Search Results (1,244)

The efficiency of electric motors is highly dependent on their operating temperature, with lower temperatures contributing to enhanced performance, reliability, and extended service life. This study presents a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art cooling technologies and evaluates their impact on the thermal behavior of a commercial motor–generator system in high-demand applications. A baseline model of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) was developed using MotorCAD 2023^® software, which was supported by reverse engineering techniques to accurately replicate the motor’s physical and thermal characteristics. Subsequently, multiple cooling strategies were simulated under consistent operating conditions to assess their effectiveness. These strategies include conventional axial water jackets as well as advanced oil-based methods such as shaft cooling and direct oil spray to the windings. The integration of these systems in hybrid configurations was also explored to maximize thermal efficiency. Simulation results reveal that hybrid cooling significantly reduces the temperature of critical components such as stator windings and permanent magnets. This reduction in thermal stress improves current efficiency, power output, and torque capacity, enabling reliable motor operation across a broader range of speeds and under sustained high-load conditions. The findings highlight the effectiveness of hybrid cooling systems in optimizing both thermal management and operational performance of electric machines. Full article

This study aimed to develop a functional powder using whey and milk matrices, leveraging the protective capacity of chia–alginate hydrogels and the advantages of electrohydrodynamic spraying (EHDA), a non-thermal technique suitable for encapsulating probiotic cells under stress conditions commonly encountered in food processing. A hydrogel matrix composed of chia seed mucilage and sodium alginate was used to form a biopolymeric network that protected probiotic cells during processing. The encapsulation efficiency reached 99.0 ± 0.01%, and bacterial viability remained above 9.9 log₁₀ CFU/mL after lyophilization, demonstrating the excellent protective capacity of the hydrogel matrix. Microstructural analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) revealed well-retained cell morphology and homogeneous distribution within the hydrogel matrix while, in contrast, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed spherical, porous microcapsules with distinct surface characteristics influenced by the encapsulation method. Encapsulates were incorporated into beverages flavored with red fruits and pear and subsequently freeze-dried. The resulting powders were analyzed for moisture, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, fiber, and color determinations. The results were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and response surface methodology, highlighting the impact of ingredient ratios on nutritional composition. Raman spectroscopy identified molecular features associated with casein, lactose, pectins, anthocyanins, and other functional compounds, confirming the contribution of both matrix and encapsulants maintaining the structural characteristics of the product. The presence of antioxidant bands supported the functional potential of the powder formulations. Chia–alginate hydrogels effectively encapsulated L. reuteri, maintaining cell viability and enabling their incorporation into freeze-dried beverage powders. This approach offers a promising strategy for the development of next-generation functional food gels with enhanced probiotic stability, nutritional properties, and potential application in health-promoting dairy systems. Full article

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) are highly sensitive to cold, but grafting onto cold-tolerant rootstocks can enhance their low-temperature resilience. This study investigates the physiological and molecular mechanisms by which exogenous vitamin C (Vc) mitigates cold stress in grafted cucumber seedlings. Using cucumber ‘Chiyu 505’ as the scion and pumpkin ‘Chuangfan No.1’ as the rootstock, seedlings were grafted using the whip grafting method. In the third true leaf expansion stage, seedlings were foliar sprayed with Vc at concentrations of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg L⁻¹. Three days after initial spraying, seedlings were subjected to cold stress (8 °C) for 3 days, with continued spraying. After that, morphological and physiological parameters were assessed. Results showed that 150 mg L⁻¹ Vc treatment was most impactive, significantly reducing the cold damage index while increasing the root-to-shoot ratio, root vitality, chlorophyll content, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT). Moreover, this treatment enhanced levels of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and proline compared to control. However, 200 mg L⁻¹ treatment elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) content, indicating potential oxidative stress. For transcriptomic analysis, leaves from the 150 mg L⁻¹ Vc and CK treatments were sampled at 0, 1, 2, and 3 days of cold stress. Differential gene expression revealed that genes associated with photosynthesis (LHCA1), stress signal transduction (MYC2-1, MYC2-2, WRKY22, WRKY2), and antioxidant defense (SOD-1, SOD-2) were initially up-regulated and subsequently down-regulated, as validated by qRT-PCR. Overall, we found that the application of 150 mg L⁻¹ Vc enhanced cold tolerance in grafted cucumber seedlings by modulating gene expression networks related to photosynthesis, stress response, and the antioxidant defense system. This study provides a way for developing Vc biostimulants to enhance cold tolerance in grafted cucumbers, improving sustainable cultivation in low-temperature regions. Full article

Due to the limitations of high speed and short time in plasma-spraying experiments, this study established a simulation model of Y₂O₃ multi-particle deposition to discuss the influence of laser loading on coating-deposition behavior and performance. According to the simulation results, the temperature of coating particles under laser loading displays a gradient distribution, with the surface having the highest temperature. The particles deposit on the substrate to form uniform pits of a certain depth. Plastic deformation causes maximum stress to occur at the edges of the pits and maximum strain to occur on the sidewall of the pits. The deposition region had both compressive and tensile stresses, and laser loading greatly reduced the tensile stresses’ magnitude while having less of an impact on the particle strains. Laser assistance promotes further melting of particles, reduces coating thickness, lowers coating porosity to 3.94%, increases hardness to 488 MPa, reduces maximum pore size from 68 µm to 32 µm, and causes particle sputtering to gradually evolve from being disc-shaped to being finger-shaped, creating cavities at the coating edges. The comparison between the surface morphology and the cross-section pores of the experimentally prepared coating verified the rationality and viability of the simulation work. Full article

Weeds pose a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, requiring control strategies that are both effective and environmentally sustainable. Therefore, this study evaluated the inhibitory potential of aqueous extracts from Ricinus communis L. leaves to manage the weeds Oryza sativa L. (weedy rice) and Cyperus ferax. Extracts were obtained through pressurized liquid extraction using water as the solvent. Bioassays were conducted during pre- and post-emergence stages by foliar spraying 15 and 30 days after sowing (DAS). The effect of extraction time (1–30 min) on inhibitory efficacy was also assessed. Chemical profiles of the extracts were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography. The extracts significantly inhibited seed germination, with suppression rates reaching 92.7%. Plant growth was also diminished, particularly with earlier treatments (at 15 DAS), resulting in reductions of up to 32% and 53% in shoot length, and 69% and 73% in total dry mass for O. sativa L. and C. ferax, respectively. Mortality rates of O. sativa L. and C. ferax reached 64% and 58%, respectively. Phenolic compounds were identified in the extracts, and higher concentrations were observed at shorter extraction times. These findings underscore the potential of R. communis L. leaf extracts as an ecologically sustainable alternative for weed management, providing an effective and natural approach that may reduce reliance on synthetic herbicides and mitigate their environmental impact. Full article

There is a global demand for reducing the adoption of traditional chemical insecticides in agriculture. Among the most promising alternatives, botanical insecticides have been increasingly gaining attention due to their efficacy combined with a more environmentally safe impact. Among the different botanical insecticides commercially available, oxymatrine is an alkaloid found in the roots of Sophora flavescens which exhibits wide insecticide activity. However, their side-effects on non-target organisms have not been extensively evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate in laboratory conditions the insecticidal potential of a commercial botanical insecticide (Matrine^®) based on ethanolic extract of S. flavescens roots at 0.2; 0.6; 1.0; 1.4; 1.8; and 2.2 L of commercial product per hectare to control third-instar larvae of Rachiplusia nu and its selectivity in the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum. Overall, our results showed that the ethanolic extract of S. flavescens is an efficient tool to control R. nu from 0.6 to 2.2 L/ha, with similar R. nu mortality at 48 and 72 h after spraying (close to 100% mortality) associated with no impact to pupae and minimum impact to adults (slightly harmful) of the egg parasitoid. The botanical insecticide was classified as harmless to the pupae and slightly harmful to the adults of T. pretiosum according to the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) protocols. Thus, the use of the ethanolic extract of S. flavescens emerges as a relevant alternative to control R. nu, which needs to be confirmed in future field trials. Full article

Microalgae proteins are increasingly recognized in the food and nutraceutical industries for their functional versatility and high nutritional value. Mild alkaline treatment is commonly used for cell wall degradation and intracellular protein solubilization, consequently enhancing the protein extraction yield. The findings of this study reveal that alkaline treatment alone, even at higher NaOH concentration (up to 0.3 M) and treatment time (up to 90 min), was ineffective (max. 2.4% yield) for the extraction of protein from Auxenochlorella protothecoides biomass. This challenge was significantly reduced through synergistic application of mechanical cell disruption using high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and alkaline solubilization. Single-pass HPH (35 k psi) alone without alkaline treatment led to 52.3% protein solubilization from wet biomass directly harvested from culture broth, while it was only 18.5% for spray-dried biomass. The combined effect of HPH and alkaline (0.1 M NaOH) treatment significantly increased protein extraction yield to 68.0% for a spray-dried biomass loading of 50 g L⁻¹. Through replacing spray-dried biomass with wet biomass, the requirement of NaOH was reduced by 5-fold to 0.02 M to achieve a similar yield of 68.1%. The process integration of HPH with the mild alkaline solubilization and utilization of wet biomass from culture broth showed high potential for industrialization of microalgae protein extraction. This method achieves high extraction yield while reducing alkaline waste and eliminating the need for energy-consuming drying of biomass, thereby minimizing the environmental impact. Full article

This article explores the issue of surface modification through tumbling and vaporisation of 3D-printed materials, and its impact on the electrolytic deposition of metal coatings on previously non-conductive materials. Plastic materials represent an affordable alternative, but their surface treatment, in the form of post-coating, achieves properties comparable to those of metal parts while saving expensive metal material. Samples prepared by selective laser sintering (SLS) with different surface treatments were used. Polyamide 12 (PA12) was chosen as the base material and copper (Cu) as the metallic coating. Graphite was sprayed on the samples to ensure conductivity. The Cu coating was electrodeposited from an acidic copper electrolyte. The quantitative analysis of the surface was carried out using standard ISO parameters. The thickness of the deposited copper layer was determined using destructive measurements on a digital microscope. The results show that surface modification has a significant effect on the functional properties of the surface quality and the thickness of the deposited copper layer. Full article

The aim was to investigate the impact of laser parameters on the surface morphology of ablated graphene and elucidate the interaction mechanism between carbon materials and femtosecond lasers. A pulsed laser with a wavelength of 1030 nm is employed to infer the ablation threshold of the surface and interface of graphene coatings formed through ultrasonic spraying. The ablation threshold of the coating–substrate interface is verified by numerical simulation. Incorporating the data of groove width and depth obtained from a three-dimensional profilometer and finite element simulation, an in-depth analysis of the threshold conditions of laser ablation in coating materials is accomplished. The results indicate that when the femtosecond laser frequency is 10 kHz, the pulse width is 290 fs, and the energy density reaches 0.057 J/cm², the graphene material can be effectively removed. When the energy density is elevated to 2.167 J/cm², a complete ablation of a graphite coating with a thickness of 1.5 μm can be achieved. The findings of this study validate the evolution law and linear relationship of ablation crater morphology, offering new references for microstructure design and the selection of controllable laser processing parameters. Full article

In recent years, 3D pixel sensors have been a topic of increasing interest within the High Energy Physics community. Due to their inherent radiation hardness, demonstrated up to a fluence of $3\times {10}^{16}$ 1 MeV equivalent neutrons per square centimeter, 3D pixel sensors have been used to equip the innermost tracking layers of the ATLAS and CMS detector upgrades at the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider. Additionally, the next generation of vertex detectors calls for precise measurement of charged particle timing at the pixel level. Owing to their fast response times, 3D sensors present themselves as a viable technology for these challenging applications. Nevertheless, both radiation hardness and fast timing require 3D sensors to be operated with high bias voltages on the order of ∼150 V and beyond. Special attention should therefore be devoted to avoiding problems that could cause premature electrical breakdown, which could limit sensor performance. In this paper, TCAD simulations are used to gain deep insight into the impact of surface isolation layers (i.e., p-stop and p-spray) used by different vendors on the high-voltage tolerance of small-pitch 3D sensors. Results relevant to different geometrical configurations and irradiation scenarios are presented. The advantages and disadvantages of the available technologies are discussed, offering guidance for design optimization. Experimentalmeasurements from existing samples based on both isolation techniques show good agreement with simulated breakdown voltages, thereby validating the simulation approach. Full article

Farmers commonly throw away tomato leaves when they harvest tomatoes, although they are a good source of vital biomolecules. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) enhance plant growth by regulating abiotic stress and scavenging reactive oxygen species. In the current article, the activities of five antioxidant enzymes—glutathione reductase (GR), peroxidase (POX), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)—were determined spectrophotometrically to study the interaction between foliar fertilization of ZnO NPs and salt stress in tomato plants. We employed the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique to investigate the gene expression. It was also used to generate a de novo supertranscript and then determine the sequences modulated by treatments. Differential expression analysis was used to identify increased and reduced gene clusters, and gene enrichment analysis was used to identify over- and under-expressed genes under the treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) was used to identify the functions and regulatory pathways of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). It was found that ZnO nanoparticles had the capability to overcome the reduction in antioxidant enzyme production levels in the case of the salinity-stressed treatments and enhance the secretion of those enzymes in the non-stressed but sprayed treatments. The ZnO NPs also enhanced the reduction in stress-responsive genes associated with salt stress resistance. The results revealed the impact of ZnO nanoparticles on alleviating the salinity stress reductive effects in antioxidative enzymes and regulating the mechanism by which metabolically relevant genes adaptively respond to salt stress in tomato plants. So, spraying tomato plants (stressed or not) with ZnO NPs is a promising agricultural technique in improving different metabolic pathways that are responsible for plants’ resistance. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although technology has progressed and novel dosage forms have been developed, tablets are still the most used form of medication. However, the present manufacturing methods of these oral solid dosage forms offer limited capacity for personalized treatment and adaptable dosing. Personalized therapy, with a few exceptions, is not yet a part of routine clinical practice. Drug printing could be a possible approach to increase the use of personalized therapy. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of surface tension and the viscosity of inks in the formation of the printing pattern and to investigate how the porosity of substrate tablets influences the behavior of inks on the surface. Methods: Spray-dried mannitol served as a binder and filler, while magnesium stearate functioned as a lubricant in the preparation of substrate tablets. Brilliant Blue dye was a model “drug”. The ink formulation was applied to the substrates in three varying quantities. Results: Increasing the viscosity enhanced the drug content, potentially improving printing speed and pattern accuracy. However, it negatively impacted the dosing accuracy due to nozzle clogging and prolonged drying time. Viscosity had a significantly higher impact on the ink behavior than surface tension. Lowering the surface tension improved the dosing accuracy and reduced the drying time but resulted in smaller drop sizes and decreases in pattern accuracy. Reducing the substrate porosity led to longer drying times and diminished pattern accuracy. Conclusions: A target surface tension of around 30 mN/m is suggested for inkjet printing. It is necessary to further investigate the applicability of the technology with solutions of inks with high viscosity and low surface tension, including the API. Full article

The use of adhesive joints in naval applications requires a thorough understanding of their fatigue performance. This paper reports on the fatigue experiments performed on double cantilever beam specimens with thick adhesive bondline manufactured under shipyard conditions. The specimens have an initial crack at the steel–adhesive interface and are tested in unaged, salt-spray-aged and immersion-aged conditions to determine the interface mode I fatigue properties. The strain energy release rate is calculated using the Kanninen–Penado model, and the fatigue crack growth curve is determined using a power law model. The crack growth rate slope for salt-spray-aged specimens is 16.5% lower than for unaged specimens, while that for immersion-aged specimens is 66.1% lower and is shown to be significantly different. The fracture surfaces are analyzed to identify the failure mechanisms and the influence of the aging process on the interface properties. Since the specimens are manufactured under shipyard conditions, the presence of voids and discontinuities in the adhesive bondline is observed and as a result leads to scatter. Hence, Bayesian linear regression is performed in addition to the ordinary least squares regression to account for the scatter and provide a distribution of plausible values for the power law coefficients. The results highlight the impact of aging on the fatigue property, underscoring the importance of considering environmental effects in the qualification of such joints for marine applications. Full article

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and debilitating complication of cancer therapy, particularly in patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It significantly impairs quality of life and may necessitate the interruption of cancer treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OROSOL, an oral spray device, in managing oral mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial compared OROSOL to a placebo in children with oral mucositis aged 3 to 17 years. Participants were followed for 28 days with regular medical visits. The primary endpoints were changes in the Oral Assessment Guide (OAG) scores and key symptoms (mucositis score, difficulty in oral feeding, ulceration and erythema, and pain sensation). Safety was assessed via adverse events and local tolerability. Results: Both groups were demographically balanced at baseline (p > 0.6). OROSOL demonstrated significantly greater improvements in the mucositis score beginning on Day 7 (p = 0.0122) and maintained superiority through Day 28 (p = 0.0007). Notable reductions in mucositis severity were observed, with significantly faster relief in the OROSOL group compared to the placebo (p < 0.001 for most timepoints). Oral feeding difficulty also showed a marked decline, with significant improvements starting from Day 5 (p = 0.0153). Ulceration and erythema scores significantly decreased from Day 14 onwards (p = 0.0188). Pain sensation showed a marked reduction from Day 14 (p = 0.0014). No serious adverse events were reported, and tolerability was consistent across all participants. Conclusions: OROSOL has a significant impact on reducing mucositis severity, oral feeding difficulty, ulceration, erythema, and pain. Coupled with its excellent safety profile, it is a valuable therapeutic option. This treatment is particularly beneficial for pediatric patients, ensuring improved comfort and recovery without notable adverse effects. Full article

There is considerable interest in broadband nanomaterials, particularly transparent semiconductor oxides, within both fundamental research and technological applications. Historically, it has been considered that the variation in dopant concentration during the synthesis of semiconductor materials is a crucial factor in activating and/or modulating the optical and structural properties, particularly the bandgap and the parameters of the unit cell, of semiconductor oxides. Recently, tin oxide has emerged as a key material due to its excellent structural properties, optical transparency, and various promising applications in optoelectronics. This study utilized the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique to synthesize aluminum-doped tin oxide (ATO) thin films on quartz and polished single-crystal silicon substrates. The impact of varying aluminum doping levels (0, 2, 5, and 10 at. %) on morphology and structural and optical properties was examined. The ATO thin films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmittance spectroscopy. SEM images demonstrated a slight reduction in the size of ATO nanoparticles as the aluminum doping concentration increased. XRD analysis revealed a tetragonal crystalline structure with the space group P42/mnm, and a shift in the XRD peaks to higher angles was noted with increasing aluminum content, indicating a decrease in the crystalline lattice parameters of ATO. The transmittance of the ATO films varied between 75% and 85%. By employing the transmittance spectra and the established Tauc formula the optical bandgap values of ATO films were calculated, showing an increase in the bandgap with higher doping levels. These findings were thoroughly analyzed and discussed; additionally, an effort was made to clarify the contradictory analyses present in the literature and to identify a doping range that avoids the onset of a secondary phase. Full article