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This research investigates the utilization of a hybrid nanofiller comprising graphene oxide (GO) and amine‐modified nano silica in natural rubber matrix via the latex stage coagulation method. The resulting novel composite materials were characterized comprehensively for their static and dynamic mechanical properties. The hybrid nanofiller exhibited excellent dispersion within the rubber latex, facilitating the formation of a well‐interconnected network structure. The formed network resulted in remarkable improvements in tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of the composites. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the hybrid filler (GO/nano‐silica hybrid (GO/NS)) could effectively reinforce the rubber matrix by constraining the mobility of rubber chains, leading to increased stiffness and mechanical strength. In fact, the confinement effect of the nanofillers has been carefully evaluated from dynamic mechanical spectroscopy. The increased glass transition temperature of the rubber nanocomposites specifies the restricted segmental mobility of the rubber chains. Moreover, the hybrid composites displayed significantly low rolling resistance, particularly GO/NS 2 (31% reduction), indicating their potential application as tire treads for fuel‐efficient and green tire manufacturing. The mechanical and rolling resistance properties achieved in these composites can be attributed to the efficient dispersion of the GO/nano‐silica hybrid(GO/NS) nanofiller and the resulting network formation within the rubber matrix. Findings emphasized the composites' viability as sustainable and eco‐friendly tire materials, potential for enhanced fuel efficiency, and reduced environmental footprint in tire manufacturing technology. Highlights: The hybrid nanofiller (GO/nano silica hybrid) exhibited excellent dispersion within the rubber latex, leading to the formation of a well‐interconnected network structure.The resulting network structure significantly improved the tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of the composite materials.Dynamic mechanical analysis demonstrated that the hybrid filler effectively reinforced the rubber matrix, increasing stiffness and mechanical strength by constraining the mobility of rubber chains.Our hybrid composites displayed a remarkable reduction in rolling resistance, particularly GO/NS2, with a 31% reduction, indicating their potential application as tire treads for fuel‐efficient and green tire manufacturing.The study emphasized the composites viability as sustainable and eco‐friendly tire materials, offering potential benefits for enhanced fuel efficiency and reduced environmental footprint in tire manufacturing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formamidinium (FA)-based quasi-2D perovskites show attractive potential for use in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) owing to their broad absorption range and high stability. However, the toxic solvents used in their fabrication process hinder their further commercialization. Using a green solvent system to prepare highquality perovskite films is a crucial step in solar cell manufacturing. Herein, we employed a green solvent triethyl phosphate (TEP) to prepare an FA-based quasi-2D perovskite precursor and studied antisolvent effects by comparing less toxic petroleum ether (PE) and dibutyl ether (DBE). We found that the sample treated with the lower polarity solvent PE produced better perovskite films with larger grain sizes and fewer defects. The advantages of using PE as an antisolvent during film growth and the characterization of their properties are discussed and elucidated. Finally, a champion PCE of 17.42% was obtained with a solar cell configuration of ITO/PTAA/perovskite/PCBM/BCP/Ag, which is the highest value among FAbased quasi-2D PSCs containing perovskite layers fabricated using an all-green solvent system. This work provides a promising way to use an all-green process to fabricate high-performance quasi-2D PSCs in an environment-friendly manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a holistic approach to define a river corridor as the minimum space needed to sustain key river functions based on an understanding of the desired functions of that corridor and the processes governing channel and floodplain formation. Giving such space is a fundamental nature‐based solution to river management, as it allows the river to use its own energy to maintain flood conveyance and habitat function. The review of existing river corridor concepts shows that these often focus on one or two potential functions of a river corridor and may not be well suited as tools to optimize eco‐geomorphic river function. We argue that evaluating the effects of river corridor width on multiple processes can provide an objective means to optimize delineation in areas where development encroaches onto floodplains and channel migration zones. Key processes are linked to channel migration and include floodplain rejuvenation, emergence of a dynamic patch mosaic of riparian habitat that sustains a functioning large wood cycle, and effects of constriction and confinement on channel dynamics and morphology. Quantification of these processes for an example river shows the most rapid gains for habitat and flood protection values up to the threshold for planform‐controlled conditions and an asymptotically reducing rate of gain in function above that threshold. For the example river, the threshold width approaching that asymptote is substantially more than its constrained condition but much less than the width of the floodplain and channel migration zone, offering a compromise for managing rivers with developed floodplains. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterWater and Life > Nature of Freshwater EcosystemsWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrate (NO3−) reduction to ammonia (NH3) is a "two birds‐one stone" method that targets remediation of NO3−‐containing sewage and production of valuable NH3. The exploitation of advanced catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and durability is a key issue for the efficient catalytic performance. Among various strategies for catalyst design, defect engineering has gained increasing attention due to its ability to modulate the electronic properties of electrocatalysts and optimize the adsorption energy of reactive species, thereby enhancing the catalytic performance. Despite previous progress, there remains a lack of mechanistic insights into the regulation of catalyst defects for NO3− reduction. Herein, this review presents insightful understanding of defect engineering for NO3− reduction, covering its background, definition, classification, construction, and underlying mechanisms. Moreover, the relationships between regulation of catalyst defects and their catalytic activities are illustrated by investigating the properties of electrocatalysts through the analysis of electronic band structure, charge density distribution, and controllable adsorption energy. Furthermore, challenges and perspectives for future development of defects in NO3RR are also discussed, which can help researchers to better understand the defect engineering in catalysts, and also inspire scientists entering into this promising field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-quality perovskite thin films are typically produced via solvent engineering, which results in efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Nevertheless, the use of hazardous solvents like precursor solvents (N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)) and antisolvents (chlorobenzene (CB), dibutyl ether (DEE), diethyl ether (Et2O), etc.) is crucial to the preparation of perovskite solutions and the control of perovskite thin film crystallization. The consumption of hazardous solvents poses an imminent threat to both the health of manufacturers and the environment. Consequently, before PSCs are commercialized, the current concerns about the toxicity of solvents must be addressed. In this study, we fabricated highly efficient planar PSCs using a novel, environmentally friendly method. Initially, we employed a greener solvent engineering approach that substituted the hazardous precursor solvents with an environmentally friendly solvent called triethyl phosphate (TEP). In the following stage, we fabricated perovskite thin films without the use of an antisolvent by employing a two-step procedure. Of all the greener techniques used to fabricate PSCs, the FTO/SnO2/MAFAPbI3/spiro-OMeTAD planar device configuration yielded the highest PCE of 20.98%. Therefore, this work addresses the toxicity of the solvents used in the perovskite film fabrication procedure and provides a promising universal method for producing PSCs with high efficiency. The aforementioned environmentally friendly approach might allow for PSC fabrication on an industrial scale in the future under sustainable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terpenoids and their derivatives which are synthesized either through the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) or mevalonate (MVA) pathways represent a most diversified class of natural compounds with a wide range of therapeutic properties such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and antiallergenic. Globally, terpenoids are in high demand due to their excellent pharmaceutical applications and their potential benefits in many sectors. Since tiny quantities of these compounds are present in nature, their large-scale uses are limited. Moreover, the petroleum-based production of these compounds is managing the current market demand worldwide. Nevertheless, the increase in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming makes the above approach unsustainable for commercial scale production. This can be addressed by metabolic pathway engineering, a promising method of synthetic biology that enables the efficient modification of microbial pathways to produce high value compounds on a continuous and sustainable basis. In this review, we primarily focused on the importance and utility of the MEP pathway toward the biosynthesis of specific terpenoids. In addition, different types of terpenoids, their industrial values, and engineering initiatives to increase the titers of valuable terpenoids from promising cell factories are also discussed. [Display omitted] • Terpenoids are high value natural compounds, their use at industrial scale suffers from its low productivity. • MEP pathway is superior to MVA in terms of carbon utilization, oxygen consumption, and theoretical yields, but less explored. • More research for successful expression of MEP pathway in MVA pathway expressing hosts need to be carried out in future. • Challenges and strategies for sustainable production, with promising technologies toward titers improvement, is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural engineering is a field with several optimization approaches. Concordantly, the goal in optimum design is the generation of the lightest, cheapest, or most sustainable engineering design for any type of structure or structural member. In this study, some optimization approaches were presented for structures including 25 and 72-bar space trusses. To find the smallest weights were ensured for both structures. Optimization approaches related to metaheuristics and modifications of them were developed by inspired by features of nature, abilities of lives and mechanisms of chemical/physical processes. The employed three techniques that are flower pollination algorithm, Jaya algorithm and the hybrid algorithm developed via them were compared to each other through some parameters by calculating different statistical expressions containing the best, average and standard deviation of the objective function. Also, the performance of whole metaheuristic versions is evaluated with some literature researches to find the most effective one to minimize the structural weights. These results have observed that the all versions of proposed metaheuristic algorithms are generally successful, and effective to minimize the objective function comparison to algorithms used in previous studies. Moreover, the best values of objective functions can be decreased at the 0.02–0.06 rates as minimum and maximum compared to the previous studies and algorithms, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explores the intricate relationship between the geotechnical and mineralogical properties of lithomargic clays in the Uttara Kannada region of south India. Lithomargic clays, characterized by their unique composition of clay minerals and calcareous content, play a crucial role in the geotechnical behavior of soils. The study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between the mineralogical composition and engineering characteristics of lithomargic clays, shedding light on their suitability for various construction and infrastructure projects. The research methodology involves a systematic analysis of lithomargic clay samples collected from different locations in the Uttara Kannada region. Geotechnical investigations, including particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, unconfined compressive strength (UCS), California bearing ratio (CBR) and triaxial tests, are conducted to assess the engineering properties of the clays. Concurrently, mineralogical analyses, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are employed to identify and quantify the clay mineral constituents within the samples. The findings of this study reveal correlations between specific mineralogical features and geotechnical behaviors of lithomargic clays. Understanding these relationships is crucial for predicting the response of these clays to different engineering applications, including slope stability, foundation design and embankment construction. The research contributes valuable insights to the scientific and engineering communities, aiding in the informed utilization of lithomargic clays in geotechnical projects in the Uttara Kannada region and beyond. The outcomes of this investigation, such as the correlation of geotechnical properties with the variation in minerals in various sample locations, enhance our understanding of the complex nature of lithomargic clays, providing a foundation for more sustainable and effective engineering practices in the geologically diverse landscapes of south India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, an increasingly huge number of end-of-life tires (ELTs) are disposed of in landfills, illegally dumped, or otherwise unaccounted for, which causes significant environmental and socioeconomic issues. Finding sustainable engineering solutions to recycle and reuse ELTs, which transform them from unwanted waste into useful resources, has become a priority. In geotechnical engineering, researchers have performed laboratory and field tests to determine the mechanical properties of innovative geomaterials that consist of soil–rubber mixtures (SRMs) [i.e., gravel–rubber mixtures (GRMs)] that are obtained using recycled ELT-derived granulated rubber aggregates. Suitable engineering properties and low installation cost encourage the use of GRMs and SRMs in many applications, such as in free-draining energy-adsorption backfill material for retaining walls, underground layers for liquefaction mitigation and geotechnical seismic isolation systems for structures and infrastructures. However, due to the heterogeneity of SRMs, their ultimate adoption as geomaterials must be supported by constitutive relationships that can accurately describe their mechanical behavior under typical field loading conditions. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the effectiveness and limits of the hardening soil model with small strain stiffness (HS-small), which is present in many finite-element (FE) codes, to model the behavior of GRMs in geotechnical engineering applications. An extensive finite-element method simulation of drained triaxial tests was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the variation of shear strength behavior and particle breakage (after shearing), as a function of moisture state and compaction level, is investigated for recycled concrete aggregate blended with recycled clay masonry. Recycled masonry was blended with concrete aggregate in percentages ranging from 0% to 30% by total weight. Tests include; basic engineering characteristics (particle size, modified compaction, hydraulic conductivity, and California Bearing Ratio, CBR) as well as unconsolidated undrained static triaxial testing. In triaxial tests, moisture levels ranged from 60% to 100% of optimum moisture content, but compaction levels ranged from 90% to 98% of maximum dry density. The hydraulic conductivity for blends is approximately 2x10-6 cm/s, which indicates a relatively low hydraulic conductivity. Results show a proportional linear relationship between the shear strength of blends and the level of compaction. Despite this, both apparent cohesion and shear strength exhibited reverse linear trends. As expected, more compaction effort resulted in more particle breakage. Strict control should be performed over the compaction process to achieve the required compaction level which resulting in pavement materials being stiffer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into an innovative biorefinery approach to extract multiple high-value compounds from a single biomass source, Halobacterium salinarum R1, a resilient halophilic microorganism. By using bio-based solvents, namely an aqueous solution of gamma-valerolactone (GVL) and ethanol, a simple and efficient pipeline approach was developed, recovering unique pigments, including C50 bacterioruberin, as well as two additional fractions consisting of protein and polysaccharides. The process is based on sustainable engineering and green chemistry principles, providing a viable alternative to replacing non-renewable solvents. The study addresses environmental concerns by employing bio-based solvents while presenting a cost-effective and sustainable solution. This approach contributes to developing a high-performance and sustainable alternative, promoting the development of a blue bioeconomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement-stabilization of weak and soft soils is an efficient way for ground improvement. Traditional Portland cement remains the most popular cementitious material in practice, and thus, a proper dosage design of cement-stabilized soil is of practical interest to meet the sustainable engineering requirements and to remedy environmental concerns. Based on the unconfined compression test of cement-stabilized Qiantang River silty clay, the effects of cement content, mixing moisture content, mixing-water-to-cement ratio, and curing time on the unconfined compressive strength were investigated. The results show that the mixing-water-to-cement ratio can comprehensively characterize the effects of cement content and water content on the unconfined compressive strength of the cement-stabilized clay. A prediction method for the unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized Qiantang River silty clay has been proposed with considerations for mixing-water-to-cement ratio and curing time. By comparing the experimental data of the present study with the existing literature data, it is found that there is a unified relationship between the unconfined compressive strength and the mixing-water-to-cement ratio of cement-stabilized Qiantang River silty clay, kaolin, Singapore marine clay, and Bangkok clay under the same curing time. The prediction method recommended by the standard may overestimate the unconfined compressive strength of cement-stabilized Qiantang River silty clay cured for 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Amazon rainforest, spanning multiple countries in South America, is the world's largest equatorial expanse, housing a vast array of relatively unknown plant and animal species. Encompassing the planet's greatest flora, the Amazon offers a tremendous variety of plants from which natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) can be extracted. In this century, NLFs, which have long been utilized by indigenous populations of the Amazon, have garnered interest as potential reinforcements for composites, whether polymer- or cement-based, in various technical applications such as packaging, construction, automotive products, and ballistic armor. A comparison with synthetic materials like glass, carbon, and aramid fibers, as well as other established NLFs, highlights the cost and specific property advantages of Amazon natural fibers (ANFs). Notably, the sustainable cultivation and extraction of ANFs, as alternatives to deforestation and livestock pasture, contribute to the preservation of the Amazon rainforest. This review article provides a comprehensive examination of recent studies directly related to ANF-reinforced polymer matrix composites. The specific advantages, proposed applications, and reported challenges are highlighted, shedding light on the potential of these unique natural fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scutellaria Linn., which belongs to the family Lamiaceae, is a commonly used medicinal plant for heat clearing and detoxification. In particular, the roots of S. baicalensis and the entire herb of S. barbata have been widely used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. The main active components of Scutellaria, including: baicalein, wogonin, norwogonin, scutellarein, and their glycosides have potential or existing drug usage. However, the wild resources of Scutellaria plants have been overexploited, and degenerated germplasm resources cannot fulfill the requirements of chemical extraction and clinical usage. Metabolic engineering and green production via microorganisms provide alternative strategies for greater efficiency in the production of natural products. Here, we review the progress of: pharmacological investigations, multi-omics, biosynthetic pathways, and metabolic engineering of various Scutellaria species and their active compounds. In addition, based on multi-omics data, we systematically analyze the phylogenetic relationships of Scutellaria and predict candidate transcription factors related to the regulation of active flavonoids. Finally, we propose the prospects of directed evolution of core enzymes and genome-assisted breeding to alleviate the shortage of plant resources of Scutellaria. This review provides important insights into the sustainable utilization and development of Scutellaria resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will significantly impact global warming in the aviation sector, and important SAF targets are emerging. Isoprenol is a precursor for a promising SAF compound DMCO (1,4-dimethylcyclooctane) and has been produced in several engineered microorganisms. Recently, Pseudomonas putida has gained interest as a future host for isoprenol bioproduction as it can utilize carbon sources from inexpensive plant biomass. Here, we engineer metabolically versatile host P. putida for isoprenol production. We employ two computational modeling approaches (Bilevel optimization and Constrained Minimal Cut Sets) to predict gene knockout targets and optimize the "IPP-bypass" pathway in P. putida to maximize isoprenol production. Altogether, the highest isoprenol production titer from P. putida was achieved at 3.5 g/L under fed-batch conditions. This combination of computational modeling and strain engineering on P. putida for an advanced biofuels production has vital significance in enabling a bioproduction process that can use renewable carbon streams. • Biosynthetic isoprenol is an emerging precursor for sustainable aviation fuel DMCO. • Pseudomonas putida was engineered for isoprenol production via the IPP-bypass pathway. • Genome scale metabolic modeling-aided gene knockouts improves isoprenol production. • Frequency scoring of two computational methods enables to prioritize knockout targets. • Combination of genome and pathway engineering results in isoprenol titer improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the study is sustainable reverse engineering and conventional reverse engineering of aviation equipment (AE) samples. The object of the study is the geometric accuracy of the extracted portrait of a part of a complex shape in comparison with the constructed analytical standard (AS). The work is aimed at researching the methods of sustainable reverse engineering and conventional reverse engineering on the example of the digitization of the box of the AE steering machine, chosen as a part of a complex shape. For this, a portrait of the «*.stl» and AS format file was created and compared by performing a control operation with the determination of the time spent. A structural and technological analysis of the box of the AE steering machine was carried out, which showed that the box has through holes of various diameters (from 10 to 41.6 mm) and shapes (square, trapezoidal, round); thin walls between holes (up to 1.6 mm); right angles and their rounding radii (up to 1–4 mm); the thickness of the body walls is 2.4 mm, etc. 3D scanner – ARTEC SPACE SPIDER (Luxembourg) was selected and scanning was performed. According to the analysis of research methods of reverse engineering, it was established that the use of permanent and conventional reverse engineering allows, in the first case, to quickly manufacture a part by 3D printing or milling on CNC machines, and in the second case, to create its AS with the provision of the specified geometric accuracy. The difference in time between permanent and normal reverse engineering was 8 hours in favor of the former. Control of the ideal portrait according to the AS of the AE steering machine body showed the maximum deviations from –0.30 mm to +0.23 mm and the minimum deviations from –0.04 mm to +0.08 mm. The smallest indicators were observed on vertical and horizontal planes, and the largest – in cities with plane slopes, corners and small radii. This made it possible to establish that the existing capabilities of the Geomagic Design X software for correcting the received portrait of the «*.stl» format file currently do not guarantee the provision of geometric accuracy requirements (up to ±0.5 mm) for the manufacture of an experimental part of a complex shape – the AE steering machine body with 3D printing. The resulting ideal portrait can be used to manufacture a part by milling on CNC machines, taking into account deviations at the stage of process model formation, which can become the topic of further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of the research is the intriguing and versatile material known as coal that attracted a lot of attention lately because of its potential use in a variety of fields, including cutting-edge building materials, environmental remediation methods, and creative energy storage solutions. This study presents an extensive characterization of Algerian natural coal powders, employing a multifaceted analytical approach that includes Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman Spectroscopy, to reveal their physicochemical properties including morphology, particle size distribution, crystalline structure, and functional groups. The SEM analysis unveiled a heterogeneous morphology with a broad particle size distribution, indicative of the coal’s complex structure. The XRD findings, refined using Rietveld analysis, distinguish Carbon (C) and Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) as the primary phases, with crystallite sizes measuring 18.7539 nm for C and 16.6291 nm for SiO2. These phases constitute 98.8 % and 12 % of the composition, respectively, while the presence of quartz underscores the coal’s geological background and its thermal resilience. Regarding the results of the FTIR spectroscopy, absorption peaks corresponding to various functional groups are highlighted, suggesting a rich organic and inorganic composition. Raman spectroscopy corroborates the presence of disordered and graphitic carbon structures, emphasizing the coal’s potential for diverse applications. These findings underline the significance of Algerian coal powders for environmental remediation, energy storage, and advanced construction materials, contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research study, oil palm mesocarp fiber (OPMF) from the fruit Elaeis guineensis was used to produce a natural fiber-incorporated green concrete as a means to reduce the adverse environmental impact of waste disposal and improve the engineering attributes of green concrete. The fiber used was added as a partial replacement for fine aggregate, with percentage variations replaced by volume content. The experiments conducted on the produced OPMF-concrete include physical, durability, morphological, and mechanical properties tests. The OPMF effect in concrete resulted in a slight decrease in density with a range of 2349 kg/m³ to 2257 kg/m³, a reduction in workability, and compressive strength range of 45 MPa to 23.17 MPa, a reduction compared to control for all fiber load and fiber size at the 28-day cured specimen for a designed strength of M30. OPMF exerts a reduction in the flexural and splitting tensile strengths, an increase in the porosity of the concrete, and, likewise, a high chloride penetrability with charge values greater than 4000 coulombs. Due to the randomly dispersed fiber particles, hydration of the binder was restricted, and the fiber made more pore spaces available, creating a less dense structure. Moreover, the presence of OPMF in the microstructures of fiber-concrete decreases the bond between the binder and the aggregates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand for sustainable products and systems. Sustainability encompasses environmental, social, and economic aspects, often referred to as the three pillars of sustainability. To make more sustainable design decisions, engineers need tools to predict the environmental, social, and economic impacts of products and characterize potential sustainability tradeoffs. To predict the total impact of a product, the quantity of functional units of the product in society and the impact of each product needs to be estimated. This article uses agent-based modeling (ABM), combined with tools such as life cycle assessment (LCA), to predict impacts across all three pillars of sustainability. By using the product impact results, the multidimensional sustainability tradespace can be characterized. The approach described in this article is based on three main components for the predictive modeling of product impacts and the characterization of the sustainability trade space: (i) ABM of product adoption, (ii) the assessment of product impacts, and (iii) an approach for the characterization of product sustainability tradeoffs at the population level. The tradespace characterization uses a Pareto-based method presented visually to find the nondominated solutions in the product impact space. To illustrate and describe how to use the method, a case study is presented that predicts the impact of residential solar panels in a region of the United States under various scenarios. The findings of the case study can help policy makers understand suitable implementation strategies for residential solar panels while considering the impact tradeoffs involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of the study is sustainable reverse engineering and conventional reverse engineering of aviation equipment (AE) samples. The object of the study is the geometric accuracy of the extracted portrait of a part of a complex shape in comparison with the constructed analytical standard (AS). The work is aimed at researching the methods of sustainable reverse engineering and conventional reverse engineering on the example of the digitization of the box of the AE steering machine, chosen as a part of a complex shape. For this, a portrait of the «*.stl» and AS format file was created and compared by performing a control operation with the determination of the time spent. A structural and technological analysis of the box of the AE steering machine was carried out, which showed that the box has through holes of various diameters (from 10 to 41.6 mm) and shapes (square, trapezoidal, round); thin walls between holes (up to 1.6 mm); right angles and their rounding radii (up to 1–4 mm); the thickness of the body walls is 2.4 mm, etc. 3D scanner – ARTEC SPACE SPIDER (Luxembourg) was selected and scanning was performed. According to the analysis of research methods of reverse engineering, it was established that the use of permanent and conventional reverse engineering allows, in the first case, to quickly manufacture a part by 3D printing or milling on CNC machines, and in the second case, to create its AS with the provision of the specified geometric accuracy. The difference in time between permanent and normal reverse engineering was 8 hours in favor of the former. Control of the ideal portrait according to the AS of the AE steering machine body showed the maximum deviations from –0.30 mm to +0.23 mm and the minimum deviations from –0.04 mm to +0.08 mm. The smallest indicators were observed on vertical and horizontal planes, and the largest – in cities with plane slopes, corners and small radii. This made it possible to establish that the existing capabilities of the Geomagic Design X software for correcting the received portrait of the «*.stl» format file currently do not guarantee the provision of geometric accuracy requirements (up to ±0.5 mm) for the manufacture of an experimental part of a complex shape – the AE steering machine body with 3D printing. The resulting ideal portrait can be used to manufacture a part by milling on CNC machines, taking into account deviations at the stage of process model formation, which can become the topic of further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the development of thin-walled panels with specific properties for applications such as water-tight structures. The authors propose the use of textile-reinforced concrete (TRC) as a composite material and highlight its advantages, which include high tensile strength, improved crack resistance, and design flexibility. The study presents a novel approach which combines TRC with reactive powder concrete (RPC) as a matrix and a lightweight aggregate. RPC, known for its brittle behaviour, is reinforced with glass fibres and a textile fabric to increase its flexural strength. The research includes a comprehensive analysis of the physical and mechanical properties of both the unreinforced RPC matrix and the TRC composite. In particular, the lightweight aggregate RPC matrix has a porosity of 41%, and its mechanical properties, such as flexural and compressive strength, are discussed. The TRC composites, produced in thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to 4 mm, are subjected to flexural tests to evaluate their behaviour under load. The thicker elements show typical damage phases, while the thinner elements show greater flexibility and elasticity. SEM observations confirm good adhesion between the glass fibres and the RPC matrix. Water permeability tests show that the TRC composite, despite its highly porous structure, achieves a water permeability two orders of magnitude higher than that of a reference material, highlighting the roles of both the porous aggregate and the matrix hydration. The paper concludes with a proof of concept—a canoe called the PKanoe, which is constructed from the developed TRC composite. The design of the canoe is supported by numerical analysis to ensure its optimal shape and structural integrity under load. The research contributes to the exploration of innovative materials for sustainable civil engineering applications and addresses both structural and environmental considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement in natural fibre composites has replaced synthetic fibres in various commercial sectors. Bamboo species possess high mechanical properties due to their lignocellulosic fibre content, which makes them suitable for engineering applications and potential alternatives to solid wood. However, despite Bamboo being composed of 130 genera and 1700 different species, out of which many still remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the, Lignocellulosic profiling, fibre strength, and mechanical characterization of two species of Pseudoxytenanthera Bamboo: Pseudoxytenanthera ritchiei, Pseudopxytenanthera stocksii, and the results obtained were compared with Bambusa balcooa, one of the priority species of bamboo identified by The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) was used to quantify the samples' density, while SEM–EDX and FTIR spectroscopy were used for elemental analysis. The samples were then subjected to tensile test in addition, thermogravimetric analysis and water absorption test were carried out for the three species. The results showed that Pseudoxytenanthera species possessed superior chemical and mechanical characteristics compared to the priority species of bamboo used for composites. Out of the two Pseudoxytenanthera species studied, Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii exhibited the highest values of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, ash, carbon, and silicon, indicating its chemical superiority. Moreover, Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii also showed higher mechanical values for tensile strength, making it suitable for a variety of engineering applications. The TGA values also indicated that Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii is stable at high temperatures when compared with other natural fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to a growing number of environmental issues, including global warming, water scarcity, and fossil fuel depletion, the topic of modern materials in energy is becoming crucial for our civilization. The technological advancements that have been observed bring many innovations that significantly impact how energy can be generated, stored, and distributed. Moreover, new opportunities have emerged in energy and materials engineering due to the increasing computational capability of current data processing systems. Methods that are highly demanding, time-consuming, and difficult to apply may now be considered when developing complete and sophisticated models in many areas of science and technology. Combining computational methods and AI algorithms allows for multi-threaded analyses solving advanced and interdisciplinary problems. Therefore, knowledge and experience in this subject, as well as the investigation of new, more efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions, currently represent one of the main directions of scientific research. The Special Issue "Advances in Materials: Modelling Challenges and Technological Progress for Green Engineering and Sustainable Development" aims to bring together research on material advances, focusing on modelling challenges and technological progress (mainly for green engineering and sustainable development). Original research studies, review articles, and short communications are welcome, especially those focusing on (but not limited to) artificial intelligence, other computational methods, and state-of-the-art technological concepts related to the listed keywords within energy and materials engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent proteins (FPs) form a fluorophore through autocatalysis from three consecutive amino acid residues within a polypeptide chain. The two major groups, green FPs (GFPs) and red FPs (RFPs), have distinct fluorophore structures; RFPs have an extended p-conjugation system with an additional double bond. However, due to the low sequence homology between the two groups, amino acid residues essential for determining the different fluorophore structures were unclear. Therefore, engineering a GFP into an RFP has been challenging, and the exact mechanism of how GFPs and RFPs achieve different autocatalytic reactions remained elucidated. Here, we show the conversion of two coral GFPs, AzamiGreen (AG) and mcavGFP, into RFPs by defined mutations. Structural comparison of AG and AzamiRed1.0, an AG-derived RFP, revealed that the mutations triggered drastic rearrangements in the interaction networks between amino acid residues around the fluorophore, suggesting that coordinated multisite mutations are required for the green-to-red conversion. As a result of the structural rearrangements, a cavity suitable for the entry of an oxygen molecule, which is necessary for the double bond formation of the red fluorophores, is created in the proximity of the fluorophore. We also show that a monomeric variant of AzamiRed1.0 can be used for labeling organelles and proteins in mammalian cells. Our results provide a structural basis for understanding the red fluorophore formation mechanism and demonstrate that protein engineering of GFPs is a promising way to create RFPs suitable for fluorescent tags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centralized water infrastructure has, over the last century, brought safe and reliable drinking water to much of the world. But climate change, combined with aging and underfunded infrastructure, is increasingly testing the limits of—and reversing gains made by—this approach. To address these growing strains and gaps, we must assess and advance alternatives to centralized water provision and sanitation. The water literature is rife with examples of systems that are neither centralized nor networked, yet meet water needs of local communities in important ways, including: informal and hybrid water systems, decentralized water provision, community‐based water management, small drinking water systems, point‐of‐use treatment, small‐scale water vendors, and packaged water. Our work builds on these literatures by proposing a convergence approach that can integrate and explore the benefits and challenges of modular, adaptive, and decentralized ("MAD") water provision and sanitation, often foregrounding important advances in engineering technology. We further provide frameworks to evaluate justice, economic feasibility, governance, human health, and environmental sustainability as key parameters of MAD water system performance. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Water, Health, and SanitationHuman Water > Water GovernanceEngineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high‐mountain system, a storehouse of major waterways that support important ecosystem services to about 1.5 billion people in the Himalaya, is facing unprecedented challenges due to climate change during the 21st century. Intensified floods, accelerating glacial retreat, rapid permafrost degradation, and prolonged droughts are altering the natural hydrological balances and generating unpredictable spatial and temporal distributions of water availability. Anthropogenic activities are adding further pressure onto Himalayan waterways. The fundamental question of waterway management in this region is therefore how this hydro‐meteorological transformation, caused by climate change and anthropogenic perturbations, can be tackled to find avenues for sustainability. This requires a framework that can diagnose threats at a range of spatial and temporal scales and provide recommendations for strong adaptive measures for sustainable future waterways. This focus paper assesses the current literature base to bring together our understanding of how recent climatic changes have threatened waterways in the Asian Himalayas, how society has been responding to rapidly changing waterway conditions, and what adaptive options are available for the region. The study finds that Himalayan waterways are crucial in protecting nature and society. The implementation of integrated waterways management measures, the rapid advancement of waterway infrastructure technologies, and the improved governance of waterways are more critical than ever. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of high mechanical toughness, impact strength as well as excellent flame-retardant properties toward epoxy resins (EPs) have always been a dilemma. The inadequate overall performance of EPs severely restricts their sustainable utilization in engineering aspects over long-term. Herein, a new bio-based agent (diglycidyl ether of magnolol phosphine oxide, referred as DGEMP) derived from magnolol (classified as lignan), extracted from natural plants Magnolia officinalis, was successfully synthesized and further employed as a flame-retardant reactive additive to diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). As demonstration, the composite resin, DGEBA/15DGEMP (15 wt% DGEMP), achieved an Underwriters Laboratories-94 V-0 rating with a high limiting oxygen index (LOI) value (41.5%). In cone calorimeter tests, it showed that heat release and smoke production were effectively inhibited during combustion, wherein the peak heat release rate (PHRR) value of DGEBA/15DGEMP was reduced by 50% compared to neat DGEBA. Additionally, it exhibited a superior tensile strength (82.8 MPa), toughness (5.11 MJ/m3) and impact strength (36.5 kJ/m2), much higher than that of neat DGEBA (49.7 MPa, 2.05 MJ/m3 and 20.9 kJ/m2). Thus, it is highly anticipated that DGEMP imparts significantly improved mechanical and fire-retarded properties to conventional EPs, which holds a great potential to address the pressing challenges in EP thermosets industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Considering the relevance of education for sustainable development (SD) to enhancing engineers' abilities to contribute towards sustainability-related issues, this study aims to help understand the global context of the insertion of SD into engineering education and to provide guidelines to further evolve research and efforts towards implementing Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD). Design/methodology/approach: This study performed a longitudinal analysis using bibliometrics and a content analysis via Conceive–Design–Implement–Operate standards. SciMAT software was used to support the bibliometric analysis. Findings: In addition to an increase in the practical aspects presented due to a change in the approaches taken to examine key topics, evidence on important concepts such as "life cycle assessment" and "digitalisation" increased in more recent years. However, it was possible to show that, despite the evolution observed throughout the years, several important opportunities exist for engineering programmes to improve and, for researchers, to fill the related gaps in the research. Originality/value: This study can be used as a guide for future research and as a source of insights for EESD implementation and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement in natural fibre composites has replaced synthetic fibres in various commercial sectors. Bamboo species possess high mechanical properties due to their lignocellulosic fibre content, which makes them suitable for engineering applications and potential alternatives to solid wood. However, despite Bamboo being composed of 130 genera and 1700 different species, out of which many still remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the, Lignocellulosic profiling, fibre strength, and mechanical characterization of two species of Pseudoxytenanthera Bamboo: Pseudoxytenanthera ritchiei, Pseudopxytenanthera stocksii, and the results obtained were compared with Bambusa balcooa, one of the priority species of bamboo identified by The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) was used to quantify the samples' density, while SEM–EDX and FTIR spectroscopy were used for elemental analysis. The samples were then subjected to tensile test in addition, thermogravimetric analysis and water absorption test were carried out for the three species. The results showed that Pseudoxytenanthera species possessed superior chemical and mechanical characteristics compared to the priority species of bamboo used for composites. Out of the two Pseudoxytenanthera species studied, Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii exhibited the highest values of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectin, ash, carbon, and silicon, indicating its chemical superiority. Moreover, Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii also showed higher mechanical values for tensile strength, making it suitable for a variety of engineering applications. The TGA values also indicated that Pseudoxytenanthera stocksii is stable at high temperatures when compared with other natural fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aspiration to act in a more sustainable manner has become a guiding principle across many aspects of life. Yet sustainability is still often perceived as poorly defined, and there are diverse opinions on what the implications of sustainability for the everyday practice of geotechnical engineers are. Against this background, this paper presents a survey conducted at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute at the beginning of 2021 that engaged a group of geotechnical engineers with the fundamental question as to how the concept of sustainability relates to geotechnical engineering. The Q methodology, a mixed-method approach, was applied to analyse different perspectives on sustainability in geotechnical engineering as inferred from the survey results. Three distinct perspectives were revealed that have a focus on (a) striving a balance between human action and nature, (b) mitigating the adverse impacts of geotechnical projects and (c) reducing resource use. Two of the perspectives considered the development of sustainability assessment tools as the most relevant means of working towards sustainable geotechnical practices, while the third perspective considered multidisciplinary collaboration and research as more important. Reflection on these perspectives can help the development of future tools and strategies, provide a direction for future research and contribute to a more sustainable geotechnical engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuance of engineering excellence and sustainable practices, the optimization of material selection processes plays a crucial role. Using Fermatean fuzzy aggregation Operators (AOs), this study introduces an innovative method for improving material selection procedures. Combining the advantages of Fermatean fuzzy set (FrFS) and AOs, the proposed method enables a comprehensive evaluation of materials based on multiple criteria. The authors propose two operators: the "Fermatean fuzzy hybrid weighted arithmetic geometric aggregation (FrFHWAGA) operator" and the "Fermatean fuzzy hybrid ordered weighted arithmetic geometric aggregation (FrFHOWAGA) operator". This method facilitates informed decision making in a number of industries by taking into account factors such as cost, durability, environmental impact, and availability. This research enables engineers, designers, and decision makers to optimize material selection, resulting in more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions across multiple domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green chemistry and engineering seek for maximizing efficiency and minimizing negative impacts on the environment and human health in chemical production processes. Driven by advances in the principles of environment protection and sustainability, these fields are expected to greatly contribute to achieving sustainable development goals. To this end, many studies have been conducted to develop new approaches within green chemistry and engineering. The Advances in Green Chemistry and Engineering Collection at Scientific Reports aims at gathering the latest research on developing and implementing the principles of green chemistry and engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering profession for students and diverse students for Engineering Campuses (ECs) is the prestige to have for both. Worldwide higher education has been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, but particularly pulling padlocked doors of Indian engineering campuses (ECs) down. Students' attitudes regarding choice, liking, and preferences were also affected. Knowing how tough 'college choice' was before the pandemic, one can guess how difficult it will be today. The objective of this study was to explore students' perceptions of choice characteristics related to ECs and diverse students enabling choice decisions under the COVID-19 situation, and to discover any possible relationships among them. Research questions were qualitatively examined with the statistical confirmation of related hypothesizes by utilizing ANOVA and Regression analysis. A self-reported quantitative survey composed of a closed-ended structured questionnaire was administered on the students of first-year engineering who had recently enrolled in ECs of North Maharashtra Region of India, after pandemic hitting India. According to the study, ECs have several characteristics impacting students' selection of ECs under pandemic. The influence of proximity, image and reputation, educational quality, and curriculum delivery was significant in contributing sustainability of ECs. This influence was significant across students' psychological and behavioural biases on likes, choices, and preferences. Furthermore, multiple relationships were noted within the sub-groups of demographic, geographic, socioeconomic, academic performance, and psychological and behavioural traits due to the impact of ECs' characteristics on sustainability. The study has provided a framework for policymakers and administrators to strengthen repositioning towards sustainability while capturing potentially diverse enrolments. Even if we have to coexist with pandemic forever or with more similar pandemics, the findings of this study may undergo a fundamental transformation for ECs (existing and forthcoming). On the other hand, by understanding the importance and relations of choice characteristics may smoothen the complex nature of "college choice" for prospective students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxyalkanoyloxyalkanoates (HAA) are lipidic surfactants with a number of potential applications, but more remarkably, they are the biosynthetic precursors of rhamnolipids (RL), which are preferred biosurfactants thanks to their excellent physicochemical properties, biological activities, and environmental biodegradability. Because the natural highest producer of RLs is the pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa , important efforts have been dedicated to transfer production to heterologous non-pathogenic microorganisms. Unicellular photosynthetic microalgae are emerging as important hosts for sustainable industrial biotechnology due to their ability to transform CO 2 efficiently into biomass and bioproducts of interest. Here, we have explored the potential of the eukaryotic green microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as a chassis to produce RLs. Chloroplast genome engineering allowed the stable functional expression of the gene encoding RhlA acyltransferase from P. aeruginosa , an enzyme catalyzing the condensation of two 3-hydroxyacyl acid intermediaries in the fatty acid synthase cycle, to produce HAA. Four congeners of varying chain lengths were identified and quantified by UHPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry and gas chromatography, including C 10 -C 10 and C 10 -C 8 , and the less abundant C 10 -C 12 and C 10 -C 6 congeners. HAA was present in the intracellular fraction, but also showed increased accumulation in the extracellular medium. Moreover, HAA production was also observed under photoautotrophic conditions based on atmospheric CO 2. These results establish that RhlA is active in the chloroplast and is able to produce a new pool of HAA in a eukaryotic host. Subsequent engineering of microalgal strains should contribute to the development of an alternative clean, safe and cost-effective platform for the sustainable production of RLs. [Display omitted] • Eukaryotic microalgae presented as alternative sustainable chassis for the production of Rhamnolipid (RL) biosurfactants. • Chloroplast engineering of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii allows production of HAA, the lipid moiety of RLs. • Expression of RhlA acyltransferase catalyzes the condensation of two hydroxy fatty acids to render HAA. • Four HAA congeners are produced and secreted to the extracellular medium. • HAA congeners are also produced in photoautotrophic conditions in minimal high salt medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has acquired significant attention due to its immense potential in sustainable engineering applications, particularly in soil improvement. However, the precise control of microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation remains a formidable challenge in engineering practices, owing to the uncertain movement paths of bacteria and the nonuniform distribution of soil pores. Taking inspiration from targeted therapy in medicine, this paper presents novel research on the development and validation of magnetically responsive bacteria. These bacteria demonstrate the ability to target calcium carbonate precipitation in a microfluidic chip, thereby promoting an environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable biomineralization paradigm. The study focuses on investigating the migration of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in aqueous solutions and enhancing the stability of MNP culture liquids. A specially designed microfluidic chip is utilized to simulate natural sand particles and their pores, while an external magnetic field is applied to precisely control the movement path of the artificial magnetic bacteria, enabling targeted precipitation of calcium carbonate at the micron-scale. Verification of the engineered artificial magnetic bacteria and their ability to induce calcium carbonate precipitation is conducted through SEM–EDS analysis, microfluidic chip observations, and the application of the K-means algorithm and ImageJ software to analyze calcium carbonate formation. The influence of the concentration of magnetic nanoparticles on the calcium carbonate production rate was also studied. The results confirm the potential of the artificial magnetic bacteria for future engineering applications. Key points: • Sporosarcina pasteurii is first time successfully engineered into artificial magnetic bacteria. • The artificial magnetic bacteria show excellent performance of targeted transportation and directional deposition of CaCO3 in microfluidic chip. • The emergence of artificial magnetic bacteria promotes paradigm shift of next generation environmentally friendly biomineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green electronics made from degradable materials have recently attracted special attention, because electronic waste (e‐waste) represents a serious threat to the environment and to human health worldwide. Among the novel materials used for sustainable technologies, nanocelluloses containing at least 1D in the nanoscale range (1–100 nm) have been widely exploited for various industrial applications owing to their inherent properties, such as biodegradability, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and optical transparency. This review highlights recent advances in research on the development of patterns for conductive material on nanocellulose substrates for use in high‐performance green electronics. The advantages of nanocellulose substrates compared to conventional paper substrates for advanced green electronics are discussed. Importantly, this review emphasizes various fabrication strategies for producing conductive patterns on different types of nanocellulose‐based substrates, such as cellulose nanofiber (CNF), (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl(TEMPO)‐oxidized CNF, regenerated cellulose, and bacterial cellulose. In the latter part of this review, emerging engineering applications for green electronics such as circuits, transistors/antennas, sensors, energy storage systems, and electrochromic devices are further discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective water pipeline leak detection and localization can help water practitioners save water losses and reduce pipe rehabilitation budgets. Different sensing technologies can provide essential data aiding model development for predicting future leaks in the water distribution networks. Solutions for applying different sensing technologies to real water distribution networks are being developed for real‐time data collection, precise leak localization, reducing false alarms, and continuous pipeline monitoring. Experiments of different scales and specifications have been conducted to test the application and effectiveness of sensing technologies for leak diagnosis in water pipelines. Quality data collection is especially crucial for the successful implementation of these experiments. However, practitioners need help designing effective leak detection and localization experiments, wasting time, and resources. There needs to be a greater understanding of the design parameters for more accurate testing, such as sensor selection, sensor placement, ambient noise sources, and system operations. The current study, therefore, delineates design parameters for design leak diagnosis experiments for lab, testbed, and real networks. For application in real water networks, expert opinion is used to help identify the benefits and limitations and the implementation issues of available sensing technologies. An example experiment design using multi‐sensing technologies for smart leak diagnostics in Hong Kong is also presented. The study can guide water practitioners and researchers to design a multi‐sensing leak diagnostic experiments enabling a smart and sustainable utility management. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > MethodsEngineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of WaterScience of Water > Water Extremes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In natural ecosystems, plants compete for space, nutrients and light. The optically dense canopies limit the penetration of photosynthetically active radiation and light often becomes a growth‐limiting factor for the understory. The reduced availability of photons in the lower leaf layers is also a major constraint for yield potential in canopies of crop monocultures. Traditionally, crop breeding has selected traits related to plant architecture and nutrient assimilation rather than light use efficiency. Leaf optical density is primarily determined by tissue morphology and by the foliar concentration of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids). Most pigment molecules are bound to light‐harvesting antenna proteins in the chloroplast thylakoid membranes, where they serve photon capture and excitation energy transfer toward reaction centers of photosystems. Engineering the abundance and composition of antenna proteins has been suggested as a strategy to improve light distribution within canopies and reduce the gap between theoretical and field productivity. Since the assembly of the photosynthetic antennas relies on several coordinated biological processes, many genetic targets are available for modulating cellular chlorophyll levels. In this review, we outline the rationale behind the advantages of developing pale green phenotypes and describe possible approaches toward engineering light‐harvesting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various approaches toward the development of sustainable software systems have been proposed by the requirements engineering community over the last decade. We conducted a systematic mapping study, analyzed 55 publications, and identified 29 approaches that have been published since the year 2000. We analyzed how the approaches evolved over time and how the publications and authors are influenced by each other. Furthermore, the approaches are analyzed in terms of their supported requirements engineering activities, along with the evidence provided in the publications. Additionally, we also analyzed which sustainability definitions have been used, if an iterative application of the approaches is discussed, and if the approaches also provide a tool-support for practitioners. We noticed an increase of publications on requirements engineering approaches toward sustainability in the last years, whereas a majority discuss sustainability based on the same multi-dimensional concept. Although different case studies have been already conducted, we noticed a lack of an industrial application. Our main findings concern the need of an evaluation on how the proposed requirements engineering approaches can also be applied in agile software development processes. Additionally, we also promote the development of supporting software tools to support practitioners in adapting the proposed approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature materials play a significant role in sustainable engineering across various industries and applications. Sustainable engineering aims to design, develop, and implement solutions that minimize environmental impact, enhance resource efficiency, and promote long-term sustainability. The availability of substances that can be used efficiently at high temperatures allows pushing the limits of possible measurable demands. These substances include ceramics, polymers and metals. It is used in elevated temperature materials, aircraft and space structures, and space exploration. In this study, high temperature metals are classified including superalloys, platinum and refractory metals, refractory metals such as W, Nb, Mo, Ta. Also, ceramic materials are high temperature materials. Ceramics are criticized to use in elevated temperature due to their high hardness, extraordinary strength in compression, excellent thermal stability, short-term thermal extension and tremendously great melting temperature. Ceramics that encounter these standards are carbides and borides of Zr, Nb, Ta, Ti and Hf. In addition, steel, nickel and copper alloys used in aircraft engines, space shuttles and turbine blades from aerospace materials were investigated. In addition, powder metallurgy and sintering techniques, which are the most widely used production methods of high temperature materials, are emphasized. In this study, important characterization techniques for analyzing some sample surface and subsurface properties are reviewed. Again, in this study, the use of AES, XPS, SSIMS and LEED methods for the chemical examination of surfaces is discussed. Optical, electron, and scanning probe microscopy is used for pictorial inspection of inspection specimens and structures, obtaining data on surface, shape, colors, and numerous additional physical properties. Here, AFM, SEM, TEM, EDX, FIB and EMP methods are discussed. Among the material analysis devices, XRD, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry, low energy electron diffraction, neutron diffraction and electron microprobe devices were examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foundation reuse is the development trend of sustainable engineering construction. However, the reuse of existing piles as rigid inclusions and their contribution to newly constructed piles (new piles) under different new and existing pile spacings are still insufficiently understood. In this paper, a series of numerical investigations were conducted based on centrifuge tests to examine the effect of existing piles on the lateral behavior of new piles under different pile spacings. The existing pile efficiency that reflects the contribution of existing piles to the lateral capacity of new piles was analyzed, and it was shown that the impact of existing piles decays exponentially with the pile spacing between new and existing piles. Beyond the spacing of 6D (D: the diameter of new piles), the lateral new pile–soil–existing pile interaction can be neglected. A parametric study was subsequently performed to quantify the existing pile efficiency under different variables, including the new pile-head restraint, loading displacement, bending stiffness, load eccentricity, embedded depth, and soil properties. Finally, an existing pile efficiency-based method for the estimation of the lateral capacity of new piles was proposed, which provides an efficient way to design laterally loaded new piles in sites with existing piles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkali-activated engineered composites (AAECs) are cement-free composites developed using alkali activation technology, which exhibit strain hardening and multiple micro-cracking like conventional engineered cementitious composites (ECCs). Such AAECs are developed in this study by incorporating 2% v/v polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers into alkali-activated mortars (AAMs) produced using binary/ternary combinations of fly ash class C (FA-C), fly ash class F (FA-F), and ground-granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) with powder-form alkaline reagents and silica sand through a one-part mixing method under ambient curing conditions. The mechanical and microstructural characteristics of eight AAECs are investigated to characterize their strain-hardening performance based on existing (stress and energy indices) and newly developed tensile/flexural ductility indices. The binary (FA-C + GGBFS) AAECs obtained higher compressive strengths (between 48 MPa and 52 MPa) and ultrasonic pulse velocities (between 3358 m/s and 3947 m/s) than their ternary (FA-C + FA-F + GGBFS) counterparts. The ternary AAECs obtained a higher fracture energy than their binary counterparts. The AAECs incorporating reagent 2 (Ca(OH)2: Na2SO4 = 2.5:1) obtained a greater fracture energy and compressive strengths than their counterparts with reagent 1 (Ca(OH)2: Na2SiO3.5H2O = 1:2.5), due to additional C-S-H gel formation, which increased their energy absorption for crack propagation through superior multiple-cracking behavior. A lower fracture and crack-tip toughness facilitated the development of enhanced flexural strength characteristics with higher flexural strengths (ranging from 5.3 MPa to 11.3 MPa) and a higher energy ductility of the binary AAMs compared to their ternary counterparts. The tensile stress relaxation process was relatively gradual in the binary AAECs, owing to the formation of a more uniform combination of reaction products (C-S-H/C-A-S-H) rather than a blend of amorphous (N-C-A-S-H/N-A-S-H) and crystalline (C-A-S-H/C-S-H) binding phases in the case of the ternary AAECs. All the AAECs demonstrated tensile strain-hardening characteristics at 28 days, with significant improvements from 28% to 100% in the maximum bridging stresses for mixes incorporating 40% to 45% GGBFS at 365 days. This study confirmed the viability of producing green cement-free strain-hardening alkali-activated composites with powder-form reagents, with satisfactory mechanical characteristics under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurobiologists widely use green genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) for visualization of neuronal activity. Among them, ratiometric GECIs allow imaging of both active and non-active neuronal populations. However, they are not popular, since their properties are inferior to intensiometric GCaMP series of GECIs. The most characterized and developed ratiometric green GECI is FGCaMP7. However, the dynamic range and sensitivity of its large Stock's shift green (LSS-Green) form is significantly lower than its Green form and its molecular design is not optimal. To address these drawbacks, we engineered a ratiometric green calcium indicator, called FNCaMP, which is based on bright mNeonGreen protein and calmodulin from A. niger and has optimal NTnC-like design. We compared the properties of the FNCaMP and FGCaMP7 indicators in vitro, in mammalian cells, and in neuronal cultures. Finally, we obtained and analyzed X-ray structure of the FNCaMP indicator. • A new ratiometric green calcium indicator NCaMP allows visualization of neurons both at rest and during their activity. • Crystal structure of the ratiometric NCaMP calcium indicator reveals key features of its function. • NTnC-like design of FNCaMP ensures that its properties are preserved in fusion constructs with other proteins. • Calmodulin from the A. niger fungus ensures the inertness of FNCaMP to components of the intracellular environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Considering the relevance of education for sustainable development (SD) to enhancing engineers' abilities to contribute towards sustainability-related issues, this study aims to help understand the global context of the insertion of SD into engineering education and to provide guidelines to further evolve research and efforts towards implementing Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD). Design/methodology/approach: This study performed a longitudinal analysis using bibliometrics and a content analysis via Conceive–Design–Implement–Operate standards. SciMAT software was used to support the bibliometric analysis. Findings: In addition to an increase in the practical aspects presented due to a change in the approaches taken to examine key topics, evidence on important concepts such as "life cycle assessment" and "digitalisation" increased in more recent years. However, it was possible to show that, despite the evolution observed throughout the years, several important opportunities exist for engineering programmes to improve and, for researchers, to fill the related gaps in the research. Originality/value: This study can be used as a guide for future research and as a source of insights for EESD implementation and improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the leading emerging technologies of Industry 4.0, which has been employed to develop sustainable engineering products, customized implants and sophisticated biomedical devices. However, the mechanical strength and durability of 3D printed parts is still lower than its conventional counterparts, which restrict its widespread use. In this regard, the use of short fibres (i.e. natural or artificial) and advanced nanomaterials to reinforce the existing polymer matrix has been drastically increased to improve the load bearing capacity of FDM printed parts. Hence, this article aims to provide a systematic review on thermoplastic composite structure prepared through FDM technology and summarizes the current knowledge about the use of various additives to improve the overall quality FDM parts. Moreover, the common defects associated with FDM printed composite structures and the methods required to improve the quality of FDM composite parts are discussed in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]