Influence of railway wheel tread damage on wheel-rail impact loads and the durability of wheelsets

Dynamic wheel-rail contact forces induced by a severe form of wheel tread damage have been measured by a wheel impact load detector during full-scale field tests at different vehicle speeds.Based on laser scanning,the measured three-dimensional damage geometry is employed in simulations of dynamic vehicle-track interaction to calibrate and verify a simulation model.The relation between the magnitude of the impact load and various operational parameters,such as vehicle speed,lateral position of wheel-rail contact,track stiffness and position of impact within a sleeper bay,is investigated.The calibrated model is later employed in simulations featuring other forms of tread damage;their effects on impact load and subsequent fatigue impact on bearings,wheel webs and subsurface initiated rolling contact fatigue of the wheel tread are assessed.The results quantify the effects of wheel tread defects and are valuable in a shift towards condition-based maintenance of running gear,and for general assessment of the severity of different types of railway wheel tread damage.

Viability of all-solid-state lithium metal battery coupled with oxide solid-state electrolyte and high-capacity cathode

Owing to the utilization of lithium metal as anode with the ultrahigh theoretical capacity density of 3860 mA h g^(-1)and oxide-based ceramic solid-state electrolytes(SE),e.g.,garnet-type Li7La_(3)Zr_(2)O_(12)(LLZO),all-state-state lithium metal batteries(ASLMBs)have been widely accepted as the promising alternatives for providing the satisfactory energy density and safety.However,its applications are still challenged by plenty of technical and scientific issues.In this contribution,the co-sintering temperature at 500℃is proved as a compromise method to fabricate the composite cathode with structural integrity and declined capacity fading of LiNi_(0.5)Co_(0.2)Mn_(0.3)O_(2)(NCM).On the other hand,it tends to form weaker grain boundary(GB)inside polycrystalline LLZO at inadequate sintering temperature for LLZO,which can induce the intergranular failure of SE during the growth of Li filament inside the unavoidable defect on the interface of SE.Therefore,increasing the strength of GB,refining the grain to 0.4μm,and precluding the interfacial defect are suggested to postpone the electro-chemo-mechanical failure of SE with weak GB.Moreover,the advanced sintering techniques to lower the co-sintering temperature for both NCM-LLZO composite cathode and LLZO SE can be posted out to realize the viability of state-of-the-art ASLMBs with higher energy density as well as the guaranteed safety.

Towards trustworthy multi-modal motion prediction:Holistic evaluation and interpretability of outputs

Predicting the motion of other road agents enables autonomous vehicles to perform safe and efficient path planning.This task is very complex,as the behaviour of road agents depends on many factors and the number of possible future trajectories can be consid-erable(multi-modal).Most prior approaches proposed to address multi-modal motion prediction are based on complex machine learning systems that have limited interpret-ability.Moreover,the metrics used in current benchmarks do not evaluate all aspects of the problem,such as the diversity and admissibility of the output.The authors aim to advance towards the design of trustworthy motion prediction systems,based on some of the re-quirements for the design of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence.The focus is on evaluation criteria,robustness,and interpretability of outputs.First,the evaluation metrics are comprehensively analysed,the main gaps of current benchmarks are identified,and a new holistic evaluation framework is proposed.Then,a method for the assessment of spatial and temporal robustness is introduced by simulating noise in the perception system.To enhance the interpretability of the outputs and generate more balanced results in the proposed evaluation framework,an intent prediction layer that can be attached to multi-modal motion prediction models is proposed.The effectiveness of this approach is assessed through a survey that explores different elements in the visualisation of the multi-modal trajectories and intentions.The proposed approach and findings make a significant contribution to the development of trustworthy motion prediction systems for autono-mous vehicles,advancing the field towards greater safety and reliability.

Tuning beneficial calcineurin phosphatase activation to counterα-synuclein toxicity in a yeast model of Parkinson’s disease

Calcineurin(CN)is a calcium-and calmodulindependent serine/threonine that has been studied in many model organisms including yeast,filamentous fungi,plants,and mammals.Its biological functions range from ion homeostasis and virulence in lower eukaryotes to T-cell activation in humans by human nuclear factors of activated T-cells.CN is a heterodimeric protein consisting of a catalytic subunit,calcineurin A(Cna1p),which contains an active site with a dinuclear metal center,and a regulatory Ca^(2+) binding subunit called calcineurin B(Cnb1p)required to activate Cna1p.The calcineurin B subunit has been highly conserved through evolution:For example,the mammalian calcineurin B shows 54%identity with calcineurin B from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The transition from 2G to 3G-feedstocks enabled efficient production of fuelsand chemicals

For decades micoorganisms have been engineered for the utilization of lignocellulose-based second-generation (2G) feedstocks, but with theconcerns of increased levels of atmospheric CO_(2) causing global warming there is an emergent need to transition from the utilization of 2Gfeedstocks to third-generation (3G) feedstocks such as CO_(2) and its derivatives. Here, we established a yeast platform that is capable ofsimultaneously converting 2G and 3G feedstocks into bulk and value-added chemicals. We demonstrated that by adopting 3G substrates such asCO_(2) and formate, the conversion of 2G feedstocks could be substantially improved. Specifically, formate could provide reducing power andenergy for xylose conversion into valuable chemicals. Simultaneously, it can form a concentrated CO_(2) pool inside the cell, providing thermodynamically and kinetically favoured amounts of precursors for CO_(2) fixation pathways, e.g., the Calvin–Benson–Bassham (CBB) cycle.Furthermore, we demonstrated that formate could directly be utilized as a carbon source by yeast to synthesize endogenous amino acids. Theengineered strain achieved a one-carbon (C1) assimilation efficiency of 9.2%, which was the highest efficiency observed in the co-utilization of2G and 3G feedstocks. We applied this strategy for productions of both bulk and value-added chemicals, including ethanol, free fatty acids(FFAs), and longifolene, resulting in yield enhancements of 18.4%, 49.0%, and ~100%, respectively. The strategy demonstrated here for coutilization of 2G and 3G feedstocks sheds lights on both basic and applied research for the up-coming establishment of 3G biorefineries.

Reliability aspects of electronics packaging technology using anisotropic conductive adhesives

Anisotropic conductive adhesive technology for electronics packaging and interconnect application has significantly been developed during the last few years. It is time to make a summary of what has been done in this field. The present paper reviews the technology development, especially from the reliability point of view. It is pointed out that anisotropic conductive adhesives are now widely used in many applications and the reliability data and models have been developed to a large extent for anisotropic conductive adhesives in various applications.

How Generative Adversarial Networks Promote the Development of Intelligent Transportation Systems:A Survey

In current years,the improvement of deep learning has brought about tremendous changes:As a type of unsupervised deep learning algorithm,generative adversarial networks(GANs)have been widely employed in various fields including transportation.This paper reviews the development of GANs and their applications in the transportation domain.Specifically,many adopted GAN variants for autonomous driving are classified and demonstrated according to data generation,video trajectory prediction,and security of detection.To introduce GANs to traffic research,this review summarizes the related techniques for spatio-temporal,sparse data completion,and time-series data evaluation.GAN-based traffic anomaly inspections such as infrastructure detection and status monitoring are also assessed.Moreover,to promote further development of GANs in intelligent transportation systems(ITSs),challenges and noteworthy research directions on this topic are provided.In general,this survey summarizes 130 GAN-related references and provides comprehensive knowledge for scholars who desire to adopt GANs in their scientific works,especially transportation-related tasks.

Modelling Dry Port Systems in the Framework of Inland Waterway Container Terminals

Overcoming the global sustainability challenges of logistics requires applying solutions that minimize the negative effects of logistics activities.The most efficient way of doing so is through intermodal transportation(IT).Current IT systems rely mostly on road,rail,and sea transport,not inland waterway transport.Developing dry port(DP)terminals has been proven as a sustainable means of promoting and utilizing IT in the hinterland of seaport container terminals.Conventional DP systems consolidate container flows from/to seaports and integrate road and rail transportation modes in the hinterland which improves the sustainability of the whole logistics system.In this article,to extend literature on the sustainable development of different categories of IT terminals,especially DPs,and their varying roles,we examine the possibility of developing DP terminals within the framework of inland waterway container terminals(IWCTs).Establishing combined road–rail–inland waterway transport for observed container flows is expected to make the IT systems sustainable.As such,this article is the first to address the modelling of such DP systems.After mathematically formulating the problem of modelling DP systems,which entailed determining the number and location of DP terminals for IWCTs,their capacity,and their allocation of container flows,we solved the problem with a hybrid metaheuristic model based on the Bee Colony Optimisation(BCO)algorithmand themeasurement of alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution(i.e.,MARCOS)multi-criteria decision-making method.The results from our case study of the Danube region suggest that planning and developingDP terminals in the framework of IWCTs can indeed be sustainable,as well as contribute to the development of logistics networks,the regionalisation of river ports,and the geographic expansion of their hinterlands.Thus,the main contributions of this article are in proposing a novel DP concept variant,mathematically formulating the problems of its modelling,and developing an encompassing hybrid metaheuristic approach for treating the complex nature of the problem adequately.

The role of intelligent technology in the development of urban air mobility systems:A technical perspective

Urban Air Mobility(UAM)is an emerging transportation system that aims at revolutionizing urban mobility through the deployment of small electric vertical takeoff and landing(eVTOL)aircraft.The development of UAM is largely driven by advances in Intelligent Technology(IT).This review article provides an overview of the UAM system and discusses the application of IT in UAM.Major challenges facing UAM are also identified,and an outlook on the future of this promising transportation system is presented.Our main conclusions suggest that IT is a fundamental driver of UAM,enabling a range of applications such as air traffic management and autonomous drone control.However,the UAM system is facing a number of challenges,including eVTOL technology,system integration issues,and noise pollution.Despite these challenges,the future of UAM appears promising;as a disruptive transportation mode,UAM is expected to play an important role in addressing the growing demand of urban transportation in the coming decades.

Recent progress on Sn_(3)O_(4)nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications

Tin(IV)oxide(Sn_(3)O_(4))is layered tin and exhibits mixed valence states.It has emerged as a highly promising visible-light pho-tocatalyst,attracting considerable attention.This comprehensive review is aimed at providing a detailed overview of the latest advance-ments in research,applications,advantages,and challenges associated with Sn_(3)O_(4)photocatalytic nanomaterials.The fundamental con-cepts and principles of Sn_(3)O_(4)are introduced.Sn_(3)O_(4)possesses a unique crystal structure and optoelectronic properties that allow it to ab-sorb visible light efficiently and generate photoexcited charge carriers that drive photocatalytic reactions.Subsequently,strategies for the control and improved performance of Sn_(3)O_(4)photocatalytic nanomaterials are discussed.Morphology control,ion doping,and hetero-structure construction are widely employed in the optimization of the photocatalytic performance of Sn_(3)O_(4)materials.The effective imple-mentation of these strategies improves the photocatalytic activity and stability of Sn_(3)O_(4)nanomaterials.Furthermore,the review explores the diverse applications of Sn_(3)O_(4)photocatalytic nanomaterials in various fields,such as photocatalytic degradation,photocatalytic hydro-gen production,photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide,solar cells,photocatalytic sterilization,and optoelectronic sensors.The discus-sion focuses on the potential of Sn_(3)O_(4)-based nanomaterials in these applications,highlighting their unique attributes and functionalities.Finally,the review provides an outlook on the future development directions in the field and offers guidance for the exploration and de-velopment of novel and efficient Sn_(3)O_(4)-based nanomaterials.Through the identification of emerging research areas and potential avenues for improvement,this review aims to stimulate further advancements in Sn_(3)O_(4)-based photocatalysis and facilitate the translation of this promising technology into practical applications.

Steric hindrance induced low exciton binding energy enables low-driving-force organic solar cells

Exciton binding energy(E_(b))has been regarded as a critical parameter in charge separation during photovoltaic conversion.Minimizing the E_(b) of the photovoltaic materials can facilitate the exciton dissociation in low-driving force organic solar cells(OSCs)and thus improve the power conversion efficiency(PCE);nevertheless,diminishing the E_(b) with deliberate design principles remains a significant challenge.Herein,bulky side chain as steric hindrance structure was inserted into Y-series acceptors to minimize the E_(b) by modulating the intra-and intermolecular interaction.Theoretical and experimental results indicate that steric hindrance-induced optimal intra-and intermolecular interaction can enhance molecular polarizability,promote electronic orbital overlap between molecules,and facilitate delocalized charge trans-fer pathways,thereby resulting in a low E_(b).The conspicuously reduced E_(b) obtained in Y-ChC5 with pinpoint steric hindrance modulation can minimize the detrimental effects on exciton dissociation in low-driving-force OSCs,achieving a remarkable PCE of 19.1%with over 95%internal quantum efficiency.Our study provides a new molecular design rationale to reduce the E_(b).

Keratinous and corneous-based products towards circular bioeconomy: A research review

Keratins and corneous proteins are key components of biomaterials used in a wide range of applications and are potential substitutes for petrochemical-based products. Horns, hooves, feathers, claws, and similar animal tissues are abundant sources of α-keratin and corneous β-proteins, which are by-products of the food industry. Their close association with the meat industry raises environmental and ethical concerns regarding their disposal. To promote an eco-friendly and circular use of these materials in novel applications, efforts have focused on recovering these residues to develop sustainable, non-animal-related, affordable, and scalable procedures. Here, we review and examine biotechnological methods for extracting and expressing α-keratins and corneous β-proteins in microorganisms. This review highlights consolidated research trends in biomaterials, medical devices, food supplements, and packaging, demonstrating the keratin industry's potential to create innovative value-added products. Additionally, it analyzes the state of the art of related intellectual property and market size to underscore the potential within a circular bioeconomic model.

Assessment of pH-responsive nanoparticles performance on laboratory column flotation cell applying a real ore feed

Nanoparticles(NPs)can promote the column flotation process in mining industry.Nanoparticles'effects on column flotation process(copper recovery,grade and flotation rate constant)are assessed in Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex,Iran,through response surface methodology(RSM)optimization technique.The c-Al2O3,a-Fe2O3,SiO2,and TiO2 nanoparticles are selected for these experiments.A flotation rate constant is chosen as a response to assess the effect of nanoparticles on flotation in its kinetic sense.The process p H and nanoparticle dosage are selected as the influential parameters.Results obtained from RSM indicated that the maximum percentage of Cu recovery and grade is obtained at p H of 12 and nanoparticle dosage of 6 kg/t,through a-Fe2O3 and c-Al2O3 nanoparticles,respectively.Applying nanoparticles in particular c-Al2O3 and a-Fe2O3 increases the Cu recovery by 8–10%together with the grade by 3–6%in a significant manner.It is revealed that nanoparticles could effectively be applied in enhancing the flotation performance.

Virtual Reconstruction of Long Bone Fracture in Car-to-pedestrian Collisions Using Multi-body System and Finite Element Method

Lower limb injures are frequently observed in passenger car traffic accidents.Previous studies of the injuries focus on long bone fractures by using either cadaver component tests or simulations of the long bone kinematics,which lack in-depth study on the fractures in stress analysis.This paper aims to investigate lower limb impact biomechanics in real-world car to pedestrian accidents and to predict fractures of long bones in term of stress parameter for femur,tibia,and fibula.For the above purposes,a 3D finite element(FE) model of human body lower limb(HBM-LL) is developed based on human anatomy.The model consists of the pelvis,femur,tibia,fibula,patella,foot bones,primary tendons,knee joint capsule,meniscus,and ligaments.The FE model is validated by comparing the results from a lateral impact between simulations and tests with cadaver lower limb specimens.Two real-world accidents are selected from an in-depth accident database with detailed information about the accident scene,car impact speed,damage to the car,and pedestrian injuries.Multi-body system(MBS) models are used to reconstruct the kinematics of the pedestrians in the two accidents and the impact conditions are calculated for initial impact velocity and orientations of the car and pedestrian during the collision.The FE model is used to perform injury reconstructions and predict the fractures by using physical parameters,such as von Mises stress of long bones.The calculated failure level of the long bones is correlated with the injury outcomes observed from the two accident cases.The reconstruction result shows that the HBM-LL FE model has acceptable biofidelity and can be applied to predict the risk of long bone fractures.This study provides an efficient methodology to investigate the long bone fracture suffered from vehicle traffic collisions.

Phase evolution and properties of glass ceramic foams prepared by bottom ash,fly ash and pickling sludge

Municipal solid waste incineration products of bottom ash(BA),fly ash(FA),and pickling sludge(PS),causing severe environ-mental pollution,were transformed into glass ceramic foams with the aid of CaCO3 as a pore-foaming agent during sintering.The effect of the BA/FA mass ratio on the phase composition,pore morphology,pore size distribution,physical properties,and glass structure was investigated,with results showing that with the increase in the BA/FA ratio,the content of the glass phase,Si-O-Si,and Q3Si units decrease gradually.The glass transmission temperature of the mixture was also reduced.When combined,the glass viscosity decreases,causing bubble coalescence and uneven pore distribution.Glass ceramic foams with uniform spherical pores are fabricated.When the content of BA,FA,and PS are 35wt%,45wt%,and 20wt%,respectively,contributing to high performance glass ceramic foams with a bulk density of 1.76 g/cm3,porosity of 56.01%,and compressive strength exceeding 16.23 MPa.This versatile and low-cost approach provides new insight into synergistically recycling solid wastes.

Measurements of Emissions to Air from a Marine Engine Fueled by Methanol

Emissions of exhaust gases and particulate matter from a dual fuel marine engine using methanol as fuel with marine gasoil as pilot fuel have been examined for a ferry during operation.The emission factor for nitrogen oxides is lower than what is typically found for marine gasoil but does not reach the tier III limit.The emissions of particulate matter are significantly lower than for fuel oils and similar to what is found for LNG engines.The main part of the particles can be found in the ultrafine range with the peak being at around 18 nm.About 93%of the particles are evaporated and absorbed when using a thermodenuder,and thus a large majority of the particles are volatile.Methanol is a potential future marine fuel that will reduce emissions of air pollutants and can be made as a biofuel to meet emission targets for greenhouse gases.

Impact of Aromatic Concentration in Marine Fuels on Particle Emissions

The fuel sulfur content in marine fuels has been regulated in Sulfur Emission Control Areas(SECAs) since January 2015. However, other fuel characteristics are also believed to have an impact on particle emissions, particularly on the number of particles emitted. This study investigates the impact of the content of aromatics in fuel. To achieve fuel blends with concentrations of aromatics similar to those found in marine fuel oils, i.e. 20%–30% by volume(%vol.), normal diesel oil(4%–5% vol. aromatics) is doped with a mixture of aromatics. Emission measurements are conducted in test-bed engine facilities and particle emissions over a wide size range are analyzed. Results show a decreased number of particles emitted(or not change) with an increase in the aromatic concentration in fuel. This is because there is a reduction in the cetane number of the fuel with an increased aromatic content, which effects the combustion process and results in decreased particle formation. However, when ignition improver is used to increase the cetane number, particle emissions remain at a lower level than for normal diesel oil; thereby emphasizing the presence of other factors in the formation of particles.

Synthesis and properties of SrFe_(12)O_(19) obtained by solid waste recycling of oily cold rolling mill sludge

The aim of this study was to develop a new approach for the preparation of environmentally friendly, high-value products from oily cold rolling mill(CRM) sludge. Utilizing oily CRM sludge as a source of iron, strontium hexaferrite(SrFe_(12)O_(19)) powders were prepared by multi-step processes involving acid leaching, chemical conversion treatment, and synthesis by a citrate precursor. The influences of citric acid dosage and the pH of the sol system on the formation, crystallite size, and magnetic properties of the obtained SrFe_(12)O_(19) powders were investigated. High saturation magnetization(74.8 mA·m^2·g^(–1)) and intrinsic coercivities(614.46 mT) were achieved for pH 7.0 of the sol system, for which the molar ratio of citric acid dosage to the total dosage of Fe^(3+) and Sr^(2+) was 1.5. This study presents a new approach to utilizing oily CRM sludge, and even refractory iron-containing solid waste.

QUANTUM MECHANICAL MODEL AND SIMULATION OF GaAs/AlGaAs QUANTUM WELL INFRARED PHOTO-DETECTOR-ⅠOPTICAL ASPECTS

A complete quantum mechanical model for GaAs?AlGaAs quantum well infrared photodetectors(QWIPs) is presented here. The model consisted of four parts: (1) Starting with the description of the electromagnetic field of the infrared radiation in the QWIP, effective component of the vector potential <| A z |> along the QWIP growth direction ( z axis) due to the optical diffraction grating was calculated. (2) From the wave transmissions and the occupations of the electronic states, it was discussed that the dark current in the QWIP is determined by the drift diffusion current of carriers thermally excited from the ground sublevel in the quantum well to extended states above the barrier. (3) The photocurrent was investigated by the optical transition (absorption coefficient between the ground state to excited states due to the nonzero <| A z |> ). (4) By studying the inter diffusion of the Al atoms across the GaAs?AlGaAs heterointerfaces,the mobility of the drift diffusion carriers in the excited states was calculated, so the measurement results of the dark current and photocurrent spectra can be explained theoretically. With the complete quantum mechanical descriptions of (1 4), QWIP device design and optimization are possible.

Effects of Flexible Conjugation-Break Spacers of Non-Conjugated Polymer Acceptors on Photovoltaic and Mechanical Properties of All-Polymer Solar Cells

All-polymer solar cells(all-PSCs)possess attractive merits including superior thermal stability and mechanical flexibility for large-area roll-to-roll processing.Introducing flexible conjugation-break spacers(FCBSs)into backbones of polymer donor(P_(D))or polymer acceptor(P_(A))has been demonstrated as an efficient approach to enhance both the photovoltaic(PV)and mechanical properties of the all-PSCs.However,length dependency of FCBS on certain all-PSC related properties has not been systematically explored.In this regard,we report a series of new non-conjugated P_(A)s by incorporating FCBS with various lengths(2,4,and 8 carbon atoms in thioalkyl segments).Unlike com-mon studies on so-called side-chain engineering,where longer side chains would lead to better solubility of those resulting polymers,in this work,we observe that the solubilities and the resulting photovoltaic/mechanical properties are optimized by a proper FCBS length(i.e.,C2)in P_(A) named PYTS-C2.Its all-PSC achieves a high efficiency of 11.37%,and excellent mechanical robustness with a crack onset strain of 12.39%,significantly superior to those of the other P_(A)s.These results firstly demonstrate the effects of FCBS lengths on the PV performance and mechanical properties of the all-PSCs,providing an effective strategy to fine-tune the structures of P_(A)s for highly efficient and mechanically robust PSCs.