Search Results (12,091)

To promote the sustainable development of the textile industry and address the critical challenges of high water consumption and salt pollution in cotton dyeing, this study developed a short-process cationic dyeing method using 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTA). Unlike traditional cationic dyeing, this approach eliminates the intermediate drying step by adding reactive dyes directly into the same bath after modification, achieving salt-free dyeing and significant water savings. The effects of key parameters, including GTA concentration, NaOH concentration, modification temperature and time, dyeing bath ratio, holding time, and dyeing temperature, were systematically investigated. The optimal dyeing conditions for C.I. Reactive Red 195, Reactive Black 5, and Reactive Blue 19 were determined as follows: GTA concentration of 40 g/L, NaOH concentration of 1 g/L, modification at 90 °C for 50 min, dyeing at 60 °C with a bath ratio of 1:15, and holding times of 30, 20, and 40 min, respectively. After modification, thermal stability and crystallinity decreased slightly (from 60.51% to 58.18%), while hydrophilicity showed no significant change. This short-process cationic dyeing method saves time, energy, and water while maintaining dyeing performance comparable to conventional methods. It provides a practical and sustainable new approach for salt-free cotton dyeing. Full article

This study experimentally investigated the mechanical properties and electrical resistivity of cement mortar incorporating fly ash and lead zirconate titanate (PZT) for potential application in smart and disaster-resilient building materials. Class F fly ash replaced cement at 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% by volume. In the PZT mixtures, 5% of the fine-aggregate volume was replaced with PZT powder. Flowability, compressive strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity, water absorption, and electrical resistivity were evaluated at curing ages of 1, 7, 28, and 56 days. Electrical resistivity was measured under saturated surface-dry (SSD) and oven-dried (OD) conditions using direct-current voltages of 50 and 100 V, corresponding to nominal electric-field intensities of 10 and 20 V/cm. At 28 days, compressive strength ranged from 31.0 to 20.4 MPa for the control mixtures and from 29.0 to 19.0 MPa for the PZT mixtures as the fly ash content increased. Under the 50 V SSD condition, the corresponding resistivity ranges were 1870–1588 and 1419–1286 Ω·cm, respectively, whereas under the 100 V OD condition, they were 2671–3013 and 3247–3415 Ω·cm. Increasing the fly ash content improved flowability but generally reduced compressive strength and ultrasonic pulse velocity and increased water absorption because the low-calcium Class F fly ash slowed strength development. The PZT mixtures exhibited slightly lower compressive strength, likely owing to weaker interfacial bonding, but showed distinct electrical behaviour: PZT reduced resistivity under SSD conditions and increased it under OD conditions relative to the control mixtures. Resistivity increased with compressive strength under SSD conditions but decreased with compressive strength under OD conditions because pore water enhanced ionic conduction. Higher applied voltage also reduced the measured resistivity. Overall, moisture condition and measurement voltage strongly governed the electrical response, while the incorporation of 5 vol.% PZT altered the electrical-resistivity characteristics while producing only relatively small differences in the measured basic engineering properties. Full article

Rapid transfer of large cryogenic models between ambient and cryogenic environments causes severe thermal shocks to the dry air system, threatening dew-point stability and equipment safety. Using CFD, this study builds a 1:1 model of a cryogenic transport isolation system, including the dry hall, model carrier, temperature-conditioning room, and test section plenum. Three scenarios are analyzed: static suspension, descent to the temperature-conditioning room, and descent to the test section plenum. The effects of descent speed (1.2 vs. 2.5 m/min) and makeup air flow (0–12,500 m³/h) on temperature distribution and cable safety are examined. Results show that after 10 min of static suspension, the carrier interior averages 192 K with strong stratification and a minimum of 170 K. During descent, higher speed and larger air flow improve thermal retention. At 2.5 m/min and 10,000 m³/h, cable-adjacent gas stays above −60 °C. For the plenum, descent-matched displacement ventilation (e.g., 6000 m³/h for 1.2 m/min) keeps both the cable and the plug-in unit safe. Including the cable thermal capacity gives a smaller actual temperature drop than conservative gas-temperature estimates. This work provides numerical guidance for dry system design, operation optimization, and cryogenic protection during rapid model transfer. Full article

To protect and sustainably use peat soils, it is important to maintain their high moisture content by keeping proper groundwater levels. This can be achieved by using existing water-retaining structures in their area, such as weirs and sluices. Beaver dams can also serve a similar function, as they block water outflow from peatlands, raising water levels and naturally retaining it. The water conditions created by beaver dams promote secondary environmental succession processes, leading to the sustainable use of environmental resources. The presented research focused on drainage–irrigation perspectives for a lowland fen in the face of hydrologic alterations and a search for proper organic soil and water management. The results of systematic observations of water level variability in the Mała riverbed were analysed, as well as in a selected area of the subsurface irrigation system, influenced by the presence of a beaver dam in the years 2015–2019. The research was conducted on a section of that system, used as permanent grassland in central Poland—the Solec site. Before the construction of the beaver dam, measurement results indicated the draining nature of the Mała River, supported by an extensive network of drainage ditches. After the construction of the beaver dam, water levels in the Mała River bed above the dam increased, as did groundwater levels in the adjacent area, up to 40 m from the riverbank. In the analysed site, the beaver dam caused the groundwater level to increase by 0.25–0.45 m in 2015, compared to the neighbouring quarter, located outside the range of the dam. At observation points A and B, located 40 m and 115 m from the river, respectively, the groundwater table was usually within the acceptable drainage standards for organic soils (complex C—dry), while in the case of point C, located 240 m from the river (medium mineral soil complex), the water table was mostly below the maximum drainage standard. The conducted groundwater table depth estimations were purposely compared to the existing standards to further outline the impact of selected measures, e.g., the bever dams, to maintain hydrologic conditions of a managed fen. Full article

This study examined the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on root system development of the invasive Nicotiana glauca Graham (Solanaceae) under intraspecific competition. Seedlings were grown with or without AMF inoculation at four planting densities (1–4 plants per pot) in a factorial experiment arranged in a completely randomized design under greenhouse conditions. After six months, shoot and root fresh and dry biomass were measured, along with root-to-shoot ratio. Root morphological traits, including total root length, surface area, volume, mean diameter, and number of root tips, were quantified and further analyzed across five levels of root diameter (0–1 mm at 1 mm intervals). Root nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content, AMF colonization, and spore density were also assessed. Results showed that all measured traits of non-mycorrhizal seedlings declined markedly with increasing plant density. In contrast, AMF-inoculated seedlings maintained higher root biomass, total root length, surface area, and root tip numbers, particularly at low density. Across all treatments, roots < 1 mm contributed the highest proportion of total root length, surface area, and tip number, with AMF significantly enhancing these fine-root traits. Mycorrhizal seedlings also exhibited higher root-to-shoot ratios and improved N, P, and K content compared to non-inoculated controls. Multivariate analyses further indicated that AMF inoculation was the primary factor structuring root trait variation across planting densities. Overall, AMF inoculation promoted a finer and more extensive root system under increasing intraspecific competition, indicating a key role in enhancing resource acquisition and potentially supporting the competitive ability and invasiveness of N. glauca. Full article

Infrastructure construction in plateau areas not only needs to take into account the impact of harsh climatic conditions, but also faces the problem of raw material shortage. Herein, this work investigates the long-term mechanical properties, drying shrinkage, and creep behaviour of manufactured-sand concrete in plateau regions via 1-year measurements. Results show that the plateau harsh environment coarsens the pore structure of manufactured-sand concrete, leading to the 365-day compressive strength and elastic modulus dropping by at most 10.2% and 5.3%, respectively, while the 365-day drying shrinkage and specific creep increased by at most 15.3% and 9.4%, respectively. Meanwhile, with the synergistic effect of silica fume, calcium sulfate whiskers and shrinkage-reducing agent, the 365-day compressive strength increased by 12.3%, and drying shrinkage and specific creep were reduced by 10.5% and 16.6%, respectively, resulting from its dense microstructure effect. Overall, this work offers guidance for preparing high-performance concrete in plateau areas, promotes the resource utilisation of manufactured sand, and has significant implications for enhancing the service life of concrete while reducing construction costs. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) is absorbed by plants and bioaccumulated in their tissues, and its ingestion may cause adverse effects on human health. However, information on the relationship between soil moisture and Cd bioaccumulation in cocoa-growing soils remains limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation volumes (50, 75, 100, and 125%) on Cd bioaccumulation and biomass production in two cocoa genotypes (EET-103 and CCN-51), as well as on soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), in two soils from El Oro and Guayas, Ecuador. A split-plot design was used with three factors: A (soils), B (genotypes), and C (irrigation). The variables evaluated included plant height, stem diameter, shoot and root dry biomass, Cd absorption, translocation, and bioaccumulation, as well as soil pH and EC. The highest dry matter production and Cd bioaccumulation were observed in genotype EET-103 grown in El Oro soil and in genotype CCN-51 grown in Guayas soil. A higher irrigation volume (125%) increased the pH of El Oro soil and reduced Cd bioaccumulation by 38.48%, whereas pH decreased in Guayas soil under the same irrigation condition. In El Oro soil, pH and EC showed an inversely proportional relationship. These results suggest that irrigation management and the selection of cocoa genotypes with lower affinity for Cd may be useful strategies to reduce Cd bioaccumulation in cocoa plants. Full article

With the implementation of the Western Development Strategy and the Belt and Road Initiative, engineering activities on the Loess Plateau have expanded substantially in both scale and depth. Consequently, the disintegration of Lishi loess, which has received relatively limited attention, has become an increasingly important concern in relation to geological hazards and engineering stability. This study investigated the disintegration behavior of remolded Lishi loess specimens with different initial water contents under controlled dry-density conditions and developed a mathematical model to characterize the disintegration process. In addition, three-dimensional particle flow code (PFC3D) simulations were performed to provide a particle-scale mechanical interpretation of the observed behavior. The experimental results showed that the disintegration curves of the specimens exhibited a typical asymmetric S shape at all tested initial water contents. The Gompertz model provided a compact empirical description of these curves, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.993 to 0.999. In the model, α denotes the upper asymptote of the disintegration curve, λ characterizes the growth-rate behavior, and β represents the characteristic time associated with the inflection point. These parameters should be interpreted as empirical descriptors of the disintegration process rather than direct measures of the microscopic properties of loess. Although the model closely reproduced the experimental curves, further validation using independent datasets is required before it can be applied predictively to other specimens or test conditions. The PFC3D simulations provided an equivalent mesoscopic representation of contact-network weakening, bond breakage, and progressive particle detachment at different initial water contents. The simulated evolution qualitatively reproduced the progression from boundary-particle detachment to the gradual loss of specimen integrity and final particle accumulation. These findings characterize the water-content-dependent disintegration behavior of remolded Lishi loess and provide a preliminary basis for understanding the water sensitivity of disturbed or reworked Lishi loess in engineering applications. Full article

Cover crops are increasingly used in citrus production systems to improve soil health, reduce weed pressure and enhance fruit yield and quality. While the benefits of integrating cover crops into orchard management have been widely reported in several countries, information on their use under South African citrus-growing conditions remains limited. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the influence of different cover crop species on soil organic carbon, weed biomass and citrus fruit yield under two cover crop termination practices, namely slashing and non-slashing. The cover crop treatments consisted of vetch, medics, oats and an untreated control without cover crops. The experiment was established as a split-plot arrangement within a randomized complete block design with six replications. Cover crop species constituted the main plot factor, while termination method was assigned to sub-plots. Soil was sampled before planting cover crops and one year after planting cover crops. Cover crop and weed dry weight samples were collected during the termination stage and fruit weight measurements were taken at harvest. Legume cover crops significantly increased Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in the 0–30 cm soil depth, with vetch recording the highest SOC (0.6–0.8%), representing an increase of approximately 0.14% compared with oats. No significant SOC differences were observed at the 30–60 cm depth. Weed biomass declined markedly over time, from more than 1.4 t ha⁻¹ in 2021/22 to less than 0.6 t ha⁻¹ in 2022/23. Oats provided the greatest weed suppression, reducing weed dry weight to approximately 0.10 t ha⁻¹ in 2022/23, whereas the control treatment consistently recorded the highest weed biomass. Cover crop biomass was highest under oats in 2021/22 (1.50 t ha⁻¹), while excessive rainfall in 2022/23 reduced biomass production across treatments. Termination methods did not significantly influence weed biomass or cover crop biomass. Citrus fruit yield was not significantly affected by either cover crop species or termination method during the short-term study period. The findings indicate that legume cover crops improve SOC, while oats are more effective for weed suppression in lemon orchards. However, longer-term studies are needed to determine whether these soil and weed management benefits translate into increased citrus productivity. Full article

Crocus sativus L. (saffron), commonly known as “red gold,” is among the most valuable spices worldwide and has gained increasing attention as a high-value crop for small-scale farming systems. However, its production potential in the southern United States remains largely unexplored. This study evaluated saffron as an alternative specialty crop in Georgia by assessing the effects of planting date (early September vs. late October) and production system (open field vs. low plastic tunnel) on saffron yield during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons at the Rodale Institute Southeast Organic Center. Simple postharvest stigma drying methods, including oven and microwave drying, were also evaluated descriptively for small-scale production. In 2023, a total of 1907 flowers were harvested, yielding 59.61 g of fresh stigma, whereas production declined in 2024 to 961 flowers and 22.89 g of fresh stigma. Year had a significant effect on yield, while planting date and production system did not show consistent main effects. A significant interaction between year and planting date indicated that saffron performance was influenced by year-specific growing conditions and management-related constraints, with early planting improving plant establishment. Stigma yield was limited for quality analysis; therefore, samples were composited, preventing valid inferential statistical comparisons for drying-method effects. Descriptively, concentrations of key apocarotenoids—crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal—were generally higher in 2024, with crocin values reaching up to 62.34. Higher-temperature drying (e.g., 100 °C) offered practical advantages due to substantially reduced drying time compared with lower-temperature (60 °C) or microwave drying; however, further replicated quality analysis is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn regarding drying-method effects. Overall, saffron production was feasible under humid subtropical conditions, but yield stability depended on stand establishment, soil fertility management, and year-specific growing conditions. These findings highlight the importance of integrated management of planting time, corm quality, production system, soil fertility, and postharvest processing for optimizing saffron production in emerging regions; however, larger-scale and long-term studies are needed to draw definitive conclusions. Full article

Cocoa pod husk, a major agro-industrial by-product of cocoa processing, represents an underutilized source of phenolic compounds with potential functional applications. This study developed an integrated extraction process combining drying pretreatments with probe ultrasound-assisted extraction to enhance the recovery and bioactivity of cocoa pod husk extracts. Preliminary solvent screening identified aqueous ethanol (1:3, v/v) as the most suitable extraction solvent, and a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:9 (w/v) was subsequently selected for further extraction experiments. Under these extraction conditions, the type of drying pretreatment (tray drying or vacuum microwave drying), ultrasonic amplitude, and extraction time influenced the total phenolic content, phenolic composition, and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) of cocoa pod husk extracts. The evaluated extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans. Cellular assays were performed using two selected extracts: Cocoa-A (vacuum microwave-dried) and Cocoa-B (tray-dried), which were prepared with aqueous ethanol (1:3, v/v) at a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:9 (w/v) under 75% ultrasonic amplitude for 15 min. These extracts contained total phenolic contents of 5.41 ± 0.14 and 5.01 ± 0.14 mg GAE/g dried cocoa pod husk for Cocoa-A and Cocoa-B, respectively. Both extracts showed low cytotoxicity together with reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species and suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-α. The tray-dried extract (Cocoa-B) exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity than the vacuum microwave-dried extract (Cocoa-A), indicating that the drying pretreatment influenced the biological activity of the extracts. This difference may also be associated with variations in phenolic composition, although the contribution of individual phenolic compounds was not investigated in the present study. These findings improve the understanding of how drying pretreatment and probe ultrasound-assisted extraction parameters influence the recovery of bioactive compounds from cocoa pod husk and provide a scientific basis for the further development of cocoa pod husk-derived bioactive ingredients for functional food, nutraceutical, and oral health-related applications. Full article

This study examines the post-earthquake reconstruction framework adopted in the Mt. Etna region, where the ordinances issued by the Extraordinary Commissioner provided the operational structure enabling the integration of technical, geological, and landscape-protection requirements. Geological, geophysical, and geognostic investigations were mandated to characterize local subsurface conditions and ensure that repair or reconstruction works complied with safety standards and regulatory requirements, particularly where retaining walls support buildings, roads, and infrastructure. A distinction was made between traditional dry-stone retaining walls—an essential component of the rural Etnean landscape—and reinforced concrete walls, which are adopted in contexts requiring higher structural performance. Their reconstruction involved differentiated technical approaches aimed at ensuring deformation-compatible behavior and mitigating the effects of permanent ground deformation while preserving the historical and cultural value of dry-stone constructions, recognized as UNESCO intangible heritage. The resulting reconstruction model integrates high-resolution geostructural and geophysical surveys, Active and Capable Fault (ACF) zoning criteria, and performance-based geotechnical design within a unified governance and technical protocol. This approach provides a replicable methodology for the post-seismic reconstruction of retaining walls in areas affected by permanent ground deformation and complex volcano-tectonic settings. Full article

Background: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling performance under heat and drought stress is critical for crop establishment. Identifying cultivars with superior seedling vigor under stress conditions helps breeding programs and seed production systems. Methods: We aimed to evaluate the early growth performance of wheat seedlings from 28 Brazilian commercial cultivars under heat and osmotic stress. Seedlings were assessed through shoot and root lengths and dry weight and analyzed using Scott–Knott grouping, heritability estimates, PCA and stress tolerance index. Results: Osmotic stress affected a wider range of traits than heat stress and revealed phenotypic and genetic variability among cultivars. Root length and root dry weight exhibited high broad-sense heritability, indicating a substantial genotypic contribution under the tested conditions and supporting their use for early-stage screening. Multivariate analyses revealed contrasting adaptation strategies, including root elongation and preferential allocation of biomass to roots under stress conditions. Through uni- and multivariate analyses, we suggested cultivars are potentially tolerant to heat and osmotic stresses. Conclusions: Root-related traits proved to be the most informative indicators of adaptation to stress, and the integration of stress tolerance indices and multivariate analyses enabled the identification of promising cultivars for further validation under greenhouse and field conditions. Full article

In arid and semi-arid regions, salinity and drought limit cotton productivity. As the northernmost cotton-growing country, Kazakhstan often deals with these issues. The objective of this study was to classify salt- and drought-tolerant groups within the Kazakhstan cotton collection based on key phenotypic traits. Fifty-six Gossypium hirsutum genotypes were evaluated under controlled conditions using NaCl and PEG-6000. Six morphophysiological traits, including germination rate, plant height, fresh weight, root dry weight, and relative water content, were analyzed. Increasing NaCl and PEG levels reduced vegetative growth, while germination remained relatively stable under moderate stress. Regression analysis identified 200 mM NaCl as the optimal salinity level for salt tolerance and 20–30% PEG as the optimal level for drought tolerance. Cluster analysis using membership function values grouped the genotypes into five tolerance categories. Eight lines including M-4016-6, M-4031-8, M-4014-6, M-4029-9, M-4016-7, M-4016-8, M-4020-2, and M-4016-4 exhibited high tolerance to both stresses. Additional lines exhibited combined tolerance, indicating strong breeding potential. Principal component analysis revealed an inverse relationship between salt and drought tolerance, suggesting stress-specific adaptation. This study is the first to report on the development of a classification system for salt and drought tolerance in the Kazakhstan Cotton Collection. The results demonstrate substantial genetic variability and highlight the potential for developing cotton cultivars adapted environments prone to stress. Full article

To address issues such as plastic film residue and poor seed depth stability during cotton sowing operations in Xinjiang, a new type of no-till cotton seeder has been proposed and designed. The seeder is mainly composed of a rotary tillage device, a furrow opener and fertilizing device, a sowing mechanism, a compaction mechanism, and mechanical transmission parts. The structure and working principle of the cotton seeder are expounded on; the key parts, such as the rotary tillage mechanism, furrow opener, and compaction system are analyzed; and the key factors of the best size of each part are determined. The single-factor simulation design was carried out using the EDEM discrete element simulation technology, with the machine’s forward speed, rotary tillage speed, furrow opening depth, and compaction depth as the test conditions and the sowing quality as the evaluation standard. The corresponding mechanical model was established and determined the optimal combination of simulation parameters. To evaluate the performance of the cotton no-tillage seeder, field tests were conducted on its rotary tillage, tape laying, and seed press performance. The field experiment’s results indicate that under the optimal simulated parameter combination, the actual planting depth was approximately 28 mm with a coefficient of variation of 12.26%, achieving a compliance rate of 93.3%; the average planting spacing was 64.05 mm with a coefficient of variation of 12.46%; the soil disturbance rate was 32.9%; the germination rate was 96%; and the seed drying rate was below 2%. These results comply with industry standards and agronomic requirements, providing technical support for ensuring the quality of no-till cotton cultivation. Full article