Search Results (62,299)

Listeria monocytogenes presents a considerable threat in cooked chicken products, especially those that are ready-to-eat, like deli meats. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of oregano essential oil (Satureja hortensis: SHEO) against L. monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat cooked chicken meat during storage. The chemical content of SHEO was identified using GC-MS, with its antimicrobial properties confirmed through Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion tests. GC analyses of the SHEO used in the study showed that it contained 14.69% carvacrol and 10.61% thymol. L. monocytogenes strain NCTC 5348 was inoculated into chicken meat through a dipping technique at concentration levels of 2 × 10⁷ CFU/mL before and after application of SHEO solution (2 μL/mL). Inoculated and SHEO-treated meat samples were stored −20 °C, +4 °C, and +10 °C under both traditional and vacuum packaging conditions for 28 days. Results indicated that SHEO significantly suppressed the growth of L. monocytogenes (approximately 1 log CFU/g), especially during the first 5–7 days at +4 °C in both packaging types. Vacuum packaging prolonged the antimicrobial effect of SHEO compared to conventional packaging at +4 °C and +10 °C, approximately 1.1–1.3 log CFU/g for 14 days. The antimicrobial activity of SHEO was limited to a range of approximately 0.1–0.5 log CFU/g at −20 °C compared to the control. These results suggest that combining essential oils with modern packaging methods can provide an effective approach to controlling cold-tolerant pathogens such as L. monocytogenes, thereby improving the shelf life and safety of ready-to-eat meat products. Full article

Optimal application of nitrogen fertilizer is critical for soil characteristics and soil health. This study examined the effects of three rates of nitrogen fertilizer applications, which are lower rate (Treatment 1 (T1)-241 kg/ha), recommended rate (Treatment 2 (T2)-269 kg/ha), and higher rate (Treatment 3 (T3)-297 kg/ha), and their impacts on soil temperature, soil moisture and soil electrical conductivity at two different depths (0–30 cm and 30–60 cm) in maize cultivation at the Prairie View A & M university research farm in Texas. Soil moisture, soil temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC) sensors were installed in 27 plots to collect these data. Results showed that EC is lower at surface depth with all fertilizer application rates than at root zone soil depths. In the meantime, EC is increasing in the root zone soil depth with the increase in fertilizer rate. This study indicated that the moderate application (269 kg/ha, T2) which is also recommended rate, showed better soil health parameters and efficiency in comparison to other application rates maintaining stable and moderate electrical conductivity values (0.2 mS/cm at depth 2) and the highest median moisture content at the significant root zone depth (about 0.135 m³/m³), reducing nutrient leaching and salt accumulation. Also, a humid, warm climate in southern Texas specifically affects increasing nitrogen losses via leaching, denitrification, and volatilization compared to cooler regions, which requires higher application rates. Plant growth and yield results further confirmed that the recommended rate achieved the greatest plant height (157.48 cm) compared to T1 (153.07 cm). Ear diameters were also higher at the recommended rate, reaching 4.65 cm ears than in Treatment 3. However, grain productivity was highest under the lower fertilizer rate T1, with wet and dry yields of 11,567 kg/ha and 5959 kg/ha, respectively, compared to 10,033 kg/ha (wet) and 5047 kg/ha (dry) at T2, and 7446 kg/ha (wet) and 4304 kg/ha (dry) at T3. These findings suggest that while the moderate fertilizer rate (269 kg/ha) enhances soil health and crop growth consistency, the lower rate (241 kg/ha) can maximize productivity under the humid, warm conditions of southern Texas. This research highlights the need for precise nitrogen management strategies that balance soil health with crop yield. Full article

RMB₆-TMB₂ (RM = rare earth elements, TM = transition metal elements) composites retain superior field emission properties of RMB₆ while addressing its inherent mechanical limitations by constructing a eutectic structure with TMB₂. Herein, an in situ route for synthesizing RMB₆-TMB₂ composite nanopowders with homogeneous phase distribution using reduction reactions was proposed. The LaB₆-ZrB₂ composite nanopowders were synthesized in situ for the first time using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) as both a reducing agent and boron source, with lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) and zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) serving as metal sources. The effects of the synthesis temperature on phase compositions and microstructure of the composites were systematically investigated. The LaB₆-ZrB₂ system with a eutectic weight ratio exhibited an accelerated reaction rate, achieving a complete reaction at 1000 °C, 300 °C lower than that of single-phase ZrB₂ synthesis. The composite phases were uniformly distributed even at nanoscale. The composite powder displayed an average particle size of ~170 nm when synthesized at 1300 °C. With the benefit of the in situ synthesis method, LaB₆-TiB₂, CeB₆-ZrB₂, and CeB₆-TiB₂ composite powders were successfully synthesized. This process effectively addresses phase separation and contamination issues typically associated with traditional mixing methods, providing a scalable precursor for high-performance RMB₆-TMB₂ composites. Full article

The addition of organic carbon sources in biofloc technology (BFT) systems promotes microbial community development, enhancing water quality, nutrient recycling, and supplemental feeding through microbial biomass. These characteristics make BFT a viable strategy for the cultivation of promising aquaculture species, such as Mugil cephalus. This study evaluated the effects of three carbon sources—unrefined cane sugar (locally known as chancaca), refined sucrose, and beet molasses—on water quality and growth performance of M. cephalus juveniles reared in a BFT system. Juvenile mullets (4.33 ± 2.09 g) were cultured for 45 days at a stocking density of 0.03 ± 0.01 kg·m⁻³, with biofloc pre-matured in ex situ tanks. Most water quality parameters showed no significant differences among treatments (p > 0.05), except for nitrite concentrations, which were significantly higher in the sucrose group (p < 0.05). The highest growth performance was observed in the sucrose treatment, with a weight gain (WG) of 4.26 ± 0.51 g, an average daily weight gain (AWG) of 0.09 ± 0.01 g, and a thermal growth coefficient (GF3) of 1.27 ± 0.15 at a constant temperature of 24 °C. Bromatological analysis of bioflocs revealed significantly higher crude protein (CP: 9.8%) and energy content (Kcal·100 g⁻¹: 3.44 ± 0.2) in the sucrose treatment compared to chancaca (CP: 5.1%). These findings confirm that M. cephalus can be effectively cultured in BFT systems using simple carbon sources. Refined sucrose, due to its high solubility and nutritional contribution to biofloc formation, is recommended for improving growth performance and system efficiency in M. cephalus production. Full article

The Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) has a wide geographic distribution, ranging from the coasts of West Africa to Southwest Asia, including the Arabian Peninsula. Despite this extensive range, detailed information on its incubation behavior remains scarce. To address this gap, we investigated the 24 h incubation behavior of Western Reef Herons on Al-Fanateer Island, Eastern Saudi Arabia, during early summer—a period characterized by pronounced diurnal fluctuations in ambient temperature. Using trail cameras and temperature loggers, we found that adults maintained nearly continuous attendance at the nest throughout the day, with incubation coverage exceeding 97% across all two-hour intervals. A slight reduction in nest attendance was observed during nighttime (lowest at 86.8% between 20:00–21:59). Incubating adults exhibited behavioral plasticity in response to ambient temperature: a sitting posture was predominant during cooler periods, while a shading posture was more frequent during peak heat. Incubating adults also adjusted their orientation with the solar angle, actively avoiding southern and western exposures during the hottest parts of the day. Despite substantial variation in ambient temperature, the temperature beneath the clutch ranged from 29.4 to 37.8 °C, which may indicate effective thermoregulation. These findings suggest that a combination of near-continuous nest attendance, posture adjustment, and solar orientation avoidance allows Western Reef Herons to mitigate thermal stress and maintain optimal conditions for embryo and chick development. We recommend long-term monitoring of incubation behavior in this species to further evaluate its adaptability to environmental changes, particularly those driven by climate variability. Full article

The synergistic effect of using D2EHPA and TOPO together to enhance the extraction of samarium(III) from aqueous media via emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) technology was explored. D2EHPA in binary mixtures with TBP and in ternary mixtures with TOPO and TBP was also tested. Among the tested extractants, a binary mixture of 0.1% (w/w) D2EHPA and 0.025% (w/w) TOPO achieved 100% samarium(III) extraction at a low loading. This mixture outperformed D2EHPA-TBP and other systems because D2EHPA strongly binds to Sm(III) ions, while TOPO increases the solubility and transport efficiency of metal complexes. Additionally, process factors that optimize performance and minimize emulsion breakage were examined. Key insights for successfully implementing the process include the following: 5 min emulsification with 0.75% Span 80 in kerosene at pH 6.7 (natural), 250 rpm stirring, a 1:1 internal/membrane phase volume ratio, a 20:200 treatment ratio, and a 0.2 N HNO₃ stripping agent. These insights produced stable, fine droplets, enabling complete recovery and rapid carrier regeneration without emulsion breakdown. Extraction kinetics accelerate with temperature up to 35 °C but declined above this limit due to emulsion rupture. The activation energy was calculated to be 33.13 kJ/mol using pseudo-first-order rate constants. This suggests that the process is diffusion-controlled rather than chemically controlled. Performance decreases with Sm(III) feed concentrations greater than 200 mg/L and in high-salt matrices (Na₂SO₄ > NaCl > KNO₃). Integrating these parameters yields a scalable, low-loading ELM framework capable of achieving complete Sm(III) separation with minimal breakage. Full article

This study presents a data-driven framework for modeling urban heat in a highland region of Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam—an area with limited prior research on heat stress. Using advanced machine learning methods, including Category Boosting (CatBoost) and deep convolutional neural network (CNN), the spatial distribution of urban land surface temperature (LST) is predicted based on topographical, land use/land cover, urban morphological, proximity, and compactness features. Our findings show that incorporating urban compactness metrics significantly enhances prediction accuracy, with CatBoost explaining 89% of LST variance. Based on Shapley Additive Explanations, built-up density, bare land density, distance to river, green space density, and built-up cluster compactness are identified as the most influential factors. Machine learning-based causal analysis further clarifies the direct effects of key urban features on LST. The proposed framework helps reveal distinct characteristics of the study area with respect to urban heat properties. The research findings can support sustainable urban planning and heat stress alleviation in the study area. Full article

In order to enhance the heat dissipation of a chip, this work investigates the enhancement of the thermal homogenization effect of a ceramic substrate with a high-thermal-conductivity graphene material to improve the interfacial heat transfer performance. AgCuTi-activated brazing material is used to connect the graphene film/AlN. The mechanism of the influence of brazing temperatures on the microstructure and thermal conductivity of joints is discussed. The thermal conductivity of the graphene/AlN double layer composite brazed at 890 °C for 10 min holding time was the highest at 482.3 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹. This study provides a new solution for the application of AlN ceramics in high-heat-flow scenarios. Full article

The efficient purification of Pb(II)-containing wastewater is essential for safeguarding public health and maintaining the aquatic environment. In this study, novel hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) nanoparticle-embedded poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) composite adsorption membranes were developed through a simple blending method for efficient Pb(II) removal. This composite membrane (denoted as HFO-PVDF) combines the excellent selectivity of HFO nanoparticles for Pb(II) with the membrane’s advantage of easy scalability. The optimized HFO-PVDF_(1.5) membrane achieved adsorption equilibrium within 20 h and exhibited excellent adsorption capacity. Moreover, adsorption capacity markedly enhanced with increasing temperature, confirming the endothermic nature of the process. The developed HFO-PVDF membranes demonstrate significant potential for real-world wastewater treatment applications, exhibiting exceptional selectivity for Pb(II) in complex ionic matrices and could be effectively regenerated via a relatively straightforward process. Furthermore, filtration and dynamic regeneration tests demonstrated that at an initial Pb(II) concentration of 5 mg/L, the membrane operated continuously for 10–13 h before regeneration, treating up to 200 L/m² of wastewater before breakthrough, highlighting potential for cost-effective industrial wastewater treatment. This study not only demonstrates the high efficiency of the HFO-PVDF membrane for heavy metal ion removal but also provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for its practical application in water treatment. Full article

This study provides the first long-term, cross-border evaluation of Lithuanian potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars, integrating agronomic performance, tuber quality, and resistance to major pathogens across diverse environments. Field and controlled trials conducted in Lithuania and Ukraine from 2014 to 2024 revealed substantial genetic variability among 14 national cultivars, enabling their classification into five distinct maturity groups. Maincrop cultivars outperformed others in yield and starch accumulation, with ‘VB Meda’, ‘Goda’, and ‘VB Aista’ exhibiting a superior balance of productivity (up to 49 t ha⁻¹), starch content (>19%), and moderate-to-high resistance to Phytophthora infestans. A broader genetic screening of 287 accessions—including varieties, breeding lines, and hybrids—demonstrated wide diversity in phenological development, disease resistance, and reproductive traits. Notably, Ro₁ pathotype resistance was identified in 85 genotypes, predominantly with yellow-skinned tubers, while genotypic sterility in flowering and berry set was associated with both parental lineage and elevated temperatures. Although no complete immunity to P. infestans was detected, several genotypes displayed stable polygenic field resistance, suggesting the presence of horizontally inherited defense mechanisms effective under variable agroclimatic conditions. These results underscore the strategic breeding potential of Lithuanian potato germplasm for developing high-performing cultivars with enhanced resilience to late blight and nematodes and offer valuable insights for climate-adapted potato breeding in Northern and Eastern Europe. Full article

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions pose environmental and health risks. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is effective for NO_x removal, and using CO as a reductant can eliminate both NO_x and CO. This study explores CuCe catalysts on SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂ for CO-SCR. Results show catalytic activity relates to the synergy between lattice oxygen and CuCe species. TiO₂ enhances this interaction, promoting Cu⁺ and lattice oxygen for NO adsorption and dissociation. The CuCe/TiO₂ catalyst achieves 100% NO conversion at 300 °C and 40.2% at 100 °C, indicating excellent low-temperature performance. These findings are valuable for developing efficient SCR catalysts. Full article

The chromium-free oxide precursor strategy effectively avoids chromium volatilization and electrode contamination in metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs), while enabling high-temperature co-sintering in air to simplify the fabrication process. However, the drastic microstructural coarsening, dimensional shrinkage, and thermal expansion mismatch with adjacent components of such substrates during high-temperature sintering, reduction, and thermal cycling collectively contribute to the interfacial instability and structural degradation of MS-SOFCs. Herein, we address these issues by incorporating a small amount of Gd_0.1Ce_0.9O_1.95 (GDC) to the NiO-Fe₂O₃ (NFO) substrate. The incorporation of GDC significantly enhances the sintering compatibility and reduction stability of the MS-SOFCs, alleviating the stress-induced warping and distortion. Moreover, the GDC phase has a pinning effect to suppressing the coarsening of the substrates during high-temperature sintering and reduction processes, enhancing mechanical integrity and structural robustness of the single cell. With 15 wt% GDC incorporated into the NiFe substrate, the corresponding MS-SOFC with GDC electrolyte film achieves a peak power density of 0.56 W cm⁻² at 600 °C, along with markedly improved structural integrity and operational reliability. This work demonstrates a viable pathway for designing heterophase-engineered supports with matched thermomechanical properties, offering promising prospects for enhancing the durability of MS-SOFCs. Full article

The growing demand for sustainable and multifunctional construction materials, particularly those capable of addressing durability and energy challenges, has motivated the development of conductive and photothermally active geopolymers. This study investigated the use of an Fe-rich spinel aggregate (FSA) as a high-density filler in geopolymers composed of ground granulated blast furnace slag and bauxite residue, with a fixed addition of 1 wt% graphite (binder-based) to enhance electrical conductivity. The effects of different FSA replacement percentages (0–100%) on compressive strength, electrical conductivity, photothermal efficiency, and chemical resistance were evaluated. An increase in the FSA content translated to an increase in the final compressive strength, with 100% FSA replacement achieving the highest value of 45.5 ± 2.5 MPa at 28 days. As the FSA content increased, the electrical resistivity decreased to as low as 42 Ω·m at 100% replacement. Under simulated solar flux conditions (1 kW/m²), photothermal analysis revealed that the 100% FSA mixtures exhibited the highest surface temperature increase of 9.8 °C after 300 s, indicating their superior thermal responsiveness. Furthermore, acid immersion in 10% HCl for 28 days showed mass gain in all geopolymers, with the highest gain observed at 50% FSA (+11.51%). Similarly, the strength increased after acid exposure up to a 75% FSA content. These findings highlight the multifunctional potential of FSA-enhanced geopolymers for high-mechanical-performance, electrically conductive, photothermally active, and chemically durable materials as multifunctional construction materials. Full article

Porous carbon from renewable resources like biomass is a key material utilized in many applications ranging from environmental remediation to energy storage. There are limited reports in the literature on the effects of biomass pretreatment, production process parameters, and downstream processing on the final product properties. This is the first study aimed at closing the latter research gap. Six different types of underutilized biomass were examined: eastern red cedar wood, pecan shells, hazelnut shells, algal biomass, miscanthus, and sludge produced at municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Although pretreatment of biomass with KOH or ZnCl₂ enhanced formation of micro- and mesopores, carbon yield was lower (15.3–32.5%) than that obtained via non-catalytic pyrolysis (28.3–48%). An optimization study performed using response surface methodology and cedar wood has shown the significant effects (p < 0.05) of temperature and catalyst/biomass ratio on total BET pore volume and surface area. Additionally, catalyst/biomass ratio had a significant effect on the crystal structure and pore size distribution in the carbon produced by pyrolysis. Hence, optimization of process temperature, hold time, and activation ratio is capable of yielding porous carbon from cedar wood pyrolysis with desirable properties. Full article

Traffic-induced noise pollution is a significant environmental issue, driving the development of advanced noise-reducing pavement materials. Semi-dense graded asphalt mixtures (SDAMs) present a promising compromise, offering enhanced acoustic properties compared to conventional dense-graded asphalt mixtures while maintaining superior durability to porous asphalt mixtures. However, the mechanism underlying the relationship between the energy dissipation characteristics and noise reduction effects of such mixtures remains unclear, which limits further optimization of their noise reduction performance. This study designed and prepared semi-dense graded noise-reducing asphalt mixtures SMA-6 TM, SMA-10 TM, and SMA-13 TM (SMA TM represents noise-reducing SMA mixture) based on traditional dense-graded asphalt mixtures SMA-6, SMA-10, and SMA-13, and conducted tests for water stability, high-temperature performance (60 °C), and low-temperature performance (−10 °C). Subsequently, energy loss parameters such as loss factor and damping ratio were calculated through dynamic modulus tests to characterize their energy dissipation properties. The mechanism linking the energy dissipation characteristics of semi-dense graded asphalt mixtures to noise reduction was investigated. Finally, the noise reduction effect was further verified through a tire free fall test and a close-proximity (CPX) method. The indoor test results indicate that the semi-dense mixtures exhibited a trade-off in performance: their dynamic stability was 11.1–11.3% lower and low-temperature performance decreased by 4.2% (SMA-13 TM) to 14.1% (SMA-6 TM), with moisture stability remaining comparable. Conversely, they demonstrated superior damping, with consistently higher loss factors and damping ratios. All mixtures reached peak damping at 20 °C, and the loss factor showed a strong positive correlation (R² > 0.91) with energy dissipation. Field results from a test section showed that the optimized SMA-10 TM mixture yielded a significant tire–road noise reduction of 3–5 dB(A) relative to the SMA-13, while concurrently meeting key performance criteria for anti-water ability and durability. This study establishes a link between the energy dissipation in SDAM and their noise reduction efficacy. The findings provide a theoretical framework for optimizing mixture designs and support the wider application of SDAM as a practical noise mitigation solution. Full article