Search Results (50,954)

The electrification of the industrial sector is an important pathway to decarbonizing the industry and achieving a sustainable society. High-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) are critical devices for providing industrial heat and consuming green electricity. The goal of the present work is the theoretical thermodynamic analysis of a reverse Brayton HTHP that operates with novel working fluids. Specifically, the idea of using mixtures of working fluids with CO₂ is studied for the first time with the aim of suggesting new candidates to increase the performance of industrial HTHPs. A model of an HTHP with an internal heat exchanger is developed and verified in the MATLAB programming language. Nine different mixtures are studied: CO₂/R152a, CO₂/R1234ze(E), CO₂/Propane, CO₂/Butane, CO₂/Isobutane, CO₂/Pentane, CO₂/Isopentane, CO₂/Hexane and CO₂/Heptane. The examined industrial heat production temperatures are 150 °C, 200 °C and 250 °C, while the waste heat stream temperatures that drive the heat pump are considered to be 80 °C and 100 °C. The results prove that the application of the mixtures can enhance the COP, especially in the case of lower temperature lifts. CO₂/R152a seems to be a promising choice compared to pure CO₂, presenting performance enhancements ranging from 4.12% to 64.02% among the studied scenarios. Full article

Whether mobile money complements or threatens the banking sector in Sub-Saharan Africa has been a contentious issue. This study aims to empirically investigate the impact of mobile money adoption on bank credit in Sub-Saharan Africa by addressing the question: Does mobile money adoption affect bank credit to the private sector in Sub-Saharan Africa? A quantitative research design was used to answer the research question. The panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag-Pooled Mean Group (ARDL-PMG) model was applied to annual data collected from 2012 to 2024. The study found that mobile money has a positive long-term influence on bank credit growth in SSA. A set of control variables—gross domestic product, the inflation rate, trade openness, and political stability—is also a significant determinant of growth in bank credit to the private sector in SSA. Policy frameworks should facilitate interoperability between mobile money and banks and enhance soft and hard infrastructure that builds trust and confidence in digital finance. Further research can adopt other econometric frameworks and compare the findings with our study. Full article

Ratoon rice cultivation is a significant practice for enhancing land productivity and food security. Ratooning ability is a key determinant of ratoon season crop (RC) yield and is influenced by genetic, agronomic, and hormonal factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar-applied ratooning enhancers, formulated with plant hormones and botanical extracts, on the growth and regeneration of a japonica–indica hybrid rice cultivar, ‘Qingxiangyou 19 Xiang’. Treatments included gibberellin (GA), low, medium, and high concentrations of brassinosteroid (BR), each with or without jasmine extract (JE), alongside proline and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) as supporting components. These solutions were applied twice at 5 and 15 days after flowering (DAF) of the main crop (MC). The results showed that GA treatment increased plant height and panicle length but reduced MC tiller number. BR treatments did not affect plant height but significantly increased the 1000-grain weight. Crucially, while BR alone had no significant effect on ratooning ability, the BR-JE combined application, particularly at medium (MBR-JE) and high (HBR-JE) concentrations, significantly increased ratoon tiller number and enhanced ratooning ability. However, the HBR-JE combination increased grain chalkiness. In conclusion, the foliar application of BR combined with JE during the flowering stage effectively promotes ratooning ability without compromising MC yield, offering a promising agronomic strategy for sustainable ratoon rice production. Full article

Gibberellic acids (GAs) are a class of tetracyclic diterpene carboxylic acid compounds produced by green plants, fungi, and bacteria, which have a wide range of applications in agricultural production and food ingredients processing. Owing to the continuously growing market demand, enhancing GA yield has become imperative. The biosynthesis of GAs is a multi-enzymatic synergistic process that can be enhanced through genetic and metabolic engineering strategies. In this review, we first summarize recent advances in GA production by Fusarium fujikuroi. We then highlight key metabolic engineering strategies, including biosynthetic pathway engineering, cluster-specific channeling of geranylgeranyl diphosphate biosynthesis, cofactor engineering, as well as regulatory mechanisms involving nitrogen modulation and histone modification. Finally, we discuss promising approaches for constructing high-efficiency microbial cell factories, such as implementation of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, the application of strong promoters, the development of target-specific technologies for small molecules, and the employment of genome-scale metabolic models. Recent metabolic engineering efforts have achieved GA3 titers of up to 3.16 g/L through multi-target nitrogen regulation strategies, highlighting the potential for further yield improvement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Oral delivery of tirzepatide is limited by poor gastrointestinal permeability, pH-dependent solubility, and manufacturing challenges associated with high-dose absorption enhancers. Methods: This study developed an immediate-release oral tirzepatide tablet using a Quality by Design (QbD) approach. Sodium caprate (C10) was selected as the absorption enhancer based on acid-neutralizing capacity, Caco-2 permeability enhancement, and preliminary rat pharmacokinetic screening. Quality target product profile, critical quality attributes, preliminary hazard analysis, and failure mode and effects analysis identified binder/disintegrant ratios as critical material attributes and hammer milling conditions as critical process parameters. Face-centered central composite designs and multiple-response optimization (MRO) were applied to optimize dissolution, flowability, and tablet mechanical integrity. Results: The optimized binder/disintegrant composition produced benchmark-comparable dissolution profiles against oral semaglutide tablets in pH 1.2, 4.0, and 6.8 media, with f₂ values exceeding 50 for both C10 300 mg and 500 mg formulations. The optimized process yielded tablets with low friability (0.58%) and acceptable flowability (Carr’s index, 24). In beagle dogs, the C10 300 mg formulation achieved higher systemic exposure than the C10 500 mg formulation, with a C_max of 46.49 ± 23.79 ng/mL and AUC_last of 1261.03 ± 690.44 h·ng/mL. Conclusion: These results support C10-mediated oral tirzepatide delivery and QbD-based optimization for oral peptide tablets. Full article

The development of efficient, low-cost hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) catalysts is essential for converting renewable lipids into sustainable aviation fuels. Here, we report a series of sulfided bimetallic NiFe/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts and systematically investigate the promotional role of Fe in the HDO of methyl decanoate, a model lipid compound. Using complementary characterization together with fixed-bed reactor kinetic measurements, we elucidate the influence of the Ni/Fe ratio on catalyst structure, sulfidation behavior, electronic properties, and reaction pathway. Fe incorporation promotes Ni sulfidation and induces electron transfer from Fe to Ni, as directly evidenced by a red shift in the CO stretching frequency (from 2094 cm⁻¹ for Ni-only to 2090 cm⁻¹ for NiFe), indicating increased electron density on Ni sites and enhanced π-backdonation. Among the catalysts tested, N5F5 (Ni/Fe mass ratio = 1:1) exhibits the highest Ni sulfidation degree, the highest turnover frequency (32.1 h⁻¹), and the lowest apparent activation energy (E_a ≈ 92 kJ/mol). At 360 °C, it achieves 52.9% methyl decanoate conversion, far exceeding that of monometallic Ni and Fe catalysts. Product selectivity analysis reveals that sulfided Ni sites predominantly promote the decarboxylation/decarbonylation (DCOx) pathway, whereas Fe sites contribute only marginally to direct deoxygenation (DDO). This work provides the first direct spectroscopic evidence for Fe-to-Ni electron transfer in sulfided NiFe catalysts and establishes a clear structure-performance correlation, offering a rational design strategy for low-cost, high-performance HDO catalysts for lipid upgrading. Full article

To support the achievement of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and promote the resource utilization of industrial solid waste, a ternary solid waste composite cementitious material was prepared by blending ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS), fly ash (FA), and carbide slag (CS) with cement. The optimal mix ratio was determined through single-factor experiments and response surface methodology. The synergistic hydration mechanism was elucidated using microstructural characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, TG-DTG, and SEM. The composite material was then applied to a semirigid base course, and its mechanical properties and durability were systematically evaluated. The results indicate that the optimal levels of FA, GGBFS, and CS investigated in the single-factor experiments are 20–40%, 30–50%, and 2–6%, respectively. The optimal mix ratio of the ternary solid waste composite is 21.0% FA, 36.3% GGBFS, and 5.7% CS. The underlying microstructural mechanism is that carbide slag creates a highly alkaline environment, which activates the pozzolanic activity of GGBFS and fly ash, leading to the formation of hydration products dominated by C-(A)-S-H gel. With increasing curing age, the gel structure evolves from a loose and disordered state to a dense and ordered state, ultimately forming a compact microstructure based on a highly polymerized C-(A)-S-H gel matrix. The 7-day unconfined compressive strength of the stabilized gravel using the solid waste-based composite cementitious material reached 5.93 MPa, and the 28-day drying shrinkage coefficient was reduced by 18.3% compared with that of cement-stabilized gravel. After 18 freeze–thaw cycles, the compressive strength increased by 2.4%, with the pore structure characterized by a “macropores decreasing, micropores increasing” refinement pattern. After 18 wetting–drying cycles, the cumulative strength loss was 11.26%, outperforming cement-stabilized gravel. Combined with SEM observations, these performance improvements are attributed to the densely intertwined hydration products, particularly C-S-H gel, which effectively fill the voids between aggregate particles and significantly enhance the volume stability, freeze–thaw resistance, and wetting–drying durability of the stabilized gravel. The application of this cementitious material in a semirigid base course demonstrates excellent mechanical and durability properties, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for the widespread application of industrial solid waste in road engineering. Full article

Hydrolysis of cellulose to produce ethanol has become an effective way to utilize biological resources, but its large-scale industrial application has been limited. In this study, a one-pot catalytic conversion process for transforming cellulose into ethanol was developed. Meanwhile, multifunctional Mo/Pt/WO_x/Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by loading nano-alumina (Nano-Al₂O₃) via a stepwise impregnation method. The influence of catalysts with varying metal ratios on the types of products generated during the cellulose hydrolysis process to ethanol was examined. The catalyst with 0.1% Mo, 2% Pt, and 7.5% W loadings showed the best selectivity. With an ethanol yield of 45.3% after heating at 5 MPa H₂ and 518 K for 2 h. Nano-Al₂O₃ can provide suitable active sites. The addition of W⁵⁺ and Mo⁰ increased the surface oxygen vacancy density and enhanced the hydrodeoxidation and metal anchoring capacity of the catalyst. The solid solution structure facilitates electron transfer from W and Mo atoms to Pt atoms, forming electron-rich Pt^δ- species, promoting the hydrolysis of cellulose and the formation of ethanol. Full article

This study presents a comparative evaluation of geopolymer foams incorporating either commercially available shape-stabilized phase change materials (PCMs) or laboratory-developed diatomite–paraffin PCM granules with controlled particle size fractions ranging from <1.6 mm to >2.5 mm. All PCM variants were incorporated at a constant dosage of 7.5 wt.% to isolate the influence of PCM type on the properties of the resulting composites. The commercial materials comprised PX-4, PX15, and PX20 (Rubitherm Technologies GmbH), whereas the laboratory-developed PCM consisted of paraffin immobilized within a porous diatomite matrix to produce granular shape-stabilized composites. The experimental program included the determination of bulk density, total porosity, pore size distribution, thermal conductivity (λ), thermal resistance (R), specific heat capacity (Cp), and compressive strength. The pore structure was characterized by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), while the morphology and dispersion of PCM particles within the geopolymer matrix were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All mixtures were produced using the same alkali-activated matrix and identical curing conditions, with the PCM content maintained at 7.5 wt.%. The results demonstrated that the type of PCM significantly affected the microstructure and thermophysical performance of the geopolymer foams. The laboratory-developed diatomite–paraffin PCM provided the most favorable thermal insulation performance, exhibiting the lowest thermal conductivity (0.095 W/m·K) together with the highest thermal resistance (0.278 m²·K/W). In contrast, the commercial PX15 and PX20 materials exhibited the highest specific heat capacities (1.740 and 1.778 kJ/kg·K, respectively), indicating superior thermal energy storage capability. In addition, the estimated production cost of the laboratory-developed PCM (2.5–4.0 EUR/kg) was substantially lower than that of the commercial PX materials (approximately 20 EUR/kg), highlighting its potential as a cost-effective alternative for sustainable, energy-efficient building materials. These findings demonstrate that both commercial and laboratory-developed PCM systems can effectively enhance the functionality of geopolymer foams, although they provide different balances between thermal insulation, heat storage capacity, and production cost. Full article

Optimizing nitrogen (N) management is essential for sustaining rice productivity and improving soil N retention in paddy ecosystems, yet whether long-term fertilizer postponing (FP) regulates bacterial community assembly and microbial N-cycling potential in a compartment-dependent manner remains unclear. Using soils from an 11-year field experiment, we investigated bacterial communities and eight N-cycling genes in bulk and rhizosphere soils across three rice growth stages. Compared with conventional fertilization (CF), FP significantly increased grain yield, plant N accumulation, soil NH₄⁺-N (8.1%), microbial biomass N (MBN, 4.3%), and urease activity (30.3%). N-cycling genes showed pronounced temporal variation, generally peaking at the heading stage. FP increased the abundance of genes involved in N fixation, nitrification, and denitrification in bulk soil but reduced most N-cycling genes in the rhizosphere. Although bacterial α-diversity was unchanged, FP significantly altered bacterial community composition. Network and redundancy analysis further showed that bacterial community assembly and N-cycling potential were closely associated with soil C and N status. These findings indicate that long-term FP improves rice productivity by enhancing soil N availability and reshaping bacterial community assembly and microbial N-cycling potential in a compartment-dependent manner, providing new insights into the microbial mechanisms underlying sustainable N management in paddy soils. Full article

Drought stress significantly constrains broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) productivity by impairing growth, photosynthesis, and yield. Seed priming with ascorbic acid (AsA) has shown promise in enhancing early seedling performance; however, its effects on head development and yield under water deficit remain limited. This greenhouse pot experiment evaluated four seed treatments: non-primed control, water-primed control, 1 mg L⁻¹ AsA, and 10 mg L⁻¹ AsA under two irrigation regimes: 100% and 50% field capacity. Growth, physiological traits, biochemical responses, and yield were assessed. AsA priming significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced plant height, net photosynthesis, and chlorophyll content under both water regimes. Under 100% FC, water priming significantly increased canopy length, whereas under 50% FC, only AsA priming produced a significant increase relative to the non-primed control (p < 0.05). Biochemical responses further showed that 10 mg L⁻¹ AsA significantly (p < 0.05) increased chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b under 50% FC compared with the non-primed control. Proline accumulation was reduced by 10 mg L⁻¹ AsA, but this reduction was significant (p < 0.05) only under 100% FC. Under 100% FC, 10 mg L⁻¹ AsA significantly (p < 0.05) increased total phenolic content compared with the non-primed control. Total flavonoid content was significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 1 and 10 mg L⁻¹ AsA compared with the control, while both water priming and AsA priming significantly (p < 0.05) increased carotenoid content and reduced H₂O₂ accumulation relative to the non-primed control, irrespective of watering regime. Total yield per plant, measured on a fresh weight basis, significantly (p < 0.05) increased with increasing AsA concentration, with 10 mg L⁻¹ AsA enhancing yield by 37.8% relative to the water-primed control and by 70.5% relative to the non-primed control, independent of water regime. Percentage dry weight was unaffected by AsA treatment. Overall, AsA seed priming potentially enhanced physiological resilience and fresh yield of broccoli under water-limited conditions, indicating its potential as a low-cost strategy for drought mitigation. Full article

Against the backdrop of the accelerated advancement of regional economic integration, industrial synergy in urban agglomerations has become a core pathway to break homogeneous competition, enhance urban productivity and achieve sustainable economic growth, yet existing studies have mostly focused on the local effects of industrial agglomeration, and complementary linkages from the perspective of industrial chain supply and demand, as well as their cross-city spatial spillover mechanisms, remain insufficiently explored. Taking the nine cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) as the research object, this paper constructs an Industrial Complementarity index (ICI) based on urban panel data from 2012 to 2017 and multi-regional input–output tables. The findings reveal the following: (1) Industrial complementarity in the PRD exhibits significant uneven distribution characteristics, with the network structure gradually evolving from a single-core concentrated pattern centered on Shenzhen in 2012 to a multi-polar dispersed pattern centered on Zhaoqing, Zhongshan, and Dongguan in 2017. Resource-based cities play a key fundamental connecting role in the intermediate input supply network. (2) Industrial complementarity significantly promotes urban productivity growth, and its impact is mainly realized through spatial spillover channels. Moreover, productivity spillovers show an obvious distance decay characteristic, and marginal cities obtain significantly higher marginal benefits from spillovers than core cities. (3) Mechanism tests indicate that financial deepening and human capital accumulation are important channels through which industrial complementarity affects urban productivity. Full article

In intensive greenhouse agriculture, irrational fertilization practices can exacerbate carbon emissions and impair ecosystem service functions. To address this issue, biogas slurry and biochar were introduced as waste-derived substitutes for mineral fertilizer, and the effects of different fertilization strategies on the net ecosystem carbon balance (N_ECB) and ecosystem service value (ESV) of greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production systems over two growing seasons (spring–summer and autumn–winter) were systematically evaluated. When economic return was prioritized, the treatment with 25% biogas slurry substituting for mineral fertilizer (BS25) performed best, with ESVs of 641,606.83 and 629,987.37 CNY ha⁻¹ in the spring–summer and autumn–winter seasons, respectively; the treatment with 50% biogas slurry substitution (BS50) ranked second, and both treatments were significantly superior to the others (p < 0.05). When the objective was to enhance carbon sink capacity while maintaining high yield, the treatment with 75% biogas slurry combined with biochar substituting for mineral fertilizer (BS75 + C) showed the best overall performance, with N_ECB values of 6.30 and 6.34 t ha⁻¹ in the two respective seasons, while also demonstrating clear advantages in soil organic matter accumulation and atmospheric regulation. Based on the VIKOR model with AHP-CRITIC combined weighting, BS75 + C was identified as the optimal option. However, the most suitable fertilization strategy depends on management objectives: BS25 is recommended when maximizing short-term economic return is the primary goal, whereas BS75 + C is preferable for enhancing carbon sink capacity and ecological benefits. Considering both ecosystem service value and comprehensive performance, BS50 and BS75 + C are recommended as sustainable fertilization strategies for greenhouse tomato production. Full article

Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi L.) is an underutilized fruit native to arid and semi-arid regions that possesses considerable nutritional and phytochemical value. However, its potential for controlled lactic fermentation and development into value-added fermented products has received limited scientific attention. This study investigated the effects of five brine formulations on the controlled fermentation of Sidr fruit pickles and monitored changes in physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds, microbial dynamics, texture, color, and sensory attributes during 90 days of storage at ambient temperature. The treatments consisted of 10% NaCl (control), NaCl supplemented with sodium sorbate, NaCl with sucrose and vinegar, NaCl with sucrose and Lactobacillus plantarum starter culture, and NaCl with sucrose, vinegar, and garlic. Brine formulation significantly influenced fermentation kinetics, microbial succession, and product quality throughout storage. The inoculated treatment containing L. plantarum exhibited the most rapid acidification, reaching a pH of 4.02 and titratable acidity of 0.24%, while maintaining the highest lactic acid bacteria population (>9 log CFU g⁻¹) and enhanced microbiological stability. This treatment also showed superior retention of ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and texture compared with the non-inoculated treatments. Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) further demonstrated strong associations between starter-culture fermentation, bioactive compound preservation, and overall product quality. Sensory evaluation indicated that all treatments remained acceptable throughout storage; however, the inoculated samples consistently received the highest scores for taste, texture, and overall acceptability. Overall, the results indicate that controlled lactic fermentation using L. plantarum represents an effective approach for enhancing the quality, stability, and bioactive retention of fermented Sidr fruit products, supporting the valorization of this underexploited fruit resource for sustainable food applications. Full article

This study investigated the enhancement of an acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation from sugarcane molasses using Clostridium beijerinckii TISTR 1461 immobilized on lotus stalk (LS) pieces. The addition of 0.01 g/L of ZnSO₄, MnSO₄ or FeSO₄ into the molasses medium containing 50 g/L of sugar negatively impacted butanol production. However, incorporating 2.2 g/L of ammonium acetate as a buffer increased the butanol concentration (P_B), ABE concentration (P_ABE), and butanol productivity (Q_B) by 8–11%. Optimization of the initial sugar concentration in batch mode showed that 80 g/L yielded the highest P_B (19.65 g/L) and Q_B (0.55 g/L·h). To further improve the butanol production efficiency, two strategies were employed: fed-batch process and gas stripping (GS) for product recovery. Integrating a GS system into the batch process increased the P_B (22.26 g/L), and Q_B (0.61 g/L·h) by ~11–13%. In a fed-batch mode (an initial sugar concentration of 50 g/L at 50% of the total working volume), feeding a medium at 150 g/L (corresponding to a total sugar concentration in all media of 100 g/L), a feeding time of 3 h and feeding rate of 25 mL/h achieved the highest P_B and Q_B. The most effective results were obtained by combining a fed-batch culture with a GS system, which boosted the total P_B to 23.04 g/L, P_ABE to 35.91 g/L and Q_B to 0.64 g/L·h with a butanol yield of 0.30 g/g. These values are a 14–15% improvement over the non-GS fed-batch process. The study findings demonstrate that utilizing LS as a low-cost immobilization carrier, coupled with product recovery (GS) in batch/fed-batch modes, significantly improves butanol production efficiency. Full article