Search Results (318)

Microbial priming is an emerging strategy in sustainable agriculture that involves the use of beneficial microorganisms to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. This innovative approach leverages the natural interactions between plants and microorganisms to promote plant growth and improve soil health. This study explores the application of microbial priming on almond seeds, focusing on the biostimulant effect of soil-based microbial extracts from a mediterranean shrub Pistacia lentiscus L. as an ecological strategy to improve the germination and seedling of almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.)). The extraction process of soil differentiates three extracts: the first separates AMF spores (Myco) from all other bacterial and fungal consortia (MW), and the third combines the two previous extracts (MW + Myco). The experiment evaluated germination rates, seedling growth parameters, and conducted physico-chemical soil analyses. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) colonization was also measured. Microbial priming significantly improved germination rates and enhanced seedling growth compared to untreated controls. The three microbial extracts showed significant effects on germination rate after 20 days, exceeding 90%. After 27 days, all treatments reach their maximum (100%). Seedling indicators allow MW + Myco extract to be considered as the most powerful extract on almond seedling growth. The combination of microbial and endomycorrhizal fungal extracts could be considered as a facilitator of seedling growth of almond. The AMF colonization was notably higher in treated plants. Overall, microbial priming effectively enhances almond seed germination and seedling growth, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable biostimulation strategy in agriculture. This practice boosts crop productivity and promotes soil health by enriching microbial communities and improving nutrient cycling. These results open up perspectives towards a natural-based strategy able to facilitate the germination and early seedling of almonds in both nurseries and in the field—and to enhance the productivity and health of almond cultivation in special Mediterranean area. Full article

This study investigates the machining deformation of thick aluminum alloy plates, specifically in aerospace frame components, focusing on the influence of asymmetric residual stress states and machining strategies. Aluminum alloys are commonly used for large structural components due to their strength, formability, and corrosion resistance. However, machining these components often leads to deformation caused by residual stress release, cutting forces, and thermal effects. Using finite element simulations and experimental validation, the study analyzes how asymmetric residual stresses, induced by spray quenching, affect deformation patterns during machining. It is found that lower initial stress asymmetry results in less deformation, while machining sequences that optimize stress release significantly reduce the final distortion. Among the strategies tested, the diagonal milling sequence yielded the smallest deformation, achieving a reduction of up to 4%. The study concludes that both the initial residual stress state and the machining strategy are critical in controlling deformation, offering insights for improving machining processes in aerospace manufacturing to enhance precision and reliability. Full article

Introducing fast, reliable, and low-input technologies that utilize wholemeal wheat is essential for efficiently screening gluten quality in wheat breeding lines. Although the GlutoPeak Tester (GPT) has been widely studied for gluten assessment, its application in breeding programs remains underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive approach to optimizing a GPT protocol using a diverse set of genotypes collected over seven harvest years and multiple environments. To improve screening capabilities, a quick and simple protein fractionation (PF) technique was integrated into the workflow. Key GPT parameters—such as peak maximum time, maximum torque, and aggregation energy—along with the newly proposed PM-AM parameter, showed strong correlations with established quality traits. PF data, especially insoluble glutenin percentage and the ratio of insoluble to soluble glutenin, provided additional insights into gluten composition. This extensive dataset supports the use of GPT and PF as a dual, high-throughput screening tool. When applied within specific wheat classes and benchmarked against established checks, this method offers a robust strategy for ranking breeding lines based on gluten performance. The use of wholemeal samples further streamlines the process by eliminating the need for milling, making this protocol particularly suitable for early-stage selection in wheat breeding programs. Full article

The growing demand for automated production systems is driving continuous innovation in smart and data-driven manufacturing technologies. In the field of production metrology, the trend is shifting from using measurement laboratories to integrating measurement systems directly into production processes. This has led the Institute of Manufacturing Technology at TU Vienna together with its partners to develop a roughness measurement device that can be directly integrated into machine tools. Building on this foundation, this study tries to find applications beyond mere surface roughness assessment and demonstrates how the device could be applied in broader contexts of manufacturing process monitoring. By linking surface measurements with tool wear monitoring, the study establishes a correlation between surface roughness and wear progression of indexable inserts in milling. It demonstrates how in situ data can support predictive maintenance and the real-time adjustment of cutting parameters. This represents a first step toward integrating in situ metrology into closed-loop control in machining. The experimental setup followed ISO 8688-1 guidelines for tool life testing. Indexable inserts were operated throughout their entire service life while surface roughness was continuously recorded. In parallel, cutting edge conditions were documented at defined intervals using focus variation microscopy. The results show a consistent three-phase pattern: initially stable roughness, followed by a steady increase due to flank wear, and an abrupt decrease in roughness linked to edge chipping. These findings confirm the potential of integrated roughness measurement for condition-based monitoring and the development of adaptive machining strategies. Full article

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) processing generates peel and core by-product fractions that are underexploited resources with untapped potential for valorization in sustainable food systems. In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed using several choline chloride-based natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES, six formulations with distinct hydrogen-bond donors) and compared with 70% (v/v) ethanol. Extracts were analyzed for total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and individual phenolic compounds by LC-MS/MS, and their bioaccessibility was determined through a standardized in vitro digestion model. Organic acid-based NADES, particularly ChCl:MA (2:1) and ChCl:LA (1:1), yielded significantly higher phenolic contents from the peel than ethanol (up to ~45% increase, p < 0.05), and ChCl:MA maintained superior antioxidant capacity after digestion. In the core fraction, glucose- and glycerol-based NADES promoted the release of bound phenolics, resulting in bioaccessibility values exceeding 100%, indicating the release of previously bound phenolics under digestive conditions. The present study provides novel insights into the effects of NADES on both extraction efficiency and digestibility of quince by-products. These findings highlight quince peel and core as promising raw materials for developing functional food and nutraceutical ingredients, thereby offering a feasible strategy for upcycling fruit-processing residues into health-promoting applications. Full article

Polybutylene succinate (PBS), as one of the most promising multi-application polymer, still suffers from low toughness, poor miscibility, and high crystallinity. Blending with starch is an effective strategy to improve the properties of PBS, but the compatibility and dispersity between starch and PBS still need to be optimized. In this study, mechanical ball milling was carried out to synthesize esterified starch and the subsequent PBS/esterified starch blend. The FT-IR and XPS analyses confirmed the existence of molecular interactions between PBS and esterified starch. SEM images showed a homogeneous surface for the PBS/esterified starch blend, highlighting the favorable compatibility and good dispersion of starch within the PBS matrix. TGA, DSC, and VSP tests indicated that the introduction of esterified starch into PBS lowered the thermal transition temperatures, thereby enhancing the processability. WCA measurements displayed that the water contact angle of the PBS/esterified starch blends gradually decreased with increasing esterified starch content, proving the improved hydrophilicity of PBS/esterified starch blends. Mechanical testing indicated that incorporating 5 wt% esterified starch into PBS significantly improved the tensile strength to 36.35 ± 2.16 MPa and the breaking elongation to 27.18 ± 5.08%, surpassing those of the pure PBS, PBS/esterified starch mixture, and PBS/starch blend. Our study indicates that mechanical ball milling is an efficient method to improve the properties of PBS composites. Full article

Turn-milling is a relatively new process which combines turning and milling operations, offering a number of advantages such as chip breaking and interrupted cutting, which improves tool life. In addition to providing the capability of producing eccentric forms or shapes, it increases productivity for difficult-to-machine material at lower cost. This study investigates the influence of cutting speed and feed on surface roughness and tool wear in conventional turning and turn-milling of H13 tool steel. The tests were conducted for longitudinal and face machining strategies. It was found that the range of surface roughness in turning is lower than in turn-milling. In longitudinal turning, face-turning, and face turn-milling operations, surface roughness is elevated in the higher feeds. However, the surface roughness in longitudinal turn-milling operations can be reduced by increasing the feed. Although the simultaneous rotation of the tool and workpiece in turn-milling could negatively affect the surface quality, this operation provides the advantage of an interrupted cutting mechanism that produces discontinuous chips. Also, the wear of the endmill in longitudinal and face turn-milling operations is lower than the wear of the inserts used in conventional longitudinal and face turning. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), mathematical models were developed for surface roughness and tool wear in each operation. The RSM models developed in this study achieved coefficients of determination (R²) above 90%, with prediction errors below 7% for surface roughness and below 3% for tool wear. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the feed and cutting speed are the most influential parameters on the surface roughness and tool wear, respectively, with p-value < 0.05. The experimental results demonstrated that tool wear in turn-milling was reduced by up to 50% compared to conventional turning. Full article

This study presents a sustainable upcycling strategy to convert “Pit,” a carbon-rich coke oven by-product from steel manufacturing, into high-purity graphite for use as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries. Despite its high carbon content, raw Pit contains significant impurities and has irregular particle morphology, which limits its direct application in batteries. We employed a multi-step, additive-free refinement process—including jet milling, spheroidization, and high-temperature graphitization—to enhance carbon purity and structural properties. The processed Pit-derived graphite showed a much-improved particle size distribution (D50 reduced from 25.3 μm to 14.8 μm & Span reduced from 1.72 to 1.23), increased tap density (from 0.54 to 0.80 g/cm³), and reduced BET surface area, making it suitable for high-performance lithium-ion batteries anodes. Structural characterization by XRD and TEM confirmed dramatically enhanced crystallinity after graphitization (graphitization degree increasing from ~13 for raw Pit to 95.7% for graphitized Pit at 3000 °C). The fully processed graphite (denoted S_Pit3000) delivered a reversible discharge capacity of 346.7 mAh/g with an initial Coulombic efficiency of 93.5% in half-cell tests—comparable to commercial artificial graphite. Furthermore, when composited with silicon oxide to form a hybrid anode, the material achieved an even higher capacity of 418.0 mAh/g under high mass loading conditions. These results highlight the feasibility of transforming industrial coke waste into value-added electrode materials through environmentally friendly physical processes. The upcycled graphite anode meets industrial performance standards, demonstrating a promising route toward circular economy solutions in both the steel and battery industries. Full article

This study presents the preparation of iron and nitrogen co-doped sludge-based biochar (FeCN-MSBC) and iron oxide-doped biochar (FeO-MSBC) by ball milling municipal sludge with different iron precursors (K₃Fe(CN)₆ and Fe₂O₃), followed by pyrolysis. These biochars were utilized to activate persulfate (PMS) for the degradation of phenolic pollutants. The results demonstrate that FeCN-MSBC, formed by the introduction of K₃Fe(CN)₆, contains Fe/N phases, with surface Fe sites exhibiting a lower oxidation state, which significantly enhances PMS activation efficiency. In contrast, FeO-MSBC, due to the aggregation of Fe₂O₃/Fe₃O₄, shows relatively lower catalytic activity. The FeCN-MSBC/PMS system degrades pollutants via a synergistic mechanism involving non-radical pathways mediated by ¹O₂ and electron transfer processes (ETP) catalyzed by surface Fe. Electrochemical oxidation and quenching experiments confirm that ETP is the dominant pathway. FeCN-MSBC, prepared at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C and an Fe loading of 3 mmol/g TSS, exhibited the best performance, achieving a phenol degradation rate constant (k_obs) of 0.127 min⁻¹, 4.5 times higher than that of undoped biochar (MSBC). FeCN-MSBC/PMS maintained high efficiency across a wide pH range and in complex water matrices, exhibiting excellent stability over multiple cycles, demonstrating strong potential for practical applications. This study provides an effective strategy for simultaneous Fe and N doping in sludge-derived biochar and offers mechanistic insights into Fe/N synergistic activation of PMS for practical water treatment. Full article

Mechanical activation significantly enhances the leaching of chalcopyrite, a process that is fundamentally electrochemical in nature. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of its impact on the electrochemical behavior of chalcopyrite in leaching systems is crucial. This study examines the effect of mechanical activation on the electrochemical and semiconductor properties of chalcopyrite in H₂SO₄ solutions containing Fe²⁺ or/and Fe³⁺ at pH = 1.5. Mechanical activation was carried out using a planetary ball mill at 700 rpm for durations ranging from 0 to 2.5 h to reduce particle size and induce lattice distortion, thereby increasing its electrochemical activity. In iron-containing electrolytes, mechanically activated chalcopyrite is more readily reduced, releasing Fe²⁺ and leading to a higher surface concentration of Fe²⁺, which consequently increases the diffusion coefficient at the solid–liquid interface. Mott–Schottky analysis revealed a decrease in flat band potentials (from 261.7 mV to 131.2 mV in 0.1 mol/L Fe³⁺ after 1.0 h of activation) and an elevation in Fermi levels. As a result, mechanical activation markedly accelerates the corrosion rate of chalcopyrite in ferric solutions—the corrosion current increased from 40.27 µA to 70.71 µA in 0.1 mol/L Fe³⁺ after 1.0 h of activation. These findings provide valuable insights for developing strategies to enhance mineral dissolution, and advance the hydrometallurgical processing of chalcopyrite. Full article

This study tackles the challenge of achieving high-precision robotic machining of elastic materials, where elastic recovery and overcutting often impair accuracy. To address this, a novel milling strategy, RAPSO, is introduced by combining an adaptive particle swarm optimization (APSO) algorithm with a reinforcement learning (RL)-based compensation mechanism. The method builds a material-specific milling model through residual error characterization, incorporates a dynamic inertia weight adjustment strategy into APSO for optimized toolpath generation, and integrates a Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO)-based RL module to refine trajectories iteratively. Experiments show that RAPSO reduces residual material by $33.51\%$ compared with standard PSO and APSO methods, while offering faster convergence and greater stability. The proposed framework provides a practical solution for precision machining of elastic materials, offering improved accuracy, reduced post-processing requirements, and higher efficiency, while also contributing to the theoretical modeling of elastic recovery and advanced toolpath planning. Full article

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs), including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, pose a significant global health challenge characterized by progressive neuronal loss and limited therapeutic options. Early diagnosis remains a considerable hurdle due to the absence of reliable biomarkers and the restrictive nature of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which complicates effective drug delivery. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), particularly those based on iron oxide, have emerged as promising tools for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in NDs, thanks to their superparamagnetism, biocompatibility, and customizable surfaces. This review examines various synthesis strategies for MNPs, encompassing physical methods (such as lithography, ball milling, and laser ablation) and chemical approaches (co-precipitation, thermal decomposition, hydrothermal synthesis, sol–gel processes, and polyacrylamide gel techniques), while highlighting how these techniques influence particle properties. This review also explores recent advancements in surface functionalization using polymers and coatings to enhance circulation time in the bloodstream and improve BBB penetration for targeted delivery. Furthermore, it emphasizes both in vitro and in vivo applications, showcasing MNPs’ effectiveness in enhancing imaging sensitivity and enabling targeted drug and gene delivery. By linking synthesis methods, functionalization techniques, and biomedical outcomes, this review illustrates the transformative potential of MNPs as next-generation theranostic agents in precision medicine for neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

Wheat milling efficiency and flour quality are fundamentally governed by kernel fracture behavior during mechanical processing. This study systematically investigated the fracture characteristics of wheat kernels through a multi-stage experimental approach. Rupture tests comparing shear and compression loading revealed that shear reduced fracture energy by 40%, with vitreous kernels (16.13 mJ) showing greater resistance than floury types (10.45 mJ) at 13% moisture. Microstructural characterization revealed distinct fracture modes: vitreous kernels fractured intercellularly, while floury kernels fractured intracellularly—quantified via fractal geometry (vitreous: fractal dimension D = 1.262; floury: D = 1.365). Controlled bran removal experiments demonstrated that outer bran layers provide 40% of total fracture resistance, with vitreous kernels depending primarily on endosperm properties beyond 5% peeling, whereas floury kernels exhibited progressive strength loss with each layer removed. These findings enable optimized milling strategies: shear-based systems for energy efficiency, minimal processing (≤5% bran removal) for vitreous wheat, and moderate peeling (≤10%) for floury wheat, ultimately advancing both scientific understanding and industrial practice in cereal processing. Full article

Ultrasonic-assisted machining (UAM) has emerged as a transformative technology for increasing material removal efficiency, improving surface quality and extending tool life in precision manufacturing. This review specifically focuses on the application of it to titanium aluminide (TiAl) alloys. These alloys are widely used in aerospace and automotive sectors due to their low density, high strength and poor machinability. This review covers various aspects of UAM, including ultrasonic vibration-assisted turning (UVAT), milling (UVAM) and grinding (UVAG), with emphasis on their influence on the machinability, tool wear behavior and surface integrity. It also highlights the limitations of single-energy field UAM, such as inconsistent energy transmission and tool fatigue, leading to the increasing demand for multi-field techniques. Therefore, the advanced machining strategies, i.e., ultrasonic plasma oxidation-assisted grinding (UPOAG), protective coating-assisted cutting, and dual-field ultrasonic integration (e.g., ultrasonic-magnetic or ultrasonic-laser machining), were discussed in terms of their potential to further improve TiAl alloys processing. In addition, the importance of predictive force models in optimizing UAM processes was also highlighted, emphasizing the role of analytical and AI-driven simulations for better process control. Overall, this review underscores the ongoing evolution of UAM as a cornerstone of high-efficiency and precision manufacturing, while providing a comprehensive outlook on its current applications and future potential in machining TiAl alloys. Full article

With the growing global demand for rice and the urgent need to enhance sustainable production, ratoon rice systems and selenium (Se) biofortification technologies have become important strategies. This study investigated the effects of the foliar application of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid Se (EDTA-Se) during key growth stages of the main rice season on the yield, grain quality, and Se accumulation in ratoon rice. Two rice varieties—Fengliangyouxiang-1 (FLYX1) and Jinliangyouhuazhan (JLYHZ)—were selected for a two-year field experiment. A systematic analysis was performed on yield components, processing quality, appearance quality, nutritional quality, and Se speciation. The results showed that under an equivalent total amount of spraying EDTA-Se, the best effect on improving the yield, grain quality, and grain Se content of ratoon rice was observed at the heading stage and seven days after full heading. This treatment increased ratoon season yield by 6.45%, primarily due to enhanced grain filling rate (GF) and spikelets per panicle (SP). Processing quality was significantly improved; milled rice rate (MR) increased by 5.59–6.24% in FLYX1 and 3.38–3.52% in JLYHZ, while appearance quality also improved, with chalky grain rate (CGR) decreasing by 21.51–22.93% in FLYX1 and 14.50–14.53% in JLYHZ. These improvements were closely associated with elevated protein content and increased accumulation of selenomethionine (SM). Notably, FLYX1 exhibited higher efficiency in converting selenium to organic forms, whereas JLYHZ showed a greater accumulation of inorganic selenium, highlighting genotype-specific responses. This study confirmed that the foliar application of EDTA-Se during key growth phases of rice during the main season can synergistically optimize yield and quality in ratoon rice while achieving Se biofortification and providing a theoretical basis and technical support for improving the quality and efficiency of ratoon rice, as well as producing Se-enriched ratoon rice. Full article