play a crucial role in system reliability and safety. However, accurately describing the implicit relationship between system resonant frequencies and material and geometrical parameters can be challenging. A Kriging surrogate model (KSM) is proposed by the combination of the Latin Hypercube stochastic sampling with finite element computation. Four different BGA configurations are established with either the initial values in the deterministic model or the specified sampling interval ranges in the stochastic model. The results of the finite element model (FEM) for BGA electronic packaging are validated and demonstrate qualitative agreement with published literature. The impacts of material and geometrical parameters on the resonant frequencies are investigated and compared. The mean, maximum, minimum, and variance are recorded based on a large database of stochastic samples. The feasibility of KSM for the resonant frequency prediction of BGA is confirmed by its satisfactory accuracy and computational efficiency.

Implementing a circular business model for reusable packaging: Multidisciplinary learnings from reusable pizza packaging

This article explores practical challenges in developing and implementing circular business models in the context of reusable takeaway food packaging from a transdisciplinary perspective. It touches upon the desirability, feasibility, viability, and sustainability dimensions of a reusable pizza packaging circular business model. First, a literature review is conducted to highlight current knowledge and gaps around circular business models for reusable packaging and the key factors addressing the desirability, feasibility, viability, and sustainability. Second, a case study approach is taken for an in-depth exploration of these factors and their effect on the successful implementation of a reusable packaging business model. A real-life pilot is structured and implemented; questionnaire, workshops and semi-structured interviews with consumers and key stakeholders of the novel business model as well as technical laboratory tests of used packaging are used as key data sources in the case study. This study contributes to research and practice with a novel framework for circular business model innovation in the context of reusable packaging highlighting the need to iteratively address packaging as well as system conditions affecting the desirability, feasibility, sustainability, and viability of such ecosystem-based business models. Future research should inherently take a systemic perspective to address interconnections between these four dimensions and explore in which steps and order experimentations should be developed to balance trade-offs between feasibility and desirability while ensuring sustainability and viability of the business model.

Optimizing ventilated packaging design for strawberries: Assessing the impact on fruit quality from farm to retailer using physics-based modeling

Amongst fruits and vegetables, strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are one of the most perishable products. Consequently, it is challenging to maintain their quality until they reach the consumer. Therefore, keeping optimal hygrothermal conditions around the berries from farm to the consumer is crucial to preserving them and avoiding food loss. Using ventilated packaging design is an established way to address this technological, economic, and environmental problem. Until now, strawberry packaging is often designed using a trial-and-error approach, and a multitude of packaging designs exist. Ideally, the packaging should be designed in such a way that it provides the best preservation of the fruit all the way from farm to retailer. This is challenging since the hygrothermal conditions change significantly along the supply chain. In this study, we use physics-based modeling to evaluate new strawberry packaging designs in regard to cooling performance, risk of condensation, mass loss, and respiration-driven shelf life of the fruit and assess their performance along the whole post-harvest export supply chain from Spain to Switzerland. Twelve packaging designs for strawberries with existing and newly-designed vent hole configurations were investigated. Simulations quantified how the berries physiologically and hygrothermally evolve inside these packages along the whole post-harvest supply chain. Implementing appropriate ventilation in open-and top-sealed trays for strawberries can help to minimize losses along the post-harvest supply chain. As commonly known, strawberries cool significantly faster in better-ventilated trays than in unventilated trays, and condensation-based time of wetness could be reduced by 45% by adding additional ventilation holes in a top-sealed tray. The height of the secondary packaging, the total opening area (TOA), the size, and the placement of the vents have a substantial influence on the performance of the packaging. We recommend a TOA between 5.5% and 7% and a diameter of the vents between 5 and 12 mm. Also, they should be evenly distributed. However, there is always a trade-off in packaging design: a reduced risk of condensation comes along with a higher mass loss of the strawberries. Strawberry packaging models enabled a unique insight into the evolution of the fruits along the supply chain and visualized the spatial distribution of condensation and mass loss inside the package.

First and second-generation endometrial ablation devices: A network meta-analysis

ObjectiveFirst-generation and second-generation endometrial ablation (EA) techniques, along with medical treatment and invasive surgery, are considered successful lines of management for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). We set out to determine...

Thermal-structural Modeling of power electronic package: effects of deposition geometry and dry spot on the stress distributions

A Power Electronics package is a heterogeneous system made of semiconductor devices (dies), metallic-ceramic substrate, baseplate and encapsulating material.The electronic devices can be MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductors Field Effect Transistors), diodes, IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) and passive components such as capacitors, resistors and sensors integrated on support circuit; the complete set of semiconductor devices installed on a package form the so-called “power modulus”.These devices play an important role in the transmission and conversion of energy in electric and hybrid vehicles. Due to the elevated currents and, consequently, the elevated temperatures at which these systems work, and due to the mismatch of the thermal-mechanical properties of the materials from which they are made, stresses and strains develop within the devices.Such stresses can be locally concentrated and amplified, depending on the deposition geometry of the various layers constituting the semiconductor device. Edge termination structures are essential to decrease the electric field at die’s edges, and, including brittle compounds in their composition, like Si3N4 or SiO, they are quite sensitive to mechanical stress.Another reason that may cause the stresses concentrations is the presence of dry spots. Dry spots are areas of various size, located at the interface between die or leadframe and the encapsulating resin, where there is a total or partial lack of adhesion.The aims of this work are, mainly, two. At first, four linear finite element analyses have been performed in order to evaluate the stresses concentrations at the corners of edge termination structure.The first case concerns sharp corners and the other cases concern differently filleted corners. In the second part of this work, it has been analysed the dry spot effect on stress distributions. Due to the small size of the defect with respect to the whole package, a Global-Local FEM approach has been used, creating a local subdomain where the mesh is denser than the global domain and a running a further separate numerical analysis which takes its boundary conditions from the global analysis, so delivering reliable small-scale stress and strain gradients. This approach permits to achieve accurate analyses focused on zones of interest of the global domain, limiting the increase of the computational cost of the modelling.

Inventory control for reusable express packaging with under sharing policy

AbstractOnline shopping and e‐commerce have contributed significantly to the environmental pollution caused by the generation of packaging waste. In response to this issue, reusable express packaging has emerged as a promising solution. However, the widespread adoption of reusable express packaging faces significant challenges, namely, the initial investment burden and the complexities associated with recycling. To address these challenges and enhance resource utilization efficiency while minimizing supply–demand discrepancies, inventory sharing has emerged as an effective measure. We first establish an inventory model for reusable express packaging, which takes into account stochastic loss rates and customer service level. We further extend our research to scenarios involving both inventory sharing and competition. We substantiate the value of inventory sharing and the impact of competition through comprehensive numerical analyses. Our findings demonstrate that inventory sharing contributes to enhancing the profits of express delivery companies, especially with a more pronounced effect in companies where competition exists.

Predicting Solvation Free Energies from the Minnesota Solvation Database Using Classical Density Functional Theory Based on the PC-SAFT Equation of State.

We critically assess the capabilities of classical density functional theory (DFT) based on the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state to predict the solvation free energies of small molecules in various hydrocarbon solvents. We compare DFT results with experimental data from the Minnesota solvation database and utilize statistical methods to analyze the accuracy of our approach, as well as its weaknesses. The mean absolute error of the solvation free energies is 3.7 kJ mol-1 for n-alkane solvents, ranging from pentane to hexadecane, with 473 solute-solvent systems. For solvents consisting of cyclic hydrocarbons (cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene) with 245 solute-solvent systems, we report a slightly larger mean absolute error of 4.2 kJ mol-1. We identify three possible sources of errors: (i) the neglect of solute-solvent and solvent-solvent Coulomb interactions, which limits the applicability of PC-SAFT DFT to nonpolar and weakly polar molecules; (ii) the solute's Lennard-Jones parameters supplied by the general AMBER force field, which are not parametrized toward solvation free energies; and (iii) the application of the Lorentz-Berthelot combining rules to the dispersive interactions between a segment of the PC-SAFT solvent and a Lennard-Jones interaction site of the solute. The approach is more accurate than standard implementations of phenomenological models in common chemistry software packages, which exhibit mean absolute errors larger than 9.12 kJ mol-1, even though newer phenomenological models achieve a mean absolute error of about 2 kJ mol-1. PC-SAFT DFT is more computationally efficient than state of the art explicit molecular simulations in combination with free energy perturbation methods. It is predictive with respect to solvation free energies, i.e., the input for the model is the (element-specific) molecular force field, the solute configuration from molecular dynamics simulations, and the (substance-specific) PC-SAFT parameters. The PC-SAFT parametrization uses pure-component data and does not require experimental solvation free energies. The PC-SAFT equation of state, without applying a DFT formalism, can also be used to calculate solvation free energies, provided that the PC-SAFT parameters for the solute are available. A large number of substances was recently parametrized by members of our group (Esper, T.; Bauer, G.; Rehner, P.; Gross, J. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2023, 62), which enables a comparison to the DFT approach for 103 substances. Accurate results are obtained from the PC-SAFT equation of state with an MAE below 2.51 kJ mol-1. The DFT approach does not require PC-SAFT parameters for the solute and can be applied to all solutes that can be represented by the molecular force field.

ANALYSIS OF STRENGTH OF A FORK OF THE FORKLIFT BY NUMERICAL METHODS

Forklifts are often used in close quarters, and the high load capacity and working intensity put forward high performance requirements for the fork. The structural design of the fork plays a key role in the efficiency and reliability of the forklift. In the work, the pitchfork strength of the forklift structure was studied using package modeling and finite element analysis FreeCAD. Lifting the forks with a load can cause the forks to deform, causing premature cracking and rapid growth and eventual failure. Both numerical calculations and visual analysis showed consistency, and stress concentrations were observed at the fork neck, demonstrating the accuracy of the established finite element model.

Influence of Thermally Aged Underfill on Flip-Chip Packages

Underfill material plays a crucial role in flip-chip package reliability, thus it necessary to accurately understand the mechanical properties. The material itself is nonlinear and is dependent on degree of cure, temperature, strain rate and thermal aging, among others. In this work, two underfill materials were characterized for thermal expansion and viscoelastic properties over a wide temperature range. A second set of each material was thermally aged through flip-chip processing steps and 250 thermal cycles and then characterized. Temperature dependent thermal expansion and timetemperature dependent moduli curves were generated to represent each material type. These material models were then implemented into a nonlinear finite element model of a flip-chip package to evaluate package stress interaction through processing steps and thermal cycling. The influence that each underfill material had with and without thermal aging was analyzed with respect to typical package failure mechanisms.