M. Tseng, Thi Phuong Thuy Tran, Hien Minh Ha
et al.
ABSTRACT This study supplies contributions to the existing literature with a state-of-the-art bibliometric review of sustainable industrial and operation engineering as the field moves toward Industry 4.0, and guidance for future studies and practical achievements. Although industrial and operation engineering is being promoted forward to sustainability, the systematization of the knowledge that forms firms’ manufacturing and operations and encompasses their wide concepts and abundant complementary elements is still absent. This study aims to analyze contemporary sustainable industrial and operations engineering in Industry 4.0 context. The bibliometric analysis and fuzzy Delphi method are proposed. Resulting in a total of 30 indicators that are criticized and clustered into eight study groups, including lean manufacturing in Industry 4.0, cyber-physical production system, big data-driven and smart communications, safety and security, artificial intelligence for sustainability, the circular economy in a digital environment, business intelligence and virtual reality, and environmental sustainability. Graphical Abstract
As the circular economy (CE) gains traction in literature and practice, several academic communities are opening up spaces that move away from the CE as a pure engineering concept. This systematic literature review (n = 77) analyses and discusses the fragmented body of knowledge on the meso-level of supply chains (SCs): (a) to find common ground that underpins the current implementation of the CE on this level; and (b) to identify drivers, inhibitors, and enablers from which CE SC configurations emerge. The review finds that there remain differences in CE definitions that result from claimed antecedents and scopes, resulting in distinct research streams. On the meso-level, eco-industrial parks, environmental SCs, and closed-loop SCs each face significant challenges. The latter potentially offers the largest environmental benefits but engenders radical changes for business models and exposes SCs to more risk. We firstly argue for moving away from using a prescriptive set of practices as definitions for the CE towards a set of overarching goals to allow for the inclusion of future practices and techniques. Secondly, we highlight that research going beyond the meso-level to consider the wider social and institutional environment is needed to solve current challenges.
We explore the concept of folklore within software engineering, drawing from folklore studies to define and characterize narratives, myths, rituals, humor, and informal knowledge that circulate within software development communities. Using a literature review and thematic analysis, we curated exemplar folklore items (e.g., beliefs about where defects occur, the 10x developer legend, and technical debt). We analyzed their narrative form, symbolic meaning, occupational relevance, and links to knowledge areas in software engineering. To ground these concepts in practice, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 industrial practitioners in Sweden to explore how such narratives are recognized or transmitted within their daily work and how they affect it. Synthesizing these results, we propose a working definition of software engineering folklore as informally transmitted, traditional, and emergent narratives and heuristics enacted within occupational folk groups that shape identity, values, and collective knowledge. We argue that making the concept of software engineering folklore explicit provides a foundation for subsequent ethnography and folklore studies and for reflective practice that can preserve context-effective heuristics while challenging unhelpful folklore.
The adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) suggests major changes for software engineering, including technical aspects but also human aspects of the professionals involved. One of these aspects is how individuals perceive themselves regarding their work, i.e., their work identity, and the processes they perform to form, adapt and reject these identities, i.e., identity work. Existent studies provide evidence of such identity work of software professionals triggered by the adoption of GenAI, however they do not consider differences among diverse roles, such as developers and testers. In this paper, we argue the need for considering the role as a factor defining the identity work of software professionals. To support our claim, we review some studies regarding different roles and also recent studies on how to adopt GenAI in software engineering. Then, we propose a research agenda to better understand how the role influences identity work of software professionals triggered by the adoption of GenAI, and, based on that, to propose new artifacts to support this adoption. We also discuss the potential implications for practice of the results to be obtained.
Diana Pacheco, A.S. Silva-Barroso, Alexandre Gomes
et al.
The stability and mechanical performance of collagen scaffolds are critical for bone tissue engineering. This study evaluated two neutralization methods and two physical crosslinking strategies in Viscolma®, a medical-grade collagen. Dropwise or non-dropwise neutralization during synthesis promoted fiber formation, followed by scaffold fabrication via freeze-drying. Crosslinking was achieved by ultraviolet irradiation (UV) (30 min) or dehydrothermal (DHT) treatment at 75 °C or 100 °C for 24–48 h. UV irradiation impaired the physical properties of the scaffold, whereas DHT preserved collagen fiber integrity and produced favourable morphological, physicochemical, and mechanical characteristics. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells grown on DHT-treated scaffolds exhibited high viability, enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity, and increased RUNX2, osteopontin, and osteocalcin expression. These findings highlight DHT crosslinking as a simple, chemical-free approach to produce mechanically robust, biologically active collagen scaffolds with strong potential for trabecular bone regeneration.
Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Ocean mining activities have been ongoing for nearly 70 years, making great contributions to industrialization. Given the increasing demand for energy, along with the restructuring of the energy supply catalyzed by efforts to achieve a low-carbon economy, deep seabed mining will play an important role in addressing energy- and resource-related problems in the future. However, deep seabed mining remains in the exploratory stage, with many challenges presented by the high-pressure, low-temperature, and complex geologic and hydrodynamic environments in deep-sea mining areas, which are inaccessible to human activities. Thus, considerable efforts are required to ensure sustainable, economic, reliable, and safe deep seabed mining. This study reviews the latest advances in marine engineering geology and the environment related to deep-sea mining activities, presents a bibliometric analysis of the development of ocean mineral resources since the 1950s, summarizes the development, theory, and issues related to techniques for the three stages of ocean mining (i.e., exploration, extraction, and closure), and discusses the engineering geology environment, geological disasters, in-situ monitoring techniques, environmental protection requirements, and environmental effects in detail. Finally, this paper gives some key conclusions and future perspectives to provide insights for subsequent studies and commercial mining operations.
Feras Oyoun, Antoniya Toncheva, Luis Castillo Henríquez
et al.
In the spirit of circular economy and sustainable chemistry, the use of environmentally friendly chemical products in pharmacy has become a hot topic. In recent years, organic solvents have been the subject of a great range of restriction policies due to their harmful effects on the environment and toxicity to human health. In parallel, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as suitable greener solvents with beneficial environmental impacts and a rich palette of physico-chemical advantages related to their low cost and biocompatibility. Additionally, DESs can be accompanied by a remarkable solubilizing effect for several active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), thus forming therapeutic DESs (TheDESs). In this work, special attention is paid to DESs, presenting a precise definition, classification, methods of preparation, and characterization. A description of natural DESs (NaDESs), i.e., eutectic solvents present in natural sources, is also reported. Moreover, the present review article is the first one to detail the different approaches for judiciously selecting the constituents of DESs in order to minimize the number of experiments. The role of DESs in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors and their impact on the development of successful therapies are also discussed.
Refactoring is the process of restructuring existing code without changing its external behavior while improving its internal structure. Refactoring engines are integral components of modern Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) and can automate or semi-automate this process to enhance code readability, reduce complexity, and improve the maintainability of software products. Similar to traditional software systems such as compilers, refactoring engines may also contain bugs that can lead to unexpected behaviors. In this paper, we propose a novel approach called RETESTER, a LLM-based framework for automated refactoring engine testing. Specifically, by using input program structure templates extracted from historical bug reports and input program characteristics that are error-prone, we design chain-of-thought (CoT) prompts to perform refactoring-preserving transformations. The generated variants are then tested on the latest version of refactoring engines using differential testing. We evaluate RETESTER on two most popular modern refactoring engines (i.e., ECLIPSE, and INTELLIJ IDEA). It successfully revealed 18 new bugs in the latest version of those refactoring engines. By the time we submit our paper, seven of them were confirmed by their developers, and three were fixed.
Large Language Models are transforming software engineering, yet prompt management in practice remains ad hoc, hindering reliability, reuse, and integration into industrial workflows. We present Prompt-with-Me, a practical solution for structured prompt management embedded directly in the development environment. The system automatically classifies prompts using a four-dimensional taxonomy encompassing intent, author role, software development lifecycle stage, and prompt type. To enhance prompt reuse and quality, Prompt-with-Me suggests language refinements, masks sensitive information, and extracts reusable templates from a developer's prompt library. Our taxonomy study of 1108 real-world prompts demonstrates that modern LLMs can accurately classify software engineering prompts. Furthermore, our user study with 11 participants shows strong developer acceptance, with high usability (Mean SUS=73), low cognitive load (Mean NASA-TLX=21), and reported gains in prompt quality and efficiency through reduced repetitive effort. Lastly, we offer actionable insights for building the next generation of prompt management and maintenance tools for software engineering workflows.
Ulan Abdullaev, Umetali Dzhusuev, Sakina Asanova
et al.
The study is devoted to the analysis of modern methods of production of energy-efficient building materials. A broad review of statistics on the level of emissions of harmful substances and the popularity of various energy-efficient materials was carried out, which made it possible to identify the environmental factor as the most vulnerable. Analysing the United Nations (UN) recommended measures to reduce CO2 emissions from the production of building materials and the amount of CO2 emissions in different countries, cement, steel and aluminium add 2.5 billion tonnes of CO2. In comparison, brick and glass production adds approximately 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2 annually. The problem of producing materials more adapted to regional peculiarities, such as insulation made from local natural materials, is considered in the example of Kyrgyzstan. Modern methods of building materials production in Ukraine include, for example, improving the quality of cement, the use of green energy and the production of Portland cement clinker. The use of waste in construction is an important step towards sustainability and environmental efficiency. This is especially true for ergonomic construction, where waste management reduces the negative impact on the environment and reduces natural resource consumption. Despite advances in construction technology and the introduction of alternative materials, bricks remain one of the most common materials. India is a leader in this area, although a study of its statistics revealed that due to the global prevalence of informal production practices, accurate statistics are difficult to collect. All sub-sectors of the ceramic industry are energy-intensive due to the need for drying and sintering at high temperatures (800-2000°C), which requires significant energy resources. Sustainability-oriented solutions and technology substitution are proving to be key to the decarbonisation of the ceramic industry. The combination of different technologies and approaches provides significant benefits in reducing CO2 emissions and energy consumption. The study results are relevant for the development of recommendations for the integration of environmentally friendly, innovative and ergonomic methods of production of energy-efficient building materials.
This paper explores the evolution of first-generation solar cells by analysing the selection and engineering of materials that led to innovations. It also addresses the potential of using materials other than silicon and issues related to innovative recycling technologies. The paper presents the evolution of the Romanian photovoltaic sector and assesses the life cycle of photovoltaic panels, focusing on the recovery of high-quality raw materials and their reintroduction into the production process to improve the circular economy in this field. As the number of installed panels grows exponentially, so does the need to manage waste efficiently at the end of their life cycle. Photovoltaic panel recycling is slowly but surely becoming a rapidly developing field that is essential for the sustainability of the solar industry. With the growth of production in the Romanian photovoltaic sector, it has been identified that the need for recycled raw materials will increase from 900 prosumers in 2019 to over 100,000 in 2024. In the future, it will be imperative to develop strategies for recovering, recycling and reintroducing materials, which will bring major benefits. This paper’s specific contributions include a bibliometric mapping of EoL-PV research trends, a technology-recycling matrix for modern cell architectures, and a perspective on the Romanian market contextualised within EU policies.
Sebastian Wenk, Vittorio Rainaldi, Karin Schann
et al.
Atmospheric CO2 poses a major threat to life on Earth by causing global warming and climate change. On the other hand, it can be considered as a resource that is scalable enough to establish a circular carbon economy. Accordingly, technologies to capture and convert CO2 into reduced one-carbon (C1) compounds (e.g. formic acid) are developing and improving fast. Driven by the idea of creating sustainable bioproduction platforms, natural and synthetic C1-utilization pathways are engineered into industrially relevant microbes. The realization of synthetic C1-assimilation cycles in living organisms is a promising but challenging endeavour. Here, we engineer the Serine Threonine Cycle, a synthetic C1-assimilation cycle in Escherichia coli to achieve growth on formic acid. Our stepwise engineering approach in tailored selection strains combined with adaptive laboratory evolution experiments enabled formatotrophic growth of the organism. Whole genome sequencing and reverse engineering allowed us to determine the key mutations linked to pathway activity. The Serine Threonine Cycle strains created in this work use formic acid as a carbon and energy source and can grow at ambient CO2 cultivation conditions. This work sets an example for the engineering of complex C1-assimilation cycles in heterotrophic microbes.
Emerging Trends in Engineering Polymers signify a pivotal transformation in material engineering, marking a departure from traditional materials towards innovative, multifunctional, and sustainable polymers. This review delineates the forefront of advancements in polymer materials, including high-performance, bio-based, biodegradable, innovative, and functional polymers. Highlighting their enhanced mechanical properties, thermal stability, and chemical resistance showcases these materials' pivotal role in driving technological progress. The exploration extends to advanced manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing, electrospinning, and the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites, underscoring their impact on customizing product properties and scaling production. Central to this discourse is the sustainability and environmental stewardship in the polymer sector, addressing recycling methodologies, the circular economy, and regulatory frameworks guiding sustainable practices. The review juxtaposes traditional and emerging recycling processes, illuminating the path toward more sustainable material cycles. Furthermore, it ventures into emerging applications across diverse sectors such as energy, electronics, healthcare, automotive, and aerospace, elucidating the transformative potential of engineering polymers in these domains. Challenges spanning technical, economic, environmental, and regulatory landscapes are critically examined, setting the stage for future directions in research and development. The review culminates in a forward-looking perspective, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration and material science innovation to navigate modern engineering challenges' complexities. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review articulates a narrative of evolution and opportunity within engineering polymers, poised to redefine material engineering in the decades to come.
The necessity of a sustainable economy has propelled the introduction and promotion of the concept of the circular economy worldwide. At both international and national levels, circular economy strategies, such as the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and the Austrian Circular Economy Strategy, have established ambitious objectives aimed at increasing circularity to reduce resource consumption. In this context, the transformation of industries into circular economy models is gaining increasing significance. Given the limited understanding of the current state within the manufacturing industry concerning the circular economy, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the maturity and circularity levels within the Austrian mechanical and vehicle engineering sectors. The primary objective is to establish a foundational platform for a targeted transformation of this industry towards an economically successful circular economy. This study employs a specifically designed model for capturing maturity and circularity levels, which comprehensively assesses 10 different business domains using 66 distinct questions. 216 out of a total of 1854 companies within the industry actively participated in this survey. The findings offer profound insights into knowledge regarding the circular economy, its integration into corporate strategy, the adoption of circular business models and R-strategies, as well as environmental management practices.
Juan M. Murillo, Jose Garcia-Alonso, Enrique Moguel
et al.
As quantum computers advance, the complexity of the software they can execute increases as well. To ensure this software is efficient, maintainable, reusable, and cost-effective -key qualities of any industry-grade software-mature software engineering practices must be applied throughout its design, development, and operation. However, the significant differences between classical and quantum software make it challenging to directly apply classical software engineering methods to quantum systems. This challenge has led to the emergence of Quantum Software Engineering as a distinct field within the broader software engineering landscape. In this work, a group of active researchers analyse in depth the current state of quantum software engineering research. From this analysis, the key areas of quantum software engineering are identified and explored in order to determine the most relevant open challenges that should be addressed in the next years. These challenges help identify necessary breakthroughs and future research directions for advancing Quantum Software Engineering.
Ranim Khojah, Mazen Mohamad, Philipp Leitner
et al.
Large Language Models (LLMs) are frequently discussed in academia and the general public as support tools for virtually any use case that relies on the production of text, including software engineering. Currently there is much debate, but little empirical evidence, regarding the practical usefulness of LLM-based tools such as ChatGPT for engineers in industry. We conduct an observational study of 24 professional software engineers who have been using ChatGPT over a period of one week in their jobs, and qualitatively analyse their dialogues with the chatbot as well as their overall experience (as captured by an exit survey). We find that, rather than expecting ChatGPT to generate ready-to-use software artifacts (e.g., code), practitioners more often use ChatGPT to receive guidance on how to solve their tasks or learn about a topic in more abstract terms. We also propose a theoretical framework for how (i) purpose of the interaction, (ii) internal factors (e.g., the user's personality), and (iii) external factors (e.g., company policy) together shape the experience (in terms of perceived usefulness and trust). We envision that our framework can be used by future research to further the academic discussion on LLM usage by software engineering practitioners, and to serve as a reference point for the design of future empirical LLM research in this domain.
With the advent of large language models (LLMs) in the artificial intelligence (AI) area, the field of software engineering (SE) has also witnessed a paradigm shift. These models, by leveraging the power of deep learning and massive amounts of data, have demonstrated an unprecedented capacity to understand, generate, and operate programming languages. They can assist developers in completing a broad spectrum of software development activities, encompassing software design, automated programming, and maintenance, which potentially reduces huge human efforts. Integrating LLMs within the SE landscape (LLM4SE) has become a burgeoning trend, necessitating exploring this emergent landscape's challenges and opportunities. The paper aims at revisiting the software development life cycle (SDLC) under LLMs, and highlighting challenges and opportunities of the new paradigm. The paper first summarizes the overall process of LLM4SE, and then elaborates on the current challenges based on a through discussion. The discussion was held among more than 20 participants from academia and industry, specializing in fields such as software engineering and artificial intelligence. Specifically, we achieve 26 key challenges from seven aspects, including software requirement & design, coding assistance, testing code generation, code review, code maintenance, software vulnerability management, and data, training, and evaluation. We hope the achieved challenges would benefit future research in the LLM4SE field.
Artificial intelligence (AI) permeates all fields of life, which resulted in new challenges in requirements engineering for artificial intelligence (RE4AI), e.g., the difficulty in specifying and validating requirements for AI or considering new quality requirements due to emerging ethical implications. It is currently unclear if existing RE methods are sufficient or if new ones are needed to address these challenges. Therefore, our goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of RE4AI to researchers and practitioners. What has been achieved so far, i.e., what practices are available, and what research gaps and challenges still need to be addressed? To achieve this, we conducted a systematic mapping study combining query string search and extensive snowballing. The extracted data was aggregated, and results were synthesized using thematic analysis. Our selection process led to the inclusion of 126 primary studies. Existing RE4AI research focuses mainly on requirements analysis and elicitation, with most practices applied in these areas. Furthermore, we identified requirements specification, explainability, and the gap between machine learning engineers and end-users as the most prevalent challenges, along with a few others. Additionally, we proposed seven potential research directions to address these challenges. Practitioners can use our results to identify and select suitable RE methods for working on their AI-based systems, while researchers can build on the identified gaps and research directions to push the field forward.