Search Results (890)

Cryopreservation of gametes is crucial for conserving genetic diversity in livestock and endangered species, but the process can significantly impair sperm quality due to oxidative stress. Our aim was to evaluate the impacts of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on the in vitro quality of cooled and cryopreserved goat semen. Semen samples collected from six mature Saanen bucks were pooled then diluted with AndroMed^® semen extender to a final concentration of 800 × 10⁶ sperm/mL. Diluted semen was supplemented with 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 µM CoQ10. Extended semen was either cooled at 4 °C for 72 h or cryopreserved using a Styrofoam box in which the straws were arranged on the freezing rack and placed 4 cm over the liquid nitrogen (LN₂) for 10 min then stored in a LN₂ tank for one-week before being thawed at 37 °C for 30 sec. Sperm quality, including total and progressive motility, sperm kinematics, live sperm %, and sperm membrane integrity, was assessed at 0 h (fresh semen), and 24, 48, and 72 h post-cooling. For post-thaw sperm, we evaluated the same parameters plus acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation, and sperm ultrastructural changes using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pooled semen sample was considered the experimental unit for all treatments. Cooled semen data were analyzed using a General Linear Model (GLM) with univariate analysis, followed by Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons. In contrast, data from frozen–thawed semen were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. CoQ10 supplementation at 10 and 20 µM significantly (p < 0.05) improved sperm motility, viability, and membrane integrity in cooled and frozen–thawed semen in comparison with the control group (0 µM CoQ10). Moreover, the same concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and reduced the percentages of sperm with lipid peroxidation in frozen–thawed semen. Furthermore, 10 and 20 µM CoQ10 significantly mitigated the ultrastructural defects in frozen–thawed spermatozoa. In conclusion, CoQ10 supplementation during the cooling and cryopreservation of dairy goat semen significantly improved sperm quality. Among the tested concentrations, 10 and 20 µM exhibited the most favorable outcomes. Full article

Urban stormwater is often viewed as a drainage problem rather than a local water resource, even in areas where runoff capture could simultaneously reduce flooding and promote the reuse of non-potable water. This study develops, installs, and field-tests a decentralized, school-scale stormwater harvesting system that relocates permeable concrete, transforming it from a passive infiltration surface into a purpose-built capture and pretreatment interface. The system integrates a 3 m × 3 m permeable concrete slab with load-bearing sections, an impermeable underlayer to ensure controlled flow, a double-compartment sump for staged sedimentation and hydraulic damping, sequential filtration with sand/gravel and activated carbon, and a 5000 L storage tank. The prototype was implemented at CETis 105 in Querétaro, Mexico, and evaluated during its commissioning and operation in the 2023 rainy season. Field operations demonstrated reduced ponding in the catchment area and a reliable flow of runoff to the pretreatment units. In the sump compartments, apparent color decreased from 221 to 59 Pt-Co, turbidity from 46.8 to 12.9 NTU, and COD from approximately 30–35 to 15–18 mg·L⁻¹, corresponding to approximate pretreatment reductions of 73.3%, 72.4%, and 40–57%, respectively, before post-filtration. Conversely, the elevated pH, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids indicated interaction with fresh cementitious materials and dissolved ionic residues during initial operation, highlighting the need for curing, initial washing, and post-filtration verification before declaring compliance with reuse requirements. Therefore, the results support the feasibility of the proposed configuration as a decentralized, low-infrastructure architecture for localized runoff control and pretreatment, while confirming that full reuse validation still requires microbiological and post-filtration evaluation. The study provides a field-proven system design adaptable to school campuses and similar institutional environments for distributed stormwater management and non-potable water storage. Full article

Effective thermal insulation of cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH₂) storage tanks remains a critical engineering challenge, as conventional vacuum-based or monolithic systems are constrained by manufacturing complexity, mechanical vulnerability, and poor geometric adaptability. This study presents the design and numerical verification of a four-layer octagonal composite thermal shield fabricated via additive manufacturing: an AA5083 structural layer (5 mm), a boron nitride-doped ceramic plate (1 mm), up to 290 stacked graphene sheets in a sealed compartment, and an outer Fe₃S₄-TiO₂ nanocomposite layer (~30 µm). Steady-state and transient FEA in ANSYS evaluated three convective boundary conditions (h = 10, 15, and 20 W/m²·K), with the inner wall fixed at 20 K. Temperature distributions remained essentially invariant across all cases (20 K inner, ~20.12 K outer), confirming that thermal performance is governed by the multilayer architecture rather than convective intensity. The shield achieved a mean heat flux of 1684 W/m², R_total ≈ 0.163 m²K/W, and a boil-off rate of 13.9 g/hour. Comparative FEA against NASA US9617069 (q = 193.35 W/m²) and JP2018-119634A (q = 37.975 W/m²) highlights the compactness advantage of the proposed 6 mm shield; the coupled thermo-structural assessment yielded a safety factor of 64,182, confirming elastic-regime operation at 20 K. Full article

Bed-separation grouting filling mining is a damage-mitigation mining technology characterized by non-interfering mining and filling operations, low cost, and high efficiency. To recover coal resources from the 3801 working face located beneath a surface gas station in a Shanxi coal mine, this study first analyzed the maximum allowable deformation values for the gas station’s canopy, business hall, and oil storage tanks. Second, the feasibility and safety of bed-separation grouting filling mining at the 3801 working face were investigated using physical similarity modeling and the probability integral method. Finally, a field application of this technology was carried out at the 3801 working face. The results show that: (1) After the successive mining of the 3802, 3803 and 3801 working faces, the No. 17 bed separation was finally preserved above the 3801 working face. It is located in the upper part of the water-conducting fracture zone and has a thick impermeable isolation layer. (2) Physical similarity simulation and numerical simulation (3UDEC) of bed-separation grouting filling mining at the 3801 working face indicate that the underlying strata are effectively compacted after mining, and both overlying strata movement and surface subsidence above the grouting zone are significantly reduced. (3) The probability integral method was adopted to predict surface movement and deformation induced by mining at the 3801 working face (bed-separation grouting filling mining), the 3802 working face (fully mechanized top-coal caving mining) and the 3803 working face (full-seam mining in a single lift). All surface movement and deformation indices satisfy the surface deformation control requirements for the gas station. (4) After completion of the overburden bed-separation grouting filling project at the 3801 working face, the measured surface movement and deformation values during and after mining are all below the allowable deformation limits. No large deformations or cracks occurred in gas station structures including the canopy, business hall and oil tank farm. The protection effect is satisfactory, and the gas station has maintained normal operation throughout the mining period. Full article

Improving ship hydrodynamic efficiency is an important strategy for reducing fuel consumption and operational costs. This study investigates the optimisation of ship resistance through a combined approach involving hull form modification and operational trim adjustment. The research focuses on a pioneer vessel model, where hydrodynamic performance is analysed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations coupled with Central Composite Design (CCD) and the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Prior to the optimisation analysis, the CFD model was verified through a grid convergence study and validated against towing tank experimental data, showing good agreement. The optimisation was conducted through three scenarios: hull form optimisation, trim optimisation, and integrated optimisation, which combined both strategies. The statistical analysis revealed that longitudinal parameters play a dominant role in resistance reduction. In particular, the longitudinal centre of buoyancy (LCB) was identified as the most influential parameter in hull form optimisation, while the longitudinal centre of gravity (LCG) was the dominant parameter in trim optimisation. The results show that hull form optimisation alone reduced resistance by approximately 6%, while trim optimisation achieved a reduction of about 4%. The integrated optimisation strategy produced the greatest improvement, resulting in resistance reduction of nearly 10% compared with the baseline configuration. The findings highlight the importance of integrating design-stage optimisation and operational optimisation in improving ship hydrodynamic performance. However, the optimisation was limited to calm-water conditions. Full article

Sloshing in partially filled tanks generates significant impact pressures that threaten the structural integrity of LNG cargo containment systems, and accurate scaling of these impacts remains a critical issue. Although Froude-based scaling has been widely applied, its validity may be limited under conditions where multiple impact mechanisms coexist. In this study, sloshing impact pressures measured across different scales were analyzed based on individual impact events. Distribution-based representative metrics, including mean and upper-percentile values, were introduced, and scale dependency was quantified using a power-law relationship. The results show that under low filling conditions, impact responses exhibit relatively consistent distributions, and gravity-based scaling yields nearly scale-independent results. In contrast, high filling conditions lead to increased variability and a pronounced expansion of the upper tail, resulting in stronger scale dependency, particularly for high-intensity events. The increase in the power-law exponent indicates that extreme impacts are more sensitive to scale variation. These findings demonstrate that sloshing impact scaling is governed not by a uniform change in pressure magnitude, but by a redistribution of impact intensity across events. Consequently, reliable scaling requires consideration of both distribution characteristics and underlying impact mechanisms. Full article

In Brazil, more than 80% of households rely on electricity for water heating, representing approximately 13% of residential electricity consumption and significantly contributing to peak grid demand. As a prominent alternative for supplying household thermal energy and reducing grid stress, this study experimentally evaluates, under tropical climate conditions, the performance of a modular water-based photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) system and compares it with a conventional photovoltaic (PV) system operating simultaneously under identical environmental conditions. The PVT system, based on commercial PV modules coupled to roll-bond heat exchangers, a storage tank, and a shower outlet, was tested under three hydraulic regimes: natural thermosiphon, closed-loop, and Forced circulation. A dedicated ESP32-based data acquisition system, integrated with a cloud platform, continuously monitors electrical, thermal, and meteorological variables. Results show that PVT modules exhibit a small electrical efficiency reduction due to increased cell temperatures, which is largely compensated by the simultaneous thermal generation, yielding overall efficiency gains of 74.04%, 76.53%, and 7.62% over the reference PV system for Normal, Forced, and Closed circulation, respectively. The comparative analysis identifies Forced-circulation scheduling and the matching between thermal generation and consumption as key factors for performance optimization. The findings provide practical guidelines for deploying PVT systems to replace electric showers in tropical regions, reducing residential electricity consumption and mitigating peak-demand stress on the grid. Full article

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a globally important perennial forage legume, is widely cultivated in China, where effective weed management is essential for sustainable production. Chemical weed control, primarily relying on the herbicide imazethapyr, represents the most common strategy. Reliance on a single-herbicide program, however, may lead to inconsistent weed control under field conditions and may raise environmental concerns when higher application rates are used. To address this challenge, a two-year field study (2022–2023) was conducted to reduce herbicide inputs and identify new weed management options through tank mixtures. Initial screening identified imazethapyr, prometryn, imazapic, and 2,4-DB as safe and effective against broadleaf weeds. To broaden the control spectrum and reduce total herbicide use, haloxyfop-R-methyl was tank-mixed with each of the four broadleaf-active herbicides. The combinations haloxyfop-R-methyl + imazethapyr (36.5 + 56.3 g a.i. ha⁻¹) provided broad-spectrum weed control without compromising alfalfa performance and, importantly, reduced herbicide input at least by 25% of the recommended label dose. Additionally, the mixture of haloxyfop-R-methyl with 2,4-DB (36.5 + 506.3 g a.i. ha⁻¹) achieved effective, broad-spectrum weed control, increased alfalfa yield, and reduced total herbicide input at least by 25% of the recommended label dose. This mixture offers a useful option for diversifying weed management programs and reducing reliance on repeated imazethapyr applications. These tank mixtures represent sustainable and practical components of an integrated weed management system in alfalfa production. Full article

Overtopping wave energy converters share a similar geometry with traditional slope-ramp breakwaters, allowing integrated development that simultaneously ensures the basic protection function of the structure and realizes wave energy absorption. This study proposes a dual-level overtopping wave energy converter (DULOW) integrated with a pier-type slope-ramp breakwater, specifically designed for oceanic environmental conditions characterized by smaller wave heights and larger tidal ranges. An experimental laboratory investigation was conducted in a wave tank to evaluate the overtopping performance of the DULOW model under regular and irregular wave conditions. The experimental results show that the overtopping discharge increases with the number of plane collectors, and that the discharge collected by the plane collectors is significantly larger than that of the quadrant cone collector. At the higher still water level, the presence of the lower collector reduces the overtopping discharge captured by the high-level collectors. Under irregular wave conditions, the averaged overtopping discharges are lower than those observed under regular wave conditions. Furthermore, a semi-empirical formula is proposed to describe the variation trend of overtopping discharge with effective crest freeboard for the tested DULOW configuration. Full article

This study evaluates fatigue crack growth in marine high-manganese steel LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) storage tanks under cryogenic conditions. A 3D simulation framework using the M-integral for stress intensity extraction and the VCTD (Vertical Crack Tip Displacement) criterion for path prediction was developed. Parametric simulations showed that crack propagation is strongly directional, with the surface growth rate exceeding the depthwise rate. Fatigue life decreased with increasing initial crack surface length and maximum load but increased with crack inclination angle. In addition, the Mode I stress intensity factor along the depthwise path converged during propagation and rose sharply when the crack depth approached 90% of the wall thickness. An XGBoost-based dual-target model further achieved accurate prediction of crack depth and residual life. Full article

This study analyzes the impact of thermal and electrical storage solutions coupled with Photovoltaic (PV) and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants, proposing an innovative model to test a Hybrid Energy Storage System (HESS). The work presents an innovative Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to determine the optimal configuration and operational strategy of a HESS within a grid-connected Microgrid (MG). The research focuses on the synergistic integration of PV with Lithium-ion Electrical Energy Storage (EES) and CSP with Thermal Energy Storage (TES). The MG includes dynamic residential, commercial, and hospital loads. The MILP model is optimized over a 24 h horizon across four season-representative days, utilizing a multi-criteria objective function that balances economic performance and CO₂ emissions via a weighting factor ω ∈ [0, 1]. Three distinct CSP options such as Parabolic Trough Collectors with varying Heat Transfer Fluids (molten salt or thermal oil) and TES types (direct and indirect dual-tank, or Phase Change Material) are analyzed, each coupled with a Rankine or Organic Rankine Cycle. Key constraints address energy balances, component efficiencies, power limits, and storage dynamics. The comprehensive results identify the most suitable technology portfolio mix and optimal hour-by-hour operational rules, providing transparent decision-making criteria based on storage size, process temperatures, and specific demand profiles. Full article

Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing contributors to the global energy market. Floating photovoltaic (FPV) systems have emerged as a promising solution to the land-use challenges faced by conventional solar farms. However, the extension of FPV systems to offshore environments is hindered by dynamic wave–structure interactions. Inspired by air-cushion vessels, this study proposes and experimentally validates a novel FPV platform supported by an inflatable air cushion that provides adjustable stiffness and passive damping through air compressibility and wave-induced volumetric deformation. The investigated platform adopts a symmetric structural configuration, which inherently mitigates asymmetric roll and yaw coupling to maintain a balanced hydrodynamic response and stable power generation under wave action. Wave tank experiments were conducted to evaluate the coupled hydro-elastic response, mooring loads, and power generation stability under varying wave heights. The results show that the air-cushion design can significantly reduce peak mooring loads by over 50% compared with the catamaran benchmark. The highest pressure of 20 mbar increases structural stiffness but causes wave-induced losses of up to 30%. Conversely, the lowest pressure of 5 mbar results in excessive compliance that amplifies pitch and heave motion. A moderate pressure of 10 mbar acts as the optimal damping condition within the tested pressure range, suppressing motion resonance while maintaining power output stability. These findings demonstrate the potential of air-cushion integration for offshore FPV adaptability. Full article

This paper presents a fuzzy-based adaptive admittance control (FAAC) framework for position-controlled robots in uncertain contact environments. The proposed FAAC regulates admittance parameters using three fuzzy adaptation maps rather than directly generating robot control inputs. The Mass-Adaptation Fuzzy Map (MAFM) adjusts the dominant virtual mass eigenvalue, the Damper–Mass Ratio Fuzzy Map (DMRFM) adapts the damping-related ratio, and the Rendering-Quality Supervisory Fuzzy Map (RQ-SFM) restricts unsafe low-mass adaptation based on rendering quality and vibration metrics. An energy-tank-based admissibility filter is integrated to preserve passivity during online parameter adaptation and contact transitions. Comparative simulations against a stiffness-adaptive baseline and an ablated mass–damping adaptive baseline under nominal, noisy, and filtered sensing conditions verify the robustness of the proposed architecture. Experiments on a UR10 polishing task further show that the proposed FAAC improves force-tracking consistency and contact-maintenance robustness compared with fixed-parameter AAC baselines and FAAC-M. In particular, the proposed FAAC achieved the lowest force standard deviation of 2.76 N and no contact-loss events, whereas the baseline AAC controllers exhibited force fluctuations associated with abrupt desired stiffness changes during contact. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of FAAC for robust robot–environment interaction under uncertain contact conditions. Full article

The growing global demand for cooling technologies, driven by climate change and increasing energy consumption, creates a need for effective solutions to reduce energy use and carbon footprint. One promising approach is the application of Cold Thermal Energy Storage (CTES) systems, which enable the temporal shifting of electricity demand and the optimization of cooling system operation. This paper presents an experimental analysis of a hybrid PCM–water storage tank using the commercially available material RT11HC (Rubitherm^®). The measurement results demonstrated that the integration of PCMs increases the duration of thermal comfort provision and enhances system flexibility, while an appropriate PCM fraction significantly affects the dynamics of cold energy storage and release. The introduction of a copper matrix as a heat transfer enhancement element accelerated the phase change process by more than 20% and ensured a more uniform charging and discharging behavior of the storage tank. A numerical simulation performed in ANSYS software confirmed the experimental results with minimal deviations. The proposed hybrid storage tank concept demonstrates high application potential in both building and industrial applications, contributing to reduced energy demand and supporting sustainable operation. Full article

Object detection in high-resolution remote sensing images under complex industrial environments is fundamentally constrained by the inherent limitations of single-modality sensors. Optical imagery is prone to background confusion and pseudo-target interference, while synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery suffers from speckle noise and structural ambiguity. This work investigates a critical evaluation gap in multimodal fusion, where traditional image-level quality metrics do not consistently reflect downstream detection performance. To address this issue, we propose a task-oriented framework termed the Multi-Source Fusion for Enhanced Object Detection Network (MSFE-Net). The proposed method integrates pixel-level optical–SAR fusion with a YOLOv11-based detector, enabling the learning of task-relevant representations by exploiting complementary optical spectral cues and SAR scattering characteristics. Extensive experiments are conducted across multiple fusion strategies and representative detection architectures on two industrial datasets covering oil tanks and photovoltaic arrays. The results consistently reveal a nonlinear decoupling between image-level fusion metrics and detection accuracy, indicating that improvements in global statistical image quality do not necessarily lead to superior task performance. Furthermore, the proposed framework demonstrates improved robustness in complex scenarios involving multi-scale and weak targets. Specifically, MSFE-Net achieves 99.1% mAP@50 for oil tank detection (19.5% improvement over SAR-only baselines) and 90.2% mAP@50 for photovoltaic array detection, with stable performance across different evaluation settings. These results highlight the importance of task-oriented evaluation in multimodal remote sensing fusion and suggest that downstream detection performance provides a more reliable criterion than conventional image-quality metrics. Full article