Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2022.09.018
Rui Liu , Jiahui Guo , Bin Kong , Yunru Yu , Yuanjin Zhao , Lingyun Sun
Tubular microfibers have recently attracted extensive interest for applications in tissue engineering. However, the fabrication of tubular fibers with intricate hierarchical structures remains a major challenge. Here, we present a novel one-step microfluidic spinning method to generate bio-inspired screwed conduits (BSCs). Based on the microfluidic rope-coiling effect, a viscous hydrogel precursor is first curved into a helix stream in the channel, and then consecutively packed as a hollow structured stream and gelated into a screwed conduit (SC) via ionic and covalent crosslinking. By taking advantage of the excellent fluid-controlling ability of microfluidics, various tubes with diverse structures are fabricated via simple control over fluid velocities and multiple microfluidic device designs. The perfusability and permeability results, as well as the encapsulation and culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAs), and myogenic cells (C2C12), demonstrate that these SCs have good perfusability and permeability and the ability to induce the formation of functional biostructures. These features support the uniqueness and potential applications of these BSCs as biomimetic blood vessels and bronchiole tissues in combination with tissue microstructures, with likely application possibilities in biomedical engineering.
{"title":"Bio-Inspired Screwed Conduits from the Microfluidic Rope-Coiling Effect for Microvessels and Bronchioles","authors":"Rui Liu , Jiahui Guo , Bin Kong , Yunru Yu , Yuanjin Zhao , Lingyun Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2022.09.018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2022.09.018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tubular microfibers have recently attracted extensive interest for applications in tissue engineering. However, the fabrication of tubular fibers with intricate hierarchical structures remains a major challenge. Here, we present a novel one-step microfluidic spinning method to generate bio-inspired screwed conduits (BSCs). Based on the microfluidic rope-coiling effect, a viscous hydrogel precursor is first curved into a helix stream in the channel, and then consecutively packed as a hollow structured stream and gelated into a screwed conduit (SC) via ionic and covalent crosslinking. By taking advantage of the excellent fluid-controlling ability of microfluidics, various tubes with diverse structures are fabricated via simple control over fluid velocities and multiple microfluidic device designs. The perfusability and permeability results, as well as the encapsulation and culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAs), and myogenic cells (C2C12), demonstrate that these SCs have good perfusability and permeability and the ability to induce the formation of functional biostructures. These features support the uniqueness and potential applications of these BSCs as biomimetic blood vessels and bronchiole tissues in combination with tissue microstructures, with likely application possibilities in biomedical engineering.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 172-178"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142258762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.05.019
Jielian Zheng
Arch bridges provide significant technical and economic benefits under suitable conditions. In particular, concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridges and steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) arch bridges are two types of arch bridges that have gained great economic competitiveness and span growth potential due to advancements in construction technology, engineering materials, and construction equipment over the past 30 years. Under the leadership of the author, two record-breaking arch bridges—that is, the Pingnan Third Bridge (a CFST arch bridge), with a span of 560 m, and the Tian’e Longtan Bridge (an SRC arch bridge), with a span of 600 m—have been built in the past five years, embodying great technological breakthroughs in the construction of these two types of arch bridges. This paper takes these two arch bridges as examples to systematically summarize the latest technological innovations and practices in the construction of CFST arch bridges and SRC arch bridges in China. The technological innovations of CFST arch bridges include cable-stayed fastening-hanging cantilevered assembly methods, new in-tube concrete materials, in-tube concrete pouring techniques, a novel thrust abutment foundation for non-rocky terrain, and measures to reduce the quantity of temporary facilities. The technological innovations of SRC arch bridges involve arch skeleton stiffness selection, the development of encasing concrete materials, encasing concrete pouring, arch rib stress mitigation, and longitudinal reinforcement optimization. To conclude, future research focuses and development directions for these two types of arch bridges are proposed.
{"title":"Recent Construction Technology Innovations and Practices for Large-Span Arch Bridges in China","authors":"Jielian Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.05.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.05.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arch bridges provide significant technical and economic benefits under suitable conditions. In particular, concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) arch bridges and steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) arch bridges are two types of arch bridges that have gained great economic competitiveness and span growth potential due to advancements in construction technology, engineering materials, and construction equipment over the past 30 years. Under the leadership of the author, two record-breaking arch bridges—that is, the Pingnan Third Bridge (a CFST arch bridge), with a span of 560 m, and the Tian’e Longtan Bridge (an SRC arch bridge), with a span of 600 m—have been built in the past five years, embodying great technological breakthroughs in the construction of these two types of arch bridges. This paper takes these two arch bridges as examples to systematically summarize the latest technological innovations and practices in the construction of CFST arch bridges and SRC arch bridges in China. The technological innovations of CFST arch bridges include cable-stayed fastening-hanging cantilevered assembly methods, new in-tube concrete materials, in-tube concrete pouring techniques, a novel thrust abutment foundation for non-rocky terrain, and measures to reduce the quantity of temporary facilities. The technological innovations of SRC arch bridges involve arch skeleton stiffness selection, the development of encasing concrete materials, encasing concrete pouring, arch rib stress mitigation, and longitudinal reinforcement optimization. To conclude, future research focuses and development directions for these two types of arch bridges are proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 110-129"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142193787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.019
In situ regeneration is a promising strategy for constructing tissue engineering heart valves (TEHVs). Currently, the decellularized heart valve (DHV) is extensively employed as a TEHV scaffold. Nevertheless, DHV exhibits limited blood compatibility and notable difficulties in endothelialization, resulting in thrombosis and graft failure. The red blood cell membrane (RBCM) exhibits excellent biocompatibility and prolonged circulation stability and is extensively applied in the camouflage of nanoparticles for drug delivery; however, there is no report on its application for large-scale modification of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM). For the first time, we utilized a layer-by-layer assembling strategy to immobilize RBCM on the surface of DHV and construct an innovative TEHV scaffold. Our findings demonstrated that the scaffold significantly improved the hemocompatibility of DHV by effectively preventing plasma protein adsorption, activated platelet adhesion, and erythrocyte aggregation, and induced macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype in vitro. Moreover, RBCM modification significantly enhanced the mechanical properties and enzymatic stability of DHV. The rat models of subcutaneous embedding and abdominal aorta implantation showed that the scaffold regulated the polarization of macrophages into the anti-inflammatory and pro-modeling M2 phenotype and promoted endothelialization and ECM remodeling in the early stage without thrombosis and calcification. The novel TEHV exhibits excellent performance and can overcome the limitations of commonly used clinical prostheses.
{"title":"Large-Scale Surface Modification of Decellularized Matrix with Erythrocyte Membrane for Promoting In Situ Regeneration of Heart Valve","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.019","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.019","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>In situ</em> regeneration is a promising strategy for constructing tissue engineering heart valves (TEHVs). Currently, the decellularized heart valve (DHV) is extensively employed as a TEHV scaffold. Nevertheless, DHV exhibits limited blood compatibility and notable difficulties in endothelialization, resulting in thrombosis and graft failure. The red blood cell membrane (RBCM) exhibits excellent biocompatibility and prolonged circulation stability and is extensively applied in the camouflage of nanoparticles for drug delivery; however, there is no report on its application for large-scale modification of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM). For the first time, we utilized a layer-by-layer assembling strategy to immobilize RBCM on the surface of DHV and construct an innovative TEHV scaffold. Our findings demonstrated that the scaffold significantly improved the hemocompatibility of DHV by effectively preventing plasma protein adsorption, activated platelet adhesion, and erythrocyte aggregation, and induced macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype <em>in vitro</em>. Moreover, RBCM modification significantly enhanced the mechanical properties and enzymatic stability of DHV. The rat models of subcutaneous embedding and abdominal aorta implantation showed that the scaffold regulated the polarization of macrophages into the anti-inflammatory and pro-modeling M2 phenotype and promoted endothelialization and ECM remodeling in the early stage without thrombosis and calcification. The novel TEHV exhibits excellent performance and can overcome the limitations of commonly used clinical prostheses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 216-230"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141131985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.015
With the escalating flow of information and digital communication, information security has become an increasingly important issue. Traditional cryptographic methods are being threatened by advancing progress in computing, while physical encryption methods are favored as a viable and compelling avenue. Metasurfaces, which are known for their extraordinary ability to manipulate optical parameters at the nanoscale, exhibit significant potential for the revolution of optical devices, making them a highly promising candidate for optical encryption applications. Here, a single-sized metasurface with four independent channels is proposed for conducting steganography and multi-key information encryption. More specifically, plaintext is transformed into a ciphertext image, which is encoded into a metasurface, while the decryption key is discretely integrated into another channel within the same metasurface. Two different keys for steganographic image unveiling are also encoded into the metasurface and can be retrieved with different channels and spatial positions. This distributed multi-key encryption approach can enhance security, while strategically distributing images across distinct spatial zones serves as an additional measure to reduce the risk of information leakage. This minimalist designed metasurface, with its advantages of high information density and robust security, holds promise across applications including portable encryption, high-camouflaged image display, and high-density optical storage.
{"title":"A Single-Sized Metasurface for Image Steganography and Multi-Key Information Encryption","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the escalating flow of information and digital communication, information security has become an increasingly important issue. Traditional cryptographic methods are being threatened by advancing progress in computing, while physical encryption methods are favored as a viable and compelling avenue. Metasurfaces, which are known for their extraordinary ability to manipulate optical parameters at the nanoscale, exhibit significant potential for the revolution of optical devices, making them a highly promising candidate for optical encryption applications. Here, a single-sized metasurface with four independent channels is proposed for conducting steganography and multi-key information encryption. More specifically, plaintext is transformed into a ciphertext image, which is encoded into a metasurface, while the decryption key is discretely integrated into another channel within the same metasurface. Two different keys for steganographic image unveiling are also encoded into the metasurface and can be retrieved with different channels and spatial positions. This distributed multi-key encryption approach can enhance security, while strategically distributing images across distinct spatial zones serves as an additional measure to reduce the risk of information leakage. This minimalist designed metasurface, with its advantages of high information density and robust security, holds promise across applications including portable encryption, high-camouflaged image display, and high-density optical storage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 61-70"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141029947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.006
Effective engineering asset management (EAM) is critical to economic development and improving livability in society, but its complexity often impedes optimal asset functionalities. Digital twins (DTs) could revolutionize the EAM paradigm by bidirectionally linking the physical and digital worlds in real time. There is great industrial and academic interest in DTs for EAM. However, previous review studies have predominately focused on technical aspects using limited life-cycle perspectives, failing to holistically synthesize DTs for EAM from the managerial point of view. Based on a systematic literature review, we introduce an analytical framework for describing DTs for EAM, which encompasses three levels: DT 1.0 for technical EAM, DT 2.0 for technical−human EAM, and DT 3.0 for technical−environmental EAM. Using this framework, we identify what is known, what is unknown, and future directions at each level. DT 1.0 addresses issues of asset quality, progress, and cost management, generating technical value. It lacks multi-objective self-adaptive EAM, however, and suffers from high application cost. It is imperative to enable closed-loop EAM in order to provide various functional services with affordable DT 1.0. DT 2.0 accommodates issues of human−machine symbiosis, safety, and flexibility management, generating managerial value beyond the technical performance improvement of engineering assets. However, DT 2.0 currently lacks the automation and security of human−machine interactions and the managerial value related to humans is not prominent enough. Future research needs to align technical and managerial value with highly automated and secure DT 2.0. DT 3.0 covers issues of participatory governance, organization management, sustainable development, and resilience enhancement, generating macro social value. Yet it suffers from organizational fragmentation and can only address limited social governance issues. Numerous research opportunities exist to coordinate different stakeholders. Similarly, future research opportunities exist to develop DT 3.0 in a more open and complex system.
{"title":"Digital Twins for Engineering Asset Management: Synthesis, Analytical Framework, and Future Directions","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective engineering asset management (EAM) is critical to economic development and improving livability in society, but its complexity often impedes optimal asset functionalities. Digital twins (DTs) could revolutionize the EAM paradigm by bidirectionally linking the physical and digital worlds in real time. There is great industrial and academic interest in DTs for EAM. However, previous review studies have predominately focused on technical aspects using limited life-cycle perspectives, failing to holistically synthesize DTs for EAM from the managerial point of view. Based on a systematic literature review, we introduce an analytical framework for describing DTs for EAM, which encompasses three levels: DT 1.0 for technical EAM, DT 2.0 for technical−human EAM, and DT 3.0 for technical−environmental EAM. Using this framework, we identify what is known, what is unknown, and future directions at each level. DT 1.0 addresses issues of asset quality, progress, and cost management, generating technical value. It lacks multi-objective self-adaptive EAM, however, and suffers from high application cost. It is imperative to enable closed-loop EAM in order to provide various functional services with affordable DT 1.0. DT 2.0 accommodates issues of human−machine symbiosis, safety, and flexibility management, generating managerial value beyond the technical performance improvement of engineering assets. However, DT 2.0 currently lacks the automation and security of human−machine interactions and the managerial value related to humans is not prominent enough. Future research needs to align technical and managerial value with highly automated and secure DT 2.0. DT 3.0 covers issues of participatory governance, organization management, sustainable development, and resilience enhancement, generating macro social value. Yet it suffers from organizational fragmentation and can only address limited social governance issues. Numerous research opportunities exist to coordinate different stakeholders. Similarly, future research opportunities exist to develop DT 3.0 in a more open and complex system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 261-275"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139926662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.08.001
Yong-Qing Chen , Lin-Ya Liu , Da-Wei Huang , Qing-Song Feng , Ren-Peng Chen , Xin Kang
The rail transit in sulfate-rich areas faces the combined effects of stray current and salt corrosion; however, the sulfate ion transport and concrete degradation mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear. To address this issue, novel sulfate transport and mesoscale splitting tests were designed, with a focus on considering the differences between the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and cement matrix. Under the influence of stray current, the ITZ played a pivotal role in regulating the transport and mechanical failure processes of sulfate attack, while the tortuous and blocking effects of aggregates almost disappeared. This phenomenon was termed the “stray current-induced ITZ effect.” The experimental data revealed that the difference in sulfate ion transport attributed to the ITZ ranged from 1.90 to 2.31 times, while the difference in splitting strength ranged from 1.56 to 1.64 times. Through the real-time synchronization of splitting experiments and microsecond-responsive particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology, the mechanical properties were exposed to the consequences of the stray current-induced ITZ effect. The number of splitting cracks in the concrete increased, rather than along the central axis, which was significantly different from the conditions without stray current and the ideal Brazilian disk test. Furthermore, a sulfate ion mass transfer model that incorporates reactivity and electrodiffusion was meticulously constructed. The embedded finite element calculation exhibited excellent agreement with the experimental results, indicating its reliability and accuracy. Additionally, the stress field was determined utilizing analytical methods, and the mechanism underlying crack propagation was successfully obtained. Compared to the cement matrix, a stray current led to more sulfates, more microstructure degradation, and greater increases in thickness and porosity in the ITZ, which was considered to be the essence of the stray current-induced ITZ effect.
{"title":"Unraveling the Stray Current-Induced Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) Effect on Sulfate Corrosion in Concrete","authors":"Yong-Qing Chen , Lin-Ya Liu , Da-Wei Huang , Qing-Song Feng , Ren-Peng Chen , Xin Kang","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.08.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rail transit in sulfate-rich areas faces the combined effects of stray current and salt corrosion; however, the sulfate ion transport and concrete degradation mechanisms under such conditions are still unclear. To address this issue, novel sulfate transport and mesoscale splitting tests were designed, with a focus on considering the differences between the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) and cement matrix. Under the influence of stray current, the ITZ played a pivotal role in regulating the transport and mechanical failure processes of sulfate attack, while the tortuous and blocking effects of aggregates almost disappeared. This phenomenon was termed the “stray current-induced ITZ effect.” The experimental data revealed that the difference in sulfate ion transport attributed to the ITZ ranged from 1.90 to 2.31 times, while the difference in splitting strength ranged from 1.56 to 1.64 times. Through the real-time synchronization of splitting experiments and microsecond-responsive particle image velocimetry (PIV) technology, the mechanical properties were exposed to the consequences of the stray current-induced ITZ effect. The number of splitting cracks in the concrete increased, rather than along the central axis, which was significantly different from the conditions without stray current and the ideal Brazilian disk test. Furthermore, a sulfate ion mass transfer model that incorporates reactivity and electrodiffusion was meticulously constructed. The embedded finite element calculation exhibited excellent agreement with the experimental results, indicating its reliability and accuracy. Additionally, the stress field was determined utilizing analytical methods, and the mechanism underlying crack propagation was successfully obtained. Compared to the cement matrix, a stray current led to more sulfates, more microstructure degradation, and greater increases in thickness and porosity in the ITZ, which was considered to be the essence of the stray current-induced ITZ effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 130-152"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142224914","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.025
Chengzhi Wei, Xin Zhang, Jin Zhang, Liangping Xu, Guanghui Li, Tao Jiang
The steel industry is considered an important basic sector of the national economy, and its high energy consumption and carbon emissions make it a major contributor to climate change, especially in China. The majority of crude steel in China is produced via the energy- and carbon-intensive blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF–BOF) route, which greatly relies on coking coal. In recent years, China’s steel sector has made significant progress in energy conservation and emission reduction, driven by decarbonization policies and regulations. However, due to the huge output of crude steel, the steel sector still produces 15% of the total national CO2 emissions. The direct reduced iron (DRI) plus scrap–electric arc furnace (EAF) process is currently considered a good alternative to the conventional route as a means of reducing CO2 emissions and the steel industry’s reliance on iron ore and coking coal, since the gas-based DRI plus scrap–EAF route is expected to be more promising than the coal-based one. Unfortunately, almost no DRI is produced in China, seriously restricting the development of the EAF route. Here, we highlight the challenges and pathways of the future development of DRI, with a focus on China. In the short term, replacing natural gas with coke oven gas (COG) and byproduct gas from the integrated refining and chemical sector is a more economically feasible and cleaner way to develop a gas-based route in China. As the energy revolution proceeds, using fossil fuels in combination with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen will be a good alternative due to the relatively low cost. In the long term, DRI is expected to be produced using 100% hydrogen from renewable energy. Both the development of deep processing technologies and the invention of a novel binder are required to prepare high-quality pellets for direct reduction (DR), and further research on the one-step gas-based process is necessary.
{"title":"Development of Direct Reduced Iron in China: Challenges and Pathways","authors":"Chengzhi Wei, Xin Zhang, Jin Zhang, Liangping Xu, Guanghui Li, Tao Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.025","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.025","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The steel industry is considered an important basic sector of the national economy, and its high energy consumption and carbon emissions make it a major contributor to climate change, especially in China. The majority of crude steel in China is produced via the energy- and carbon-intensive blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF–BOF) route, which greatly relies on coking coal. In recent years, China’s steel sector has made significant progress in energy conservation and emission reduction, driven by decarbonization policies and regulations. However, due to the huge output of crude steel, the steel sector still produces 15% of the total national CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. The direct reduced iron (DRI) plus scrap–electric arc furnace (EAF) process is currently considered a good alternative to the conventional route as a means of reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions and the steel industry’s reliance on iron ore and coking coal, since the gas-based DRI plus scrap–EAF route is expected to be more promising than the coal-based one. Unfortunately, almost no DRI is produced in China, seriously restricting the development of the EAF route. Here, we highlight the challenges and pathways of the future development of DRI, with a focus on China. In the short term, replacing natural gas with coke oven gas (COG) and byproduct gas from the integrated refining and chemical sector is a more economically feasible and cleaner way to develop a gas-based route in China. As the energy revolution proceeds, using fossil fuels in combination with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen will be a good alternative due to the relatively low cost. In the long term, DRI is expected to be produced using 100% hydrogen from renewable energy. Both the development of deep processing technologies and the invention of a novel binder are required to prepare high-quality pellets for direct reduction (DR), and further research on the one-step gas-based process is necessary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 93-109"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142258394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.015
Gravimetric resonant-inspired biosensors have attracted increasing attention in industrial and point-of-care applications, enabling label-free detection of biomarkers such as DNA and antibodies. Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) are promising tools for developing miniaturized high-performance biosensing complementary metal–oxide–silicon (CMOS) platforms. However, their operability is limited by inefficient functionalization, aggregation, crosstalk in the buffer, and the requirement for an external high-voltage (HV) power supply. In this study, we aimed to propose a CMUTs-based resonant biosensor integrated with a CMOS front–end interface coupled with ethylene–glycol alkanethiols to detect single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides with large specificity. The topography of the functionalized surface was characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Improved selectivity for on-chip hybridization was demonstrated by comparing complementary and non-complementary single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides using fluorescence imaging technology. The sensor array was further characterized using a five-element lumped equivalent model. The 4 mm2 application-specific integrated circuit chip was designed and developed through 0.18 μm HV bipolar-CMOS-double diffused metal–oxide–silicon (DMOS) technology (BCD) to generate on-chip 20 V HV boosting and to track feedback frequency under a standard 1.8 V supply, with a total power consumption of 3.8 mW in a continuous mode. The measured results indicated a detection sensitivity of 7.943 × 10−3 μmol∙L−1∙Hz−1 over a concentration range of 1 to 100 μmol∙L−1. In conclusion, the label-free biosensing of DNA under dry conditions was successfully demonstrated using a microfabricated CMUT array with a 2 MHz frequency on CMOS electronics with an internal HV supplier. Moreover, ethylene–glycol alkanethiols successfully deposited self-assembled monolayers on aluminum electrodes, which has never been attempted thus far on CMUTs, to enhance the selectivity of bio-functionalization. The findings of this study indicate the possibility of full-on-chip DNA biosensing with CMUTs.
受重力共振启发的生物传感器在工业和护理点应用中吸引了越来越多的关注,它可以对 DNA 和抗体等生物标记物进行无标记检测。电容式微机械超声换能器(CMUT)是开发微型高性能生物传感互补金属氧化物硅(CMOS)平台的理想工具。然而,由于功能化效率低、聚集、缓冲器串扰以及需要外部高压(HV)电源,它们的可操作性受到了限制。在本研究中,我们旨在提出一种基于 CMUTs 的共振生物传感器,该传感器集成了 CMOS 前端接口和乙二醇烷硫醇,可检测具有高度特异性的单链 DNA 寡核苷酸。能量色散 X 射线显微分析对功能化表面的形貌进行了表征。通过使用荧光成像技术比较互补和非互补单链 DNA 寡核苷酸,证明了芯片杂交选择性的提高。该传感器阵列使用五元素叠加等效模型进行了进一步表征。通过 0.18 μm HV 双极-CMOS-双扩散金属氧化物-硅(DMOS)技术(BCD)设计和开发了 4 mm2 特定应用集成电路芯片,在标准 1.8 V 电源下产生片上 20 V HV 升压并跟踪反馈频率,在连续模式下总功耗为 3.8 mW。测量结果表明,在 1 至 100 μmol∙L-1 的浓度范围内,检测灵敏度为 7.943 × 10-3 μmol∙L-1∙Hz-1。总之,在带有内部高压供应商的 CMOS 电子设备上使用频率为 2 MHz 的微加工 CMUT 阵列,成功地演示了在干燥条件下对 DNA 的无标记生物传感。此外,乙二醇烷硫醇成功地在铝电极上沉积了自组装单层,这是迄今为止在 CMUT 上从未尝试过的,从而提高了生物功能化的选择性。这项研究的结果表明了利用 CMUT 实现全芯片 DNA 生物传感的可能性。
{"title":"Development of an Integrated CMUTs-Based Resonant Biosensor for Label-Free Detection of DNA with Improved Selectivity by Ethylene-Glycol Alkanethiols","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2023.12.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gravimetric resonant-inspired biosensors have attracted increasing attention in industrial and point-of-care applications, enabling label-free detection of biomarkers such as DNA and antibodies. Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) are promising tools for developing miniaturized high-performance biosensing complementary metal–oxide–silicon (CMOS) platforms. However, their operability is limited by inefficient functionalization, aggregation, crosstalk in the buffer, and the requirement for an external high-voltage (HV) power supply. In this study, we aimed to propose a CMUTs-based resonant biosensor integrated with a CMOS front–end interface coupled with ethylene–glycol alkanethiols to detect single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides with large specificity. The topography of the functionalized surface was characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Improved selectivity for on-chip hybridization was demonstrated by comparing complementary and non-complementary single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides using fluorescence imaging technology. The sensor array was further characterized using a five-element lumped equivalent model. The 4 mm<sup>2</sup> application-specific integrated circuit chip was designed and developed through 0.18 μm HV bipolar-CMOS-double diffused metal–oxide–silicon (DMOS) technology (BCD) to generate on-chip 20 V HV boosting and to track feedback frequency under a standard 1.8 V supply, with a total power consumption of 3.8 mW in a continuous mode. The measured results indicated a detection sensitivity of 7.943 × 10<sup>−3</sup> μmol∙L<sup>−1</sup>∙Hz<sup>−1</sup> over a concentration range of 1 to 100 μmol∙L<sup>−1</sup>. In conclusion, the label-free biosensing of DNA under dry conditions was successfully demonstrated using a microfabricated CMUT array with a 2 MHz frequency on CMOS electronics with an internal HV supplier. Moreover, ethylene–glycol alkanethiols successfully deposited self-assembled monolayers on aluminum electrodes, which has never been attempted thus far on CMUTs, to enhance the selectivity of bio-functionalization. The findings of this study indicate the possibility of full-on-chip DNA biosensing with CMUTs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 231-241"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141052139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.013
In this article, a single-board integrated millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) asymmetric full-digital beamforming (AFDBF) array is developed for beyond-fifth-generation (B5G) and sixth-generation (6G) communications. The proposed integrated array effectively addresses the challenge of arranging a large number of ports in a full-digital array by designing vertical connections in a three-dimensional space and successfully integrating full-digital transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) arrays independently in a single board. Unlike the traditional symmetric array, the proposed asymmetric array is composed of an 8 × 8 Tx array arranged in a square shape and an 8 + 8 Rx array arranged in an L shape. The center-to-center distance between two adjacent elements is 0.54λ0 for both the Tx and Rx arrays, where λ0 is the free-space wavelength at 27 GHz. The proposed AFDBF array possesses a more compact structure and lower system hardware cost and power consumption compared with conventional brick-type full-digital arrays. In addition, the energy efficiency of the proposed AFDBF array outperforms that of a hybrid beamforming array. The measurement results indicate that the operating frequency band of the proposed array is 24.25–29.50 GHz. An eight-element linear array within the Tx array can achieve a scanning angle ranging from −47° to +47° in both the azimuth and the elevation planes, and the measured scanning range of each eight-element Rx array is –45° to +45°. The measured maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the eight-element Tx array is 43.2 dBm at 28.0 GHz (considering the saturation point). Furthermore, the measured error vector magnitude (EVM) is less than 3% when 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) waveforms are used.
{"title":"A Single-Board Integrated Millimeter-Wave Asymmetric Full-Digital Beamforming Array for B5G/6G Applications","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.04.013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this article, a single-board integrated millimeter-wave (mm-Wave) asymmetric full-digital beamforming (AFDBF) array is developed for beyond-fifth-generation (B5G) and sixth-generation (6G) communications. The proposed integrated array effectively addresses the challenge of arranging a large number of ports in a full-digital array by designing vertical connections in a three-dimensional space and successfully integrating full-digital transmitting (Tx) and receiving (Rx) arrays independently in a single board. Unlike the traditional symmetric array, the proposed asymmetric array is composed of an 8 × 8 Tx array arranged in a square shape and an 8 + 8 Rx array arranged in an L shape. The center-to-center distance between two adjacent elements is 0.54<em>λ</em><sub>0</sub> for both the Tx and Rx arrays, where <em>λ</em><sub>0</sub> is the free-space wavelength at 27 GHz. The proposed AFDBF array possesses a more compact structure and lower system hardware cost and power consumption compared with conventional brick-type full-digital arrays. In addition, the energy efficiency of the proposed AFDBF array outperforms that of a hybrid beamforming array. The measurement results indicate that the operating frequency band of the proposed array is 24.25–29.50 GHz. An eight-element linear array within the Tx array can achieve a scanning angle ranging from −47° to +47° in both the azimuth and the elevation planes, and the measured scanning range of each eight-element Rx array is –45° to +45°. The measured maximum effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of the eight-element Tx array is 43.2 dBm at 28.0 GHz (considering the saturation point). Furthermore, the measured error vector magnitude (EVM) is less than 3% when 64-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) waveforms are used.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"41 ","pages":"Pages 35-50"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141028332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}