Search Results (24,250)

Egg parasitoids, such as Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), face significant challenges after release, as their pupae are exposed to various mortality factors that reduce the efficiency of biological control programs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate a honey-solid diet that can feed adults still inside the capsules without sticking the wasps on its surface, enabling parasitoid storage and later field release. Three independent bioassays were performed, each with 20 completely randomized replications. The first bioassay evaluated the acceptance of a solid feed—honey soaked in cotton thread—compared to the traditional form—honey droplets. In the second bioassay, the storage periods after emergence of adults in capsules with honey-solid food were analyzed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 days post-emergence, and the third bioassay studied the efficacy of different release densities of fed adults under field conditions. Parasitoids fed on the honey-solid diet exhibited a 13.3% reduction in parasitism compared to honey droplets. However, the sticky, viscous nature of honey can lead to parasitoids becoming glued, potentially leading to their death. T. remus feeding on the honey-solid diet resulted in low mortality inside the capsules, living up to six days with only 22.2% reduction in parasitism capacity, making it a viable alternative to release and transport fed adult parasitoids, with an increase of around 30% in the released density of parasitoids compared with the parasitoids fed on honey droplets. This flexibility of releasing T. remus up to six days after emergence provided valuable knowledge to establish T. remus as a biocontrol agent. Furthermore, the highest tested parasitoid density of 20,000 parasitoids per hectare obtained the highest parasitism of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) eggs. However, future studies are still required with higher releasing densities and less expensive methods of mass rearing the parasitoid for those higher densities to be economically viable. Full article

Ecosystems are nonlinear systems that can shift between multiple stable states. Ecosystem service bundles (ESBs) integrate the supply and trade-offs of multiple services, yet the conditions for achieving high-supply and balanced states remain unclear from a nonlinear, threshold-based perspective. In this study, six representative ecosystem services in Fujian Province were quantified, and ESBs were identified using a Self-Organizing Map (SOM). By integrating the Multiclass Explainable Boosting Machine (MC-EBM) with the API interpretable algorithm, we propose a framework for exploring ESB driving mechanisms from a nonlinear, threshold-based perspective, addressing two key questions: (1) Which factors dominate ESB formation? (2) What thresholds of these factors promote high-supply, balanced ESBs? Results show that (i) the proportion of water bodies, distance to construction land, annual solar radiation, annual precipitation, population density, and GDP density are the primary driving factors; (ii) higher proportions of water bodies enhance and balance multiple services, whereas intensified human activities significantly reduce supply levels, and ESBs are highly sensitive to climatic variables; (iii) at the 1 km × 1 km grid scale, optimal threshold ranges of the dominant factors substantially increase the likelihood of forming high-supply, balanced ESBs. The MC-EBM effectively reveals ESB formation mechanisms, significantly outperforming multinomial logistic regression in predictive accuracy and demonstrating strong generalizability. The proposed approach provides methodological guidance for multi-service coordination across regions and scales. Corresponding land management strategies are also proposed, which deepen understanding of ESB formation and offer practical references for enhancing ecosystem service supply and reducing trade-offs. Full article

Well cementing is an important step in oil and gas development. It uses cement to seal the formation and the casing, preventing fluid leakage. However, when conducting offshore oil well cementing operations, deep-water formations are usually weakly consolidated soils, and it is difficult to form a good cementation between the cement and formation. Therefore, enhancing the strength of the formation is one of the effective measures. This study uses the microbial-induced carbonate precipitation technology to cement sandy formations containing clay minerals. The triaxial tests were conducted to evaluate the consolidation effectiveness in the presence of three clay minerals: montmorillonite, illite, and kaolinite. X-ray computed tomography was utilized to characterize microscopic pore parameters, while thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and surface potential measurements were applied to analyze the mechanisms of clay minerals affecting microbial consolidation. The results showed that microbial mineralization mainly affects the cohesion of the samples. The cohesion of the montmorillonite sample increased from 20 kPa to 65.4 kPa, an increase of up to 3.27 times. The other two samples (illite and kaolinite) had increases of only 0.33 times and 1.82 times. Although the strength of the montmorillonite sample increased the most, unexpected large pores appeared with a diameter of over 120 µm, accounting for 7.1%. This is mainly attributed to the mineral expansion property. The expansion of the minerals will trap more microorganisms in the sample, thereby generating more calcium carbonate. And it also reduced the gaps between sand particles, creating favorable conditions for the connection of calcium carbonate. Although the surface charge of the minerals also affects the attachment of microorganisms, all three minerals have negative charges and a difference of no more than 0.84 mV (pH = 9). Therefore, the expansion property of the minerals is the dominant factor affecting the mechanical and microstructure of the sample. Full article

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can form symbiotic relationships with most plants. They can alleviate the toxic effects of heavy metals on plants. This study analyzed the effects of AMF (Diversispora versiformis, D.v.) on the physiological responses and root organic acid secretion of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under cadmium (Cd) stress, in order to elucidate how AMF enhance Cd tolerance. The results indicated that when the AMF inoculation rate of tomato seedlings ranged from 26.75% to 38.23%, the AMF treatment significantly promoted tomato growth. Cd significantly reduced the agronomic traits of tomato. However, AMF inoculation dramatically lowered the Cd level from 19.32 mg/kg to 11.54 mg/kg in tomato roots, and effectively reduced the negative effect of Cd toxicity on seedling growth. Cd stress also significantly reduced the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, chlorophyll contents, and photosynthetic intensity parameters in seedling leaves, while the AMF treatment significantly increased these indicators. Under Cd stress, the AMF treatment significantly increased the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT, and reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances in roots. Under Cd stress conditions, the AMF treatment also significantly increased the auxin level (57.24%) and reduced the abscisic acid level (18.19%), but had no significant effect on trans-zeatin riboside and gibberellin contents in roots. Cd stress markedly reduced the content of malic acid and succinic acid by 17.28% and 25.44%, respectively; however, after the AMF inoculation, these indicators only decreased by 2.47% and 2.63%, respectively. Under Cd stress, AMF could increase tomato roots’ antioxidant capacity to reduce ROS level, thereby alleviating the toxicity induced by ROS and maintaining reactive oxygen metabolism, enhancing the plant’s stress resistance. In summary, the AMF treatment enhances the osmotic regulation capacity and maintains the stability of cell membranes by reducing the levels of osmotic regulatory substances in roots. It also enhances the Cd tolerance of tomato plants by regulating the contents of root hormones and aerobic respiration metabolites, among other pathways. Therefore, inoculating plants with AMF is a prospective strategy for enhancing their adaptive capacity to Cd-polluted soils. Full article

Traditionally, retrieving both temperature and CO₂ concentration in atmospheric remote sensing has relied on two independent lidar systems, leading to increased system complexity and limited coordination. To address this challenge, we propose a coordinated retrieval approach using a three-wavelength differential absorption lidar (DIAL) system. A temperature-sensitive wavelength is selected to distinguish strong absorption from weak absorption, forming the tri-wavelength configuration. By exploiting the different sensitivities of absorption cross-sections to thermal and molecular variations, simultaneous retrieval of both parameters is achieved. A standard atmospheric profile under clean-air conditions is constructed. The CO₂ absorption spectrum near 1573 nm is generated using Voigt line shapes and data from the HITRAN database. Extinction and backscatter coefficients are retrieved through the Klett method. A layer-by-layer solution of the coupled differential equations is then performed to extract temperature and concentration simultaneously. Results are benchmarked against the atmospheric model, demonstrating the feasibility of the approach. This method provides a promising pathway for high-precision, multi-parameter DIAL sensing. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive morphological and structural analysis of carbon materials produced via simple thermal methane pyrolysis conducted under laboratory conditions in a quartz reactor without the use of catalysts. The process, carried out at 1000 °C, achieved moderate methane conversion (36.5%), process efficiency (36.1%), and very high selectivity (98.9%) towards hydrogen production, highlighting its potential as a CO₂-free hydrogen generation method. Distinct carbon morphologies were observed depending on the formation areas within the reactor: a predominant flake-like silver carbon formed on reactor walls at temperatures between 600 and 980 °C (accounting for 91% of the solid product) and a minor powdery carbon formed near 980–1000 °C (9% of the solids). The powdery carbon exhibited a high specific surface area (125.3 m²/g), substantial mesoporosity (60%), and porous spherical aggregates, indicating an amorphous structure. In contrast, flake-like carbon demonstrated a low surface area (1.99 m²/g), high structural order confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, and superior thermal stability, making it suitable for advanced applications requiring mechanical robustness. Additionally, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were detected in cooler zones of the reactor, suggesting side reactions in low-temperature areas. The study underscores the impact of temperature zones on carbon structure and properties, emphasizing the importance of precise thermal control to tailor carbon materials for diverse industrial applications while producing clean hydrogen. Full article

In this study, the insufficient ability of tartary buckwheat protein (TBP) to stabilize Pickering emulsions was addressed by preparing TBP–sodium alginate (SA) composite particles via cross-linking and systematic optimization of the preparation parameters. The results showed that at a pH of 9.0 with 1.0% (w/v) TBP and 0.2% (w/v) SA, the zeta potential of the prepared TBP–SA composite particles was significantly more negative, and the particle size was significantly larger, than those of TBP, while emulsifying activity index and emulsifying stability index increased to 53.76 m²/g and 78.78%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of a dense network structure; differential scanning calorimetry revealed a thermal denaturation temperature of 83 °C. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and surface hydrophobicity results indicated that the complex was formed primarily through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between TBP and SA, which induced conformational changes in the protein. The Pickering emulsion prepared with 5% (w/v) TBP–SA composite particles and 60% (φ) oil phase was stable during 4-month storage, at a high temperature of 75 °C, high salt conditions of 600 mM, and pH of 3.0–9.0. The stabilization mechanisms may involve: (1) strong electrostatic repulsion provided by the highly negative zeta potential; (2) steric hindrance and mechanical strength imparted by the dense interfacial network; and (3) restriction of droplet mobility due to SA-induced gelation. Full article

The use of molybdenum-based alloys as materials for components operating under high temperatures and significant mechanical loads is widely recognized due to their excellent mechanical properties. However, their low high-temperature resistance remains a critical limitation, which can be effectively mitigated by applying protective coatings. In this study, we investigate the influence of a two-step coating process on the properties and performance of the TZM molybdenum alloy. In the first step, pack cementation was performed. Simultaneous surface saturation with aluminum and silicon, a process known as aluminosiliconizing, was conducted at 1000 °C for 6 h. The saturating mixture comprised powders of aluminum, silicon, aluminum oxide, and ammonium chloride. The second step involved the application of a pre-ceramic coating based on polyhydrosiloxane modified with silicon and boron. This treatment effectively eliminated pores and cracks within the coating. Thermodynamic calculations were carried out to evaluate the likelihood of aluminizing and siliconizing reactions under the applied conditions. Aluminosiliconizing of the TZM alloy resulted in the formation of a protective layer 20–30 µm thick. The multiphase structure of this layer included intermetallics (Al₆₃Mo₃₇, MoAl₃), nitrides (Mo₂N, AlN, Si₃N₄), oxide (Al₂O₃), and a solid solution α-Mo(Al). Subsequent treatment with silicon- and boron-modified polyhydrosiloxane led to the development of a thicker surface layer, 130–160 µm in thickness, composed of crystalline Si, amorphous SiO₂, and likely amorphous boron. A transitional oxide layer ((Al,Si)₂O₃) 5–7 µm thick was also observed. The resulting coating demonstrated excellent structural integrity and chemical inertness in an argon atmosphere at temperatures up to 1100 °C. High-temperature stability at 800 °C was observed for both coating types: aluminosiliconizing, and aluminosiliconizing followed by the pre-ceramic coating. Moreover, additional oxide layers of SiO₂ and B₂O₃ formed on the two-step coated TZM alloy during heating at 800 °C for 24 h. These layers acted as an effective barrier, preventing the evaporation of the substrate material. Full article

Chromium (Cr), a toxic heavy metal, poses significant environmental and health risks when industrial effluents containing Cr are discharged untreated. Addressing this challenge, this study developed a selective chromium removal strategy using IRA-900 resin in a sulfuric acid system with sodium phosphite (NaH₂PO₃) as a complexing agent. In the NaH₂PO₃-H₂SO₄ system, IRA-900 resin exhibited exceptional selectivity for Cr³⁺ with minimal co-adsorption of competing ions. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm model (R² > 0.99), indicating monolayer chemisorption dominated by homogeneous active sites, and achieved a maximum capacity of 103.56 mg·g⁻¹. Characterization via XPS, FT-IR, and SEM-EDS revealed a two-step mechanism: Cr³⁺ reacts with H₂PO₃⁻ to form an anionic complex, and then the complex undergoes electrostatic interaction and ion exchange with chloride ions (Cl⁻) on the quaternary ammonium groups of the resin. The chromium-loaded resin demonstrated remarkable structural stability, resisting Cr³⁺ desorption under conventional elution conditions. This property provides a novel pathway for chromium solidification in industrial wastewater, effectively minimizing secondary pollution risks. This work advances the design of ligand-assisted ion-exchange systems for targeted heavy metal removal, offering both high selectivity and environmental compatibility in wastewater treatment. Full article

Background/Clinical Significance: Development of acute antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) of allograft is one of the leading causes of mortality in heart-transplant recipients; however, the standard therapy does not always resolve severe forms of rejection. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a method of immunomodulatory therapy that involves separating a patient’s white blood cells and treating them with a photosensitizer and ultraviolet A irradiation. Case Presentation: An 18-year-old female patient was urgently hospitalized with complaints of shortness of breath. She had undergone heart-transplant surgery 9 months before due to congenital heart disease restrictive cardiomyopathy, complicated with end-stage chronic heart failure. During the admission she admitted that for 3 weeks she discontinued tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. AMR3 and CAV were verified. Conclusions: The use of standard approaches in the treatment of acute AMR is not always able to suppress an expressed immune reaction against the cardiac allograft, which leads to disruption of its function and rejection in the early or long-term follow-up. The inclusion of ECP in the treatment regimen allowed us to stabilize the patient’s condition and achieve regression in the severity of the AMR. It is believed that an important role in this was played by the activity of the immune system, which we assessed by changing the profile of cytokines, chemokines, and other growth factors. Thus, ECP demonstrated its effectiveness in the treatment of AMR of the cardiac allograft, with a change in the severity of the cytokine storm, as well as with an increase in the contribution of cytokines associated with the Th17 response. Full article

Background: Tyrosinase is a copper-dependent oxyreductase capable of catalyzing the oxidation of mono- and diphenols. Its activity is crucial in the biosynthetic pathway of melanin, the pigment responsible for the pigmentation of mammalian skin and fur, and protecting their skin from harmful UV radiation. Overproduction of this pigment leads to numerous pathological conditions, including the most severe form of skin cancer—malignant melanoma. Furthermore, tyrosinase produced in plant tissues leads to the browning of damaged vegetables and fruits. Therefore, the search for compounds that effectively and efficiently control tyrosinase activity is desirable for both pharmaceutical and food applications. Methods: A group of six boronate derivatives of thiosemicarbazones was synthesized, and their inhibitory properties against tyrosinase were determined. Furthermore, their ability to inhibit melanogenesis and proliferation in SK-MEL-3 and Hs294T cells was investigated. Docking simulations were performed to determine the nature of the inhibitor–protein interactions. Results: The tested inhibitors exhibited half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) in the micromolar range. The best inhibitor, compound 6, had an IC₅₀ of 1.4 µM. The tested compounds exhibited poor selectivity for cell lines capable of high and low tyrosinase overexpression, with inhibitor 4 proving to be the most selective compound among those tested. Molecular modeling results indicate that the compounds with the highest activity against tyrosinase interact with the active cavity and the copper ions present within it via a boron moiety substituted on the aromatic ring of the thiosemicarbazones. Cell-based experiments indicated limited antiproliferative effects up to 100 µM across the tested lines. The compounds demonstrated weak antiproliferative effects in SK-MEL-3 and Hs-294T up to 100 µM. Conclusions: Our results show that the introduction of a boronic acid moiety is an alternative to carboxylic acid derivatives, improving the inhibitory activity of boron analogs (by fourfold) against fungal tyrosinase. Full article

JP-10 (exo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene) is a high-energy-density hydrocarbon broadly used in advanced aerospace propulsion as a regenerative cooling fluid; in this study, we aimed to clarify how fuel pressure affects its thermal degradation (oxidative and pyrolytic) in near-isothermal flowing reactor. Experiments were performed under oxidative conditions (wall temperature 623.15 K, p = 0.708–6.816 MPa) and pyrolytic conditions (wall temperature 793.15 K, p = 2.706–7.165 MPa); carbon deposits were quantified by LECO analysis, oxidation activity was assessed by temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), and morphology was performed by FESEM and EDS. Results show that oxidative coking is minimal (5.37–14.95 μg·cm²) and largely insensitive to pressure in the liquid phase (1.882–6.816 MPa), whereas at 0.708 MPa (gas/phase-change conditions), deposition increases, implicating phase and local heat-transfer effects. Under oxidative conditions, deposits are predominantly amorphous carbon with a disordered structure, formed at relatively low temperatures, with only a few fiber-like metal sulfides identified by EDS. In contrast, under pyrolysis conditions, the deposits are predominantly carbon nanotubes, exhibiting well-defined tubular morphology formed at elevated temperatures via metal-catalyzed growth. The pyrolysis coking yield is substantially higher (66.88–221.89 μg·cm⁻²) and increases with pressure. The findings imply that the pressure influences the coking of JP-10 via phase state under oxidative conditions and residence time under pyrolytic conditions, while basic morphologies of coke deposits remain similar; operationally, maintaining the working pressure higher than the saturated vapor pressure can mitigate oxidation coking associated with phase transitions, and minimizing residence time can mitigate pyrolytic coking. Full article

Modifying lubricants with hard material particles improves lubricant performance by allowing the particles to penetrate the contact area and separate the contacting surfaces. The use of solid particles as additives in fluid lubricants presents a promising avenue for providing effective lubrication under high loads in sheet metal forming. This article presents the results of friction tests using the bending under tension friction tribotester. Low-carbon DC01 steel sheets were used as the test material. The main goal of the study was to determine the effect of lubricant modification by adding MoS₂ and SiO₂ particles and the modification of 145Cr6 steel countersamples on the coefficient of friction (CoF), changes in friction-induced surface roughness and friction mechanisms. The surfaces of the countersamples were modified using electron beam melting and the ion implantation of lead (IPb). It was found that increasing the SiO₂ and MoS₂ content in DC01/145Cr6 and DC01/IPb contacts under base oil lubrication conditions resulted in a decrease in the CoF value. For the countersample subjected to electron beam melting, considering all friction conditions, the CoF decreased between 31.9% and 37.5%. Full article

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play vital roles in crop growth. However, conventional fertilizers exhibit low utilization efficiency, making them prone to causing resource wastage and water eutrophication. Although metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great potential for application in controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs), currently reported MOF-based CRFs suffer from low nutrient content, which limits their further application. To address this issue, this study synthesized a series of hierarchically porous MOFs, denoted as MIL-156(X), using sodium acetate as a modulator under hydrothermal conditions. These materials were subsequently loaded with urea and phosphate from aqueous solution to form MOFs-based CRFs (N-P-MIL-156(X)). Results indicate that MIL-156(X) retain microporous integrity while incorporating abundant mesopores. Increasing modulator content reduced particle size and average pore diameter but increased specific surface area and adsorption capacity for urea and phosphate. MIL-156-H (with a high modulator content addition) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity, conforming to Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. The adsorption mechanisms of urea and phosphate involved hydrogen bonding and the formation of Ca intra-spherical complexes, respectively. N-P-MIL-156-H contained 10.8% N and 16.3% P₂O₅, with sustained release durations exceeding 42 days (N) and 56 days (P₂O₅) in an aqueous solution. Pot trials demonstrated significantly higher nutrient use efficiency (N-44.8%, P₂O₅-16.56%) and a 12.22% yield increase compared to conventional fertilization (N-35.6%, P₂O₅-13.32%). Thus, N-P-MIL-156-H-based fertilization significantly promotes rice growth and N/P utilization efficiency, offering a promising strategy for developing controlled-release fertilizers and improving nutrient management. Full article

Red mud, a by-product of aluminum production, leads to significant environmental challenges due to its alkalinity and presence of soluble compounds. This study explores its valorization through agglomeration with blast furnace sludge as a reducing agent to form self-reducing briquettes. Five C/Fe₂O₃ ratios (0.131, 0.262, 0.523, 0.840 and 1.000) were tested to determine the most effective reducing condition, with 0.840 emerging as optimal based on thermal analysis (mass loss of 27.44 wt.% at 1200 °C and iron formation specific energy of 450 J g⁻¹). Briquettes prepared with three agglomeration methods varying in water content (water/starch ratios of 6:1, 12:1 and 18:1) were evaluated through drop, compression and abrasion tests. The agglomeration method with a 12:1 water/solid ratio, involving both starch gelatinization and red mud water absorption, produced the most mechanically resistant briquettes (19.210 MPa). The mechanical and metallurgical properties of the 0.840-2W briquettes after reduction at 700, 950, 1200 and 1450 °C (temperature maintenance for 15 min) were assessed to define the best compromise between the reduction degree and mechanical strength. While reduction at 950 °C led to the weakest structure (0.449 MPa) but poor metallization, 1450 °C ensured the highest degree of reduction (94%) with adequate brittleness to facilitate a possible subsequent magnetic separation. Full article