Search Results (3,029)

High nighttime temperature (HNT) due to asymmetric diurnal warming threatens wheat productivity. This study evaluated the effect of HNT on wheat phenology, physiology, and yield through field and controlled environment experiments in Central Queensland, Australia. Two wheat genotypes, Faraday and AVT#6, were assessed under three sowing dates—1 May (Early), 15 June (Mid), and 1 August (Late)—within the recommended sowing window for the region. In a parallel growth chamber study, the plants were exposed to two nighttime temperature regimes, of 15 °C (normal) and 20 °C (high), with consistent daytime conditions from booting to maturity. Late sowing resulted in shortened vegetative growth and grain filling periods and increased exposure to HNT during the reproductive phase. This resulted in elevated floret sterility, lower grain weight, and up to 40% yield loss. AVT#6 exhibited greater sensitivity to HNT despite maturing earlier. Leaf gas exchange analysis revealed increased nighttime respiration (Rn) and reduced assimilation (A), resulting in higher Rn/A ratio for late-sown crops. The results from controlled environment chambers resembled trends of the field experiment, producing lower grain yield and biomass under HNT. Cumulative nighttime hours above 20 °C correlated more strongly with yield losses than daytime heat. These findings highlight the need for HNT-tolerant genotypes and optimized sowing schedules under future climate scenarios. Full article

Flavonoids serve as crucial plant antioxidants in drought tolerance, yet their antioxidant regulatory mechanisms within mycorrhizal plants remain unclear. In this study, using a two-factor design, trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) seedlings in the four-to-five-leaf stage were either inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae or not, and subjected to well-watered (70–75% of field maximum water-holding capacity) or drought stress (50–55% field maximum water-holding capacity) conditions for 10 weeks. Plant growth performance, photosynthetic physiology, leaf flavonoid content and their antioxidant capacity, reactive oxygen species levels, and activities and gene expression of key flavonoid biosynthesis enzymes were analyzed. Although drought stress significantly reduced root colonization and soil hyphal length, inoculation with F. mosseae consistently enhanced the biomass of leaves, stems, and roots, as well as root surface area and diameter, irrespective of soil moisture. Despite drought suppressing photosynthesis in mycorrhizal plants, F. mosseae substantially improved photosynthetic capacity (measured via gas exchange) and optimized photochemical efficiency (assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence) while reducing non-photochemical quenching (heat dissipation). Inoculation with F. mosseae elevated the total flavonoid content in leaves by 46.67% (well-watered) and 14.04% (drought), accompanied by significantly enhanced activities of key synthases such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), 4-coumarate:coA ligase (4CL), and cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), with increases ranging from 16.90 to 117.42% under drought. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that both mycorrhization and drought upregulated the expression of PtPAL1, PtCHI, and Pt4CL genes, with soil moisture critically modulating mycorrhizal regulatory effects. In vitro assays showed that flavonoid extracts scavenged radicals at rates of 30.07–41.60% in hydroxyl radical (•OH), 71.89–78.06% in superoxide radical anion (O₂^•−), and 49.97–74.75% in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Mycorrhizal symbiosis enhanced the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids, resulting in higher scavenging rates of •OH (19.07%), O₂^•− (5.00%), and DPPH (31.81%) under drought. Inoculated plants displayed reduced hydrogen peroxide (19.77%), O₂^•− (23.90%), and malondialdehyde (17.36%) levels. This study concludes that mycorrhizae promote the level of total flavonoids in trifoliate orange by accelerating the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, hence reducing oxidative damage under drought. Full article

The synthesis of “green ammonia” from “green hydrogen” represents a critical pathway for renewable energy integration and industrial decarbonization. This study investigates the green ammonia synthesis process using an axial–radial fixed-bed reactor equipped with three catalyst layers. A simplified two-dimensional physical model was developed, and a multiscale simulation approach combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) employed. The simulation results demonstrate that the majority of fluid flows axially through the catalyst beds, leading to significantly higher temperatures in the upper bed regions. The reactor exhibits excellent heat exchange performance, ensuring effective preheating of the feed gas. High-pressure zones are concentrated near the top and bottom gas outlets, while the ammonia mole fraction approaches 100% near the bottom outlet, confirming superior conversion efficiency. By integrating PINNs, the prediction accuracy was substantially improved, with flow field errors in the catalyst beds below 4.5% and ammonia concentration prediction accuracy above 97.2%. Key reaction kinetic parameters (pre-exponential factor k₀ and activation energy Ea) were successfully inverted with errors within 7%, while computational efficiency increased by 200 times compared to traditional CFD. The proposed CFD–PINN integrated framework provides a high-fidelity and computationally efficient simulation tool for green ammonia reactor design, particularly suitable for scenarios with fluctuating hydrogen supply. The reactor design reduces energy per unit ammonia and improves conversion efficiency. Its radial flow configuration enhances operational stability by damping feed fluctuations, thereby accelerating green hydrogen adoption. By reducing fossil fuel dependence, it promotes industrial decarbonization. Full article

Stomata, highly specialized structures that evolved on the aerial surfaces of plants, play a crucial role in regulating hydration, mitigating the effects of abiotic stress. Stomatal lineage development involves a series of coordinated events, such as initiation, stem cell proliferation, and cell fate determination, ultimately leading to the differentiation of guard cells. While core transcriptional regulators and signaling pathways controlling stomatal cell division and fate determination have been characterized over the past twenty years, the molecular mechanisms linking stomatal development to dynamic environmental cues remain poorly understood. Therefore, stomatal development is considered an active and compelling frontier in plant biology research. On the one hand, this review aims to provide an understanding of the molecular networks governing stomatal ontogenesis, which relies on the activation and function of the transcription factors SPEECHLESS (SPCH), MUTE, and FAMA; the EPF–TMM and ERECTA receptor systems; and downstream MAPK signaling. On the other hand, it synthesizes current discoveries of how hormonal signaling pathways regulate stomatal development in response to environmental changes. As the climate crisis intensifies, the understanding of the complex interplay between stress stimuli and key factors regulating stomatal development may reveal key mechanisms that enhance plant resilience under adverse environmental conditions. Full article

Lychee (Lychee chinensis Sonn.) is a tropical fruit highly appreciated for its vivid red color, sweet flavor, and nutritional properties. However, it is highly perishable, with postharvest losses often due to oxidative browning and dehydration. This study evaluated the organic olive oil coating (OC), a natural lipidic system with the potential to act as a precursor for organogel development, combined with polyamide/polyethylene (PA/PE) packaging under passive modified atmosphere. Fruits were harvested at commercial maturity and divided into two groups: OC-treated and untreated control (CTR). Both groups were stored at 5 ± 1 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity and analyzed on days 0, 3, 6, and 9. The OC-treated fruits showed significantly better retention of physical, chemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities. The coating reduced oxidative stress and enzymatic browning, preserving color and firmness. The PA/PE packaging regulated gas exchange, lowering oxygen levels and delaying respiration and ripening. As a result, OC fruits had lower weight loss, a slower increase in browning index and maturity index, and better visual and sensory scores than the CTR group. This dual strategy proved effective in extending shelf life while maintaining the fruit’s appearance, flavor, and nutritional value. It represents a sustainable and natural approach to enhancing the postharvest stability of lychee. Full article

Soil salinization severely limits plant growth and productivity. Mulberry (Morus alba L.), an economically and ecologically important tree, is widely cultivated, yet its salt-tolerance mechanisms at the seedling stage remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical responses of two-year-old mulberry (‘Tailai Sang’) seedlings subjected to six NaCl treatments (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mmol L⁻¹) for 28 days. Results showed that growth parameters and photosynthetic gas exchange exhibited dose-dependent declines. The reduction in net photosynthetic rate (Pn) was attributed to both stomatal limitations (decreased stomatal conductance) and non-stomatal limitations, as evidenced by a significant decrease in the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) under high salinity. To cope with osmotic stress, seedlings accumulated compatible solutes, including soluble sugars, proteins, and proline. Critically, mulberry seedlings demonstrated effective ion homeostasis by sequestering Na⁺ in the roots to maintain a high K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in leaves, a mechanism that was compromised above 150 mmol L⁻¹. Concurrently, indicators of oxidative stress—malondialdehyde (MDA) and H₂O₂—rose significantly with salinity, inducing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, APX, and GR), which peaked at 150 mmol L⁻¹ before declining under extreme stress. A biomass-based LC₅₀ of 179 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl was determined. These findings elucidate that mulberry salt tolerance is a coordinated process involving three key mechanisms: osmotic adjustment, selective ion distribution, and a robust antioxidant defense system. This study establishes an indicative tolerance threshold under controlled conditions and provides a physiological basis for further field-based evaluations of ‘Tailai Sang’ mulberry for cultivation on saline soils. Full article

This study focuses on the exchange of mono- and divalent metal cations in FAU-type zeolite and their behavior in gas-phase CO₂ adsorption measurements and liquid-phase methylene blue (MB) adsorption in the absence of oxidizing agents under dark conditions. Firstly, zeolites exchanged with different cations were characterized by several techniques, such as XRD, SEM, XRF, XPS, and N₂ adsorption–desorption, to reveal the impact of the cations on the zeolite texture and structure. The adsorption studies revealed a positive effect of cation exchange on the adsorption capacity of the zeolite, particularly for silver-loaded FAU zeolite. In liquid-phase experiments, Ag-Y zeolite also demonstrated the highest MB removal, with a value of 79 mg/g. Kinetic studies highlighted that Ag-Y could reach the MB adsorption equilibrium within 1 h, with its highest rate of adsorption occurring during the first 5 min. In gas-phase adsorption studies, the highest CO₂ adsorption capacity was also achieved over Ag-Y, yielding 10.4 µmol/m² of CO₂ captured. Full article

Insulin resistance (IR), a core component in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is increasingly recognized for its role in cardiovascular and pulmonary complications. This review explores the relationship between IR, right ventricular dysfunction (RVD), and decreased lung volume in patients with T2DM. Emerging evidence suggests that IR contributes to early structural and functional alterations in the right ventricle, independent of overt cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms involved include oxidative stress, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and obesity—factors commonly found in metabolic syndrome and T2DM. These pathophysiological changes compromise right ventricular contractility, leading to reduced pulmonary perfusion and respiratory capacity. RVD has been associated with chronic lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea, all of which are prevalent in the diabetic population. As RVD progresses, it can result in impaired gas exchange, interstitial pulmonary edema, and exercise intolerance—highlighting the importance of early recognition and management. Therapeutic strategies should aim to improve insulin sensitivity and cardiac function through lifestyle interventions, pharmacological agents such as SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1/GIP analogs, and routine cardiac monitoring. These approaches may help slow the progression of RVD and its respiratory consequences. Considering the global burden of diabetes and obesity, and the growing incidence of related complications, further research is warranted to clarify the mechanisms linking IR, RVD, and respiratory dysfunction. Understanding this triad will be crucial for developing targeted interventions that improve outcomes and quality of life in affected patients. Full article

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is widely cultivated for its valuable medicinal, aromatic, and oil-rich seeds. However, drought stress remains one of the most significant abiotic factors influencing its development, physiological function, and overall output. This study investigates the potential of foliar applications of silicon (Si), Sargassum muticum (Yendo) Fensholt extracts (SWE), and their combination to enhance drought tolerance and mitigate stress-induced damage in sesame. Plants were grown under well-watered conditions (80% field capacity, FC) versus 40% FC (drought conditions) and were treated with foliar applications of 1 mM Si, 10% SWE, or both. The results showed that the majority of the tested parameters were significantly (p < 0.05) lowered by drought stress. However, the combined application of Si and SWE significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced plant performance under drought stress, leading to improved growth, biomass accumulation, water status, and physiological traits. Gas exchange, photosynthetic pigment content, and photosystem activity (PSI and PSII) all increased significantly when SWE were given alone; PSII was more significantly affected. In contrast, Si alone had a more pronounced impact on PSI activity. These findings suggest that Si and SWE, applied individually or in combination, can effectively alleviate drought stress’s negative impact on sesame, supporting their use as promising biostimulants for enhancing drought tolerance. Full article

The geometric design of flow channels in bipolar plates is one of the critical features of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), as it determines the power output of the fuel cell and has a significant impact on its performance and durability. The function of the bipolar plate is to guide the transfer of reactant gases to the gas diffusion layer and catalytic layer inside the PEMFC, while removing unreacted gases and gas–liquid byproducts. Therefore, the design of the bipolar plate flow channel is directly related to the water and thermal management of the PEMFC. In order to improve the comprehensive performance of PEMFCs and ensure their safe and stable operation, it is necessary to design the flow channels in bipolar plates rationally and effectively. This study addresses the limitations of existing bipolar plate flow channels by proposing a new coupling of serpentine and radial channels. The distribution of oxygen, water concentrations, and temperature inside the channel is simulated using the multi-physics simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics 6.0. The performance of this novel design is compared with conventional flow channels, with a particular focus on the pressure drop and current density to evaluate changes in the output performance of the PEMFC. The results show that the maximum current density of this novel design is increased by 67.36% and 10.43% compared to straight channel and single serpentine channels, respectively. The main contribution of this research is the innovative design of a new coupling of serpentine and radial channels in bipolar plates, which improves the overall performance of the PEMFC. This study provides theoretical support for the design of bipolar plate flow channels in PEMFCs and holds significant importance for the green development of energy. Full article

The development of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is characterized by extensive lung inflammation, which, in turn, leads to respiratory distress and a decline in blood oxygen levels. Hospital admission, along with intensive care or ventilator usage, becomes necessary because this condition leads to serious respiratory problems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms, diagnostic methods, and current therapeutic options for pneumonia caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The pathophysiological process of severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by direct lung damage from viral replication, an excessive immune system response, inflammation, impaired gas exchange, and multi-organ failure. The coexistence of various medical conditions leads to substantial lung impairment, resulting in hypoxia and respiratory failure, which can ultimately lead to fatal outcomes. The diagnosis of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is made through a combination of clinical, radiologic, and laboratory findings. A multifaceted approach integrating antiviral therapy, corticosteroids, oxygen supplementation, ventilatory management, and immunomodulation is imperative to control inflammation and enhance clinical outcomes. Early intervention, meticulous monitoring, and personalized care are paramount for enhancing survival and mitigating complications in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Full article

Massachusetts Bay in the northeastern United States is highly vulnerable to ocean acidification (OA) due to reduced buffering capacity from significant freshwater inputs. We hypothesize that acidification varies across temporal and spatial scales, with short-term variability driven by seasonal biological respiration, precipitation–evaporation balance, and river discharge, and long-term changes linked to global warming and river flux shifts. These patterns arise from complex nonlinear interactions between physical and biogeochemical processes. To investigate OA variability, we applied the Northeast Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Model (NeBEM), a fully coupled three-dimensional physical–biogeochemical system, to Massachusetts Bay and Boston Harbor. Numerical simulation was performed for 2016. Assimilating satellite-derived sea surface temperature and sea surface height improved NeBEM’s ability to reproduce observed seasonal and spatial variability in stratification, mixing, and circulation. The model accurately simulated seasonal changes in nutrients, chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, and pH. The model results suggest that nearshore areas were consistently more susceptible to OA, especially during winter and spring. Mechanistic analysis revealed contrasting processes between shallow inner and deeper outer bay waters. In the inner bay, partial pressure of pCO₂ (pCO₂) and aragonite saturation (Ω_a) were influenced by sea temperature, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and total alkalinity (TA). TA variability was driven by nitrification and denitrification, while DIC was shaped by advection and net community production (NCP). In the outer bay, pCO₂ was controlled by temperature and DIC, and Ω_a was primarily determined by DIC variability. TA changes were linked to NCP and nitrification–denitrification, with DIC also influenced by air–sea gas exchange. Full article

Alkaline electrolytic water hydrogen generation, a key driver in the growth of hydrogen energy, heavily relies on high-efficiency and high-purity ion exchange membranes. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) wrinkled reduced graphene oxide (WG) nanosheets obtained through a simple thermal reduction process and two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide act as building blocks, with ethylenediamine as a crosslinking stabilizer, to construct a unique 3D/2D 2 nm-tunneling structure between the GO and WG sheets through via an amide connection at a WG/GO ratio of 1:1. Here, the wrinkled graphene (WG) undergoes a transition from two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) into three-dimensional (3D) through the adjustment of surface energy. By increasing the interlayer spacing and the number of ion fluid channels within the membranes, the E-W/G membrane has achieved the rapid passage of hydroxide ions (OH⁻) and simultaneous isolation of produced gas molecules. Moreover, the dense 2 nm nano-tunneling structure in the electrolytic water process enables the E-W/G membrane to attain current densities >99.9% and an extremely low gas crossover rate of hydrogen and oxygen. This result suggests that the as-prepared membrane effectively restricts the unwanted crossover of gases between the anode and cathode compartments, leading to improved efficiency and reduced gas leakage during electrolysis. By enhancing the purity of the hydrogen production industry and facilitating the energy transition, our strategy holds great potential for realizing the widespread utilization of hydrogen energy. Full article

The Tree–Seed Algorithm (TSA) is a symmetry-driven metaheuristic algorithm that shows potential for complex optimization problems, but it suffers from local optimum entrapment and slow convergence. To address these limitations, we propose the ADTSA algorithm. First, ADTSA adopts a symmetry-driven dual-layer framework for seed generation, which promotes effective information exchange between subpopulations and accelerates convergence speed. In later iterations, ADTSA enhances the population’s exploitation ability through a population fusion mechanism, further improving the convergence speed. Moreover, we propose a historical optimal solution archiving and replacement mechanism, along with a t-distribution perturbation mechanism, to enhance the algorithm’s ability to escape local optima. ADTSA also strengthens population diversity and avoids local optima through convex lens symmetric reverse generation based on the optimal solution. With these mechanisms, ADTSA converges more effectively to the global optimum during the evolutionary process. Tests on the IEEE CEC 2014 benchmark functions showed that ADTSA outperformed several top-performing algorithms, such as LSHADE, JADE, LSHADE-RSP, and the latest TSA variants, and it also excelled in comparison with other optimization algorithms, including GWO, PSO, BOA, GA, and RSA, underscoring its robust performance across diverse testing scenarios. The proposed ADTSA’s applicability in solving complex constrained problems was also validated, with the results showing that ADTSA achieved the best solutions for these complex problems. Full article

The worldwide need for energy as well as environmental challenges have promoted the creation of sustainable power solutions. The combination of different working fluids is used for an organic Rankine cycle-powered vapor compression cycle (ORC-VCC) to deliver cooling applications. The selection of an appropriate working fluid significantly impacts system performance, efficiency, and environmental impact. The research evaluates possible working fluids to optimize the ORC-VCC system. Firstly, Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-derived models are used for exergy destruction ( E d t o t ) and heat exchanger total heat transfer capacity ( U A t o t ). Later on, multi-objective optimization was carried out using the acquired models for E d t o t and U A t o t using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) followed by the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The optimization results showcase Decane ORC-R600a VCC as the best candidate for the ORC-VCC system; the values of E d t o t and U A t o t were found to be 24.50 kW and 6.71 kW/K, respectively. The research data show how viable it is to implement biogas-driven ORC-VCC systems when providing air conditioning capabilities. Full article