Search Results (632)

Dioctyl adipate (DOA) and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) are widely used cold-resistance plasticizers; however, their low molecular weight and weak polarity result in poor thermal stability and migration resistance. Here, we report the synthesis and performance of bio-based cold-resistance plasticizers derived from trans-aconitic acid with enhanced migration resistance. Tri-n-butyl trans-aconitate (TBTA), tri-n-hexyl trans-aconitate (THTA), and tri-n-octyl trans-aconitate (TOTA) were synthesized via one-step esterification with aliphatic alcohols and applied in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC). Compared with commercial plasticizers di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), tributyl citrate (TBC) and DOA, the synthesized plasticizers demonstrated excellent thermal stability and cold-resistance. After freezing treatment, the $T_g$ values of TBTA/PVC (18.99 °C) and THTA/PVC (20.88 °C) were lower than those of DEHP/PVC (22.74 °C). The branched architecture was supposed to strengthen interactions between plasticizers and PVC, improving volatility resistance and solvent extraction resistance. Compared with DOA/PVC at 48 h, TBTA/PVC, THTA/PVC and TOTA/PVC displayed volatility mass loss reduction of ~1.5%, 4% and 7%, respectively. Their extraction mass loss in ethanol decreased by 5–6%, while in petroleum ether, TBTA/PVC and TOTA/PVC dropped by 11.95% and 2.63%, respectively. These bio-based plasticizers are promising alternatives to the poor migration resistance of conventional low-temperature plasticizers. Full article

Accurate thermal management is crucial for ensuring the safety, longevity, and performance of lithium-ion batteries, especially in compact embedded systems like USB chargers, power banks, and IoT nodes. Despite extensive research on predictive thermal models and intelligent control frameworks, their implementation in resource-constrained microcontroller-class devices has been limited. Existing strategies in the literature, such as threshold-based or PID logic, cloud-enabled analytics, machine learning models, and observer-based estimators, are often reactive, computationally intensive, or dependent on external infrastructure, making them unsuitable for low-power, standalone applications. This study introduces a novel Scalable Embedded Thermal Intelligence architecture designed for real-time battery thermal regulation in locally executable, without cloud dependency, low-cost platforms. Unlike conventional methods, the proposed system operates entirely on-device using closed-form models implemented on an ESP32 microcontroller. It combines two synergistic algorithms: a static preemptive model that calculates a safe C-rate at startup based solely on ambient and initial battery temperature, and a dynamic disturbance-aware model that monitors temperature rise per SOC step and adjusts airflow or current adaptively without requiring high memory, floating-point units, or supervisory control. The architecture achieves sub-second response times, <7% RAM, and <25% Flash usage, and does not need cloud connectivity, simulation backend, or complex thermal-management infrastructures such as liquid cooling circuits, phase-change systems, or cloud-supervised architectures. The significant contribution of this work is not the introduction of a new electrochemical–thermal formulation, but the effective integration and application of previously validated closed-form thermal predictors on low-cost microcontroller-class hardware, designed for anticipatory battery thermal regulation while adhering to strict computational limitations. Compared to traditional battery thermal management systems using PCM, liquid-cooling circuits, or cloud-based predictive estimators, the proposed approach eliminates the need for complex thermal hardware, fluidic systems, external computing infrastructure and resource-efficient edge operation. This makes the system suitable for deployment in real-world embedded applications like USB-C smart charging cables, compact IoT power banks, and portable medical devices, where form factors, energy efficiency, and cost are critical. The proposed SETI framework offers a firmware-integrated architecture and a firmware-integrated solution that provides a lightweight embedded alternative for predictive thermal regulation for distributed energy systems and miniaturized electronics. Full article

Bolting time is a pivotal agronomic trait that determines the yield and commercial quality of Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis var. utilis. To investigate the molecular basis of early bolting, an early-bolting line ‘m662’ and a late-bolting line ‘t151’ were used in this study. Phenotypic evaluation combined with shoot apical meristem (SAM) observation showed that 10 days of low-temperature vernalization markedly accelerated bolting in ‘t151’. Subsequently, SAM samples from ‘m662’, non-vernalized ‘t151’, and 10-day vernalized ‘V10-t151’ were collected at five developmental stages (7, 10, 13, 16, and 19 d after transplanting) for transcriptome sequencing. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that key module genes related to gibberellin signaling were specifically enriched in ‘m662’ before bolting, whereas those in the middle and late bolting stages were enriched in hormone response, cell cycle regulation, and floral organ development. In ‘t151’, hub genes detected at 7–13 d included three paralogs of the floral integrator gene SOC1 and BraA06.FPF1. BrSOC1 (BraA03g024230.4C) was significantly upregulated in response to vernalization. DEGs identified during the late developmental stage (16–19 d) included genes involved in transmembrane transport processes, flower development, reproductive shoot system development. Expression analysis across the three materials showed that vernalization accelerated bolting in ‘t151’ by repressing BrFLC expression and promoting BrSOC1 expression. This study elucidates the dynamic transcriptomic network underlying early bolting in non-heading Chinese cabbage, providing key functional genes and mechanistic insights for bolting regulation and molecular breeding. Full article

‘Jinyan’ is an interspecific hybrid kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha × A. chinensis). It is a large, yellow-fleshed fruit with good taste and long storage potential. It is commonly referenced that storage potential is linked to the harvest maturity of the fruit and the subsequent temperature management. Hence, the findings from research covering the maturation, storage temperatures, ripening, and quality of ‘Jinyan’ fruit from the same orchard across three seasons have been evaluated with an overall objective of defining harvest and storage criteria for ‘Jinyan’ fruit. Good postharvest performance includes fruit not becoming too soft too soon in storage and retaining firmness at shelf temperatures. It was confirmed that harvest maturity is critical to the good storage performance of ‘Jinyan’ kiwifruit. Harvest time significantly affected fruit softening during cold storage, and treatment with the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene slightly delayed fruit softening. Harvesting much before 180 days after full bloom, or at <9% soluble solids content (SSC), resulted in high incidences of chilling injury (41.8–52.0% after 24 weeks of cold storage at 1 °C + 7 d at 20 °C). These chill-damaged, early-harvested fruits also had a high incidence of rot. Leaving the fruit on the vine much after this threshold reduced chilling injury, but increased the risk of rot on otherwise sound fruit (total rot incidence ranging from 25.9% to 89.0% depending on maturity at harvest). As well as chilling risk, early-harvested fruit may reduce the consumer’s liking of the fruit because of a reduced ripe fruit SSC (rSSC). Consumer liking may also be reduced for long-stored fruit in years of low fruit dry matter content. The impact of low rSSC on consumer liking and the presence of any threshold values requires confirmation. These findings define a clear indication of when fruit should be harvested for long storage, whilst minimizing the risk of disorders. Full article

Mashed potatoes (MP) are widely consumed starch-based foods. However, their shelf life is limited by starch retrogradation during low-temperature storage, which causes texture hardening, water exudation, and sensory deterioration. Although natural polysaccharides can modulate starch properties, the specific anti-retrogradation effect of soluble arabinoxylan (AX) in complex MP matrices remains unknown. In this study, the effects of AX on the physicochemical and sensory qualities of MP during 7 d of storage at 4 °C were comprehensively investigated. Results demonstrated that AX significantly reduced the rheological moduli (i.e., G′ and G″ values) and hardness of stored MP. Additionally, LF-NMR, XRD, FTIR and SEM analyses, together with water holding capacity (WHC) measurement, revealed that AX improved water retention and restricted water mobility of the system, delayed starch recrystallization, inhibited the formation of short-range ordered structures, and physically disrupted the starch microstructure, thereby attenuating the overall starch retrogradation process. Moreover, the addition of AX helped maintain the sensory appeal of the products. These findings suggest that AX modulates the structural evolution of the starch matrix during storage. This distinguishes the present work from conventional hydrocolloid studies by demonstrating that AX can simultaneously inhibit starch retrogradation, stabilize color, and maintain soft texture. This work highlights the potential of AX as a clean-label multifunctional modifier to extend the shelf life of starchy convenience foods. Full article

Mg–Y–Zn alloys have attracted considerable attention for lightweight structural applications; however, the influence of extrusion temperature on microstructural evolution and the underlying mechanisms governing strength–ductility synergy remains insufficiently understood. In this study, a novel YZG921 (Mg–9Y–1.8Zn–1.2Gd–0.5Zr–0.3Ca, wt.%) alloy was fabricated by hot extrusion at temperatures ranging from 480 to 520 °C. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and deformation behavior were systematically investigated using SEM, TEM, EBSD, in situ EBSD, and slip-trace analysis. The results show that extrusion temperature significantly affects the evolution of secondary phases, grain size, and texture intensity. At 500 °C, an 18R-LPSO phase was formed, accompanied by a more homogeneous distribution of secondary phases and the finest grain structure (~3.8 μm), whereas the average grain size remained close to 10 μm for the alloys extruded at 480 °C and 520 °C. Meanwhile, the maximum basal texture intensity decreased from 4.16 to 4.79 m.r.d. to 2.18–2.58 m.r.d. Mechanical testing revealed that the alloy extruded at 500 °C exhibited the optimum strength–ductility balance, with an ultimate tensile strength of 498.4 MPa and an elongation of 13.8%. In situ EBSD analysis showed that the fraction of low-angle grain boundaries increased from ~7% to 43% during tensile deformation, while the average KAM value increased from ~0.5° to 0.88°. Slip-trace analysis further demonstrated that plastic deformation was predominantly governed by basal slip, accounting for approximately 84.2% of the activated slip systems. The superior mechanical performance achieved at 500 °C is attributed to the synergistic effects of grain refinement, LPSO and second-phase strengthening, texture weakening, and sustained strain hardening. These findings provide insights into microstructure–property relationships and offer guidance for the optimization of thermomechanical processing parameters in Mg–Y–Zn alloys. Full article

The removal of heavy oil under low-temperature conditions is a significant global challenge. This study aimed to assess the long-term whole-cell biocatalytic degradation of heavy oil in water and soil by bacteria isolated from contaminated soil in Muroran, Japan, under cold conditions. Enrichment cultures using heavy oil as the sole carbon source yielded 15 potent heavy oil-degrading isolates. However, only the C1 strain retained its activity under low-temperature conditions and was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa C1 using 16S rDNA sequencing. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that at 30 °C (water medium), strain C1 degraded 57% of heavy oil within 7 days. At 15 °C, the degradation efficiency of C1 declined due to a temperature-dependent metabolic lag phase (1 day); however, at 15 °C, 70% degradation was observed in seven days. In long-term experiments at 5 °C and 10 °C, 35% and 40% degradation were recorded for C1 after 98 days. In artificially contaminated soil at 5 °C, C1 achieved 60% biodegradation. These results demonstrate cold-adapted whole-cell activity against heavy oil and motivate the design of controlled, contained ex situ reactors (e.g., enzyme-based or cell-free systems) for safe remediation in cold climates. Full article

To address the performance degradation associated with retained high-temperature δ-ferrite in welded joints of high-silicon 20Cr11W2VTaSi steel—a candidate structural material for spallation targets in Accelerator Driven Subcritical Systems—this study systematically investigates the microstructural evolution and mechanical behavior of 20 mm-thick forged joints produced via automated tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding using a 7° U-groove narrow-gap configuration. Results demonstrate that the narrow-gap process—featuring reduced filler metal deposition and low heat input—is believed to suppress macrosegregation of ferrite-stabilizing elements (e.g., Cr, Si, Mo). As a result, the δ-ferrite content in the weld metal is constrained, exhibiting a fine, dispersed, worm-like morphology embedded within a uniform matrix of tempered martensite. Microhardness mapping confirms homogeneous hardness distribution across the joint, closely matching that of the base metal, with no statistically significant localized softening zones identified. Mechanical characterization reveals an optimal balance of strength and toughness: the joint achieves a room-temperature tensile strength of 820 MPa and retains 436 MPa at 550 °C; moreover, the Charpy impact energy at the weld center reaches 171.2 J. Full article

The Successive Self-Nucleation and Annealing (SSA) technique is a thermal fractionation method that involves subjecting a polymer sample to sequential self-nucleation and annealing steps at progressively decreasing temperatures, using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Since its introduction in the late 1990s, SSA has been widely applied to study the molecular structure of polymers with structural irregularities, including highly branched or crosslinked polyethylenes and random copolymers. However, the use of SSA for medical-grade ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), a highly linear homopolymer with minimal defects, has not yet been explored. This study aims to evaluate both its applicability to biomedical UHMWPE and its ability to reveal morphological differences among commercially available formulations. Several biomedical UHMWPE formulations, including conventional, highly cross-linked, and α-tocopherol-stabilized materials, were characterized by micro-FTIR, gel fraction and cross-link density measurements and subsequently subjected to SSA thermal fractionation. The results show that ram extrusion induces entanglements that act as interruptions in the otherwise linear chain structure, thereby enabling thermal fractionation: more than 80% of the crystalline fraction of ram-extruded UHMWPE is composed of three crystal populations melting at approximately 135, 132, and 126 °C, accompanied by four additional minor fractions at progressively lower melting temperatures. Gamma irradiation followed by thermal treatments significantly modifies the fractionation behavior, leading to the formation of an additional population of high-melting crystallites as evidenced by an increase in the number of melting peaks from 7 to 8. Oxidative degradation of highly crosslinked and annealed UHMWPE increases crystallinity by approximately 11% relative to its unoxidized counterpart but reduces the ability of the material to undergo thermal fractionation, decreasing the number of melting peaks. In contrast, the addition of low concentrations of α-tocopherol does not significantly influence the fractionation behavior. These findings demonstrate that thermal fractionation of medical-grade UHMWPE is feasible and that SSA is an effective tool for detecting morphological differences among formulations. Full article

To achieve efficient removal and defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a visualized micro-scale fused quartz tube reactor (FQTR) was constructed to systematically investigate sub/supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) processes. Under operating conditions of 200–400 °C and 8–27.3 MPa, PFOA underwent rapid degradation with near-complete conversion. The incorporation of γ-MnO₂ markedly enhanced the PFOA degradation at low temperature and achieved faster fluorine removal. At the conditions of 300 °C, 40 min, O/C ratio (oxygen-to-carbon molar ratio) = 1.5, and pH = 7, the degradation and defluorination efficiencies increased by 12.56% and 15.21%, respectively, compared with the non-catalytic system. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the efficient activation of H₂O₂ by γ-MnO₂, which promotes the breaking of C–F bond and accelerates the converting of PFOA into CO₂ and fluoride ions. The SEM, Raman and leaching experiment results demonstrated that γ-MnO₂ exhibits excellent structural stability and reusability. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to identify potential reactive sites and elucidate degradation pathways at the molecular level, providing mechanistic support for the experimental observations. Overall, the γ-MnO₂-catalyzed SCWO exhibits excellent degradation and defluorination performance for PFOA removal, providing useful insight into the treatment of fluorinated wastewater. Full article

Zirconium oxide nanoparticles (ZrO₂ NPs) were synthesized via a plant-assisted route using Cycas revoluta leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesis and properties of the NPs were confirmed using UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, HR-TEM/SAED, DLS, and zeta potential measurements. The adsorption performance of ZrO₂ NPs toward doxycycline from water was investigated by varying pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration, temperature, and contact time. Under the optimum conditions (pH 7, 50 mg adsorbent in 50 mL, 10 mg L⁻¹ doxycycline, 60 °C, 180 min), a maximum removal efficiency of 60.81% was achieved. The equilibrium data were fitted using the Langmuir model, giving an estimated qmax of 11.276 mg g⁻¹; however, this value should be interpreted cautiously because of the limited number of isotherm data points. The time-dependent adsorption data were empirically described using both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models without assigning strict superiority to either model. These results indicate that green-synthesized ZrO₂ NPs can serve as a low-impact adsorbent for removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in water. Full article

A conformal SiNx coating on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was achieved by combining transient UV–ozone surface functionalization with a two-step atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. UV–ozone treatment gradually increased the defect density of CNTs, with the I_D/I_G ratio increasing from 0.05 for pristine CNTs to 0.25 after 7 min of exposure, while the overall fibrous CNT network remained intact. However, prolonged UV–ozone exposure beyond 10 min led to a sharp increase in the I_D/I_G ratio to 0.46, accompanied by structural degradation of the CNT membrane. Hydroxyl (-OH), epoxy (C-O-C), and carbonyl (C=O) groups were introduced by UV–ozone treatment and were partially removed during subsequent high-temperature processing. Accordingly, direct high-temperature ALD resulted in incomplete SiNx coverage of the CNTs, suggesting insufficient nucleation. A two-step ALD process, consisting of several cycles of low-temperature nucleation at 100 °C followed by high-temperature growth at 700 °C, enabled more conformal deposition of SiNx on CNTs. In addition, both annealing and ALD reduced the defect level toward that of pristine CNTs, supporting the transient nature of UV–ozone-induced functionalization. Full article

Ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) is a key biogenic pollutant in aquatic systems. This study evaluated natural diatomite (Aktobe region) and zeolite (Shankhanai, Zhetysu region) as low-cost, environmentally benign sorbents for NH₄⁺-N removal, and examined the effects of thermal (200–750 °C; 450 °C selected) and alkaline (0.5 M NaOH) treatments on their structural, textural and adsorption properties. Materials were characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR, SEM-EDX and adsorption performance was assessed by kinetic and equilibrium experiments. Specific surface area and pore characteristics were determined from low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements, and the specific surface area was calculated using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. Thermal treatment at 450 °C increased the specific surface area of diatomite (46.3 m²/g) and pore volume, and subsequent alkaline activation further enhanced adsorption activity. The modified diatomite achieved up to 84.6% removal of NH₄⁺-N with an equilibrium capacity q_max = 1.758 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics were best described by the pseudo-second-order (PSO) model, which may indicate a substantive role of surface chemical interactions. Equilibrium data were fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich models: the modified diatomite fitted Langmuir best (R² = 0.999), which may suggest predominance of a monolayer adsorption mechanism under the studied conditions, whereas natural samples and the zeolite were better described by the Freundlich model, reflecting likely surface energetic heterogeneity. Separation factor values (R_L = 0.068–0.643) indicate favorable adsorption within the investigated concentration range. The point of zero charge (pHpzc) was determined for all sorbents (5.3–6.3), confirming that at pH 7 the surface carries a negative charge favorable for electrostatic attraction of NH₄⁺ cations. Reusability tests over five consecutive adsorption–desorption cycles showed that modified diatomite and modified zeolite retained 93.4% and 92.3% of their initial removal efficiency, respectively, indicating acceptable stability under the applied regeneration conditions. These results demonstrate the potential of alkaline-modified diatomite and zeolite as effective sorbents for ammonium removal from wastewaters, contributing to the mitigation of eutrophication risks. Full article

CuO thin layers were synthesized using the sol–gel method and deposited onto glass substrates through the dip-coating technique. The impact of annealing temperatures on the structural, optical, and electrical characteristics of the developed CuO thin layers was comprehensively assessed through X-ray diffraction, UV–visible spectrophotometry, and four-point techniques, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the formation of CuO thin layers with a distinctive monoclinic tenorite phase structure. The UV–visible spectrophotometer results demonstrated a decrease in transmittance from approximately 30% to about 7% as the annealing temperature increased from 200 °C to 400 °C. The semiconducting properties exhibited temperature-dependent variations, with the band gap narrowing from 1.70 to 1.48 eV as the temperature increased from 200 to 400 °C. Additionally, the electrical conductivity of the CuO layers exhibited a significant increase from 48 to 61 S.m⁻¹ over the same temperature range. Collectively, the findings suggest that an annealing temperature of 400 °C is optimal for achieving well-crystallized CuO layers with desirable characteristics, including high absorbance, low transmittance, a reduced energy band gap, and enhanced electrical conductivity. These results underscore our ability to manipulate CuO properties, offering insights for tailoring them to meet specific requirements, particularly in the context of gas sensor applications. Full article

This laboratory-scale experimental study investigated the purification level of used lubricant oil (ULO) filtration using a large variety of ceramic UF membranes, allowing for treatment at high temperatures unreachable for polymeric membranes. Varying pore sizes (5 nm, 10 nm, 30 nm, and 100 nm) were included as well as a range of materials (Al₂O₃, TiO₂, and ZrO₂). Moreover, four different grafting techniques were applied to alter the surface chemistry of the native membranes from hydrophilic to more hydrophobic or oleophilic, intending to further increase UF flux and/or retention. Benchmark native 10 nm TiO₂ membranes shows a stable flux of 7 to 9 kg/h·m² at 110 °C, strong (metal) impurity removal, and unexpected high water retention. All other membranes tested show fluxes that never exceed the ones for the 10 nm benchmark membranes, elucidating that surface chemistry does not help to improve the flux. In general, membrane performance is very similar for all membranes, except for flux and water retention. Systematically, high-flux membranes show high water retention, while very-low-flux membranes preferentially pass water. The variation in flux and water retention as a function of membrane pore size (before grafting) shows that surface chemistry only plays a role when the effective pore size becomes small. The study results allow for the selection of the best membranes for initial ULO treatment. Full article