Search Results (196)

A prepared dish needs to be reheated before eating, and various reheating methods affect its flavor quality. This study evaluated the influence of stir-frying reheating, steaming reheating and microwave reheating on moisture content, lipid oxidation and flavor profiles of prepared beef with tangerine peel. Stir-frying reheating samples obtained a higher moisture content and the highest thiobarbituric acid reactive substance value. Fifty-seven volatile compounds were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, of which fifteen compounds were considered as odor-active compounds with an odor activity value > 1. Aldehydes were the most prominent contributors to the aroma of reheated samples. Results revealed that stir-frying reheating samples had the most varieties of odor-active compounds, and the odor activity values of most of them were relatively higher. The heatmap analysis based on the odor activity values indicated that the stir-frying reheating process could maintain the original flavor of samples. A total of fifty-two volatile organic compounds were identified by gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry, and the principal component analysis revealed that the three reheated samples could be well distinguished from each other. Moreover, the content of free amino acids and nucleotides in stir-frying reheating samples was higher than that in other reheated samples. In conclusion, different reheating treatments affected the flavor quality of beef samples, and stir-frying process was better to obtain the aroma and taste characteristics of samples. The results of this study could provide useful information about the appropriate reheating method of a dish of prepared beef with tangerine peel for consumers, caterers and industrial production. Full article

The Zigui Basin, located in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, has developed numerous landslides due to its interlayering of sandstone and mudstone, geological structure, and reservoir operations. This study identifies a fourth type of landslide failure mode: an oblique-dip slope wedge (OdSW) landslide, based on the Wanshuitian landslide. Following four heavy rainfall events from 3 to 13 July 2024, this landslide exhibited significant deformation on the 17th and was completely destroyed within 40 min. The dimensions of the landslide were 350 m in length, 160 m in width, and 20 m in thickness, with a volume estimated at 8.0 × 10⁵ m³. The characteristics of landslide deformation and the changes in moisture content within the shallow slide body were ascertained using unmanned aerial vehicles, moisture meters, and mobile phone photography. The landslide was identified to have occurred within the weathered residual layer of mudstone, situated between two sandstone layers, with the eastern boundary defined by an inclined rock layer. Upon transitioning into the accelerated deformation stage, the landslide initially exhibited uniform overall sliding deformation, culminating in accelerated deformation destruction. The dip structure created terrain disparities, resulting in a step-like terrain on the left bank and gentler slopes on the right bank, with interbedded soil and rock in a shallow layer, because the interlayered soft and hard geological conditions caused varied weathering and erosion patterns on the riverbank slopes. The interbedded weak–hard stratum layer fostered the development of the oblique-dip slope wedge landslide. Based on the improved Green–Ampt model, we developed a stability prediction methodology for an oblique-dip slope wedge landslide and determined the rainfall infiltration depth threshold of the Wanshuitian landslide (9.8 m). This study aimed not merely to sharpen the evolution mechanism and stability prediction of the Wanshuitian landslide but also to formulate more effective landslide-monitoring strategies and emergency management measures. Full article

Non-destructive tests are especially useful for the assessment of building stones and their deterioration in built cultural heritage. Gamma-ray spectrometry is a non-destructive test that has not been applied extensively in these types of constructions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to show the results of gamma-ray spectrometry for limestone characterization and deterioration assessment. This study was conducted in the North Temple of the Archaeological Zone of Chichen Itza and several outcrops in the area. Gamma-ray spectrometry data were corrected for attenuation caused by the moisture content in rocks to calculate the real radioelements concentrations using linear regression, with interpretation based on their mobility resulting from chemical weathering processes. The results obtained with gamma-ray spectrometry were corroborated by laboratory analyses, demonstrating that stones from the North Temple are more weathered than rocks from the outcrops, and that some limestones have clasts derived from terrigenous sources, causing them to show slightly higher radiation, which can be distinguished easily with gamma-ray spectrometry, even when lithology cannot be recognized in plain sight. Gamma-ray spectrometry proved to be useful for limestone characterization, and data obtained can be correlated with parameters from other analyses. Full article

Broth cooking is a traditional pretreatment and ripening strategy for high-commercial-value dehydrated marine food, effectively enhancing its texture and rehydration properties. In this work, we characterized the structural information of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) derived from beef scrap stock and investigated their effects on the texture and rehydration performance of dehydrated abalone. The optical and structural properties of the MRPs were analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and fluorescence spectroscopy. These MRPs showed osmosis in abalone processing including pretreatment and drying. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) results revealed that MRP pretreatment improved the moisture migration and physicochemical properties of dehydrated abalone. These findings suggest that MRPs, owing to their high osmotic efficiency and nanoscale size, could serve as promising food additives and potential alternatives to traditional penetrating agents in the food industry, enhancing the rehydration performance of dried seafood and reducing quality deterioration. Full article

High moisture content (MC) harms wheat storage quality and readily leads to mold growth. Accurate localization of abnormal/high-moisture regions enables early warning, ensuring proper storage and reducing economic losses. The present study introduces the 2D microwave scanning method and investigates a novel localization method for addressing such a challenge. Both static and scanning experiments were performed on a developed mobile and non-destructive microwave detection system to quantify the MC of wheat and then locate abnormal moisture regions. For quantifying the wheat’s MC, a dual-parameter wheat MC prediction model with the random forest (RF) algorithm was constructed, achieving a high accuracy (R² = 0.9846, MSE = 0.2768, MAE = 0.3986). MC scanning experiments were conducted by synchronized moving waveguides; the maximum absolute error of MC prediction was 0.565%, with a maximum relative error of 3.166%. Furthermore, both one- and two-dimensional localizing methods were proposed for localizing abnormal moisture regions. The one-dimensional method evaluated two approaches—attenuation value and absolute attenuation gradient—using computer simulation technology (CST) modeling and scanning experiments. The experimental results confirmed the superior performance of the absolute gradient method, with a center detection error of less than 12 mm in the anomalous wheat moisture region and a minimum width detection error of 1.4 mm. The study performed two-dimensional antenna scanning and effectively imaged the high-MC regions using phase delay analysis. The imaging results coincide with the actual locations of moisture anomaly regions. This study demonstrated a promising solution for accurately localizing the wheat’s abnormal/high-moisture regions with the use of an emerging microwave transmission method. Full article

The escalating impacts and occurrence of wildfires threaten the public, economies, and global ecosystems. Physiologically declining or dead trees are a great portion of the fires because these trees are prone to higher ignition and have lower moisture content. To prevent wildfires, hazardous vegetation needs to be removed, and the vegetation should be identified early on. This work proposes a real-time fire risk tree detection framework using UAV images, which is based on lightweight object detection. The model uses the MobileNetV3-Small spine, which is optimized for edge deployment, combined with an SSD head. This configuration results in a highly optimized and fast UAV-based inference pipeline. The dataset used in this study comprises over 3000 annotated RGB UAV images of trees in healthy, partially dead, and fully dead conditions, collected from mixed real-world forest scenes and public drone imagery repositories. Thorough evaluation shows that the proposed model outperforms conventional SSD and recent YOLOs on Precision (94.1%), Recall (93.7%), mAP (90.7%), F1 (91.0%) while being light-weight (8.7 MB) and fast (62.5 FPS on Jetson Xavier NX). These findings strongly support the model’s effectiveness for large-scale continuous forest monitoring to detect health degradations and mitigate wildfire risks proactively. The framework UAV-based environmental monitoring systems differentiates itself by incorporating a balance between detection accuracy, speed, and resource efficiency as fundamental principles. Full article

Chromium slag sites pose severe environmental risks due to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination, characterized by high mobility and toxicity. This study focused on chromium-contaminated soil from a historical chromium slag site in North China, where long-term accumulation of chromate production residues has led to serious Cr(VI) pollution, with Cr(VI) accounting for 13–22% of total chromium and far exceeding national soil risk control standards. To elucidate Cr(VI) transformation mechanisms and elemental linkages, a combined approach of macro-scale condition experiments and micro-scale analysis was employed. Results showed that acidic conditions (pH < 7) significantly enhanced Cr(VI) reduction efficiency by promoting the conversion of CrO₄²⁻ to HCrO₄⁻/Cr₂O₇²⁻. Among reducing agents, FeSO₄ exhibited the strongest effect (reduction efficiency >30%), followed by citric acid and fulvic acid. Temperature variations (−20 °C to 30 °C) had minimal impact on Cr(VI) transformation in the 45-day experiment, while soil moisture (20–25%) indirectly facilitated Cr(VI) reduction by enhancing the reduction of agent diffusion and microbial activity, though its effect was weaker than chemical interventions. Soil grain-size composition influenced Cr(VI) distribution unevenly: larger particles (>0.2 mm) in BC-35 and BC-36-4 acted as main Cr(VI) reservoirs due to accumulated Fe-Mn oxides, whereas BC-36-3 showed increased Cr(VI) in smaller particles (<0.074 mm). μ-XRF and correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations between Cr and Ca, Fe, Mn, Ni (Pearson coefficient > 0.7, p < 0.01), attributed to adsorption–reduction coupling on iron-manganese oxide surfaces. In contrast, Cr showed weak correlations with Mg, Al, Si, and K. This study clarifies the complex factors governing Cr(VI) behavior in chromium slag soils, providing a scientific basis for remediation strategies such as pH adjustment (4–6) combined with FeSO₄ addition to enhance Cr(VI) reduction efficiency. Full article

Clay is a widely used material with unique properties that vary depending on water content and applied pressure. In this study, the electromechanical behavior of clay samples from Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, is investigated by examining the relationship between electrical resistivity, water content, and mechanical loading under uniaxial pressure. The samples with a water content of 10%, 20%, and 30% were tested using a uniaxial loading machine in accordance with ASTM D 2216 and the Turkish standard TS 1900-1. The analysis included measurements of stress, deformation, and electrical conductivity of the soil. A comparative assessment of samples with varying water content revealed that at low moisture levels (10%), the specific electrical resistivity initially decreases due to soil compaction and reduced porosity. However, as stress increases further, resistivity rises significantly as microcracks begin to develop, disrupting conductive pathways. In contrast, at higher water contents (20% and 30%), resistivity consistently decreases with increasing stress, while conductivity increases markedly. This indicates that at elevated saturation levels, the presence of water facilitates charge carrier mobility through ionic conduction, resulting in lower resistivity and higher conductivity. Comparisons with previous studies on clays such as bentonite and kaolinite reveal similar qualitative trends, although differences in the rate of resistivity change suggest a distinct mineralogical influence in Afyonkarahisar clay. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the geotechnical behavior of this regional clay and supports more accurate performance predictions in engineering and construction applications. Full article

Precision agriculture increasingly relies on real-time data from soil sensors to optimize irrigation and nutrient application. Soil moisture and electrical conductivity (EC) are key indicators in irrigation and fertigation systems, directly affecting water-use efficiency and nutrient delivery to crops. This study evaluates the performance of an IoT-based soil-monitoring system for real-time tracking of EC and soil moisture under varied fertigation conditions in both laboratory and field scenarios. The EC sensor showed strong agreement with laboratory YSI measurements (R² = 0.999), confirming its accuracy. Column experiments were conducted in three soil types (sand, sandy loam, and loamy sand) to assess the EC and soil moisture response to fertigation. Sand showed rapid infiltration and low retention, with EC peaking at 420 µS/cm and moisture 0.33 cm³/cm³, indicating high leaching risk. Sandy loam retained the most moisture (0.35 cm³/cm³) and showed the highest EC (550 µS/cm), while loamy sand exhibited intermediate behavior. Fertilizer-specific responses showed higher EC in Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)-treated soils, while Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) showed lower, more stable EC due to limited phosphorus mobility. Field validation confirmed that the IoT system effectively captured irrigation and fertigation events through synchronized EC and moisture peaks. These findings highlight the efficacy of IoT-based sensor networks for continuous, high-resolution soil monitoring and their potential to support precision fertigation strategies, enhancing nutrient-use efficiency while minimizing environmental losses. Full article

This study investigates the operational performance of fruit-picking robots under varying terrain slopes and soil moisture conditions, with a focus on comparing wheeled and tracked locomotion systems. A modular robot platform was designed and tested in both controlled environments and actual mountainous orchards in Shandong, China. The experiments assessed key performance metrics—average speed, slip rate, and path deviation—under combinations of four slope levels (0°, 8°, 18°, 28°) and three soil moisture levels (dry 10%, moderate 20%, wet 35%). Results reveal that wheeled robots perform optimally on dry and flat terrain but experience significant slippage and path deviation under steep and wet conditions. In contrast, tracked robots maintain better stability and terrain adaptability, demonstrating lower slip rates and more consistent trajectories across a wide range of conditions. A synergistic deterioration effect was observed when high slope and high soil moisture co-occur, significantly degrading the performance of wheeled systems, while tracked systems mitigated these effects. Complementary semi-structured interviews with 20 orchard stakeholders—including farmers, growers, and hired pickers—highlighted key user expectations: robust traction, terrain adaptability, reduced physical labor, and operational safety. The findings suggest that future agricultural robots should adopt adaptive hybrid mobility systems and integrate environmental perception capabilities to enhance performance in complex agricultural scenarios. These insights contribute practical and theoretical guidance for the design and deployment of intelligent fruit-picking robots in diverse field environments. Full article

Copiapoa solaris is an endemic cactus species from the Antofagasta region, Chile, thriving in arid coastal ecosystems known as “fog oases,” where the rising marine moisture is the primary water source. This study investigates the role of microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere of C. solaris in adapting to extreme environmental conditions, particularly focusing on the acdS gene, which encodes ACC deaminase—an enzyme that reduces ethylene production under stress. This research aims to elucidate the gene’s contribution to the adaptation of C. solaris in these challenging environments. Samples were collected from three sites (El Cobre, Quebrada Botija, and Quebrada Izcuña) that differ in relative humidity, temperature, and topography. Environmental DNA was extracted, phylogenetic diversity was analyzed, and metagenomic annotation of the acdS gene was conducted. The acdS gene was detected in all samples, with the highest relative abundance at Quebrada Izcuña (0.05%), characterized by low relative humidity (<70%) and severe water stress. Phylogenetic analysis revealed conserved sequences across sites, while taxonomic and alpha diversity were similar among them. However, beta diversity indicated that Quebrada Izcuña was the least homogeneous, hosting distinct taxa potentially associated with stress mitigation. The acdS gene was detected on plasmids at El Cobre and Quebrada Izcuña, suggesting its potential mobility within the metagenome. The results of this study highlight the intricate relationships between microbial communities and the resilient cactus species C. solaris in extreme environments. The conservation and abundance of the acdS gene, particularly in low-humidity conditions, suggest its vital role in facilitating stress tolerance through microbial interactions. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for developing strategies to enhance plant resilience in arid ecosystems, with potential applications in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem management under changing climatic conditions. Full article

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR), an acidic by-product from manganese production, presents dual challenges of environmental pollution and resource waste. This study developed a silicon–manganese organic compound fertilizer (SMOCF) via the aerobic fermentation of EMR supplemented with bagasse, molasses, and activated sludge. The physicochemical analysis revealed that the EMR’s composition was dominated by silicon (7.1% active Si), calcium, sulfur, and trace elements. Critical parameters during composting—including water-soluble Mn (1.48%), organic matter (8.05%), pH (7.4), moisture (20.28%), and germination index (GI = 87.78%)—met organic fertilizer standards, with the GI exceeding the phytotoxicity threshold (80%). The final SMOCF exhibited favorable agronomic properties: neutral pH, earthy texture, and essential macronutrients (1.36% K, 1.11% N, 0.48% P). Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb) in the SMOCF predominantly existed in stable residual forms, with total concentrations complying with China’s organic fertilizer regulations (GB/T 32951-2016). The ecological risk assessment confirmed a minimal mobilization potential (risk assessment code < 5%), ensuring environmental safety. This work demonstrates a circular economy strategy to repurpose hazardous EMRs into agriculturally viable fertilizers, achieving simultaneous pollution mitigation and resource recovery. The optimized SMOCF meets quality benchmarks for organic fertilizers while addressing heavy metal concerns, providing a scalable solution for industrial EMR valorization. Further studies should validate the field performance and long-term ecological impacts to facilitate practical implementation. Full article

Tritium is a radioisotope that is extremely mobile in the biosphere and that can be transferred to the environment and to humans mainly via tritium oxide or tritiated water. Moreover, as is widely known, it is extremely difficult to detect in the environment. In the last decade, many studies and research activities have been performed to fill the knowledge gap on this radionuclide, the amount of which is expected to be increasingly released into the environment from nuclear installations in the near future. Considering this and the fact that the biological and environmental effects produced by tritium have been examined mainly from a medical and detection monitoring point of view, it is considered important to propose in this study a review of the critical aspects of tritium from the environmental, engineering, and waste management points of view. Identifying sources and effects of tritium, tritium materials and wastes containing tritium in the environment is also fundamental for planning the specific and necessary actions required for an effective waste management approach under, e.g., disposal conditions. The critical analysis of the published recent studies has allowed to evaluate, for example, that the expected rate of tritium generation in a fusion reactor is four orders of magnitude higher than that of LWRs, and the environmental release from a fusion reactor is 1.4–2.2‱, which is twice as much as from a heavy water reactor and more than two orders of magnitude higher than from a LWRs. Furthermore, with reference to the waste management strategy, it is emphasized, e.g., that the condensation of moisture inside vaults and the interaction of H₂O with the disposal body determine the formation of tritiated water, which is filtered through the concrete and eventually released into the environment. Consequently, in the selection of engineered barrier materials for repositories/disposal facilities, the use of a mixture of a framework and layered silicates is proposed to improve its absorption and filtering properties. Full article

Pulsed electric field (PEF), a novel non-thermal processing technology, shows great potential in meat processing by regulating macromolecule metabolism and food quality. This study examined the effects of PEF pretreatment at varying electric field strengths (1, 2, and 3 kV/cm) and durations (30, 60, and 90 s) on the color, texture, moisture distribution, free amino acids, and flavor compounds in air-dried duck meat. PEF pretreatment significantly increased brightness (p < 0.05), while PEF treatment (3 kV/cm, 30 s) improved the textural properties of air-dried duck meat, reducing chewiness and hardness by 65.44% and 59.97%, respectively. It promoted myofibril disruption and vacuolization, reducing water mobility and improving moisture retention. Enhanced endogenous enzyme activity under PEF facilitated protein degradation, boosting total free amino acid content, particularly umami and sweet amino acids (glutamic acid, alanine). PEF pretreatment also elevated key aroma compounds, such as hexanal, methyl caprate, and 4-methyl valerate, improving the flavor profile of air-dried duck meat. This study provides technical support for integrating PEF technology into traditional poultry processing. Full article

Antecedent soil moisture is a critical driver of hydrological and erosive processes, directly affecting runoff generation and soil loss. An accurate assessment of soil water content (SWC) variability is therefore essential for sustainable land and water management, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. This study explores the use of two emerging nuclear techniques, cosmic ray neutron sensors (CRNS) and proximal gamma ray spectroscopy (PGRS), to monitor SWC at the field scale in a semiarid agricultural field in NE Spain. Changes in soil moisture induced by a 16 mm rainfall event were monitored to evaluate the sensitivity and response of both techniques under dry and wet conditions. A stationary CRNS, located in the centre of the study field, recorded neutron counts at hourly intervals over a two-week period. Complementary PGRS surveys were conducted before and after the rainfall event, including (i) stationary measurements at the four corners of a 20 × 20 m plot, and (ii) mobile stop-and-go measurements along ten transects across the plot, with a spatial resolution of one metre. The results captured clear temporal dynamics in SWC, inferred from neutron count variations, as well as significant differences in ⁴⁰K (cps) measurements, between dry and wet conditions. These differences were observed when comparing the data from both stationary and mobile surveys conducted before and after the event. The integration of CRNS and PGRS offers complementary insights into scale, temporal dynamics and spatial variability, validating and highlighting the potential of these sensors for soil moisture monitoring. Both techniques demonstrated high sensitivity to variations in soil water content, and their complementary capabilities offer a robust, multi-scale approach with clear applications for precision agriculture and soil conservation. Full article