Search Results (1,635)

Beer is an alcoholic beverage made primarily from malted cereals, water, hops, and yeast. Although barley is the most common cereal in brewing, corn malts are also used to produce beer in different countries. However, research on their production, physicochemical properties, and aging evolution is limited. In the present study, the evolution of various physicochemical features during the aging of six lager- and ale-fermented corn beers was investigated. Results after 18 months of aging showed decreases in most of the measured properties: total phenolics between 16 and 20%, antioxidant capacity between 17 and 23% by DPPH assay and 23–41% by ABTS assay, free anthocyanins between 38 and 55%, bitterness units between 32 and 42%, and SRM color and color intensity only dropped in lager beers, while in ale beers these properties increased. Finally, tonality increased in lager beers and one ale beer. This study enabled a more in-depth analysis of corn beer, focusing on the evolution of physicochemical properties during aging that are relevant to beer quality. Full article

The hyperloop transportation system is a promising ultra-high-speed mobility solution operating in a reduced-pressure environment, where pod performance is governed by the coupled behaviour of structural integrity, aerodynamics, and electromagnetic propulsion. This paper presents the design, numerical analysis, and performance evaluation of a lightweight hyperloop pod equipped with a linear induction motor (LIM)-based propulsion and electromagnetic stabilisation system. The pod chassis was fabricated using Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) and Aluminium 6061-T6, achieving a significant weight reduction while maintaining structural safety. Finite Element Analysis reveals a maximum von Mises stress of 82 MPa, which is well below the material yield strength, and a maximum deformation of 0.64 mm under worst-case loading conditions. Modal analysis indicates the first natural frequency at 47.6 Hz, ensuring sufficient separation from operational excitation frequencies. Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis conducted inside a rectangular tube shows a drag coefficient reduction of approximately 18% compared to a baseline blunt design, with stable velocity distribution and no flow choking at operating speeds. The optimised nose geometry enables rapid acceleration, achieving 25 km/h within 1.1 s in prototype testing. The LIM analysis demonstrates a peak thrust of 1.85 kN at an optimal slip range of 6–8%, with operating currents between 35 and 55A and power consumption of 18–25 kW. Thermal analysis confirms a maximum stator temperature of 78 °C, remaining within safe operating limits. The integrated numerical and experimental results confirm the feasibility, efficiency, and stability of the proposed hyperloop pod design. Full article

Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) is increasingly discussed as a potential supplement to climate-change mitigation, yet public and stakeholder judgments remain sensitive to knowledge, framing, and perceived risks. We examined how a structured university classroom module on SRM reshaped student perceptions using a matched pre–post survey design. Participants were students enrolled in an English-taught global climate change course (N = 106); 103 students provided valid matched responses after applying pre-specified exclusion rules. Self-rated SRM knowledge increased substantially after the module (mean change +0.47 on a 1–3 scale; Wilcoxon signed-rank p (Holm-adjusted) < 1 × 10⁻⁷; Cohen’s dz = 0.67). Support for SRM research remained moderately positive but did not increase (pre mean 3.76 to post mean 3.54 on a 1–5 scale). In contrast, support for stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) deployment declined (pre mean 3.42 to post mean 2.95; p (Holm-adjusted) = 0.0084; dz = −0.33), and preferences shifted away from prioritizing climate intervention toward low-carbon development (mean change −0.68 on a 1–5 priority scale; p (Holm-adjusted) = 0.0001; dz = −0.45). Post-lecture models indicated that perceived benefits versus risks was the most consistent correlate of support across outcomes. Open-ended responses most frequently emphasized feasibility, unintended consequences, governance, and moral hazard. Overall, students largely endorsed SRM research as valuable while becoming more cautious about deployment and political prioritization, suggesting that balanced, structured instruction can sharpen sensitivity to evidence, uncertainty, and potential trade-offs that students also weighed in the survey. Full article

An exorbitant amount of organic fractions of the municipal solid waste, i.e., fruit and vegetable waste (FVW), generated from farm to fork are being treated through anaerobic digestion (AD). Anaerobic digestion (AD) of FVW only achieves <60% methane potential due to methanogen loss and indirect electron transfer. Hence, the technology necessitates further improvements in performance to maximise the methane gas yield by stabilising the methanogens using a potential additive. Magnetic biochar is a budding and promising additive in anaerobic digestion that amplifies biomethanation performance. This study focuses on the role of magnetic biochar in enhancing the viability of the AD system in biogas production from organic waste fractions. Herein, the magnetic biochar was produced using a FeCl₃-impregnated walnut shell and then characterized. The derived magnetite was identified as the major crystalline phase in biochar with the presence of several oxygenated functional groups. The specific surface area, pore volume, and pore diameter were found to be 360.99 m² g⁻¹, 0.089 cm³ g⁻¹, and 0.98 nm, respectively. The SEM and TEM images illustrated a good dispersion of the material, with size ranging between 18.2 and 46.6 nm, thus indicating the porous nature of the magnetic biochar. The incorporation of magnetic biochar in the CN ratio modified the AD system with enhanced methane production and the highest volume (1523.4 mL) reported in treatment, with a CN ratio of 25:1 and 0.5% magnetic biochar. The resulted gas yield is 35% more than the control (1125 ML) with reduced lag phase (4 vs. 12 days). It concludes that walnut shell MBC uniquely combines DIET conduits and biofilm support and enhances methane production from FVW. However, 16S rRNA confirmations of syntrophs, continuous reactor validation, and magnetic biochar recovery and reuse potential studies are essential for further scaleup. Full article

In this paper, we study a nonlinear system of sequential Caputo fractional differential equations equipped with coupled mixed multi-point boundary conditions. In particular, the boundary conditions involve the values of the unknown functions at the endpoints expressed as linear combinations of their values at several interior points, forming a closed system of relations. The existence of solutions is established by applying the Leray–Schauder alternative, while uniqueness is proved using Banach’s contraction principle. In addition, we investigate the Hyers–Ulam stability of the proposed system. Several examples are included to demonstrate the applicability of the theoretical results. Some special cases of the general problem are also discussed. Full article

Rapid urbanization has significantly increased energy demand in buildings, which now represent nearly 30% of global energy use. In India, buildings are built across highly varied climatic conditions, from hot-dry and warm-humid to cold, high-altitude areas, making climate-responsive envelope design essential to enhance thermal performance. Among envelope components, roofs are the most exposed to solar and outdoor thermal loads, playing a key role in managing indoor heat transfer. This study offers a parametric analysis of climate-responsive roof design strategies for India’s five main climatic zones, using transient simulations and statistical evaluation. The effectiveness of insulation placement, insulation material and thickness, and external surface absorptivity was systematically assessed based on roof heat gain and heat loss. Results indicate that over-slab insulation can lower roof heat gain by approximately 15–35% compared to under-slab insulation in warm-humid, hot-dry, composite, and temperate zones. In comparison, under-slab insulation decreases heat loss by about 10% in colder areas. Among insulation materials, 50 mm polyurethane foam (U = 0.433 W/m²·K) consistently outperformed extruded polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, achieving 82–83% reductions in maximum heat gain in cooling-dominated climates and 89% reductions in heat loss in cold regions relative to uninsulated roofs. When combined with a white reflective surface finish (α = 0.26), the total heat transfer reduction increased further to 89–92%. Surface treatments alone cut heat gain by 37–51% in non-cold climates, highlighting their potential as cost-effective retrofit options. Statistical analysis confirmed that dry-bulb temperature is the primary climatic factor influencing roof heat transfer (R² = 0.86–0.98, p < 0.0001), while solar radiation had a weaker effect, especially in optimized roof systems. The findings emphasize the importance of climate-specific roof design and demonstrate that insulation U-value has a greater impact on thermal performance than surface absorptivity, although both are significant. This research offers practical, climate-adjusted guidance for architects, engineers, and policymakers to enhance the thermal performance of roofs in Indian buildings. It supports the development of more resilient, energy-efficient building envelopes. Full article

No-reference image quality assessment (NR-IQA) models achieve high correlation with human mean opinion scores (MOS) on clean benchmarks, yet recent work shows they can be highly vulnerable to small adversarial perturbations that severely degrade ranking consistency, including in black-box settings. We introduce the Spectral Robustness Mixer (SRM), a lightweight neck inserted between an NR-IQA backbone and regression head, designed to reduce adversarial sensitivity without changing the dataset, label format, or target metric. SRM couples (i) deep-to-shallow cross-scale fusion via a Nyström low-rank attention surrogate, (ii) ridge-conditioned landmark kernels with ridge regularization, solved via numerically stable small-matrix factorization (SVD/LU) to improve conditioning, and (iii) variance-aware entropy-regularized fusion gates with a bounded gain cap to limit gradient amplification. We evaluate SRM on TID2013 and KonIQ-10k under a white-box ${\mathcal{l}}_{\infty }/{\mathcal{l}}_2$ attack ensemble that includes per-image regression objectives and a correlation-aware pairwise inversion objective (a ranking-inspired surrogate for correlation inversion), with expectation-over-transformation (EOT) and anti-gradient masking checks. At $ϵ=4/255$ (${\mathcal{l}}_{\infty }$), SRM improves worst-case robust Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficient (SROCC; defined as the minimum over our fixed attack ensemble) by an absolute $0.06$–$0.08$ SROCC points (i.e., correlation-coefficient units, not percentage gain) across datasets/backbones, while keeping clean SROCC within $0.00$–$0.01$ of the baseline. We observe similar trends for Pearson linear correlation coefficient (PLCC). Full article

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, morphological characteristics, electrical conductivity, dielectric behavior, and electrocatalytic activity of perovskite-structured iron manganite (FeMnO₃), with a specific focus on its performance in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). FeMnO₃(FMO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a sol–gel-type Pechini method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS). XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a crystalline structure with cubic symmetry assigned to the Ia-3 space group, with an average crystallite size of 52.47 nm. FESEM images revealed a relatively uniform morphology with an average particle diameter of 55.84 nm. The redox and oxidation states of Fe and Mn can be studied by temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO-O₂) in order to understand oxygen uptake and metal oxidation processes occurring within the FMO lattice. The dielectric constant, dielectric loss, electric modulus and electrical conductivity were calculated as a function of frequency and temperature using a Novocontrol Alpha-A broadband dielectric spectrometer (Novocontrol system) coupled with the LCR-800 precision meter. The dielectric data reveal that the FMO has semiconducting behavior with dominant charge- or ionic-relaxation processes. The electrocatalytic activity toward the HER was evaluated using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), with the working electrode modified by an FMO catalyst ink. The material exhibited significant catalytic activity within the HER potential range, and an increase in the number of cycles led to stabilized current and enhanced hydrogen evolution. These results highlight the stability of FeMnO₃ for hydrogen generation. Full article

Fluorescence remains a foundational optical phenomenon underpinning applications in sensing, imaging, diagnostics, and catalysis. Among the strategies developed to modulate fluorescence, coupling fluorophores with plasmonic metals has emerged as a powerful route for both enhancement and quenching. The collective excitation and decay of surface plasmons can profoundly alter fluorophore excitation rates, radiative pathways, and emission efficiencies. This review provides a mechanistic and historical synthesis of metal–fluorophore interactions, unifying enhancement and quenching phenomena under the term Metal Manipulated Fluorescence (MMF). We summarize the fundamental principles of fluorescence and plasmon resonance, discuss theoretical and computational approaches for predicting metal–fluorophore coupling, and critically examine recent advances in plasmonic nanostructure synthesis that enable precise control over fluorophore behaviour. By integrating experimental observations with theoretical models, we highlight the opportunities and limitations of current MMF strategies and outline future directions in materials design, synthesis methodologies, and predictive modelling for next-generation optical and optoelectronic technologies. Full article

This review article provides a systematic analysis of synthesis methods, structural characteristics, and functional properties of spinel-structured ferrite nanoparticles (MFe₂O₄). The physicochemical principles, advantages, and limitations of various synthesis techniques—including co-precipitation, combustion, sol–gel, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave-assisted, sonochemical, electrochemical, and solid-state reaction methods—are comparatively discussed. The influence of synthesis parameters on crystal structure, morphology, and cation distribution between tetrahedral and octahedral sites, as well as on magnetic, dielectric, and optical properties, is critically analyzed. Furthermore, the capabilities of characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), FT-Raman spectroscopy, dielectric measurements, and magnetic measurements for investigating spinel ferrites are comprehensively summarized. Finally, the high potential of spinel ferrite nanoparticles for applications in electronics, microwave devices, water treatment, catalysis, sensors, and biomedical fields is highlighted. Full article

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising cell-free therapeutic agents in regenerative medicine due to their ability to deliver bioactive molecules with enhanced stability and low immunogenicity. Their potential to replicate stem cell functions without the risks of live-cell transplantation has catalyzed a surge in global research. Objective: This study aims to perform a scientometric analysis of EV-based regenerative medicine research from 2014 to 2024, identifying publication trends, influential contributors, thematic clusters, and translational challenges. Methods: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and analyzed using CiteSpace software. The analysis included journal impact mapping, co-authorship networks, co-citation analysis, and thematic cluster identification. Metrics such as citation bursts, total link strength, and silhouette values were used to assess influence and thematic coherence. Results: The most prolific journals were Stem Cell Research & Therapy and International Journal of Molecular Sciences. China led in publication volume, while the USA dominated citation impact. Foundational works by Théry and Lai, including the MISEV guidelines, shaped methodological standards. Nine thematic clusters were identified, including oxidative stress, small EVs, mesenchymal stromal cells, muscle regeneration, and chronic kidney disease. A strategic shift toward engineered EVs and novel sources such as iPSCs and macrophages was evident. Key translational barriers include lack of standardization, scalability issues, and regulatory ambiguity. Conclusions: EV-based therapies are transitioning from foundational research to clinical application. Overcoming methodological and regulatory challenges will be critical to realizing their full therapeutic potential in regenerative medicine. Full article

Improving the simulation efficiency of the spectral representation method (SRM) for nonstationary fluctuating wind fields has attracted considerable attention. To this end, this study proposes a method based on proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) decoupling and Spline interpolation to enhance computational efficiency. This method selects a limited number of interpolation points in the time-frequency domain of the evolutionary power spectral density (EPSD) for Cholesky decomposition, utilizes the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) technique to achieve time-frequency decoupling of the spectral matrix, and employs Spline interpolation but not the traditional Hermite-interpolation to reconstruct the complete time-frequency functions, thereby enabling the rapid synthesis of wind-velocity time histories via the FFT. Then, the wind field on a three-span frame lightning-rod structure is taken as an example to validate the reliability of the proposed method. The influences of the modal order and the number of time-frequency interpolation points on both simulation efficiency and error are investigated, and comparisons are given with the Hermite-interpolation-based method. The results indicate that the simulation efficiency is governed primarily by the modal order, and the method with Spline interpolation shows higher computational efficiency and accuracy because it can satisfy accuracy requirements at a lower modal order. Finally, a rational truncation criterion based on the cumulative energy ratio of at least 99.9% is suggested to determine the optimal modal order, thereby achieving a balance between accuracy and computational efficiency. Full article

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a wide range of symptoms and severity, posing significant challenges for accurate diagnosis. Approaches that rely on a single data source, or unimodal data, often fail to capture the disorder’s inherent heterogeneity. A multimodal approach, which integrates diverse data types, can create a more holistic and precise understanding of ASD. This paper introduces the Multimodal ASD (MMASD) framework, a novel predictive model for ASD. The MMASD framework is built upon two distinct input modalities: structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) and corresponding phenotype data. The sMRI data provides detailed neuroanatomical metrics, including brain tissue segmentation, volumetric measurements, and cortical thickness. Complementing this, the phenotype data encompasses the clinical and behavioral characteristics of each individual. In the proposed framework, latent features are independently extracted from both modalities and then fused to generate a comprehensive representation of the multimodal information. These fused features are then used to predict ASD by leveraging the outputs of various classifiers. A majority voting ensemble is employed to determine the final prediction. The MMASD framework achieves a high accuracy of 97.27%, surpassing the performance of current state-of-the-art approaches and demonstrating the efficacy of integrating neuroimaging and clinical data for ASD prediction. Full article

Background/Objectives: Speech understanding in noise relies on both temporal fine structure (TFS) and temporal envelope (ENV) cues. While TFS primarily conveys interaural time differences (ITDs) at low frequencies, ENV cues can also support ITD processing, especially when TFS is unavailable or degraded. Expanding the ENV by increasing modulation depth has been proposed to improve speech perception, but its effects on spatial release from masking (SRM) and binaural temporal processing in normal-hearing listeners remain unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of ENV enhancement on SRM in young adults with normal hearing and its influence on ITD sensitivity and interaural coherence (IC). Method: Thirty normal-hearing native Kannada speakers (19–34 years) participated. Speech stimuli consisted of Kannada sentences embedded in four-talker babble at −5, 0, and +5 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR). Target and masker were spatialized using head-related transfer functions at 0°, 15°, and 37.5° azimuths. Stimuli were presented with and without ENV enhancement (compression–expansion algorithm). Speech recognition scores were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models, and SRM was calculated as performance differences between co-located and spatially separated conditions. Cross-correlation analyses were performed to estimate ITDs and IC across SNRs. Result: ENV enhancement yielded significantly higher SRM values across all SNRs and spatial separations. Benefits were greatest at lower SNRs and wider target–masker separations. Cross-correlation analysis showed enhanced IC and more reliable ITD estimates under the expanded condition, particularly at moderate SNRs. Conclusions: Temporal ENV enhancement strengthens spatial unmasking and binaural timing cues in normal-hearing adults, especially under adverse listening conditions. These findings highlight its potential application in auditory rehabilitation and hearing technologies where ENV cues are critical. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop an ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for quantifying amantadine (AMA) in rat plasma and to investigate its pharmacokinetics under simulated high-altitude hypoxia, contrasting its behavior with that of its structural analog memantine (MEM). Methods: The method entailed using memantine (MEM) as an internal standard. Sample preparation involved protein precipitation, followed by gradient elution with detection via positive electrospray ionization and selective reaction monitoring (SRM). The method validation complied with the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) M10 guidelines. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats exposed to either low altitude (1500 m) or simulated high altitude (6500 m) after a single oral dose of AMA (10 mg/kg). Results: The assay demonstrated linearity from 5 to 1000 µg/L, with accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability all meeting the respective acceptance criteria. Hypoxia did not significantly alter systemic exposure to AMA, as measured by parameters such as the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC), maximum concentration (Cmax), and apparent clearance (CLz/F). However, hypoxia prolonged the elimination half-life by 55% and increased the variance in the mean residence time. This finding contrasts sharply with our previous results on MEM under identical hypoxic conditions, which showed a 72.15% increase in AUC and a 41.99% decrease in CLz/F. Conclusions: A robust UPLC-MS/MS method for quantifying AMA was successfully established. AMA exhibits unique pharmacokinetic resilience to acute hypoxia, characterized by increased variability in elimination without changes in overall exposure. This profile starkly differs from the heightened exposure and reduced clearance observed for drugs like MEM, which are predominantly cleared by hepatic metabolism (under the studied conditions). These findings are consistent with the concept that a drug’s primary elimination pathway (renal excretion vs. hepatic metabolism) critically determines its pharmacokinetic susceptibility to hypoxic stress. Full article