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17 pages, 1768 KiB  
Article
Quality Status and Skin-Related Functional Properties of Traditional Korean Fermented Vinegars
by Hwan Hee Yu, So-Won Jang, Eungyeong Kim, Jong-Chan Kim and Mi Jang
Foods 2025, 14(15), 2728; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14152728 - 4 Aug 2025
Abstract
The correlation between fermented vinegar’s physicochemical properties and functional characteristics, particularly skin-related functionalities, remains unclear. We analyzed the quality of widely consumed Korean fermented vinegars, including grain and persimmon vinegars, and their correlation with skin-related functionalities to establish quality control criteria linked to [...] Read more.
The correlation between fermented vinegar’s physicochemical properties and functional characteristics, particularly skin-related functionalities, remains unclear. We analyzed the quality of widely consumed Korean fermented vinegars, including grain and persimmon vinegars, and their correlation with skin-related functionalities to establish quality control criteria linked to functional properties. Fifteen traditional Korean grain vinegars and fourteen persimmon vinegars were collected; distilled white vinegar was used as the control group. Grain vinegars showed 3.57–100.00% collagenase and 62.38–77.03% tyrosinase inhibition; persimmon vinegars showed 0.00–94.50% and 30.75–71.54%, respectively. To determine which quality characteristics are high in fermented vinegar with high skin-related functionality, a correlation analysis was conducted. In grain vinegar, total nitrogen and free amino acids were strongly associated with skin-related functionalities. In persimmon vinegar, organic acids, particularly lactic acid, were correlated with skin-related effects; thus, both demonstrated the importance of quality assessment. Insights into relationships between the composition and functional properties of fermented vinegar were gained. Specific quality markers for managing skin-related functionality of Korean fermented vinegar established a scientific basis for standardizing quality control, developing high-value functional vinegar products, and ensuring consistent product quality. Full article
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17 pages, 37081 KiB  
Article
MADet: A Multi-Dimensional Feature Fusion Model for Detecting Typical Defects in Weld Radiographs
by Shuai Xue, Wei Xu, Zhu Xiong, Jing Zhang and Yanyan Liang
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3646; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153646 (registering DOI) - 3 Aug 2025
Abstract
Accurate weld defect detection is critical for ensuring structural safety and evaluating welding quality in industrial applications. Manual inspection methods have inherent limitations, including inefficiency and inadequate sensitivity to subtle defects. Existing detection models, primarily designed for natural images, struggle to adapt to [...] Read more.
Accurate weld defect detection is critical for ensuring structural safety and evaluating welding quality in industrial applications. Manual inspection methods have inherent limitations, including inefficiency and inadequate sensitivity to subtle defects. Existing detection models, primarily designed for natural images, struggle to adapt to the characteristic challenges of weld X-ray images, such as high noise, low contrast, and inter-defect similarity, particularly leading to missed detections and false positives for small defects. To address these challenges, a multi-dimensional feature fusion model (MADet), which is a multi-branch deep fusion network for weld defect detection, was proposed. The framework incorporates two key innovations: (1) A multi-scale feature fusion network integrated with lightweight attention residual modules to enhance the perception of fine-grained defect features by leveraging low-level texture information. (2) An anchor-based feature-selective detection head was used to improve the discrimination and localization accuracy for five typical defect categories. Extensive experiments on both public and proprietary weld defect datasets demonstrated that MADet achieved significant improvements over the state-of-the-art YOLO variants. Specifically, it surpassed the suboptimal model by 7.41% in mAP@0.5, indicating strong industrial applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Manufacturing Processes and Systems)
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12 pages, 3794 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Energy Storage Properties of Ba0.96Ca0.04TiO3 Ceramics Through Doping Bi(Li1/3Zr2/3)O3
by Zhiwei Li, Dandan Zhu, Xuqiang Ding, Lingling Cui and Junlong Wang
Coatings 2025, 15(8), 906; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15080906 (registering DOI) - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 50
Abstract
The (1−x)Ba0.96Ca0.04TiO3−xBi(Li1/3Zr2/3)O3 (x = 0.03–0.15) ceramics were fabricated via the traditional solid reaction method. Characterization results revealed that each component exhibited a pure perovskite structure, and the average grain size significantly diminishes [...] Read more.
The (1−x)Ba0.96Ca0.04TiO3−xBi(Li1/3Zr2/3)O3 (x = 0.03–0.15) ceramics were fabricated via the traditional solid reaction method. Characterization results revealed that each component exhibited a pure perovskite structure, and the average grain size significantly diminishes with increasing x. The (1−x)Ba0.96Ca0.04TiO3−xBi(Li1/3Zr2/3)O3 ceramics exhibited prominent relaxor ferroelectric behavior, whose characteristic narrow hysteresis loops effectively enhanced the energy storage performance of the material. Most importantly, the composition with x = 0.10 demonstrated exceptional energy storage properties at 150 kV/cm, achieving a high recoverable energy storage density (Wrec = 1.91 J/cm3) and excellent energy efficiency (η = 90.87%). Under the equivalent electric field, this composition also displayed a superior pulsed discharge performance, including a high current density (871 A/cm2), a high power density (67.3 MW/cm3), an ultrafast discharge time (t0.9 = 109 ns), and a discharged energy density of 1.47 J/cm3. These results demonstrate that the (1−x)Ba0.96Ca0.04TiO3−xBi(Li1/3Zr2/3)O3 ceramic system establishes a promising design paradigm for the creation and refinement of next-generation dielectrics for pulse power applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ceramic Coatings and Engineering Technology)
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20 pages, 4847 KiB  
Article
FCA-STNet: Spatiotemporal Growth Prediction and Phenotype Extraction from Image Sequences for Cotton Seedlings
by Yiping Wan, Bo Han, Pengyu Chu, Qiang Guo and Jingjing Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2394; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152394 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 127
Abstract
To address the limitations of the existing cotton seedling growth prediction methods in field environments, specifically, poor representation of spatiotemporal features and low visual fidelity in texture rendering, this paper proposes an algorithm for the prediction of cotton seedling growth from images based [...] Read more.
To address the limitations of the existing cotton seedling growth prediction methods in field environments, specifically, poor representation of spatiotemporal features and low visual fidelity in texture rendering, this paper proposes an algorithm for the prediction of cotton seedling growth from images based on FCA-STNet. The model leverages historical sequences of cotton seedling RGB images to generate an image of the predicted growth at time t + 1 and extracts 37 phenotypic traits from the predicted image. A novel STNet structure is designed to enhance the representation of spatiotemporal dependencies, while an Adaptive Fine-Grained Channel Attention (FCA) module is integrated to capture both global and local feature information. This attention mechanism focuses on individual cotton plants and their textural characteristics, effectively reducing the interference from common field-related challenges such as insufficient lighting, leaf fluttering, and wind disturbances. The experimental results demonstrate that the predicted images achieved an MSE of 0.0086, MAE of 0.0321, SSIM of 0.8339, and PSNR of 20.7011 on the test set, representing improvements of 2.27%, 0.31%, 4.73%, and 11.20%, respectively, over the baseline STNet. The method outperforms several mainstream spatiotemporal prediction models. Furthermore, the majority of the predicted phenotypic traits exhibited correlations with actual measurements with coefficients above 0.8, indicating high prediction accuracy. The proposed FCA-STNet model enables visually realistic prediction of cotton seedling growth in open-field conditions, offering a new perspective for research in growth prediction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Artificial Intelligence for Plant Research)
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18 pages, 4185 KiB  
Article
Morphology-Based Evaluation of Pollen Fertility and Storage Characteristics in Male Actinidia arguta Germplasm
by Hongyan Qin, Shutian Fan, Ying Zhao, Peilei Xu, Xiuling Chen, Jiaqi Li, Yiming Yang, Yanli Wang, Yue Wang, Changyu Li, Yingxue Liu, Baoxiang Zhang and Wenpeng Lu
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2366; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152366 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 160
Abstract
Actinidia arguta is a dioecious plant, and the selection of superior male germplasm is crucial for ensuring effective pollination of female cultivars, maximizing their economic traits, and achieving high-quality yields. This study evaluated 30 male germplasms for pollen quantity, germination capacity, storage characteristics, [...] Read more.
Actinidia arguta is a dioecious plant, and the selection of superior male germplasm is crucial for ensuring effective pollination of female cultivars, maximizing their economic traits, and achieving high-quality yields. This study evaluated 30 male germplasms for pollen quantity, germination capacity, storage characteristics, and ultrastructural features. Results revealed significant variation in pollen germination rates (1.56–96.57%) among germplasms, with ‘Lvwang’, ‘TL20083’, and ‘TG06023’ performing best (all >90% germination). The storage characteristics study demonstrated that −80 °C is the optimal temperature for long-term pollen storage in A. arguta. Significant variations were observed in storage tolerance among different germplasms. Among them, Lvwang exhibited the best performance, maintaining a germination rate of 97.40% after 12 months of storage at −80 °C with no significant difference from the initial value, followed by TT07063. Pollen morphology was closely correlated with fertility. High-fertility pollen grains typically exhibited standard prolate or ultra-prolate shapes, featuring a tri-lobed polar view and an elliptical equatorial view, with neat germination furrows and clean surfaces. In contrast, low-fertility pollen grains frequently appeared shrunken and deformed, with widened germination furrows and visible exudates. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are proposed: ① Prioritize the use of germplasms with pollen germination rates >80% as pollinizers; ② Establish a rapid screening system based on pollen morphological characteristics. This study provides important scientific basis for both male germplasm selection and efficient cultivation practices in A. arguta (kiwiberry). Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Development and Morphogenesis)
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19 pages, 5843 KiB  
Article
Microstructure Evolution in Homogenization Heat Treatment of Inconel 718 Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
by Fang Zhang, Yifu Shen and Haiou Yang
Metals 2025, 15(8), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/met15080859 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 91
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the homogenization-induced Laves phase dissolution kinetics and recrystallization mechanisms in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processed IN718 superalloy. The as-built material exhibits a characteristic fine dendritic microstructure with interdendritic Laves phase segregation and high dislocation density, featuring directional sub-grain [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates the homogenization-induced Laves phase dissolution kinetics and recrystallization mechanisms in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processed IN718 superalloy. The as-built material exhibits a characteristic fine dendritic microstructure with interdendritic Laves phase segregation and high dislocation density, featuring directional sub-grain boundaries aligned with the build direction. Laves phase dissolution demonstrates dual-stage kinetics: initial rapid dissolution (0–15 min) governed by bulk atomic diffusion, followed by interface reaction-controlled deceleration (15–60 min) after 1 h at 1150 °C. Complete dissolution of the Laves phase is achieved after 3.7 h at 1150 °C. Recrystallization initiates preferentially at serrated grain boundaries through boundary bulging mechanisms, driven by localized orientation gradients and stored energy differentials. Grain growth kinetics obey a fourth-power time dependence, confirming Ostwald ripening-controlled boundary migration via grain boundary diffusion. Such a study is expected to be helpful in understanding the microstructural development of L-PBF-built IN718 under heat treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Additive Manufacturing)
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16 pages, 494 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Yield and Grain-Filling Characteristics of Conventional Rice with Different Panicle Types in Response to Nitrogen Fertilization
by Nianbing Zhou, Tong Sun, Yanhong Zhang, Qiang Shi, Yu Zhou, Qiangqiang Xiong, Jinlong Hu, Shuai Wang and Jinyan Zhu
Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081858 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 164
Abstract
This study investigated the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization on the yield and grain filling (GF) characteristics of two conventional japonica rice varieties with distinct panicle types: Yangchan 3501 (large-panicle: spikelets per panicle > 150) and Nangeng 46 (medium-panicle: [...] Read more.
This study investigated the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization on the yield and grain filling (GF) characteristics of two conventional japonica rice varieties with distinct panicle types: Yangchan 3501 (large-panicle: spikelets per panicle > 150) and Nangeng 46 (medium-panicle: 100 < spikelets per panicle < 150). Field experiments were conducted over two growing seasons (2022–2023) with three N application rates (T1: 225 kg ha−1, T2: 270 kg ha−1, T3: 315 kg ha−1). Key measurements included tiller dynamics, panicle composition, GF parameters modeled using the Richards equation, and enzyme activities related to nitrogen metabolism (Fd-GOGAT, NR) and carbohydrate transport (α-amylase, SPS). Results showed that the yield increased with higher N levels for both varieties, with Yangchan 3501 achieving higher yields primarily through increased grains per panicle (15.65% rise under T3 vs. T1), while Nangeng 46 relied on panicle number (8.83% increase under T3 vs. T1). Nitrogen application enhanced Fd-GOGAT and NR activities, prolonging photosynthesis and improving GF rates, particularly in the inferior grains of Yangchan 3501 during middle and late stages. However, a high N reduced seed-setting rates and 1000-grain weight, with larger panicle types exhibiting a greater sensitivity to N-induced changes in branch structure and assimilate allocation. This study highlights that optimizing N management can improve nitrogen-metabolism enzyme activity and GF efficiency, especially in large-panicle rice, while medium-panicle types require higher N inputs to maximize panicle number. These findings provide actionable insights for achieving high yields and efficient nutrient use in conventional rice cultivation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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26 pages, 8845 KiB  
Article
Occurrence State and Genesis of Large Particle Marcasite in a Thick Coal Seam of the Zhundong Coalfield in Xinjiang
by Xue Wu, Ning Lü, Shuo Feng, Wenfeng Wang, Jijun Tian, Xin Li and Hayerhan Xadethan
Minerals 2025, 15(8), 816; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080816 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 157
Abstract
The Junggar Basin contains a large amount of coal resources and is an important coal production base in China. The coal seam in Zhundong coalfield has a large single-layer thickness and high content of inertinite, but large particle Fe-sulphide minerals are associated with [...] Read more.
The Junggar Basin contains a large amount of coal resources and is an important coal production base in China. The coal seam in Zhundong coalfield has a large single-layer thickness and high content of inertinite, but large particle Fe-sulphide minerals are associated with coal seams in some mining areas. A series of economic and environmental problems caused by the combustion of large-grained Fe-sulphide minerals in coal have seriously affected the economic, clean and efficient utilization of coal. In this paper, the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation in the Yihua open-pit mine of the Zhundong coalfield is taken as the research object. Through the analysis of coal quality, X-ray fluorescence spectrometer test of major elements in coal, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry test of trace elements, SEM-Raman identification of Fe-sulphide minerals in coal and LA-MC-ICP-MS test of sulfur isotope of marcasite, the coal quality characteristics, main and trace element characteristics, macro and micro occurrence characteristics of Fe-sulphide minerals and sulfur isotope characteristics of marcasite in the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation are tested. On this basis, the occurrence state and genesis of large particle Fe-sulphide minerals in the ultra-thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation are clarified. The main results and understandings are as follows: (1) the occurrence state of Fe-sulphide minerals in extremely thick coal seams is clarified. The Fe-sulphide minerals in the extremely thick coal seam are mainly marcasite, and concentrated in the YH-2, YH-3, YH-8, YH-9, YH-14, YH-15 and YH-16 horizons. Macroscopically, Fe-sulphide minerals mainly occur in three forms: thin film Fe-sulphide minerals, nodular Fe-sulphide minerals, and disseminated Fe-sulphide minerals. Microscopically, they mainly occur in four forms: flake, block, spearhead, and crack filling. (2) The difference in sulfur isotope of marcasite was discussed, and the formation period of marcasite was preliminarily divided. The overall variation range of the δ34S value of marcasite is wide, and the extreme values are quite different. The polyflake marcasite was formed in the early stage of diagenesis and the δ34S value was negative, while the fissure filling marcasite was formed in the late stage of diagenesis and the δ34S value was positive. (3) The coal quality characteristics of the thick coal seam were analyzed. The organic components in the thick coal seam are mainly inertinite, and the inorganic components are mainly clay minerals and marcasite. (4) The difference between the element content in the thick coal seam of the Zhundong coalfield and the average element content of Chinese coal was compared. The major element oxides in the thick coal seam are mainly CaO and MgO, followed by SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3 and Na2O. Li, Ga, Ba, U and Th are enriched in trace elements. (5) The coal-accumulating environment characteristics of the extremely thick coal seam are revealed. The whole thick coal seam is formed in an acidic oxidation environment, and the horizon with Fe-sulphide minerals is in an acidic reduction environment. The acidic reduction environment is conducive to the formation of marcasite and is not conducive to the formation of pyrite. (6) There are many matrix vitrinite, inertinite content, clay content, and terrigenous debris in the extremely thick coal seam. The good supply of peat swamp, suitable reduction environment and pH value, as well as groundwater leaching and infiltration, together cause the occurrence of large-grained Fe-sulphide minerals in the extremely thick coal seam of the Xishanyao formation in the Zhundong coalfield. Full article
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22 pages, 9293 KiB  
Article
Thermal Stability of the Ultra-Fine-Grained Structure and Mechanical Properties of AlSi7MgCu0.5 Alloy Processed by Equal Channel Angular Pressing at Room Temperature
by Miloš Matvija, Martin Fujda, Ondrej Milkovič, Marek Vojtko and Katarína Gáborová
Crystals 2025, 15(8), 701; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15080701 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 122
Abstract
Understanding the limitations of cold-formed aluminum alloys in practice applications is essential, particularly due to the risk of substructural changes and a reduction in strength when exposed to elevated temperatures. In this study, the thermal stability of the ultra-fine-grained (UFG) structure formed by [...] Read more.
Understanding the limitations of cold-formed aluminum alloys in practice applications is essential, particularly due to the risk of substructural changes and a reduction in strength when exposed to elevated temperatures. In this study, the thermal stability of the ultra-fine-grained (UFG) structure formed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at room temperature and the mechanical properties of the AlSi7MgCu0.5 alloy were investigated. Prior to ECAP, the plasticity of the as-cast alloy was enhanced by a heat treatment consisting of solution annealing, quenching, and artificial aging to achieve an overaged state. Four repetitive passes via ECAP route A resulted in the homogenization of eutectic Si particles within the α-solid solution, the formation of ultra-fine grains and/or subgrains with high dislocation density, and a significant improvement in alloy strength due to strain hardening. The main objective of this work was to assess the microstructural and mechanical stability of the alloy after post-ECAP annealing in the temperature range of 373–573 K. The UFG microstructure was found to be thermally stable up to 523 K, above which notable grain and/or subgrain coarsening occurred as a result of discontinuous recrystallization of the solid solution. Mechanical properties remained stable up to 423 K; above this temperature, a considerable decrease in strength and a simultaneous increase in ductility were observed. Synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to analyze the phase composition and crystallographic characteristics, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to investigate substructural evolution. Mechanical properties were evaluated through tensile testing, impact toughness testing, and hardness measurements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of International Crystallography)
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27 pages, 7810 KiB  
Article
Mutation Interval-Based Segment-Level SRDet: Side Road Detection Based on Crowdsourced Trajectory Data
by Ying Luo, Fengwei Jiao, Longgang Xiang, Xin Chen and Meng Wang
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2025, 14(8), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi14080299 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 180
Abstract
Accurate side road detection is essential for traffic management, urban planning, and vehicle navigation. However, existing research mainly focuses on road network construction, lane extraction, and intersection identification, while fine-grained side road detection remains underexplored. Therefore, this study proposes a road segment-level side [...] Read more.
Accurate side road detection is essential for traffic management, urban planning, and vehicle navigation. However, existing research mainly focuses on road network construction, lane extraction, and intersection identification, while fine-grained side road detection remains underexplored. Therefore, this study proposes a road segment-level side road detection method based on crowdsourced trajectory data: First, considering the geometric and dynamic characteristics of trajectories, SRDet introduces a trajectory lane-change pattern recognition method based on mutation intervals to distinguish the heterogeneity of lane-change behaviors between main and side roads. Secondly, combining geometric features with spatial statistical theory, SRDet constructs multimodal features for trajectories and road segments, and proposes a potential side road segment classification model based on random forests to achieve precise detection of side road segments. Finally, based on mutation intervals and potential side road segments, SRDet utilizes density peak clustering to identify main and side road access points, completing the fitting of side roads. Experiments were conducted using 2021 Beijing trajectory data. The results show that SRDet achieves precision and recall rates of 84.6% and 86.8%, respectively. This demonstrates the superior performance of SRDet in side road detection across different areas, providing support for the precise updating of urban road navigation information. Full article
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22 pages, 6820 KiB  
Article
Bathymetric Profile and Sediment Composition of a Dynamic Subtidal Bedform Habitat for Pacific Sand Lance
by Matthew R. Baker, H. G. Greene, John Aschoff, Michelle Hoge, Elisa Aitoro, Shaila Childers, Junzhe Liu and Jan A. Newton
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(8), 1469; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13081469 - 31 Jul 2025
Viewed by 292
Abstract
The eastern North Pacific Ocean coastline (from the Salish Sea to the western Aleutian Islands) is highly glaciated with relic sediment deposits scattered throughout a highly contoured and variable bathymetry. Oceanographic conditions feature strong currents and tidal exchange. Sand wave fields are prominent [...] Read more.
The eastern North Pacific Ocean coastline (from the Salish Sea to the western Aleutian Islands) is highly glaciated with relic sediment deposits scattered throughout a highly contoured and variable bathymetry. Oceanographic conditions feature strong currents and tidal exchange. Sand wave fields are prominent features within these glaciated shorelines and provide critical habitat to sand lance (Ammodytes spp.). Despite an awareness of the importance of these benthic habitats, attributes related to their structure and characteristics remain undocumented. We explored the micro-bathymetric morphology of a subtidal sand wave field known to be a consistent habitat for sand lance. We calculated geomorphic attributes of the bedform habitat, analyzed sediment composition, and measured oceanographic properties of the associated water column. This feature has a streamlined teardrop form, tapered in the direction of the predominant tidal current. Consistent flow paths along the long axis contribute to well-defined and maintained bedform morphology and margin. Distinct patterns in amplitude and period of sand waves were documented. Strong tidal exchange has resulted in well-sorted medium-to-coarse-grained sediments with coarser sediments, including gravel and cobble, within wave troughs. Extensive mixing related to tidal currents results in a highly oxygenated water column, even to depths of 80 m. Our analysis provides unique insights into the physical characteristics that define high-quality habitat for these fish. Further work is needed to identify, enumerate, and map the presence and relative quality of these benthic habitats and to characterize the oceanographic properties that maintain these benthic habitats over time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamics of Marine Sedimentary Basin)
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32 pages, 1971 KiB  
Review
Research Progress in the Detection of Mycotoxins in Cereals and Their Products by Vibrational Spectroscopy
by Jihong Deng, Mingxing Zhao and Hui Jiang
Foods 2025, 14(15), 2688; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14152688 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 139
Abstract
Grains and their derivatives play a crucial role as staple foods for the global population. Identifying grains in the food chain that are free from mycotoxin contamination is essential. Researchers have explored various traditional detection methods to address this concern. However, as grain [...] Read more.
Grains and their derivatives play a crucial role as staple foods for the global population. Identifying grains in the food chain that are free from mycotoxin contamination is essential. Researchers have explored various traditional detection methods to address this concern. However, as grain consumption becomes increasingly time-sensitive and dynamic, traditional approaches face growing limitations. In recent years, emerging techniques—particularly molecular-based vibrational spectroscopy methods such as visible–near-infrared (Vis–NIR), near-infrared (NIR), Raman, mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging (HSI)—have been applied to assess fungal contamination in grains and their products. This review summarizes research advances and applications of vibrational spectroscopy in detecting mycotoxins in grains from 2019 to 2025. The fundamentals of their work, information acquisition characteristics and their applicability in food matrices were outlined. The findings indicate that vibrational spectroscopy techniques can serve as valuable tools for identifying fungal contamination risks during the production, transportation, and storage of grains and related products, with each technique suited to specific applications. Given the close link between grain-based foods and humans, future efforts should further enhance the practicality of vibrational spectroscopy by simultaneously optimizing spectral analysis strategies across multiple aspects, including chemometrics, model transfer, and data-driven artificial intelligence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
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13 pages, 7189 KiB  
Communication
Influence of Fission Product Distribution in Medium-Burnup UO2 Fuel on Cracking Behavior
by Dongsheng Xie, Chuanbao Tang, Tong Fu, Jiaxuan Si, Changqing Teng and Lu Wu
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3571; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153571 - 30 Jul 2025
Viewed by 187
Abstract
This investigation employs focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques to systematically analyze the distribution characteristics of fission products in medium-burnup (40.6 GWd/tU) UO2 fuel and their impact on fuel cracking behavior. The findings indicate that grain boundary embrittlement [...] Read more.
This investigation employs focused ion beam (FIB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques to systematically analyze the distribution characteristics of fission products in medium-burnup (40.6 GWd/tU) UO2 fuel and their impact on fuel cracking behavior. The findings indicate that grain boundary embrittlement is predominantly attributed to the accumulation of spherical particles of solid fission products, including Mo, Ru, Rh, and Pd, which preferentially segregate around impurity particles, leading to localized stress concentration. Intragranular cracks are associated with the strip-like segregation of fission elements and the amorphization process. It also reveals that the size and number density of intragranular Xe bubbles are ~6.24 ± 0.24 nm and 5.2 × 1022 m−3, respectively, while Xe did not, under the analyzed conditions, significantly influence crack nucleation. This research elucidates the correlation mechanism between fission product distribution and fuel cracking behavior at medium burn up, offering experimental evidence to enhance the reliability and safety of nuclear fuel assemblies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Key Materials in Nuclear Reactors)
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22 pages, 5743 KiB  
Article
Effect of Grain Boundary Characteristics on Mechanical Properties and Irradiation Response in 3C-SiC: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study
by Wenying Liu, Fugen Deng, Jiajie Yu, Lin Chen, Yuyang Zhou, Yulu Zhou and Yifang Ouyang
Materials 2025, 18(15), 3545; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18153545 - 29 Jul 2025
Viewed by 209
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on the energetics, mechanical properties, and irradiation response of seventy-three 3C-SiC symmetric tilt grain boundaries (STGBs) with three tilt axes (<100>, <110> and <111>). The effect of GB characteristics on the STGB properties has been investigated. [...] Read more.
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been performed on the energetics, mechanical properties, and irradiation response of seventy-three 3C-SiC symmetric tilt grain boundaries (STGBs) with three tilt axes (<100>, <110> and <111>). The effect of GB characteristics on the STGB properties has been investigated. The GB energy is positively and linearly correlated with the excess volume, but the linearity in SiC is not as good as in metals, which stems from the inhomogeneous structural relaxation near GBs induced by orientation-sensitive covalent bonding. For <110>STGBs, the shear strength exhibits symmetry with respect to the misorientation angle of 90°, which is consistent with ab initio calculations for Al in similar shear orientations. Cascades are performed with 8 keV silicon as the primary knock-on atom (PKA). No direct correlation is found between the sink efficiency of GBs for defects and GB characteristics, which comes from the complexity of the diatomic system during the recovery phase. For GBs with smaller values of Σ, the GBs exhibit a weaker blocking effect on the penetration of irradiated defects, resulting in a lower number of defects in GBs and a higher number of total surviving defects. In particular, it is seen that the percentage decrease in tensile strength after irradiation is positively correlated with the Σ value. Taken together, these results help to elucidate the impact of GB behavior on the mechanical properties of as well as the primary irradiation damage in SiC and provide a reference for creating improved materials through GB engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Materials Simulation and Design)
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24 pages, 18761 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Recipe Modification and the Technological Method on the Properties of Multigrain Snack Bars
by Hanna Kowalska, Ewelina Masiarz, Elżbieta Hać-Szymańczuk, Anna Żbikowska, Agata Marzec, Agnieszka Salamon, Mariola Kozłowska, Anna Ignaczak, Małgorzata Chobot, Wioletta Sobocińska and Jolanta Kowalska
Molecules 2025, 30(15), 3160; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30153160 - 29 Jul 2025
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Abstract
This study aimed to assess the use of selected raw materials, such as whole-grain oat flakes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds, to obtain bars using baking and drying methods. Modifying the bars’ composition involved selecting the fibre preparation, replacing water with NFC [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess the use of selected raw materials, such as whole-grain oat flakes, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds, to obtain bars using baking and drying methods. Modifying the bars’ composition involved selecting the fibre preparation, replacing water with NFC juice, and using fresh apple juice and apple pomace. The Psyllium fibre preparation, also in the form of a mixture with apple fibre, was the most useful in dough cohesion and the quality of the bars. Baked bars were characterised by higher sensory quality than those obtained by drying. Microwave–convection drying was a good alternative to baking, primarily due to the lower temperature resulting in a lower acrylamide content and comparable product quality. The basic grain ingredients and fibre preparations mainly shaped the nutritional and energy value and the sensory and microbiological quality. Modifying the recipe using NFC or fresh juice and apple pomace allowed the bars to develop new properties and quality characteristics. The use of NFC juices resulted in a reduction in the pH of the bars, which is associated with a higher microbiological quality of the bars. All bars had low acrylamide content, significantly lower than the permissible level. Using fresh pomace or fibre preparations made from by-products is a possibility to increase the fibre content in the bars and a method of managing by-products. Full article
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