Search Results (532)

This paper investigates the energy recovery potential of LNG cold energy using cryogenic binary cycles. The thermoeconomic performance of single-, two- and three-stage Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) configurations across different working fluids and LNG regasification capacities has been evaluated. The analysis shows that ORC-based LNG cold energy power units achieve specific net power outputs of 45–55 kW/(kg_LNG/s) for single-stage, 74–83 kW/(kg_LNG/s) for two-stage, and 79–88 kW/(kg_LNG/s) for three-stage configurations. The corresponding net energy efficiencies are 6.6–7.5%, 10.1–11.2% and 10.8–12.0%, respectively, while the exergy efficiencies are 15.9–17.6%, 22.9–25.3%, and 24.3–26.8%, respectively. Two-stage systems achieve the lowest costs: a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of 80–105 €/MWh and a specific investment cost (SIC) of 6000–8300 €/kW. For most of the evaluated working fluids, the power gain from a third stage does not justify the increase in equipment costs. Among the evaluated working fluids, R32, R41 and R161 achieve the best economic performance, while carbonyl sulfide (COS), R32 and R161 achieve the best thermodynamic performance. The highest net power, 12.5 MW, is achieved with COS, whereas the lowest LCOE (80 €/MWh) and SIC (6000 €/kW) are obtained with R32, all for an LNG regasification capacity of 700,000 Sm³/h. Full article

Integration of high-rate Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) with strong motion (SM) sensors enables accurate broadband coseismic displacements, which are critical for earthquake early warning and rapid source inversion. However, GNSS colored noise and SM baseline shift can degrade the accuracy and stability of the integrated displacements. In this study, we propose a novel loose integration approach where a two-step Kalman filter (KF) is used. In the first step, the high-rate GNSS displacements without colored noise are estimated using an adaptive KF that parameterizes the colored noise. Then, the denoised high-rate GNSS displacements are integrated with SM in the second KF where the baseline shift in SM is parameterized as a random walk process. The effectiveness of the proposed method was validated with co-located high-rate GNSS and strong motion data collected from a shake table experiment, the 2010 Mw 7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake, the 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake, and the 2019 Mw 7.1 Ridgecrest earthquake. The results show that the proposed method achieves an RMSE of 1.1 mm, a 21% improvement over the KFb solution when shake table recordings are used as the reference. Application to three real earthquake cases demonstrates that the method effectively mitigates low-frequency GNSS noise and SM baseline shift, resulting in more accurate and stable coseismic displacement estimates. Full article

In this study, a new approach to improving the fire resistance of flexible polyurethane (PUR) foams is presented, based on the incorporation of cotton chemically modified with boron compounds into the polyurethane matrix. The developed system was additionally modified with melamine polyphosphate (MPP). The effects of the applied modifications on the morphology and chemical structure of the PUR composites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. Thermal stability was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis, whereas fire hazard was assessed using cone calorimetry and a smoke optical density chamber. The toxicometric index (WLC_50SM) was determined using a coupled TG-Omega 5 gas analyzer system. The results provide insight into the mechanism responsible for reducing flammability and limiting the emission of toxic combustion and thermal decomposition products through the modification of PUR foams with chemically modified cotton in combination with MPP. It was observed that, during the combustion of the developed PUR composites, the addition of cotton promotes the formation of a three-dimensional spatial network, which substantially limits heat release and the emission of toxic combustion products. Consequently, the composites exhibited a reduction in heat release of up to 67% in terms of HRR_MAX, together with decreased production of HCN and CO. Nevertheless, the formation of a protective carbon layer contributed to an increase in smoke optical density, which was associated with increased CO₂ emission. Overall, this work demonstrates the development of a new synergistic system capable of reducing both the flammability and toxicity of flexible PUR foams. Full article

Surfactant flooding is a promising enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method for mobilizing residual oil after primary recovery and conventional waterflooding. Its performance is highly sensitive to reservoir chemistry, particularly in associated gas reservoirs where CO₂, H₂S, and CH₄ may alter aqueous-phase behavior, surfactant stability, adsorption, and chemical transport. This study evaluates salinity-controlled surfactant flooding performance in a synthetic three-dimensional associated gas–oil reservoir using a simulation-guided diagnostic workflow. The model examines surfactant transport, adsorption, oil rate response, and block-level oil saturation across ultralow-, low-, and moderate-to-high-salinity ranges. Performance was evaluated using field oil production rate (FOPR), cumulative field oil production (FOPT), block oil saturation (BOSAT), block total surfactant concentration (BTCNFSUR), and block total adsorbed surfactant (BTADSUR). Because the simulation does not independently vary gas composition, the results should be interpreted as salinity effects under an associated gas reservoir setting rather than as isolated gas composition effects. The strongest sustained production response occurred in the ultralow- to low-salinity cases, especially 400 ppm and 1000 ppm, where surfactant propagation was more stable and late-time FOPR recovery was stronger. The 15,000 ppm case was the best performer only within the moderate-salinity group and should not be interpreted as the global optimum across all salinity cases. Above 25,000 ppm, FOPR declined to approximately 50–60 Sm³/day, while BOSAT remained high in poorly swept layers, indicating channelized flow, localized chemical contact, and greater retention risk. The results show that salinity compatibility is a dominant control on surfactant flood efficiency and that salinity screening is necessary before applying surfactant flooding in gas-rich reservoirs. Full article

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) return is a vital strategy for agricultural waste recycling and soil fertility improvement, yet its ecological impacts of duration remain poorly understood. This study employed metagenomic sequencing to explore soil fertility, microbial dynamics, and nitrogen cycling across different SMS return durations (0, 1, and 3 years) within rice–mushroom crop rotation systems. Soil nutrients (organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus) initially decreased and then increased throughout the rice growth cycle. The one-year return (y1) induced early nutrient depletion, whereas the three-year return (y3) significantly enhanced late-stage nutrient accumulation. With increasing duration, bacterial and archaeal assembly shifted from stochastic toward deterministic processes, while fungal diversity and stochasticity decreased continuously. Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that SMS return increased network complexity and intercommunity competition. This transition was accompanied by a functional shift in keystone taxa from those responsive to exogenous organic matter in y1 to those mediating nitrogen fixation, anammox, and sulfur metabolism in y3. Nitrogen cycling in y1 increased potential N₂O emission risks through nirS upregulation and nosZ downregulation, whereas y3 mitigated inorganic nitrogen loss by upregulating gene abundances of ammonia assimilation, nitrification, and DNRA genes. Notably, the structure of nitrogen-cycling genes fluctuated in y1 but was resilient to y0 levels in y3. These findings demonstrated that while initial SMS return triggered ecological fluctuations and environmental risks, continuous return (y3) achieved functional stability by reshaping microbial niches. This study highlights the importance of SMS return duration in balancing soil fertility enhancement with environmental risk mitigation in sustainable paddy ecosystems. Full article

Emerging tolerance of Schistosoma mansoni to praziquantel, the only drug available for schistosomiasis treatment, highlights the need for new therapeutic targets. Snake venoms contain pharmacologically active proteins and peptides that can decrease the viability of S. mansoni worms in vitro. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in S. mansoni and are promising new therapeutic targets. However, new candidates still need to be identified, as only four S. mansoni lncRNAs have been functionally characterized to date. Therefore, we investigated lncRNA expression changes in S. mansoni following incubation with Bothrops venoms. Adult worms were incubated with eight venoms at a sublethal dose, and phenotypic parameters were evaluated. RNA-Seq was conducted on worms incubated with Bothrops jararacussu or Bothrops moojeni venoms, followed by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis for each sex. B. moojeni venom reduced all phenotypic measurements, while B. jararacussu reduced oviposition. Both venoms altered global gene expression, including lncRNAs. Females showed two lncRNA hub genes in two venom-associated co-expression modules, while males showed 61 lncRNA hub genes in nine venom-associated modules. RT-qPCR validated six out of seven selected hub lncRNAs in male worms. These results reveal the involvement of lncRNAs in S. mansoni gene expression modulation induced by Bothrops venoms and point to lncRNAs that should be prioritized in future functional studies, such as SmLINC121220-IBu, SmLINC152105-IBu and SmLNCA123831-IBu. Full article

The subject of this study is the electrochemical synthesis of samarium–cobalt (Sm-Co) alloy coatings on a copper substrate from aqueous solutions using chronoamperometric methods. The study focused on assessing the effect of ecological complexing agents—L-arginine and glycine—on the deposition kinetics and quality of the deposits obtained within a potential range of −1.1 V to −1.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Morphological analyses indicated that the type of amino acid used determines the layer growth mechanism. It was found that exceeding the potential of −1.4 V results in a rapid increase in samarium content in the alloy, reaching maximum values of 29 at.% for the system with L-arginine and 35 at.% for the system with glycine at a potential of −1.8 V. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) structural studies confirmed the successful synthesis of the Co_8.5Sm intermetallic phase directly by electrodeposition, while X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses indicated the presence of oxides and hydroxides on the deposit surface. Despite obtaining a high samarium content, it was observed that intense hydrogen co-evolution at low potential leads to a decrease in current efficiency and the formation of internal stresses and cracks in the structure of the coatings. Full article

Rare-earth permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are commonly used in new energy vehicles, wind power generation, and other relevant fields due to their advantages of small size and high power density. The operation of this type of motor depends on a rare-earth permanent magnet. However, the compatibility between the permanent magnet and the motor under different motor operating conditions is unclear, which is unfavorable for the subsequent selection of motor magnets. In this study, the effects of the permanent magnet on motor performance in different operational environments were analyzed. Three different magnets, namely, N-52M, N-48SH, and SmCo-28H, were selected. Two types of operational conditions were selected: the motor temperature and input current. The load torque, the magnet’s demagnetization behavior, and the magnet’s cost-effectiveness were discussed. The results indicate that the N-52M magnet was suitable for a low temperature and low input current due to its high remanence. However, the SmCo-28H magnet should be used at high temperatures and input currents due to its superior anti-demagnetization properties. The results obtained in this study will enable comparison of the effects of different permanent magnet materials on the motor, thereby guiding the subsequent design of PMSMs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are actively being studied as therapeutics and vaccines for various diseases. While LNPs can deliver nucleic acids, their efficiency is limited by the multi-step pathways involved in intracellular trafficking. Crucially, endosomal recycling-driven exocytosis acts as a major problem, rerouting LNPs away from the cytosol and thereby preventing efficient nucleic acid release. Upon entering the cell, LNPs are frequently expelled via endosomal recycling before delivering nucleic acids to cytosol. Previous studies reported that inhibition or deletion of Exo70, a component of the exocyst complex, leads to the accumulation of endosomes because of preventing endosomal recycling. In this study, we investigate the impact of Exo70 inhibition by endosidin-2 (ES-2), an Exo70 inhibitor, on LNP delivery efficiency. Methods: SM-102, cholesterol, DMG-PEG, and DSPC were dissolved in ethanol, while mRNA was dissolved in an aqueous phase to formulate LNPs. Co-treatment of ES-2 with LNPs was performed to evaluate its effect on mRNA delivery, and the resulting delivery efficiency was assessed both in vitro and in vivo. Results: Co-treatment of ES-2 with LNPs significantly enhanced mRNA delivery efficiency, resulting in up to a 4.06-fold increase in vitro and a 3.63-fold increase in vivo. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that suppression of Exo70 significantly enhances the mRNA delivery efficiency of LNPs, and this strategy could be applied for the development of mRNA therapeutics. Full article

In this paper, a ternary Tb₆₅Co₂₅Ni₁₀ amorphous tape was successfully prepared, and the glass forming ability (GFA), magnetic properties, and magnetocaloric characteristics of the amorphous tape were studied in detail. The values of the reduced glass transition temperature T_rg, parameter γ and critical section thickness Z_c indicate the good GFA of the Tb₆₅Co₂₅Ni₁₀ amorphous tape. The Tb₆₅Co₂₅Ni₁₀ amorphous tape exhibits spin-glass-like behavior, with a Curie temperature of 83 K and a spin-freezing temperature (T_f) of 73 K, and a large coercivity below T_f. The spin-glass-like behavior significantly deteriorates the magnetic entropy change (−∆S_m) of the Tb₆₅Co₂₅Ni₁₀ amorphous tape at low temperatures, resulting in the deviation of magnetic entropy change behavior from the predicted results. However, the Tb₆₅Co₂₅Ni₁₀ amorphous tape still shows an excellent magnetocaloric effect (the peak value of −∆S_m of 9.46 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ and the refrigeration capacity of 569.5 J kg⁻¹ under 5 T, both of which are higher than those of most other heavy rare earth-based amorphous alloys), indicating the great application potential in the field of magnetic refrigeration for the amorphous tape. Full article

A design for a small chloride salt fast reactor (sm-MCFR) is presented through the integration of molten salt reactor and small reactor technologies, targeting efficient transmutation of transuranic (TRU) elements in spent nuclear fuel and rapid reactor deployment. The feasibility exploration and research on the design boundaries of sm-MCFR will be conducted in this article. The core adopts a dual-fluid configuration, in which the fuel salt and coolant circulate independently. Chloride salt is selected as the fuel carrier due to its high solubility for heavy metal nuclides and the low neutron absorption cross-section of chlorine, which help to form a hard fast-neutron spectrum and thereby enhance transmutation efficiency. The cooling system employs a direct supercritical carbon dioxide (s-CO₂) cycle, simplifying the overall layout. For the neutronics design, simulations were carried out using the TMCBurnup (TRITON MODEC Coupled Burnup Code). By adjusting the core geometry, fuel salt composition, and reprocessing strategy, the sm-MCFR achieves a hard fast-neutron spectrum but also demonstrates good potential for fuel utilization. In terms of thermal–hydraulic design, the heat exchange effect of the reactor core can be improved by adjusting the proportion of the coolant and the flow direction. The sm-MCFR is expected to become a promising candidate for advanced small reactors that have potential applications in nuclear waste transmutation and distributed energy generation. Full article

Anthocyanin biosynthesis in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is highly light-dependent, and insufficient light severely impairs fruit coloration, which restricts the development of the eggplant industry. SmMYB75 is a key positive regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis, but its regulatory partners remain unclear. In this study, seven SmYABBY genes were identified from the eggplant genome, all containing conserved zinc finger and YABBY domains. Expression analysis showed that SmYABBY1 was predominantly expressed in fruit peel and significantly induced by light, with a peak at 4 h after light exposure. The yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays indicated that SmYABBY1 interacts with SmMYB75 and the light signaling regulator SmCOP1 in the nucleus. The heterologous overexpression of SmYABBY1 in Arabidopsis enhanced anthocyanin accumulation and upregulated the expression of anthocyanin structural genes. Transient co-expression in tobacco leaves further demonstrated that SmYABBY1 synergistically enhances SmMYB75-mediated anthocyanin biosynthesis. The yeast one-hybrid and Dual-LUC assays revealed that SmYABBY1 does not directly bind to the promoters of SmMYB75, SmDFR, and SmANS but indirectly promotes their transcriptional activity. Our results illustrate that SmYABBY1 acts as a transcriptional co-activator, interacting with SmMYB75 to promote anthocyanin accumulation, while SmCOP1 is involved in this regulatory process. This study provides a molecular basis for improving eggplant coloration under suboptimal light conditions. Full article

Volcanogenic Massive Sulfides (VMS) are considered major base (Cu-Zn±Pb) and precious metal (Au and Ag) sources with paramount contribution in the development and evolution of mankind through the ages. They are characterized by variable ore mineralogy and geochemistry, largely attributed to the variety in the geotectonic regime of formation (both divergent and convergent margins) and the variability in the host lithologies. Several VMS types are distinguished depending on the type of volcanism and host-rock lithology. The lens-shaped-to-stratiform bodies composed of fine-grained sulfides, usually accounting for more than 60% of the rock mass, have been exploited since prehistoric times. Recent studies reveal that VMS continue to be formed in deep marine settings and along plate margins on the ocean floor. Besides base and precious metals, nowadays, VMS are considered significant sources of critical and strategic metals, such as Co, Ni, Ga, Ge, In, Bi, As, Sb, Se, Mo, Cd, Sn, Hg, Tl and Bi, particularly after extensive research of the ocean floors in the years following World War II (WWII). Since the late 1970s, the potential of VMS has been further enhanced after the successful deep-sea mining (DSM) pilot tests, with the pipeline-lift mining system considered the most suitable for seabed massive sulfide (SMS) recovery. Full article

The co-culture between Trametes sp. D and Aspergillus niger L14 resulted in a distinct orange-brown antagonistic band at their interface. Direct hyphal contact was associated with markedly enhanced production of numerous secondary metabolites (SMs), some of which were absent or decreased in monocultures. T. sp. D induced indolic compounds and cyclic dipeptides, such as Indole-3-acetamide and Cyclo-(Pro-Phe), whereas A. niger L14 overproduced polyketide-derived pigments and organic acids, such as Fonsecin and Kojic acid. These SMs did not inhibit their producer but suppressed the opponent’s growth, indicating reciprocal chemical antagonism. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of stress-related and metabolic genes, consistent with each fungus activating defense pathways. Biochemical assays showed that the confrontation zone had the highest oxidative stress markers, cell wall-degrading enzyme activity, and acidification (notably by A. niger L14), reflecting intense interfungal antagonism. The stress-response mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway was also activated in both fungi. Our findings supported a mechanistic model of fungal competition involving direct contact, chemical exchange, enzymatic attack, and stress signaling, highlighting that physical interactions likely contributed to triggering cryptic secondary metabolism and robust defense responses. Full article

Developing an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection platform remains challenging due to the limited enrichment efficiency of ECL emitters and co-reactants at the electrode interface, as well as the insufficient catalytic enhancement of co-reactant conversion. Moreover, simultaneous in situ analyte enrichment and efficient anti-interference capability are often difficult to achieve in a single sensing interface. Herein, a new ECL platform was developed based on nanocatalyst-supported nanochannel-confined surfactant micelle (SM) system, which integrates an enhanced luminol-dissolved oxygen (DO) ECL response for the ultrasensitive detection of antibiotic rifampicin (RIF). A nanocomposite comprising nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots and a molybdenum disulfide nanosheet (NGQDs@MoS₂) was modified on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. This nanocomposite layer catalyzed the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), boosting the co-reactant efficiency of DO. Vertically ordered mesoporous silica film filled with surfactant micelles (SM@VMSF) was subsequently grown in situ on the NGQDs@MoS₂ surface. The hydrophobic micelles enable the simultaneous enrichment of luminol, DO, and RIF. Integrating the triple-enrichment effect of surfactant micelles with the high electrocatalytic effect of NGQDs@MoS₂ nanocomposite results in significant ECL enhancement of the luminol–DO. SM@VMSF also provides an excellent molecular sieving effect, endowing the sensor with high anti-interference capability and stability. RIF quenches the ECL signal by consuming superoxide anion radicals, enabling sensitive detection. Detection of RIF was established with a high sensitivity (2927 a.u. per nM) wide linear range (10 pM to 10 μM) and a low limit of detection (LOD, 2.5 pM). The fabricated sensor exhibits good selectivity and high fabrication reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD, of 1.9%). Additionally, the determination of RIF in eye drops and seawater samples was realized. This work offers new insights for the design of high-performance ECL sensing interfaces and sensitive detection of RIF. Full article