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To maintain high-quality semiconductor wafer production processes, it is necessary to build high-quality virtual metrology (VM) model. Based on the result of the VM, the engineer can monitor and control the specific process. In the manufacturing process, various sources are obtained from sensor equipment. It is important to consider that these source data exhibit varying characteristics during the model construction. However, when all data sources are simply aggregated into a single model, the performance of the overall model may degrade, especially if any of the individual sources contain outliers or noise. To address this issue, we develop a data-fusion model designed to incorporate diverse data sources into a unified multi-source model. In particular, we improve an Adaboost regression algorithm to make it suitable for multi-source data in the field of VM. The algorithm combines the residuals of the models derived from each individual data source and all sources to adaptively adjust the thresholding value, which, in turn, determines whether the predicted values are accurate or not for each weak learner. Extensive practical validations on real-world processing data from semiconductor manufacturers have demonstrated that the proposed method outperforms single learning algorithms and is more robust than all benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a general and practical theoretical framework to investigate how energy is dissipated in open quantum system dynamics. This is performed by quantifying the contributions of individual bath components to the overall dissipation of the system. The framework is based on the Nakajima–Zwanzig projection operator technique, which allows us to express the rate of energy dissipation into a specific bath degree of freedom by using traces of operator products. The approach captures system-bath interactions to all orders, but is based on second-order perturbation theory on the off-diagonal subsystem's couplings and a Markovian description of the bath. The usefulness of our theory is demonstrated by applying it to various models of open quantum systems involving harmonic oscillators or spin baths and connecting the outcomes to existing results such as our previously reported formula derived for locally coupled harmonic baths [Kim and Franco, J. Chem. Phys. 154, 084109 (2021)]. We also prove that the dissipation calculated by our theory rigorously satisfies thermodynamic principles such as energy conservation and detailed balance. Overall, the strategy can be used to develop the theory and simulation of dissipation pathways to interpret and engineer the dynamics of open quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an ethnographic study of a manufacturing monitoring technology, the author examines how the relations among workers, managers, and third-party technologists impact the ongoing configuration of cloud-based workplace technologies. Because these technologies are broadly networked, data-driven, and highly malleable, the author argues that technologists have an increasingly prominent role. By tracing issues raised by workers and managers in the focal customer firm, the study shows that the employment relation can explain only a limited set of outcomes. An analysis that accounts for technologists' innovative and economic relations with their users fully explains which issues are resolved and how. In contrast to research that implies technologists amplify institutionalized patterns of labor–management relations through their design choices, this study shows that technologists are complex organizational actors with situated interests, values, and identities. Through the development of a triadic model of relations, the author demonstrates why technologists must be included in analyses of contemporary technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Out-of-school time (OST) science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming has positive impacts for youth, and the importance of engineering design activities and principles within STEM programming is well-supported by research. Including subject matter experts (SMEs) in these programs enriches the experience of youth participants. Public libraries are widely accessible to the public, and their role in the OST arena is expanding. Library staff can boost the quality of STEM learning experiences by partnering with SMEs. Purpose: Subject matter experts (SME) contribute more than just their expertise. Between 2018 and 2019, a group of diverse professional engineers and librarians co-facilitated engineering activities at six U.S. libraries serving traditionally underserved populations. This study investigates the alignment in active learning preferences between youth, library staff, and professional engineer volunteers. Method: The study's design implemented the Framework for the Observation and Categorization of Instructional Strategies (FOCIS), which identifies seven different types of learning activities: collaborating, competing, performing, discovering, making, teaching, and caretaking. The FOCIS helped researchers evaluate the learning activity preferences of youth participants, engineers, and librarians. Results: The analysis showed that the learning activity preferences of youth and engineers were much more closely aligned than those of librarians. Conclusions: Alignment between youth-program participants and SME program facilitators has the potential to enrich the program experience and foster active engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost engineering capabilities are becoming increasingly important for the competitiveness of industrial firms, especially for engineer to order products (ETOPs). Despite this relevance, the literature on the use of advanced data-driven methodologies, such as machine learning (ML), for early cost estimation (CE) of ETOPs is quite sparse. Furthermore, ML has still seen little use in real industrial applications due to several challenges. Accordingly, the objective of this paper is threefold: (a) to develop a solid early CE approach for ETOPs, including feature selection; (b) to investigate the benefits of adopting ML for ETOPs' CE; (c) to identify how ML can be introduced into real industrial context with little knowledge on ML. Long action research has been carried out with a large industrial company that produces Oil & Gas ETOPs. We observed how ML facilitates the exploration of the relationships between the choices of early design stages and the CE. ML algorithms also allowed to both capture the high variability of the data and test different combinations of cost drivers in very effective ways. The project resulted in an accurate CE framework with an iterative feature selection process and an approach for introducing ML into a real industrial context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In safety‐critical systems engineering, regulations such as Automotive SPICE, ISO26262, or ED‐109A mandate software quality assurance measures to provide evidence that the developed system is high quality. The constraints that define quality assurance conditions during the engineering life cycle are often non‐trivial. This paper addresses the challenges, engineers face who are unfamiliar with the precise constraints of various projects (e.g., when newly joining a company or switching between departments). Understanding how to fulfill a constraint is a time‐consuming and challenging task as an engineer needs to determine the most suitable option (out of potentially many) to fulfill a constraint violation. To this end, we propose a guidance action ranking framework to provide engineers with the most relevant guidance actions. Our primary ranking algorithm analyzes in the background the actions that engineers have made in the past to resolve a constraint violation without requiring explicit feedback from them. We evaluated our framework on two real‐world data sets: an open‐source drone management and an industrial air traffic control software system. Concretely, we replay past engineering activities and measured whether, in the case of a constraint violation, our suggested guidance actions were indeed selected by the engineer. The evaluation results revealed that learning from prior guidance actions effectively identifies the most appropriate guidance actions (ranked top 1 or 2) when compared to ranking algorithms based on action simplicity and artifact property change frequency. Specifically, we achieve a median MRR of 0.95 for the first case study and 0.94 for the second case study: an improvement of 80% and 100% over the baseline. Additionally, we observed that the simplicity of a guidance action does not reliably indicate its suitability for fulfilling a constraint, whereas learning from prior change operation property out‐performed simplicity‐based ranking but did not surpass guidance frequency‐based ranking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rail transit is rapidly evolving, with long-span cable-stayed bridges becoming increasingly popular among engineers because of their adaptability. However, as the operation time of bridges with tracks increases, the combined effects of repeated wheel loads and various bridge system excitations, including temperature changes and shrinkage–creep, gradually alter the alignment of the main beam. Similarly, the track structure on the bridge deck also undergoes vertical displacement, leading to corresponding degradation in rail alignment. This study applies singular function theory and verifies its effectiveness in bridge mechanical analysis. For the steel spring floating plate track cable-stayed bridge system, the mapping relationship between the deformation of the bridge’s main beam and the track’s deformation under bridge system excitation is derived, integrating singular function theory with the theory of train–track–bridge dynamic interaction. By analyzing the force transfer mechanism of the track–bridge system under system excitation, this research examines the effects of different excitations on the coupled dynamic response of the train–track–bridge. These findings suggest that system excitations increase the dynamic response of the train–track–bridge system, which is crucial for improving the durability and reliability of urban rail transit infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose/Hypothesis Design/Method Results Conclusion The gender gap in engineering presents a critical barrier to achieving a diverse and innovative engineering workforce. This gap is influenced by gender stereotypes, socialization processes, masculine culture, and insufficient early experiences with engineering. These contribute to diminished STEM self‐concept, interest, and participation among women.This study assessed an engineering outreach program's impact on children's understanding of and interest in engineering and beliefs about who can be an engineer. It compared whether discussions of gender bias differentially influenced these outcomes for girls and boys.The study was a short‐term sequential quasi‐experimental design with boys and girls in grades 4–5. Six classroom groups attended a half‐day engineering field trip and were randomly assigned to two conditions: Gender Presentation or No Gender Presentation. Pre‐ and post‐program surveys measured changes in understanding of and interest in engineering and beliefs about who can be an engineer.All children, regardless of gender or condition, had higher understanding of and interest in engineering after the program, but also demonstrated a bias in selecting men over women as engineers. Participants reported that both girls and boys like and are good at engineering and these ratings increased from the pre‐program to the post‐program survey.This research affirms the effectiveness of immersive and inclusive programming in enhancing children's understanding of and interest in engineering. No substantial gender‐specific differences emerged regarding the impact of discussions on gender biases. The program underscores the value of early inclusive educational interventions in fostering equitable interest in engineering among young students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often assumed that how we talk about the world matters a great deal. This is one reason why conceptual engineers seek to improve our linguistic practices by advocating novel uses of our words, or by inventing new ones altogether. A core idea shared by conceptual engineers is that by changing our language in this way, we can reap all sorts of cognitive and practical benefits, such as improving our theorizing, combating hermeneutical injustice, or promoting social emancipation. But how do changes at the linguistic level translate into any of these worthwhile benefits? In this paper, we propose the nameability account as a novel answer to this question. More specifically, we argue that what linguistic resources are readily available to us directly affects our cognitive performance on various categorization‐related tasks. Consequently, our performance on such tasks can be improved by making controlled changes to our linguistic resources. We argue that this account supports and extends recent motivations for conceptual engineering, as categorization plays an important role in both theoretical and practical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem engineers alter habitat and resource availability within ecosystems, but the magnitude of these effects depends on abiotic context and spatial scale. We examined how the effects of freshwater mussels, an ecosystem engineer, changed with spatial scale. We combined a field enclosure experiment and comparative field study to evaluate associations among mussels and macroinvertebrate communities across three spatial scales: mussel individuals (~ 0.01 m2), patches of mussels (0.25 m2), and large aggregations of many mussel patches (mussel beds, ~ 1000 m2). We used canonical correspondence analysis and variation partitioning to evaluate how mussel abundance, food availability, substrate heterogeneity, and flow influenced macroinvertebrate communities. We found that mussels' influence on macroinvertebrate communities differed among spatial scales. At the smallest scale, macroinvertebrate density increased on the shells of live mussels, likely due to mussel influences on food availability to grazers. At the patch scale, we found no mussel effects, likely because they were overridden by a flood event. At the mussel bed scale, macroinvertebrate communities were primarily controlled by flow and secondarily by food availability. As such, the continued loss of freshwater mussels means the loss of habitat creation and food provisioning for other aquatic groups, and alteration of facilitation landscapes within streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) therapy holds great potential yet efficacy and safety concerns with cell therapy persist. The beneficial effects of MSCs are often attributed to their secretome that includes extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs carry biologically active molecules, protected by a lipid bilayer. However, several barriers hinder large-scale MSC EV production. A serum-free culturing approach is preferred for producing clinical-grade MSC-derived EVs but this can affect both yield and purity. Consequently, new strategies have been explored, including genetically engineering MSCs to alter EV compositions to enhance potency, increase circulation time or mediate targeting. However, efficient transfection of MSCs is challenging. Typical sources of MSC include adipose tissue and bone marrow, which both require invasive extraction procedures. Here, we investigate the use of urine-derived stem cells (USCs) as a non-invasive and inexhaustible source of MSCs for EV production. Methods: We isolated, expanded, and characterized urine-derived stem cells (USCs) harvested from eight healthy donors at three different time points during the day. We evaluated the number of clones per urination, proliferation capacity and conducted flow cytometry to establish expression of surface markers. EVs were produced in chemically defined media and characterized. PEI/DNA transfection was used to genetically engineer USCs using transposon technology. Results: There were no differences between time points for clone number, doubling time or viability. USCs showed immunophenotypic characteristics of MSCs, such as expression of CD73, CD90 and CD105, with no difference at the assessed time points, however, male donors had reduced CD73 + cells. Expanded USCs were incubated without growth factors or serum for 72 h without a loss in viability and EVs were isolated. USCs were transfected with high efficiency and after 10 days of selection, pure engineered cell cultures were established. Conclusions: Isolation and expansion of MSCs from urine is non-invasive, robust, and without apparent sex-related differences. The sampling time point did not affect any measured markers or USC isolation potential. USCs offer an attractive production platform for EVs, both native and engineered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Medical phantoms play a crucial role in medical imaging and therapy. However, the successful development of these phantoms heavily relies on a comprehensive understanding of the requirements specific to each application. Methods: In this paper, we emphasize the significance of requirement analysis in medical phantom development and develop a novel approach for gathering and classifying requirements specific for phantom development. Results: The implemented survey tool is designed to accommodate the diverse needs of stakeholders involved in phantom development, including medical staff, physicists, engineers, and product developers. To validate the effectiveness of the approach, we conduct the development of a multimodal deformable pelvic phantom, providing insights into the process and its applicability. Discussion: The results demonstrate the utility and reliability of our approach in systematically gathering, categorizing, and prioritizing requirements, thus facilitating the streamlined and efficient development of medical phantoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Blast overpressure and accelerative impact can produce concussive-like symptoms in service members serving both garrison and deployed environments. In an effort to measure, document, and improve the response to these overpressure and impact events, the U.S. Army Medical Material Development Activity is evaluating body-worn sensors for use by the Joint Conventional Force. In support, the WRAIR completed a qualitative end-user evaluation with service members from high-risk mission occupational specialties to determine the potential needs, benefits, and challenges associated with adopting body-worn sensors into their job duties. Materials and Methods WRAIR staff led hour-long semi-structured focus groups with 156 Army, Navy, and Marine Corps participants, primarily representing infantry, combat engineer, explosive ordnance disposal, artillery, mortar, and armor job specialties. Topics included their sensor needs, concepts of operations, and recommended design features for implementing sensors into the force. Dialogue from each focus group was audio recorded and resulting transcripts were coded for thematic qualitative analysis using NVivo software. Results Users recommended a single, unobtrusive, rugged, multi-directional sensor that could be securely mounted to the helmet and powered by a battery type (such as rechargeable lithium or disposable alkaline batteries) that was best suited for their garrison and field/deployed environments. The sensors should accurately measure low-level (∼1.0 pounds per square inch) blasts and maintain a record of cumulative exposures for each service member. Discussions supported the need for immediate, actionable feedback from the sensor with the option to view detailed blast or impact data on a computer. There were, however, divergent opinions on security issues regarding wireless versus wired data transfer methods. Participants also expressed a need for the exposure data to integrate with their medical records and were also willing to have their data shared with leadership, although opinions differed on the level of echelon and if the data should be identifiable. Regarding accountability, users did not want to be held fiscally liable for the sensors and recommended having the unit be responsible for maintenance and distribution. Concerns about being held fiscally liable, being overly burdened, and having one's career negatively impacted were listed as factors that could decrease usage. Finally, participants highlighted the importance of understanding the purpose and function of the sensors and supported a corresponding training module. Conclusions Participating service members were generally willing to adopt body-worn sensors into their garrison and deployed activities. To maximize adoption of the devices, they should be convenient to use and should not interfere with service members' job tasks. Providing a clear understanding of the benefits (such as incorporating exposure data into medical records) and the function of sensors will be critical for encouraging buy-in among users and leaders. Incorporating end-user requirements and considering the benefits and challenges highlighted by end users are important for the design and implementation of body-worn sensors to mitigate the risks of blast overpressure and accelerative impact on service members' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-harmonic generation (HHG) has emerged as a central technique in attosecond science and strong-field physics, providing a tool for investigating ultrafast dynamics. However, the microscopic mechanism of HHG in solids is still under debate, and it is unclear how it is modified in the ubiquitous presence of phonons. Here we theoretically investigate the role of collectively coherent vibrations in HHG in a wide range of solids (e.g., hBN, graphite, 2H-MoS2, and diamond). We predict that phonon-assisted high harmonic yields can be significantly enhanced, compared to the phonon-free case – up to a factor of ~20 for a transverse optical phonon in bulk hBN. We also show that the emitted harmonics strongly depend on the character of the pumped vibrational modes. Through state-of-the-art ab initio calculations, we elucidate the physical origin of the HHG yield enhancement – phonon-assisted photoinduced carrier doping, which plays a paramount role in both intraband and interband electron dynamics. Our research illuminates a clear pathway toward comprehending phonon-mediated nonlinear optical processes within materials, offering a powerful tool to deliberately engineer and govern solid-state high harmonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsteady flow distortion is of interest for the development of air-breathing propulsion systems. Stochastic fluctuations can generate incompatibilities between intakes and aero-engines. Observing the extreme flow distortion events during experimental testing is not guaranteed and statistical models such as extreme value theory (EVT) can be used to estimate the occurrence and magnitude of the fluctuations. However, the current industry standard does not provide guidance on how to apply these methods to obtain useful predictions. This work proposes a systematic process to assess the required number of observations for obtaining statistical convergence of the EVT predictions. This is achieved through shuffling of the data samples and relies on the availability of a sufficiently large initial dataset. This can be adopted by gas turbine engineers to evaluate the data recording requirements and to potentially reduce costs associated with experimental programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) often occurs 3 weeks to 3 months after brain injury, which is mainly caused by bleeding of the bridging vein. For patients with ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt, excessive drainage can also cause CSDH. We present a rare case of CSDH caused by shunt valve breakdown in brain injury. Case Report: We report a 68-year-old man with V-P shunt for 8 years. He presented with bilateral CSDH with disappearance of lateral ventricles nearly 1 month after a brain injury caused by being hit with a stick. After burr hole drainage (BHD), the patient's symptoms improved and lateral ventricles reappeared, but disappeared rapidly with CSDH recurrence within a short time. We considered the cause to be medium pressure shunt valve breakdown caused by hitting with a stick, which was confirmed by the engineer's test after the operation and excessive drainage of cerebrospinal fluid. BHD replaced the adjustable pressure shunt valve, and the patient recovered. Conclusion: V-P shunt is a common operation in neurosurgery, and postoperative shunt valve breakdown may lead to poor outcome. We report a rare case of CSDH caused by shunt valve breakdown due to excessive external forces, suggesting that patients after V-P shunt should pay attention to the protection of the shunt valve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to study the trajectory of the architect Frei Otto (FO) using an exploratory analysis of his projects, which pays special attention to the conceptual and chronological temporal evolution, the type of structures designed, and the relationship with his partners for his built and unbuilt projects. In the latter case, the projects developed, not requested, that are not part of his built works have been approached (i.e., not considered under competition). The main results indicate that FO's architectural trajectory, from a chronological point of view, was intense, which is generally reflected throughout the years. The 1950s–1970s were very productive. In addition to the large number of projects, there were innovative designs for quantity and structural innovation in Germany and other countries (e.g., France and Saudi Arabia). The analyses that were carried out made it possible to ascertain FO's professional and academic influence, which has been reflected in his projects. Likewise, his relationships with his collaborators have been long-lasting in some cases. Practical Applications: This work aimed to study the work of the architect and engineer Frei Otto (FO), of recognized prestige by the awards received and his colleagues. Some mention the scarce diffusion of his work. The interest of this work lies mainly in making known to professionals, academics, and the general public, in a short format, such as that used in scientific papers, the design of his structures, built and unbuilt. As Félix Candela mentions about FO's career, he is a typical and outstanding example of architectural innovation who concentrated his vocation and efforts on the study and research of tensile structures. His international projection and toward the citizen, give Frei Otto academic interest. This work is developed from different perspectives, which include chronological, type of structure, the location and function of the project, and the collaborators he worked with, with whom he shared his innovation and construction activities. Attention has been paid to a collection of unpublished or little-known projects by FO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of rock material and modeling uncertainties, the optimization of rock tunnel support systems is often conducted by selecting the most cost‐effective solution among several feasible options that typically rely on the engineer's experience, potentially leading to overlooking the most optimal design. To improve such a limitation, this paper presents a multi‐objective reliability‐based robust design, considering the cost, safety, and design robustness systematically while maintaining the computational efficiency. In this framework, the uncertainty‐based reliability constrains is performed using the first‐order reliability method (FORM) and an improved Hasofer–Lind–Rackwits–Fiessler recursive algorithm (iHLRF‐x). The design robustness, in terms of sensitivity index (SI), is evaluated using the normalized gradient of the system response to the noise factors, which can be efficiently obtained from the output of FORM analysis. Then, the Pareto front revealing the tradeoff between multiple objectives can be directly generated using the proposed optimization framework. To illustrate the effectiveness of this procedure, a set of the optimal design combinations of the shotcrete thickness and installation position for the exampled rock tunnel are obtained, and new perspectives pertaining the success of the reliability‐based robust designs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of all active photonic devices today is greatly limited by loss. Here, we show that one can engineer a low loss path in a metal-clad lossy multi-mode waveguide while simultaneously achieving high-performance active photonic devices. We leverage non-Hermitian systems operating beyond the exceptional point to enable the redistribution of losses in a multi-mode photonic waveguide. Consequently, our multi-mode waveguide offers low propagation losses for fundamental mode while other higher order modes experience prohibitively high losses. Furthermore, we show an application of this non-Hermitian waveguide platform in designing power-efficient thermo-optic phase shifters with significantly faster response times than conventional silicon-based thermo-optic phase shifters. Our device achieves a propagation loss of less than 0.02 dB μm−1 for our non-Hermitian waveguide-based phase shifters with high performance efficiency of Pπ ⋅ τ = 19.1 mW μs. In addition, our phase shifters have significantly faster response time (rise/fall time), τ ≈ 1.4 μs, compared to traditional silicon based thermo-optic phase shifters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridges, as public structures, are national infrastructure structures. The investment requirements and demands for safe operation should put them at the forefront of engineers' attention. The important SNP bridge in Bratislava (Slovakia), which is one of the first bridges in the world to be suspended entirely on cables, has been the subject of a diagnosis of its health after 50 years of operation. The article describes and documents the individual steps of this diagnostics ‐ identification of the rope material, the status of the rope material and its current strength properties, and the experimentally and computationally determination of the forces in the individual ropes and their cables. The uniqueness of all the diagnostic steps was that they were carried out directly in the outdoor conditions of full operation of the bridge. The achieved results are briefly documented in the paper. Conclusions and further necessary steps for the final comprehensive safety assessment of the bridge operation are formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to address issues of potential gender bias in pre-service elementary teachers' conceptions of engineers and engineering using Freire's (2018) Critical Consciousness perspective. By identifying the biasness as causal and structural attributions, the study also aimed to construct a critical pedagogy framework for future pre-service elementary teachers to reflect on and to radically reimagine and transform potential gender bias in their conceptions of engineers and engineering. Drawings of engineers and narratives of drawings from 115 pre-service elementary teachers served as data. The analysis comprised a two-step process: (1) identification of patterns through an inductive analysis of the data; and (2) analysis of patterns from the Critical Consciousness perspective to generate themes. Themes included: (1) depictions of male engineers being afforded privileges of having innate abilities to perform engineering from the standpoint of strong disciplinary backgrounds in mathematics and science while depictions of female engineers being afforded privileges of having innate abilities to perform engineering from the standpoint of computing, designing, and coding. (2) depictions of male engineers' "work" of engineering being related to tangible outcomes like physical products, and (3) depictions of male engineers as authority figures and having the ability to lead the work of engineering. The critical pedagogical framework constructed is a step toward developing a tool for critically reflecting, and radically imagining, reimagining, and thus transforming inequities inherent in future pre-service elementary teachers' conceptualizations of engineers and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the last few decades, for the liquefaction susceptibility assessment of a location, Standard Penetration Test (SPT) based methods have been generally practiced. In this research, the liquefaction potential of Dhaka Metropolitan Development Plan (DMDP) area has been analyzed using three existing Cone Penetration Test (CPT) based methods. CPT (CPTu and SCPT) data have been collected from 546 locations of the DMDP region covering 1530 square kilometer area and have been analyzed to assess the liquefaction potential. Bangladesh is located in the junction of Indian and Eurasian plate, which makes this country vulnerable to earthquakes. A magnitude 7.5 earthquakes and Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) value of 0.21 g at the surface have been used to evaluate the liquefaction susceptibility of the region using the three CPT-based techniques and another CPT-based technique has been employed to evaluate the liquefaction susceptibility of the region using variable surface PGA based on Modhupur scenario. Liquefaction potential maps have been proposed and compared for these four methods. It has been found that more than 60% of the study area falls within the LPI range which indicates moderate to relatively high liquefaction vulnerability. The liquefaction susceptibility of the three methods has been found to be in agreement and possible reasons of deviation in any particular method have been explained. Also, Ishihara 1985 proposed LPIISH has been estimated and compared with Iwasaki's LPI values. It has been observed that the difference in results using LPI and LPIISH are not significant. The seismic microzonation and liquefaction analyses will help engineers, planners and relevant professionals to get prior idea about the seismic vulnerability of any part of the DMDP region and take measures beforehand to avoid any damaging consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the role of trade for the joint uptake of AI‐enabled automation in manufacturing and engineering. It develops an agent‐based model (ABM) where the agents are heterogeneous manufacturers and engineering firms. The ABM features two technology‐related business models: engineering as a face‐to‐face consultancy service and engineering as automated software. The software adoption rate follows an S‐shaped curve for manufacturers and a boom and bust cycle for engineers. In the early phase, shortage of engineers constrains AI uptake, while engineers become abundant when AI is fully adopted. Trade affects the cut‐off productivity level at which manufacturers switch technology, the shape of the adoption rate curve, and the incentives for engineers to develop software. Bulky transactions and different productivity distributions across countries are drivers of trade in their own right. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lower chamber of tower J17 from the Aurelian Walls in Rome is covered by a singular brick vault by slices that is almost completely preserved. This kind of vault is unusual in a Roman context and specifically in Aurelian Walls. Brick vaults by slices were extensively studied by the French engineer Auguste Choisy, who mainly scrutinized their ease of construction that doesn't require formwork and can adapt to different plans to achieve lowered vaults. The best-known examples are in Byzantium and generally in the Eastern Roman Empire, while we don't know many cases dating from late Roman antiquity on the Italian peninsula. Based on a rigorous photogrammetric survey and thorough data management, a detailed analysis of this vault allows us to establish a hypothesis about its construction process and to deepen the knowledge of this type of structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite major breeding efforts by various national and international agencies, yields for the ~40 million hectares of maize, the major food crop in sub‐Saharan Africa, have stagnated at <2 tons/ha/year for the past decade, one‐third the global average. Breeders have succeeded in breeding increased yield with a modicum of tolerance to some single‐weed or pathogen stresses. There has been minimal adoption of these varieties because introgressing polygenic yield and tolerance traits into locally adapted material is very challenging. Multiple traits to deal with pests (weeds, pathogens, and insects) are needed for farmer acceptance, because African fields typically encounter multiple pest constraints. Also, maize has no inherent resistance to some of these pest constraints, rendering them intractable to traditional breeding. The proposed solution is to simultaneously engineer multiple traits into one genetic locus. The dominantly inherited multi‐pest resistance trait single locus can be bred simply into locally adapted, elite high‐yielding material, and would be valuable for farmers, vastly increasing maize yields, and allowing for more than regional maize sufficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a fatigue test of AA2519 T62 aluminium alloy in high-cycles region for smooth and notched specimens with stress concentration factors 1.75 and 2.28 for radii r1 = 2 mm and r2 = 1 mm, respectively. A number of cycles with no notch effect was determined for each notched specimens. The estimated values were compared with the distribution estimated on the literature data. Based on this knowledge, an analytical-experimental method was proposed to determine S-N curves for notched elements for aluminium alloys. The verification of the method gives satisfactory results. Additionally, the FITNET method and the Lee and Taylor method were used for comparison. The proposed method got the best results. The FITNET method and Lee and Taylor method obtained overestimated fatigue life and it can be concluded that the analytical method presented methods are suitable for steel materials. The proposed method can be used by engineers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating quantum materials with fiber optics adds advanced functionalities to a variety of applications, and introduces fiber‐based quantum devices such as remote sensors capable of probing multiple physical parameters. However, achieving optimal integration between quantum materials and fibers is challenging, particularly due to difficulties in fabrication of quantum elements with suitable dimensions and an efficient photonic interface to a commercial optical fiber. Here a new modality for a fiber‐integrated van der Waals quantum sensor is demonstrated. A hole‐based circular Bragg grating cavity from hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is designed and fabricated, engineer optically active spin defects within the cavity, and integrate the cavity with an optical fiber using a deterministic pattern transfer technique. The fiber‐integrated hBN cavity enables efficient excitation and collection of optical signals from spin defects in hBN, thereby enabling all‐fiber integrated quantum sensors. Moreover, remote sensing of a ferromagnetic material and of arbitrary magnetic fields is demonstrated. All in all, the hybrid fiber‐based quantum sensing platform may pave the way to a new generation of robust, remote, multi‐functional quantum sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Theory questions the persistence of nonreciprocal interactions in which one plant has a positive net effect on a neighbor that, in return, has a negative net impact on its benefactor – a phenomenon known as antagonistic facilitation. We develop a spatially explicit consumer‐resource model for belowground plant competition between ecosystem engineers, plants able to mine resources and make them available for any other plant in the community, and exploiters. We use the model to determine in what environmental conditions antagonistic facilitation via soil‐resource engineering emerges as an optimal strategy. Antagonistic facilitation emerges in stressful environments where ecosystem engineers' self‐benefits from mining resources outweigh the competition with opportunistic neighbors. Among all potential causes of stress considered in the model, the key environmental parameter driving changes in the interaction between plants is the proportion of the resource that becomes readily available for plant consumption in the absence of any mining activity. Our results align with theories of primary succession and the stress gradient hypothesis. However, we find that the total root biomass and its spatial allocation through the root system, often used to measure the sign of the interaction between plants, do not predict facilitation reliably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell approaches are needed to improve therapeutic efficacy in solid tumors. High-risk neuroblastoma is an aggressive pediatric solid tumor that expresses cell-surface GPC2 and GD2 with a tumor microenvironment infiltrated by CD16a-expressing innate immune cells. Here we engineer T-cells to express a GPC2-directed CAR and simultaneously secrete a bispecific innate immune cell engager (BiCE) targeting both GD2 and CD16a. In vitro, GPC2.CAR-GD2.BiCE T-cells induce GPC2-dependent cytotoxicity and secrete GD2.BiCE that promotes GD2-dependent activation of antitumor innate immunity. In vivo, GPC2.CAR-GD2.BiCE T-cells locally deliver GD2.BiCE and increase intratumor retention of NK-cells. In mice bearing neuroblastoma patient-derived xenografts and reconstituted with human CD16a-expressing immune cells, GD2.BiCEs enhance GPC2.CAR antitumor efficacy. A CAR.BiCE strategy should be considered for tumor histologies where antigen escape limits CAR efficacy, especially for solid tumors like neuroblastoma that are infiltrated by innate immune cells. GPC2 and GD2 have been described as immunotherapeutic targets in neuroblastoma. Here the authors engineer T cells to simultaneously express a GPC2-directed CAR and a bispecific innate immune cell engager targeting GD2 and CD16a, showing antitumor activity in neuroblastoma preclinical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of thermal mechanisms in traditional as well as advanced fluid phases grabbed huge attention of the engineers around the globe. These fluids have a bright future in numerous fields including but not restricted to chemical, applied thermal, and heat transfer applications. Therefore, the present analysis emphasized on the development and investigation of a new nanofluid model under physical constraints like viscous dissipation, squeezing, and nanoparticle concentration effects. The fourth‐order heat transfer model is formulated using new thermophysical properties of tetra nanofluids and similar transformative functions. Then, the model was analyzed numerically and a deep discussion of the results was provided. It is noticed that the motion reduced near the bottom wall rapidly when the tetra nanoparticles concentration is taken from 0.01$0.01$ to 0.04$0.04$ and inward the sheet movement enhanced it. The fluid motion can be augmented by accelerating the top sheet in an outward direction by keeping S=1.0,2.0,3.0,and4.0$S = 1.0,\ 2.0,\ 3.0,\ {\mathrm{and}}\ 4.0$. Moreover, the shear drag increased in the range of 2.63952$2.63952$ to 2.74291$2.74291$ and the heat transfer rate enhanced from 1.461390$1.461390$ to 3.653470$3.653470$ and 1.475600$1.475600$ to 1.504010$1.504010$ when Ec${{E}_c}$ and ℘$\wp $ increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous reviews are available in the literature on PV inverter topologies. These reviews have intensively investigated the available PV inverter topologies from their modulation techniques, control strategies, cost, and performance aspects. However, their compliance with industrial standards has not been investigated in detail so far in the literature. There are various standards such as North American standards (UL1741, IEEE1547, and CSA 22.2) and Australian and European safety standards and grid codes, which include IEC 62109 and VDE. These standards provide detailed guidelines and expectations to be fulfilled by a PV inverter topology. Adherence to these standards is essential and crucial for the successful operation of PV inverters, be it a standalone or grid-tied mode of operation. This paper investigates different PV inverter topologies from the aspect of their adherence to different standards. Both standalone and grid-tied mode of operation-linked conditions have been checked for different topologies. This investigation will help power engineers in selecting suitable PV inverter topology for their specific applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neuromorphic devices can emulate dendric integration, axonal parallel transmission, along with superior energy efficiency in facilitating efficient information processing, offering enormous potential for wearable electronics. However, integrating such circuits into textiles to achieve biomimetic information perception, processing, and control motion feedback remains a formidable challenge. Here, we engineer a quasi-solid-state iontronic synapse fiber (ISF) comprising photoresponsive TiO2, ion storage Co-MoS2, and an ion transport layer. The resulting ISF achieves inherent short-term synaptic plasticity, femtojoule-range energy consumption, and the ability to transduce chemical/optical signals. Multiple ISFs are interwoven into a synthetic neural fabric, allowing the simultaneous propagation of distinct optical signals for transmitting parallel information. Importantly, IFSs with multiple input electrodes exhibit spatiotemporal information integration. As a proof of concept, a textile-based multiplexing neuromorphic sensorimotor system is constructed to connect synaptic fibers with artificial fiber muscles, enabling preneuronal sensing information integration, parallel transmission, and postneuronal information output to control the coordinated motor of fiber muscles. The proposed fiber system holds enormous promise in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and biomedical engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translation abstract Strengthening of the bridge‐device SB30 – development of the strengthening concepts (part 1)The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BDMV) and SYSTEC GmbH have around 7500 t of the SB30 system‐bridge for use in disaster‐protection and for temporary measures in the repair of the transport‐infrastructure. However, the bridge‐device developed in the GDR in the 1970s no longer meets today's requirements and can therefore only be used to a very limited extent. In order to avoid resource‐intensive replacement of these inventories, SYSTEC GmbH, together with SEH Engineering GmbH and the engineers of KLÄHNE BUNG, is developing various strengthening‐concepts that enable the continued use of the outdated SB30 bridge‐device in the spirit of the Green Deal announced by the European Commission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA hard surface feels soft or elastic when carefully controlled vibrations are provided to a pressing finger. This compliance illusion method may be employed to augment graphical objects on smartphone screens with compliant tactile properties. However, product engineers encounter practical questions when attempting to use the compliance illusion method for their products. Should the waveform be sinusoidal? How much time delay is acceptable? Should the vibration axis be perpendicular to the surface? A series of experiments was conducted to address these questions. The first experiment revealed that the waveform could not be distinguished in the context of the compliance illusion method when applied to typical smartphones. The second experiment demonstrated that time delays greater than 25 ms and the use of the three vibration axes could be distinguished in the same context. The third experiment explored how the perceptual qualities of the compliance illusion change with variations in time delay and the axis of vibration. Time delay had significant effects on softness, smoothness, elasticity, and unpleasantness, while the vibration axis had significant effects on softness, smoothness, and elasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Live vaccines are ideal for inducing immunity but suffer from the need to attenuate their pathogenicity or replication to preclude the possibility of escape. Unnatural amino acids (UAAs) provide a strategy to engineer stringent auxotrophies, yielding conditionally replication incompetent live bacteria with excellent safety profiles. Here, we engineer Pseudomonas aeruginosa to maintain auxotrophy for the UAA p-benzoyl-l-phenylalanine (BzF) through its incorporation into the essential protein DnaN. In vivo evolution using an Escherichia coli-based two-hybrid selection system enabled engineering of a mutant DnaN homodimeric interface completely dependent on a BzF-specific interaction. This engineered strain, Pa Vaccine, exhibits undetectable escape frequency (<10−11) and shows excellent safety in naïve mice. Animals vaccinated via intranasal or intraperitoneal routes are protected from lethal challenge with pathogenic P. aeruginosa PA14. These results establish UAA-auxotrophic bacteria as promising candidates for bacterial vaccine therapy and outline a platform for expanding this technology to diverse bacterial pathogens. In this work, authors develop a live vaccine candidate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using an unnatural amino acid-based auxotrophic strategy. They provide insight on the vaccine's in vivo safety profile and protection of mice against lethal P. aeruginosa challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document discusses the increasing demand for high-efficient isolated DC/DC converters in renewable energy applications. It presents seventeen papers that cover various topics such as reducing switch count and current balancing, addressing voltage ringing issues, solving current unbalance problems, and optimizing converter design. The papers provide experimental results and propose innovative methods to improve the efficiency and performance of DC/DC converters in renewable energy applications. The document also includes three research papers related to power converters, including one on a prototype for NanoGrid applications, one on a new DC-DC bipolar resonance converter, and one on enhancing the stability of a DCMG cluster. The text also includes acknowledgments and biographies of the guest editors. [Extracted from the article]

Many powerful metamodeling platforms enabling model-driven software engineering (MDSE) exist, each with its strengths, weaknesses, functionalities, programming language(s), and developer community. Platform interoperability would enable users to exploit their mutual benefits. Such interoperability would allow the transformation of metamodels and models created in one platform into equivalent metamodels and models in other platforms. Language engineers could then freely choose the metamodeling platform without risking a lock-in effect. Two well-documented and publicly available metamodeling platforms are the eclipse modeling framework (EMF) and the modeling SDK for visual studio (MSDKVS). In this paper, we propose an M3-level-bridge (M3B) that establishes interoperability between EMF and MSDKVS on the abstract syntax level and on the graphical concrete syntax level. To establish such interoperability we (i) compare the two platforms, (ii) present a conceptual mapping between them, and (iii) implement a bidirectional transformation bridge including both the metamodel and model layer. We evaluate our approach by transforming a collection of publicly available metamodels and automatically generated or manually created models thereof. The transformation outcomes are then used to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the transformation's validity, executability, and expressiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have developed a light-responsive material called a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) that can change shape when exposed to light. This discovery could have applications in fields such as robotics and medicine, allowing for the creation of soft machines that can mimic the movements of living organisms. However, there are still challenges to overcome before the material can be used practically, such as designing specific modes of motion and improving durability and efficiency. The research was published in the journal Matter. [Extracted from the article]

Segmental tunnel linings have a complex structural behavior that is difficult to predict. Full-scale in situ structural monitoring allows us to gain access to these structures, observe the acting mechanisms, and better understand the actual structural behavior under realistic boundary conditions. In a recent structural monitoring project in Frankfurt, Germany, strains, deformations, and temperatures were measured at the segmental lining of a twin-tube tunnel boring machine (TBM) tunnel. Hereby, internal forces were back-calculated from the strain measurements. The results of the monitoring are presented and discussed in this paper. The measurements began immediately after the assembly of the segments and have been performed continuously over several years. Because of that, it was possible to observe that the internal forces differ significantly between the construction stage and the final state. During the construction stage, the internal forces develop quickly within hours after ring assembly, showing a distribution along the lining's circumference that is hard to predict. Almost all radial deformations occur during this period and remain unchanged afterward. After this first early phase, a period of stress redistribution follows, including significant changes in the internal forces. At its end, the stable, final state is reached. In this state, the internal forces match better with expectations. In the monitored areas, the stresses during the construction stage slightly exceeded those of the final state, which should be avoided for economic reasons. Additional investigations regard the temperature development within the lining, the influence of the second tube construction on the already built tube, and the development of longitudinal ring interaction over time. The latter significantly influences the structural behavior, but its development is often subject to uncertainties. In this case, it was observed that the longitudinal interaction decreases considerably over time. Practical Applications: In the structural design of segmental tunnel linings, structural or geotechnical engineers have various options regarding the available calculation methods and modeling strategies. All of these options are part of the state of the art, and the selection is up to the engineer. However, the results can be quite different depending on the chosen option. Consequently, uncertainties remain regarding the real linings' internal forces and structural reliability. The actual mechanisms can be identified by investigating the real structural behavior of segmental tunnel linings with in situ structural monitoring. Then, with back-analyses, on the one hand, it can be tested to determine how well different calculation methods and modeling strategies correspond to reality. On the other hand, the monitoring data can contribute to improving existing calculation methods, developing new modeling approaches, and establishing more detailed recommendations or optimizations regarding the design and construction of segmental tunnel linings. This paper presents findings derived from a structural monitoring project on a segmental lining. Different mechanisms and aspects, sometimes uncertain or debatable in tunnel design, are discussed regarding their real in situ appearance. The gained data will also be used for further back-analyses and investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1968, as the demand for the broaching process has grown along with the availability of new materials, scientists and engineers have taken a keen interest in exploring the process's many scientific and technical challenges. In the last 56 years, people have been committed to solve the existing difficulties, mainly including the high stiffness and lightweight structure design of broaching machine, broaching technology of complex contour and fir-tree slot of difficult-to-machine materials for engines, green manufacturing technologies, workpiece surface monitoring in broaching processes, tool condition monitoring and life prediction, and so on. In this review, we focus specifically on the comprehensive development of broaching processes and equipment design over the past 56 years. We first review the basic principles of broaching and analyze the breakthrough progress in various research directions in broaching. In addition, we provide a detailed overview and discussion of broaching by keywords, year, country, journal, author and citation using bibliometric analysis for the first time. It is found that faced with the challenges in the field of broaching, researchers remain enthusiastic and have made significant contributions in areas such as process monitoring, equipment design, traditional broaching studies, and green manufacturing. It also gives new insights on the future development direction of broaching machine tools, i.e., in terms of future broaching high precision, intelligence, high efficiency and sustainability. We advocate for a deeper exploration of the broaching process and machine tool technology through extensive research, aiming to create expanded opportunities for scholars and engineers in this field. • Review the basic principles of broaching and analyze the breakthrough progress in various research directions in broaching. • Provide a detailed overview of broaching in the last 56 years (1968–2023). • Discussion of broaching by keywords, year, country, journal, author and citation using bibliometric analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]