Search Results (7,031)

This study investigates the influence of PLA flowability and talc content on the performance of compostable thermoplastic starch/poly(butylene succinate) (TPS/PBS)-based systems for rigid applications. Different PLA grades with varying melt flow index (PLA23, PLA8 and PLA70) and talc contents (0, 5 and 10 wt%) were incorporated. Twelve formulations were compounded by twin-screw extrusion and processed by injection moulding. FTIR confirmed the coexistence of TPS, PBS and PLA phases without evidence of chemical interactions. Morphological analysis showed that PLA flowability plays a key role in phase distribution, with higher-flow PLA promoting improved dispersion and interfacial adhesion, while talc addition (5 and 10 wt%) increased structural heterogeneity; at higher loadings, particularly, DSC analysis revealed that talc acted as a nucleating agent for the PBS phase, increasing crystallisation temperatures from approximately 73 °C to 81 °C depending on formulation. Mechanical results showed that Young’s modulus increased from approximately 1.4 GPa to 2.7 GPa with decreasing PLA flowability and increasing talc content. Formulations containing low-flow PLA reached tensile strengths close to 32 MPa, although elongation at break decreased to values near 2%. In contrast, high-flow PLA formulations exhibited a more balanced mechanical response, with elongation values up to approximately 8%, associated with improved phase dispersion. Hybrid PLA systems showed intermediate behaviour, reaching elongations up to 22% while maintaining modulus values around 1.8 GPa. Talc provided additional reinforcement but reduced deformation capacity. HDT values remained relatively constant, indicating limited improvement in thermomechanical resistance despite increased stiffness. These results demonstrate that the combined control of PLA molecular characteristics and talc content enables tuning of the mechanical and thermomechanical performance of TPS/PBS/PLA/talc systems for rigid packaging applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: DNA-targeting small molecules that induce replication stress represent a promising strategy in anticancer drug development. 1,8-Naphthalimide (NI) derivatives are well-established DNA-intercalating agents, and heterocyclic annulation offers a rational approach to enhancing their potency and tumor selectivity. Here, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of benzofuran-containing naphthalimide derivatives, with particular focus on the lead dinitro-substituted compound 5d. Methods: Cytotoxic activity was assessed using the MTT assay in A549 (p53 wild-type), H1299 (p53-null), and MRC-5 cells. Long-term antiproliferative effects were evaluated by clonogenic survival assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Replication stress and DNA damage were quantified by EdU incorporation and γH2AX immunofluorescence, respectively. Apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V/PI staining and caspase-3/7 activation assay. p53 nuclear accumulation and autophagy induction were evaluated by immunofluorescence and Western blot, using LC3 as an autophagic marker. Results: All compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity in the nanomolar range, with 5d emerging as the most potent and selective. Clonogenic survival was significantly reduced, indicating durable suppression of proliferative capacity. Treatment with 5d induced G₁ arrest in A549 cells and the accumulation of H1299 cells in G₂/M, consistent with p53-dependent and p53-independent checkpoint activation, respectively. EdU incorporation was markedly reduced, while γH2AX intensity increased, collectively supporting a replication stress-driven mechanism of DNA damage. Apoptosis was confirmed by increased Annexin V-positive populations and caspase-3/7 activation. LC3 puncta formation and LC3-I/LC3-II conversion were increased, indicating LC3 processing and autophagosome accumulation consistent with the activation of autophagy-related processes. Conclusions: 5d induces a cellular phenotype consistent with replication stress, including reduced EdU incorporation, γH2AX accumulation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic cell death in a p53 status-dependent manner. These findings establish benzofuran-annulated naphthalimides as a promising scaffold for the development of anticancer agents that exploit replication stress vulnerabilities in tumor cells. Full article

A multiphase high-strength steel austempered at 260 °C for 24 h was investigated by quasi-in-situ tensile characterization and EBSD-based crystal plasticity finite element modeling. The experimental observations reveal that local plastic deformation is strongly heterogeneous: von Mises strain concentrates preferentially near bainitic-ferrite packets, phase boundaries, and retained-austenite/martensite–austenite regions, whereas blocky retained austenite contributes to strain accommodation at the early deformation stage. To quantify the underlying stress–strain partitioning, a quasi-two-dimensional representative volume element was reconstructed from EBSD data and implemented in ABAQUS through a user-defined material subroutine. The model contained the real grain morphology, phase distribution, and crystal orientation information of the 24 h austempered specimen. A rate-dependent crystal plasticity constitutive framework with BCC matrix, FCC retained austenite, and transformed martensite branches was calibrated against the macroscopic tensile curve. The simulated tensile response agrees well with the experimental curve before macroscopic instability, and the predicted local fields are consistent with the quasi-in-situ strain maps. The results show that local plastic strain first accumulates in M/A-related regions and phase-boundary-neighboring zones, while high Mises stress migrates dynamically with slip activity and stress-induced martensitic transformation. Retained-austenite transformation increases the local load-bearing capacity, modifies interphase load transfer, and delays the direct linkage of strain-localization bands. The present work clarifies the coupling among retained-austenite stability, TRIP-assisted load redistribution, and microstructural strain partitioning in multiphase high-strength steel, providing a mesoscale basis for microstructure-guided strength–ductility optimization. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of replacing 25% of wheat straw with dried carob (Ceratonia siliqua) leaves and twigs, either untreated or treated with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH), on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, meat quality, blood metabolites, and rumen microbial populations in Assaf lambs. Twenty-four male lambs (2.5 months old; 29 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 8): a control diet containing wheat straw as the sole roughage source, supplemented with a concentrate feed, a diet with 25% untreated carob leaves and twigs (UCL), and a diet with 25% NaOH-treated carob leaves and twigs (TCL). Following a 14-day adaptation period, lambs were fed the corresponding experimental diet for 14 weeks. Carob inclusion improved growth performance, with UCL lambs showing the highest average daily gain (214 g/d) compared with TCL (201 g/d) and control (160 g/d), resulting in improved feed conversion ratio (9.02 vs. 5.68 and 5.63, respectively) (p < 0.001). Blood urea nitrogen was reduced (p < 0.001) in UCL lambs (26.8 vs. 38.5 mg/dL in control), suggesting improved nitrogen retention. Digestibility responses differed between treatments (p < 0.001), as TCL increased dry matter digestibility to 72.6% compared with 65.4% (UCL) and 63.6% (control), indicating enhanced nutrient utilization following NaOH treatment. Both UCL and TCL increased (p < 0.001) carcass weights (up to 24.7 vs. 21.0 kg in control), while TCL achieved the highest dressing percentage (46.6% vs. 43.4%). Meat quality traits were generally unaffected in terms of color (lightness, redness, and yellowness) and water-holding capacity; however, shear force decreased from 33.6 N (control) to 30.0 N (TCL), indicating improved tenderness. Carob inclusion modified meat composition by increasing (p < 0.001) lipid content (12.0–12.2 vs. 9.6%) and improving fatty acid profile, with reduced saturated fatty acids (53.4–56.5 vs. 61.4%) and increased α-linolenic acid (2.04 vs. 1.58%), leading to a lower n-6/n-3 ratio (5.54–5.61 vs. 6.45). Rumen fermentation was also affected (p < 0.001), as carob diets increased total bacterial populations and reduced protozoal counts, suggesting shifts toward more efficient microbial activity. In conclusion, replacing 25% of wheat straw with carob leaves improved growth performance and feed efficiency, with untreated carob primarily enhancing nitrogen utilization and treated carob improving fiber digestibility and carcass yield. These findings support the use of carob by-products as a viable alternative feed resource, although responses depend on processing method and targeted production outcomes. Full article

Mineral scaling on carbon electrodes remains a critical limitation to the long-term performance of capacitive deionization (CDI) systems treating hard and alkaline waters. In this study, alternating polarization (AP) is investigated as an in situ electrochemical regeneration strategy to reverse cathodic scaling in flow-through CDI treating a feed containing 5 mM NaCl, 5 mM NaHCO₃, and 2.5 mM CaCl₂ under three modes: conventional cycling (control), delayed AP introduced after fouling developed, and immediate AP implemented from the first cycle. Under conventional operation, cathodic scaling reduced the salt adsorption capacity (SAC) to 5.9 ± 0.2 mg/g, increased cathode mass from 0.208 ± 0.004 g (pristine) to 0.353 ± 0.054 g, and decreased specific capacitance to 28 ± 2 F/g, accompanied by extensive pore blockage and carbonate deposition observed by SEM and BET measurements. Application of delayed AP restored electrode functionality, increasing SAC to 8.9 ± 0.6 mg/g and specific capacitance to 56 ± 2 F/g while reducing the cathode mass to 0.212 ± 0.007 g and removing surface precipitates. The immediate AP operation reduced the extent of scale formation from cycle 1, maintaining SAC at 8.4 ± 0.2 mg/g throughout operation, with stable physical and electrochemical properties. These improvements are attributed to periodic polarity reversal, which induces alternating alkaline and acidic microenvironments at the electrode surface and promotes the electrochemical dissolution of carbonate phases during anodic polarization. Overall, this work establishes AP as a simple, chemical-free operational strategy for both preventing and reversing cathodic mineral scaling, thereby enabling sustained CDI performance and mitigating capacity loss over the tested operational periods in complex water matrices. Full article

Copper and its alloys are widely used in electrical, automotive, aerospace, and energy applications because of their excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. However, the low hardness and poor wear resistance of pure Cu limit its use under tribologically demanding sliding conditions. In this study, Cu matrix composites reinforced with 1 wt.% boron carbide (B₄C), boron (B), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), alumina (Al₂O₃), and graphite (Gr) were fabricated by powder metallurgy and comparatively evaluated under identical processing and testing conditions. Phase constitution and microstructural characteristics were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and EDS, while mechanical and tribological behavior was assessed by Vickers hardness and dry sliding wear tests. All reinforcements improved the hardness of the Cu matrix compared with unreinforced Cu. The hardness increase followed the order Cu–B₄C (68.91%) > Cu–B (66.43%) > Cu–Gr (63.97%) > Cu–Al₂O₃ (61.79%) > Cu–Cr (42.69%) > Cu–Co (36.04%). Dry sliding wear tests, performed under a 10 N normal load, 0.05 m s⁻¹ sliding speed, and 1000 m sliding distance against a 316L stainless-steel ball, showed that all reinforced composites exhibited lower mass loss and more stable sliding behavior than pure Cu. Among all samples, Cu–B₄C displayed the best wear performance, with a 154.8% improvement in wear resistance relative to pure Cu. SEM analysis of the worn surfaces revealed that reinforcement addition reduced severe plastic deformation, groove formation, and delamination, leading to a more stable wear regime. Graphite- and boron-containing composites benefited from interfacial lubrication and contact stabilization, whereas B₄C and Al₂O₃ improved wear resistance through rigid-particle strengthening and enhanced load-bearing capacity. By comparing ceramic, metalloid, metallic, oxide, and solid-lubricating reinforcements at the same low addition level and under identical processing and testing conditions, this study provides a reinforcement-selection framework for Cu-based composites requiring improved hardness and dry-sliding durability. Full article

Metallurgical lifting equipment operates under prolonged heavy-load, high-impact, and complex working conditions. The resulting failure reports contain rich field knowledge applicable to fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance. Nevertheless, reliably extracting traceable, structured knowledge from procedural and implicit maintenance records remains a significant challenge. To address this, the paper proposes a generative information extraction method for large language models (LLMs) that integrates ontology schema with inference chain constraints, targeting knowledge extraction and knowledge graph construction from failure reports of metallurgical lifting equipment, named generative constrained information extraction for operations and maintenance (GCIE-OM). A domain ontology schema is first constructed, defining seven entity types and nine relation types to establish explicit knowledge boundaries for structured LLM generation. An inference chain-assisted structured parsing method, termed IC-ASP, is then designed to guide the model through a sequential extraction pipeline comprising scene identification, scope of entity boundary, inference of relation type, evidence traceability with localization, and triple output. This stepwise process strengthens the model’s capacity to comprehend equipment hierarchies, fault evolution chains, and maintenance action logic. Building on this, ChatGLM or LLaMA serves as the backbone model and is adapted to the target domain via LoRA fine-tuning. Entity alignment and character-level source localization mechanisms are further introduced to establish precise mappings between generated outputs and their textual evidence in the source documents. The extracted results are ultimately converted into standardized knowledge triples and stored in a Neo4j graph database. Based on this, a prototype system for generative information extraction is designed and implemented to demonstrate the practical effectiveness and adaptability of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms baseline methods across entity recognition, relation extraction, and structured output quality, providing robust knowledge support for fault tracing and predictive maintenance of metallurgical lifting equipment. Full article

A regeneration process for powdered spent activated carbon was developed through binder-assisted forming and thermal regeneration, and the process parameters were optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of calcination time, calcination temperature, and binder ratio on the iodine adsorption value of spent activated carbon were investigated by using a Central Composite Design. The quadratic regression model exhibited high accuracy and statistical significance (R² = 0.9934, p < 0.0001), indicating good agreement between the predicted and experimental results. The optimal regeneration conditions were determined as a calcination time of 39.2 min, a calcination temperature of 848 °C, and a binder ratio of 10.15%. Under the optimized conditions, the VOCs (dichloromethane) adsorption capacity increased sharply from 9.1 mg/g to 108.2 mg/g. Characterization results showed that the regeneration process effectively restored the pore structure and improved the surface properties of the activated carbon. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the effective removal of adsorbed pollutants. XPS analysis revealed a decrease in oxygen-containing functional groups, particularly –COOH groups, accompanied by an increase in C=O content, while the C–O groups changed only slightly. These structural and surface modifications contributed to the recovery of adsorption performance and provide guidance for the regeneration of powdered spent activated carbon. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of partially replacing wheat bran with poplar wood composite fiber (PWCF) on growth performance, immune status, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), and gut microbial composition in growing pigs. A total of 140 healthy crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) growing pigs with an initial body weight of 47.25 ± 0.49 kg were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments, with five replicates per treatment and fourteen pigs per replicate. The control (CT) group was fed a corn–soybean meal-based diet containing wheat bran and rice bran meal, whereas the experimental group received the same diet in which 2% wheat bran was replaced by PWCF. The experiment lasted for 60 days. Compared with the CT group, replacing wheat bran with PWCF did not affect body weight, average daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or average daily gain on days 30 or 60 (p > 0.05). In addition, no negative effects were observed on ATTD of nutrients and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM levels at either time point, indicating that PWCF can serve as a suitable partial substitute for wheat bran in growing pig diets. However, it could regulate nitrogen metabolism by reducing blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and the BUN/creatinine ratio, as well as decreasing total free amino acids in serum (p < 0.05). In addition, the antioxidant capacity can be transiently improved by increasing catalase activity. Gut microbiota analysis showed that the replacement significantly increased the relative abundances of Treponema, the Lachnospiraceae_XPB1014_group and Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 (p < 0.05). These changes suggest that PWCF modulates gut microbiota and enriches fiber-degrading bacterial populations. Overall, substituting wheat bran with PWCF did not impair growth performance, immunity, or digestibility, while altering microbial community composition. These findings support the potential application of PWCF as an alternative fiber source, contributing to greater diversity in feed formulation. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary sulphur-containing amino acid (SAA) levels provided during the early (1–28 d) and late (29–63 d) growth stages on production traits and feather follicle gene expression in 63-day-old Jiangnan white goslings. A total of 288 one-day-old male goslings were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design with two early SAA levels (0.64% and 0.87%) and two late SAA levels (0.62% and 0.74%), which created four treatments: Dd (low–low), Dg (low–high), Gd (high–low), and Gg (high–high). All measurements were performed on 63-day-old birds. Final body weight was significantly affected only by early SAA levels (p = 0.03), with the high early groups (Gd and Gg) showing a 3% higher weight (3.99 vs. 3.88 kg) than the low early groups. Late SAA levels had no effect on growth but markedly reduced breast muscle cooking loss (p < 0.01) from 26.64% (low late) to 22.70% (high late), which represents a 15% relative improvement in water-holding capacity. A significant early × late interaction (p = 0.03) indicated that late high SAA levels partially compensated for early deficiency. High late SAA levels also slightly reduced dry matter digestibility (73.45% → 73.16%, p = 0.03), while high early SAA levels increased crude ash digestibility (33.59% → 35.66%, p = 0.04). The Dg treatment (low early + high late) caused significantly elevated serum low-density lipoprotein (2.06 vs. 1.42–1.58 mmol/L) and uric acid (348.15 vs. 243.60–294.97 μmol/L), which indicates metabolic stress (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02 for interaction). Transcriptomic analysis of feather follicles from the Gg and Gd groups (both receiving identical high early SAA supplementation) identified 121 differentially expressed genes, including the downregulation of MAT1 (cysteine/methionine metabolism) and upregulation of GHRHR (neuroactive ligand–receptor interaction) in Gg, providing a molecular basis for improved feather growth. q-PCR validated five selected genes. In conclusion, final body weight is determined by early SAA supply, while late SAA supplementation improves meat juiciness, but abrupt increases from low to high SAA levels cause metabolic disturbances. Under this test conditions, The optimal feeding strategy is 0.87% SAAs (1–28 d) followed by 0.74% SAAs (29–63 d). Full article

Alternative roughage resources are increasingly important for sustainable ruminant production. This study evaluated the effects of replacing oat hay with a peanut hull depolymerization product (PHDP) on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical variables, antioxidant status, and rumen fermentation characteristics in Holstein dairy bulls. Thirty-six Holstein dairy bulls (18–22 months old) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design (n = 9 per treatment): T0, a basal diet containing 24% oat hay; T1, T2, and T3, in which 25%, 50%, and 75% of the oat hay was replaced with PHDP, respectively. The trial comprised a 14 d adaptation period and a 60 d measurement period. Growth performance and rumen fermentation data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with linear and quadratic contrasts, while serum biochemical and antioxidant variables were analyzed using ANCOVA with baseline values as covariates. PHDP substitution significantly affected average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Compared with the control group, the 75% replacement group showed greater ADG and lower FCR, whereas DMI was lower in T1 than in the other groups. Ruminal pH was increased in the 75% replacement group, whereas ammonia nitrogen concentration, major volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, total VFA concentration, and apparent nutrient digestibility were not significantly affected by treatment. Most hematological and serum biochemical variables were not markedly influenced by PHDP substitution. However, total antioxidant capacity at d 60 was higher in T2 and T3 than in T1, catalase activity at d 30 was higher in T3 than in T0, and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration at d 60 was highest in T3. In conclusion, PHDP could partially replace oat hay in diets for Holstein dairy bulls without impairing rumen fermentation, apparent nutrient digestibility, or major blood biochemical indicators. The 75% replacement level showed the most favorable response by improving growth performance and feed efficiency while supporting antioxidant status and serum IGF-1 concentration. Full article

There is growing interest in the development of sustainable thermal insulating materials from renewable resources, a strategy which can stand as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based insulating materials. In this study, bio-based porous insulating materials derived from partially hydrolyzed collagen (rabbit-skin) and containing ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as flame retardant and miscanthus fibers as reinforcement are prepared. Four freeze-dried formulations were prepared: pure partially hydrolyzed collagen (COL), partially hydrolyzed collagen with APP (COL-APP), partially hydrolyzed collagen with miscanthus particles (COL-M) and a ternary formulation that included both additives (Col-APP-M). The density, porosity, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, compressive mechanical properties and fire behavior were evaluated. The neat collagen foam had the lowest density (122 kg·m⁻³), highest porosity (91%), and lowest thermal conductivity (0.045 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹). The addition of APP and/or miscanthus increased density and showed limited change in thermal conductivity, which remains comparable with insulating materials (0.0445–0.0510 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹). Specific heat capacities of partially hydrolyzed collagen foams were also relatively high (1319–1390 J·kg⁻¹·K⁻¹) as compared to some other typical insulating materials. Mechanical experiments demonstrated that APP had considerably improved the compression stiffness and strength through the physical crosslinking and densification effects in the partially hydrolyzed collagen network. Analysis of fire behavior with both Pyrolysis Combustion Flow Calorimetry (PCFC) and cone calorimetry further indicated that the addition of APP yielded improved flame retardancy with a very low heat release. These results showed that partially hydrolyzed collagen-based foams reinforced by APP and lignocellulosic particles are sustainable thermal insulation materials with desired thermal performances, improved mechanical stability, and enhanced flame retardancy. Full article

Vine shoot residues represent an abundant lignocellulosic by-product of the wine industry and a promising source of phenolic compounds with potential functional applications. In this work, a biocatalytic strategy combining aqueous citric acid treatment and subsequent laccase-mediated oxidation was developed for the valorization of vine shoot-derived phenolic liquors. The pretreatment was optimized by response surface methodology, and the selected conditions, 190 °C, 75 min, and 0.82% citric acid, yielded a pretreated solid containing 2.9 ± 0.02% hemicellulose, 47.5 ± 0.20% cellulose, and 51.8 ± 1.87% lignin, together with a phenolic-rich liquor containing 27.66 ± 0.39 mg GAE g⁻¹ dry solid. Chemical characterization by UHPLC-timsTOF-MS revealed a complex mixture of phenolic acids, lignin-derived compounds, carbohydrate derivatives, and secondary metabolites. Laccase-catalyzed oxidation was first used as a reactivity assessment step, showing that the phenolic compounds present in the liquor were susceptible to enzymatic transformation. This treatment decreased the total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of the liquor. Subsequently, enzymatic oxidation was carried out in the presence of starch, yielding washed starch solids with retained Folin-reactive phenolic content of approximately 4 mg GAE g⁻¹ starch and measurable antioxidant capacity. Overall, this study demonstrates an integrated valorization route in which citric acid-assisted fractionation of vine shoot residues generates phenolic-rich liquors that can be chemically characterized, enzymatically activated, and directly used for starch functionalization, providing a sustainable strategy to convert agro-industrial residues into bio-based functional systems. Full article

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element that plays important roles in growth, digestion, antioxidant defense, immunity, and inflammation regulation in fish. This study investigated the effects of graded dietary Zn levels on growth performance, serum biochemistry, digestive enzyme activity, zinc transporter expression, antioxidant capacity, immune responses, and inflammatory regulation in juvenile black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus). Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to contain 27.95, 34.38, 44.90, 66.52, 116.14, and 199.56 mg/kg Zn by supplementing ZnSO₄·7H₂O. Juvenile fish with an initial weight of 2.88 ± 0.12 g were fed the experimental diets for 60 days in triplicate tanks. Growth performance increased with dietary Zn and then plateaued at 44.90–199.56 mg/kg; broken-line regression estimated the optimal dietary Zn requirement at 44.6 mg/kg. Adequate Zn supplementation also reduced whole-body lipid content, increased digestive enzyme activities, improved serum HDL-C and ALP levels, and decreased AST and ALT activities. In addition, adequate dietary Zn (44.90 mg/kg) significantly modulated the expression of zinc transporter genes in the liver and intestine. Adequate dietary Zn supplementation enhanced antioxidant capacity by activating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, improved intestinal immunity, and strengthened barrier function by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins and mucins. Moreover, adequate dietary Zn could alleviate inflammatory responses by upregulating anti-inflammatory factors and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines via the MAPK14 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that dietary zinc at 44.60 mg/kg is sufficient to promote growth, antioxidant status, immune function, and intestinal health in juvenile black carp. Full article

Thermally conductive epoxy potting compounds require high filler loadings for effective heat dissipation. However, high filler loadings can increase viscosity and brittleness, thereby impairing processability and service reliability. In this study, a mesogen-containing reactive liquid–crystalline epoxy monomer (LCE) was designed, synthesized, and incorporated into a commercial thermally conductive epoxy potting compound to investigate its effects on thermal behavior, rheological and mechanical properties, thermal conductivity, and fracture-surface morphology. The chemical structure and thermotropic liquid–crystalline behavior of LCE were characterized via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and polarized optical microscopy. Increasing LCE loading elevated the DSC-derived glass transition temperature (T_g) from 59 °C to 96 °C and markedly increased the room-temperature complex viscosity. Single-point measurements at 25 °C showed a monotonic decrease in thermal conductivity from 0.95 to 0.52 W/(m·K) with increasing LCE content. Mechanical testing revealed that the nominal 10% LCE formulation provided the best balance between load-bearing capacity and ductility among the tested formulations, whereas higher LCE loadings were associated with greater local microstructural variation and reduced mechanical properties. This study clarifies the modulation effect of LCE on the performance balance of highly filled epoxy potting compounds, providing valuable insights for future formulation optimization. Full article