Search Results (4,395)

This study addresses the increasing demand for texture-modified seafood products suitable for elderly consumers by focusing on dried squid, a popular protein source. The aim was to optimize the softening and drying procedures to produce a dried squid product with improved chewability and quality. Fresh squid was pretreated using sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate solutions (0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mol/kg) and dried at 40 °C using either continuous (CD) or intermittent drying (ID) until the final moisture content reached 18.34 ± 0.44%. Hardness generally increased with higher alkaline concentrations, with the potassium carbonate-treated samples showing better softening effects. Based on standards for elderly-friendly foods targeting chewable hardness (10,000–50,000 N/m²), low water activity (<0.58), and limited color change (ΔE = 14.32), the optimal result was achieved with 0.3 mol/kg potassium carbonate and ID. Among the thin-layer drying models, the Midilli–Kucuk model showed the best fit, with the highest average R² (0.9974), and lowest SSE (0.0481) and RMSE (0.1688), effectively capturing the drying kinetics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed smoother surfaces and consistent porosity in samples dried intermittently, indicating less structural degradation. Finite element analysis showed that ID improved internal moisture distribution, reduced surface crusting, and alleviated internal stresses. These results support mild alkaline soaking combined with ID as an effective strategy for enhancing dried squid quality for elderly individuals. Full article

An activated biochar was produced from post-coagulation sludge (also called water treatment residuals or water treatment sludge) in the pyrolysis process at 800 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere and chemical activation using NaOH. The produced adsorption material was characterised by an S_BET surface area of 439 m²/g, a total volume of pores of 0.301 cm³/g, and an average pore size of 1.4 nm. FTIR analysis reveals the presence of primarily C-H, C-O, N-H, C-N, and O-H groups on the activated biochar surface. The batch adsorption process was conducted for three dyes: Acid Red 18, Acid Green 16, and Reactive Blue 81. In the study, the effect of pH, contact time, adsorption kinetics, and adsorption isotherm was determined. The studies showed that, for all dyes, the highest efficiency of the process was achieved at a pH of 2. The results indicate the occurrence of a chemical adsorption process, as evidenced by the best fit to the experimental results obtained with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the Elovich model. In the case of the adsorption isotherm, the SIPS model best describes the adsorption for Acid Red 18 and Reactive Blue 81, and the Jovanovic model describes the adsorption of Acid Green 16. Full article

Expandable polystyrene (EPS) nozzle covers can be used to replace traditional metal nozzle covers due to their excellent mechanical properties, as well as being lightweight and ablatable. As an important part of the solid rocket motor, the nozzle cover needs to be designed according to the requirements of the overall system. This study lays a theoretical foundation for the engineering design and performance optimization of the EPS nozzle cover. In this paper, the method of combining test research and numerical simulation is used to explore the pressure bearing capacity of EPS nozzle covers with different thicknesses under linear load. Firstly, the quasi-static tensile, compression and shear tests of EPS materials were carried out by universal testing machine, and the key parameters such as stress-strain curve, elastic modulus and yield strength were obtained; Based on the experimental data, the constitutive model of EPS material with respect to density is fitted and modified; The VUMAT subroutine of the material was written in Fortran language, and the mechanical properties of the nozzle cover with different material model distribution schemes and different thicknesses were explored by ABAQUS finite element numerical simulation technology. The results indicate that the EPS nozzle cover design based on the two material model allocation schemes better aligns with practical conditions; when the end thickness of the EPS nozzle cover exceeds 3 mm, the opening pressure formula for the cover based on the pure shear theory of thin-walled circular plates becomes inapplicable; the EPS nozzle cover exhibits excellent pressure-bearing capacity and performance, with its pressure-bearing capacity showing a positive correlation with its end thickness, and an EPS nozzle cover with a 9 mm end thickness can withstand a pressure of 7.58 MPa (under internal pressure conditions); the pressure-bearing capacity of the EPS nozzle cover under internal pressure conditions is higher than under external pressure conditions, and when the end pressure-bearing surface thickness increases to 9 mm, the internal pressure-bearing capacity is 3.13 MPa higher than under external pressure conditions. Full article

Arabic abstractive summarization presents a complex multi-objective optimization challenge, balancing readability, informativeness, and conciseness. While extractive approaches dominate NLP, abstractive methods—particularly for Arabic—remain underexplored due to linguistic complexity. This study introduces, for the first time, ant colony system (ACS) for Arabic abstractive summarization (named AASAC—Arabic Abstractive Summarization using Ant Colony), framing it as a combinatorial evolutionary optimization task. Our method integrates collocation and word-relation features into heuristic-guided fitness functions, simultaneously optimizing content coverage and linguistic coherence. Evaluations on a benchmark dataset using LemmaRouge, a lemma-based metric that evaluates semantic similarity rather than surface word forms, demonstrate consistent superiority. For 30% summaries, AASAC achieves 51.61% (LemmaRouge-1) and 46.82% (LemmaRouge-L), outperforming baselines by 13.23% and 20.49%, respectively. At 50% summary length, it reaches 64.56% (LemmaRouge-1) and 61.26% (LemmaRouge-L), surpassing baselines by 10.73% and 3.23%. These results highlight AASAC’s effectiveness in addressing multi-objective NLP challenges and establish its potential for evolutionary computation applications in language generation, particularly for complex morphological languages like Arabic. Full article

The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1) protein facilitates viral entry through binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), but it also contains an Arg–Gly–Asp (RGD) motif that may enable interactions with RGD-binding integrins on ACE2-negative cells. Here, we provide quantitative evidence for this alternative binding pathway using a live-cell, label-free resonant waveguide grating (RWG) biosensor. RWG technology allowed us to monitor real-time adhesion kinetics of live cells to RGD-displaying substrates, as well as cell adhesion to S1-coated surfaces. To characterize the strength of the integrin–S1 interaction, we determined the dissociation constant using two complementary approaches. First, we performed a live-cell competitive binding assay on RGD-displaying surfaces, where varying concentrations of soluble S1 were added to cell suspensions. Second, we recorded the adhesion kinetics of cells on S1-coated surfaces and fitted the data using a kinetic model based on coupled ordinary differential equations. By comparing the results from both methods, we estimate that approximately 33% of the S1 molecules immobilized on the Nb₂O₅ biosensor surface are capable of initiating integrin-mediated adhesion. These findings support the existence of an alternative integrin-dependent entry route for SARS-CoV-2 and highlight the effectiveness of label-free RWG biosensing for quantitatively probing virus–host interactions under physiologically relevant conditions without the need of the isolation of the interaction partners from the cells. Full article

Astringency, a complex oral sensation resulting from interactions between mucin and polyphenols, remains difficult to quantify in portable field settings. Therefore, quantifying the aggregation through interactions can enable the classification of the astringency intensity, and assessing the capillary action driven by the surface tension offers an effective approach for this purpose. This study successfully replicates tannic acid (TA)–mucin aggregation on a paper-based microfluidic chip and utilizes machine learning (ML) to analyze the resulting capillary flow dynamics. Aggregates formed by mixing mucin with TA solutions at three concentrations showed that higher TA levels led to greater aggregation, consequently reducing the capillary flow rates. The flow dynamics were consistently recorded using a smartphone mounted within a custom 3D-printed frame equipped with a motorized sample loading system, ensuring standardized experimental conditions. Among eight trained ML models, the support vector machine (SVM) demonstrated the highest classification accuracy at 95.2% in distinguishing the astringency intensity levels. Furthermore, fitting the flow data to a theoretical capillary flow equation allowed for the extraction of a single coefficient as an input feature, which achieved comparable classification performance, validating the simplified feature extraction strategy. This method was also feasible even with only a portion of the initial data. This approach is simple and cost-effective and can potentially be developed into a portable system, making it useful for field analysis of various liquid samples. Full article

Traditional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) path planning methods for image-based 3D reconstruction often rely solely on geometric information from initial models, resulting in redundant data acquisition in non-architectural areas. This paper proposes a UAV path planning method via semantic segmentation of 3D reality mesh models to enhance efficiency and accuracy in complex scenarios. The scene is segmented into buildings, vegetation, ground, and water bodies. Lightweight polygonal surfaces are extracted for buildings, while planar segments in non-building regions are fitted and projected into simplified polygonal patches. These photography targets are further decomposed into point, line, and surface primitives. A multi-resolution image acquisition strategy is adopted, featuring high-resolution coverage for buildings and rapid scanning for non-building areas. To ensure flight safety, a Digital Surface Model (DSM)-based shell model is utilized for obstacle avoidance, and sky-view-based Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) signal evaluation is applied to guide viewpoint optimization. Finally, a complete weighted graph is constructed, and ant colony optimization is employed to generate a low-energy-cost flight path. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared with traditional oblique photogrammetry, the proposed method achieves higher reconstruction quality. Compared with the commercial software Metashape, it reduces the number of images by 30.5% and energy consumption by 37.7%, while significantly improving reconstruction results in both architectural and non-architectural areas. Full article

This study explores the enhancement of fluoride adsorption using biochar derived from the brown macroalga Sargassum polycystum, which was treated with iron oxide (Fe₃O₄). The macroalgal biomass underwent pyrolysis at 400 °C, followed by Fe₃O₄ impregnation, to improve surface functionality and create active sites for fluoride ion binding. Various factors affecting fluoride removal were systematically examined. A maximum fluoride removal effectiveness of 90.2% was attained under ideal circumstances (pH 2, 60 mg adsorbent dose, 30 mg/L fluoride concentration, and 150 min contact duration). Adsorption isotherm analysis showed that the Langmuir model provided a better fit (R² = 0.998) than the Freundlich model (R² = 0.941), with a maximum adsorption capacity (qₘ) of 3.41 mg/g, indicating monolayer adsorption on a homogeneous surface. Kinetic modeling revealed that the pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption process (R² = 0.9943), suggesting chemisorption as the dominant mechanism, while the intraparticle diffusion model also showed a good fit (R² = 0.9524), implying its role in the rate-limiting step. Surface complexation, facilitated by the enhanced surface area and porosity of the iron-modified biochar, was identified as the primary mechanism of fluoride ion interaction. This study highlights the potential of Fe₃O₄-modified macroalgal biochar as an effective and sustainable solution for fluoride remediation in contaminated water sources. Full article

Background: Upper limb loss significantly impacts quality of life, and whereas myoelectric prostheses restore some function, conventional surface electromyography (sEMG) systems face challenges like poor signal quality, high cognitive burden, and suboptimal control. Phantom X, a novel implantable electrode-array-based system leveraging machine learning (ML), aims to overcome these limitations. This feasibility study assessed Phantom X’s performance using non-invasive surface EMG electrodes to approximate implantable system behavior. Methods: This single-arm, non-randomized study included 11 participants (9 able-bodied, 2 with transradial amputation) fitted with a 32-electrode cutaneous array around the forearm. EMG signals were processed through an ML algorithm to control a desk-mounted prosthesis. Performance was evaluated via gesture accuracy (GA), modified gesture accuracy (MGA), and classifier gesture accuracy (CGA) across 11 hand gestures in three arm postures. User satisfaction was also assessed among the two participants with transradial amputation. Results: Phantom X achieved an average GA of 89.0% ± 6.8%, MGA of 96.8% ± 2.0%, and CGA of 93.6% ± 4.1%. Gesture accuracy was the highest in the Arm Parallel posture and the lowest in the Arm Perpendicular posture. Thumbs Up had the highest accuracy (100%), while Index Point and Index Tap gestures showed lower performance (70% and 79% GA, respectively). The mean latency between EMG onset and gesture detection was 250.5 ± 145.9 ms, with 91% of gestures executed within 500 ms. The amputee participants reported high satisfaction. Conclusions: This study demonstrates Phantom X’s potential to enhance prosthesis control through multi-electrode EMG sensing and ML-based gesture decoding. The non-invasive evaluation suggests high accuracy and responsiveness, warranting further studies with the implantable system to assess long-term usability and real-world performance. Phantom X may offer a superior alternative to conventional sEMG-based control, potentially reducing cognitive burden and improving functional outcomes for upper limb amputees. Full article

This study investigates the adsorption behavior of 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC), a persistent ultraviolet filter, onto microplastic fibers (MPFs) released from domestic textiles, under environmentally relevant conditions. Two types of MPFs were used: MPF A, a heterogeneous blend of synthetic and natural fibers, and MPF B, a uniform polyester source. Adsorption experiments were conducted in municipal wastewater, Danube River surface water, and laundry effluent. Kinetic data best fit the pseudo-second-order model (R² > 0.95), and the Elovich model indicated chemisorption involving heterogeneous binding sites. MPF A exhibited superior adsorption capacities (qₑ = 85.4–90.1 µg/g) compared to MPF B (58.8–66.8 µg/g). Langmuir isotherms yielded maximum adsorption capacities of 204.9 µg/g for MPF A and 116.7 µg/g for MPF B (R² = 0.929–0.977), while D–R isotherm energies (12.0–21.7 kJ/mol) confirmed specific interactions, such as π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding. Adsorption efficiency was highest in municipal wastewater (total organic carbon—TOC = 13.12 mg/L, electrical conductivity—EC = 1152 µS/cm), followed by laundry and surface waters. These findings emphasize the critical role of polymer composition and matrix complexity in pollutant transport, suggesting MPFs are effective transporters of hydrophobic micropollutants in aquatic systems. Full article

Porous carbon-loaded MnO was prepared via a combination of the sol–gel method and the chemical blow molding method using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and manganese nitrate as starting materials. SEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, XRD, XPS, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, and elemental analysis were used to assess its physical and chemical characteristics. Furthermore, the adsorption property of porous carbon-loaded MnO for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in polluted water was investigated in detail. The results demonstrated that large numbers of MnO nanoparticles were evenly mounted on the surfaces of carbon walls, with a uniform distribution of C, N, and O elements. The BET surface area was 46.728 m²/g, and the pore sizes of porous carbon ranged from 2 nm to 10 nm. Additionally, abundant surface functional groups were found in porous carbon-loaded MnO, a result consistent with XPS data and applicable to the adsorption of heavy metals from aqueous solutions containing Cr(VI). The Freundlich model fitted the adsorption isotherm well, and the pseudo−second−order model precisely matched the adsorption kinetics. According to the study results, the adsorption was multilayer, and the adsorption process involved an endothermic reaction. These results indicate that this is a feasible way to synthesize a high−efficiency adsorbent for the removal of harmful heavy−metal ions from wastewater. Full article

Commercial alumina and silica–alumina catalysts were investigated for propylene (PEN) production via an isopropanol (IPA) dehydration reaction between 200 and 300 °C at an atmospheric pressure and IPA partial pressure of 5136 Pa. The reaction conditions were chosen to fit with the further conversion of PEN into value-added compounds with minimal capital cost, and the conceptual process design was discussed. The textural properties, structure and chemical composition of as-received and hydrothermally treated catalysts were characterised by the adsorption–desorption of N₂, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. The adsorption microcalorimetry of NH₃ and SO₂ was used to determine the amount, strength and strength distribution of acid–base sites, while the nature of the acid sites was investigated by Fourier Transform Infraed spectroscopy. Surface area, pore-size distribution and pore volume were not determining factors for the catalytic performances of studied solids in the conditions used here. The best-performing catalyst combined stable textural properties and a high number of high-strength acid sites (Q_diff > 150 kJ/mol NH₃) under hydrothermal conditions. The importance of determining the number and strength of acid sites of water-aged catalysts, when considering reactions where water is present as reactive or product, is underlined. Full article

This study investigates the adsorption performance of activated carbon (AC) derived from food and agricultural waste, specifically coffee grounds, coffee skin, bamboo, and palm leaves, for the removal of two antibiotics: amoxicillin (AMX) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The ACs were synthesized via KOH and ZnCl₂ chemical activation and characterized through BET surface area analysis, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, SEM, EDS, and FTIR. Among all samples, bamboo-derived AC (B-AC) exhibited superior properties, such as the highest surface area (860 m²/g), thermal stability (855 °C), conductivity (0.063 S/cm), and adsorption capacities (292.6 mg/g for AMX and 195.7 mg/g for SMX). SEM and EDS analyses confirmed successful antibiotic adsorption with morphological and elemental changes, while FTIR spectra indicated interaction with surface functional groups. Adsorption data were best described by the Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models, suggesting a monolayer physical adsorption process dominated by micropore filling (E < 8 kJ/mol). In contrast, BET and Flory–Huggins models exhibited poor fit, confirming the absence of multilayer or partition-based adsorption mechanisms. Kinetic modeling showed that AMX followed a pseudo-second-order model, while SMX exhibited a more complex adsorption behavior. Thermodynamic studies confirmed that both processes were spontaneous, with AMX adsorption being endothermic and entropy-driven and SMX being exothermic but favorable. These findings demonstrate the high potential of B-AC as a low-cost, eco-friendly, and efficient adsorbent for pharmaceutical removal from water, supporting circular economy and sustainability goals. Full article

The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of hydrothermal conditions during the spring sowing period profoundly shapes cropping layouts and sowing strategies. Using NASA’s GLDAS remote sensing reanalysis, we developed a continuous agricultural climate risk index that integrates three remotely driven indicators—spring sowing window days (SWDs) derived from a “continuous suitable-day” logic, the hydrothermal coordination degree (D value), and a comprehensive suitability index (SSH_SI)—thus advancing risk assessment from single metrics to a multidimensional framework. Methodologically, dominant periodic structures of spring sowing hydrothermal risk were extracted via a combination of wavelet power spectra and the global wavelet spectrum (GWS), while spatial trend-surface fitting and three-dimensional directional analysis captured spatial non-stationarity. The index’s spatial migration trajectories and centroid-evolution paths were then quantified. Results reveal pronounced gradients along the Great Wall Belt: SWD displays a “central-high, terminal-low” pattern, with sowing windows restricted to only 3–6 days in northeastern Inner Mongolia and western Liaoning but extending to 11–13 days in the central plains of Inner Mongolia and Shanxi; SSH_SI and D values form an overall “south-west high, north-east low” pattern, indicating more favorable hydrothermal coordination in southwestern areas. Temporally, although SWD and SSH_SI show no significant downward trend, their interannual variability has increased, signaling rising instability, whereas the D value declines markedly in most regions, reflecting intensified hydrothermal imbalance. The integrated risk index identifies high-risk hotspots in eastern Inner Mongolia and northern North China, and low-risk zones in western provinces such as Gansu and Ningxia. Centroid-shift analysis further uncovers a dynamic regional adjustment in optimal sowing patterns, offering scientific evidence for addressing spring sowing climate risks. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and decision support for optimizing regional cropping structures, issuing climate risk warnings, and precisely regulating spring sowing schedules. Full article

The valorization of genetic intravarietal variability through the identification of the most suitable genotypes for yield and must quality is an adequate strategy for grapevine selection. Currently, climate change affects vine yield and wine quality in numerous ways, but little information is available on intravarietal variability regarding responses to abiotic stresses. In the current work, the intravarietal genetic variability of the Portuguese white variety Arinto was studied for yield, must quality, and for tolerance to abiotic stress, through indirect, rapid, and nondestructive measurements in the field. An innovative approach in selection for abiotic stress tolerance is described. The surface leaf temperature (SLT) of clones under environmental conditions of drought and extreme heat was measured, as were the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index); PRI (Photochemical Reflectance Index); and chlorophyll content through the SPAD index, yield, and the characteristics of the must (pH, acidity, and °Brix). The application of this methodology was carried out in an experimental population of 165 Arinto clones for three years. Linear mixed models were fitted to the data from evaluated traits, and the empirical best linear unbiased predictors (EBLUPs) of genotypic effects were obtained, as well as the coefficient of genotypic variation (CVG) and broad-sense heritability. The genotypes were ranked according to their level of tolerance to abiotic stress without loss of yield/quality. SLT enabled the identification of clones that regulate stomata opening during stress, thus correlating positively with yield. SLT appears, thus, to be the most robust and reliable indicator to assess tolerance to stress in large field trials for grapevine selection. The results enabled the selection of a group of ten clones with increased tolerance to stress, compared to the average of the variety which maintained the typical must quality of Arinto. Full article