Search Results (180)

This study presents a topology optimization approach to enhance the discharging performance of a latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) system using paraffin wax as the phase-change material (PCM) and a high-conductivity aluminium structure. Solidification is primarily governed by conduction, and the average heat transfer rate during this process is significantly lower than during melting; therefore, the optimization focused on the discharge phase. In a previous study, a novel LHTES device based on a Cartesian lattice was investigated experimentally and numerically. The validated numerical model from that study was adopted as the reference and used in a 2D topology optimization study based on the Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization (SIMP) method. The objective was to promote more uniform temperature distribution and reduce discharging time while maintaining the same aluminium volume fraction as in the reference device. Topology optimization produced a branched fin design, which was then extruded into a 3D model for comparison with the reference geometry. The optimized design resulted in improved temperature uniformity and a faster solidification process. Specifically, the time required to solidify 90% of the PCM was reduced by 12.3%, while the time to release 90% of the latent heat during the solidification process improved by 7.6%. Full article

In view of the problems of slow heat storage process and uneven temperature distribution in the existing phase change heat accumulator, a new type of mesh fin heat accumulator was designed and developed which increased the contact area between the phase change material (PCM) and the fins, enhanced the apparent thermal conductivity of the PCM, improved the heat storage efficiency of the heat accumulator, blocked the PCM, improved the natural convection erosion of the PCM on the upper and lower parts of the heat accumulator, and melted the PCM in each area more evenly. Fluent15.0 was used to numerically simulate the heat storage process of the mesh fins heat accumulator with the finite volume method. The composite PCM prepared by adding 10% mass fraction of expanded graphite to paraffin wax was used as the heat storage material. A 2D, non-steady-state model, incompressible fluid, and the pressure-based solution method were selected. The energy model and the solidification and melting model based on the enthalpy method were used to simulate and calculate the phase change process of PCM. The PISO algorithm was used. The influences of the structural parameters of the mesh fins on the heat storage condition of the heat accumulator were investigated by numerical simulation. The results showed that with the increase in the radius R of the mesh fin, the heat storage time decreased first and then increased. With the increases in vertical fin thickness c, mesh fins thickness δ, and vertical fins number N, the heat storage time decreased. The optimal mesh fin structure parameters were R = 33.5 mm, c = 3 mm, δ = 3 mm, and N = 8, and the heat storage time was 8086 s, which is 47.8% shorter than that of the concentric tube heat accumulator. Otherwise, with the increases in vertical fin thickness c, mesh fins thickness δ, and vertical fins number N, the PCM volume decreased, which shortened PCM melting time. Full article

Salt stress severely constrains global crop productivity. However, most sweet corn cultivars exhibit weak tolerance to salt stress. In this study, two sweet corn CSSLs, salt-tolerant line D55 and salt-sensitive line D96, were selected as materials. We conducted comparative phenotyping and physiological profiling of seedlings under salinity treatment, and transcriptome analysis was carried out by sampling root tissues at 0 h, 4 h, 12 h, and 72 h post-treatment. The results indicated that D55 exhibited enhanced seedling height, root length, fresh weight, relative chlorophyll content, and antioxidant enzyme activities, while showing reduced malondialdehyde accumulation in comparison to D96. Pairwise comparisons across time points (0 h, 4 h, 12 h, 72 h) identified 6317 and 6828 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in D55 and D96. A total of 49 shared DEGs across four time points were identified in D55 and D96, which were enriched in 12 significant Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Only eight DEGs were shared between genotypes across all comparisons. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1281, 1946, and 1717 DEGs in genotypes D55 and D96 at 4 h, 12 h, and 72 h post-salt treatment, respectively. Genes associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, phenylpropanoid metabolism, cutin, suberin and wax biosynthesis, and benzoxazinoid synthesis exhibit enhanced sensitivity in the salt-tolerant genotype D55. This leads to an enhanced ROS scavenging capacity and the establishment of a multi-layered defense mechanism. Additionally, brassinosteroid (BR), gibberellin (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin-related genes exhibited different responses to salt stress in sweet corn. A hypothetical model, which established a multi-layered salt adaptation strategy, by integrating ROS detoxification, osmotic balance, and phytohormone signaling, was put forward. By integrating transcriptome and differential chromosomal fragment data, our findings identify 14 candidate genes for salt tolerance, providing potential ideal target genes in breeding to improve salt tolerance in sweet corn. Full article

Gels are semi-solid colloidal systems characterized by three-dimensional networks capable of retaining up to 99% of liquid while exhibiting both solid-like and liquid-like properties. A novel biphasic system, the bigel, consists of hydrogel and oleogel, enabling the encapsulation of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds. Their structure and functionality are influenced by the distribution of gel phases (e.g., oleogel-in-hydrogel or hydrogel-in-oleogel). This study aims to review current trends in polysaccharide-based bigels derived from seeds, vegetable oils and waxes, highlighting their biocompatibility, sustainability and potential food applications. A bibliometric analysis of 157 documents using VOSviewer identified four key thematic clusters: structured materials, delivery systems, pharmaceutical applications, and physicochemical characterization. Principal component analysis revealed strong correlations between terms, while also highlighting emerging areas such as 3D printing. This analysis demonstrated that seed-derived polysaccharides, including chia seed mucilage and guar gum, improve bigel structure and rheological properties, offering sustainable plant-based alternatives. Additionally, innovations such as extrusion-based 3D printing, functional food design, controlled drug release, bioactive compound delivery, and fat replacement are helping to support the further development of these systems. Finally, bibliometric tools remain instrumental in identifying research gaps and guiding future directions in this field. Full article

Phase change materials (PCMs) are widely used in latent heat thermal energy storage systems (LHTESSs), but their low thermal conductivity limits performance. This study numerically investigates the enhancement of thermal efficiency in LHTESSs using nano-enhanced PCM (NePCM), composed of paraffin wax embedded with copper (Cu) nanoparticles. The NePCM is confined within a trapezoidal cavity, with the base serving as the heat source. Four different cavity heights were analyzed: cases 1, 2, 3, and 4 with the heights D of 24 mm, 18 mm, 15 mm, and 13.5 mm, respectively. The finite element method was employed to solve the governing equations. The influence of two hot base temperatures (333.15 K and 338.15 K) and Cu nanoparticle volume fractions ranging from 0% to 6% was examined. The results show that incorporating Cu nanoparticles at 6 vol% (volume fraction) enhanced thermal conductivity and reduced melting time by 10.71%. Increasing the base temperature to 338.15 K accelerated melting by 65.55%. Among all configurations, case 4 exhibited the best performance, reducing melting duration by 15.12% compared to case 1. Full article

Plant-derived foods have gained recognition for their health-promoting values, which are largely attributed to bioactive compounds such as phytosterols and triterpenoids. This study aimed to analyze the content of these compounds in the fruit of black elder (elderberry) Sambucus nigra L. and in commercially available food products, including jam, juice, syrup and wine. An additional objective was to compare the phytosterol and triterpenoid profiles of fruits and fruit cuticular waxes from wild and cultivated elderberry (cultivar Haschberg), ornamental elderberry (S. nigra f. porphyrophylla cultivar Black lace “Eva”), and red elderberry (S. racemosa). Qualitative and quantitative determinations were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study provides a detailed characterization of triterpenoids in black and red elderberries, revealing a complex composition of oleanane-, 18-oleanane-, ursane-, lupane- and taraxastane-type compounds. Elderberry fruits were found to be rich sources of phytosterols (ranging from 0.54 mg/g d.w. in cultivated elderberry cv. Haschberg to 0.96 mg/g in ornamental elderberry) and triterpenoids (from 1.41 mg/g d.w. in S. racemosa to 13.81 mg/g in ornamental elderberry). Among the processed products, jam contained the highest concentration of these compounds (a total of 340 µg/g) and wine contained the lowest (0.87 µg/mL). Furthermore, the results suggest that certain features of the triterpenoid profile in S. nigra and S. racemosa may hold chemotaxonomic significance for the Sambucus genus. Full article

Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a polyphagous pest that causes significant economic agricultural losses by damaging flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees. We performed an age-stage two-sex life table analysis to evaluate the performance and adaptability of F. intonsa against nine common vegetable crops cultivated in Guangxi: cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) (Fabales: Leguminosae), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) (Fabales: Leguminosae), soybean (Glycine max) (Fabales: Leguminosae), catjang cowpea (Vigna cylindrica) (Fabales: Leguminosae), courgette (Cucurbita pepo) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), wax gourd (Benincasa hispida) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae), and chieh-qua (Benincasa hispida) (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae). Among the tested host crops, green beans, cowpea, and courgette significantly accelerated the growth rate and favored the reproductive success of F. intonsa. Green beans, cowpea, and courgette facilitated rapid growth and reproductive success. The mean generation times (T) and net reproductive rates (R₀) were as follows: 14.90 d, 17.09 d, 21.03 d, and 104.04, 45.51, 32.61. Bitter gourd and chieh-qua significantly suppressed population growth (T: 49.49 d, 0 d; R₀: 0.73, 0). Wax gourd, catjang cowpea, cucumber, and soybean exhibited moderate effects characterized by delayed development and lower reproductive output (T: 22.30 d, 20.30 d, 19.51 d, 32.73 d; R₀: 7.17, 25.22, 13.74, and 12.54). These findings highlight the critical role of crop type in F. intonsa population dynamics. Therefore, the agricultural production of green beans, cowpea, and courgette crops necessitates improved control measures and monitoring. Similar measures are needed for cucumber, catjang cowpea, soybeans, and wax gourds because they pose risks as potential hosts. Full article

A Si/SiC/SiO₂ (53/44/3 wt.%) composite is evaluated as an anode material for Li-ion batteries. This material, a result of the high-energy ball-milling of a by-product of the carbothermal reduction of silica (Si slag), is predominantly made up of micrometric particles of amorphous or short-range order Si in which submicrometric SiC inclusions are dispersed. Its capacity is 860 mAh g⁻¹ (1.7 mAh cm⁻²) after 200 cycles in half-cell configuration and 1.6 mAh cm⁻² after 70 cycles in full-cell. The SiC component is not electroactive for lithiation but plays a key role in the electrode stability by preventing the formation of the c-Li₁₅S_i4 phase, known to accelerate electrode degradation. It is shown that capacity decay with cycling mainly originates from solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth rather than particle disconnections. Complementary wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analyses confirm the SEI grows alongside cycling and allows for the highlighting of its major components, namely, Li₂CO₃ and LiF. The morphological evolution of the electrode upon cycling is studied by electrochemical dilatometry, operando optical microscopy, and focused ion beam (FIB) and broad ion beam (BIB) scanning electron microscopy (SEM). No particle cracking is observed. However, reconstructed 3D imaging of the electrodes before and after 10 and 200 cycles clearly shows that the particles progressively evolve a dendritic structure. The SEI grows on and within the particles and induces a significant decrease in the electrode’s porosity and an increase in its thickness. Full article

Non-glaucous wheat can reduce solar light reflection in low-light cultivation regions, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and potentially increasing yield. In previous work, a non-glaucous cuticular line, YL-429, was discovered in derivatives of pentaploid hybrids by crossing the synthetic wheat LM/AT23 (non-glaucous cuticular) with its tetraploid donor parent LM (glaucous) and selfing to F₇ generations. In the present study, multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to characterize the karyotype of the YL-429 line; genome resequencing was performed to identify the breakpoint of the 2D-2A chromosome translocation of YL-429; and bulk sequencing analysis was conducted to detect the SNP in the translocated fragment and accordingly develop specific kompetitive allele-specific PCR markers for use in breeding. The line YL-429 was preliminarily determined as a 2DS and 2AS translocation (LM T2DS-2AS.2AL) line through karyotyping. Genome alignment identified an approximately 13.8 Mb segment, including the wax inhibitor gene Iw2, in the telomeric region of the 2DS chromosome arm replacing an approximately 16.1 Mb segment in that of the 2AS chromosome arm. According to the bulk DNA sequencing data, 27 specific KASP markers were developed for detecting the translocated fragment from the 2DS of Aegilops tauschii. The LM T2DS-2AS.2AL translocation line YL-429 could be helpful in improving the photosynthesis of durum wheat cultivated in low-light cultivation regions. The developed markers can assist the screening of the T2DS-2AS.2AL translocation in breeding. Full article

The Gram-negative genus Aeromonas contains diverse bacterial species that are prevalent in aquatic environments. This present study describes three novel Aeromonas strains: A. ichthyocola sp. nov. A-5^T and A. mytilicola subsp. aquatica subsp. nov. A-8^T isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and A. mytilicola sp. nov. A-7^T isolated from mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), respectively. Genomic analyses revealed that strains A-5^T and A-7^T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with A. rivipollensis P2G1^T (99.7% and 99.8%, respectively), while strain A-8^T exhibited 99.7% identity with A. media RM^T. Together with morphological, physiological, and biochemical data, genome-based analyses provided additional evidence for species differentiation. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH; 56.8−65.9%) and average nucleotide identity (ANI; 94.2–95.7%) values fell below the species delineation thresholds, confirming that these isolates represent distinct taxa. Pathogenicity assays using greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae demonstrated strain-specific virulence profiles. Further genomic analyses identified biosynthetic gene clusters for nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), which often have roles in secondary metabolite production. Ecological analyses, based on genomic comparisons and metagenomic database searches, revealed the adaptability of the strains to diverse habitats, including freshwater, wastewater, and activated sludge. Based on the genetic and phenotypic data, the novel taxa Aeromonas ichthyocola sp. nov. A-5ᵀ (LMG 33534ᵀ = DSM 117488ᵀ), Aeromonas mytilicola sp. nov. A-7ᵀ (LMG 33536ᵀ = DSM 117490ᵀ), and Aeromonas mytilicola subsp. aquatica subsp. nov. A-8ᵀ (LMG 33537ᵀ = DSM 117493ᵀ) are proposed. Full article

Waterborne polymer coated controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) are highly valued for their potential to enhance nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reduce fertilization labor costs. However, their application in crops with long growth periods, such as rice and maize, is limited by inadequate coating strength and suboptimal hydrophobicity. Inspired by the hydrophobic and anti-fouling structure of lotus leaf cuticles, this study biomimetically modified waterborne polyacrylate-coated urea (PACU) using natural bio-wax including rice bran wax (RBW), candelilla wax (CAW), bees wax (BW) and carnauba wax (CW), along with paraffin wax (PW) as a control. The modifications significantly extended nutrient release duration by 22 d compared to unmodified PACU, with CW providing the longest duration, followed by CAW, BW, RBW, and PW. Additionally, the modification of BW, CAW, and CW exhibited superior hydrophobicity and affinity to polyacrylate coatings, while the inferior hardness and toughness of PW compromised its controlled release performance. Field trials demonstrated that CW-modified CRFs effectively controlled nutrient release in rice and maize, resulting in a 7.2% increase in rice yield and a 37.9% increase in maize yield, as well as an 18.7% improvement in NUE compared to conventional fertilizers. These findings offered a novel approach for hydrophobic modification of waterborne polymer coatings, thereby enhancing the performance and applicability of waterborne polymer coated CRFs in long-season crops. Full article

Green, newly felled bamboo stems are prone to cracking during the drying process due to the growth stress and moisture gradient. To improve the drying quality and dimensional stability of bamboo stems, this study applied hygrothermal treatment under atmospheric pressure to newly felled bamboo stems. The temperature, relative humidity, and duration of the treatment were optimized using an orthogonal L₉ (3⁴) experimental design. The results show that the surface color of round bamboo became more uniform after hygrothermal treatment. Furthermore, hygrothermal treatment could reduce the cuticular wax and silicon layer detachment on the surface of round bamboo after drying. According to the range and variance analysis, the relative humidity had the greatest impact on dimensional stability, followed by treatment duration, whereas the temperature had a limited effect. The swelling rate of round bamboo under a hygrothermal treatment at a relative humidity of 95%, a temperature of 95 °C, and a duration of 3 h was decreased 53.72% and 62.76% compared with untreated round bamboo after moisture or water absorption for 7 d, respectively. However, no significant difference was observed in the color of the round bamboo under different hygrothermal treatment conditions. Overall, this study suggests that hygrothermal treatment could be a highly promising technology for improving the dimensional stability of newly felled bamboo stems. Full article

Osteosarcoma is medically defined as a bone-forming tumor with associated bone-degrading activity. There is a lack of knowledge about the network that generates the overproduction of bone. We studied the early stage of osteosarcoma development with mice enduring a periosteum injection of osteosarcoma cells at the proximal third of the tibia. On day 7 (D7), tumor cells activate the over-synthesis of bone-like material inside the medulla. This overproduction of bone is quickly (D13) followed by degradation. Samples were characterized by microfocus small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), optical and electron microscopies, and micro-indentation. This intramedullary apatite–collagen composite synthesis highlights an unknown network of bone synthesis stimulation by extramedullary osteosarcoma cells. This synthesis activation mechanism, coupled with the well-known bone induced osteosarcoma growth activation, produces a rare synergy that may enlighten the final osteosarcoma morphology. With this aim, a 3D cellular automaton was developed that only included two rules. Simulations can accurately reproduce the bi-continuous sponge macroscopic structure that was analyzed from mice tumor micro-tomography. This unknown tumor activation pathway of bone synthesis, combined with the known bone activation of tumor growth, generates a positive feedback synergy explaining the unusual sponge-like morphology of this bone cancer. From a biomaterials point of view, how nature controls self-assembly processes remains an open question. Here, we show how the synergy between two biological growth processes is responsible for the complex morphology of a bone tumor. This highlights how hierarchical morphologies, accurately defined from the nanometer to the centimeter scale, can be controlled by positive feedback between the self-assembly of a scaffold and the deposition of solid material. Full article

Background/Objectives: The accurate detection of microcalcifications in mammograms is critical for the early detection of breast cancer. However, the variability between different manufacturers is significant, particularly with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). Manufacturers have many design differences, including sweep angles, detector types, reconstruction techniques, filters, and focal spot construction. This study outlined the development of an innovative phantom model using crystallizations to improve the accuracy of imaging microcalcifications in DBT. The goal of these models was to achieve consistent evaluations, thereby reducing the variability between different scanners. Methods: We created a novel phantom model that simulates different types of breast tissue densities with calcifications. Furthermore, these crystalline-grown phantoms can more accurately represent the physiological shapes and compositions of microcalcifications than do other available phantoms for calcifications and can be evaluated on different systems. Microcalcification patterns were generated using the evaporation of sodium chloride, transplantation of calcium carbonate crystals, and/or injection of hydroxyapatite. These patterns were embedded in multiple layers within the wax to simulate various depths and distributions of calcifications with the ability to generate a large variety of patterns. Results: The tomosynthesis imaging revealed phantoms that utilized calcium carbonate crystals showed demonstrable visualization differences between the 3D DBT reconstructions and the magnification/2D view, illustrating the model’s value. The phantom was able to highlight changes in the contrast and resolution, which is crucial for accurate microcalcification evaluation. Conclusions: Based on the crystalline growth, this phantom model offers an important new standardized target for evaluating DBT systems. By promoting standardization, especially through the development of advanced breast calcification phantoms, this work and design aimed to contribute to improving earlier and more accurate breast cancer detection. Full article

A novel, portable chemiluminescence (CL) sensing platform powered by deep learning and smartphone integration has been developed for cost-effective and selective glucose detection. This platform features low-cost, wax-printed micro-pads (WPµ-pads) on paper-based substrates used to construct a miniaturized CL sensor. A 3D-printed black box serves as a compact WPµ-pad sensing chamber, replacing traditional bulky equipment, such as charge coupled device (CCD) cameras and optical sensors. Smartphone integration enables a seamless and user-friendly diagnostic experience, making this platform highly suitable for point-of-care (PoC) applications. Deep learning models significantly enhance the platform’s performance, offering superior accuracy and efficiency in CL image analysis. A dataset of 600 experimental CL images was utilized, out of which 80% were used for model training, with 20% of the images reserved for testing. Comparative analysis was conducted using multiple deep learning models, including Random Forest, the Support Vector Machine (SVM), InceptionV3, VGG16, and ResNet-50, to identify the optimal architecture for accurate glucose detection. The CL sensor demonstrates a linear detection range of 10–1000 µM, with a low detection limit of 8.68 µM. Extensive evaluations confirmed its stability, repeatability, and reliability under real-world conditions. This deep learning-powered platform not only improves the accuracy of analyte detection, but also democratizes access to advanced diagnostics through cost-effective and portable technology. This work paves the way for next-generation biosensing, offering transformative potential in healthcare and other domains requiring rapid and reliable analyte detection. Full article