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The simultaneous regulation of production efficiency and equipment maintenance in intelligent production lines poses a challenging problem. Existing approaches addressing this issue often separate the regulation of equipment maintenance and load balancing, lacking dynamic indicators to characterize the operational status and equipment workload. Inspired by the cardiac electrical activity recorded from human electrocardiogram (ECG), the electric drive signal of the equipment is proposed as an analogous measure to monitor equipment performance and workload variations. Thereby, the implementation mechanism and working characteristics of equipment ECG (EECG) are put forward for reconfigurable mixed-model assembly. Moreover, the monitoring of equipment performance based on deep learning is explored, leveraging the EECG features combined with multi-source heterogeneous data. The variations of equipment workload are tracked through the construction of a population difference hash analysis of the ECG data flow, along with the characterization of equipment power through electric signals. Additionally, an EECG-driven synchronous mapping approach is proposed to address steady disturbance, considering both workload imbalance and the degeneracy effect of the equipment. The reconfigurability of the intelligent production line enables the proposed mechanism of similarity matching of EECG features through the reconfiguration of the software manufacturing system and hardware physical equipment. Finally, the EECG-based solution is validated on a laboratory-level prototype platform, demonstrating that the robust running of the assembly process can be ensured even in the presence of internal and external disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, an easy, effective, π-π conjugation non-covalent surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was achieved by using ball grinding technology between pristine MWCNTs and esterified styrene-maleic anhydride ester (ESMA) copolymer, resulting in the formation of modified E-MWCNTs dispersion with excellent dispersibility and long storage stability in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). The analysis of transmittance spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, sedimentation photo, and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) confirms that the modified E-MWCNT dispersion has a homogeneous dispersion in NMP. Results obtained from thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy reveal that ESMA copolymer is successfully coated on pristine MWCNTs surface. Compared with the bad dispersibility of MWCNTs in NMP, the physically modified E-MWCNTs-3 dispersion mixed with 0.12wt% ESMA copolymer under the condition of total 6 h ball grinding time using paint shaker can be easily well-dispersed and has good storage stability, and no sedimentation is observed more than 3 months. Furthermore, the method is simple and economical to operate in industry. An easy, effective, π-π conjugation non-covalent surface functionalization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was achieved by using ball grinding technology between pristine MWCNTs and esterified styrene-maleic anhydride ester (ESMA) copolymer, resulting in the formation of modified E-MWCNTs dispersion with excellent dispersibility and long storage stability reported firstly in N-methylpyrrolidone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy saving and emissions reduction in the iron and steel industry is a significant challenge to achieve carbon neutrality and sustainable development. Many studies focus on the optimization of materials, energy and carbon emissions but lack of optimization strategies in the iron and steel industry. A comprehensive and effective system model is still needed to optimize the CO2 emissions to face the production planning of a company in the future. This article applies industrial metabolism to develop a practical optimization model for improving materials consumption and energy consumption in coking, sintering, pelleting, ironmaking and steelmaking, and the minimum carbon emission is set as the optimization objective. The results show that carbon emissions reduce 148.65 kg/ton crude steel compared with the original data with a yield of 8.4 Mt crude steel. In addition, the optimum material and energy consumption of each production unit under different production plans is studied. If breakthrough technologies are not applied to long-route processes, improving scrap steel ratio is the most promising approach for low-carbon manufacturing in the iron and steel industry in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an easy, green, π-π conjugation non-covalent surface modification of pristine single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) was carried out by using ultrasonic technology between pristine SWCNT and anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl benzene cyclate (SDBS) and sodium polynaphthalene sulfonate (SPS)), resulting in the formation of modified SWCNT dispersion with good dispersibility and long storage stability in water. Results obtained from transmittance spectroscopy, absorption spectroscopy, zeta potential analyzer, sedimentation photo, and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that the modified SWCNT dispersion has a high degree of dispersion. The analysis of thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) confirm that two kinds of dispersants are successfully decorated on pristine SWCNT surface. More importantly, the pristine SWCNT is insoluble, while the modified S2-SWCNT dispersion mixed with 1.25 wt% SDBS and 1.00 wt% SPS correspondingly under the condition of total 3 h ultrasonic time can be easily well-dispersed in water and has good storage stability, and no sedimentation is observed more than 3 months. More importantly, this strategy is green and economical owing to its easy operation in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low temperature plasma (LTP) exerts a protective effect in inflammation via enhancing MANF expression. Hyperactivation and dysfunction of theca cells induced by inflammatory agents is accompanied by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is a common reproductive and endocrine disorder. However, the effect of LTP on theca cells is still unknown. Methods and results: Theca cells were stimulated with IL-1β or TNF-α for 12 h, then treated with LTP for 100 s. After 8 h, medium supernatant and theca cells were collected. Production of androgen from theca cells were detected by ELISA. The PCNA and Annexin V levels in theca cells were detected by using immunofluorescent staining. The levels of PCNA, BCL-2 and BAX were evaluated by western blot and qPCR. MTT assay was used to detect the viability of theca cells. The proportions of apoptosis of theca cells were detected by Flow cytometry. The mRNA levels of androgenic genes were detected by qPCR. The MANF levels in medium supernatant and cell lysate were detected by using ELISA, western and qPCR. BIP and CHOP expressions were detected by using western blot and qPCR. We found that LTP irradiation decreased inflammatory agents-induced upregulation of androgen and androgenic genes in theca cells. And LTP irradiation relieves IL-1β or TNF-α-induced pathological proliferation and apoptosis in theca cells. In terms of mechanism, LTP irradiation increased MANF level in theca cells to inhibit BIP and CHOP expression. Conclusion: These evidences suggest the protective effect of LTP on theca cells in inflammatory microenvironment, and LTP has the potential clinical application of PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]