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Designing Photonic Crystal Fibers incorporating the Surface Plasmon Resonance Phenomenon (PCF-SPR) has led to numerous interesting applications. This investigation presents an exceptionally responsive surface plasmon resonance sensor, seamlessly integrated into a dual-core photonic crystal fiber, specifically designed for low refractive index (RI) detection. The integration of a plasmonic material, namely silver (Ag), externally deposited on the fiber structure, facilitates real-time monitoring of variations in the refractive index of the surrounding medium. To ensure long-term functionality and prevent oxidation, a thin layer of titanium dioxide (TiO2) covers the silver coating. To optimize the sensor, five key design parameters, including pitch, air hole diameter, and silver thickness, are fine-tuned using the Taguchi L8(25) orthogonal array. The optimal results obtained present spectral and amplitude sensitivities that reach remarkable values of 10,000 nm/RIU and 235,882 RIU-1, respectively. In addition, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) optimization techniques, specifically Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), are used to predict a critical optical property of the sensor confinement loss (αloss). These predictions are derived from the same input structure parameters that are present in the full L32(25) design experiment. A genetic algorithm (GA) is then applied for optimization with the goal of maximizing the confinement loss. Our results highlight the effectiveness of training PSO artificial neural networks and demonstrate their ability to quickly and accurately predict results for unknown geometric dimensions, demonstrating their significant potential in this innovative context. The proposed sensor design can be used for various applications including pharmaceutical inspection and detection of low refractive index analytes.

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A novel magnetically separable Cu/ZnO/CoFe‒CLDH composite, whose synthesis was optimized using the Taguchi approach, was optimally synthesized by hydrothermally coupling Cu-doped ZnO and calcined CoFe-LDH. The synthesized Cu/ZnO/CoFe‒CLDH was applied to construct a synergistic process of integrating visible-light photocatalysis (VPC) with persulfate activation (PSA) and to degrade bisphenol A (BPA). Various characterizations proved that Cu/ZnO/CoFe‒CLDH possessed excellent physicochemical, optoelectronic and magnetic properties, thereby enhancing the catalytic performance. The Cu/ZnO/CoFe‒CLDH composite achieved highly efficient BPA degradation during the synergistic VPC‒PSA process, and its reaction rate constant (0.74 h-1) was 6.17-, 4.11-, and 2.85-fold higher than that of Cu/ZnO, CoFe‒CLDH, and Cu/ZnO/CoFe‒CLDH (VPC only), respectively. Moreover, the effects of the catalyst dosage, initial pollutant concentration, solution pH, persulfate dosage and coexisting ions on BPA degradation were comprehensively investigated. Radical-trapping experiments revealed that the contributions of ·OH, SO4·â€’, ·O2-, and 1O2 involved in BPA degradation. Based on the intermediates identified by LC/MS, the main BPA degradation pathways were determined, the overall trend of which reflects a decreasing ecotoxicity. This study verified the effectiveness of the synergistic VPC‒PSA process with Cu/ZnO/CoFe‒CLDH, which could be used as a new reference for removing organic micropollutants from water.

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This study proposed a 3D-printed PEEK with a specific design to restore the damaged orbit shape. Such printed personalized implants are greatly affected by the process parameters, wherefore the effects of the nozzle temperatures, printing speed and layer thickness on the tensile properties were investigated based on the Taguchi approach. The optimal mechanical properties, i.e., the tensile strength and Young's modulus, were found to be 54.97 MPa and 2.67 GPa, respectively. These properties were obtained by adjusting the nozzle temperature to its high level (450 °C), while the layer thickness (0.1 mm) and printing speed (20 mm/s) were set to their low levels. Secondly, the mechanical behavior of a personalized orbital implant with these optimized properties was evaluated via finite elements analysis with various infill patterns and densities, at three thicknesses: 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 mm. It was found that all thicknesses were acceptable for the 100% filling. For the honeycomb pattern, the thicknesses 0.5 and 0.7 mm were satisfactory with a fill rate of 70% and 55% whereas only the thickness of 0.7 mm was suitable for the 40% filling. The honeycomb pattern with 40% filling and a maximum stress (7.186 MPa) and strain (0.00627 mm) should be beneficial for light-weight orbital implants.

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Customized foot orthosis is commonly used to modify foot posture and relieve foot pain for adult acquired flexible flatfoot. However, systematic investigation of the influence of foot orthotic design parameter combination on the internal foot mechanics remains scarce. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical effects of different combinations of foot orthoses design features through a muscle-driven flatfoot finite element model. A flatfoot-orthosis finite element model was constructed by considering the three-dimensional geometry of plantar fascia. The plantar fascia model accounted for the interaction with the bulk soft tissue. The Taguchi approach was adopted to analyze the significance of four design factors combination (arch support height, medial posting inclination, heel cup height, and material stiffness). Predicted plantar pressure and plantar fascia strains in different design combinations at the midstance instant were reported. The results indicated that the foot orthosis with higher arch support (45.7%) and medial inclination angle (25.5%) effectively reduced peak plantar pressure. For the proximal plantar fascia strain, arch support (41.8%) and material stiffness (37%) were strong influencing factors. Specifically, higher arch support and softer material decreased the peak plantar fascia strain. The plantar pressure and plantar fascia loading were sensitive to the arch support feature. The proposed statistics-based finite element flatfoot model could assist the insole optimization and evaluation for individuals with flatfoot.

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Biochar is a promising material and fuel for environmental sustainability. Microalgal biochar is produced using catalytic microwave torrefaction of Chlorella vulgaris FSP-E residue with magnesium oxide as a microwave absorber to enhance heating. Using Taguchi experimental design (TED) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), the effects of microwave power, catalyst concentration, and duration on energy yield are investigated. Both TED and ANOVA confirm the significant effects of microwave power and catalyst concentration, while only a slight effect from duration. The calorific values of produced biochar (21.12-26.22 MJ⋅kg-1) are close to coal. The maximum deoxygenation and carbonization extents are 56.69% and 35.23%, respectively. The optimal parameter combination of low microwave power (450 W), low duration (25 min), and high catalyst concentration (10 wt% MgO) poses the highest upgrading energy index (UEI) value. This confirms that better energy efficiency leans towards light torrefaction conditions with maximized catalyst concentration to produce the maximum energy yield while consuming the least electricity input.

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The need for developing sustainable cement-based materials is crucial for the prevention of environmental degradation and promotion of sustainable technologies. In the present study, a sustainable cement-based material was developed for sandcrete block production using coconut shell ash (CSA). The product development was executed using the Taguchi robust design approach, in which an L18 mixed level orthogonal array was adopted. The process parameters investigated were the end-web to center-web (E/C) ratio of the sandcrete block, water-cement (W/C) ratio and CSA content. The evaluated responses include the compressive strength (CS), bulk density (BD) and water absorption (WA). The result obtained showed that for the CS, all the process parameters had a statistically significant effect at 0.05 alpha level, while only the W/C ratio had a statistically significant effect on the BD and WA. The optimal settings of the process parameters for CS and BD were obtained at E/C ratio of 1:2, W/C ratio of 0.65 and CSA content of 5% while that for WA was obtained at E/C ratio of 1:1, W/C ratio of 0.65 and CSA content of 20%. The developed sandcrete blocks are suitable for load-bearing masonry units and areas with moisture exposure.

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Myrtus communis L. is one of the important aromatic and medicinal species from the Mediterranean area. It is used in various fields such as culinary, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and industrial applications. Thus, a Box-Wilson experimental plan was used in this study to select the optimal operating conditions in order to obtain high volumes of essential oils. The factorial design method was applied to evaluate at an industrial scale the effect of major process variables on the essential oil extraction from Myrtus communis L. herbs by the steam distillation method. The input variables considered as significant operating conditions were: X1-boiler occupancy rate (boilers were filled to 50%, 75%, and 100%), X2-distillation duration (distillation was continued 60, 75, and 90 min), and X3-particle size (herbs were cut in sizes of 10, 20, and 30 mm via guillotine). The dependent variable selected, coded as Y, was the essential oil volume obtained (mL). The steps of the classical statistical experimental design technique were complemented with the Taguchi method to improve the extraction efficacy of essential oil from Myrtus communis L., and the optimum parameter conditions were selected: boiler occupancy rate 100%, distillation duration 75 min, and particle size 20 mm. Following the optimum parameters, the GC-MS assay revealed for the Myrtus communis L. essential oil two predominant components, α-pinene-33.14% and eucalyptol-55.09%.

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Saccharomyces cerevisiae PTCC5269 growth was evaluated to specify an optimum culture medium to reach the highest protein production. Experiment design was conducted using a fraction of the full factorial methodology, and signal to noise ratio was used for results analysis. Maximum cell of 8.84 log (CFU/mL) was resulted using optimized culture composed of 0.3, 0.15, 1, and 50 g L(-1) of ammonium sulfate, iron sulfate, glycine, and glucose, respectively at 300 rpm and 35 °C. Glycine concentration (39.32 % contribution) and glucose concentration (36.15 % contribution) were determined as the most effective factors on the biomass production, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth had showed the least dependence on ammonium sulfate (5.2 % contribution) and iron sulfate (19.28 % contribution). The most interaction was diagnosed between ammonium sulfate and iron sulfate concentrations with interaction severity index of 50.71 %, while the less one recorded for glycine and glucose concentration was equal to 8.12 %. An acceptable consistency of 84.26 % was obtained between optimum theoretical cell numbers determined by software of 8.91 log (CFU/mL), and experimentally measured one at optimal condition confirms the suitability of the applied method. High protein content of 44.6 % using optimum culture suggests that Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a good commercial case for single cell protein production.

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Objective To study the influences of 8 important factors on fatigue evaluation as performing typical upper extremity operation. Methods Thirty-two subjects were divided into young male (G1),mid-age male (G2) and female (G3) groups. They were required to perform right arm flex/extend operation under different situations for 16 runs. L16 (44?23) orthogonal array was used to combine different situations (factors). Brief fatigue inventry(BFI) were recorded and simultaneous manual works (energy) were calculated. Both of them were used to evaluate the operation strategies. Results Difference between G1 and G2 was not significant,whereas it was as large as 39%,between G1+G2 and G3 (P