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With the advancement in global market integration, manufacturing enterprises face increasingly fierce competition, making the development of intelligent manufacturing systems a key factor in enhancing market competitiveness. However, manufacturing systems are characterized by varying characteristics of manufacturing resources and strong interdependencies, which make production control more complex. A bottleneck refers to the issue where the manufacturing system's actual production capacity is less than or equal to the demand placed on a resource. After extensive research, scholars have concluded that the definition, identification methods, and related studies on bottlenecks are not fixed but depend on the specific research subject and the type of bottleneck. Therefore, scholars suggest that only by accurately defining the bottlenecks within a system can appropriate models be employed for prediction, thereby avoiding issues such as inefficient resource allocation and delivery delays, or implementing measures to minimize these negative impacts. Particularly under unstable production conditions, dynamic bottlenecks are likely to occur, making the prediction and identification of bottlenecks under dynamic environmental conditions crucial. Currently, there is still a lack of research in real-time state sensing and integration, as well as a lack of systematic review of related research. To fill this research gap, this review comprehensively introduces the current state and achievements in bottleneck research within manufacturing systems, focusing on bottleneck categories, identification, shifting, and management. It also provides an outlook on future research trends and directions in the study of manufacturing system bottlenecks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The effects of different moisture contents on seed germination and seedling growth of six desert shrubs were determined in a greenhouse. It was found that 5% and 10% limited seed germination and seedling growth, while 15–20% resulted in the highest seed germination and biomass accumulation. In addition, we found that Caragana korshinskii had the strongest survivability, while Nitraria sibirica had the lowest viable survivability. Our results emphasise that cultivation of Caragana korshinskii, which is more drought tolerant, is preferred in desert areas for the recovery of vegetation in the region. Moisture is the most important environmental factor limiting seed regeneration of shrubs in desert areas. Therefore, understanding the effects of moisture changes on seed germination, morphological and physiological traits of shrubs is essential for vegetation restoration in desert areas. In March to June 2023, in a greenhouse using the potting method, we tested the effects of soil moisture changes (5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) on seed germination and seedling growth of six desert shrubs (Zygophyllum xanthoxylum, Nitraria sibirica, Calligonum mongolicum, Corethrodendron scoparium, Caragana korshinskii, and Corethrodendron fruticosu). Results showed that (1) seed germination percent and vigor index were significantly higher at 15 and 20% soil moisture content than at 5 and 10%; (2) shoot length, primary root length, specific leaf area and biomass of seedlings were significantly higher in the 15% and 20% soil moisture content treatments than in the 5% and 10% treatments; (3) superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) and soluble protein content (SP) decreased with decreasing soil water content, while peroxidase activity (POD) and catalase activity (CAT) showed a decreasing and then increasing trend with increasing soil water content; (4) the six seeds and seedling of shrubs were ranked in order of their survivability in response to changes in soil moisture: Caragana korshinskii > Zygophyllum xanthoxylum > Calligonum mongolicum > Corethrodendron scoparium > Corethrodendron fruticosu > Nitraria sibirica. Our study shows that shrub seedlings respond to water changes by regulating morphological and physiological traits together. More importantly, we found that C. korshinskii, Z. xanthoxylum and C. mongolicum were more survivable when coping with water deficit or extreme precipitation. The results of the study may provide a reference for the selection and cultivation of similar shrubs in desert areas under frequent extreme droughts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly insulated solid discharge products in sodium‐oxygen (Na−O2) batteries induce large polarization and thus heavily threaten their cycle life. Controlment of discharge products taking efficient catalyst is a best way to solve this problem. Here, Mo‐doped BiVO4 as the catalyst produces large amounts of carrier, thus boosting the battery reaction and reducing the overpotential under the light assistance. Compared with the BiVO4 without Mo doping, the doped one has a lower recombination of photogenerated carriers, thus benefiting a large polarization suppression and Na−O2 batteries running for over 270 cycles under 3.65 V as well as a fine rate performance. Besides, Mo doping reduces the size of BiVO4, beneficial for the carrier transportation and more reactions due to the large specific surface area. Experiment combined with theoretical calculation shows that Mo doping is advantageous to enhancing catalytic activity of BiVO4 due to a lower work function for easier electron extraction, thus enhancing Na2O2 decomposition capability. This work undoubtedly inspires photocatalysts′ use for solving the insulated solid discharge products decomposition in metal‐O2 batteries and provides a guide for other photocatalysts possibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is a promising technology for ammonia production and denitrification of wastewater. Its application is seriously restricted by the development of the highly active and selective electrocatalyst and a rational electrolysis system. Here, we constructed an efficient electrochemical ammonia production process via nitrate reduction on the metallic Cu electrocatalyst when coupled with anodic sulfion oxidation reaction (SOR). The synthesized Cu catalyst delivers an excellent NH3 Faradaic efficiency of 96.0 % and a NH3 yield of 0.391 mmol h−1 cm−2 at −0.2 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, which mainly stem from the more favorable conversion of NO2− to NH3 on Cu0. Importantly, the well‐designed electrolysis system with cathodic NO3RR and anodic SOR achieves a dramatically reduced cell voltage of 0.8 V at 50 mA cm−2 in comparison with the one with anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) of 1.9 V. This work presents an effective strategy for the energy‐saving ammonia production via constructing effective nitrate reduction catalyst and replacing the OER with SOR while removing the pollutants including nitrate and sulfion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND:Malaria reduction and future elimination in China is made more difficult by the importation of cases from neighboring endemic countries, particularly Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam, and increased travel to Africa by Chinese nationals. The increasing prevalence of artemisinin resistant parasites across Southeast Asia highlights the importance of monitoring the parasite importation into China. Artemisinin resistance in the Mekong region is associated with variants of genes encoding the K13 kelch domain protein (pf13k), found in specific genetic backgrounds, including certain alleles of genes encoding the chloroquine resistance transporter (pfcrt) and multidrug resistance transporter PgH1 (pfmdr1). METHODS:In this study we investigated the prevalence of drug resistance markers in 72 P. falciparum samples from uncomplicated malaria infections in Tengchong and Yingjiang, counties on the Yunnan-Myanmar border. Variants of pf13k, pfcrt and pfmdr1 are described. RESULTS:Almost all parasites harboured chloroquine-resistant alleles of pfcrt, whereas pfmdr1 was more diverse. Major mutations in the K13 propeller domain associated with artemisinin resistance in the Mekong region (C580Y, R539T and Y493H) were absent, but F446I and two previously undescribed mutations (V603E and V454I) were identified. Protein structural modelling was carried out in silico on each of these K13 variants, based on recently published crystal structures for the K13 propeller domain. Whereas F446I was predicted to elicit a moderate destabilisation of the propeller structure, the V603E substitution is likely to lead to relatively high protein instability. We plotted these stability estimates, and those for all previously described variants, against published values for in vivo parasitaemia half-life, and found that quadratic regression generates a useful predictive algorithm. CONCLUSION:This study provides a baseline of P. falciparum resistance-associated mutations prevalent at the China-Myanmar border. We also show that protein modelling can be used to generate testable predictions as to the impact of pfk13 mutations on in vivo (and potentially in vitro) artemisinin susceptibility.

Organic redox‐active polymers provide promising alternatives to metal‐containing inorganic compounds in Li‐ion batteries (LIBs), whereas suffer from low actual capacities, poor rate/power capabilities, and inferior cycling stability. Herein, poly(anthraquinonyl sulfide)‐coated carbon nanotubes (CNT@PAQS) are readily performed by in situ polymerization to form core–sheath nanostructures. Remarkably, flower‐like PAQS nanosheets are interwoven around CNTs to synergistically create robust 3D hierarchical networks with abundant cavities, internal channels, and sufficiently‐exposed surfaces/edges, thereby promoting electron transport and making more active sites accessible for electrolytes and guest ions. Apparently, the as‐fabricated CNT@PAQS cathode delivers the large reversible capacity (200.5 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1), high‐rate capability (161.5 mAh g−1 at 5.0 A g−1), and impressive cycling stability (retaining 88.0% over 1000 cycles). In addition, an asymmetric full‐battery using CNT@PAQS as a cathode and cyclized polyacrylonitrile‐encapsulated CNTs as an anode is assembled that delivers a high energy density of 86.3 Wh kg−1, and retains 81.3% of initial capacity after 1000 cycles. This work opens up an efficient strategy to combine highly conductive and redox‐active phases into core–sheath heterostructures to unlock the barrier of high‐rate charge storage. The further integration of two polymer‐based electrodes into asymmetric full cells would also consolidate the development of low‐cost, sustainable, and powerful batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]