Production Strategies Research Articles

Ultrahigh Responsivity and Robust Semiconducting Fiber Enabled by Molecular Soldering-Governed Defect Engineering for Smart Textile Optoelectronics.

Semiconducting fibers (SCFs) are of significant interest to design next-generation wearable and comfortable optoelectronics that seamlessly integrate with textiles. However, the practical applications of current SCFs are always limited by poor optoelectronic performance and low mechanical robustness caused by uncontrollable multiscale structural defects. Herein, a versatile in situ molecular soldering-governed defect engineering strategy is proposed to construct ultrahigh responsivity and robust wet-spun MoS2 SCFs, by using a π-conjugated dithiolated molecule to simultaneously patch microscale sulfur vacancies within MoS2 nanosheets, diminish mesoscale interlayer voids/wrinkles, promote macroscale orientation, build long-range photoelectron percolation bridges, and provide n-doping effect. The derived MoS2 SCFs exhibit over two orders of magnitude higher responsivity (144.3 A W-1) than previously reported fiber photodetectors, 37.3-fold faster photoresponse speed (52ms) than pristine counterpart, and remarkable bending robustness (retain 94.2% of the initial photocurrent after 50000 bending-flattening cycles). Such superior robustness and photodetection capacity of MoS2 SCFs further enable large-scale weaving of reliable smart textile optoelectronic systems, such as direction-identifiable wireless light alarming system, modularized mechano-optical communication system, and indoor light-controlled IoT system. This work offers a universal strategy for the scalable production of mechanically robust and high-performance SCFs, opening up exciting possibilities for large-scale integration of wearable optoelectronics.

Making valuable energy: Public forums, municipal futures, and infrastructural pathways

This article analyzes public discussions and engagements with Philadelphia’s energy system to highlight the degrees of tension between diverse ethical frames and energy-based strategies of value production. Looking at three different instances and genres of energy-transition planning and expression, we argue that any such tensions or alignments turn on the specific units, categories, and scales of analysis used to construct and understand them. Our first section investigates the spatial and temporal frames of “energy security” embedded in Philadelphia’s infrastructure improvement plan, showing how the meaning and political purchase of the concept of “security” changes across quotidian and infrastructural timescales and across the spatial scale of the household, city, state, and the nation. Section two considers the categories with which the City framed its study of potential decarbonization scenarios, pointing towards the way this schema produced its own seemingly intractable ethical and economic impasses. The third and final section looks at the way diverse members of the public successfully de- and re-constructed the study’s categories, scales, and units of analysis, successfully undermining the study’s “grid of intelligibility” and replacing it with their own more equity-centered alternative. Across these three ethnographic engagements, this article brings the anthropologies of ethics and value together in a novel way, showing their mediated entanglement with and within the sphere of public knowledge production. This, we argue, illustrates the seemingly mundane scalar choices that deeply inform our ethical frames and that, in the end, ultimately allow us to make energy valuable.

Role of biochar as a greener catalyst in biofuel production: Production, activation, and potential utilization – A review

BackgroundBiochar is an affordable carbonaceous product produced through a combination of thermochemical conversion processes using organic feedstock in the absence or constrained supply of oxygen. Biochar-based catalysts are promising in numerous catalytic applications for sustainable bioenergy production. MethodsHydrothermal carbonization, gasification, and pyrolysis are conventional biochar production techniques. The biochar must be activated to improve its physiochemical characteristics. The activation is generally classified into three types: physical, chemical, and impregnation. The biochar-based catalysts are categorized into different types, such as pristine, heteroatom-doped, metal-loaded, magnetic, and nanometallic oxide/hydroxide biochar. Significant findingsThese biochar-based catalysts effectively catalyze various biochemical reactions and are extensively used in biofuel production. This article extensively explores various biochar production and activation strategies and their applications as a catalyst for biofuel production. Activated biochar with improved surface properties has a high surface area and adaptable surface chemistry, making it a sustainable alternative to conventional catalysts. Biochar from renewable biomass has advantages in waste management, carbon sequestration, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Further research and innovation using nanomaterials, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are needed to utilize biochar as a sustainable and potential green catalyst for advanced biofuel production.

Robust ordering, production, and replenishment in a supply chain for innovative products: A two-echelon newsvendor problem with partial information in yield and demand

With partial yield and demand information, we investigate a two-echelon newsvendor problem in a supply chain for innovative product, in which the retailer and the supplier make sequential decisions in ordering, production, and replenishment, respectively. We adopt the minimax-regret criterion to assume the risk-averse nature and deduce the minimax-regret inventory decisions. We explore replenishment (emergency) production strategies for the supplier. Then we propose shortage penalty strategies as well as subsidized replenishment strategies for the retailer so that the supplier can maintain the required supply even under higher replenishment production costs. We further reveal the role of information uncertainty in the minimax-regret decisions and the bullwhip effect. Interestingly, the results show that the penalty strategies do not always lead to less regret for the retailer, and the information uncertainty does not necessarily lead to greater regret for the supplier. Moreover, some schemes to reduce the bullwhip effect are proposed, such as improving the accuracy of uncertain yield, increasing shortage penalty or replenishment subsidy, and decreasing replenishment cost. It is verified that the replenishment strategies can increase profits for both the retailer and the supplier under some conditions. In extensions, we reveal the supplier’s preference for emergency production and external procurement, as well as preferences for information sharing and confidentiality. Meanwhile, we find that decentralized decision-making may even outperform centralized decision-making in some situations when the minimax-regret criterion is adopted to deal with the information deficiency. Finally, the robustness of the replenishment strategies in reducing both enterprises’ regrets is checked.

Vitamin D and Sarcopenia in the Senior People: A Review of Mechanisms and Comprehensive Prevention and Treatment Strategies.

This article reviews the mechanisms and prevention strategies associated with vitamin D and sarcopenia in older adults. As a geriatric syndrome, sarcopenia is defined by a notable decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength, which increases the risk of adverse health outcomes such as falls and fractures. Vitamin D, an essential fat-soluble vitamin, is pivotal in skeletal muscle health. It affects muscle function through various mechanisms, including regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism, promoting muscle protein synthesis, and modulation of muscle cell proliferation and differentiation. A deficiency in vitamin D has been identified as a significant risk factor for the development of sarcopenia in older adults. Many studies have demonstrated that low serum vitamin D levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of sarcopenia. While there is inconsistency in the findings, most studies support the importance of vitamin D in maintaining skeletal muscle health. Vitamin D influences the onset and progression of sarcopenia through various pathways, including the promotion of muscle protein synthesis, the regulation of mitochondrial function, and the modulation of immune and inflammatory responses. Regarding the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia, a combination of nutritional, exercise, and pharmacological interventions is recommended. Further research should be conducted to elucidate the molecular mechanism of vitamin D in sarcopenia, to study genes related to sarcopenia, to perform large-scale clinical trials, to investigate special populations, and to examine the combined application of vitamin D with other nutrients or drugs. A comprehensive investigation of the interconnection between vitamin D and sarcopenia will furnish a novel scientific foundation and productive strategies for preventing and treating sarcopenia. This, in turn, will enhance the senior people's quality of life and health.

Interview

Resonance guest editor Charles Eppley speaks with Bill Solomon, Jerry Pergolesi, and Sarah Hennies of the Queer Percussion Research Group. They discuss the group’s recently published zine, barriers to funding for queer art, the cis-heteronormative orientations of new music and the percussion music repertoire, and how experimental artistic research can be a productive strategy for community building and self-expression.

Impact of Crop Establishment Methods on the Growth and Yield Performance of Maize Varieties in the Kharif Season

A field trial was carried out in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India, during the Kharif season to evaluate the performance of maize varieties using various planting methods. The study included five distinct planting techniques: Flat, Bed, Ridgetop, Ridge mid-slope and Broad Ridge mid-slope both sides. Two maize varieties were tested: the composite PSM-1 and the hybrid DKC 9144. Results showed that the Broad Ridge mid-slope on both sides method led to the highest growth parameters, including; plant height, stem girth and dry matter accumulation per plant. During both the years, the Broad Ridge mid-slope planting method led to notable increase in plant height (7% and 6.1%), stem girth (5.25 & 4.67 cm) and dry matter accumulation (13.6% & 20.7%) respectively when compared to the flat planting method. Among the varieties, the hybrid DKC 9144 exhibited greater height, stem girth, more dry matter accumulation, grain and stover yields compared to the composite PSM-1. The findings suggest that the broad ridge mid-slope planting method, and hybrid variety DKC 9144, was the most effective and viable strategy for Kharif maize production in tarai region.

Optimizing radiation capture in machine-harvested cotton: A functional-structural plant modelling approach to chemical vs. manual topping strategies

Topping and planting density are key agronomic management practices to optimize cotton plant structure for machine harvesting and light capture. However, modelling the effects of these practices on canopy light utilization in the field, in order to improve cotton management, remains challenging. Functional-structural plant modelling is a computational approach to explore the effects of agronomic practices on shaping plant architecture and thus light interception. This study, for the first time, utilizes the CottonXL model to quantify the significant impact of chemical topping compared to manual topping on radiation interception on machine-harvested cotton in China at different planting densities, providing new management strategies for cotton production. A more compact plant structure is shaped by chemical topping through inhibiting leaf expansion and shortening internodes of both the main stem and fruiting branches, thereby allowing more PAR interception by middle and lower leaves. Simulation results showed that the total PAR intercepted by the canopy over entire growth season was increased by 11.3 % under chemical topping compared to manual topping. This positive effect became even more pronounced with increasing plant density. These results indicate that chemical topping could be beneficial for optimizing canopy structure, enhancing light interception and lint yield, especially at higher plant densities. The results illustrate the importance of shaping plant structure for improving radiation resource capture and exemplify the potential of optimizing topping strategy and plant density to enhance crop performance. They also demonstrate the utility of a functional-structural plant model for guiding crop management.

Complex cocoa agroforestry systems shaped within specific socioeconomic and historical contexts in Africa: Lessons from Cameroonian farmers

CONTEXTIn the humid tropics, the socioecological advantages of family-based, multistory agroforestry systems are well recognized. Yet public policies tend to focus on conservation and land-sparing strategies alongside the promotion of modern intensive agriculture, neglecting these biodiverse agroecosystems, which are in decline. This is a particularly central issue in cocoa cultivation. In Africa's two largest cocoa-producing countries (Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana), cocoa plantations with few associated trees contribute to deforestation and biodiversity loss. In contrast, in regions like Cameroon, biodiversity-rich cocoa agroforests prevail. Considering global changes and rising cocoa demand, it is crucial to preserve and develop these agroforestry systems that reconcile cocoa production with ecosystem services. OBJECTIVEThis study, conducted in Cameroon between 2013 and 2017, aimed to pinpoint the socioeconomic factors influencing the characteristics, maintenance, and degradation of cocoa agroforests, with the ultimate goal of identifying intervention strategies to promote their preservation and development. METHODSThe study collected data from (i) on-field measurements in 95 cocoa agroforestry plots, (ii) interviews with the 95 farmers managing the plots, and (iii) historical interviews with 50 key informants. We focused on five sites across a gradient of population density, encompassing various socioecological environments and types of cocoa agroforests. Through thematic and statistical analyses, we evaluated differences between the five sites. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSOur results indicated contrasting management practices, dendrometric structure, species composition, and cocoa yields between sites. These contrasts largely reflected socioeconomic factors and site-specific dynamics. Cocoa agroforests were less rich in biodiversity in sites where farmers with capital using hired labor had acquired land than in sites where family farmers predominated. A trade-off was found between the richness of companion trees and cocoa yields. Plots managed by smallholder family farmers near urban areas tended to better reconcile cocoa production and biodiversity conservation. These farmers had gradually transformed their traditional agroforests to adapt to increasing demographic pressure by integrating diverse fruit tree species, using pesticides sparingly, and introducing selected cocoa varieties mixed with older varieties. SIGNIFICANCEThe small-scale family-managed cocoa agroforests, which incorporate fruit species as described in this study, could serve as a model for a more sustainable cocoa production strategy. However, developing such a strategy would require greater investment and support from policymakers. This includes supporting the marketing of products from companion trees, stabilizing cocoa prices at a high level, and implementing land policies that protect small and medium-sized family farmers.

BL(Boy’s Love) 웹드라마의 시청동기가 시청만족도 및 파생상품 소비의도에 미치는 영향 - 중국 여성 시청자를 대상으로

BL(Boy’s Love) content is gaining popularity worldwide, especially on the web. In particular, the growth of BL web dramas is notable, and the largest viewing group of BL web dramas is Chinese females. This study derived motivation for watching BL web dramas through a survey targeting Chinese women, and empirically analyzed the relationships among viewing motivation, viewing satisfaction, and consumption intention of BL web drama derivative products. Results identified the motivations for watching BL web dramas as; ‘preference for BL culture’, ‘sexual interest’, ‘empathetic choice’, ‘escapism’, ‘pursuit of beautiful love’, ‘awareness of gender equality’, ‘topic’, ‘performer preference’ and ‘BL CP preference’. Among these, ‘'escapism’, ‘pursuit of beautiful love’, ‘preference for performers’, and ‘preference for BL CP’ were found to significantly influence viewing satisfaction, while ‘sexual interest’, ‘pursuit of beautiful love’, and ‘preference for BL CP’ were shown to impact the intention to purchase spin-off products. In addition, viewing satisfaction was found to mediate viewing motivation and derivative product consumption intention. The results of this study are expected to increase understanding of women's motivations for watching BL web dramas and contribute to establishing production strategies and improving profits for future BL web dramas.

Can non-invasive motor unit analysis reveal distinct neural strategies of force production in young with uncomplicated type 1 diabetes?

to investigate the early consequences of type 1 diabetes (T1D) on the neural strategies of muscle force production. motor unit (MU) activity was recorded from the vastus lateralis muscle with High-Density surface Electromyography during isometric knee extension at 20 and 40% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in 8 T1D (4 males, 4 females, 30.5 ± 3.6years) and 8 matched control (4 males, 4 females, 27.3 ± 5.9years) participants. Muscle biopsies were also collected from vastus lateralis for fiber type analysis, including myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform content via protein and mRNA expression. MVC was comparable between groups as well as MU conduction velocity, action potentials' amplitude and proportions of MyHC protein isoforms. Nonetheless, MU discharge rate, relative derecruitment thresholds and mRNA expression of MyHC isoform I were lower in T1D. young people with uncomplicated T1D present a different neural control of muscle force production. Furthermore, differences are detectable non-invasively in absence of any functional manifestation (i.e., force production and fiber type distribution). These novel findings suggest that T1D has early consequences on the neuromuscular system and highlights the necessity of a better characterization of neural control in this population.

Application of thermal energy efficiency utilization based on computer technology in green manufacturing blockchain production traceability

With the global emphasis on sustainable development, green manufacturing has become a key strategy to enhance economic efficiency and environmental friendliness. In the manufacturing process, the effective use and management of heat energy directly affect the consumption of resources and the protection of the environment. Blockchain technology, with its transparency and immutability, has gradually been introduced into the production process, helping to achieve traceability and optimization of thermal energy utilization. This study aims to explore how to combine computer technology with blockchain to establish a heat energy monitoring and management system based on computer technology, and collect real-time heat energy data through sensors. It then uses blockchain technology to create a transparent production traceability platform, store and manage thermal data, and ensure the security and reliability of the data. The research shows that the system combining computer technology and blockchain significantly improves the utilization efficiency of heat energy, greatly reduces the heat loss in the production process, and significantly improves the reuse rate of resources. The traceability function of the system effectively improves the transparency of the production process and enables enterprises to adjust their production strategies in time. Therefore, the combination of computer-based thermal efficiency utilization with blockchain production traceability offers a new solution for green manufacturing.

Formation Evaluation and Petrophysical Analysis of Well Logging Data: an Example From Matruh-Shushan Basin, North Western Desert, Egypt

Petrophysical evaluation of well logging data is crucial for exploring and improving oil and gas reservoirs. This involves obtaining reliable information about the rocks and fluids in the reservoir to estimate reserves and make informed decisions about drilling, production, and development strategies. In this study, data from six wells in the Matruh-Shushan Basin were evaluated using Log Quality Control procedures. Two zones of interest, Lower and Upper Safa members, were identified, and quantitative interpretation was conducted to determine the most effective parameters defining reservoir quality: Shale Volume, Effective Porosity, and Water Saturation. Results were positive, with promising net pay for both reservoirs. Numerical models and statistical methods were used to account for data uncertainties and provide reliable estimates of reservoir properties. The study highlights the significance of correct interpretation in successfully exploring and producing hydrocarbons.

Relationship Between the Level of Adaptation in the Educational Environment of Higher Education Institution and the Choice of Strategy to Ensure Personal Safety of Students

Introduction. The article is devoted to the study of the relationship between the level of adaptation in the educational environment of the higher education institution and the choice of strategy to ensure the personal safety of students. The relevance of the study is due to the lack of scientific works that aim to identify the relationship between the categories considered, as well as the growing need for a sense of personal security in the modern world.Objective. Identify the relationship between the level of adaptation in the educational environment of a higher education institution and the choice of strategy to ensure the personal safety of students.Materials and Methods. The following methodological tools were used to collect empirical data: methodology for diagnosing the level of students’ adaptation to university (M. S. Yurkina and A. A. Smirnov) and the author’s methodology for determining students’ personal security strategies. The author’s methodology is based on the differentiation of personal security strategies into avoidance, negotiation, and action strategies. The sample consisted from the 50 students of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University of the first and second year of study. The research program included four stages: 1) identifying the personal safety strategies of the students of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University in the first and second year of study consecutively; 2) determining the level of the adaptation of students of Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University in the educational environment of the university in the first and second year of study consecutively; 3) conducting a comparative analysis of the data on personal safety strategies and the level of the adaptation of students; 4) conducting a comparative analysis of the results of the study in the first and second year of study; 5) conducting a correlation analysis.Results. In the first year, the low level of adaptation was accompanied by the choice of avoidance strategy as a strategy for the personal security of the students. With the increase in the level of adaptation in the educational environment, there is a change in the choice of personal security strategies with the predominance of the action strategy and the negotiation strategy.Discussion. Within the framework of the study, it was found that security strategies change with the growth of the level of adaptation. Prospects for the study of the relationship between the level of adaptation in the educational environment of the higher education institution and the choice of personal safety strategies of students are associated with further study of the direction of this relationship in order to support students in the process of adaptation or in the choice of more productive strategies of personal safety.

Biochemical characterization of a flavonoid O-methyltransferase from Artemisia annua and its application in tamarixetin production

The O-position methylation of flavonoids is widely recognized as a key modification that substantially boosts their bioactivity and bioavailability, leading to enhanced absorption. The use of specific O-methyltransferases is frequently necessary for various substrate modifications. Here, a novel Artemisia annua O-methyltransferase (AaOMT) gene was cloned, heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and its biochemical properties against various flavonoids were characterized. Amino acid and phylogenic analyses indicated that AaOMT is a new flavonoid O-methyltransferase that belongs to the Class II O-methyltransferases family. It could specifically methylate most flavonoids at the 4′-OH position unless flavanones. The optimal temperature and pH for in vitro reactions were 35 °C and 8.0, respectively. Kinetic analysis revealed that AaOMT exhibits the highest affinity and relatively high catalytic efficiency towards quercetin. Consequently, recombinant strains harboring AaOMT were used to convert quercetin into tamarixetin in vivo. Additionally, different vectors with promoters and E. coli hosts were screened to enhance tamarixetin production. By optimizing cultivation conditions and scaling up fermentation capacity, we achieved a maximum tamarixetin titer of 706.9 mg/L (∼2.24 mM) finally. This study provides a novel, efficient, and regioselective 4′-O-methyltransferase (4′-OMT) and a strategy for the mass production of those rare and high-value 4′-methoxyflavonoids through metabolic engineering in vivo.

Optimization of planting date and irrigation strategy for sustainable cotton production

Optimization of planting date and irrigation strategy for sustainable cotton production

Costs, challenges and opportunities of decentralised chimeric antigen receptor T-cell production: a literature review and clinical experts’ interviews

The objectives were to summarise the evidence and clinical experts’ views comparing the use of decentralised produced chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies versus commercially available products, regarding drug costs,...

Optimal Dynamic Production Planning for Supply Network with Random External and Internal Demands

This paper focuses on joint production/inventory optimization in single and multiple horizons, respectively, within a complicated supply network (CSN) consisting of firm nodes with coupled demands and firm nodes with coupled demands. We first formulate the single-epoch joint optimal output model by allowing the production of extra quantity for stock underage, considering the fixed costs incurred by having inventory over demand and shortfalls. Then, the multi-temporal dynamic joint production model is further investigated to deal with stochastic demand fluctuations among CSN nodes by constructing a dynamic input–output model. The K-convexity defined in Rn space is proved to obtain the optimal control strategy. According to physical flow links, all demands associated to the nodes of CSN are categorized into the inter-node demand inside CSN (intermediate demand) and external demand outside CSN (final demand). We exploit the meliorated input–output matrix to describe demand relations, building dynamic input–output models where demand fluctuates randomly in single-cycle CSN and finite multi-cycle CSN. The novel monocyclic and multicyclic dynamic models have been developed to minimize system-wide operational costs. Unlike existent literature, we consider fixed costs incurred by overdemand and underdemand inventory into system operational cost functions and then demonstrate the convexity of objective functions. The cost function with two fixed penalty costs due to excess and shortage of inventory is developed in a multicycle model, and the K-convexity defined in Rn is proved to find out the optimal strategy for joint dynamic production of CSNs in the case of multi-products and multicycles.

Solid Lithiation and Exfoliation for Scalable Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Nanosheets toward Industrialization.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials show intriguing and diverse properties in different fields, stimulating chemists to develop synthetic and functional methodologies for producing solution-processable nanosheets on a large scale. However, it is still challenging to prepare 2D materials for industrial applications without sacrificing their lab-scale properties. Solid lithiation and exfoliation can achieve the hundred-gram-scale production of transition metal telluride nanosheets, making it one of the most effective strategies for mass production of 2D nanomaterials. In this Perspective, we highlight the advantages, propose the challenges, and discuss the opportunities of solid lithiation and exfoliation as a promising and commercially viable production method for 2D nanomaterials.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for de novo production of 5-hydroxyvalerate via L-lysine α-oxidase pathway

5-hydroxyvalerate (5-HV) is a crucial C5 platform chemical with versatile applications, yet its efficient production remains a challenge. The Raip, gabT, and yahK genes were integrated into the E. coli LE genome, deleted gabD, and enhanced gabP expression, resulting in the QluMG strain. Additionally, the impact of ethanol and H2O2 on 5-HV production was investigated. Further enhancement was achieved by incorporating an NADPH supplementation system, resulting in the QluMG strain. In the 5 L fermenter, the QluMGD strain produced 21.7 g/L of 5-HV from 50 g/L glucose, with a conversion rate of 43.4 %. The successful integration of the RaiP pathway into the E. coli genome significantly enhanced 5-HV production. The QluMG strain achieved the highest reported yield from glucose in engineered E. coli to date. This study provides a new strategy for the efficient production of 5-HV and other chemicals using 5-HV as a precursor, demonstrating potential for industrial application.