Search Results (582)

This study develops and optimizes a hybrid plant that couples a recompression sCO₂ Brayton cycle to a central-tower particle receiver with a bottoming Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), including environmental and exergy balances. The two scenarios revealed Pareto points that raised the exergy efficiency to 0.65 in winter and reduced the fuel flow to 15 kg/s. Scenario number two achieves an overall thermal efficiency of 0.50 with total daily emissions of 2520 t CO₂ and 2850 kg NO_x, enabling nearly constant net power. Exergy destruction is concentrated in the high-temperature recuperator (HTR) and ORC turbines (27% each) and the ORC condenser (25%). Compared to a non-optimized baseline, the best solutions increased the ORC and Brayton efficiencies by 6.8–12.66% and 33.4–33.5%, respectively; cut gas-turbine power by 34% and ORC power to 10%; and lowered daily CO₂ and NO_x emissions by 52%. The gains stem from the coordinated adjustments of key levers: lower gas-turbine inlet temperature (about 10%), reduced Brayton mass flow (23%), and tuned ORC turbine inlet pressure. Full article

Tire-Derived Aggregate (TDA) is a recycled fill material made by cutting scrap tires into small pieces that satisfy the gradation requirements in ASTM D 6270. Since its introduction to civil engineering applications, TDA fill and TDA backfill have been successfully implemented in many projects. However, the dynamic behavior of the TDA backfill under significant earthquakes has not been substantially addressed. The present study used nonlinear time-history Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to analyze the dynamic behavior of a retaining wall with TDA backfill captured from the full-scale shake table test. Unlike typical soil failure observed in a similar retaining wall with conventional soil backfill, significant wall sliding occurred because lightweight TDA contributed to reducing the friction resistance of the wall footing. Therefore, the analysis required modeling capability of rigid body motion and impact loading from the separation between the wall stem and the backfill. With adequate friction models and softened contact models, the FEA generated the dynamic motion of the retaining wall that matched well with the measured responses, including the wall sliding. The friction model between the wall footing and soil was most critical in accurately reproducing wall sliding motion. It was determined to use different friction coefficients for the two different earthquakes used in the study in order to simplify the rate dependence of the coefficient. Also, the softened contact model generated more reasonable impact force by allowing overclosure and finite stiffness during impact. The FEA model and modeling technique in the present study can be used for the seismic design of various field-scale retaining walls with TDA backfill. Full article

Evidence has demonstrated that microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) exerted toxic effects on animal models; our understanding of their potential toxicity to human health remains limited due to the lack of human-relevant in vitro models. Human stem cell-derived organoids are sophisticated and multicellular structures that could effectively mimic the key features of native organs and tissues. To date, human organoids have been widely used in toxicology. This study reviews the current application of human organoids in the toxicity assessment of MPs and NPs. Current limitations and future perspectives are discussed. Cutting-edge technologies combined with organoids are expected to provide new insights for illustrating the potential toxicity of MPs and NPs. Full article

As core materials in pavement structures, asphalt mixtures are characterized by intensive energy consumption and significant carbon footprints throughout their construction cycle, making their construction a typical high-carbon process in road engineering. Warm-mix technology, leveraging its key advantages of reducing mixing temperatures and cutting energy consumption and emissions, has emerged as a green alternative to hot-mix mixtures. However, existing studies have lacked systematic environmental impact assessments of combinations of asphalt from different oil sources and warm-mix technologies. This study focuses on the additive type warm-mix technology (Evotherm M1) and uses three typical oil sources of 70# road petroleum asphalt. Using headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS–GC–MS) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods, a systematic analysis was conducted across three dimensions: multi-component pollutant emissions, full life cycle stages, and multi-type warm-mix technologies. The analysis focused on the influence of warm-mix treatment on Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, as well as energy consumption and carbon emission characteristics throughout the full life cycle of the construction phase. Results indicate that warm-mix treatment significantly inhibits VOC emissions from all three oil source asphalts. The largest reduction was observed in Asp-A (74.66%), followed by Asp-C (69.27%), and the smallest in Asp-B (46.47%). The VOC compositions shifted from being dominated by oxygenates to a coexistence of multi-components such as alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. In the life cycle of the construction phase, compared with hot-mix mixtures, warm-mix technology reduced total energy consumption by 5.50%–5.56% and carbon emissions by 4.47%–4.52%. Raw material production and mixture mixing stages were identified as the core links for energy consumption and carbon emissions, accounting for over 80% of the totals. Differences among oil sources mainly stemmed from refinery power structure and the temperature–viscosity properties of asphalt. The research results provide theoretical support for material selection and process optimization of green construction of asphalt pavement using additive-based warm-mix technology. Full article

Background: Traditional high-speed mechanical osteotomes cause substantial thermal and mechanical trauma, impairing bone healing. Erbium-doped yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) lasers, with water-mediated non-contact ablation, offer precise osteotomy potential with minimal collateral damage. This study demonstrated the feasibility of Er:YAG laser use for complex osteotomies and elucidated its multi-scale biological impacts on bone. Methods: A custom Er:YAG laser performed Z/arc-shaped osteotomies on fresh ovine bone (oscillating saw as control); paired rat tibial osteotomies; and compared laser vs. saw resection. Osteotomy surfaces were characterized by SEM/micro-CT; histological staining quantified thermal/mechanical damage. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) adhesion, viability, and infiltration on cut surfaces were evaluated via LSCM. Result: In the ex vivo ovine model, the Er:YAG laser enabled precise execution of complex osteotomies (Z-shaped and arc-shaped), producing significantly narrower gaps than the oscillating saw (1.14 mm vs. 2.70 mm, p < 0.001) with high geometric fidelity and smooth surfaces free of burrs, micro-cracks, or debris. In the in vivo rat model, laser ablation simultaneously minimized both thermal and mechanical damage at the osteotomy interface: it reduced the thermal damage depth (154 vs. 592 µm, p < 0.001) and empty lacunae rate (16.8% vs. 41.8%, p < 0.001) while completely avoiding the mechanical damage zone (297 µm) induced by sawing. Furthermore, the laser-ablated surface established a highly bioactive interface, which significantly enhanced the adhesion (606 vs. 389 cells), viability (86.9% vs. 46.6%), and infiltration depth (196 vs. 75 µm) of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (all p < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, this proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the Er:YAG laser has the potential to enable precise bone resection while preserving microstructure. By establishing a pro-regenerative microenvironment, this technology shows promise as a biologically favorable alternative to conventional sawing, although further technical refinement and long-term validation are essential for its clinical translation. Full article

Two biological control agents, Archanara neurica (Hübner) and Lenisa geminipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), are being released in Canada for the control of invasive common reed, Phragmites australis australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steud (hereafter Phragmites). The release of larvae implanted in cut Phragmites stems is the most reliable way to establish agents at new sites, but the number of larvae that can be used for releases is limited by the short period of time over which egg hatch occurs. We conducted a cold storage experiment to assess whether the timing of egg hatch can be manipulated without affecting hatch success. Additionally, we conducted visual assessments of developing eggs to determine whether hatch timing can be predicted based on early signs of development. Eggs hatched indoors had lower hatch rates than eggs hatched in outdoor conditions. For A. neurica and L. geminipuncta, eggs could be held in cold storage for 11 and 8 weeks, respectively, without affecting hatch rates. Eggs of both species began hatching 4–7 days after the appearance of visible signs of larval development. Manipulating the timing of hatch in A. neurica and L. geminipuncta will increase the number of larval releases that can be conducted during the spring and allow the timing of releases to be optimized. Full article

Grasslands are ecosystems of global importance; in Peru, they represent more than half of the country’s territory. However, few studies have been conducted on high Andean grasslands. The objective was to study morphological, productive, resource allocation, and nutritional characteristics in five populations of Festuca dolichophylla grown under similar conditions. Populations that originated from Huancavelica Community and University, Junín, Pasco, and Puno were grown in Huancavelica Community in a randomized block design. After twelve months, a uniformization cut was performed, and five months later they were evaluated. Morphological characteristics, productivity, and resource allocation were analyzed with ANCOVA, the nutritional characteristics were analyzed with one-way ANOVA (considering population as a factor). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found for morphological characteristics such as height, number and length of stems, and number of inflorescences. The resource allocation was 13.8% root, 18.4% crown, 29.2% culms + sheaths, 34.8% blades, and 3.8% inflorescence, with no differences between populations (p > 0.05). The Puno population stood out for its greater biomass, linked to more stems and inflorescences. Nutritional characteristics varied among populations in terms of crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and in vitro dry matter digestibility. These findings are useful for selecting populations in revegetation or genetic breeding programs. Full article

Marijuana (Cannabis sativa L.) has a great economic potential due to its phytotherapeutic properties. Its propagation, however, faces numerous challenges due to the limited availability of standardized technical protocols for the crop. Vegetative propagation represents a, or even the, viable method for multiplying the genetically identical individuals while preserving their phytochemical profile, at lower costs and with shorter production times. This study investigated the morphological and colorimetric attributes associated with vegetative propagation success, aiming to develop sustainable cultivation strategies. Four cutting lengths (5, 10, 15 and 20 cm) were evaluated after 21 days of rooting, considering fresh mass, basal diameter, presence of apical meristem, number of root primordia, root length, and foliar and stem color parameters. Logistic regressions indicated that longer cuttings (p = 0.0101), greater fresh mass (p = 0.073) and the presence of apical meristem (p = 0.065), as well as greener leaves (p = 0.089), were positively associated with rooting probability (p < 0.10). Positive correlations between morphological and colorimetric variables were confirmed by Principal Component Analysis, with the first two principal components explaining 31.2% of the total variance in the dataset. The results provide support for the development of more efficient and low-cost vegetative propagation protocols, promoting uniformity and autonomy in local cutting production of marijuana. Full article

Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, is an increasingly important constraint in soybean, particularly under hot and dry conditions. While heat and drought are known to favor disease development, short early-season cold spells—common in temperate regions—may predispose soybean to subsequent infection, yet this interaction remains poorly quantified. It was evaluated whether transient chilling increases charcoal rot severity and whether cultivar-specific differences modulate this predisposition. Nine commercial cultivars spanning MG 00, 0, and 0–I were grown in a controlled walk-in chamber under either optimal conditions (control) or a three-day cold spell initiated at the first fully expanded trifoliate (20–23 days after sowing, DAS). Standardized cut-stem inoculation was performed at 26 DAS, and stem lesion length was recorded every 3–4 days across five assessments at 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 DPI. Two-way ANOVA (treatment, genotype, treatment × genotype) with Tukey’s HSD tested effects. Cold stress significantly increased lesion lengths at all assessments, with the strongest divergence at the earliest measurement. Genotype and treatment × genotype were also significant, revealing differential responses among cultivars; notably, one line (G9) showed consistently small treatment-induced increases. These results indicate that brief early-season cold exposure can predispose soybean to more severe charcoal rot, with the magnitude dependent on genotype and timing. Incorporating cold-stress predisposition into screening and breeding should enhance resilience under increasing climate variability. Full article

Accurate modeling of stem taper is essential for forest management decisions, including the definition of cutting cycles, the feasibility of annual harvesting, assortment classification, size and volume estimation, and ensuring sustainable production continuity. This study modeled the stem taper of Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze stands in southern Brazil using Kozak’s variable-exponent model fitted with nonlinear mixed-effects techniques. Both fixed- and mixed-effects models showed high predictive performance, regardless of calibration. An unstructured (UN) covariance structure was required to reduce autocorrelation. The mixed-effects model improved predictive accuracy by up to 22%, achieved R² values above 0.99 with RMSE < 0.74 cm, and significantly reduced residual autocorrelation in diameter estimates. The most effective calibration of random effects was achieved using diameter measurements taken at heights between 0.3 and 6.3 m above ground (approximately between 1.3% and 28.3% of the total height, considering the tallest tree as a reference). This research improves the accuracy of volume estimation and the definition of timber assortments for A. angustifolia, thereby supporting forest management decision-making in southern Brazil. Full article

Mango is the second most widely cultivated tropical fruit in the world. Its harvesting mainly relies on manual labor. During the harvest season, the hot weather leads to low working efficiency and high labor costs. Current research on automatic mango harvesting mainly focuses on locating the fruit stem harvesting point, followed by stem clamping and cutting. However, these methods are less effective when the stem is occluded. To address these issues, this study first acquires images of four mango varieties in a mixed cultivation orchard and builds a dataset. Mango detection and occlusion-state classification models are then established based on YOLOv11m and YOLOv8l-cls, respectively. The detection model achieves an AP_0.5–0.95 (average precision at IoU = 0.50:0.05:0.95) of 90.21%, and the accuracy of the classification model is 96.9%. Second, based on the mango growth characteristics, detected mango bounding boxes and binocular vision, we propose a spatial localization method for the mango grasping point. Building on this, a mango-grasping and stem-cutting end-effector is designed. Finally, a mango harvesting robot system is developed, and verification experiments are carried out. The experimental results show that the harvesting method and procedure are well-suited for situations where the fruit stem is occluded, as well as for fruits with no occlusion or partial occlusion. The mango grasping success rate reaches 96.74%, the stem cutting success rate is 91.30%, and the fruit injury rate is less than 5%. The average image processing time is 119.4 ms. The results prove the feasibility of the proposed methods. Full article

Aiming at the reliability of ear picking and the consistency of stalk chopping length in the process of corn ear and stalk harvesting, a new type of corn harvester with both ear and stalk harvesting based on exciting ear picking was developed. Based on the vertical cutting table, the machine realizes the excitation of the ear during the process of stalk transportation by rotating the eight-edged special-shaped pick-up roll, and the stable and orderly transportation of stalks before cutting is realized by the way of clamping and conveying with the rear rollers. By analyzing the configuration and parameter determination methods of the main working parts, the high-efficiency and low-loss harvest of the ear was realized, and the consistency of the cut length of the stalk was guaranteed. A discrete element model (DEM) of ear-bearing maize plants was established using EDEM (version 2024, Altair Engineering, Troy, MI, USA) simulation software, and a five-factor, three-level quadratic orthogonal rotation experiment was conducted based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The simulation results indicated that the optimal operational quality was achieved under the following parameters: a header angle of 10°, a snapping roller speed of 942 rpm, a clamping roller speed of 215 rpm, and a moving blade speed of 1450 rpm. Furthermore, multiple sets of field trials were conducted at various forward speeds to validate these findings. The mean values of seed loss rate, ear loss rate, and seed breakage rate are 0.51%, 0.55%, and 0.32%, respectively, for the harvester at operating speeds of 4 km/h, 6 km/h, 8 km/h, and 10 km/h. The σ values are 97%, 98%, 97%, and 98%. The field harvesting performance indexes meet the requirements of technical specifications for evaluating the operation quality of corn combine harvester, and meet the design requirements of low loss, high efficiency, and consistency of stem chopping length. Full article

(1) Background: The transcription factor p73 exists in multiple isoforms with divergent functions in cancer. While DNp73 promotes stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis, the tumor-suppressive isoform TAp73 can also switch to promoting cancer progression. How isoforms sharing the same DNA-binding domain produce divergent outcomes remains unclear. (2) Methods: Here, we performed CUT&RUN in combination with JASPAR, transcriptomics, proteomics, patient survival and gene expression data to map genome-wide and promoter-associated DNA-binding and coregulatory transcription factor (coTF) profiles of TAp73α and DNp73β in melanoma cells. (3) Results: Systematic screening for motif enrichment in cancer hallmark gene sets revealed TAp73- and DNp73-specific coTF repertoires with distinct functions. We identified a coregulator signature for EMT genes enriched for both isoforms that has tumor context-dependent effects on survival and correlates with unfavorable patient prognosis. Of these EMT-associated coTFs, PATZ1 was validated as a novel direct interactor of DNp73β. (4) Conclusions: Our results provide a comprehensive reference map of p73 isoform-specific binding and coregulator recruitment and establish a workflow to model their influence on cancer reprogramming with implications for AI-based individualized therapy. Full article

Optimizing the growing conditions of Anemone coronaria and Ranunculus asiaticus for cut-flower production under northern greenhouse conditions requires a better understanding of the environmental and cultivation practices influencing emergence, flowering, and flower quality. This study evaluated the effect of storage organ reuse, along with vernalization conditions, growth temperature, growing season, and planting method (in-ground vs. containers) on plant phenology and flower yield and quality. Flower quantity and quality were unaffected by storage organ age, confirming that these organs can be stored and reused the following season. Vernalization at temperatures of 7 °C or 10 °C advanced flowering compared to warmer vernalization in all cultivars, and increased flower yield compared to non-vernalization. Growth under cool conditions (15/10 °C day/night) extended the production period and improved floral quality by promoting longer stems and delaying senescence. Short to moderate photoperiods (11–13 h in the winter vs. 15 h in the spring) and low light intensity, typical of winter, promoted stem elongation and marketable flower yield, whereas increasing photoperiod and temperature in late spring shorten the flowering period. Ground beds provided cooler and more buffered soil conditions, improving flowering duration and yield compared to container-grown plants during springtime. These findings highlight the importance of integrating temperature management, vernalization, and tailored cultivation practices to enhance flower quality, prolong the production, and improve sustainability of cut-flower production under northern climates in both species. Full article

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity (DICT) severely hampers drug development and threatens patient safety. Together with the growing global burden of cardiovascular disease, there is an urgent need to establish more predictive preclinical models. Recently, human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs) have emerged as a promising three-dimensional in vitro model, achieving significant progress in simulating the complex structure and function of the human heart. However, existing reviews predominantly focus on technical construction or specific applications, lacking an integrated discussion of pathological model construction and their use under evolving regulatory frameworks. This review distinguishes itself by proposing a novel, holistic framework that bridges “construction technology,” “pathological modeling,” and “application evaluation.” We systematically categorize and summarize three major strategies for building hCO-based pathological models: patient-specific, gene-edited, and microenvironment-modulated approaches. Furthermore, we highlight the unique advantages of hCOs in preclinical drug assessment and detail their cutting-edge applications in early DICT warning, metabolism-related safety evaluation, and personalized drug evaluation. Finally, we address current challenges, including maturation and standardization, and outline future directions involving integration with organ-on-a-chip technology and artificial intelligence. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation and roadmap toward more reliable and human-relevant drug development paradigms. Full article