Engineering最新文献

{"title":"A High-Efficiency and Versatile Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Design Paradigm with Novel Topological Representation","authors":"Ying Juan Lu ,&nbsp;Jia Nan Zhang ,&nbsp;Yi Han Zhao ,&nbsp;Jun Wei Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhen Zhang ,&nbsp;Rui Zhe Jiang ,&nbsp;Jing Cheng Liang ,&nbsp;Hui Dong Li ,&nbsp;Jun Yan Dai ,&nbsp;Tie Jun Cui ,&nbsp;Qiang Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.11.028","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.11.028","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With digital coding technology, reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) become powerful real-time systems for manipulating electromagnetic (EM) waves. However, most automatic RIS designs involve extensive numerical simulations of the unit, including the passive pattern and active devices, requiring high data acquisition and training costs. In addition, for passive patterns, the widely employed random pixelated method presents design efficiency and effectiveness challenges due to the massive pixel combinations and blocked excitation current flow in discrete patterns. To overcome these two critical problems, we propose a versatile RIS design paradigm with efficient topology representation and a separate design architecture. First, a non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) is introduced to represent continuous patterns and solve excitation current flow issues. This representation makes it possible to finely tune continuous patterns with several control points, greatly reducing the pattern solution space by 20-fold and facilitating RIS optimization. Then, employing multiport network theory to separate the passive pattern and active device from the unit, the separate design architecture significantly reduces the dataset acquisition cost by 62.5%. Through multistep multiport calculation, the multistate EM responses of the RIS under different structural combinations can be quickly obtained with only one prediction of pattern response, thereby achieving dataset and model reuse for different RIS designs. With a hybrid continuous-discrete optimization algorithm, three examples—including two typical high-performance RISs and an ultra-wideband multilayer RIS—are provided to validate the superiority of our paradigm. Our work offers an efficient solution for RIS automatic design, and the resulting structure is expected to boost RIS applications in the fields of wireless communication and sensing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 163-173"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Emerging Technologies for the Control of Biological Contaminants in Water Treatment: A Critical Review","authors":"Rui Gao ,&nbsp;Shu-Hong Gao ,&nbsp;Jun Li ,&nbsp;Yiyi Su ,&nbsp;Fang Huang ,&nbsp;Bin Liang ,&nbsp;Lu Fan ,&nbsp;Jianhua Guo ,&nbsp;Aijie Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.08.022","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.08.022","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biological contaminants (BCs), including but not limited to various pathogens and their endogenous pollutants such as intracellular pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), are ubiquitously detected in effluent of wastewater and drinking water treatment systems which were originally designed to remove common indicator bacteria, resulting in potential impacts on public health. Although there are many emerging technologies that showing promising antimicrobial effects, few have progressed to the actual water scenarios. It’s crucial to understand the main knowledge gaps and thereby design the future developments to better meet engineering requirements. In this review, we first summarize the performance of conventional water treatment towards BCs removal. Then we showcase the advances of proof-of-concept strategies, including nanotechnology, advanced oxidation process, biological control process and integrated techniques, for BCs control in light of antimicrobial mechanisms, characteristics, proper niches in water treatment, challenges and latest improvements. Further, we proposed a semi-quantitative framework coupling life cycle assessment (LCA) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to assess and compare the application potential of representative pilot technologies, in which the antimicrobial effects, economic issues and sustainability are comprehensively considered. For wastewater treatment, non-thermal plasma weights highest among the emerging technologies and outperforms conventional disinfection in terms of efficacy indicators (overall inactivation rate, ARGs removal rate, and growth inhibition), but fall behind overall mainly due to more energy input. Bacteriophage-based treatment has the potential to synergistically inactive the persistent pathogens in combination with conventional disinfection, serving as a cost-effective and environmental-friendly supplement. For drinking water treatment, the integrated photocatalytic nanocomposite receives the highest application potential among the emerging technologies and appears to be supplementary or even alternative next-generation disinfectants. This review shares valuable insights to propel the proof-of-concept antimicrobial trials towards industrial procedures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 185-204"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Could Artificial Intelligence’s Soaring Demand for Electricity Spark a Nuclear Power Revival?","authors":"Mitch Leslie (Senior Technology Writer)","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.011","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 9-11"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Novel Route to the Large-Scale Utilization of Industrial CO2 as a Stable Liquid Fertilizer to Increase Crop Yields and Improve the Soil","authors":"Bao-Chang Sun ,&nbsp;Meng-Tong Mi ,&nbsp;Sheng-Yi Wang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Juan Wang ,&nbsp;Xiao-Ling Song ,&nbsp;Guang-Wen Chu ,&nbsp;Xue-Kuan Li ,&nbsp;Dong Huang ,&nbsp;Dan Wang ,&nbsp;Jian-Feng Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.006","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 12-15"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancements in Wound Management: Microenvironment-Sensitive Bioactive Dressings with On-Demand Regulations for Diabetic Wounds","authors":"Yanan Xue ,&nbsp;Junping Zhou ,&nbsp;Ying Lu ,&nbsp;Huiling Zhang ,&nbsp;Bailin Chen ,&nbsp;Shaoan Dong ,&nbsp;Yawen Xue ,&nbsp;Kan Zhan ,&nbsp;Cheng Chen ,&nbsp;Yi Sun ,&nbsp;Sufan Wu ,&nbsp;Liqun Jin ,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Liu ,&nbsp;Yuguo Zheng","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.018","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.018","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diabetic wounds (DWs) are a major complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by a complex pathophysiological microenvironment that is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. Conventional management strategies often fail to address the multifaceted nature of these wounds effectively. Recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms of DW healing have spurred the development of a plethora of bioactive dressings designed to interact with and modulate the DW microenvironment. These innovations have culminated in the introduction of the “microenvironment-sensitive with on-demand management” paradigm aimed at delivering precision therapy responsive to dynamic changes within DW. Despite these advancements, the current literature lacks a comprehensive review that categorizes and evaluates active, passive, and on-demand approaches that address the DW microenvironment. Herein, we describe the unique pathogenic mechanisms and microenvironmental characteristics that distinguish DW from normal acute wounds. This review provides an extensive overview of contemporary active and passive management strategies incorporating on-demand management principles designed for DW microenvironments. Furthermore, it addresses the principal challenges faced in this therapeutic domain and outlines the potential innovations that can enhance the efficacy and specificity of bioactive dressings. The insights presented here aim to guide further research and development in the on-demand management of DW to improve patient outcomes by aligning personalized therapy modalities with the pathophysiological realities of DW.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 234-261"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937516","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual-Unloading Mode Autonomous Operation Strategy and Cotransporter System for Rice Harvester and Transporter","authors":"Fan Ding ,&nbsp;Xiwen Luo ,&nbsp;Zhigang Zhang ,&nbsp;Lian Hu ,&nbsp;Xinluo Wu ,&nbsp;Kaiyuan Bao ,&nbsp;Jiarui Zhang ,&nbsp;Bingxuan Yuan ,&nbsp;Wenyu Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2024.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To achieve an unmanned rice farm, in this study, a cotransporter system was developed using a tracked rice harvester and transporter for autonomous harvesting, unloading, and transportation. Additionally, two unloading and transportation modes—harvester waiting for unloading (HWU) and transporter following for unloading (TFU)—were proposed, and a harvesting–unloading–transportation (HUT) strategy was defined. By breaking down the main stages of the collaborative operation, designing module-state machines (MSMs), and constructing state-transition chains, a HUT collaborative operation logic framework suitable for the embedded navigation controller was designed using the concept and method of the finite-state machine (FSM). This method addresses the multiple-stage, nonsequential, and complex processes in HUT collaborative operations. Simulations and field-harvesting experiments were performed to evaluate the applicability of this proposed strategy and system. The experimental results showed that the HUT collaborative operation strategy effectively integrated path planning, path-tracking control, inter-vehicle communication, collaborative operation control, and implementation control. The cotransporter system completed the entire process of harvesting, unloading, and transportation. The field-harvesting experiment revealed that a harvest efficiency of 0.42 hm²∙h⁻¹ was achieved. This study can provide insight into collaborative harvesting and solutions for the harvesting process of unmanned farms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 220-233"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Future Ultrafast Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles in China: Charging Patterns, Grid Impacts and Solutions, and Upgrade Costs","authors":"Yang Zhao ,&nbsp;Xinyu Chen ,&nbsp;Peng Liu ,&nbsp;Chris P. Nielsen ,&nbsp;Michael B. McElroy","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.01.015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In China, electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging power has quadrupled in the past five years, progressing toward 10-minute ultrafast charging. This rapid increase raises concerns about the impact on the power grid including increased peak power demand and the need for substantial upgrades to power infrastructure. Here, we introduce an integrated model to assess fast and ultrafast charging impacts for representative charging stations in China, combining real-world charging patterns and detailed station optimization models. We find that larger stations with 12 or more chargers experience modest peak power increases of less than 30% when fast-charging power is doubled, primarily because shorter charging sessions are less likely to overlap. For more typical stations (e.g., 8–9 chargers and 120 kW·charger⁻¹), upgrading chargers to 350–550 kW while allowing managed dynamic waiting strategies (of ∼1 minute) can reduce overall charging times to ∼9 minutes. At stations, deploying battery storage and/or expanding transformers can help manage future increases in station loads, yet the primary device cost of the former is ∼4 times higher than that of the latter. Our results offer insights for charging infrastructure planning, EV–grid interactions, and associated policymaking.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 309-322"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"UK Scraps Coal Power","authors":"Mark Peplow (Senior Technology Writer)","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.03.013","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 3-5"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the Synergistic Impact of CCUS-EOR","authors":"Zhenhua Rui ,&nbsp;Tingting Liu ,&nbsp;Xin Wen ,&nbsp;Siwei Meng ,&nbsp;Yang Li ,&nbsp;Birol Dindoruk","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.04.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.04.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) represents a critical technological pathway for global carbon emission reduction. CCUS-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology is the most feasible CCUS technology demonstrating dual benefits of enhanced energy production and carbon reduction. This study comprehensively described the key influencing factors governing CO₂-EOR and geological storage and systematically analyzed reservoir properties, fluid characteristics, and operational parameters. The mechanisms of these parameters on EOR versus CO₂ storage performance were investigated throughout CCUS-EOR processes. This paper proposes a coupled two-stage CCUS-EOR process: CO₂-EOR storage stage and long-term CO₂ storage stage after the CO₂ injection phase is completed. In each stage, the main control factors impacting the CO₂-EOR and storage stages are screened and coupled with rigorous technical analysis. The key factors here are reservoir properties, fluid characteristics, and operational parameter. A novel CCUS-EOR synergistic method was proposed to optimize the lifecycle performance of dual objective of EOR and storage. Furthermore, based on multi-objective optimization, considering the lifecycle, a multi-scale techno-economic evaluation method was proposed to fully assess the CCUS-EOR project performance. Finally, a set of recommendations for advancing CCUS-EOR technologies by deploying multi-factor/multi-field coupling methodologies, novel green intelligent injection materials, and artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies were visited.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"48 ","pages":"Pages 16-40"},"PeriodicalIF":10.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Berberine Protects Cerebral Vessels and Alleviates Diabetic Encephalopathy by Inhibiting the Production of δ-Valerobetaine in the Gut Microbiota","authors":"Zheng-Wei Zhang, Wei-Ping Wang, Jia-Chun Hu, Jin-Yue Lu, Ru Feng, Shao-Feng Xu, Ling Wang, Jie Fu, Hang Yu, Hui Xu, Hao-Jian Zhang, Xin-Yu Yang, Zhao Zhai, Jing-Yue Wang, Meng-Liang Ye, Heng-Tong Zuo, Jian-Ye Song, Yi Zhao, Xiang Hui, Xiao-Liang Wang, Yan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.04.018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.04.018","url":null,"abstract":"Hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes causes cognitive impairment, called diabetic encephalopathy (DE). The pathogenesis of DE is closely related to angiopathy, and effective treatment is highly desirable. The botanical agent berberine (BBR) effectively lowers blood glucose in diabetic patients. Here, we show for the first time that BBR significantly improved cognitive function in type 2 diabetic encephalopathy KK-Ay (2DEK) mice. High-resolution imaging via fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography (fMOST) revealed that the integrity of brain vessels was improved by BBR treatment. The improvements in average vessel diameter, vessel length, and total vessel volume were significant in the parietal association cortex (PtA), as well as in the CA1 and CA3 regions. A mechanistic study revealed that oral BBR inhibited δ-valerobetaine (δ-VB, a metabolite of the gut microbiota) production in the intestine. As intestinal δ-VB can enter the circulation and activate the Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inflammatory pathway in the epithelial cells of blood vessels through interacting with TLR-4, BBR might reduce the intestinal level of δ-VB to protect the cerebral blood vessels of DE mice and improve their brain function. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) using the gut microbiota from BBR-treated mice confirmed the vital role of the gut microbiota. BBR showed a wide range of effects on the gut flora, also increasing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production and decreasing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in the intestine by adjusting the abundance of SCFA- or LPS-producing bacteria. The observed therapeutic efficacy <em>in vivo</em> revealed a synergistic effect of BBR on the gut microbiota. Conclusively, we found an association between the gut microbiota and blood vessels, of which intestinal δ-VB might be a chemical link. Mainly through downregulating δ-VB in the intestine, BBR protected cerebral vessels and alleviated DE.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"111 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}