Search Results (236)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global food crop. The intensive crop farming, monoculture cultivation, and impact of climate change affect the susceptibility of wheat cultivars to biotic stresses, mainly caused by soil fungal pathogens, especially those belonging to the genus Fusarium. This situation threatens yield and grain quality through root and crown rot. While conventional chemical fungicides face resistance issues and environmental concerns, biological alternatives like seed priming with natural metabolites are gaining attention. Polyamines, including putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are attractive priming agents influencing plant development and abiotic stress responses. Spermine in particular shows potential for in vitro antifungal activity against Fusarium. Optimising spermine concentration for seed priming is crucial to maximising protection against Fusarium infection while ensuring robust plant growth. In this research, we explored the potential of the polyamine spermine as a seed treatment to enhance wheat resilience, aiming to identify a sustainable alternative to synthetic fungicides. Our findings revealed that a six-hour seed soak in spermine solutions ranging from 0.5 to 5 mM did not delay germination or seedling growth. In fact, the 5 mM concentration significantly stimulated root weight and length. In complementary in vitro assays, we evaluated the antifungal activity of spermine (0.5–5 mM) against three Fusarium species. The results demonstrated complete inhibition of Fusarium culmorum growth at 5 mM spermine. A less significant effect on Fusarium graminearum and little to no impact on Fusarium oxysporum were found. The performed analysis revealed that the spermine had a fungistatic effect against the pathogen, retarding the mycelium growth of F. culmorum inoculated on the seed surface. A pot experiment with Bulgarian soft wheat cv. Sadovo-1 was carried out to estimate the effect of seed priming with spermine against infection with isolates of pathogenic fungus F. culmorum on plant growth and disease severity. Our results demonstrated that spermine resulted in a reduced distribution of F. culmorum and improved plant performance, as evidenced by the higher fresh weight and height of plants pre-treated with spermine. This research describes the efficacy of spermine seed priming as a novel strategy for managing Fusarium root and crown rot in wheat. Full article

An advanced alkali-acid (NaOH-HCl) chemical method was used to deash aluminum-rich coals (ARCs) with a high ash content of 27.47 wt% to achieve a low ash content of 0.46 wt%. In the deashing process, aluminum in the coal ashes was dissolved in both alkali solutions and acid solutions. The deashing alkali solutions with dissolved coal ashes were regenerated by adding CaO, and the resulting precipitates were added with sodium bicarbonate for aluminum extraction. High temperatures increased aluminum extraction, and excessive sodium bicarbonate addition decreased aluminum extraction. The deashing acid solutions were concentrated by evaporation, and silica gels formed during the process. The obtained mixtures were calcinated at 350 °C for the decomposition of aluminum chlorides, and soaked with water at 60 °C to remove the soluble chlorides. For the insoluble oxides after soaking, diluted alkali solutions were used to extract the aluminum at 90 °C, and aluminum extraction failed due to the formation of albite in the presence of sodium, aluminum and silicon elements as proved by XRD and SEM/EDS. When silica gels were separated by pressure filtering, aluminum extraction greatly increased. Aluminum extractions were accordingly made in the form of sodium aluminate from the deashing solutions of coals, which could be advantageous for sandy alumina production. Full article

Porosity and roughened surfaces of implant materials have been shown to lead to improved cellular attachment and enhanced osseointegration. These topography changes in the surface also aid in the mechanical interlocking of the material to the bone. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has emerged as a popular alternative to titanium-based implants due to its lack of stress-shielding effect, radiolucency, and high chemical resistance. However, PEEK is bioinert, thus requiring surface modifications to elicit appropriate cellular responses that lead to successful osteointegration of the material in vivo. Sulfonation is a process used to modify the surface of PEEK, which can be controlled by varying parameters such as soak time and soak temperature, thereby fabricating a porous surface on the material. This work aimed to ensure the repeatability of a previously optimized sulfonated and hydrothermally treated PEEK surface and subsequently observe the mechanical properties, bacterial attachment, and cellular response of pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells on the surface. This study found that while all PEEK surfaces had similar cell and Staphylococcus aureus attachment, the sulfonated and hydrothermally treated PEEK (peak mean load of 605 N, p ≤ 0.0001) and the sulfonated only PEEK (peak mean load of 495 N, p = 0.0240) had a higher level of performance in expulsion testing than smooth PEEK due to its mechanical interlocking ability. Imaging and contact angle analysis confirm that a surface with repeatable porosity can be achieved. Full article

For over five decades, blending hydrogen into existing natural gas pipelines has been explored as a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its promise, implementing this approach has been slow due to concerns about hydrogen embrittlement (HE) and its interactions with various metals. Stainless steel alloys like 316L are commonly used in hydrogen service due to their superior resistance to HE. However, the impact of additive manufacturing (AM) on 316L’s susceptibility to HE when subjected to gas charging has not been thoroughly investigated. To fill this knowledge gap, we created conventionally manufactured and AM 316L tensile bars and solubility specimens, which were then exposed to hydrogen-blended natural gas at 10 MPa with a 50% blend and 100% pure H₂. Both conventionally manufactured and additively manufactured specimens had as-received/printed samples that were used as controls. The samples underwent mechanical evaluation through tensile testing and hot chemical extraction to assess hydrogen solubility. Further analysis revealed significant changes in the microstructure near the fracture area of the soaked samples using scanning electron microscope fractography and metallography. These findings were compared with our previous work on traditionally produced 316L bar stock, which demonstrated that AM processing conditions can yield superior performance in terms of resistance to HE. Notably, this study provides valuable insights into the effects of AM on 316L’s susceptibility to HE when subjected to gas charging. The results have significant implications for the development and implementation of AM 316L for hydrogen/natural gas applications in pressure regulators when AM processing conditions are well-controlled. This article is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled “Effect of Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas on Additive Manufactured 316L Stainless Steel in Pressure Regulator Environments”, which was presented at TMS in Las Vegas, March 2025. Full article

Spent hops from the supercritical extraction process represent a valuable source of xanthohumol (XN), a prenylated flavonoid with demonstrated anticancer, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, XN is thermally sensitive and readily isomerizes into the less bioactive iso-XN at elevated temperatures, necessitating mild extraction conditions. Previous studies have shown that the pretreatment of plant biomass can enhance the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds. In this study, various pretreatment methods—including physical (freeze–thaw, ultrasound, and microwave), chemical (acid and base hydrolysis), and enzymatic approaches—were applied to spent hops prior to extraction, and XN yields were compared to those obtained from untreated samples. The experiments, performed in triplicate, yielded meaningful results which helped understand the raw material’s behavior in applied conditions. Due to the compound’s high thermal sensitivity, ultrasound and microwave pretreatments require precise control to prevent excessive temperature increases, making low-temperature methods more suitable. Additionally, exposure to elevated pH adversely affected XN extraction efficiency, limiting the applicability of strong alkaline pretreatments. Among the evaluated methods, freeze–thaw pretreatment proved to be a simple and effective strategy, enhancing XN extraction yields by up to 10.7 ± 0.7% through the optimization of soaking time, the solid-to-liquid ratio, and the thawing temperature. Identifying an inexpensive and efficient pretreatment method could reduce extraction time while improving yield, contributing to the sustainable utilization of spent hops as an XN source. Full article

With daily oil consumption approaching 100 million barrels, the global demand continues to generate significant quantities of oily wastewater during oil extraction, refining, and transportation, and the development of effective oil–water separation technologies has become crucial. However, membrane corrosion is a challenge under the harsh conditions involved. Here, we are inspired by the lotus leaf to create a corrosion-resistant and robust superhydrophobic membrane using a general spraying method. By using this spraying process to apply the Graphene@PDMS heptane dispersion onto the mesh substrate, we create a biomimetic corrosion-resistant and robust superhydrophobic stainless steel mesh (SSM). The modified SSM can still maintain superhydrophobic properties after soaking in a strong acidity solution (pH = 1), robust alkalinity solution (pH = 14), or NaCl solution (15 days), which demonstrates excellent chemical stability. Moreover, the modified SSM shows strong mechanical stability during ultrasonic treatment for 2 h. The superhydrophobic SSM can be used to separate various kinds of oils from water with high flux and separation efficiency. It shows a high flux of 27,400 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and high separation efficiency of 99.42% for soybean oil–water separation using 400-mesh SSM. The biomimetic modified SSM demonstrates great potential for oil–water separation under harsh conditions, which gives it promise as a candidate in practical applications of oil–water separation. Full article

Hydraulic fracturing is widely used for developing shale reservoirs with low porosity and permeability. Large volumes of fracturing fluids are injected into reservoirs, yet the impact of these fluids on shale is not entirely understood. This study investigates the effects of commonly used fracturing fluids on the fundamental properties of shale during the shut-in period using experimental methods. Shale samples are collected from the Longmaxi Formation in the Sichuan Basin. Two types of fracturing fluids (guar gel and slickwater) are prepared for tests. The effects of these fluids on shale’s mineral composition, pore distribution, and fracture structure are analyzed using a range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, and X-ray computed tomography scanning. The results show that the shale is composed of quartz, siderite, and clay minerals. The reservoir’s pore structure is relatively uniform, with a higher proportion of small pores and a predominance of wedge-shaped pore types. The porosity ranges from 1.8% to 4.33%, with an average pore diameter varying between 10.8 nm and 24.8 nm. More fracturing fluid enters the reservoir as shut-in time increases. Initially, fluid invasion occurs rapidly, but the volume of infiltrated fluid stabilizes after 15 days. The fracturing fluids cause chemical reactions and hydration of clay minerals. Both fracturing fluids lead to a decrease in the proportion of clay minerals and an increase in the proportion of quartz. After soaking in guar gel, the shale’s surface area and pore volume decrease while the average pore diameter increases. The breakdown of guar gel leads to a residue that blocks pore spaces, resulting in lower surface porosity. In contrast, slickwater increases surface area and pore volume while reducing the average pore diameter. Slickwater also promotes the development of fractures, with larger pores forming around them. The results suggest that slickwater is more effective than guar gel in improving shale’s pore structure. Full article

Transportation infrastructure such as concrete pavements, parapets, barriers, and bridge decks in cold regions are usually exposed to a heavy amount of deicing chemicals during the winter for ice and snow control. Various deicer salts can physically and chemically react with concrete and result in damage and deterioration. Currently, Idaho uses four different types of deicers during the winter: salt brine, mag bud converse, freeze guard plus, and mag chloride. The most often utilized substance is salt brine, which is created by dissolving rock salt at a concentration of 23.3%. Eight concrete mixtures for paving and structural purposes were made and put through a battery of durability tests. Following batching, measurements were made of the unit weight, entrained air, slump, and super air meter (SAM) fresh characteristics. Rapid freeze–thaw (F-T) cycle experiments, deicing scaling tests, and surface electrical resistivity testing were used to test and assess all mixes. Tests with mag bud converse, freeze guard plus mag chloride, and acid-soluble chloride were conducted following an extended period of soaking in salt brine. Two different structural mixtures were suggested as a result of the severe scaling observed in the structural mixtures lacking supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs) and the moderate scaling observed in the other combinations. The correlated values of the SAM number with the spacing factor have been shown that mixture with no SCMs has a spacing factor of 0.24, which is higher than the recommended value of 0.2 and concentrations of acid soluble chloride over the threshold limit were discernible. In addition, the highest weight of calcium hydroxide using the TGA test was observed. For all examined mixes, the residual elastic moduli after 300 cycles varied between 76.0 and 83.3 percent of the initial moduli. Mixture M5 displayed the lowest percentage of initial E (76.0 percent), while mixtures M1 and M2 showed the highest percentage of residual E (83.3 and 80.0 percent, respectively) among the evaluated combinations. There were no significant variations in the percentage of maintained stiffness between the combinations. As a result, it was difficult to identify distinct patterns about how the air content or SAM number affected the mixture’s durability. Class C coal fly ash and silica fume were present in the suggested mixtures, which were assessed using the same testing matrix as the original mixtures. Because of their exceptional durability against large concentrations of chemical deicers, the main findings suggest altering the concrete compositions to incorporate SCMs in a ternary form. Full article

Food security is one of the world’s top challenges, specifically considering global issues like climate change. Seed priming is one strategy to improve crop production, typically via increased germination, yields, and/or stress tolerance. Hydropriming, or soaking seeds in water only, is the simplest form of seed priming. However, the addition of certain seed priming agents has resulted in a variety of modified strategies, including osmopriming, halopriming, hormonal priming, PGR priming, nutripriming, and others. Most current research has focused on hormonal and nutripriming. This review will focus on the specific compounds that have been used most often over the past 3 years and the physiological effects that they have had on crops. Over half of recent research has focused on four compounds: (1) salicylic acid, (2) zinc, (3) gibberellic acid, and (4) potassium nitrate. One of the most interesting characteristics of all chemical seed priming agents is that they are exposed only to seeds yet confer benefits throughout plant development. In some cases, such benefits have been passed to subsequent generations, suggesting an epigenetic effect, which is supported by observed changes in DNA methylation and histone modification. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge on molecular changes and physiological mechanisms associated with chemical seed priming agents and discuss avenues for future research. Full article

In this study, we aimed to optimize the process of extracting essential oils from Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag. vegetables (LJ-Vs) by means of hydrodistillation (HD), analyze the essential oils’ chemical composition, and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities so as to provide a certain research basis for their development and utilization. A single-factor test and the response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize the essential oil extraction process. The chemical constituents of the LJ-V essential oils were analyzed via GC-MS, and the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of the oils were studied. The optimal extraction process conditions were as follows: a solid–liquid ratio of 1:16.3 g/mL, a soaking time of 120 min, and crushing using a mesh size of 40. The validation result for the optimized process was 0.872%. A total of 32 chemical components were detected in LJ-V essential oils, among which the main components were neocnidilide, myristicin, elemicin, and germacrene. LJ-V essential oils with a 20% volume concentration had obvious inhibitory effects on four tested bacteria. The effect on Staphylococcus aureus was stronger than that on others. When the dilution concentration exceeded 100 times, the antibacterial effect was not ideal. The sensitivity of the tested bacteria to the essential oils followed the order Staphylococcus aureus > Salmonella > Pseudomonas fluorescens > Escherichia coli. Further, LJ-V essential oil had an ideal capacity to scavenge free radicals when compared to Vc control groups. Under the optimized conditions, the essential oil extraction rate was higher, and the process was stable and feasible. This study could provide theoretical and technical support for the cultivation, comprehensive development, and processing of Ligusticum jeholense Nakai et Kitag. resources. Full article

Emphasis on sustainable cassava production is increasing, with aims to increase the net income of cassava farmers in an ecologically friendly way. This study examined the optimization of soil fertilizer management at two research locations (Nampong and Seungsang) in northeastern Thailand. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with five replications. Eight different fertilizer management protocols consisted of (1) no fertilizer application (control), (2) the recommended dosage of chemical fertilizer (RDCF), (3) 3.12 t ha⁻¹ of chicken manure (CM), (4) 937.5 L ha⁻¹ of swine manure extract (SME), (5) CM + SME, (6) ½ RDCF + ½ CM, (7) ½ RDCF + ½ SME, and (8) CM + PGPR (stake soaking with PGPR solution). At the Nampong site, the application of CM + PGPR has the most potential for increasing the cassava yield in terms of the fresh tuber yield when compared with no fertilizer and RDCF applications. At the Seungsang site, the application of CM gave the high fresh tuber yield, without significant differences from RDCF applications. Furthermore, compared to the RDCF treatment, both soil fertilizer management protocols produced positive marginal rate of return values, showing clear potential for contributing to sustainable cassava production. Full article

Xyloglucan from Tamarindus indica seeds (TISs) is a polysaccharide widely used in the food, biomedical, and pharmaceutical sectors. Nevertheless, the challenge in future research for the food processing industry is to provide adequate knowledge regarding natural product extraction, chemical modifications, interactions, and potential applications according to sustainability issues. The goal of this work was to implement a sustainable method for xyloglucan extraction from TISs at a semi-industrial scale and carry out the characterization of this hydrocolloid, to compare the effect of the technique of decorticating of seeds on the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of xyloglucan. The TISs were decorticated using soaking (DS) and roasting (DR) methods, and, then, the xyloglucan was extracted applying a semi-industrial mechanical separation process. Subsequently, the extraction yield, chemical content, Fourier transform infrared analysis, color, morphology, molecular weight (MW), viscosity, texture, Z potential, particle size, and thermal properties were evaluated. Xyloglucan extraction from TISs at a semi-industrial scale was demonstrated for the first time. The xyloglucan yield by DR (44.04%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared with DS (41.42%), while separation efficiency was similar in both methods (~97%). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in fat, ashes, crude fiber, calcium, total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity in xyloglucan samples were observed by applying DS and DR. The method of decorticating promoted changes in the MW and particle size of xyloglucan samples, which were reflected in the viscosity, particle size, texture attributes, Z potential, and thermal properties of xyloglucan. These results show that the decorticating method is an important issue to be considered in the resultant chemical and physicochemical properties of xyloglucan extracted from tamarind seeds, for suitable applications of the xyloglucan in the food processing and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Traditional consolidants commonly used for waterlogged wood conservation often present long-term drawbacks, prompting research into new and reliable alternatives. Reducing reliance on fossil-based chemicals that are harmful to people, the environment, and the climate is a growing trend, and sustainable materials are now being explored as alternative consolidants for conserving waterlogged archaeological wood. Among these bio-based products, sodium alginate, a natural polysaccharide, has shown promising potential. This study aimed to evaluate its effectiveness in stabilising dimensions of severely degraded archaeological elm wood during drying. Various treatments were tested, and dimensional stabilisation (ASE), weight percent gain (WPG), and volumetric shrinkage (Vs) were assessed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to evaluate alginate penetration and interactions with residual wood components. Results indicated that the effectiveness of sodium alginate depends on the treatment method, with the soaking approach and slow drying providing the highest WPG and the best stabilisation without altering the natural wood colour. Although the best achieved anti-shrink efficiency of 40% is insufficient from the conservation perspective, sodium alginate has proven to be a promising consolidant for the conservation of waterlogged wood. Further studies will focus on enhancing its penetration and interactions with residual wood components. Full article

Soils may not always be suitable to fulfill their intended function. Soil improvement can be achieved by mechanical or chemical methods, especially in transportation facilities. L and FA additives are frequently used as chemical improvement additives. In this study, two natural clay samples with extreme and very high plasticity were improved by using L and FA admixtures, and their properties under static and repeated loads were investigated by ML methods. Two soil samples from two different sites were analyzed. In this study, eight datasets were used. There are 14 inputs, including specific gravity (Gs), void ratio (eo), sieve analysis (+No.4, −No.200), clay size, LL, plastic limit (PL), plasticity index (PI), linear shrinkage (Ls), shrinkage limit (SL), cure day, agent, clay type, and agent percentage. The outputs are index and swelling properties (compressive, percent), compressive strengths, modulus of elasticity, and compressibility properties in soaked and non-soaked conditions. Prediction is attempted with different ML (ML) techniques. ML techniques used for regression (such as Decision Tree Regression (DTR) and K-nearest neighbors (KNN)). SHapley Additive Explanations (SHAP), the impact of inputs on outputs were observed, and it was generally found that PL and LL had the highest impact on outputs. Different performance metrics are used for evaluation. The results showed that these ML techniques can predict the static and cyclic properties of extremely high plasticity clays with high performance (R² > 0.99). These results highlight the general applicability of the used ML models on different datasets containing soil properties. Full article

Three lightweight aluminum-based complex concentrated alloys with chemical compositions that have not been previously studied were manufactured and studied: Al₅₂Mg_9.6Zn₁₆Cu_15.5Si_6.9 w.t.% or Al₆₃Mg₁₃Zn₈Cu₈Si₈ a.t.% (alloy A), Al₄₄Mg₁₈Zn₁₉Cu₁₉ w.t.% or Al₅₅Mg₂₅Zn₁₀Cu₁₀ a.t.% (alloy B), and Al₄₇Mg_21.4Zn₁₂Cu_9.7Si_9.7 w.t.% or Al_52.7Mg_26.6Zn_5.6Cu_4.6Si_10.4 a.t.% (alloy AM), with low densities of 3.15 g/cm³, 3.18 g/cm³ and 2.73 g/cm³, respectively. During alloy design, the CALPHAD method was used to calculate a variety of phase diagrams for the various chemical compositions and to predict possible phases that may form in the alloy. The CALPHAD methodology results showed good agreement with the experimental results. The potential of the designed alloys to be used in some industrial applications was examined by manufacturing them using standard industrial techniques, something that is a rarity in this field. The alloys were produced using an induction furnace and pour mold casting process, while industrial-grade raw materials were utilized. Heat treatments with different soaking times were performed in order to evaluate the possibility of improving the mechanical properties of the alloys. Alloys A and AM were characterized by a multiphase microstructure with a dendritic FCC-Al matrix phase and various secondary phases (Q-AlCuMgSi, Al₂Cu and Mg₂Si), while alloy B consisted of a parent phase T-Mg₃₂(Al,Zn)₄₉ and the secondary phases α-Al and Mg₂Si. The microstructure of the cast alloys did not appear to be affected by the heat treatments compared to the corresponding as-cast specimens. However, alterations were observed in terms of the elemental composition of the phases in alloy A. In order to investigate and evaluate the mechanical properties of the as-cast and heat-treated alloys, hardness testing along with electrical conductivity measurements were conducted at room temperature. Among the as-cast samples, alloy AM had the highest hardness (246 HV₄), while among the heat-treated ones, alloy A showed the highest value (256 HV₄). The electrical conductivity of all the alloys increased after the heat treatment, with the highest increase occurring during the first 4 h of the heat treatment. Full article