Processing Requirements Research Articles

Investigation of Dry-Made NMC 811 Electrodes with Varying Binder and the Conductive Agent Contents

Lithium-ion battery electrode materials consist of active materials (AM), conductive agents, and binders. Although conductive agents and polymeric binders occupy a small portion of the electrode, they play an indispensable role. Conductive agents are needed to improve the electronic conductivity of the electrode, while binders ensure mechanical integrity by providing particle/particle cohesion and electrode-film/substrate adhesion. Optimizing the interactions of active materials, conductive agents, and binders is crucial for achieving the desired electrode performance and durability. Although multiple studies have explored the impact of electrode composition for slurry-based electrodes, it is still unclear how composition affects the electrodes made by dry processes. In this study, we performed a detailed investigation of the effects of the different electrode compositions by changing the ratio of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder and carbon black (CB) for dry-made LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC 811) electrodes. The electrostatic spray deposition method was used as a dry electrode fabrication process due to its many advantages, such as reduced energy consumption and inexpensive processing requirements. We investigated electrodes of four different compositions, 96:3:1, 96:2:2, 90:7.5:2.5, and 90:5:5 (AM:PVDF: CB), corresponding to PVDF/CB mass ratios of 1:1 and 3:1.We found that electrodes with a high PVDF/CB ratio of 3:1 have larger impedance than electrodes with a low PVDF/CB ratio of 1:1 due to the insulating aggregates of PVDF alone, causing deteriorated electrochemical performance. At the PVDF/CB ratio of 1:1, an even distribution of PVDF/CB on the AM particle surfaces and in the pores between the AM particles was observed. For both PVDF/CB ratios of 1:1 and 3:1, increasing the total amount of PVDF and CB (e.g., decreasing the AM amount) in the composite electrode enhanced both the C-rate and cycling performance. However, electrodes with the PVDF/CB ratio of 1:1 at high AM content (96%) still showed a comparable C-rate performance to that with lower AM content (90%). Thus, dry-made electrodes with high AM content can achieve a good high C-rate performance, especially for high-energy-density applications.This study provides a better understanding of the effects of CB/PVDF, which is key to finding an optimal structure and composition of the dry-made electrodes.

Best-Practice Biomarker Testing of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer in the UK: Expert Consensus Recommendations Developed Using a Modified Delphi

AimsOesophago-gastric cancers (OGCs) are amongst the most commonly diagnosed malignancies worldwide and are associated with high disease-related mortality. Predictive biomarkers are molecules that can be objectively measured and used to indicate a likely response to therapeutic intervention, thus facilitating individualised cancer therapy. However, there remains variation in uptake and implementation of biomarker testing across the UK. Materials and methodsWe conducted a modified Delphi study to formulate consensus recommendations for best-practice biomarker testing of OGC in the UK. We employed two rounds of online questionnaires followed by a virtual consensus meeting. Biomarkers for discussion included HER2, MSI/MMR, and PD-L1. Topics comprised the overall biomarker pathway, pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical considerations, including challenges in current practice. ResultsTwenty-six and eighteen participants completed the first and second round Delphi questionnaire, respectively, with an even split of pathologists and oncologists from across the UK. There was consensus (>80% agreement) across several topics, including the requirements for standardisation of the pathway, which must include coordination throughout the tissue journey, requirements for a quality-assured process to ensure accuracy and validity of testing, plus the need for clear, detailed information on the pathology report to support treatment decisions. There was consensus amongst oncologists regarding reflex testing of all biomarkers depending on histology; however, concerns over capacity in relation to workload and availability of pathologists were evident among the pathologists. Overall, participants were in the opinion that reflex testing improves the speed of treatment decisions and improves patient care. ConclusionThe recommendations reflect best-practices and should be implemented to support rapid multidisciplinary team decision-making within oesophago-gastric cancer. Results reflect the need for standardisation and demonstrate the challenges faced in clinical practice by those requesting and testing biomarkers for oesophago-gastric cancer, suggesting significant concerns relating to pathologist capacity.

A galactic approach to neutron scattering science

Neutron scattering science is leading to significant advances in our understanding of materials and will be key to solving many of the challenges that society is facing today. Improvements in scientific instruments are actually making it more difficult to analyze and interpret the results of experiments due to the vast increases in the volume and complexity of data being produced and the associated computational requirements for processing that data. New approaches to enable scientists to leverage computational resources are required, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been at the forefront of developing these technologies. We recently completed the design and initial implementation of a neutrons data interpretation platform that allows seamless access to the computational resources provided by ORNL. For the first time, we have demonstrated that this platform can be used for advanced data analysis of correlated quantum materials by utilizing the world's most powerful computer system, Frontier. In particular, we have shown the end-to-end execution of the DCA++ code to determine the dynamic magnetic spin susceptibility χ(q, ω) for a single-band Hubbard model with Coulomb repulsion U/t = 8 in units of the nearest-neighbor hopping amplitude t and an electron density of n = 0.65. The following work describes the architecture, design, and implementation of the platform and how we constructed a correlated quantum materials analysis workflow to demonstrate the viability of this system to produce scientific results.

TOMOMAN: a software package for large scale cryo-electron tomography data preprocessing, community data sharing, and collaborative computing.

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) and subtomogram averaging (STA) are becoming the preferred methodologies for investigating subcellular and macromolecular structures in native or near-native environments. While cryo-ET is amenable to a wide range of biological problems, these problems often have data processing requirements that need to be individually optimized, precluding the notion of a one-size-fits-all processing pipeline. Cryo-ET data processing is also becoming progressively more complex due to an increasing number of packages for each processing step. Though each package has its own strengths and weaknesses, independent development and different data formats makes them difficult to interface with one another. TOMOMAN (TOMOgram MANager) is an extensible package for streamlining the interoperability of packages, enabling users to develop project-specific processing workflows. TOMOMAN does this by maintaining an internal metadata format and wrapping external packages to manage and perform preprocessing, from raw tilt-series data to reconstructed tomograms. TOMOMAN can also export this metadata between various STA packages. TOMOMAN also includes tools for archiving projects to data repositories; allowing subsequent users to download TOMOMAN projects and directly resume processing where it was previously left off. By tracking essential metadata, TOMOMAN streamlines data sharing, which improves reproducibility of published results, reduces computational costs by minimizing reprocessing, and enables distributed cryo-ET projects between multiple groups and institutions. TOMOMAN provides a way for users to test different software packages to develop processing workflows that meet the specific needs of their biological questions and to distribute their results with the broader scientific community.

What are the benefits of the hospital reform for the care of patients with cancer?

One of the main aims of the current hospital reform is to increase the quality of care by concentrating complex treatments on appropriately qualified service providers. In this context, a concentration of oncological treatment is also planned. The National Cancer Plan adopted in 2008 calls for all people suffering from cancer to receive high-quality care in accordance with evidence-based treatment guidelines in uniformly qualified centres. In order to implement the National Cancer Plan, the German Cancer Society (DKG), in cooperation with all oncological societies, has set up a certification system that ensures these requirements are met. The WiZen study, funded by the Innovation Fund, was able to show by means of controlled cohort studies for 11 cancer entities based on nationwide SHI routine data and regional data from clinical cancer registries that the initial treatment of people with cancer in hospitals with DKG certification is associated with longer overall survival and recurrence-free survival (Fig. 1) [1]. The Innovation Committee of the Joint Federal Committee (G-BA) considered the WiZen study to be evidence that treatment in certified oncology centres can significantly increase the chances of survival for patients and asked the G-BA to examine whether the findings from the WiZen study could be taken into account in a timely manner, e.g. when defining minimum requirements for structural, process and outcome quality [2]. The recommended implementation of the results of the WiZen study in standard care has not yet materialised. Furthermore, a high proportion of patients in numerous entities are treated outside of certified centres.

Comprehensive study of Kinetic Trajectory Simulation method for multi-component magnetized plasma-wall interaction process

For a wide range of plasma applications across diverse fields, a comprehensive understanding of the plasma-wall interaction mechanism is indispensable due to its inherent connection with confined plasma. This work compilation delves into the Kinetic Trajectory Simulation (KTS) method for the interaction of multi-component magnetized plasma with wall, specifically focusing on its implications for the tungsten wall sputtering model. In the evolution of the 1d3v (one dimensional spatial coordinates and three dimensional velocity coordinates) KTS method, the coupled set of kinetic equations has been solved under specified boundary conditions which yields results of higher accuracy. At the particle injection boundary, we have assumed the velocity distribution function of particle species to be cut-off Maxwellians, meeting essential requirements for plasma-wall transition processes: quasineutrality, sheath edge singularity, continuity of macroscopic fluid variables, and the kinetic Bohm sheath condition. The kinetic Bohm sheath condition, a fundamental criterion for plasma sheath formation, is extended for multi-component plasmas, accounting for the cut-off Maxwellian distribution of negatively charged particles. A comparative study of the kinetic Bohm sheath condition for cut-off and Boltzmann distributions reveals a deviation of less than 2.0% in magnitude. The concentration ratio of positive or negative ion species and the presheath side electron temperature influence various plasma-wall transition characteristics, including wall potential, Debye sheath thickness, particle densities, potential distribution, particle fluxes towards the surface, particle drift velocity, phase-space trajectory evolution, and physical sputtering of the tungsten surface. Although lighter ions possess higher energy when striking the surface, the physical sputtering yield of the tungsten surface is greater for heavier ions due to their lower threshold energy and larger collision cross-section. Furthermore, a comparative study of plasma-wall transition properties using kinetic and fluid approaches demonstrates qualitative similarities, with a notable deviation of approximately 4.0% in the magnitude in the vicinity of the material surface.

Key parameters and effects in image processing and aggregate–aggregate contact calculation of asphalt mixtures

At present, there is no standard way of acquiring images, addressing errors in various image processing steps, and analyzing skeleton contact parameters. To promote the application of image processing technique in the design, construction monitoring, and quality inspection of asphalt mixtures, this study investigates the key factors affecting the two-dimensional image processing accuracy of asphalt mixtures, and the impact of parameters on the contact structure of asphalt mixture skeleton during the contact analysis is studied. Finally, data accuracy requirements for image processing and contact analysis are proposed. The results indicate that the camera lens should be parallel to the slice with a tilt angle of less than 15°, the error of the passing rate of each sieve remains within 5.0 %. The smaller the aggregate particle size, the greater the impact of aggregate edge recognition error on the aggregate particle size, aggregates with a particle size greater than 2.36 mm are less affected by edge recognition error. For aggregate–aggregate contact analysis, it is appropriate to set the contact threshold to 0.23 times the minimum calculated particle size. To ensure the accuracy of image processing and contact analysis, at least 10 cross-sectional images should be prepared, and the average value can be taken as the representative value of the indices. The conclusions can improve the accuracy and reliability of image processing, providing more accurate guidance for the design and construction of asphalt mixture.

ОРГАНИЗАЦИОННО-ПРАВОВАЯ РЕГЛАМЕНТАЦИЯ СТАТУСА СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННОЙ ПРОДУКЦИИ В ПРОДУКТОВЫХ ЦЕПОЧКАХ

The article deals with the issues of organizational and legal regulation of the status of agricultural products in food distribution chains. The typification of agricultural producers' products is presented in accordance with the requirements of current legislation defining the technological features of the production of such products. Its distribution according to the main specific subjective characteristics is shown: organic products, products with improved characteristics and farm products. The main legal and organizational problems affecting the formation of demand for agricultural products and the process of forming supply chains of various types of products that must be produced with certain requirements for technological processes that affect its qualitative characteristics are identified.

A new steelmaking process using red mud as a fluorine-free flux: Promoting phosphorus removal and iron recovery

Bayer red mud, one of the most challenging solid wastes in the aluminum industry, is anticipated to be suitable for large-scale disposal in alignment with the specific requirements of the steelmaking process. This study determined the melting characteristics of various red mud-based fluxes using a high-temperature in-situ analysis system. Furthermore, the feasibility of large-scale application and the potential for substituting CaF2 in the iron and steelmaking process were investigated through a 10-kg induction furnace test and a 160-ton converter industrial test. The results indicate that the hot metal temperature during the pre-phosphorus removal stage ranged from 1254°C to 1430°C. Initial slag formation occurred within 2–4 minutes of oxygen blowing. The average slag basicity was between 1.5 and 2.1. Early dephosphorization and the average phosphorus distribution ratios were 41.4 %-63.4 % and 30, respectively. The mechanism of red mud-based fluxes in the early stage of steelmaking was further elucidated, and the application process was designed. The new process reduces the cost of slag materials, realizes the large-scale disposal of red mud, establishes the connection for the sustainable development of the steel and aluminum industries.

Methods and research for deformation monitoring of earth and rock dams based on close-range photogrammetry

Abstract Traditional means of monitoring deformation in earth and rock dams encounter challenges such as low monitoring efficiency and limited coverage. Despite the potential of emerging technologies such as GPS and three-dimensional laser scanning, their adoption is expensive and hard to promote. This paper presents a deformation monitoring method for earth and rock dams based on the close-range photogrammetry technique. The proposed approach focuses on analytical algorithm the design and deployment of monitoring points, photographic schemes, camera checking and calibration, as well as deformation analysis methods. Initially, based on the analysis of the parsing algorithms’ applicability, they are fused to address the shortcomings of common image parsing methods in meeting the requirements of high precision and multi-image processing for deformation monitoring of earth and rock dams. Subsequently, the fused algorithm is introduced to analyze the acquired image data for 3D reconstruction, and the deformation in earth and rock dams is assessed based on the generated dense point cloud model. The proposed deformation monitoring method is applied to Pine Bridge Reservoir Dam, and the results demonstrated its capacity to comprehensively analyze the deformation. Furthermore, the required equipment is simple and easy to operate, aligning with the requirements for deformation monitoring accuracy of earth and rock dams.

Wave refrigeration control via deep reinforcement learning

Abstract Wave refrigerating technology is a new type of refrigerating technology that performs more efficiently and is more environmentally friendly. Nowadays, the commonly used control method is the PID control method. However, although the above control methods are simple in structure, they have the problems of difficult parameter tuning, large overshoot, and unstable and inaccurate output response. Therefore, to improve the above problems, we propose a framework of deep reinforcement learning-based wave refrigerating control system. An improved SAC algorithm is used to learn the control system. The evaluation method is established according to the working condition requirements as well as the safety requirements in the operation process. Experiments show that this method can effectively improve the control efficiency as well as the control quality, which can make the control system operate stably.

Broadband and easily fabricated double-tip edge coupler based on thin-film lithium niobate platform

Due to the significant difference in spot size between lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) waveguide and fiber, there is a substantial coupling loss between them, which limits the interconnection and application of LN photonic chips. Although some LNOI edge couplers have been designed and fabricated with low coupling loss between chip and fiber, they require high etching accuracy. In this paper, a low-loss, broadband and easily fabricated edge coupler is designed and fabricated on the LNOI platform. To reduce the etching requirement for tip width, a design has been adopted with symmetrical double tips at the edge. Additionally, a multimode interferometer (MMI) is introduced to ensure large fabrication tolerance. The proposed design only requires a single full etching step, significantly reducing stringent requirements for process with high precise. Experimental results demonstrate that the device exhibits a coupling loss less than 3.5 dB/facet in the wavelength range of 1500–1640 nm, while achieving a low coupling loss of 2.71 dB/facet at 1550 nm.

A lightweight and continuous dimensional emotion analysis system of facial expression recognition under complex background

Facial expression recognition technology has a brilliant prospect in applying the Internet of Things systems. Concerning the limited hardware computing capability and high real-time processing requirements, this paper proposes a lightweight emotion analysis system based on edge computing, which could be deployed on edge devices. To further improve the accuracy of dimensional emotion analysis, we propose a modified network structure of MobileNetV3 to measure the intensity of dimensional emotion. The optimization scheme includes introducing the improved efficient channel attention mechanism and the feature pyramid network, adjusting the structure of the model, and optimizing the loss function. Furthermore, the system uses Intel’s OpenVINO toolkit to make the model more suitable for stable operation and provides an operable human–computer interaction interface. The experimental results show that the system has the advantages of few parameters, high recognition accuracy, and low latency. The optimized network size is reduced by 67% compared with the original, the root mean square error of potency and activation is 0.413 and 0.389, and the latency is up to 9ms in Myriad. This work meets the requirements of practical applications and has essential significance with the demand for continuous dimensional emotion analysis. The source code is available at https://github.com/SCNU-RISLAB/Lightweight-and-Continuous-Dimensional-Emotion-Analysis-System-of-Facial-Expression-Recognition/.

Anomaly detection of power grid data based on storm cloud platform sliding window

Abstract To realize the monitoring and diagnosis of multi-source data in the power industry and meet the real-time processing requirements of the power system, the storm-distributed real-time computing platform is introduced to process the data. On this platform, the streaming data processing model based on a sliding window is deployed to realize the anomaly diagnosis of data flow. By calculating the predicted value of a point and the confidence interval of the predicted value of the point, we can judge whether the actual point is an abnormal value. By testing the data processing capacity of a cluster and a single machine, the experiment shows that in the cluster environment, reasonably setting the component parallelism can improve the throughput of flow computing.

Analysis of reject pinhole hardfacing process for stellite alloy metal motorcycle engine valves

If businesses wish to compete in the industrial world, they must produce quality and process results. No matter how big or little, some goods will always fail to generate or be rejected in a production process. In this case, companies in the automobile sector have noticed an increase in the number of pinholes that have been returned during the past three months. The company established a maximum reject rate of 0.9% each month based on the rejected data; from May to July, the average reject rate was 0.23%. Finding the factors causing the surge in pinhole rejects that occurred between May and July is the aim of this investigation. The analysis showed that the increase in pinhole rejects was caused by a variety of variables, including machine, process, and human factors. Further examination disclosed alterations to the device's configuration and software, along with the operator's persistent incapacity to comprehend the process. As operations become less efficient, repair components build up in the manufacturing line area. As a result, an improvement plan is needed, which is put into action by giving operator training and rearranging the machine and its software according to process requirements. Operators with a greater understanding of the process yield better results and higher productivity. As a result, operator confidence will rise along with performance. It was discovered that after developments in the field of human resource development, the number of rejections had dropped. Before the repair was finished, the average reject from May to July 2023 was 0.23%; following the repair, the average reject from August to October 2023 was 0.09%

Physical Vapor Deposition of Indium-Doped GeTe: Analyzing the Evaporation Process and Kinetics

Chalcogenide glasses have broad applications in the mid-infrared optoelectronics field and as phase-change materials (PCMs) due to their unique properties. Chalcogenide glasses can have crystalline and amorphous phases, making them suitable as PCMs for reversible optical or electrical recording. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the evaporation kinetics of indium-doped chalcogenides, GeTe4 and GeTe5, using the physical vapor deposition technique on glass substrates. Our approach involved a detailed examination of the evaporation process under controlled temperature conditions, allowing precise measurement of rate changes and energy dynamics. This study revealed a significant and exponential increase in the evaporation rate of GeTe4 and GeTe5 with the introduction of indium, which was particularly noticeable at higher temperatures. This increase in evaporation rate with indium doping suggests a more complex interplay of materials at the molecular level than previously understood. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the addition of indium affects the evaporation rate and elevates the energy requirements for the evaporation process, providing new insights into the thermal dynamics of these materials. This study’s outcomes contribute significantly to understanding deposition processes, paving the way for optimized manufacturing techniques that could lead to more efficient and higher-performing optoelectronic devices and memory storage solutions.

The Regulatory Landscape of Biobanks In Europe: From Accreditation to Intellectual Property

Abstract: Biobanks are necessary resources for the storage and management of human biological materials, such as biofluids, tissues, cells, or nucleotides. They play a significant role in the development of new treatments and the advancement of basic and translational research, especially in the field of biomarkers discovery and validation. The regulatory landscape for biobanks, which is necessary to safeguard both privacy and scientific discoveries, exhibits significant heterogeneity across different countries and regions. This article outlines the standards that modern biobanks should fulfill in the European Union (EU), including general, structural, resource, process, and quality requirements. Special attention is given to the importance of transparency and donor consent following the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ISO 20387:2018, the international standard specifies general requirements for biobanks. A dedicated section covers the preparation of donor information materials, emphasizing consent for research involvement and personal data processing. The delicate balance between donors' privacy rights and scientific research promotion is also discussed, with a focus on the patenting and economic use of biological material- derived inventions and data. Considering these factors, it would be warranted to refine legal frameworks and foster interdisciplinary collaboration to ethically and responsibly expand biobanking.

Changes in the starch quality of adlay seed varieties (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) from different regions in China after high-temperature storage

The effects of high-temperature storage at 37 °C on the crystallinity, pasting, rheological, and thermal properties of adlay seed starches from three famous Chinese varieties were studied. The results showed that high-temperature storage altered the natural structure of adlay seed starch, resulting in increased peak viscosity for all starch pastes after one month of storage at 37 °C. Jinsha adlay seed starch (JSC), which had the highest amylose content (11.21 %), showed increased D50, relative crystallinity and OD values, demonstrating strong regrowth ability and hydrophobicity, with starch gels having greater hardness and gumminess after storage. In contrast, Pucheng adlay seed starch (PSC) and waxy Ninghua adlay seed starch (WSC), with similar amylose proportions, showed distinct starch gel properties. PSC (with an amylose content of 3.35 %) exhibited better starch gel properties, whereas WSC (amylose content of 5.74 %) demonstrated improved gumminess and chewiness after storage and exhibited stronger anti-starch regrowth capabilities. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of future starches based on their specific processing requirements.

Mitigation of supply chain challenges in cell therapy manufacturing: perspectives from the cord blood alliance.

Cellular therapies rely on highly specialized supply chains that often depend on single source providers. Public cord blood banks (CBB) manufacturing the first cell therapy to be highly regulated by the FDA and related international agencies are a prime example of being subject to this phenomenon. In addition to banking unrelated donor cord blood units for transplantation, CBBs also source and characterize starting materials for supply to allogeneic cell therapy developers that often employ customized technologies offered by just a small number of manufacturers. As such, these supply chains are especially sensitive to even minor changes which often result in potential major impacts. Regulations can shape supply chain efficiencies, both directly via the definition of restricted technology and process requirements and indirectly by steering strategic business decisions of critical supply or service providers. We present 3 current supply chain issues with different root causes that are swaying efficiencies in cord blood banking and beyond. Specifically, the shortage of Hespan, a common supplement used in cord blood processing, the decision by the provider to stop supporting medical device marking of the Sepax system broadly used in cord blood banking, and a new European ruling on phasing out plasticizers that are critical for providing flexibility to cord blood collection bags, are all threatening downstream supply chain issues for the biologics field. We discuss overcoming these hurdles through the prism of unified mitigation strategies, defined, and implemented by multi-factorial teams and stakeholders, to negotiate resolutions with providers and regulators alike.

Multi source data security protection of smart grid based on edge computing

In order to cope with the continuous development of information technology, the data volume of edge devices in the power supply network is increasing rapidly, and the higher requirements for real-time data processing and transmission bandwidth are put forward, the author proposes the research on security protection of multi-source data in smart grid based on edge computing. Established a distribution network safety risk map, calculated and analyzed safety risks through potential functions, and obtained node potential values and key node data; The intelligent grid multi-source heterogeneous data monitoring model based on edge computing can realize the timely perception and real-time response of distribution network faults, shorten the outage time, and improve the power supply reliability and user satisfaction of the distribution network. The results indicate that: Taking a distribution network line in a certain area as an example, the highest potential value is node 9, followed by nodes 10 and 3. This indicates that in order to ensure the reliable operation of the distribution network and avoid power outages, it is necessary to improve the repair capacity, the proportion of old equipment, and the power supply radius exceeding the standard. ConclusionThe effectiveness of potential function in risk assessment of edge computing is verified, which can provide theoretical guidance for distribution network fault diagnosis.