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The development of lithium-ion battery technology has ensured that battery thermal management systems are an essential component of the battery pack for next-generation energy storage systems. Using dielectric immersion cooling, researchers have demonstrated the ability to attain high heat transfer rates due to the direct contact between cells and the coolant. However, feedback control has not been widely applied to immersion cooling schemes. Furthermore, current research has not considered battery pack plant design when optimizing feedback control. Uncertainties are inherent in the cooling equipment, resulting in temperature and flow rate fluctuations. Hence, it is crucial to systematically consider these uncertainties during cooling system design to improve the performance and reliability of the battery pack. To fill this gap, we established a reliability-based control co-design optimization framework using machine learning for immersion cooled battery packs. We first developed an experimental setup for 21700 battery immersion cooling, and the experiment data were used to build a high-fidelity multiphysics finite element model. The model can precisely represent the electrical and thermal profile of the battery. We then developed surrogate models based on the finite element simulations in order to reduce computational cost. The reliability-based control co-design optimization was employed to find the best plant and control design for the cooling system, in which an outer optimization loop minimized the cooling system cost while an inner loop ensured battery pack reliability. Finally, an optimal cooling system design was obtained and validated, which showed a 90% saving in cooling system energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applied nucleation and other spatially patterned restoration methods are promising approaches for scaling up projects to meet ambitious international restoration commitments in an ecologically and economically sound manner. Much of the corresponding literature to date, however, has centered around theoretical discussions and small‐scale studies that are largely divorced from constraints faced by restoration practitioners. We briefly review recent academic literature about applied nucleation and other spatially patterned restoration methods and discuss practical challenges to their implementation. We offer several recommendations to move spatially patterned restoration from an academic conversation to scalable application, including: (1) comparing different planting designs and natural regeneration within the same system at an appropriate scale; (2) monitoring ecological outcomes throughout the restored area over sufficient time to evaluate recovery; (3) quantifying costs and documenting other logistical constraints to implementation; and (4) exploring methods for using unplanted areas to provide benefits to landholders until planted vegetation establishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the strategic construction of a factory management regime as an instrument of local value extraction, set against an intensely competitive global value chain in the apparel sector. The article focuses on Bangladesh where, as elsewhere, work in ready‐made garment factories is characterised by long hours, poor pay, hostility to freedom of association and the suppression of independent collective bargaining. This article presents a long‐term study of the ways that managers who preside over such environments are identified, recruited and deployed. In the context of the global value chain in garments, this article shines a light on managerial regimes which squeeze labour and perpetuate inequality as part of extracting value at workplace level, in the context of a broader, internationally dispersed, industrial regime of exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selected extraction techniques were first compared for young Jasmine rice leaves, which were evaluated as a novel source of flavone derivatives. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), which outperformed other tested methods in terms of phenolic content and antioxidant activity, was then evaluated and optimized. I-optimal design with response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of and optimize MAE conditions in terms of the extraction time, solvent-to-solid ratio and MW power with extractable isoorientin and isovitexin contents as responses. A ratio of 37.7:1 (mL: g) and specific input MW power of 6.68 W/g for 7.5 min were noted as the optimal condition, yielding isoorientin and isovitexin at 7.23 ± 0.23 and 1.12 ± 0.04 mg/g DW, respectively. Validation of the optimal conditions confirmed that all responses closely aligned with the predictions (error < 5%). The study reveals potential of young Jasmine rice leaves as a good alternative source of flavone derivatives and successfully introduces I-optimal design for plant materials extraction optimization, showcasing its uniqueness and addressing certain limitations of other commonly used experimental designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding is the optimal form of infant nutrition and remains a critical topic of discussion. In the case of lactation problems, women can be assisted by plant galactagogues designed to induce, sustain, and increase lactation. Reports on the popularity, awareness and knowledge of galactagogues are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the use of galactagogues in the diet among breastfeeding women. The online survey was conducted using anonymized questionnaires, with results collected in the Spring of 2021. Fifty-two women aged 20 to 50 who fed naturally participated in the study, with 69% of respondents being familiar with galactagogues and 42% having used them. The most often indicated herbs were fennel (68%) and anise (45%). Galactagogues were used as ready-to-use herbal lactation mixes (73%). Women found them effective in stimulating lactation (82%) and purchased them in pharmacies (64%) or herbal stores (36%). Respondents were encouraged to use galactagogues by media (32%) and family and friends (45%). Women reported that greater knowledge (57%) would be essential to effectively encourage galactagogues. Breastfeeding women were positive about using plant-based galactagogues and considered them effective. A critical barrier identified by those not using galactagogues was their need for knowledge. The information campaign for pregnant women should include galactagogues as lactation-stimulating herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twin-roll casting (TRC) of light metal alloys, in particular aluminium and magnesium alloys, represents a promising technology for the production of lightweight components thanks to its short process chain and promising combinations of properties. In the production of strip products, TRC is susceptible to a number of defects due to the coupled process steps of casting and forming, which prevent its use for more complex alloy combinations in the field. In this review, the defects in TRC of light metal alloys will be summarized and discussed. In addition to a basic classification of the defect types and definition of these, the formation mechanisms and avoidance strategies will be discussed. Special focus is placed on centreline segregation defects and surface bleeds, which occur in a large number of investigations in the literature. Effective avoidance strategies are defect-specific, but are mostly due to the combination of the plant design of the TRC process, the TRC parameters or the use of alloying elements to influence the solidification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme aims to deliver a first-of-a-kind fusion prototype powerplant (SPP). The SPP plasma places extreme heat, particle and structural loads onto the plasma-facing components (PFCs) of the divertor, limiters and inboard and outboard sections of the first wall. The PFCs must manage the heat and particle loads and wider powerplant requirements relating to safety, net power generation, tritium breeding and plant availability. To enable STEP PFC concepts to be identified that satisfy these wide-ranging requirements, an iterative design ('Decide & Iterate') methodology has been used to synchronize a prioritized set of decisions, within the fast-paced, iterative, whole plant concept design schedule. This paper details the 'Decide and Iterate' methodology and explains how it has enabled the identification of the SPP PFC concepts. These include innovative PFC solutions such as a helium-cooled discrete and panel limiter design to increase tritium breeding while providing sufficient coverage and enabling individual limiter replacement; the integration of the outboard first wall with the breeding zone to enhance fuel self-sufficiency and power generation; and the use of heavy water (D2O) within the inboard first wall and divertor PFCs to increase tritium breeding within the outboard breeding zone. This article is part of the theme issue 'Delivering Fusion Energy – The Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP)'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature of smart factories to help manufacturing firms reducing environmental emissions has attracted the widespread attention of governments and industries. However, some research also worried that if smart factories were not effectively constructed, they may increase firms' environmental emissions. To address this concern, we use PSM-progressive DID model to analyze the relationships between the construction of smart factories and environmental emissions, based on 144 Chinese listed manufacturing firms. The main findings are as follow. First, the construction of smart factories can lead to the short-term increase of 7.55% GHG emissions (1.001 tCO2e) and 4.12% air pollutants cost (1.011 $) per $M operation cost for firms. Second, the negative impact of smart factory construction on GHG emissions can be partially explained by physical technologies. Third, mimetic institution (industrial maturity of environment management system) can reduce the negative impact of smart factory construction, but coercive institution (government regulation) and normative institution (social media attention) have no significant moderating effect. With these findings, this study provides a clear understanding of how the construction of smart factories influences firms' environmental sustainability and accordingly offers insights for business considering environmental objectives in smart factory development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributed permutation flow shop scheduling problem (DPFSP) is one of the hottest issues in the context of economic globalization. In this paper, a Q-learning enhanced fruit fly optimization algorithm (QFOA) is proposed to solve the DPFSP with the goal of minimizing the makespan. First, a hybrid strategy is used to cooperatively initialize the position of the fruit fly in the solution space and the boundary properties are used to improve the operation efficiency of QFOA. Second, the neighborhood structure based on problem knowledge is designed in the smell stage to generate neighborhood solutions, and the Q-learning method is conducive to the selection of high-quality neighborhood structures. Moreover, a local search algorithm based on key factories is designed to improve the solution accuracy by processing sequences of subjobs from key factories. Finally, the proposed QFOA is compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms for solving 720 well-known large-scale benchmark instances. The experimental results demonstrate the most outstanding performance of QFOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural gas production from reservoirs is often associated with water, which poses numerous challenges, such as methane hydrate formation, sludge, corrosion and flow assurance issues in gas processing plants and sales gas transmission pipelines. To effectively remove water from natural gas, there is a need to design, compare and modify dehydration plants. This study investigated the performance difference between a conventional triethylene glycol (TEG)‐based dehydration system with a cooler at the TEG inlet to the contactor, and a newly proposed TEG‐based dehydration system with a heat exchanger replacing the cooler at the TEG inlet with the contactor. The advanced process simulation software Aspen HYSYS was used to design and compare two dehydration system configurations. The modified design configuration exhibited better performance in terms of energy conservation and water‐removal capability. The material balance of molar flow, mass flow and volume flow of dry gas produced in the absorber/contactor column showed a higher volume of dry gas produced in the modified system configuration, indicating that it is a better design. The modified design configuration also produced dry gas within the recommended temperature range for underground storage and transmission. There was a significant difference in the percentage difference of 64% between the conventional and modified designs in terms of energy consumption, whereas the percentage differences of 0% and 0.6% showed nonsignificant and significant differences between the two plant design configurations. Both plant design configurations showed a significant reduction (from 0.005 to 0.0002 mol%) in the water composition of natural gas after the simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations of safety issues related to the design and operation of high-pressure proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysers have until now mainly focused on the electrolyser stack. The present study focuses on the risk of explosive mixture formation in the water recovery system, which is part of the balance of plant in water electrolysers. After a major electrolyser company experienced an unexpected detonation in their system, we analysed their process design as a base case: a low-pressure buffer tank where anodic and cathodic water is mixed with make-up deionised water poses a safety risk because an explosive gas mixture is likely to form there, resulting in severe accidents. Several retrofit options are explored using dynamic and steady-state simulation models: these options are then evaluated based on their effects on safety, general economics and operation of the plant, in addition to ease of retrofit. The results show that preventing the formation of explosive gas mixtures in the water recovery system is achievable in several ways, such as avoiding recycling cathodic water altogether, stripping it of hydrogen, flushing buffer tanks with nitrogen or oxygen, rearranging the balance of plant appropriately, or changing the control algorithms of the system. [Display omitted] • Common electrolyser plant designs can generate explosive mixtures in the balance of plant. • Such designs have led to unwanted accidents with potential for escalation. • The explosion threshold can be reached in less than 10 min from plant startup. • There are several retrofit options to ensure safe operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The utilization of metabolomics approaches to explore the metabolic mechanisms underlying plant fitness and adaptation to dynamic environments is growing, highlighting the need for an efficient and user‐friendly toolkit tailored for analyzing the extensive datasets generated by metabolomics studies. Current protocols for metabolome data analysis often struggle with handling large‐scale datasets or require programming skills. To address this, we present MetMiner (https://github.com/ShawnWx2019/MetMiner), a user‐friendly, full‐functionality pipeline specifically designed for plant metabolomics data analysis. Built on R shiny, MetMiner can be deployed on servers to utilize additional computational resources for processing large‐scale datasets. MetMiner ensures transparency, traceability, and reproducibility throughout the analytical process. Its intuitive interface provides robust data interaction and graphical capabilities, enabling users without prior programming skills to engage deeply in data analysis. Additionally, we constructed and integrated a plant‐specific mass spectrometry database into the MetMiner pipeline to optimize metabolite annotation. We have also developed MDAtoolkits, which include a complete set of tools for statistical analysis, metabolite classification, and enrichment analysis, to facilitate the mining of biological meaning from the datasets. Moreover, we propose an iterative weighted gene co‐expression network analysis strategy for efficient biomarker metabolite screening in large‐scale metabolomics data mining. In two case studies, we validated MetMiner's efficiency in data mining and robustness in metabolite annotation. Together, the MetMiner pipeline represents a promising solution for plant metabolomics analysis, providing a valuable tool for the scientific community to use with ease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is mainly concerned with the effect of anthropogenic activities, the presence of black sand spots, factory construction, and shipping, in addition to other activities like agriculture, on soil heavy metal pollution along the Mediterranean shores of Lake El-Burullus, Egypt, to assess the contamination levels and to identify possible sources and the distribution of these metals. This study focuses on the various heavy metal contamination levels in El-Burullus Lake coastal sediments. Sediment samples were collected and analyzed by the XRF technique for heavy metals, including Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Zr, Pb, Ba, Sr, Ga, Rb, V, and Nb. Statistical analyses, including correlation coefficient, factor analysis, and cluster analysis, were employed to understand the interactions and sources of these metals. The highest concentrations recorded were for Zr (84–1436 mg/kg) and Pb (1–1166 mg/kg), with average concentrations of 455.53 mg/kg and 79.27 mg/kg, respectively. Cr, Zr, Nb, and Pb showed average values higher than the average shale concentration, indicating potential pollution. Correlation analysis revealed strong associations between several metals, suggesting common sources of both natural and anthropogenic origin and similar distribution patterns. Factor analysis indicated four main factors accounting for 94.069% of the total variance, with the first factor heavily dominated by Cr, Ni, Zn, and Ba. The contamination factor (Cf) and degree (DC) analyses revealed varying contamination levels, with most metals exhibiting the greatest values in the western half of the area. The pollution load index (PLI) indicated high-quality sediment samples without significant pollution. Our findings highlight the importance of continued monitoring and management techniques to reduce possible environmental and health concerns associated with these pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence (AI) have provided new opportunities for modern biotechnology. High-performance cell factories, the backbone of industrial biotechnology, are ultimately responsible for determining whether a bio-based product succeeds or fails in the fierce competition with petroleum-based products. To date, one of the greatest challenges in synthetic biology is the creation of high-performance cell factories in a consistent and efficient manner. As so-called white-box models, numerous metabolic network models have been developed and used in computational strain design. Moreover, great progress has been made in AI-powered strain engineering in recent years. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, the deep integration of AI with metabolic models is crucial for the construction of superior cell factories with higher titres, yields and production rates. The detailed applications of the latest advanced metabolic models and AI in computational strain design are summarized in this review. Additionally, approaches for the deep integration of AI and metabolic models are discussed. It is anticipated that advanced mechanistic metabolic models powered by AI will pave the way for the efficient construction of powerful industrial chassis strains in the coming years. • Advanced mechanistic metabolic models enhance rational design of cell factories • Machine learning models refine reconstruction of functional metabolic models. • Data-driven AI models provide alternative solutions for strain design in DBTL cycle. • Hybrid AI models with biological insights boost precision in cell factory design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for sustainable and affordable construction, paired with labor shortages, requires more efficient tools and methodologies. Industrialized construction (IC) is one solution that has the ability to address construction efficiency by utilizing techniques such as modularization, construction automation, and building information modeling. One particular aspect of IC is Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) since the design phase determines up to 80% of the operating costs. However, DfMA is yet to be implemented in the construction industry due to some challenges in DfMA that inhibit full implementation. The majority of construction manufacturers have to regenerate the construction drawings for manufacturing which add substantial time to the schedule. Delays are caused by the lack of coordination of these components, as well as assemblies' connections, compliance with building codes, and other related policies. Although many scholarly manufacturing and assembly works have studied and reviewed various aspects, techniques, and applications of DfMA, none have looked at the design process, tools and methods, or challenges in design automation. Using a systematic literature review, this study reviews the most recent innovative design responses for manufacturing and assemblies, and tools and methods. The study then analyzes the identified challenges of DfMA automation and processes in the existing literature on the construction industry, such as the lack of autonomous design and construction manufacturing. The literature analysis suggests future studies are required to improve DfMA not only as a technique but as a design strategy, particularly during the design process and prior to the production phase. Finally, future directions are provided to lead the next generation of research to advance building construction. Significantly, the results of this research provide an up-to-date status on autonomous DfMA and contribute to the body of knowledge of IC by synthesizing the state-of-the-art of building design automation and methods for manufacture and assembly. Practical Applications: Shifting the construction work from a jobsite to a factory environment and utilizing automation are resolutions to a lack of construction efficiency. Factory automation highly relies on DfMA processes. Automating the manufacturing process itself requires advanced knowledge, particularly DfMA; which is a common term referring to both management and technology that enables designers to ease a product's material selection, cost, and factory production. Studies have addressed the state-of-the-art for DfMA, but none have looked at the design process from the early design stage, tools and methods, and the associated challenges. This paper provides a review of design automation techniques in various thematic categories including (1) design scale, from an entire building scale to a small component like a wall, (2) design parameters like structural strengths and sustainability, (3) building material types, (4) tools and methods, and (5) the challenges for implementation. The provided paper is a fundamental resource for DfMA research in construction manufacturing. Manufacturers, developers, and builders require such a resource to learn more about various aspects of the design process and associated challenges to either improve their production lines or establish new state-of-the-art factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the joint research project Carbon2Chem®, mathematical models are used to simulate operating scenarios of cross‐industry networks, in particular chemical plants in industrial environments with high CO2 emissions. In this context, a cloud‐based distributed co‐simulation is used to enable the parallelized simulation of a large number of different variants. This enables optimal design of the plant networks and the efficient determination of optimal operating conditions. The architecture of this approach is described, and its performance is examined and evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited availability of efficient treatments for Candida infections and the increased emergence of antifungal-resistant strains stimulates the search for new antifungal agents. We have previously isolated a sunflower mannose-binding lectin (Helja) with antifungal activity against Candida albicans , capable of binding mannose-bearing oligosaccharides exposed on the cell surface. This work aimed to investigate the biological and biophysical basis of Helja's binding to C. albicans cell wall mannans and its influence on the fungicidal activity of the lectin. We evaluated the interaction of Helja with the cell wall mannans extracted from the isogenic parental strain (WT) and a glycosylation-defective C. albicans with altered cell wall phosphomannosylation (mnn4 ∆ null mutants) and investigated its antifungal effect. Helja exhibited stronger antifungal activity on the mutant strain, showing greater inhibition of fungal growth, loss of cell viability, morphological alteration, and formation of clusters with agglutinated cells. This differential biological activity of Helja was correlated with the biophysical parameters determined by solid phase assays and isothermal titration calorimetry, which demonstrated that the lectin established stronger interactions with the cell wall mannans of the mnn4 ∆ null mutant than with the WT strain. In conclusion, our results provide new evidence on the nature of the Helja molecular interactions with cell wall components, i.e. phosphomannan, and its impact on the antifungal activity. This study highlights the relevance of plant lectins in the design of effective antifungal therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Automatisierungstechnik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Automatisierungstechnik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Automatisierungstechnik is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this study is to elucidate the principal determinants influencing the thermal comfort of campus sidewalks, and to discern the nexus between sidewalk planting configurations and thermal comfort. Initially, thermal environment simulations are conducted across various temporal intervals, predicated upon the extant sidewalk planting configuration. Subsequently, an analysis is undertaken to delineate the causative factors contributing to suboptimal thermal comfort within the prevailing milieu. Finally, an evaluation of configurations conducive to enhancing campus thermal comfort through divergent planting design solutions is undertaken, thereby engendering discourse on sidewalk planting design. The findings show that impermeable pavement, encompassing sidewalks and driveways, emerges as the pre-eminent precipitant of diminished thermal comfort within the study locale. The implementation of a double-row staggered tree-planting approach, coupled with multi-layered shrub planting, emerges as the optimal solution for augmenting thermal comfort. Consequently, the outcomes of this study proffer discernibly superior alternatives for ameliorating the heat island effect and fostering the establishment of a sustainable campus paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research is to determine the environmental health concerns associated with radon gas accumulation and compare quantities in various kinds of construction factories in Erbil city. For this purpose, 52 dosimeters were deployed throughout 13 industries by using CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD). These tests were conducted out in factories over a 60-day exposure period. The results show that the radon concentration values ranged from (21 to 190) $${\rm{Bq}}.{{\rm{m}}^{ - 3}}$$ Bq. m − 3 , with an average of (86.36 ± 9) $${\rm{Bq}}.{{\rm{m}}^{ - 3}}$$ Bq. m − 3 , different from the studied samples, red brick samples show radon concentration over the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended value of 148 $${\rm{Bq}}.{{\rm{m}}^{ - 3}}$$ Bq. m − 3 . The mean value of the annual effective dose was found to be (2.179 ± 1) $${\rm{mSv}}.{{\rm{y}}^{ - 1}}$$ mSv. y − 1 below and within the range of the reference level of (3–10) $${\rm{mSv}}.{{\rm{y}}^{ - 1}}$$ mSv. y − 1 of ICRP. The average annual lung cancer rate per 106 people was shown to be (94.125). The dose rate to lungs (DLungs) varied from (1.07 to 7.11) $${\rm{nGy}}.{{\rm{h}}^{ - 1}}$$ nGy. h − 1 , with an average value of (3.454) $${\rm{nGy}}.{{\rm{h}}^{ - 1}}$$ nGy. h − 1 . The annual effective dose equivalent for lung $$\left({{\rm{AED}}{{\rm{E}}_{\left({{\rm{lung}}} \right)}}} \right)$$ AED E lung to tracheobronchial $$\left({{\rm{AED}}{{\rm{E}}_{\left({{\rm{T}} - {\rm{B}}} \right)}}} \right)$$ AED E T − B and pulmonary/ pulmonary lymph region $$\left({{\rm{AED}}{{\rm{E}}_{\left({{\rm{P}} + {\rm{PL}}} \right)}}} \right)$$ AED E P + PL , varies from (1.62 to 10.76), with an average value of (5.23) $${\rm{mSv}}.{{\rm{y}}^{ - 1}}$$ mSv. y − 1 and from (0.81 to 5.38) $${\rm{mSv}}.{{\rm{y}}^{ - 1}}$$ mSv. y − 1 , with an average value of (2.615) $${\rm{mSv}}.{{\rm{y}}^{ - 1}}$$ mSv. y − 1 , respectively. The present results revealed the need for radon monitoring measurements because worker exposure in some factories can exceed permitted levels. Finally, owners should improve the factories ventilation systems to avoid the accumulation of 222Rn and its progeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is one of the few sustainable energy technologies that offers day-to-night energy storage. Recent development of the supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) Brayton cycle has made CSP a potentially cost-competitive energy source. However, as CSP plants are most efficient in desert regions, where there is high solar irradiance and low land cost, careful design of a dry cooling system is crucial to make CSP practical. In this work, we present a machine learning system to optimize the factory design and configuration of a dry cooling system for an sCO2 Brayton cycle CSP plant. For this, we develop a physics-based simulation of the cooling properties of an air-cooled heat exchanger. The simulator is able to construct a dry cooling system satisfying a wide variety of power cycle requirements (e.g., 10–100 MW) for any surface air temperature. Using this simulator, we leverage recent results in high-dimensional Bayesian optimization to optimize dry cooler designs that minimize lifetime cost for a given location, reducing this cost by 67% compared to recently proposed designs. Our simulation and optimization framework can increase the development pace of economically-viable sustainable energy generation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar thermal plants typically undergo trough operational cycles spanning between 20 and 25 years, highlighting the critical need for accurate assessments of long-term component evolution. Among these components, the heat storage media (molten salt) is crucial in plant design, as it significantly influences both the thermophysical properties of the working fluid and the corrosion of the steel components in thermal storage systems. Our research focused on evaluating the long-term effects of operating a low-melting-point ternary mixture consisting of 30 wt% LiNO3, 57 wt% KNO3, and 13 wt% NaNO3. The ternary mixture exhibited a melting point of 129 °C and thermal stability above 550 °C. Over 15,000 h, the heat capacity decreased from 1.794 to 1.409 J/g °C. Additionally, saline components such as CaCO3 and MgCO3, as well as lithium oxides (LiO and LiO2), were detected due to the separation of the ternary mixture. A 30,000 h exposure resulted in the formation of Fe2O3 and the presence of Cl, indicating prolonged interaction with the marine environment. This investigation highlights the necessity of analyzing properties under actual operating conditions to accurately predict the lifespan and select the appropriate materials for molten salt-based thermal storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the essential need of re-naturalizing the built environment, focusing on schools. Leveraging research on the impact of nature on health, children's development, and learning, we analyze case studies from America, Asia, and Europe with distinct trajectories of interplay between architecture and pedagogy. Using a theoretical framework on plant-architecture relationship, we identify effective re-naturalization solutions in some applications of biophilic design in rural and urban contexts, cautioning against superficial nature incorporations in schools. Our study asserts that technological sustainability is needed but insufficient, emphasizing the necessity of concurrent efforts in architecture and education to create meaningful student-nature connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of a 20 M W parabolic trough solar thermal power plant (PTSTPP) located in Kenitra, Morocco, characterized by an annual average direct normal irradiance (DNI) exceeding 5.3 k W h / m 2 / d a y . Utilizing System Advisor Model (SAM) 2012.12.02 software, the plant is designed with Therminol VP-1 as the heat transfer fluid (HTF) throughout the solar field, coupled with a dry cooling system to reduce water consumption. The proposed thermal energy storage (TES) system employs HITEC solar salt as the storage medium, allowing for six full load hours of thermal energy storage. With a solar multiple (SM) of 2, the simulated plant demonstrates the capability to generate an annual electricity output of 50.51 G W h . The economic viability of the plant is further assessed, revealing a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of 0.1717 $ / k W h and a capacity factor (CF) of 32%. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the performance, economic viability, and sustainability of a parabolic trough solar power plant in the specific climatic conditions of Kenitra, Morocco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Two comparable high-temperature heat pumps at different scales are investigated. • Both heat pumps show similar COP trend lines depending on the temperature lift. • Differences in heat losses and heat transfer are related to volume-to-surface ratios. • Experimental data for a water-cooled compressor show promising results. • Analysis of over 200 data points shows the possibility of upscaling laboratory results. High-temperature heat pumps (HTHP) are crucial for decarbonizing district heating and industry. Hence, a reliable performance estimation considering effects of scaling is of interest for cost-efficient system integration. This study compares two laboratory HTHPs with the same refrigerant R1233zd(E). These systems have a similar plant design but a capacity scale factor of 3.2. The aim is to evaluate scale effects and make general valid statements about the challenges of upscaling laboratory test results. The analyses show that it is essential to distinguish between design effects like temperature differences at the pinch point or different heat exchanger surfaces and scale effects like relative heat losses and efficiencies of components and the system. At the component level, large surface reserves in the heat exchangers lead to 3–5 K smaller approach temperature differences in the lower capacity HTHP. At the system level, the relative heat losses are about 15 % higher than in the system with a larger capacity. The coefficient of performance of both HTHPs shows a similar trend as a function of the temperature lift from the heat source to the sink. Cross-referencing these performance results with over 200 data points from the literature, validated the possibility of upscaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing the potential of crops to suppress weeds is an important strategy for sustainable management. Feathertop Rhodes grass (FTR) (Chloris virgata Sw.) is a problematic warm-season weed in Australia that has recently expanded into colder seasons. This study investigated the growth and seed production of FTR at two planting times (May and July) and three wheat planting densities (0, 82, and 164 plants m−2) using a neighborhood design over two years. In both years, the plant height, tiller production, and panicle production of FTR were lower in the presence of wheat compared to when wheat was absent. Surrounding FTR with wheat delayed its pinnacle emergence, varying from 1 to 6 days in the first year and 4 to 21 days in the second year, depending on the planting date and wheat density. During both years and planting times, wheat's presence caused approximately a 99% decrease in the dry matter and seed production of FTR compared to wheat's absence. Additionally, the wheat height, an important competitive factor, was higher at both densities in the May planting compared to the July planting. The emergence, establishment, and continuous production of FTR seeds throughout the year indicate that inadequate management could result in the further spread of this weed. Our findings suggest that adjusting the date and density of wheat planting could be a viable strategy for sustainably managing this weed during colder seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fundamental step in the education and scientific research processes is the final-year project for undergraduate students. In chemical engineering departments, the final year project has unique properties since it deals with the design and production of specific materials or chemicals. It represents a whole plant design. In the present work, a layout and tips are proposed for a typical final-year chemical engineering graduation project. Six chapters are suggested. Each chapter is given a main theme and subtitles in order to facilitate the writing process of the project. Chapter one represents an introduction to the importance of the material that was produced, material properties, production process, etc. In chapter two, material and energy balance calculations are addressed. Chapter three handled the equipment design. Cost and environmental assessments are discussed in Chapter four. The results of chapters two and three are compared with software outcomes, which can be collected in chapter five. Finally, the main results, conclusion, and recommendations for future work are proposed to be in Chapter six. Furthermore, tips and advice are addressed to assist students in the writing of a typical graduation project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trolley rack is a material handling that significantly affects production productivity in Indonesian Tea factories. The design of this tool needs to consider the anthropometric approach. This study raises the problem of the dimensions of the trolley racks used in the industry without thinking about the anthropometric approach. Of the twenty-two trolley rack operators, 92.5% of workers experienced back pain when operating the equipment. This problem has an impact on musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which causes a decrease in effectiveness and workers. The REBA and Nordic Body Map Questionnaire methods are used to obtain optimal operator posture analysis related to the redesign of the trolley rack. Five anthropometric dimensions of a comfortable trolley rack were obtained, including shoulder height (SH), standing shoulder width (STW), leg length (FL), foot width (FW), and hand grip width (HGW). The final anthropometric dimensions of this tool are SH = 126 cm, STW = 33 cm, FL = 11 cm, FW = 13 cm, and HGW = 5 cm. Using new trolley racks in this study increased productivity by 80%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosystem I (PSI) from Fittonia albivenis, an Acanthaceae ornamental plant, is notable among green plants for its red-shifted emission spectrum. Here, we solved the structure of a PSI–light harvesting complex I (LHCI) supercomplex from F. albivenis at 2.46-Å resolution using cryo-electron microscopy. The supercomplex contains a core complex of 14 subunits and an LHCI belt with four antenna subunits (Lhca1–4) similar to previously reported angiosperm PSI–LHCI structures; however, Lhca3 differs in three regions surrounding a dimer of low-energy chlorophylls (Chls) termed red Chls, which absorb far-red beyond visible light. The unique amino acid sequences within these regions are exclusively shared by plants with strongly red-shifted fluorescence emission, suggesting candidate structural elements for regulating the energy state of red Chls. These results provide a structural basis for unraveling the mechanisms of light harvest and transfer in PSI–LHCI of under canopy plants and for designing Lhc to harness longer-wavelength light in the far-red spectral range. Fittonia albivenis is shade-adapted ornamental plant that can efficiently use far-red light for photosynthesis. Here the authors describe the structure of the red-shifted F. albivenis photosystem I to give insights into how plants can use far-red light to drive photochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coexistence of traditional healing practices deeply rooted in cultural and historical contexts and the evolving landscape of modern healthcare approaches in West African societies creates a dynamic interplay between tradition and modernity in healthcare. This study aims to comprehensively map the landscape of traditional medicine use for health in West Africa. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Research questions focused on the links between traditional medicine practices and health in West Africa. The systematic literature search covered PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL from database inception to September 2023. A descriptive analysis was conducted highlighting the years of publication, countries of publication, study designs of plant families and plant parts used for making traditional medicines, and the diseases the traditional remedies are for. Results: The search identified 3484 records, with 46 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Publications spanned from 1979 to 2023, with no observed trend in the number of publications over successive decades. Nigeria had the highest number of publications (54.3%), followed by Ghana (19.6%). The studies employed various designs, including clinical trials, ethnobotanical, ethnopharmacological, and experimental designs. Plant families frequently studied included Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Rubiaceae. Traditional remedies address various health issues, highlighting their versatility, from general symptoms to specific diseases. Conclusion: This scoping review offers an extensive overview of traditional healing practices in West Africa. The studies highlighted in this review stress the necessity for culturally sensitive healthcare interventions. The widespread use of traditional medicine and the variety of practices underscore the importance of encouraging collaboration between traditional healers and modern healthcare professionals. This review also identifies knowledge gaps and areas needing further research, setting the stage for future exploration into West Africa's intricate healthcare landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-speed and precision planting was employed to improve the yields of soybean seeds. However, most mechanical seed metering devices had a lower quality index under high-speed. In this study, a high-speed and precision metering device with gradient-feeding (GF) and control-seed (CS) for soybean planting was designed to improve the quality index at high speeds. GF was designed to make soybean seeds rapidly enter seed cells. CS prevented soybean seed that was to be released from being cleared during the clearing stage. Firstly, the range of working parameters of it was determined by theoretical analysis, which included the angle of guiding-slope (α), the angle of seed-control (θ), and mutation height (ΔH). Then, orthogonal center combination tests with three-factor and five-level were carried out to determine the corresponding quality index and miss index with different working parameters. The optimal working parameters were determined by regression equations between the quality index and the miss index. The high-speed and precision metering device with GF and CS was thus manufactured based on these optimal working parameters. The simulation test and bench test of it were carried out with different forward speeds of the planter. The results showed that the optimal angle of α, θ, ΔH were 18.06°, 136.67°, and 2.77 mm, respectively. In the bench test, all quality indices were higher than 95.00%, and all miss indices were lower than 3.00% when the forward speed of the planter was 4-16 km/h. The results of the bench test were consistent with the results of the simulation test, with an average relative error of 2.33%. High-speed and precision metering device with gradient-feeding (GF) and control-seed (CS) can realize precision planting at high speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, mechanization and greening have become the inevitable trend of agricultural development. Plant factories have the advantages of high planting area efficiency, stable crop growth and continuous production. Although its demand and scale are increasing, there is still a lack of low-carbon research on the layout of plant factory, which leads to the restriction of actual production capacity and unnecessary waste of resources and environmental burden. Therefore, this paper takes a leafy vegetable processing plant factory as the research object and puts forward a plant layout design based on the improved system layout planning (SLP) method for the design requirements of high yield, high efficiency and low carbon. In this paper, the initial layout plan of a vegetable processing plant is output by combing the plant foundation data (PQRST) needed for layout planning, analyzing and quantifying the logistic, carbon emission, and non-logistic relationships among the operating units. And draw the position correlation map and the area correlation map based on the integrated relationship, and correct them according to the actual constraints and restrictions. For the three alternative layout schemes of the plant factory based on the improved SLP method, the material flow volume and carbon emission factors of the schemes are calculated and analyzed, and the optimal layout scheme 2 is determined according to the results. Combined with the parameter design scheme of the production line, the layout scheme of the vegetable processing plant and the factory simulation software, the detailed design of the layout factory simulation model is established, and the original scheme is compared with the new scheme to verify the design effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar-boosted photo-technology stands out as a powerful strategy for photosynthesis and photocatalytic processes due to its minimal energy requirements, cost-effectiveness and operation under milder, environmentally friendly conditions compared to conventional thermocatalytic options. The design and development of photocatalysts have received a great deal of attention, whereas photoreactor development must be studied deeper to enable the design of efficient devices for practical exploitation. Furthermore, scale-up issues are important for this application, since light distribution through the photoreactor is a concurrent factor. This review represents a comprehensive study on the development of photoreactors to be used mainly for the photoreduction of CO2 to fuels, but with concepts easily transferable to other photosynthetic applications such as ammonia synthesis and water splitting, or wastewater treatment, photovoltaics combined to photoreactors, etc. The primary categories of photoreactors are thoroughly examined. It is also explained which parameters influence the design of a photoreactor and next-generation high-pressure photoreactors are also discussed. Last but not least, current technologies for solar concentrators are recalled, considering their possible integration within the photoreactor. While many reviews deal with photocatalytic materials, in the authors' view, photoreactors with significant scale and their merged devices with solar concentrators are still unexploited solutions. These are the key to boost the efficiency of these processes towards commercial viability; thus, the aim of this review is to summarise the main findings on solar photoreactors for the photoreduction of CO2 and for related applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study first draws inspiration from the dual biomimetic design of plant cell walls and honeycomb structures, drawing on their structural characteristics to design a flexible shell structure that can achieve significant deformation and withstand large loads. Based on the staggered bonding of this flexible shell structure, we propose a new design scheme for a large-load pneumatic soft arm and establish a mathematical model for its flexibility and load capacity. The extension and bending deformation of this new type of soft arm come from the geometric variability of flexible shell structures, which can be controlled through two switches, namely, deflation and inflation, to achieve extension or bending actions. The experimental results show that under a driving pressure within the range of 150 kpa, the maximum elongation of the soft arm reaches 23.17 cm, the maximum bending angle is 94.2 degrees, and the maximum load is 2.83 N. This type of soft arm designed based on dual bionic inspiration can have both a high load capacity and flexibility. The research results provide new ideas and methods for the development of high-load soft arms, which are expected to expand from laboratories to multiple fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modular construction is a method of construction that involves prefabricating modular indoor spaces in a factory and then assembling them at the construction site. However, dimensional errors made during production in the modular manufacturing factory may hinder assembly at the construction site and delay the entire construction process. In particular, as the quality of intermodular connections determines the structural performance and serviceability of the entire modular building, meticulous quality control is required for the connections. In this study, a method is developed for inspection of the intermodular connection locations to meet the requirements of being accurate, inexpensive, easy-to-use, rapid, and operable by a single person, and then tested in a modular factory. The proposed inspection method consists of three parts: (a) a laser meter mounted on a gimbal, (b) target reflectors based on the tumbling doll principle, and (c) a mobile device as a remote control and for data storage, data post-processing, and visualization of results. The proposed inspection process was tested on a modular unit that had been manufactured at a modular factory; the proposed method outperformed the conventional method in terms of accuracy, inspection time, and work safety. The proposed inspection method allows the accurate and rapid inspection of locations of intermodular connection holes and, thus, its use in modular factories is likely to improve the economics and efficiency of modular construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Control co-design (CCD) offers a promising solution for coordinating plant and control design of complex systems to better meet next generation demands. Most CCD algorithms optimize open-loop control signals that solve the problem with a single horizon, yet yield system designs lacking robustness to uncertainties. Recent work has integrated modern model predictive control (MPC) policies into CCD. While this results in systems that are more robust, the recursive nature of receding-horizon MPC is computationally expensive and necessitates a bi-level (nested) optimization process to solve sequential MPC problems over smaller horizons. In this work, I present a single-level predictive control co-design (pCCD) optimization framework that approximates the solution to optimizing a recursive MPC within CCD within a single optimization horizon without the need for nested optimization. The pCCD framework leverages elements of static gain matrices as decision variables to integrate a predictive controller into the algorithm that approximates the benefits afforded by embedding a MPC policy in CCD. The formulation reduces algorithm computational complexity by optimizing over the entire operating horizon at once while retaining key robustness and constraint-handling advantages of MPC. Through a comparative case study for a dual-tank thermal management system, this work shows the pCCD algorithm yields superior robustness to disturbance uncertainties compared to an analogous open-loop CCD system while converging on an optimal system/control design with a 92% reduction in run time compared to an analogous system optimized using a recursive MPC policy within the same CCD algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of milling circuits, particularly those involving Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) mills, are not adequately studied, despite their critical importance in mineral processing. This paper aims to investigate the dynamic behavior of an SAG mill pebble recycling circuit under varying feed ore conditions, focusing on both uncontrollable parameters (such as ore hardness) and controllable parameters (including circuit layout and pebble crusher configurations). The study is carried out with Simulink dynamic simulations. Our findings reveal several key insights. Firstly, plant designs based solely on static simulations may not be adequate for large or complex circuits, as they fail to account for the dynamic nature of milling processes. Second, incorporating stockpiles after pebble crushing can effectively mitigate the impact of dynamic fluctuations, leading to more stable circuit performance. Third, different circuit layouts can facilitate easier maintenance and operational flexibility. Notably, finer pebble crushing can enhance circuit throughput by 5% to 10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wake losses from neighboring plants may become a major factor in wind plant design and control as additional plants are constructed in areas with high wind resource availability. Because plant wakes span a large range of physical scales, from turbine rotor diameter to tens of kilometers, it is unclear whether conventional wake models or turbine control strategies are effective at the plant scale. Wake steering and axial induction control are evaluated in the current work as means of reducing the impact of neighboring wind plants on power and levelized cost of electricity. FLOw Redirection and Induction in Steady State (FLORIS) simulations were performed with the Gauss–Curl Hybrid and TurbOPark wake models as well as two operation and maintenance models to investigate control setpoint sensitivity to wake representation and economic factors. Both wake models estimate losses across a range of atmospheric conditions, although the wake loss magnitude is dependent on the wake model. Annual energy production and levelized cost of electricity are driven by wind direction frequency, with frequently aligned plants experiencing the greatest losses. However, both wake steering and axial induction are unable to mitigate the impact of upstream plants. Wake steering is constrained by plant geometry, since wake displacement is much less than the plant wake width, while axial induction requires curtailing the majority of turbines in upstream plants. Individual turbine strategies are limited by their effective scale and model representation. New wake models that include plant-scale physics are needed to facilitate the design of effective plant wake control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans constantly interact with their environment, with other humans, as well as natural and artificial non-human agents. Nevertheless, our somatosensory system limits the diversity of our ways of communicating. Such organisms as plants thus escape our notice, blending into the landscape. This phenomenon is called Plant blindness. This leads not only to indifference and lack of empathy towards plants among ordinary people but also to a deficit in funding plant conservation. We believe that it is important to develop connections and also rethink the relationship between humans and flora. This paper examines the Plant turn in the context of an art-science project titled Plantoverse. The scientific part of the project is based on a study of plant epidermis cells, which possess optical properties and function as a "lens". The data acquired via confocal microscopy was used to construct a mathematical model of these lenses which in turn formed the basis of the artistic work. It is a representation of the plant epidermis in a digital environment. The work allows us to look at ourselves through "plant optics'' and find new tools for interacting with the vegetal world. This interdisciplinary approach can help transfer knowledge about flora from the professional environment to lay society and form a new, more empathetic view toward plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the continuous development of urban construction, the contradiction between human settlement and the natural environment is becoming increasingly prominent. Increasing the green area and improving the local environment and microclimate through roof planting can effectively alleviate this contradiction. On the basis of the research on the current situation and challenging problems of planting roofs, a comprehensive study of construction, stab-resistance, waterproofing, irrigation and plant landscape is combined with a designed roof case. Research results show that the planting roof is simple in construction, has high resistance to plant root thorns, can take into account the function and aesthetics of plant landscape design, and saves irrigation water by more than 60%, which will help the popularization and promotion of urban planting roofs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigated four different S-CO2 Brayton cycle layouts for nuclear energy conversion: simple recuperation cycle (SR), recompression cycle (RC), re-heating cycle (RH), and intercooling cycle (IC). We compared these S-CO2 Brayton cycle schemes for nuclear energy conversion using the G1+TOPSIS multi-index evaluation method. The evaluation results of different schemes based on their safety, thermodynamics, techno-economic and compactness are given. The results show that for Generation IV reactors with the same designed thermal power, the thermodynamic performance of the S-CO2 system is better for higher reactor exit temperature. Among the schemes, the gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR)+RC scheme has the highest thermal efficiency (47.4%) and exergy efficiency (56.48%). The GFR+IC scheme has the lowest specific cost (1861.3$/W) and the internal rate of return (24.8%). The re-heating cycle (RH) has worse indexes, but it requires the lowest initial investment cost. The intercooling cycle (IC) has the lowest levelized cost of electricity (0.0134 $/KW•h) coupling to GFR. Considering all indexes of four aspects, the reactor's performance ranking is MSR>LFR>SFR>GFR, and the S-CO2 system's performance ranking is RC>SR>IC>RH. For Generation IV nuclear energy conversion technologies, the molten salt reactor (MSR)+RC scheme should be given priority, while GFR+RH schemes should be carefully considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this project, an innovative wind turbine was designed for a floating plant. A large Savonius rotor was replaced with a double-rotor wind turbine implemented as a horizontal-axis turbine. This double rotor was positioned on the tip of a thrust plate and fixed to the deck of a catamaran. Simple 2D numerical simulations were performed to confirm the effectiveness of the concept. An analysis of the floating system configuration was carried out, and the loads and stresses on the system components were verified. Next, floating supports with appropriate sizes were selected to counteract the forces on the wind turbine system. Finally, an anchoring system with full rotational freedom was selected for the floating platform. The present work was conducted as part of a Master's thesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, a concept known as μ TRISTAN, which involves the acceleration of μ + , has been proposed. This initiative has led to considerations of a new design for a neutrino factory. Additionally, leveraging the polarization of μ + , measurements of T violation in neutrino oscillations are also being explored. In this paper, we present analytical expressions for T violation in neutrino oscillations within the framework of standard three-flavor neutrino oscillations, a scenario involving nonstandard interactions, and a case of unitarity violation. We point out that examining the energy spectrum of T violation may be useful for probing new physics effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor layout designs in manufacturing facilities severely reduce production efficiency and increase short- and long-term costs. Analyzing and deriving efficient layouts for novel line designs or improvements to existing lines considering both the layout design and logistics flow is crucial. In this study, we performed production simulation in the design phase for factory layout optimization and used reinforcement learning to derive the optimal factory layout. To facilitate factory-wide layout design, we considered the facility layout, logistics movement paths, and the use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs). The reinforcement-learning process for optimizing each component of the layout was implemented in a multilayer manner, and the optimization results were applied to the design production simulation for verification. Moreover, a flexible simulation system was developed. Users can efficiently review and execute alternative scenarios by considering both facility and logistics layouts in the workspace. By emphasizing the redesign and reuse of the simulation model, we achieved layout optimization through an automated process and propose a flexible simulation system that can adapt to various environments through a multilayered modular approach. By adjusting weights and considering various conditions, throughput increased by 0.3%, logistics movement distance was reduced by 3.8%, and the number of AGVs required was reduced by 11%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst rapid urbanization and escalating environmental degradation in China's urban areas due to climate change, traditional drainage systems struggle to cope with rainfall, resulting in frequent flood disasters. In response, rain gardens have emerged as ecologically practical stormwater management solutions that integrate urban flood control with landscape design. Leveraging the dual benefits of rainwater purification and aesthetic enhancement provided by vegetation, herbaceous plant-based rain gardens have assumed a pivotal role in green infrastructure. However, dedicated research on the application of herbaceous plants in rain garden design is limited, especially within China's water-stressed context. This study employs a literature review and case analysis to explore this critical issue. Initially, it delineates the concept of the sponge city introduced by the Chinese government. Subsequently, it reviews concepts and methods of plant biodiversity design in urban settings and rain gardens and elucidates the structure and function of rain gardens. Four Chinese rain gardens in different urban environments (old industrial areas, university campuses, urban villages, and urban highway green belts) were selected to examine the selection and arrangement of herbaceous plants while identifying deficiencies in their designs. Finally, feasibility suggestions are provided for the design of herbaceous plant diversity in Chinese rain gardens. This study's findings can provide a reference for the planting design of herbaceous plants in rain gardens for other countries and regions with similar climates and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grand Canal has been fundamental in supporting Chinese industrialization, as evidenced in the great changes witnessed across industrial lands, but few studies have approached this issue from a cultural perspective. After an extensive industrial recession in the early 21st century, canal cities like Hangzhou have seen changes in the cultural functions of industrial lands, relocating, transforming, and demolishing factories and other constructions to develop new cultural spaces and products. A deep analysis of these cultural changes is, therefore, quite helpful to appreciate the features of and reasons for Chinese national policy setting in the cultural sections of the Grand Canal, such as the UNESCO World Heritage-recognized purpose of the Grand Canal, etc. Therefore, by focusing on the Hangzhou section of the Canal, and via the integration of high-resolution Google Earth images with a 1.5 spatial resolution, we dynamically monitored the land use of the 10 specifically selected industrial lands and interpretated the various uses of the areas from 2000 to 2020. Then, with archival data from 1950 to 2024 and fieldwork conducted over 1 year, and in consultation with major experts, we designed a mark sheet with factors and scores to comprehensively assess cultural changes in those lands. Consequently, the history of industrialization along the Hangzhou section was thoroughly analyzed with these investigations and data, and the reasons for and influence of cultural changes were presented in detail; subsequently, the outstanding problems were addressed, and suggestions were offered. This study contributes to a better understanding of Chinese cultural policy regarding cities along the Canal after the industrial decline, especially the critical implication of cultural loss within these cities. In addition, it also provides novel perspectives for cultural research, heritage conservation, and urban planning of canals or waterfront spaces for world heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]