This paper presents a Marginal Reliability Impact (MRI) based resource accreditation framework for capacity market design. Under this framework, a resource is accredited based on its marginal impact on system reliability, thus aligning the resource accreditation value with its reliability contribution. A key feature of the MRI based accreditation is that the accredited capacities supplied by different resources to the capacity market are substitutable in reliability contribution, a desired feature of homogeneous products. Moreover, with MRI based capacity demand, substitutability between supply and demand for capacity is also achieved. As a result, a capacity market with the MRI based capacity product can better characterize the underlying resource adequacy problem and lead to more efficient market outcomes.
We consider capacity (fuzzy measure, non-additive probability) on a compactum as a monotone cooperative normed game. We introduce topological analogues of well known classes of exact and totally balanced games and show that these classes form subfunctors of the capacity functor which lie between known subfunctors of convex capacities and balanced capacities. It is natural to consider probability measures as elements of core of such games. We describes exact capacities as a retraction of the convex closed sets of probability measures. Using such representation we prove openness of the functor of exact capacities.
Asim Iltaf, Narges Ghafouri, Noureddine Barka
et al.
In this study, the corrosion performance and near-surface residual stress state of laser-welded Ti6Al4V/AA7075 dissimilar joints produced with a silver (Ag) interlayer are investigated. Potentiodynamic polarization, cyclic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were carried out on Ti6Al4V base alloy (BA), AA7075 BA, and the fusion zone (FZ) containing the Ag interlayer. The Ag interlayer FZ exhibits an intermediate but clearly improved corrosion response compared with AA7075 BA, with a corrosion potential E<sub>corr</sub> ≈ 0.260 V, corrosion current density i<sub>corr</sub> ≈ 4.55 × 10<sup>−6</sup> A cm<sup>−2</sup>, and polarization resistance Rp ≈ 7.08 kΩ cm<sup>2</sup>. EIS fitting further indicates a charge-transfer resistance of R<sub>ct</sub> ≈ 3.7 × 10<sup>4</sup> Ω cm<sup>2</sup> and a moderate oxide film resistance, consistent with a more stable electrochemical interface than AA7075 BA in 3.5 wt.% NaCl. Additionally, the residual stress measurements reveal that the Ag interlayer joint develops a predominantly compressive residual stress field on both sides of the weld. This compressive state is beneficial for delaying pit-to-crack transition and enhancing durability under corrosive loading. A brief comparison with our previously published Ti6Al4V/AA7075 welds produced using a Cu interlayer under the same laser welding parameters and joint configuration as the present study shows that the Ag interlayer provides more favourable compressive residual stresses and a more noble, higher-resistance electrochemical response.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing has transformed the development of microneedle arrays (MNAs) by enabling exceptional control over their geometry, distribution, materials, and functionality in a single-step, customizable process. This review represents a design-centric framework that organizes recent advancements in four interconnected levers: (i) individual microneedle (MN) geometry and size; (ii) patch-level MN distribution and multi-array architectures; (iii) computer-aided design (CAD), finite element analysis (FEA), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML)-driven optimization; and (iv) manufacturing constraints and emerging solutions for scalability and reproducibility. Outcomes show that small changes in the radius of the MN’s tip, the MN’s aspect ratio, the MN’s internal lattice architecture, and the spacing of the array can dramatically influence their insertion force, mechanical reliability, payload capacity, and therapeutic coverage. Now, digital tools can bridge the design and experimental outcomes, while novel morphologies, hybrid materials, and theranostic integrations are expanding the clinical potential of MNs. The remaining challenges, resolution-versus-throughput trade-offs, biocompatibility, batch-to-batch consistency, and lack of testing standardization are examined alongside promising directions in high-throughput 3D printing, stimuli-responsive materials, and closed-loop systems. Finally, rational, model-guided design strategies are positioning 3D-printed MNAs as versatile platforms for painless, patient-specific drug delivery, diagnostics, and personalized medicine.
Unlike conventional systems using a fixed-location antenna, the channel capacity of the pinching-antenna system (PASS) is determined by the activated positions of pinching antennas. This article characterizes the capacity region of multiuser PASS, where a single pinched waveguide is deployed to enable both uplink and downlink communications. The capacity region of the uplink channel is first characterized. \romannumeral1) For the single-pinch case, closed-form expressions are derived for the optimal antenna activation position, along with the corresponding capacity region and the achievable data rate regions under time-division multiple access (TDMA) and frequency-division multiple access (FDMA). It is proven that the capacity region of PASS encompasses that of conventional fixed-antenna systems, and that the FDMA rate region contains the TDMA rate region. \romannumeral2) For the multiple-pinch case, inner and outer bounds on the capacity region are derived using an element-wise alternating antenna position optimization technique and the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, respectively. The achievable FDMA rate region is also derived using the same optimization framework, while the TDMA rate region is obtained through an antenna position refinement approach. The analysis is then extended to the downlink PASS using the uplink-downlink duality framework. It is proven that the relationships among the downlink capacity and rate regions are consistent with those in the uplink case. Numerical results demonstrate that: \romannumeral1) the derived bounds closely approximate the exact capacity region, \romannumeral2) PASS yields a significantly enlarged capacity region compared to conventional fixed-antenna systems, and \romannumeral3) in the multiple-pinch case, TDMA and FDMA are capable of approaching the channel capacity limit.
Sudipta Mondal, Pritam Halder, Saptarshi Roy
et al.
Current advancements in communication equipment demand the investigation of classical information transfer over quantum channels, by encompassing realistic scenarios in finite dimensions. To address this issue, we develop a framework for analyzing classical capacities of quantum channels where the set of states used for encoding information is restricted based on various physical properties. Specifically, we provide expressions for the classical capacities of noiseless and noisy quantum channels when the average energy of the encoded ensemble or the energy of each of the constituent states in the ensemble is bounded. In the case of qubit energy-preserving dephasing channels, we demonstrate that a nonuniform probability distribution based on the energy constraint maximizes capacity, while we derive the compact form of the capacity for equiprobable messages. We suggest an energy-constrained dense coding (DC) protocol that we prove to be optimal in the two-qubit situation and obtain a closed-form expression for the DC capacity. Additionally, we demonstrate a no-go result, which states that when the dimension of the sender and the receiver is two, no energy-preserving operation can offer any quantum advantage for energy-constrained entanglement-assisted capacity. We exhibit that, in the energy-constrained situation, classical-quantum noisy channels can show improved capabilities under entanglement assistance, a phenomenon that is unattainable in the unrestricted scenario.
We extend the stochastic production planning framework to manufacturing systems, where the set of admissible production configurations is described by a general smooth convex domain $ω$. In our setting, production operations continue as long as the production inventory $y(t)$ remains inside the capacity limits of $ω$ and are halted once the state exits this region, i.e.,% \begin{equation*} τ=\inf \{t>0:\Vert y(t)-x_{0}\Vert >\text{dist}(x_{0},\partial ω)\}. \end{equation*}% The running cost is partitioned into a quadratic production cost $% a(p)=\left\Vert p\right\Vert ^{2}$ and an inventory holding cost modeled by a positive continuous function $b(y)$. We derive the associated Hamilton--Jacobi--Bellman (HJB) equation, verify the supermartingale property of the value function, and characterize the optimal feedback control. Techniques inspired by Lasry, Lions and Alvarez enable us to prove existence and uniqueness within this generalized production planning framework. Numerical experiments and a real-world examples illustrate the practical relevance of our results.
Both commercial and research applications of wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) have seen considerable growth in the additive manufacturing of metallic components. However, there remains a clear lack of a unified paradigm for toolpath generation when slicing parts for WAAM deposition. Existing toolpath generation options typically lack the appropriate features to account for all complexities of the WAAM process. This manuscript explores the key slicing challenges specific to toolpaths for WAAM geometry and pairs each consideration with multiple solutions to mitigate most negative effects on completed components. These challenges must be addressed to minimize voids, prevent bead collapse, and ensure deposited components accurately approximate the desired geometry. Slicing considerations are grouped into four general categories: geometric, process, thermal, and productivity. Geometric considerations are addressed with overhang compensation, corner-sharpening, and toolpath-smoothing features. Process considerations are addressed with start point configuration and controls for the bead lengths and end points. Thermal and productivity considerations are addressed with island optimization, multi-material printing, and connected insets. Finally, tools for the post-processing of generated G-code are explored. Overall, these solutions represent a critical set of slicing features used to improve generated toolpaths and the quality of the components deposited with those toolpaths.
Asmaa Wadee, Mohamed G. A. Nassef, Florian Pape
et al.
The current study focuses on axial ultrasonic vibration-assisted micro-milling as an advanced technique to improve the machining performance of Ti6Al4V, a material whose difficult-to-cut properties present a significant barrier to manufacturing the high-quality micro-components essential for aerospace and biomedical applications. A full factorial design was employed to evaluate the influence of feed-per-tooth (f<sub>z</sub>), axial depth-of-cut (a<sub>p</sub>), and ultrasonic vibration on cutting forces, surface roughness, burr formation, and tool wear. Experimental results demonstrate that ultrasonic assistance significantly reduces cutting forces by 20.09% and tool wear by promoting periodic tool–workpiece separation and improving chip evacuation. However, it increases surface roughness due to the formation of uniform micro-dimples, which may enhance tribological properties. Burr dimensions were primarily governed by feed-per-tooth, with higher feeds minimizing burr size. The study provides actionable insights into optimizing machining parameters for cutting Ti6Al4V, highlighting the trade-offs between force reduction, surface texture, and burr control. These findings contribute to advancing ultrasonic-assisted micro-milling for industrial applications, namely aerospace and biomedical applications requiring high precision and extended tool life.
Viththagan Vivekanandam, Shubham Sanjay Joshi, Jaime Lazaro-Nebreda
et al.
Aluminium alloy 6082 is widely used in the automotive and aerospace industries due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. However, its structural integrity can sometimes be affected by an early fatigue failure. This study investigates the fatigue performance of extruded 6082-T6 samples through a series of fatigue tests conducted at varying stress levels. The material showed significant variability under identical fatigue conditions, suggesting the presence of microstructural defects. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) were used to identify the nature and location of the defects and evaluate the underlying mechanisms influencing the fatigue performance. Computer tomography (CT) also confirmed the presence of oxide inclusions on the fracture surface and near the edges of the samples. These oxide inclusions are distributed throughout the material heterogeneously and in the form of broken oxide films, suggesting that they might have originated during the material’s early processing stages. These oxides acted as stress concentrators, initiating microcracks that led to catastrophic and unpredictable early failure, ultimately reducing the fatigue life of micro-oxide-containing samples. These results highlight the need for better casting control and improved post-processing techniques to minimise the effect of oxide presence in the final components, thus enhancing their fatigue life.
Fuad Ameen, Mohammad J. Alsarraf, Tarad Abalkhail
et al.
Jazan Industrial Economic City (JIEC) is located on the Red Sea coast in the province of Jazan, southwest of Saudi Arabia anchors diverse heavy and secondary industries in the energy, water desalination, petroleum, aluminum, copper, refineries, pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing fields. These various industries generate a large quantity of industrial wastewaters containing various toxicants. The present work represents ecologically beneficial alternatives for the advancement of environmental biotechnology, which could help mitigate the adverse impacts of environmental pollution resulting from petroleum refining effluents. The mycobiome (32 fungal strains) isolated from the industrial wastewater of the refinery sector in Jazan were belonged to five fungal genera including Fusarium, Verticillium, Purpureocillium, Clavispora and Scedosporium with a distribution percentage of 31.25, 21.88, 15.63, 12.50 and 18.75 %, respectively.These isolates showed multimetals tolerance and bioremoval efficiency against a large number of heavy metals (Fe2+, Ni2+, Cr6+, Zn2+, As3+, Cu2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Ag+ and Hg2+) along with potent bioremediation activity toward crude oil and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Interestingly, the mycobiome resistance patterns obtained against different classes of fungal antibiotics including azole (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole and ketoconazole), echinocandin (anidulafungin, caspofungin and micafungin) and polyene (amphotericin B) drugs proved the prevalence of antibiotic resistance among the mycobiome of refinery industry in Saudi Arabia is relatively low. The fungal isolate under isolation code JAZ-20 showed the highest bioremoval efficiency against heavy metals (90.8–100.0 %), crude oil (89.50 %), naphthalene (96.7 %), phenanthrene (92.52 %), fluoranthene (100.0 %), anthracene (90.34 %), pyrene (85.60 %) and chrysene (83.4 %). It showed the highest bioremoval capacity ranging from 85.72 % to 100.0 % against numerous pollutants found in a wide array of industrial effluents, including diclofenac, ibuprofen, carbamazepine, acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, bisphenol, bleomycin, vincristine, dicofol, methyl parathion, atrazine, diuron, dieldrin, chlorpyrifos, profenofos and phenanthrene. The isolate JAZ-20 was chosen for molecular typing, cytotoxicity assessment, analysis of volatile compounds and optimization investigations. Based on phenotypic, biochemical and phylogenetic analysis, strain JAZ-20 identified as Scedosporium apiospermum JAZ-20. This strain is newly discovered in industrial effluents in Saudi Arabia. Fungal strain JAZ-20 consistently produced various types of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. the main fatty acids were C14:0 (1.95 %), iso-C14:0 (2.98 %), anteiso-C14:0 (2.13 %), iso-C15:0 (9.16 %), anteiso-C15:0 (11.75 %), C15:0 (7.42 %), C15:1 (2.37 %), anteiso-C16:0 (3.4 %), C16:0 (10.3 %), iso-C16:0 (9.5 %), C17:1 (1.36 %), anteiso-C17:1 (8.64 %), iso-C18:0 (11.0 %), C18:0 (3.63 %), anteiso-C19:0 (3.78 %), anteiso-C20:0 (2.0 %), iso-C21:0 (2.44 %), C23:0 (1.15 %), and C24:0 (2.17 %). These fatty acids serve as natural and eco-friendly antifungal agents, promoting fungal resistance and inhibiting the production of mycotoxins in the environment. Despite being an environmental isolate, its cytotoxicity was assessed against both normal and cancerous human cell lines. The IC50 values of JAZ-20 extract were 8.92, 10.41, 20.0, 16.5, and 40.0 μg/mL against WI38, MRC5, MCF10A, HEK293 and HDFs normal cells and 43.26, 33.75, and 40.0 μg/mL against liver (HepG2), breast (A549) and cervix (HeLa) cancers, respectively. Based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), analysis the extract of S. apiospermum JAZ-20 showed 47 known volatile compounds (VOCs) for varied and significant biological activities. Enhancing the bioremoval efficiency of heavy metals from actual refining wastewater involves optimizing process parameters. The parameters optimized were the contact time, the fungal biomass dosage, pH, temperature and agitation rate.
Laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) is the most used additive manufacturing (AM) technology for metal parts. Nevertheless, challenges persist in effectively managing metal powder, particularly in blending methodologies in the choice of blenders as well as in the verification of blend results. In this study, a bespoke laboratory-scale AM blender is developed, tailored to address these challenges, prioritizing low-impact blending to mitigate powder degradation. As a blending type, a V-shape tumbling geometry meeting the requirements for laboratory AM usage is chosen based on a literature assessment. The implementation of thermal oxidation as a powder marking technique enables particle tracing. Blending validation is achieved using light microscopy for area measurement based on binary image processing. The powder size and shape remain unaffected after marking and blending. Only a small narrowing of the particle size distribution is detected after 180 min of blending. The V-shape tumbling blender efficiently yields a completely random state in under 10 min for rotational speeds of 20, 40, and 60 rounds per minute. In conclusion, this research underscores the critical role of blender selection in AM and advocates for continued exploration to refine powder blending practices, with the aim of advancing the capabilities and competitiveness of AM technologies.
The massive forming industry in Germany produces around 1.4 million parts every year, which are mainly used in safety-relevant areas such as the automotive industry. The production of these parts requires a considerable amount of energy, much of which remains unused and causes high CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. An efficient approach to reduce these emissions and improve material utilization is cross-wedge rolling, which enables efficient material utilization but is limited by the so-called Mannesmann effect, which leads to unwanted material defects. This paper describes the development and validation of a safe design criterion for cross-wedge rolling tools in order to avoid material damage caused by the Mannesmann effect and thus increase resource efficiency in forging. Based on simulation-supported investigations and experimental tests, process maps are created for various materials. The validation is carried out both in an experimental test facility with real tools and in an industrial production facility, which leads to a significant reduction in excess material and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. The results show that the full resource potential of cross-wedge rolling can be exploited by optimizing process parameters and tool geometries.
Image processing systems can be used to measure the accuracy of 3D-printed objects. These systems must compare images of the CAD model of the object to be printed with its 3D-printed counterparts to identify any discrepancies. Consequently, the integrity of the accuracy measurement process is heavily dependent on the image processing settings chosen. This study focuses on this issue by developing a customized image processing system. The system generates binary images of a given CAD model and its 3D-printed counterparts and then compares them pixel by pixel to determine the accuracy. Users can experiment with various image processing settings, such as grayscale to binary image conversion threshold, noise reduction parameters, masking parameters, and pixel-fineness adjustment parameters, to see how they affect accuracy. The study concludes that the grayscale to binary image conversion threshold has the most significant impact on accuracy and that the optimal threshold varies depending on the color of the 3D-printed object. The system can also effectively eliminate noise (filament marks) during image processing, ensuring accurate measurements. Additionally, the system can measure the accuracy of highly complex porous structures where the pore size, depth, and distribution are random. The insights gained from this study can be used to develop intelligent systems for the metrology of additive manufacturing.
Supaphorn Thumsorn, Wattanachai Prasong, Akira Ishigami
et al.
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing has printed thermoplastic materials layer-by-layer to form three dimensional products whereby interlayer adhesion must be well controlled to obtain high mechanical performance and product integrity. This research studied the effects of ambient temperatures and crystalline structure on the interlayer adhesion and properties of thermoplastic FDM 3D printing. Five kinds of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) filaments, both commercially available and the laboratory-made, were printed using the enclosure FDM 3D printer. The ambient temperatures were set by the temperature-controlled chamber from room temperature to 75 °C with and without a cooling fan. The interlayer adhesion was characterized by the degree of entanglement density, morphology, and fracture toughness. In addition, PLA filament with high crystallinity has induced heat resistance, which could prevent filament clogging and successfully print at higher chamber temperatures. The ambient temperature increased with increased chamber temperature and significantly increased when printed without a cooling fan, resulting in improved interlayer bonding. The crystalline structure and dynamic mechanical properties of the 3D printed products were promoted when the chamber temperature was increased without a cooling fan, especially in PLA composites and PLA containing a high content of L-isomer. However, although the additives in the PLA composite improved crystallinity and the degree of entanglement density in the 3D-printed products, they induced an anisotropic characteristic that resulted in the declination of the interlayer bonding in the transverse orientation products. The increasing of chamber temperatures over 40 °C improved the interlayer bonding in pristine PLA products, which was informed by the increased fracture toughness. Further, it can be noted that the amorphous nature of PLA promotes molecular entanglement, especially when printed at higher chamber temperatures with and without a cooling fan.
Ultrasonic welding (USW) is a solid-state welding process based on the application of high frequency vibration energy to the workpiece to produce the internal friction between the faying surface and the local heat generation required to promote the joining. The short welding time and the low heat input, the absence of fumes, sparks or flames, and the automation capacity make it particularly interesting for several fields, such as electrical/electronic, automotive, aerospace, appliance, and medical products industries. The main problems that those industries have to face are related to the poor weld quality due the improper selection of weld parameters. In the present work, 0.3 mm thick copper sheets were joined by USW varying the welding time, pressure, and vibration amplitude. The influence of the process variables on the characteristics of the joints and weld strength is investigated by using the analysis of variance. The results of the present work indicate that welding time is the main factor affecting the energy absorbed during the welding, followed by the pressure and amplitude. The shear strength, on the other hand, resulted mostly influenced by the amplitude, while the other parameters have a limited effect. Regardless the welding configuration adopted, most welds registered a failure load higher than the base material pointing out the feasibility of the USW process to join copper sheets.
The rapid increase in the number of diabetic patients globally and exploration of alternate insulin delivery methods such as inhalation or oral route that rely on higher doses, is bound to escalate the demand for recombinant insulin in near future. Current manufacturing technologies would be unable to meet the growing demand of affordable insulin due to limitation in production capacity and high production cost. Manufacturing of therapeutic recombinant proteins require an appropriate host organism with efficient machinery for posttranslational modifications and protein refolding. Recombinant human insulin has been produced predominantly using E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for therapeutic use in human. We would focus in this review, on various approaches that can be exploited to increase the production of a biologically active insulin and its analogues in E. coli and yeast. Transgenic plants are also very attractive expression system, which can be exploited to produce insulin in large quantities for therapeutic use in human. Plant-based expression system hold tremendous potential for high-capacity production of insulin in very cost-effective manner. Very high level of expression of biologically active proinsulin in seeds or leaves with long-term stability, offers a low-cost technology for both injectable as well as oral delivery of proinsulin.
Abstract This study sets up a differentiated duopoly model considering capacity constraints and shared manufacturing, investigates the equilibrium results, examines the effects of product differentiation and capacity constraints in three scenarios, and compares the equilibrium outcomes in three cases under Cournot and Stackelberg competition. We find that capacity constraints affect the relationships among product differentiation, equilibrium results, and the market share of enterprises. Shared manufacturing impacts the degree of excess capacity, profits, consumer surplus, and social welfare; however, it may sometimes play a negative role in alleviating excess capacity. Moreover, Cournot competition is a better choice for enterprises with capacity constraints compared to Stackelberg competition.
As an alternative to entanglement entropies, the capacity of entanglement becomes a promising candidate to probe and estimate the degree of entanglement of quantum bipartite systems. In this work, we study the typical behavior of entanglement capacity over major models of random states. In particular, the exact and asymptotic formulas of average capacity have been derived under the Hilbert-Schmidt and Bures-Hall ensembles. The obtained formulas generalize some partial results of average capacity computed recently in the literature. As a key ingredient in deriving the results, we make use of recent advances in random matrix theory pertaining to the underlying orthogonal polynomials and special functions. Numerical study has been performed to illustrate the usefulness of average capacity as an entanglement indicator.
Thomas Lindner, Hendrik Liborius, Bianca Preuß
et al.
Austenitic high-manganese steels (HMnS) offer very high wear resistance under dynamic loading due to their high work hardening capacity. However, resistance to static abrasive loading is limited. Various approaches to increasing abrasion resistance are known from traditionally manufactured metallurgical components. These confirm the high potential for surface protection applications. In this work, the powder of the Hadfield HMnS X120Mn12 is prepared and processed by high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) spraying and spark-plasma sintering (SPS). A good correlation was observed between the results of the HVOF and SPS specimen. Different surface conditions of the coatings and the sintered specimens were prepared by machining. Compared to the polished state, turning and diamond smoothing can increase the surface hardness from 220 HV to over 700 HV significantly. Regardless of the surface finish condition, similar good wear resistance can be demonstrated due to strong work hardening under sliding and reciprocating wear loading. In contrast, the finish machining process clearly influences abrasion resistance in the scratch test with the best results for the diamond smoothed condition. Especially against the background of current trends toward alternative coating systems, the presented results offer a promising approach for the development of HMnS in the field of coating technology.