Search Results (246)

Black soybean is a high-value alternative crop that can offset declining yellow soybean prices in Thailand. Currently, “Sukhothai3” is the only commercial variety produced through conventional breeding over the past three decades. Its low first-pod height (FPH) limits mechanized harvesting and reduces production efficiency. Recently developed elite RILs have shown improved FPH, grain yield, and protein content (34.88–41.22%), but their yield stability and adaptability across environments remain unevaluated. This information is essential for establishing an effective bi-directional seed rotation system while maintaining seed quality, quantity, and genetic purity. This study evaluated five black soybean RILs across eleven trial environments in the major production zones of Northeast Thailand, where the tropical savanna climate poses significant constraints on crop production. Field experiments used a randomized complete block design with four replications per location. Yield stability and adaptability were assessed using AMMI1 and GGE biplot analyses. BSCM41 emerged as the most stable and widely adaptable genotype, consistently outperforming the commercial check across environments and seasons. It exhibited adequate FPH for mechanized harvesting (>10 cm), rapid vegetative development, and short growth duration (88–91 days), reducing exposure to late-season heat stress and excessive rainfall. Higher seeds per pod, greater 100-seed weight, and a superior harvest index further support yield formation under marginal conditions. BSCM41 maintained high yields in both dry and rainy seasons (1524.73 and 1633.26 kg/ha, respectively), meeting the requirements for an efficient bi-directional seed rotation system. These findings can inform future breeding strategies and production management in comparable tropical environments. Full article

Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)-reinforced AlSi10Mg composites were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM), and their corrosion resistance was systematically investigated as a function of GNPs content (0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 wt.%) and corrosion duration. In the short term (≤30 days), the corrosion resistance followed the order: 0.1 wt.% GNPs/AlSi10Mg > 0.3 wt.% GNPs/AlSi10Mg > 0.5 wt.% GNPs/AlSi10Mg > AlSi10Mg. The 0.1 wt.% composite exhibited the best performance, attributed to the uniform dispersion of GNPs that filled micropores and microcracks to form a physical barrier against corrosive ions, along with favorable interfacial bonding that hindered crack growth and reduced corrosion pathways. After 60 days of exposure, however, the ranking reversed to: AlSi10Mg > 0.1 wt.% GNPs/AlSi10Mg > 0.3 wt.% GNPs/AlSi10Mg > 0.5 wt.% GNPs/AlSi10Mg. EIS analysis revealed a porous electrode behavior in the low-frequency response, captured by the constant phase element in the equivalent circuit. The long-term deterioration arose from the gradual penetration of corrosive media through micropores and microcracks, which triggered galvanic corrosion between GNPs and the matrix and rendered the barrier effect ineffective. These findings demonstrate that GNPs addition increases both the number and the total area of cathodic sites in the matrix alloy, thereby accelerating corrosion under prolonged exposure. In essence, GNPs serve as a protective barrier in the short term but transition to corrosion accelerators under long-term exposure. Full article

Though many food systems on Earth offer benefits to space travelers, their ability to meet the demands of spaceflight remains unestablished. This study examines the application of magnesium oxide-coated halloysite nanotubes (MgO-HNTs), synthesized via electrodeposition, to enhance seed germination and early plant development under Earth, lunar, and Martian soil conditions. Successful surface modification was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Growth experiments with Heirloom Cherry Tomato and Golden Tomato seeds were conducted under hydroponic and soil-based conditions and subsequently extended to lunar and Martian regolith simulants. A Response Surface Methodology approach, based on a Box-Behnken Design, evaluated the effects of temperature, MgO-HNT concentration, and light duration on multiple growth responses, identifying seedling length and the root length stress tolerance index (RLSI) as the most responsive indicators of treatment. Optimal conditions (25 °C, 12 h photoperiod, 100 mg/mL MgO-HNTs) produced the greatest increases in root and shoot length in Earth soil. In lunar regolith, optimal root development occurred at 100 mg/mL (root length: 17.7 mm, shoot length: 5.08 mm, RLSI: 141.1%, germination: 80%), whereas Martian regolith peaked at 10 mg/mL (root length: 12.3 mm, shoot length: 4.28 mm, RLSI: 167.9%, germination: 100%), which may be associated with differences in the physicochemical properties of the two substrates. These findings offer preliminary evidence that MgO-HNTs can enhance early plant development across terrestrial and extraterrestrial substrates. As this study was limited to a single crop species under short-term, controlled laboratory conditions without direct physiological or biochemical biomarker measurements, further validation will be required to support broader agricultural or in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) applications. Full article

Ratoon rice is the production of a second rice crop from the stubble left behind after the main crop has been harvested. To identify suitable ratoon rice cultivars for a dual-purpose grain and forage production system, 25 widely cultivated rice cultivars in southwestern China were systematically evaluated based on ratooning ability, forage productivity, ratoon rice yield, and Cd accumulation characteristics. Significant variations were observed among the tested cultivars, indicating substantial differences in their suitability for this production system. Principal component analysis identified three cultivars, CKY637, CKYSM, and FY498, as promising candidates because of their favorable combination of ratooning ability (1.33–1.61), silage rice yield (8.85–11.27 t ha⁻¹), ratoon rice yield (7.83–9.65 t ha⁻¹), and low grain Cd accumulation (0.0430–0.0457 mg kg⁻¹). Among them, CKY637 achieved the highest comprehensive evaluation score, whereas CKYSM exhibited particularly stable performance in maintaining low Cd accumulation, and FY498 was well balanced between yield and quality. These results suggest that cultivar suitability for the dual-purpose system depends on the coordinated performance of multiple traits, particularly strong ratooning ability, high forage and ratoon rice productivity, short total growth duration, and low Cd accumulation in ratoon rice grains. Overall, CKY637, CKYSM, and FY498 represent candidate cultivar resources for the first-season forage + second-season ratoon rice system and provide practical materials for its application in subtropical rice-growing regions. Full article

The rapid growth of electric-vehicle charging demand has increased the need for reliable station-level congestion monitoring and early warning. Existing studies mainly predict charging demand, load, occupancy, or availability, whereas charging congestion pressure is usually shaped by multiple operational factors. This study proposes an interpretable station-level charging congestion pressure assessment and multi-horizon early-warning framework. A Charging Congestion Pressure Index (CCPI) is constructed by integrating occupancy, arrival pressure, charging or occupation duration, service volume, and price–time context into a unified station–hour pressure representation. Based on temporally aligned current, lagged, and rolling features, future high-pressure states are predicted at 1 h, 3 h, and 6 h horizons. Using 1423 charging stations and 6,181,512 station–hour observations from September 2022 to February 2023, this study evaluates whether the proposed station–hour pressure representation can support multi-horizon high-pressure warning under temporal and station-level validation settings. Results show that current pressure is a strong short-term persistence baseline, while learning-based models provide larger F1-score gains at longer horizons. Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) achieved F1 gains of +0.022, +0.040, and +0.068 over the persistence baseline at the 1 h, 3 h, and 6 h horizons, respectively. Ablation, temporal validation, station holdout validation, and block-bootstrap tests further support the stability of the proposed framework. These findings indicate that interpretable pressure-index construction and temporally consistent multi-horizon warning can provide an engineering decision-support basis for charging-infrastructure operation, station-level congestion monitoring, and proactive resource management. Full article

The morphology and pore structure of ZSM-48 zeolite are critical parameters determining the catalytic performance of bifunctional catalysts in the hydroisomerization of long-chain n-paraffins. This study investigates the effects of the Na₂O/SiO₂ molar ratio (0.02–0.12) in the synthesis gel and hydrothermal treatment duration (48–72 h) on the crystallization kinetics, phase purity, and physicochemical properties of ZSM-48. Low alkalinity (Na₂O/SiO₂ = 0.04–0.06) and shorter synthesis times (48 h) promote the formation of small aggregates composed of short needle-like crystals with enhanced intercrystalline mesoporosity. Conversely, increasing the alkalinity and crystallization duration accelerates crystal growth, resulting in dense pseudo-spherical aggregates (up to 4–7 μm in size) with restricted external surface area and increased diffusion limitations. Catalytic testing of Pt/ZSM-48 (0.5 wt.% Pt) in n-hexadecane hydroisomerization demonstrates that crystal morphology, size, and porosity significantly influence process selectivity. The catalyst based on nanosized ZSM-48 (Pt/Z48-06-2) effectively mitigates diffusion resistance, yielding a maximum isomer yield of 73% at 82% selectivity. In contrast, larger, densely packed aggregates with high but poorly accessible acidity intensify secondary hydrocracking reactions, reducing a maximum isomer yield to 46%. These results highlight the ability to tune the catalytic properties of ZSM-48 through careful control over gel alkalinity and crystallization kinetics. Full article

Hydrogen energy systems—proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), water electrolyzers, and high-pressure hydrogen storage vessels—are increasingly deployed in transportation, maritime, aerospace, and stationary applications where mechanical vibration is unavoidable. Yet vibration research remains fragmented into single-technology studies whose findings often appear inconclusive or contradictory. This review provides a cross-technology assessment of vibration phenomena in hydrogen energy systems, covering PEMFC performance and degradation, structural dynamics of stacks and storage vessels, water management and two-phase flow, diagnostics and modeling, and application-specific challenges for road, marine, aircraft, and space systems. By organizing the evidence around a small set of shared mechanisms—loss of mechanical preload (bolt loosening), two-phase flow disruption, and fatigue-driven crack growth—we establish a unified framework that reconciles the seemingly case-dependent results of earlier, single-technology reviews. Whether vibration acts as friend or foe is governed by a consistent parameter set: amplitude, frequency, direction, and cumulative exposure time. Short, low-frequency excitation can aid water removal in fuel cells, improve cold-start behavior, and raise electrolyzer hydrogen yield by up to 128%, whereas sustained exposure roughly doubles PEMFC voltage degradation rates, loosens clamping bolts, and drives fatigue in storage-vessel supports. The evidence base is currently dominated by PEMFC studies, and this review accordingly treats fuel cells in the greatest depth. Priority research needs are identified: standardized vibration test protocols, long-duration durability data, vibration characterization of electrolyzers prior to offshore deployment, and coupled multiphysics models supporting vibration-aware design. Full article

Background/Objectives: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a potentially treatable syndrome, but biologically informative biomarkers remain limited. Progranulin (PGRN) constitutes a pleiotropic growth factor involved in neuroinflammation, lysosomal function, and tissue repair, which has not been adequately studied in iNPH. The purpose of this study was to examine the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of PGRN in corresponding patients with suspected iNPH and its correlation with integrated clinical, functional, and neuroradiological parameters. Methods: Thirteen patients with probable iNPH underwent an evaluation protocol, including clinical assessment, neuroradiological evaluation, Tap-test with concomitant gait analysis, and paired serum/CSF sampling. PGRN concentrations in biofluids were measured by ELISA. Correlation analyses were performed. Composite Tap-test response variable derived from quantitative gait-improvement indices was modeled using ridge-logistic regression with leave-one-out cross-validation. Results: In the between-group analyses, serum and CSF concentrations of PGRN were not correlated (r = −0.10, p = 0.74), suggesting that peripheral and intrathecal PGRN behave as non-redundant, compartment-specific readouts rather than as interchangeable measures of the same biological process. Higher CSF concentration of PGRN was nominally associated with older age (r = 0.69, p = 0.009) and with poorer turning-time improvement after the Tap-test (r = −0.62, p = 0.025), while serum concentration of PGRN showed no meaningful associations with clinical or neuroradiological variables. In the model of logistic regression, inclusion of CSF concentration of PGRN substantially improved discrimination of Tap-test response. The full ridge-logistic regression model, including serum and CSF concentration of PGRN, symptom duration, and Kiefer score, achieved an accuracy of 0.923 and an AUC of 0.881. The CSF concentration of PGRN coefficient remained consistently negative across bootstrap resamples (penalized OR 0.434; 95% CI: 0.354–0.697), indicating that higher baseline CSF concentration of PGRN was associated with a lower probability of significant short-term Tap-test response, whereas serum PGRN contributed negligibly to the model. Conclusions: The observed changes in PGRN in CSF may reflect compartment-specific intrathecal inflammatory or tissue-stress processes and may help identify patients with lower short-term responsiveness to CSF drainage. These findings support further longitudinal evaluation of CSF concentration of PGRN for biological stratification and prognostic refinement in iNPH. Full article

This study aimed to assess how dietary water extract of Aloe vera peel (WEA) affected biochemical markers and hypoxia tolerance in Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian). 630 Jian carp (11.77 ± 0.10 g) were fed diets with increasing WEA concentrations (0.0–1.8%) for 15 days. The results showed that short-term feeding of WEA enhanced carp growth performance (p < 0.05). When WEA was added to diets in hypoxic conditions, carp’s duration time (DT) increased and their oxygen consumption rate (OCR) decreased (p < 0.05). In carp blood, feeding WEA improved hematological parameters, such as hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content, (p < 0.05) and decreased plasma ammonia levels. Lactic dehydrogenase levels in muscles and gills and transaminases (GOT and GPT) in red blood cells, gills, and hepatopancreas were significantly higher in carp fed diets containing WEA (p < 0.05). Additionally, dietary WEA decreased ROS generation and lipid oxidation in carp respiratory-related tissues and cells by raising both enzymatic antioxidant activities and non-enzymatic antioxidant levels (p < 0.05). Finally, dietary WEA increases hypoxia tolerance in carp by modifying protein and carbohydrate metabolism and boosting the antioxidant capacity of respiratory-related tissues and cells, suggesting that WEA may be a natural method of lowering hypoxic stress in fish. Full article

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers introduces highly variable and mission-critical load profiles that challenge conventional power supply strategies. This paper proposes an islanded microgrid gas turbine generator (GTG) and long-duration energy storage (LDES) hybrid architecture to provide both short-term load balancing and extended energy support under prolonged outage conditions. A probabilistic multi-phase workload model is developed to capture the temporal characteristics of training, fine-tuning, and inference processes, incorporating both high-frequency fluctuations and multi-day workload variations. Based on reliability requirements, an LDES sizing methodology is formulated to ensure long-duration autonomy for mission-critical operation in a 12 MW power-block AI data center system, with the storage capacity determined based on a 12-h autonomy criterion. The GTG operating point is then evaluated using four storage performance metrics: charge/discharge transition frequency, charging time ratio, state-of-charge (SoC) deviation, and cumulative energy movement. The results indicate that the optimal GTG operating point ranges from approximately 40–73.3% of the initially selected rating, closely tracking the time-varying average load and significantly reducing LDES utilization and storage stress. While GTG fixed-output operation may induce SoC drift under sustained workload variations, applying the identified optimal operating point maintains SoC within the desired range, demonstrating stable LDES operation without dynamic adjustment. The proposed framework provides quantitative design and operational guidelines for GTG–LDES hybrid systems in next-generation AI data centers. Full article

In this study, 8YSZ thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) were deposited on IC21 single-crystal superalloy substrates. Short-term overheating at 1300 °C was conducted for durations of 1, 5, and 10 min under both uniform temperature and simulated service conditions, followed by thermal cycling and thermal shock tests, respectively, to investigate the short-term overheating behavior of the coatings. The effects of short-term overheating on microstructural evolution and stress evolution under different conditions were analyzed, and the underlying damage mechanisms were determined. The results show that under uniform temperature conditions, short-term overheating drives the continuous growth of the thermally grown oxide (TGO). Coating failure occurs at the specimen edge, dominated by thermal stress concentration induced by geometric edge effects. The stress evolution is relatively mild, and the damage mechanism is primarily long-term interfacial degradation. Under simulated service conditions, short-term overheating induces sintering and cracking in the ceramic top coat. Coating failure occurs at the specimen center, dominated by crack coalescence. Transient temperature gradients generate high non-steady-state thermal stresses. The damage mechanism involves thermomechanical loading accelerating interfacial degradation, with synergistic effects of ceramic layer sintering and TGO destabilization, leading to a significant reduction in coating lifetime. Full article

Recent growth in space biomedicine has increased the need for compact optical microscope modules for biological observation under microgravity. In this study, two nominally identical commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) microscope units were evaluated under launch vibration and shock environments. One unit was mounted with a laminated viscoelastic passive vibration isolator, while the other was mounted without isolation. Random vibration and shock tests were performed to evaluate structural characteristics and focus retention. During random vibration, the non-isolated configuration showed high acceleration responses and clear focus degradation. In contrast, the isolated configuration reduced the overall acceleration response by up to 3.96 times and maintained a focus retention ratio above the study-specific screening threshold of 0.8. LLSS results and visual inspection showed no clear change in global structural characteristics or visible damage. After shock testing, both configurations remained above the same threshold with no marked focus degradation. Under the applied test conditions, broadband random vibration caused greater focus degradation than short-duration shock loading. These results indicate that image-based focus retention assessment should complement structural assessment when verifying COTS optical microscope modules for space biomedical applications. Full article

Understanding the pricing of climate risks in bond markets is relevant to financial stability. The real estate sector, characterized by geographically fixed and long-duration assets, exhibits high exposure to environmental shocks; yet, empirical matching between specific climate channels and real estate bond pricing remains sparse. This analysis examines the impact of climate risks on corporate bond credit spreads within the real estate sector by constructing three thematic indicators: transition risk (CTRI), chronic physical risk (ChroCPRI), and acute physical risk (AcuCPRI). Initial feature selection via machine learning suggests all three risk categories as predictive covariates for bond pricing. Subsequent regression estimations indicate that climate transition risk and acute physical risk expand credit spreads, whereas chronic physical risk compresses them—with these statistical patterns being more pronounced among state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Mechanism analyses yield threefold insights: first, transition risk elevates spreads by tightening financing constraints and restricting corporate asset growth, a channel concentrated in short-term tranches and low-liquidity firms; second, the counterintuitive spread-compressing effect of chronic risk is localized among firms with lower credit ratings and lower profitability, consistent with institutional climate support frameworks and strategic green adaptations; third, acute physical risk widens spreads by compressing operational cash flows and exacerbating financing friction, particularly for smaller enterprises. These channels align with the structural attributes of SOEs, which are characterized by larger asset scales, superior capital liquidity, and a higher propensity to secure state guarantees. Full article

Modern agriculture faces increasing pressure from rising food demand, resource degradation, and biotic stress factors, highlighting the need for sustainable, non-chemical technologies. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a promising non-chemical seed-priming technology with potential applications in sustainable agriculture. The present study investigated the effects of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-generated CAP on seed germination and early seedling development in two Solanum lycopersicum genotypes (a common variety and an IdB hybrid) under controlled laboratory conditions. Seeds were exposed to CAP for 1, 2, 3, or 4 min, while untreated seeds served as controls. Early plant performance was evaluated after 47 days by determining germination rate, fresh biomass, dry biomass, and mineral biomass (ash content). CAP exposure duration significantly affected all gravimetric parameters in both genotypes. Among the tested treatments, 1 min exposure consistently produced the highest fresh, dry, and mineral biomass values, whereas longer exposure times (3–4 min) generally reduced seedling growth, indicating the transition from beneficial physiological stimulation to stress-induced inhibition. Despite the more pronounced response observed in the IdB hybrid, the statistical analysis demonstrated that treatment duration, rather than genotype, was the principal factor influencing biomass accumulation. The present results indicate that short-duration CAP treatment represents an effective seed-priming strategy for improving early tomato seedling development. Full article

Collagen is a key structural protein of the skin, essential for maintaining its mechanical strength, elasticity, and hydration. Oral collagen supplementation, particularly in the form of collagen peptides, has recently gained significant interest as a nutritional strategy to support skin health and overall wellbeing. However, the evidence regarding its effectiveness in supporting skin health and improving hair, nail, and wound-healing outcomes remains heterogeneous. The aim of this review is to summarize and critically evaluate the current human evidence on oral collagen supplementation and its potential role in supporting skin health, hair and nail quality, and wound healing. A targeted literature search was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science to identify clinical trials and relevant studies assessing the effects of collagen supplementation on skin aging parameters, including elasticity, wrinkles, hydration, and barrier function, as well as hair loss, nail disorders, and wound healing. Collagen-derived peptide supplementation has been associated with improvements in skin hydration, elasticity, wrinkle appearance, and dermal extracellular matrix organization, while also supporting hair thickness and strength, modestly enhancing nail growth, and promoting wound healing. Benefits are most consistent with low-molecular-weight hydroxyproline-rich peptides, with peptide characteristics appearing more important than collagen source. Evidence is limited by short study durations, heterogeneous designs, multi-ingredient formulations, and industry funding, which reduce confidence in the magnitude and consistency of the reported effects. Nevertheless, high-quality, long-term, independently funded trials with standardized outcomes are still required to confirm these findings. Full article