Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.08.045
Yejiong Yu, Siqi Dai, Johnny Xiangyi Zhou, Wei E. Huang, Zhanfeng Cui
This study evaluates the efficacy of the proposed matrix-assisted room-temperature (MART) drying as an alternative to freeze-drying for the thermostabilization of functional proteins in a solid state. To achieve this, protective agents are formulated with functional proteins, and the mixture is dried on a biocompatible cellulose fiber matrix. Drying is carried out at room temperature or elevated temperatures (∼30 °C), either through dry air circulation (MART-DA drying) or under a vacuum (MART-V drying). The entire drying process involves no refrigeration or freezing steps. The results demonstrate the successful thermostabilization of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and functional enzymes in reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) reagents through the use of MART drying. The functional proteins were immobilized and effectively encapsulated in sugar glass films, preserving the proteins’ structure and functions. The sugar glass films were supported by a low-cost 3D cellulose fiber matrix. Overall, MART drying offers a simple, fast, low energy-consumption, and cost-effective strategy for drying functional proteins for long-term storage.
{"title":"Thermostabilizing Functional Proteins with Matrix-Assisted Room-Temperature Drying","authors":"Yejiong Yu, Siqi Dai, Johnny Xiangyi Zhou, Wei E. Huang, Zhanfeng Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.08.045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.08.045","url":null,"abstract":"This study evaluates the efficacy of the proposed matrix-assisted room-temperature (MART) drying as an alternative to freeze-drying for the thermostabilization of functional proteins in a solid state. To achieve this, protective agents are formulated with functional proteins, and the mixture is dried on a biocompatible cellulose fiber matrix. Drying is carried out at room temperature or elevated temperatures (∼30 °C), either through dry air circulation (MART-DA drying) or under a vacuum (MART-V drying). The entire drying process involves no refrigeration or freezing steps. The results demonstrate the successful thermostabilization of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and functional enzymes in reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) reagents through the use of MART drying. The functional proteins were immobilized and effectively encapsulated in sugar glass films, preserving the proteins’ structure and functions. The sugar glass films were supported by a low-cost 3D cellulose fiber matrix. Overall, MART drying offers a simple, fast, low energy-consumption, and cost-effective strategy for drying functional proteins for long-term storage.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.023
Tianze Yu, Long Zhang, Hua Zhou, Zhuyin Ren, Xiaohua Gan
The unique transport properties of hydrogen give rise to fuel re-stratification and super-adiabatic flame temperature (SAFT) in premixed flames—phenomena that are generally not absent in fossil-fuel combustion. These effects undermine the effectiveness of conventional fuel/air fully premixed technology for achieving low NOx emissions in hydrogen energy and propulsion systems. In this study, a scaling law for SAFT, incorporating the Lewis number (Le) and Zel’dovich number (Ze), is revisited for fully premixed hydrogen laminar flames under flow straining conditions. The impact of SAFT on NOx formation, with particular emphasis on thermal NOx governed by the Zel’dovich mechanism, is systematically analyzed. A theoretical expression is derived to estimate the thermal NOx reaction rate as a function of SAFT. With these new insights, a novel concept based on the synergistic effects of fuel stratification and preferential diffusion is proposed to achieve ultra-low NOx emissions in hydrogen combustion. The effectiveness of this concept is demonstrated in multi-slot flames, where a designed nonuniform equivalence ratio (ϕ) at the inlet configuration reduces peak temperature by 53–236 K and NO emissions by 15%–54% over the typical gas-turbine operating range of 0.4<ϕ<0.7, compared with a fully premixed inlet configuration. This counter-intuitive approach provides new insights into hydrogen flame control and offers a promising pathway to achieving ultra-low NOx emissions in hydrogen energy and propulsion systems.
{"title":"Synergistic Effects of Fuel Stratification and Preferential Diffusion for Ultra-Low NOx Formation in Hydrogen Flames","authors":"Tianze Yu, Long Zhang, Hua Zhou, Zhuyin Ren, Xiaohua Gan","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.023","url":null,"abstract":"The unique transport properties of hydrogen give rise to fuel re-stratification and super-adiabatic flame temperature (SAFT) in premixed flames—phenomena that are generally not absent in fossil-fuel combustion. These effects undermine the effectiveness of conventional fuel/air fully premixed technology for achieving low NO<ce:italic>x</ce:italic> emissions in hydrogen energy and propulsion systems. In this study, a scaling law for SAFT, incorporating the Lewis number (<ce:italic>Le</ce:italic>) and Zel’dovich number (<ce:italic>Ze</ce:italic>), is revisited for fully premixed hydrogen laminar flames under flow straining conditions. The impact of SAFT on NO<ce:italic>x</ce:italic> formation, with particular emphasis on thermal NO<ce:italic>x</ce:italic> governed by the Zel’dovich mechanism, is systematically analyzed. A theoretical expression is derived to estimate the thermal NO<ce:italic>x</ce:italic> reaction rate as a function of SAFT. With these new insights, a novel concept based on the synergistic effects of fuel stratification and preferential diffusion is proposed to achieve ultra-low NO<ce:italic>x</ce:italic> emissions in hydrogen combustion. The effectiveness of this concept is demonstrated in multi-slot flames, where a designed nonuniform equivalence ratio (<mml:math altimg=\"si7.svg\"><mml:mi>ϕ</mml:mi></mml:math>) at the inlet configuration reduces peak temperature by 53–236 K and NO emissions by 15%–54% over the typical gas-turbine operating range of <mml:math altimg=\"si15.svg\"><mml:mrow><mml:mn>0.4</mml:mn><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mi>ϕ</mml:mi><mml:mo><</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.7</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>, compared with a fully premixed inlet configuration. This counter-intuitive approach provides new insights into hydrogen flame control and offers a promising pathway to achieving ultra-low NO<ce:italic>x</ce:italic> emissions in hydrogen energy and propulsion systems.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146146276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.005
Bengt Lennartson
Introduction: The difference between model-free and model-based reinforcement learning (RL) is discussed in this paper. Focus is on data-efficiency and robustness against neglected high-frequency dynamics. The conclusion is that the less common model-based RL strategy has clear advantages. For moving devices in intelligent manufacturing systems, a more specific model-based RL method is therefore proposed. The method involves estimation of a nonlinear state-space model, where minor physical knowledge can be easily introduced. Based on this nonlinear model and a feedback/feed-forward controller design, a simple temporal optimization procedure is outlined. The path is then assumed to be given, while velocity and acceleration can be modified such that energy is saved. In robot applications, this temporal optimization strategy has shown to be able to save up to 25% energy and 50% peak power, still keeping the original desired makespan.
{"title":"Data-Efficient and Robust Reinforcement Learning for Moving Devices","authors":"Bengt Lennartson","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.005","url":null,"abstract":"<strong>Introduction:</strong> The difference between model-free and model-based reinforcement learning (RL) is discussed in this paper. Focus is on data-efficiency and robustness against neglected high-frequency dynamics. The conclusion is that the less common model-based RL strategy has clear advantages. For moving devices in intelligent manufacturing systems, a more specific model-based RL method is therefore proposed. The method involves estimation of a nonlinear state-space model, where minor physical knowledge can be easily introduced. Based on this nonlinear model and a feedback/feed-forward controller design, a simple temporal optimization procedure is outlined. The path is then assumed to be given, while velocity and acceleration can be modified such that energy is saved. In robot applications, this temporal optimization strategy has shown to be able to save up to 25% energy and 50% peak power, still keeping the original desired makespan.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"83 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138388","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2025.11.035
Yue Cao, Dejun Liu, Fen Pan, Zhenzhen Liu, Qin Zhang, Chengtao Sun, Li Ding, Siquan Shen, Weishuai Zhai, Rina Bai, Zhiyu Zou, Yiqing Wang, Lu Yang, Zexun Lv, Bo Fu, Shizhen Ma, Yao Wang, Ke Zhao, Tingxuan Shi, Yingbo Shen, Rong Zhang, Timothy R. Walsh, Jianzhong Shen, Fupin Hu, Yang Wang, Congming Wu
{"title":"Distribution and Transmission of Apramycin-Resistant Escherichia coli from Humans and Animal-Producing Sectors: A Multicenter, Cross-sectional, and One Health Study","authors":"Yue Cao, Dejun Liu, Fen Pan, Zhenzhen Liu, Qin Zhang, Chengtao Sun, Li Ding, Siquan Shen, Weishuai Zhai, Rina Bai, Zhiyu Zou, Yiqing Wang, Lu Yang, Zexun Lv, Bo Fu, Shizhen Ma, Yao Wang, Ke Zhao, Tingxuan Shi, Yingbo Shen, Rong Zhang, Timothy R. Walsh, Jianzhong Shen, Fupin Hu, Yang Wang, Congming Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.11.035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.11.035","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"311 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.021
Liang Leng, Jing Mo, Hongguo Chen, Shenjie You, Can Wang, Jun Lu, Zhaotong Cong, Wei Chen, Chi Song, Sanyin Zhang
{"title":"Natural Diverse Components, Herbgenomics, and Artificial Intelligence: A Multi-Dimensional Paradigm for Polyherbal Formulation Research","authors":"Liang Leng, Jing Mo, Hongguo Chen, Shenjie You, Can Wang, Jun Lu, Zhaotong Cong, Wei Chen, Chi Song, Sanyin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.003
Bin Guo, Roger A. Falconer, Reza Ahmadian
The operation of a tidal lagoon (or barrage) involves impounding a substantial volume of water, creating a head difference across the impoundment wall, and converting the potential energy associated with the head difference into kinetic energy through turbines. Consequently, the functioning of a tidal lagoon facilitates the movement of substantial volumes of water between the water body and impounded basin, altering water exchange and tidal flushing patterns, which potentially affect water quality. In this study, three tidal lagoon schemes proposed in the UK, West Somerset Lagoon (WSL), Swansea Bay Lagoon (SBL), and North Wales Tidal Lagoon (NWTL), were investigated for their regional water renewal capacities under different operational schemes and tidal phase conditions within a comparative framework. The exchange processes were investigated by modeling tracer changes within a control domain, with and without the lagoon, under different operational procedures. The results revealed different tracer-exchange characteristics across all schemes. Regardless of the operation scheme, the exchange concentration distribution tended to converge to a near-steady-state distribution at the end of each tidal cycle over a longer timescale. This study indicated that although the tracer dispersion rate was not highly sensitive to the initial tidal conditions, the tracer concentration declined more rapidly when released during spring tides. The inclusion of the WSL significantly improved the water exchange capacity within the lagoon basin region and the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. By contrast, the SBL and NWTL schemes resulted in decreased water renewal times in the lagoon area.
{"title":"The Impact of Tidal Lagoons on Regional Water Exchange","authors":"Bin Guo, Roger A. Falconer, Reza Ahmadian","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.003","url":null,"abstract":"The operation of a tidal lagoon (or barrage) involves impounding a substantial volume of water, creating a head difference across the impoundment wall, and converting the potential energy associated with the head difference into kinetic energy through turbines. Consequently, the functioning of a tidal lagoon facilitates the movement of substantial volumes of water between the water body and impounded basin, altering water exchange and tidal flushing patterns, which potentially affect water quality. In this study, three tidal lagoon schemes proposed in the UK, West Somerset Lagoon (WSL), Swansea Bay Lagoon (SBL), and North Wales Tidal Lagoon (NWTL), were investigated for their regional water renewal capacities under different operational schemes and tidal phase conditions within a comparative framework. The exchange processes were investigated by modeling tracer changes within a control domain, with and without the lagoon, under different operational procedures. The results revealed different tracer-exchange characteristics across all schemes. Regardless of the operation scheme, the exchange concentration distribution tended to converge to a near-steady-state distribution at the end of each tidal cycle over a longer timescale. This study indicated that although the tracer dispersion rate was not highly sensitive to the initial tidal conditions, the tracer concentration declined more rapidly when released during spring tides. The inclusion of the WSL significantly improved the water exchange capacity within the lagoon basin region and the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. By contrast, the SBL and NWTL schemes resulted in decreased water renewal times in the lagoon area.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"134 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146122004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.001
Marco Rollo, Francesca Rastelli, Marta Ximenis, Elisa Martinelli, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, Haritz Sardon
Approximately one-third of the global nylon production is accounted for by polyamide 6,6 (PA 66), with an annual output of 2.5 million tonnes. Despite its limited biodegradability, few end-of-life recycling strategies have been developed for PA 66. In this work, PA 66 is quantitatively depolymerized into its monomers: adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine (recovered as diammonium dichloride) using a naturally abundant iron-based Lewis/Brønsted acidic deep eutectic solvents (LBDESs) at 180 °C in 5 h. After optimization of the reaction conditions and work-up procedure, the overall monomer recovery yield exceeds 85%. The process is effective not only for virgin PA 66 in pellet and fiber forms but also with real post-consumer 100% nylon hosiery. Furthermore, environmental performance metrics for this method were evaluated and compared to previously reported depolymerization processes, indicating that the present approach is competitive.
{"title":"Iron-Based Lewis/Brønsted Deep Eutectic Solvents for the Hydrolysis of Nylon-6,6","authors":"Marco Rollo, Francesca Rastelli, Marta Ximenis, Elisa Martinelli, Gianluca Ciancaleoni, Haritz Sardon","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.001","url":null,"abstract":"Approximately one-third of the global nylon production is accounted for by polyamide 6,6 (PA 66), with an annual output of 2.5 million tonnes. Despite its limited biodegradability, few end-of-life recycling strategies have been developed for PA 66. In this work, PA 66 is quantitatively depolymerized into its monomers: adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine (recovered as diammonium dichloride) using a naturally abundant iron-based Lewis/Brønsted acidic deep eutectic solvents (LBDESs) at 180 °C in 5 h. After optimization of the reaction conditions and work-up procedure, the overall monomer recovery yield exceeds 85%. The process is effective not only for virgin PA 66 in pellet and fiber forms but also with real post-consumer 100% nylon hosiery. Furthermore, environmental performance metrics for this method were evaluated and compared to previously reported depolymerization processes, indicating that the present approach is competitive.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.002
Lianzhen Zhang, Kaizhong Deng, Yanliang Du, Mitsuyoshi Akiyama, Dan M. Frangopol, Jiyu Xin
{"title":"Three-Dimensional Geometric Digital Twin of Cable-Stayed Bridges: UAV- and TLS-Based Point Cloud Registration, Fusion Modeling, and Damage Inspection","authors":"Lianzhen Zhang, Kaizhong Deng, Yanliang Du, Mitsuyoshi Akiyama, Dan M. Frangopol, Jiyu Xin","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.02.002","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146134822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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