Search Results (268)

The response of tomato plants, Ailsa Craig and the carotenoid mutant tangerine, to five days of treatment by low light intensity at normal and low temperature with respect to the photosynthetic performance as well as their capacity to recover after three days under normal conditions was evaluated. Tangerine plants are characterized by defective prolycopene isomerase (CRTISO) and accumulate tetra-cis lycopene instead of all-trans lycopene. The gas exchange parameters were evaluated on intact plants and the pigment content in leaves was estimated. The photosynthetic competence of photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) and the effectiveness of the energy dissipation were assessed by pulse-amplitude-modulated (PAM) fluorometry. The abundance of reaction center proteins of PSII and PSI was estimated by immunoblotting. The application of low light alone or low light and low temperature reduced the chlorophyll content in both types of plants, which was more strongly expressed in Ailsa Craig. The net photosynthetic rate and photochemical activities of PSII and PSI were negatively affected by low light and much more strongly decreased when low light was applied at low temperature. The low-light-induced increase in excitation pressure on PSII and the effectiveness of non-photochemical quenching were not temperature-dependent. The negative effect of the combined treatment in tangerine was more strongly expressed in comparison with Ailsa Craig with respect to the abundance of reaction center proteins of both photosystems. Most probably, the differential photosynthetic response of the carotenoid mutant tangerine and Ailsa Craig to the combined treatment by low light and low temperature is related to the accumulation of tetra-cis-lycopene instead of all-trans-lycopene. Full article

Phase-change materials (PCMs) are integral to the thermal energy storage devices used in phase-change storage air-conditioning systems, but their adoption is hindered by slow heat transfer rates and suboptimal energy storage efficiency. In this study, we design and analyze a flat-panel thermal energy storage device based on PCM, using both numerical simulations and experimental testing to evaluate performance under various operating conditions. The simulations, conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in a steady-state environment with an inlet temperature of 12 °C, demonstrate that the phase-change completion time for cooling storage is 8331 s, while the cooling release process is completed in 3883 s. The fluid distribution within the device is found to be uniform, and the positioning of the inlet and outlet has a minimal effect on performance metrics. However, the lateral stacking configuration of PCM units significantly improves heat transfer efficiency, increasing it by 15% compared to vertical stacking arrangements. Experimental tests confirm that increasing the inlet flow rate accelerates the phase transition process but has a marginal impact on overall energy utilization efficiency. These results provide valuable quantitative insights into optimizing the design of phase-change thermal storage devices, particularly in terms of enhancing heat transfer and overall energy efficiency. Full article

The precise prediction of high-speed railway bridge pier settlement plays a crucial role in construction, maintenance, and long-term operation; however, current mainstream prediction methods mostly rely on independent analyses based on traditional or hybrid models, neglecting the impact of geological and environmental factors on subsidence. To address this issue, this paper proposes a multi-factor settlement prediction model for high-speed railway bridge piers named the Reversible Instance Normalization Multi-Scale Adaptive Resolution Stream CMamba, abbreviated as RMCMamba. During the data preprocessing process, the Enhanced PS-InSAR technology is adopted to obtain the time series data of land settlement in the study region. Utilizing the cubic improved Hermite interpolation method to fill the missing values of monitoring and considering the environmental parameters such as groundwater level, temperature, precipitation, etc., a multi-factor high-speed railway bridge pier settlement dataset is constructed. RMCMamba fuses the reversible instance normalization (RevIN) and the multiresolution forecasting head (MARSHead), enhancing the model’s long-range dependence capture capability and solving the time series data distribution drift problem. Experimental results demonstrate that in the multi-factor prediction scenario, RMCMamba achieves an MAE of 0.049 mm and an RMSE of 0.077 mm; in the single-factor prediction scenario, the proposed method reduces errors compared to traditional prediction approaches and other deep learning-based methods, with MAE values improving by 4.8% and 4.4% over the suboptimal method in multi-factor and single-factor scenarios, respectively. Ablation experiments further verify the collaborative advantages of combining reversible instance normalization and the multi-resolution forecasting head, as RMCMamba’s MAE values improve by 5.8% and 4.4% compared to the original model in multi-factor and single-factor scenarios. Hence, the proposed method effectively enhances the prediction accuracy of high-speed railway bridge pier settlement, and the constructed multi-source data fusion framework, along with the model improvement strategy, provides technological and experiential references for relevant fields. Full article

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for gas sensing applications due to their high sensitivity, fast response–recovery cycles, thermal and chemical stability, and low fabrication cost. However, the performance of pristine ZnO remains limited by high operating temperatures, poor selectivity, and suboptimal detection at low gas concentrations. To address these limitations, significant research efforts have focused on dopant incorporation and polymer hybridization. This review summarizes recent advances in dopant engineering using elements such as Al, Ga, Mg, In, Sn, and transition metals (Co, Ni, Cu), which modulate ZnO’s crystal structure, defect density, carrier concentration, and surface activity—resulting in enhanced gas adsorption and electron transport. Furthermore, ZnO–polymer nanocomposites (e.g., with polyaniline, polypyrrole, PEG, and chitosan) exhibit improved flexibility, surface functionality, and room-temperature responsiveness due to the presence of active functional groups and tunable porosity. The synergistic combination of dopants and polymers facilitates enhanced charge transfer, increased surface area, and stronger gas–molecule interactions. Where applicable, sol–gel-based studies are explicitly highlighted and contrasted with non-sol–gel routes to show how synthesis controls defect chemistry, morphology, and sensing metrics. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the structure–function relationships in doped ZnO and ZnO–polymer hybrids and offers guidelines for the rational design of next-generation, low-power, and selective gas sensors for environmental and industrial applications. Full article

Suboptimal feed mixer designs cause nutrient heterogeneity and energy waste through inadequate turbulent flow. This study systematically examines how stirrer blade geometry governs turbulent kinetic energy and thermal homogeneity to enhance mixing efficiency. Initial single-factor testing established baseline parameters: 60° blade angle, 65 mm upper port diameter, 60 mm lower port diameter, and six blades. Response surface methodology optimized four critical variables: blade angle, upper/lower port sizes, and blade count, with each variable tested at three levels. The optimal configuration (39° blade angle, 54.9 mm upper port, 52.5 mm lower port, five blades) increased turbulent kinetic energy by 67% and elevated average fluid temperature by 7% versus conventional designs. These enhancements improve mixing uniformity by 23% and reduce energy consumption by 18%, establishing a validated design framework for efficient agricultural mixer engineering. Full article

Background/Objectives: Freeze-dried high-temperature short-time pasteurized human milk fortifiers offer potential for exclusive human milk feeding in preterm infants while providing necessary nutritional supplementation. However, clinical data on safety, tolerability, and growth outcomes remain limited. This study evaluated donor milk fortification compared to conventional bovine protein-based fortification. Methods: We conducted a prospective non-interventional observational cohort study with a retrospectively matched comparison cohort at University Children’s Hospital of Nuremberg. Preterm infants ≥ 30 weeks gestational age requiring mother’s own milk fortification were included. The exposed cohort (n = 32) received freeze-dried high-temperature short-time pasteurized donor milk fortifier at 1.6–4.8 g/100 mL of mother’s own milk; the matched comparison cohort (n = 32) received bovine protein-based fortifier. Primary outcomes included feeding tolerance, safety parameters, and anthropometric measurements. Cohorts were matched for birth weight (±10%), gestational age (±5 days), and fortified feeding. Results: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different: gestational ages 32.8 ± 1.0 versus 33.0 ± 1.2 weeks; birth weights 1900 ± 380 g versus 1840 ± 370 g. Excellent feeding tolerance was demonstrated across >3100 feedings. No necrotizing enterocolitis, abdominal complications, or serious adverse events occurred. Blood glucose, triglycerides, and urea remained normal. Birth weights, lengths, and head circumferences showed no significant differences. Discharge parameters including weight, length, head circumference, and length of stay were also not significantly different. Conclusions: Freeze-dried human milk fortification demonstrates excellent safety and tolerability in preterm infants ≥ 30 weeks gestational age, achieving anthropometric outcomes not significantly different to bovine protein-based fortification. However, the suboptimal protein-to-energy ratio may limit applicability for very low birth weight infants. Therefore, freeze-dried high-temperature short-time pasteurized human milk fortification is suggested to provide appropriate nutritional supplementation for preterm infants with a birth weight over 1500 g. Full article

Background/Objectives Conventional eye drops are the primary therapeutic option for ocular diseases; however, their clinical utility is hindered by several drawbacks, including limited bioavailability and suboptimal patient compliance. To overcome these challenges, we designed a sustained-release contact lens (CL) device loaded with tranilast (TRA) and determined whether the TRA-laden CL could provide sustained drug delivery to the lacrimal fluid and aqueous humor. Methods TRA nanocrystals were prepared using the bead-milling approach. Using three types of CLs (nonionic, anionic, and cationic), we prepared TRA-laden CLs by employing a combination of solid TRA nanocrystals and soaking methods under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions in an autoclave (the hThP method). Male Japanese albino rabbits (2–3 kg) were used to evaluate the CLs. Results Bead milling reduced the size of the solid TRA nanoparticles (STNs) to approximately 35–180 nm. The TRA-laden cationic CLs prepared using STNs and the hThP method contained a higher amount of TRA than those prepared using the corresponding conventional soaking method. The CLs prepared using the hThP method remained transparent after drug loading. Compared with nonionic and anionic CLs, cationic CLs had the highest drug-loading capacity and allowed for sustained drug release. Moreover, STNs were observed in the released TRA, with no corneal damage or light scattering detected in the rabbits’ eyes. TRA-laden cationic CLs prepared using the hThP method achieved sustained and higher drug delivery into the lacrimal fluid and aqueous humor than those prepared using the conventional soaking method. Conclusions Our findings suggest that TRA-laden cationic CLs prepared using STNs and the hThP method can overcome the challenges associated with the conventional soaking method, including low drug uptake and high burst release. Full article

The deep shale gas reservoirs of the southern Sichuan Basin exhibit high temperatures, high pressure, large stress differentials, and complex natural fracture systems. Since 2019, hydraulic fracturing technology in this region has evolved through four stages: exploratory fracturing, intensive limited-volume fracturing, tight spacing with controlled fluid and proppants, and balanced fracturing that combines long-section temporary plugging with short-section intensive cutting. Despite these advances, production remains suboptimal due to inefficient reserve utilization, a lack of quantitative methods for residual gas evaluation, and unclear identification of the remaining reserves. To address these challenges, we developed an integrated workflow combining dynamic production analysis, geomechanical modeling, and numerical simulation to evaluate representative fracturing techniques. Fracture propagation in the well group was modeled in the in-house hydraulic fracture simulator, ZFRAC, to assess fracture geometry, while production history and geological data were used to build calibrated reservoir simulation models. This enabled quantitative assessment of effective fracture parameters, reserve utilization, and residual gas distribution. The results show significant intra-stage heterogeneity driven by stress interference, effective fracture half-lengths of 60–105 m, and a cut-off ratio (proportion of effective fracture half-length to wetted fracture half-length) of 60–93%. Reserve utilization peaked at 60% for intensive limited-volume fracturing, while the efficacy of long-section temporary plugging was limited. These findings offer critical insights for optimizing infill strategies and enhancing sustainable shale gas development in southern Sichuan. Full article

The number of IoT devices has been increasing at a rapid rate, and the advent of information-intensive Internet of Multimedia Things (IoMT) applications has placed serious challenges on computing infrastructure, especially for latency, energy efficiency, and responsiveness to tasks. The legacy cloud-centric approach cannot meet such requirements because it suffers from local latency and central resource allocation. To overcome such limitations, fog computing proposes a decentralized model by reducing latency and bringing computation closer to data sources. However, effective scheduling of tasks within heterogeneous and resource-limited fog environments is still an NP-hard problem, especially in multi-criteria optimization and priority-sensitive situations. This research work proposes a new simulated annealing (SA)-based task scheduling framework to perform multi-objective optimization for fog computing environments. The proposed model minimizes makespan, energy consumption, and execution cost, and integrates a priority-aware penalty function to provide high responsiveness to high-priority tasks. The SA algorithm searches the scheduling solution space by accepting potentially sub-optimal configurations during the initial iterations and further improving towards optimality as the temperature decreases. Experimental analyses on benchmark datasets obtained from Google Cloud Job Workloads demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms ACO, PSO, I-FASC and M2MPA approaches in terms of makespan, energy consumption, execution cost, and reliability at all task volume scales. These results confirm the proposed SA-based scheduler as a scalable and effective solution for smart task scheduling within fog-enabled IoT infrastructures. Full article

The rhizome of Atractylodes macrocephala, a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family, is valued for its bioactive atractylenolides, but achieving consistent quality in cultivation is challenging. This study aimed to decipher how environmental factors differentially regulate its biomass and atractylenolide content. We sampled from 22 Korean cultivation sites and performed correlation analyses, rigorously controlled by a False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction. Our analysis revealed that the environmental networks governing quantitative growth and qualitative composition are largely independent. While growth was weakly correlated with environmental factors, likely due to suboptimal temperatures at our sites, atractylenolide content was robustly associated with soil properties and climate. Specifically, soil texture was a dominant factor, with sand content showing a strong negative correlation (−0.717 ***) with total atractylenolides, whereas silt (0.675 ***) and clay (0.622 ***) had strong positive correlations. Additionally, cation exchange capacity (0.517 *) and temperature were positively correlated, while relative humidity showed a negative correlation (−0.553 **). This decoupling suggests that optimizing yield and phytochemical quality requires distinct cultivation strategies, providing a foundational framework for developing site-specific practices and quality control for this high-value medicinal herb. Full article

Sludge dewatering remains a resource-intensive process, often constrained by high residual moisture content and inefficient chemical conditioning. Conventional systems typically rely on fixed polymer dosages and predetermined filtration pressures, which are unable to respond to variations in sludge characteristics, resulting in inconsistent and suboptimal performance. In this study, a real-time control system for municipal wastewater sludge dewatering was developed to dynamically regulate coagulant dosing and filtration pressure based on continuous monitoring of critical sludge parameters, including total solids (TS), viscosity, sludge temperature, and pH change following coagulant addition. The control logic, derived from empirical correlations between sludge dewaterability metrics such as time-to-filter (TTF) and capillary suction time (CST) and operational variables, enables adaptive adjustment of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether (POAE) injection and pressing conditions. Implementation of this system achieved a final cake moisture content of approximately 63% after 60 min of filtration, substantially lower than the ~84% moisture observed under static conditions. Real-time flux feedback facilitated timely pressure escalation (from 15 to 20 bar to 25–30 bar), improving water removal efficiency while avoiding premature cake blinding. The pH drop (~0.7 units) post-polymer addition served as a practical indicator of adequate flocculation, supporting dose optimization and minimizing chemical waste. The proposed system demonstrated enhanced dewatering performance, reduced polymer consumption, and greater operational robustness compared to conventional approaches. These findings highlight the potential of integrated sensor-based control to advance sludge treatment technologies by promoting smarter, adaptive, and resource-efficient dewatering operations. Full article

This study aimed to assess the phenotypic and histological characteristics of leaves, stems, and roots of sweet potato (‘Hopungmi’ and ‘Sodammi’, Korean cultivars) under the low-temperature conditions induced by early transplanting. In leaves, early transplanting (ETP) led to reductions in vascular bundle width (from −22.6% to −53.7%), xylem diameter (from −51.6% to −52.6%), palisade parenchyma thickness (from −31.3% to −31.5%), and the palisade parenchyma thickness-to-leaf thickness ratio (from −31.2% to −32.1%), while the total leaf thickness remained unchanged. Principal component 1 (PC1: 69.7%) was positively correlated with vascular characteristics and palisade parenchyma thickness, reflecting enhanced development under optimal transplanting (OTP) and greater photosynthetic capacity. These findings indicate that low temperatures hinder palisade parenchyma development. In stems, ETP reduced stem radius (from −20.3% to −42.1%) and the pith-to-stem radius ratio (from −21.0% to −25.3%) but increased the xylem-to-stem radius ratio (from +45.8% to +47.1%) and the collenchyma-to-stem radius ratio (from +61.5% to +84.7%). PC1 (45.7%) showed positive correlations with xylem and collenchyma ratios and negative correlations with stem radius and pith ratio, suggesting that these anatomical adjustments helped maintain stem rigidity under stress. In roots, ETP significantly reduced root radius (from −78.0% to −94.5%), vascular radius (from −83.9% to −96.9%), cortex thickness (from −68.9% to −80.7%), and the vascular-to-root radius ratio (from −28.6% to −44.7%), while increasing the cortex-to-root radius ratio (from +53.0% to +248.0%). PC1 (93.8%) was positively associated with vascular characteristics and cortex thickness and negatively associated with the cortex-to-root radius ratio. Overall, the low temperatures resulting from early transplanting altered the anatomical structures of leaves, stems, and roots, indicating suboptimal conditions for storage root development. In particular, the vascular bundle radius of sweet potato roots was identified as a crucial indicator for evaluating storage root development, which can be utilized in future breeding strategies. Full article

Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray (cabomba) is an invasive alien aquatic plant (IAAP) posing a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems in Australia. Its ongoing spread is primarily driven by its rapid growth rate and ability to readily regenerate from stem fragments. Flumioxazin, an effective herbicide for controlling cabomba, has been registered for use in Australia since 2021. However, exposing cabomba to flumioxazin can induce stem fragmentation, potentially facilitating further spread. This study aims to determine whether stem fragments of cabomba following treatment at different flumioxazin doses (i.e., 25, 50, 100, or 200 ppb a.i.) can regenerate new healthy shoots that could contribute to its future spread in a new environment, in either summer or winter. This study also aims to investigate how this regrowth potential changes over time after herbicide application. Results show that flumioxazin suppressed the regeneration of replanted stem fragments in a dose-dependent manner in both winter and summer. In winter, complete regeneration was suppressed at the highest concentration tested (200 ppb a.i.), while low concentrations (25 and 50 ppb a.i.) resulted in an average 45% lower regeneration rate and 93% lower regenerated biomass than the control. In summer, suppression of regeneration was lower; at 200 ppb a.i., partial regeneration (18%) occurred with a 97% biomass reduction. At lower concentrations (25 and 50 ppb a.i.), more stem fragments regenerated (66%) and biomass reduction was lower (69%) compared to winter. Furthermore, in summer, the plants gradually regained their ability to regenerate over time after herbicide exposure, regardless of flumioxazin concentration, while no such recovery occurred in winter at any concentration. The findings show that the highest tested dose (200 ppb a.i.) can effectively suppress cabomba regenerative ability, which will greatly reduce the risk of new infestations caused by dispersed fragments, particularly in winter, when cooler temperatures and lower light are suboptimal for cabomba growth. This suggests that winter may be a more effective season for flumioxazin application. However, since some regeneration still occurred in summer, even at the highest tested dose, the highest registered label rate (400 ppb a.i.) may be necessary to ensure effective suppression under warmer conditions. Further studies are needed to evaluate this higher dose and its long-term efficacy. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate (a) the degree of conversion (DC%), (b) film thickness, and (c) the effect of film thickness on DC% in modern light-cured resin composite restoratives [Filtek Universal (F), Clearfil Majesty ES 2 Universal (M), Tetric EvoCeram (T) and Viscalor (V)] used for luting composite onlays before/after preheating. For (a), the luting composites placed at 150 μm film thickness under the onlays (4 mm thickness, 2.9% transmittance) were light-cured for 120 s (3 × 40 s top, buccal, lingual sites) before and after preheating (54 °C/5 min-F,M,T and 65 °C/30 s-V). The DC% was measured at central, middle and side locations along the median in-length axis by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Specimens polymerized without onlays (40 s, top) served as controls. For (b), film thickness was measured employing a modified ISO 4049 standard (37 °C plate temperature, 5 N load) before and after preheating, using a dual-cured resin luting agent as control. For (c), onlays were luted with preheated T at 150 and 350 μm film thickness and light-cured for 2 × (3 × 40) s and 3 × (3 × 40) s, employing directly irradiated specimens (60 s, 120 s) as controls. For (a), significant differences were found in F and T before and after preheating. Before preheating, significant differences were registered between F–T, F–M, F–V and V–T, whereas after they were registered between F–M, F–T and F–V. All these values were significantly lower than the controls. For (b), significantly lower film thickness was recorded after preheating (−16.1–−33.3%, highest in V), with a ranking of F, M > V > T (before) and F, M > T, V (after). All values were significantly higher than the control. For (c), increased exposure improved DC% in the greater spacer group, with the controls providing superior values. It can be concluded that the use of modern highly filled composites as luting agents for low translucency onlays may result in suboptimal polymerization and film thickness, warranting caution. Full article

The growing need for high-efficiency and reliable propulsion systems in naval applications, particularly within the evolving landscape of submarine warfare, has led to an increased interest in multiphase Permanent Magnet AC motors. This study presents a modelling and simulation approach for a 3MW, seventeen-phase Permanent Magnet AC motor designed for submarine propulsion, integrating an AI-based drive control system. Despite the advantages of multiphase motors, such as higher power density and enhanced fault tolerance, significant challenges remain in achieving precise torque and variable speed, especially for externally mounted motors operating under deep-sea conditions. Existing control strategies often struggle with the inherent nonlinearities, unmodelled dynamics, and extreme environmental variations (e.g., pressure, temperature affecting oil viscosity and motor parameters) characteristic of such demanding deep-sea applications, leading to suboptimal performance and compromised reliability. Addressing this gap, this research investigates advanced control methodologies to enhance the performance of such motors. A MATLAB/Simulink framework was developed to model the motor, whose drive system leverages an AI-optimised dual fuzzy-PID controller refined using the Harmony Search Algorithm. Additionally, a combination of Indirect Field-Oriented Control (IFOC) and Space Vector PWM strategies are implemented to optimise inverter switching sequences for precise output modulation. Simulation results demonstrate significant improvements in torque response and control accuracy, validating the efficacy of the proposed system. The results highlight the role of AI-based propulsion systems in revolutionising submarine manoeuvrability and energy efficiency. In particular, during a test case involving a speed transition from 75 RPM to 900 RPM, the proposed AI-based controller achieves a near-zero overshoot compared to an initial control scheme that exhibits 75.89% overshoot. Full article