Search Results (93)

Mulch films play a vital role in modern agriculture by enhancing soil hydrothermal conditions, suppressing weed growth, and improving crop performance. Across 13 major crops, mulching increased yields by an average of 26%, with particularly strong responses in soybean (44%), millet (42%), wheat (29%), and maize (25%), and improved water-use efficiency by up to 33%. However, conventional polyethylene (PE) mulch films accumulate persistently in soils, reaching 7183–10,586 microplastic particles/kg in topsoil after long-term use and contributing up to 56% of total microplastics across the 0–100 cm soil profile. These residues impair enzymatic activity, disrupt nutrient cycling, and alter microbial community structure, making biodegradable alternatives essential for mitigating these issues. Lignin-based biodegradable mulch films (BDMs) have gained increasing attention owing to lignin’s intrinsic UV-shielding capacity, mechanical reinforcement, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability. Lignin-containing films may block UV radiation below 300 nm, reduce visible-light transmittance by ~80%, exhibit thermal stability up to 150 °C, and demonstrate low water vapour permeability (3.41 × 10⁻⁸ g/m·h·Pa) depending on formulation and lignin loading. Incorporation of lignin may enhance biodegradability, increasing soil-burial degradation by 25.47% relative to pure PVA, with composite systems achieving ~55% degradation within 50 days. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of lignin structure, sources, chemistry, extraction methods. It examines lignin as a renewable and value-added feedstock for mulch applications, and critically evaluates the optical, mechanical, thermal, hydrophobic, and biodegradation properties of lignin-based BDMs. The review also discusses their agronomic applications, including weed suppression, soil moisture retention, nutrient management, and soil microclimate regulation, while analysing the economic considerations affecting large-scale implementation and commercial feasibility. Finally, it outlines key research priorities to enable scalable, field-reliable, and environmentally sustainable mulch film technologies. Full article

In this paper, we present a study on the automated design optimization of a wideband low-noise amplifier (LNA) operating in Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz) using proximal policy optimization (PPO), one of the widely applied reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms for engineering problems. As a target microwave active circuit, we select a two-stage LNA architecture, where transmission lines (TLs) are dominantly used for impedance matching and gain/noise optimization. For simplicity, all widths of TLs were fixed so that the characteristic impedance is 50 Ω, with lengths of TLs being set as design parameters. In addition, dimension variables of capacitors were treated as design parameters and, in total, we optimized 29 parameters. For target specifications, we set both $S_{11}$ and $S_{22}$ to be below −10 dB over the 12–18 GHz band and the noise figure (NF) to be below 2 dB. A total of 20,140 simulations were performed for training and the overall process took about 24 h. The results show that both the reward and the loss converged appropriately, achieving the target specifications successfully. For the final results, we performed up to 25 predictions, and the prediction process was terminated early if a solution meeting all target specifications was found within the given number of attempts. The device model used was a commercial 150 nm GaN high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) process technology. Full article

Crop fungal and viral diseases cause annual economic losses exceeding USD 150 billion globally, demanding rapid, sensitive, and field-deployable diagnostic technologies. This review critically evaluates recent advances in electrochemical biosensing platforms for early crop pathogen detection, focusing on immunosensors, genosensors, aptasensors, and VOC-based systems. Reported analytical performances demonstrate ultralow detection capabilities, including 0.3 fg mL⁻¹ for viral coat proteins, 15 DNA copies for bacterial pathogens, 0.5 fg µL⁻¹ RNA detection for viroids, and nanomolar-level VOC sensing (35–62 nM), with response times ranging from 2 to 60 min. Comparative analysis reveals that genosensors and aptasensors generally achieve the lowest LODs due to nucleic acid amplification or high-affinity recognition, while immunosensors provide robust protein-level specificity validated against ELISA. Volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors enable non-invasive, pre-symptomatic monitoring but face specificity challenges. Despite strong laboratory performance, practical adoption is limited by matrix-derived electrochemical interference, environmental instability of biorecognition elements, workflow complexity, and insufficient standardization across studies. Emerging innovations, including magnetic bead enrichment, nanoporous and graphene-based electrodes, microfluidic integration, AI-assisted impedance interpretation, and biodegradable substrates, are progressively addressing these bottlenecks. This review emphasizes that successful field translation requires holistic workflow engineering, matrix-matched validation, and harmonized performance metrics rather than incremental sensitivity improvements alone. By integrating analytical chemistry, nanomaterials engineering, and agricultural decision-support frameworks, electrochemical biosensing platforms hold significant potential to enable decentralized, rapid, and sustainable crop disease management. Full article

In arid northwest China, water scarcity is the primary constraint on agricultural sustainability. Accurate prediction of soil moisture under vegetation is essential for optimizing water use and enabling precision irrigation. Furthermore, water and nitrogen management are often studied in isolation, and their spatiotemporal synergy in regulating soil moisture remains unclear, which hinders the development of optimized coupled strategies. To address this, this study integrated UAV hyperspectral (450–950 nm), multispectral remote sensing, and ground sensor networks to systematically conduct field experiments covering three irrigation levels: full irrigation (W1) at 100% of maintaining soil moisture content; mild deficit irrigation (W2), with soil moisture content set at three-quarters of W1; and severe deficit irrigation (W3), with soil moisture content set at half of W1 and three nitrogen application rates (N1: 350, N2: 250, and N3: 150 kg/ha) in a field experiment. Through sensitive band extraction and spectral index optimization, triple-band indices (RES: Reflectance Extraction Index, MSR: Moisture Sensitive Ratio Index, two novel triple-band spectral indices developed based on Kubelka–Munk and Hapke models) were innovatively developed to enhance signals and suppress noise. Random Forest algorithms were employed to construct soil moisture inversion models for different soil layers. Rigorous comparative analysis comprehensively evaluated performance differences between hyperspectral and multispectral technologies in the indirect retrieval of soil moisture based on crop physiological response and detecting soil moisture at varying depths (10–100 cm). The results indicate that the 450–760 nm visible band represents the optimal spectral region for soil moisture detection. The two indices (MSR and RES) constructed within this range demonstrated prediction correlations 18–32% higher than traditional indices. Hyperspectral technology exhibited comprehensive advantages, particularly in monitoring deep soil layers (>80 cm) (R² = 0.49 vs. 0.18 for multispectral). The spatiotemporal dynamics of soil moisture are primarily governed by irrigation intensity, while nitrogen fertilizers indirectly influence water redistribution through physiological processes such as root architecture regulation, rather than directly altering soil water-holding capacity. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a UAV-based hyperspectral system for precision soil moisture monitoring in vegetated farmland, and it provides a critical scientific basis for optimizing water–nitrogen management and enhancing water use efficiency in arid agriculture. Full article

Sperm cryopreservation is a key technique in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), livestock breeding, fertility preservation, and wildlife conservation. However, the freeze–thaw process induces significant oxidative stress through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondria, which can lead to impaired sperm motility, membrane damage, DNA fragmentation, and reduced fertilization potential. MitoQ is a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant consisting of a ubiquinone moiety conjugated to triphenylphosphonium (TPP⁺). MitoQ selectively accumulates in the mitochondrial matrix, where it efficiently scavenges reactive oxygen species (ROS) at their point of origin. This targeted action helps preserve mitochondrial function, sustain ATP production, and inhibit apoptotic signaling. Extensive experimental evidence across diverse species, including bulls, rams, boars, humans, dogs, and goats, shows that MitoQ supplementation during cryopreservation enhances post-thaw sperm viability, motility, membrane integrity, and DNA stability. Optimal dosing between 50 and 150 nM achieves these benefits without cytotoxicity, although higher doses may paradoxically increase oxidative damage. Compared to conventional antioxidants, MitoQ offers superior mitochondrial protection and enhanced preservation of sperm bioenergetics. Future directions involve exploring synergistic combinations with other cryoprotectants, advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticles and hydrogels, and detailed mechanistic studies on long-term effects. Overall, MitoQ represents a promising adjunct for improving sperm cryopreservation outcomes across clinical, agricultural, and conservation settings. Full article

This theoretical work investigates the linear (absorption and emission) and nonlinear (first hyperpolarizability and TPA) optical properties of donor–$\pi$–acceptor (D–$\pi$–A) molecular architectures based on functionalized benzoxazoles, with potential applications in optoelectronic technologies such as OLEDs and solar cells. Four $\pi$-conjugated compounds were studied in the gas phase and in polar (methanol) and nonpolar (toluene) solvents, employing DFT with the B3LYP and CAM-B3LYP functionals and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set, as implemented in Gaussian and Dalton. The results reveal that the chemical environment induces spectral shifts and modulates the intensity of electronic transitions. In particular, the compound 2-((4-((5-nitro-2-oxo-1,3-benzoxazol-3(2H)-yl)amino)phenyl)methyl)-1,3-benzoxazole exhibited outstanding behavior in methanol, with a significant increase in dipole moment, polarizability, and first hyperpolarizability (static and dynamic at 1064 nm), reaching a TPA cross-section close to 150 GM. These findings highlight the key role of ionic substituents in tuning the optical response of $\pi$-conjugated systems and underscore their potential as functional materials for high-performance light-emitting and energy-conversion devices. Full article

In this work, a unique approach was used to synthesise black coatings on aluminium alloys (AA) 6061 and 7075 for applications in the aerospace field. In detail, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) technology was used, maintaining the voltage constant at a relatively low value (V_max ≤ 292 V) during the process. NaVO₃ additive was used in the silicate-based electrolyte to obtain a black colour. The coatings were characterised by SEM-EDS, XPS, XRD, VIS-NIR spectroscopy, and EIS. The presence of vanadium oxides in the PEO coatings was detected by EDS, XPS, and XRD analyses. PEO coatings on AA7075 produced with 10 g/L of NaVO₃ exhibited exceptional optical characteristics, with a solar absorptance value of 95.3% in the VIS-NIR spectrum (wavelength range of 400–2000 nm). All the coatings improved the corrosion performances of the tested AA6061 and AA7075 by two or three orders of magnitude in 3.5 wt. % aqueous NaCl. Moreover, there was no sign of delamination, cracks, or any visible changes on coatings after thermal shock, performed by cycling samples between two extreme temperatures, −196 °C and 150 °C, respectively. Full article

This study examines the performance of a GaN HEMT with a 150 nm gate length, fabricated on silicon carbide, across various operational modes, including direct current (DC), radio frequency (RF), and small-signal parameters. The evaluation of DC, RF, and small-signal performance under diverse bias conditions remains a relatively unexplored area of study for this specific technology. The DC characteristics revealed relatively little I_ds at zero gate and drain voltages, and the current grew as V_gs increased. Essential measurements include I_dss at 109 mA and I_dssm at 26 mA, while the peak g_m was 62 mS. Because transconductance is sensitive to variations in V_gs and V_ds, it shows “Vth _roll-off,” where Vth decreases as V_ds increases. The transfer characteristics corroborated this trend, illustrating the impact of drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) on threshold voltage (Vth) values, which spanned from −5.06 V to −5.71 V across varying drain-source voltages (V_ds). The equivalent-circuit technique revealed substantial non-linear behaviors in capacitances such as C_gs and C_gd concerning V_gs and V_ds, while also identifying extrinsic factors including parasitic capacitances and resistances. Series resistances (R_gs and R_gd) decreased as V_gs increased, thereby enhancing device conductivity. As V_gs approached neutrality, particularly at elevated V_ds levels, the intrinsic transconductance (g_mo) and time constants (τ_gm, τ_gs, and τ_gd) exhibited enhanced performance. f_t and f_max, which are essential for high-frequency applications, rose with decreasing V_gs and increasing V_ds. When V_gs approached −3 V, the S₂₁ and Y₂₁ readings demonstrated improved signal transmission, with peak S₂₁ values of approximately 11.2 dB. The stability factor (K), which increased with V_ds, highlighted the device’s operational limits. The robust correlation between simulation and experimental data validated the equivalent-circuit model, which is essential for enhancing design and creating RF circuits. Further examination of bias conditions would enhance understanding of the device’s performance. Full article

Objectives: A simple method for quantifying fluconazole in small blood volumes has been developed using volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS^®) technology and isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. Methods: For sample collection, Mitra^® devices are used to keep the sample volume at 10 µL. For the quantitative determination of fluconazole, the Mitra^® samples are extracted using acetonitrile as the extraction agent, containing 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propan-2-ol as the internal standard. A Synergi 4 μm Polar-RP 80 Å (150 × 2 mm) column forms the stationary phase, and a mixture of acetonitrile and phosphate buffer is the mobile phase. The UV detection is set at a wavelength of 210 nm. The therapeutic concentration range of 5 to 160 mg/L is covered, and the linear equation with 1/x² weighting is used to determine unknown samples. This method has been validated according to the current EMA and FDA guidelines for bioanalytical methods. Results: The validation data obtained after analysing whole blood samples (EDTA) showed within- and between-run accuracy between 94.4% and 115% and precision between 0.4% and 9.4%, respectively. A lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 5 mg/L was sufficient for therapeutic drug monitoring in paediatric patients receiving fluconazole as antifungal prophylaxis after haematopoietic cell transplantation. Conclusions: So far, 211 samples from 49 patients were successfully analysed, and concentrations between 5.84 mg/L and 107 mg/L were determined for whole blood Mitra^® samples. To our knowledge, this is the first application of VAMS^® technology using simple and cheap HPLC-UV quantification. Full article

We report an ion-gel-gated amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide (a-IGZO) optoelectronic neuromorphic transistors capable of synaptic emulation in both photoelectric dual modes. The ion-gel dielectric in the coplanar-structured transistor, fabricated via ink-jet printing, exhibits excellent double-layer capacitance (>1 μF/cm²) and supports low-voltage operation through lateral gate coupling. The integration of ink-jet printing technology enables scalable and large-area fabrication, highlighting its industrial feasibility. Electrical stimulation-induced artificial synaptic behaviors were successfully demonstrated through ion migration in the gel matrix. Through a simple and controllable oxygen vacancy engineering process involving low-temperature oxygen-free growth and post-annealing process, a sufficient density of stable subgap states was generated in IGZO, extending its responsivity spectrum to the visible-red region and enabling wavelength-discriminative photoresponses to 450/532/638 nm visible light. Notably, the subgap states exhibited unique interaction dynamics with low-energy photons in optically triggered pulse responses. Critical synaptic functionalities—including short-term plasticity (STP), long-term plasticity (LTP), and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF)—were successfully simulated under both optical and electrical stimulations. The device achieves low energy consumption while maintaining compatibility with flexible substrates through low-temperature processing (≤150 °C). This study establishes a scalable platform for multimodal neuromorphic systems utilizing printed iontronic architectures. Full article

Plasma nitriding (PN) is often used to enhance the mechanical properties (surface hardness, wear and corrosion resistance) of bulk alloys. High-quality AlCrN hard coatings were obtained using high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) technology. This study proposes a combination of two surface treatment methods (plasma nitriding and hard coating deposition) in a continuous plasma process to optimize the application and service life of cutting tools. The main feature of this study is to verify the mechanical properties and adhesion strength of nitride tungsten carbide (WC-Co) bulk at a lower temperature (∼300 °C) and shorter time (0.5 to 1.5 h) of PN treatment. After 1.5 h of PN treatment on the WC-Co substrate without subsequent coating, the ultra-thin WN_x diffusion interlayer (thickness ∼11.5 nm) on the subsurface was directly observed via TEM analysis, and the types of chemical bonding were confirmed by XPS analysis. Vickers analysis indicated that the surface hardness of the nitrided WC-Co substrate was enhanced by PN treatment from 1534 to 2034 Hv. The AlCrN coating deposited on the nitrided WC-Co substrate significantly enhances the surface mechanical properties, including adhesion strength (increasing from 70 to 150 N), hardness (rising from 2257 to 2568 HV), and wear resistance (with the wear rate decreasing from 14.5 to 3.4 × 10⁻⁸ mm³/Nm). Composite surface technology has a high commercial application value because it enhances the value of products under the existing equipment of manufacturers. Full article

In this paper, a NOR2 standard-cell-based dynamic comparator providing rail-to-rail input common mode range (ICMR) is presented, together with a novel standard-cell oriented design methodology. The proposed topology provides better speed performance and lower power-delay-product than the previously presented standard-cell-based dynamic comparators with rail-to-rail ICMR features. The NOR2 topology, which is also better than the complementary NAND2-based topology previously presented by the authors, is even able to guarantee improvements in the order of 8× –16× higher speed and 7× lower PDP, with respect to the other rail-to-rail ICMR standard-cell-based topologies in the literature. Concerning the standard-cell oriented design methodology, it is focused on the impact of the cell’s strength, which is the only free parameter, on delay, power consumption, ICMR and offset. The circuit performances are demonstrated for supply voltages equal to 600 mV, 300 mV and 150 mV, considering a 45 nm CMOS technology. Full article

Particulate matter (PM) and water pollution have posed serious hazards to human health. Nanofiber membranes (NFMs) have emerged as promising candidates for the elimination of PMs and the separation of oil–water mixtures. In this study, a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF)-based nanofiber membrane with an average diameter of approximately 150 nm was prepared via a double-nozzle electrospinning technology, demonstrating high-efficiency PM filtration and oil–water separation. The finer fiber diameter not only enhances PM filtration efficiency but also reduces air resistance. The high-voltage electric field and mechanical stretching during electrospinning promote high crystallization of β-phase PVDF. Additionally, the electrostatic charges generated on the surface of β-phase PVDF facilitate the adsorption of PM from the atmosphere. The introduction of polydopamine (PDA) in PVDF produces abundant adsorption sites, enabling outstanding filtration performance. PVDF-PVDF/PDA NFMs can achieve remarkable PM_0.3 filtration efficiency (99.967%) while maintaining a low pressure drop (144 Pa). PVDF-PVDF/PDA NFMs are hydrophobic, and its water contact angle (WCA) is 125.9°. It also shows excellent resistance to both acidic and alkaline environments, along with notable flame retardancy, as it can self-extinguish within 3 s. This nanofiber membrane holds significant promise for applications in personal protection, indoor air filtration, oily wastewater treatment, and environmental protection. Full article

Cold plasma is a novel non-thermal processing technology with broad application prospects in food preservation. When combined with other physical sterilization technologies, it enhances sterilization efficiency and broadens its application scope, providing a safe and effective alternative to traditional sterilization methods. In this paper, the sterilization effect of surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) plasma combined with 222 nm ultraviolet (UV) irradiation against Pseudomonas fragi (P. fragi) was explored for the first time. The sterilization process parameters of SDBD + UV were optimized using the response surface methodology. And the sterilization mechanism of SDBD + UV was preliminary elucidated. The results indicated that the SDBD + UV treatment was highly effective against P. fragi. It could eliminate 6.35 Log CFU/g of P. fragi within 150 s, establishing optimal sterilization parameters: a radiation distance of 16.4 cm and a saving time (a period of preservation in which the samples were retained in the device after the treatment) of 120 s. Furthermore, the treatment caused significant damage to the cell membrane of P. fragi, leading to membrane perforation and content leakage. It also induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by membrane lipid peroxidation, alterations in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of cold plasma combined with 222 nm UV treatment in the meat industry. Full article

This paper presents an ultra-low-power CMOS voltage reference designed and verified in an 180 nm standard CMOS technology. To achieve DC and AC supply sensitivity under 0.01%/V and −100 dB, it employs a single transistor and two 2-T cores to improve supply immunity with minimal overhead, adding only one drain-to-source voltage for the total supply voltage. The proposed design achieves a line sensitivity of 0.0027%/V in a supply voltage range of 0.5 V to 2 V and consumes 630 pW with a supply voltage of 0.5 V. The simulated temperature coefficient is 12 ppm/°C in a temperature range of −40 °C to 150 °C, and the simulated power supply rejection ratio is −100.5 dB at 100 Hz without requiring any output decoupling capacitor. Full article