Technologies

23 pages, 1095 KiB

Open AccessReview

Production Technologies, Regulatory Parameters, and Quality Control of Vaccine Vectors for Veterinary Use

by Raquel de M. Barbosa, Amélia M. Silva, Classius F. da Silva, Juliana C. Cardoso, Patricia Severino, Lyghia M. A. Meirelles, Arnobio A. da Silva-Junior, César Viseras, Joel Fonseca and Eliana B. Souto

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050109 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4633

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the main types of vaccines approaching production technology, regulatory parameters, and the quality control of vaccines. Bioinformatic tools and computational strategies have been used in the research and development of new pharmaceutical products, reducing the time [...] Read more.

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the main types of vaccines approaching production technology, regulatory parameters, and the quality control of vaccines. Bioinformatic tools and computational strategies have been used in the research and development of new pharmaceutical products, reducing the time between supposed pharmaceutical product candidates (R&D steps) and final products (to be marketed). In fact, in the reverse vaccinology field, in silico studies can be very useful in identifying possible vaccine targets from databases. In addition, in some cases (subunit or RNA/ DNA vaccines), the in silico approach permits: (I) the evaluation of protein immunogenicity through the prediction of epitopes, (II) the potential adverse effects of antigens through the projection of similarity to host proteins, (III) toxicity and (IV) allergenicity, contributing to obtaining safe, effective, stable, and economical vaccines for existing and emerging infectious pathogens. Additionally, the rapid growth of emerging infectious diseases in recent years should be considered a driving force for developing and implementing new vaccines and reassessing vaccine schedules in companion animals, food animals, and wildlife disease control. Comprehensive and well-planned vaccination schedules are effective strategies to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Technologies—Recent Advances and Perspectives)

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29 pages, 4740 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Thermal Inkjet Printing: Prospects and Applications in the Development of Medicine

by Md Jasim Uddin, Jasmin Hassan and Dennis Douroumis

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050108 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 10621

Abstract

Over the last 10 years, inkjet printing technologies have advanced significantly and found several applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sector. Thermal inkjet printing is one of the most widely used techniques due to its versatility in the development of bioinks for cell [...] Read more.

Over the last 10 years, inkjet printing technologies have advanced significantly and found several applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical sector. Thermal inkjet printing is one of the most widely used techniques due to its versatility in the development of bioinks for cell printing or biosensors and the potential to fabricate personalized medications of various forms such as films and tablets. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion of the principles of inkjet printing technologies highlighting their advantages and limitations. Furthermore, the review covers a wide range of case studies and applications for precision medicine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Technologies—Recent Advances and Perspectives)

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10 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation Based on the Distance from the Average Solution Approach: A Derivative Model for Evaluating and Selecting a Construction Manager

by Phuong Thanh Phan and Phong Thanh Nguyen

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050107 - 14 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1453

Abstract

In the current market of integration and globalization, the competition between engineering and construction companies is increasing. Construction contractors can improve their competitiveness by evaluating and selecting qualified personnel for the construction engineering manager position for their company’s civil engineering projects. However, most [...] Read more.

In the current market of integration and globalization, the competition between engineering and construction companies is increasing. Construction contractors can improve their competitiveness by evaluating and selecting qualified personnel for the construction engineering manager position for their company’s civil engineering projects. However, most personnel evaluation and selection models in the construction industry rely on qualitative techniques, which leads to unsuitable decisions. To overcome this problem, this paper presents evaluation criteria and proposes a new model for selecting construction managers based on the evaluation based on the distance from the average solution approach (EDASA). The research results showed that EDASA has many strengths, such as solving the problem faster when the number of evaluation criteria or the number of alternatives is increased. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Technologies—Recent Advances and Perspectives)

19 pages, 2288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Data Model Design to Support Data-Driven IT Governance Implementation

by Vittoria Biagi and Angela Russo

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050106 - 08 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3272

Abstract

Organizations must quickly adapt their processes to understand the dynamic nature of modern business environments. As highlighted in the literature, centralized governance supports decision-making and performance measurement processes in technology companies. For this reason, a reliable decision-making system with an integrated data model [...] Read more.

Organizations must quickly adapt their processes to understand the dynamic nature of modern business environments. As highlighted in the literature, centralized governance supports decision-making and performance measurement processes in technology companies. For this reason, a reliable decision-making system with an integrated data model that enables the rapid collection and transformation of data stored in heterogeneous and different sources is needed. Therefore, this paper proposes the design of a data model to implement data-driven governance through a literature review of adopted approaches. The lack of a standardized procedure and a disconnection between theoretical frameworks and practical application has emerged. This paper documented the suggested approach following these steps: (i) mapping of monitoring requirements to the data structure, (ii) documentation of ER diagram design, and (iii) reporting dashboards used for monitoring and reporting. The paper helped fill the gaps highlighted in the literature by supporting the design and development of a DWH data model coupled with a BI system. The application prototype shows benefits for top management, particularly those responsible for governance and operations, especially for risk monitoring, audit compliance, communication, knowledge sharing on strategic areas of the company, and identification and implementation of performance improvements and optimizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data Science and Big Data in Biology, Physical Science and Engineering)

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17 pages, 8852 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep Neural Network for Lung Image Segmentation on Chest X-ray

by Mahesh Chavan, Vijayakumar Varadarajan, Shilpa Gite and Ketan Kotecha

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050105 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3512

Abstract

COVID-19 patients require effective diagnostic methods, which are currently in short supply. In this study, we explained how to accurately identify the lung regions on the X-ray scans of such people’s lungs. Images from X-rays or CT scans are critical in the healthcare [...] Read more.

COVID-19 patients require effective diagnostic methods, which are currently in short supply. In this study, we explained how to accurately identify the lung regions on the X-ray scans of such people’s lungs. Images from X-rays or CT scans are critical in the healthcare business. Image data categorization and segmentation algorithms have been developed to help doctors save time and reduce manual errors during the diagnosis. Over time, CNNs have consistently outperformed other image segmentation algorithms. Various architectures are presently based on CNNs such as ResNet, U-Net, VGG-16, etc. This paper merged the U-Net image segmentation and ResNet feature extraction networks to construct the ResUNet++ network. The paper’s novelty lies in the detailed discussion and implementation of the ResUNet++ architecture in lung image segmentation. In this research paper, we compared the ResUNet++ architecture with two other popular segmentation architectures. The ResNet residual block helps us in lowering the feature reduction issues. ResUNet++ performed well compared with the UNet and ResNet architectures by achieving high evaluation scores with the validation dice coefficient (96.36%), validation mean IoU (94.17%), and validation binary accuracy (98.07%). The novelty of this research paper lies in a detailed discussion of the UNet and ResUNet architectures and the implementation of ResUNet++ in lung images. As per our knowledge, until now, the ResUNet++ architecture has not been performed on lung image segmentation. We ran both the UNet and ResNet models for the same amount of epochs and found that the ResUNet++ architecture achieved higher accuracy with fewer epochs. In addition, the ResUNet model gave us higher accuracy (94%) than the UNet model (92%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medical Imaging & Image Processing III)

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11 pages, 2490 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Exploration of Educational Possibilities by Four Metaverse Types in Physical Education

by Ji-Eun Yu

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050104 - 23 Sep 2022

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8389

Abstract

The metaverse has been evolving the internet-based education represented by e-learning. Metaverse technology is currently being developed as a platform centered on content-based information industries. It can be classified into four categories: augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror worlds, and virtual worlds. Although current research [...] Read more.

The metaverse has been evolving the internet-based education represented by e-learning. Metaverse technology is currently being developed as a platform centered on content-based information industries. It can be classified into four categories: augmented reality, lifelogging, mirror worlds, and virtual worlds. Although current research finds that the potential of the metaverse is not small in the education world, and metaverse technology is already being used in the sports world, concrete applications have not been investigated. The main aims of this study, which started with this purpose, can be summarized as follows. The metaverse environment is still in its rudimentary stage, and its use related to physical education subjects is only at the game level. In the future, the utilization of the metaverse by physical education subjects will be possible in universities only when more specialized technology is grafted into various sports. Ultimately, this study contributes to expanding the scope and depth of follow-up research by offering basic data showing the direction of metaverse-based physical education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Centered Cyber-Physical Systems)

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13 pages, 27820 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Design and Implementation of an Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm Prosthesis

by Valentina A. Yurova, Gleb Velikoborets and Andrei Vladyko

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050103 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4550

Abstract

The development and manufacture of prosthetic limbs is one of the important tendencies of the development of medical techniques. Taking into account the development of modern electronic technology and automated systems and its mobility and compactness, the actual task is to create a [...] Read more.

The development and manufacture of prosthetic limbs is one of the important tendencies of the development of medical techniques. Taking into account the development of modern electronic technology and automated systems and its mobility and compactness, the actual task is to create a prosthesis that will be close to a fully functioning human limb in its anthropomorphic properties and will be capable of reproducing its basic actions with a high accuracy. The paper analyzes the main directions in the development of a control system for electronic limb prostheses. The description and results of the practical implementation of a prototype of an anthropomorphic prosthetic arm and its control system are presented in the paper. We developed an anthropomorphic multi-finger artificial hand for utilization in robotic research and teaching applications. The designed robotic hand is a low-cost alternative to other known 3D printed robotic hands and has 21 degrees of freedom—4 degrees of freedom for each finger, 3 degrees for the thumb and 2 degrees responsible for the position of the robotic hand in space. The open-source mechanical design of the presented robotic arm has mass-dimensional and motor parameters close to the human hand, with the possibility of autonomous battery operation, the ability to connect different control systems, such as from a computer, an electroencephalograph, a touch glove. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of Technologies—Recent Advances and Perspectives)

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9 pages, 1928 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Machine-Learning-Based Approach to Critical Geometrical Feature Identification and Segmentation in Additive Manufacturing

by Alexandre Staub, Lucas Brunner, Adriaan B. Spierings and Konrad Wegener

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050102 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1891

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes offer a good opportunity to manufacture three- dimensional objects using various materials. However, many of the processes, notably laser Powder bed fusion, face limitations in manufacturing specific geometrical features due to their physical constraints, such as the thermal conductivity [...] Read more.

Additive manufacturing (AM) processes offer a good opportunity to manufacture three- dimensional objects using various materials. However, many of the processes, notably laser Powder bed fusion, face limitations in manufacturing specific geometrical features due to their physical constraints, such as the thermal conductivity of the surrounding medium, the internal stresses, and the warpage or weight of the part being manufactured. This work investigates the opportunity to use machine learning algorithms in order to identify hard-to-manufacture geometrical features. The segmentation of these features from the main body of the part permits the application of different manufacturing strategies to improve the overall manufacturability. After selecting features that are particularly problematic during laser powder bed fusion using stainless steel, an algorithm is trained using simple geometries, which permits the identification of hard-to-manufacture features on new parts with a success rate of 88%, showing the potential of this approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Processing Technologies of Innovative Materials)

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14 pages, 5549 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Solar Energy Management Using a V-Groove: An Approach Based on a Multiple Optical Path Algorithm

by Fadel Kawtharani, Bruno Serio, Geraldine Guida, Patrice Twardowski and Mohammad Hammoud

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050101 - 12 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1612

Abstract

Angular and spectral separations of thermal radiation have become a key challenge in solar concentration or thermal management of sources radiating at extremely high or low temperatures. Reflections obtained from electromagnetic theory in an open cavity geometry increase the emission and absorption compared [...] Read more.

Angular and spectral separations of thermal radiation have become a key challenge in solar concentration or thermal management of sources radiating at extremely high or low temperatures. Reflections obtained from electromagnetic theory in an open cavity geometry increase the emission and absorption compared to a flat surface due to the cavity effect. In this paper, in order to obtain the directional emission of geometric surfaces (V-Grooves) using ray tracing and studying the propagation of light, a new algorithm is developed. The numerical simulations take into account the materials properties of both facets of the V-shape, thus simulating an original asymmetric and a multilayer V-shape and providing a very interesting directive thermal emission behavior. We evaluated the emission behavior from the reflection and emission coefficients of different rays at different angles for different parameters (materials properties, wavelength, and geometry). The simulations of a V-groove showed that due to the different reflections occurring inside an aluminum V-cavity with an aperture angle of 28°, the emissivity was well enhanced by 86% in the normal direction compared to a flat surface made of the same material. Moreover, using the original asymmetric opposite-sided materials (Al and Si) in a V- groove, it was possible to separate and control the emission by focusing the radiation or directing different spectral bands in different directions. Full article

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23 pages, 3900 KiB

Open AccessReview

Application of Blockchain Technology in Environmental Health: Literature Review and Prospect of Visualization Based on CiteSpace

by Meiwen Guo, Zhenheng Huang, Liang Wu, Cheng Ling Tan, Jianping Peng, Xingcheng Guo and Hong Chen

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050100 - 07 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2437

Abstract

Blockchain technology and its applications have recently become a research hotspot. Its three core technologies, distributed ledger, smart contract, and consensus mechanism, provide trust-enhancing features such as tamper-proof records, full traceability, and data decentralization for a wide range of applications. This paper investigates [...] Read more.

Blockchain technology and its applications have recently become a research hotspot. Its three core technologies, distributed ledger, smart contract, and consensus mechanism, provide trust-enhancing features such as tamper-proof records, full traceability, and data decentralization for a wide range of applications. This paper investigates the use of blockchain technology in environmental health. It investigates indicators such as the number of articles published, author collaboration network, research institution network, and keyword co-occurrence in this field between 2014 and 2021. It describes and analyzes the development and connotations of these indicators. Many scholars have conducted in-depth studies on blockchain in various areas. Still, there are few cross-over studies on environmental health and a lack of cross-over studies on technology application in multiple fields. The current study investigates the evolution of research on the application of blockchain technology in environmental health, as well as potential development patterns and research trends, to provide a theoretical foundation for the application and sustainability of blockchain technology in this field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Information and Communication Technologies)

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21 pages, 1475 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Selected Techniques for Cutting SO_x Emissions in Maritime Industry

by Christos Papadopoulos, Marios Kourtelesis, Anastasia Maria Moschovi, Konstantinos Miltiadis Sakkas and Iakovos Yakoumis

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050099 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4185

Abstract

Burning fuels with high sulfur content leads to SO_x emissions, especially SO₂, which leads to various environmental and health problems. The maritime sector is responsible for 13% of the global anthropogenic emissions of SO₂. Thus, the International Maritime [...] Read more.

Burning fuels with high sulfur content leads to SO_x emissions, especially SO₂, which leads to various environmental and health problems. The maritime sector is responsible for 13% of the global anthropogenic emissions of SO₂. Thus, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued a protocol, known as MARPOL Annex VI, which aims to further limit SO₂ emissions derived from ships along with NO_x, particulate matter and volatile organic compound emissions. This has led ship owners and operators to choose between more expensive fuels with low sulfur content or to apply a DeSO_x solution, which still allows them to use the cheapest heavy fuel oil. The current work reviews the state-of-the-art DeSO_x solutions both for the maritime and land-based sector. Next, it proposes an alternative cheaper and environmentally friendly DeSO_x solution based on the selective reduction of SO₂ to elemental sulfur by utilizing a catalytic converter based on metal oxides, similar to the ones used in the automotive industry. Finally, it reviews the most promising metal oxide catalysts reported in the literature for the selective reduction of SO₂ towards elemental sulfur. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in the Sustainability Assessment of Building and Infrastructure Projects)

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30 pages, 8357 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Digitization of Manufacturing Processes: From Sensing to Twining

by Panagiotis Stavropoulos

Technologies 2022, 10(5), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/technologies10050098 - 30 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3124

Abstract

Zero-defect manufacturing and flexibility in production lines is driven from accurate Digital Twins (DT) which monitor, understand, and predict the behavior of a manufacturing process under different conditions while also adapting to them by deciding the right course of action in time intervals [...] Read more.

Zero-defect manufacturing and flexibility in production lines is driven from accurate Digital Twins (DT) which monitor, understand, and predict the behavior of a manufacturing process under different conditions while also adapting to them by deciding the right course of action in time intervals relevant to the captured phenomenon. During the exploration of the alternative approaches for the development of process twins, significant efforts should be made for the selection of acquisition devices and signal-processing techniques to extract meaningful information from the studied process. As such, in Industry 4.0 era, machine tools are equipped with embedded sensors that give feedback related to the process efficiency and machine health, while additional sensors are installed to capture process-related phenomena, feeding simulation tools and decision-making algorithms. Although the maturity level of some process mechanisms facilitates the representation of the physical world with the aid of physics-based models, data-driven models are proposed for complex phenomena and non-mature processes. This paper introduces the components of Digital Twin and gives emphasis on the steps that are required to transform obtained data into meaningful information that will be used in a Digital Twin. The introduced steps are identified in a case study from the milling process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Innovations in Manufacturing Technologies)

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Technologies, Volume 10, Issue 5 (October 2022) – 12 articles

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