Search Results (1,022)

Coastal lakes are highly vulnerable transitional systems in which sedimentological processes and benthic ecological conditions jointly control contaminant accumulation and preservation, particularly in densely urbanized settings. A robust understanding of the physical and ecological characteristics of bottom sediments is therefore essential for the correct interpretation of contaminant distributions, including those of potentially toxic metals. In this study, an integrated sedimentological–ecological approach was applied to Lake Ganzirri, a Mediterranean shallow coastal lake located in northeastern Sicily (Italy), where recent investigations have identified localized heavy metal anomalies in surface sediments. Sediment texture, petrographic and mineralogical composition, malacofaunal assemblages, and lake-floor morpho-bathymetry were systematically analysed using grain-size statistics, faunistic determinations, GIS-based spatial mapping, and bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. The modern lake bottom is dominated by bioclastic quartzo-lithic sands with low fine-grained fractions and variable but locally high contents of calcareous skeletal remains, mainly derived from molluscs. Sediments are texturally heterogeneous, consisting predominantly of coarse-grained sands with lenses of very coarse sand, along with gravel and subordinate medium-grained sands. Both sedimentological features and malacofaunal death assemblages indicate deposition under open-lagoon conditions characterized by brackish waters and relatively high hydrodynamic energy. Spatial comparison between sedimentological–ecological parameters and previously published heavy metal distributions reveals no significant correlations with metal hotspots. The generally low metal concentrations, mostly below regulatory threshold values, are interpreted as being favoured by the high permeability and mobility of coarse sediments and by energetic hydrodynamic conditions limiting fine-particle accumulation. Overall, the integration of sedimentological and ecological data provides a robust framework for interpreting contaminant patterns and offers valuable insights for the environmental assessment and management of vulnerable coastal lake systems, as well as for the understanding of modern lagoonal sedimentary processes. Full article

Underwater images often suffer from luminance attenuation, structural degradation, and color distortion due to light absorption and scattering in water. The variations in illumination and color distribution across different water bodies further increase the uncertainty of these degradations, making traditional enhancement methods that rely on fixed parameters, such as underwater dark channel prior (UDCP) and histogram equalization (HE), unstable in such scenarios. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a multi-operator underwater image enhancement framework with adaptive parameter optimization. To achieve luminance compensation, structural detail enhancement, and color restoration, a collaborative enhancement pipeline was constructed using contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization (CLAHE) with highlight protection, texture-gated and threshold-constrained unsharp masking (USM), and mild saturation compensation. Building upon this pipeline, an adaptive multi-operator parameter optimization strategy was developed, where a unified scoring function jointly considers feature gains, geometric consistency of feature matches, image quality metrics, and latency constraints to dynamically adjust the CLAHE clip limit, USM gain, and Gaussian scale under varying water conditions. Subjective visual comparisons and quantitative experiments were conducted on several public underwater datasets. Compared with conventional enhancement methods, the proposed approach achieved superior structural clarity and natural color appearance on the EUVP and UIEB datasets, and obtained higher quality metrics on the RUIE dataset (Average Gradient (AG) = 0.5922, Underwater Image Quality Measure (UIQM) = 2.095). On the UVE38K dataset, the proposed adaptive optimization method improved the oriented FAST and rotated BRIEF (ORB) feature counts by 12.5%, inlier matches by 9.3%, and UIQM by 3.9% over the fixed-parameter baseline, while the adjacent-frame matching visualization and stability metrics such as inlier ratio further verified the geometric consistency and temporal stability of the enhanced features. Full article

The unique material properties of Cyperus esculentus L. seeds present challenges for precision seeding, as no specialized seed-metering device is currently available. In practice, general-purpose planters such as peanut seeders are often adapted for this crop. However, the dry seeds of C. esculentus exhibit an irregular shape, uneven surface texture, significant size variation, and poor flowability, leading to inadequate seed pickup and suboptimal seeding performance in conventional metering devices. To address these issues, two types of seed pickup devices—one with a V-shaped scoop and the other with an arc-shaped scoop—were designed to improve the seed-filling process and enhance seed agitation within the seed pool. A comparative analysis of the material properties of seeds before and after soaking was conducted, and key structural parameters of the scoops were determined based on the post-soaking characteristics. A mechanistic analysis was performed to clarify the operational principles and influencing factors of the scoop-based pickup mechanism. Using EDEM software (2022 version), the motion characteristics of seeds inside the metering device were observed, and the agitating speed of the seed population was compared with and without the scoop devices. Performance comparison experiments were carried out with two scoop types under varying conditions, including metering disc rotation speed, seed size grade (large, medium, and small), and seed moisture state (dry vs. soaked). Simulation results of seed disturbance indicated that the V-shaped scoop significantly enhanced agitation intensity, with a maximum movement velocity 15.8% higher than that of the arc-shaped scoop. The V-shaped scoop demonstrated superior stability and adaptability across different seed sizes, rotation speeds, and moisture conditions. Seed pickup success rates reached 96%, 96%, and 85% for large, medium, and small seeds, respectively. Under high-speed operation (40 r/min), the V-shaped scoop showed a 9% lower miss-seeding rate compared to the arc-shaped scoop. Full article

Heat exchangers are central to energy and process industries, yet performance is bounded by the trade-off between higher heat transfer and greater pressure drop. This review targets indirect-type heat exchangers and organizes bioinspired strategies through a multi-scale lens of surface, texture, and network scales. It provides a structured comparison of their thermo-hydraulic behaviors and evaluation methods. At the surface scale, control of wettability and liquid-infused interfaces suppresses icing and fouling and stabilizes condensation. At the texture scale, microstructures inspired by shark skin and fish scales regulate near-wall vortices to balance drag reduction with heat-transfer enhancement. At the network scale, branched and bicontinuous pathways inspired by leaf veins, lung architectures, and triply periodic minimal surfaces promote uniform distribution and mixing, improving overall performance. The survey highlights practical needs for manufacturing readiness, durability, scale-up, and validation across operating ranges. By emphasizing analysis across scales rather than reliance on a single metric, the review distills design principles and selection guidelines for next-generation bioinspired heat exchangers. Full article

A comprehensive analysis was conducted to explore whether feeding inclusion procyanidin-rich grape seed powders (GSPs) affected the faba bean-induced muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp. The procyanidin content in the prepared GSP was 10.40 g/100 g. Additionally, one thousand 1-year-old grass carp with an initial weight of 27 g and an initial length of 12 cm were divided into five groups, including the blank control (basal diet); the positive control (faba bean diet); and the low (faba bean diet supplemented 100 mg/kg GSP), middle (faba bean diet supplemented 500 mg/kg GSP), and high (faba bean diet supplemented 1000 mg/kg GSP) GSP-supplemented groups. After feeding for 60 days, the weight gain rate, specific growth rate, and condition factor were elevated in the high-GSP-supplemented group in comparison with the blank control (p < 0.05), accompanied by a significant decrease in the feeding coefficient (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, a significant increase in muscle ROS content, shear force, gumminess, and chewiness was determined in the high-GSP-supplemented group when compared with the positive group, suggesting that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP facilitated muscle crispness. Moreover, the composition of intestine microbiota was significantly varied between groups with the daily addition of GSP (p < 0.05). Among them, Lactococcus chungangensis was identified as the key biomarker of the high-GSP-supplemented group, which was closely related to the increased muscle ROS content, the modifications in muscle nutritional metabolites (Met, C20:2n6, C20:3n6, C20:4n6, and C22:4n6), and the alterations in muscle texture (gumminess, chewiness, shear force, hardness, and adhesiveness). Based on these results, we believe that a relatively high daily supplement of GSP (1000 mg/kg) facilitated muscle crispness in the aquaculture of crisped grass carp. Full article

CO₂ laser processing has emerged as an efficient dry-finishing technique capable of inducing controlled chemical and morphological transformations in cotton and denim textiles. The strong mid-infrared absorption of cellulose enables localised photothermal heating, leading to selective dye decomposition, surface oxidation, and micro-scale ablation while largely preserving the bulk fabric structure. These laser-driven mechanisms modify colour, surface chemistry, and topography in a predictable, parameter-dependent manner. Low-fluence conditions predominantly produce uniform fading through fragmentation and oxidation of indigo dye; in comparison, moderate thermal loads promote the formation of carbonyl and carboxyl groups that increase surface energy and enhance wettability. Higher fluence regimes generate micro-textured regions with increased roughness and anchoring capacity, enabling improved adhesion of dyes, coatings, and nanoparticles. Compared with conventional wet processes, CO₂ laser treatment eliminates chemical effluents, strongly reduces water consumption and supports digitally controlled, Industry 4.0-compatible manufacturing workflows. Despite its advantages, challenges remain in standardising processing parameters, quantifying oxidation depth, modelling thermal behaviour, and assessing the long-term stability of functionalised surfaces under real usage conditions. In this review, we consolidate current knowledge on the mechanistic pathways, processing windows, and functional potential of CO₂ laser-modified cotton substrates. By integrating findings from recent studies and identifying critical research gaps, the review supports the development of predictable, scalable, and sustainable laser-based cotton textile processing technologies. Full article

Pollen identification is critical for melissopalynology (honey authentication), ecological monitoring, and allergen tracking, yet manual microscopic analysis remains labor-intensive, subjective, and error-prone when multiple grains overlap in realistic samples. Existing automated approaches often fail to address multi-grain scenarios or lack systematic comparison across classical and deep learning paradigms, limiting their practical deployment. This study proposes a subinstance-based classification framework combining YOLOv12n object detection for grain isolation, independent classification via classical machine learning (ML), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), or Vision Transformers (ViTs), and majority voting aggregation. Five classical classifiers with systematic feature selection, three CNN architectures (ResNet50, EfficientNet-B0, ConvNeXt-Tiny), and three ViT variants (ViT-B/16, ViT-B/32, ViT-L/16) are evaluated on four datasets (full images vs. isolated grains; raw vs. CLAHE-preprocessed) for four berry pollen species (Ribes nigrum, Ribes uva-crispa, Lonicera caerulea, and Amelanchier alnifolia). Stratified image-level splits ensure no data leakage, and explainable AI techniques (SHAP, Grad-CAM++, and gradient saliency) validate biological interpretability across all paradigms. Results demonstrate that grain isolation substantially improves classical ML performance (F1 from 0.83 to 0.91 on full images to 0.96–0.99 on isolated grains, +8–13 percentage points), while deep learning excels on both levels (CNNs: F1 = 1.000 on full images with CLAHE; ViTs: F1 = 0.99). At the instance level, all paradigms converge to near-perfect discrimination (F1 ≥ 0.96), indicating sufficient capture of morphological information. Majority voting aggregation provides +3–5% gains for classical methods but only +0.3–4.8% for deep models already near saturation. Explainable AI analysis confirms that models rely on biologically meaningful cues: blue channel moments and texture features for classical ML (SHAP), grain boundaries and exine ornamentation for CNNs (Grad-CAM++), and distributed attention across grain structures for ViTs (gradient saliency). Qualitative validation on 211 mixed-pollen images confirms robust generalization to realistic multi-species samples. The proposed framework (YOLOv12n + SVC/ResNet50 + majority voting) is practical for deployment in honey authentication, ecological surveys, and fine-grained biological image analysis. Full article

Solid-state microwave technology has emerged as an alternative to conventional magnetron-based microwave systems due to its precise frequency control and potential to improve heating uniformity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of solid-state microwave cooking at 912–913 MHz on the quality characteristics of beef steak and minced beef in comparison with conventional oven cooking and traditional microwave cooking (2450 MHz). Meat samples were cooked to an internal temperature of 75 °C, and cooking time, weight loss, moisture content, lipid oxidation (TBARS), total soluble protein (TSP), color attributes, and texture properties were evaluated. Solid-state microwave cooking resulted in shorter cooking times compared to conventional oven cooking. However, it caused significantly higher cooking loss in beef steak (48.1%) compared to conventional (34.8%) and microwave cooking (42.4%) (p ≤ 0.05). In minced beef, solid-state microwave cooking led to significantly higher TBARS values (1.56 mg MDA/kg) than conventional cooking (1.07 mg MDA/kg) (p ≤ 0.05), indicating increased lipid oxidation. No significant differences were observed among cooking methods for total soluble protein content and several texture parameters (p > 0.05). Solid-state microwave cooking produced improved color development compared to traditional microwave cooking. Overall, solid-state microwave cooking shows potential advantages in processing time and color formation; however, increased cooking loss and lipid oxidation indicate that optimization of processing conditions is necessary to limit undesirable quality changes. Full article

Modern gastronomy strives to combine high-quality food with the preservation of nutritional value, microbiological safety, and the sustainable use of raw materials. With the development of culinary technologies, precise heat treatment methods are gaining increasing importance, enabling better process control and more consistent quality results. This analysis aims to present the effects of the sous-vide (SV) method on the quality of vegetables in comparison with conventional heat treatment methods, such as boiling in water, steaming, cooking under increased pressure, cooking in a microwave oven, baking, grilling, and the cook-vide method. Analysis of the scientific literature has shown that the sous-vide method usually allows for the retention of greater amounts of vitamins (especially vitamin C), phenolic compounds and minerals, resulting in products with higher nutritional value and bioavailability of bioactive ingredients. Maintaining a controlled, low temperature in a vacuum environment reduces the loss of water and volatile components, which has a positive impact on the process yield as well as the color, texture, and aroma of vegetables. SV processing enhances product digestibility, preserves natural appearance, and improves food safety. Due to its hermetic packaging and limited oxygen access, this method ensures good microbiological quality and extends product shelf life. In the food service industry, SV allows for repeatable results, high sensory and technological quality, and reduced food waste. In the context of contemporary nutritional challenges and the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, sous-vide technology is gaining importance as a method supporting food safety, sustainability, and efficient resource management in the food service industry. Full article

Background/Objectives: The clinical application of CAD/CAM restorative materials continues to evolve due to increasing demand for aesthetic, durable, and minimally invasive indirect restorations. Hybrid nanoceramics, such as Grandio disc (VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany), are increasingly used in indirect restorative dentistry due to their favourable combination of mechanical strength, polishability, wear resistance, and bonding potential. One challenge associated with adhesive protocols for CAD/CAM materials lies in achieving durable bonds with resin cements. Extensive post-polymerization during fabrication reduces the number of unreacted monomers available for chemical interaction, thereby limiting the effectiveness of traditional adhesive strategies and necessitating specific surface conditioning approaches. This study aimed to evaluate, in a preliminary, non-inferential manner, the influence of several combined conditioning protocols on surface micromorphology, elemental composition, and descriptive SBS trends of a CAD/CAM hybrid nanoceramic. This work was designed as a preliminary pilot feasibility study. Due to the limited number of specimens (two discs per protocol, each providing two independent enamel bonding measurements), all bond strength outcomes were interpreted descriptively, without inferential statistical testing. This in vitro study investigated the effects of various surface conditioning protocols on the adhesive performance of CAD/CAM hybrid nanoceramics (Grandio disc, VOCO GmbH, Cuxhaven, Germany) to dental enamel. Hydrofluoric acid (HF) etching was performed to improve adhesion to indirect resin-based materials using two commercially available gels: 9.5% Porcelain Etchant (Bisco, Inc., Schaumburg, IL, USA) and 4.5% IPS Ceramic Etching Gel (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein), in combination with airborne-particle abrasion (APA), silanization, and universal adhesive application. HF may selectively dissolve the inorganic phase, while APA increases surface texture and micromechanical retention. However, existing literature reports inconsistent results regarding the optimal conditioning method for hybrid composites and nanoceramics, and the relationship between micromorphology, elemental surface changes, and adhesion remains insufficiently clarified. Methods: A total of ten composite specimens were subjected to five conditioning protocols combining airborne-particle abrasion with varying hydrofluoric acid (HF) concentrations and etching times. Bonding was performed using a dual-cure resin cement (BiFix QM) and evaluated by shear bond strength (SBS) testing. Surface morphology was examined through environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and elemental composition was analyzed via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results: indicated that dual treatment with HF and sandblasting showed descriptively higher SBS, with values ranging from 5.01 to 6.14 MPa, compared to 1.85 MPa in the sandblasting-only group. ESEM revealed that higher HF concentrations (10%) created more porous and irregular surfaces, while EDS indicated an increased fluorine presence trend and silicon reduction, indicating deeper chemical activation. However, extending HF exposure beyond 20 s did not further improve bonding, suggesting the importance of protocol optimization. Conclusions: The preliminary observations suggest a synergistic effect of mechanical and chemical conditioning on hybrid ceramic adhesion, but values should be interpreted qualitatively due to the pilot nature of the study. Manufacturer-recommended air abrasion alone may provide limited adhesion under high-stress conditions, although this requires confirmation in studies with larger sample sizes and ageing simulations. Future studies should address long-term durability and extend the comparison to other hybrid CAD/CAM materials and to other etching protocols. Full article

The article addresses the issue of panoramic photogrammetry for the reconstruction of interior spaces. Such environments often present challenges, including poor lighting conditions and surfaces with variable texture for photogrammetric scanning. In this case study, we reconstruct the interior spaces of the historical house of Samuel Mikovíni, which represents these unfavorable conditions. The 3D reconstruction of interior spaces is performed using the Ricoh Theta Z1 spherical camera (Ricoh Company, Ltd.; Tokyo, Japan) in six variants, each employing a different number of images and different camera networks. Scale is introduced into the reconstructions based on significant dimensions measured with a measuring tape. A comparison is carried out using a point cloud obtained from terrestrial laser scanning and difference point clouds are generated for each variant. Based on the results, reconstructions produced from a reduced number of spherical images can serve as a basic source for simple documentation with accuracy up to 0.15 m. When the number of spherical images is increased and images from different height levels are included, the reconstruction accuracy improves markedly, achieving positional accuracy of up to 0.05 m, even in areas affected by poor lighting conditions or low-texture surfaces. The results confirm that for interior reconstruction, a higher number of images not only increases the density of the reconstructed point cloud but also enhances its positional accuracy. Full article

Sulfides are essential tracers for understanding the redox conditions, diffusion processes, and thermal mechanisms involved in the formation of ordinary chondrites. Their mineralogical and textural evolution provides valuable constraints on the metamorphic history of parent bodies. In this context, the Ksar El Goraane meteorite, which fell in Morocco in 2018 and is classified as an H5 ordinary chondrite, represents a particularly instructive case for investigating sulfur behavior during thermal metamorphism. Petrographic observations combined with geochemical data obtained by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize the main silicate and sulfide phases and to evaluate their degree of chemical equilibration. The compositions of olivine (Fa_18–20), Mg-Rich orthopyroxene, and sodic plagioclase (An_10–15) display limited analytical dispersion and well-recrystallized textures, confirming that Ksar El Goraane experienced an equilibrated metamorphic grade consistent with an H5 ordinary chondrite. The sulfide assemblage is dominated by troilite (FeS), iron-rich pyrrhotite (Fe_1−xS), and pentlandite ((Fe,Ni)₉S₈), with minor occurrences of pyrite (FeS₂). Textural relationships and chemical homogeneity observed in backscattered electron images and elemental maps indicate progressive re-equilibration during thermal metamorphism. Formation and transformation temperatures of the sulfide phases are inferred through comparison with experimental and empirical constraints reported in the literature. These results suggest early high-temperature crystallization of troilite, followed by sulfur depletion leading to pyrrhotite formation, subsequent low-temperature exsolution of pentlandite, and localized late-stage pyrite crystallization. Full article

Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. is a soil-borne fungus that causes southern blight on many crops in the tropical and subtropical regions. In 2018, southern blight was reported as the most prevalent bean root rot in Uganda. Earlier studies ascertained the morphological and pathogenic diversity of S. rolfsii, but a limited understanding of its genetic diversity exists. Knowledge of S. rolfsii genetic diversity is a critical resource for pathogen surveillance and developing common bean varieties with durable resistance. A total of 188 S. rolfsii strains from infected common bean plants were collected from seven agro-ecological zones of Uganda in 2013, 2020 and 2021, and characterized morphologically and pathogenically. The genetic diversity of the strains was assessed using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained from whole-genome sequencing. The growth rate of the strains ranged between 1.1 and 3.6 cm per day, while the number of sclerotia produced ranged from 0 to 543 per strain. The strains had fluffy, fibrous, and compact colony texture. The strains were pathogenic on common bean and caused disease severity indices ranging from 10.1% to 93.3%. Average polymorphic information content across all chromosomes was 0.27. Population structure analysis identified five genetically distinct clusters. The results of analysis of molecular variance revealed that 54% of the variation was between clusters while 46% of variation was within clusters. Pairwise comparison of Wright’s fixation indices between genetic clusters ranged from 0.31 to 0.78. The findings of this study revealed moderate genetic diversity among S. rolfsii strains, which should be taken into consideration when selecting strains for germplasm screening. Full article

Environmental pollution from ozone and wastewaters containing dyes from various industries is an important problem for humanity. In this study, novel composite catalysts based on manganese carbonate ore from the Obrochishte deposit, Bulgaria, were used successfully in two environmentally relevant catalytic processes—the ozone decomposition and photocatalytic decolourization of Malachite Green (MG) dye under UV illumination. Manganese carbonate ore/NiO, manganese oxides, and silver-containing composites were synthesized via co-precipitation, followed by calcination at 500 °C or hydrothermal treatment at 160 °C, and then thermal treatment. The phase and elemental composition, structure, morphology, and textural characteristics of the obtained composites were investigated using powder X-ray diffraction analysis, wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, and the BET method. The materials exhibit a mesoporous structure. The results established that the thermally treated MnCO₃ ore/NiO, manganese oxides, and Ag-containing composites demonstrate a higher catalytic efficiency for the removal of ozone (85%, 93%, and 99%) in comparison with hydrothermally treated analogues—79%, 66%, and 98%, respectively. The thermally treated manganese carbonate ore/silver-containing composite exhibits the highest photocatalytic ability (83% degree of decolourization of MG dye) compared to the other investigated catalysts. Full article

Frequent cloud cover severely limits the use of optical remote sensing for continuous ecological monitoring. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) offers an all-weather alternative, but translating SAR data to optical equivalents is challenging, particularly in cloudy regions where paired training data are scarce. To address this, we developed an enhanced CycleGAN (denoted by SA-CycleGAN) to derive a high-fidelity, temporally continuous normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) from SAR imagery. The SA-CycleGAN introduces a novel spatiotemporal attention generator that dynamically computes global and local feature relationships to capture long-range spatial dependencies across diverse landscapes. Furthermore, a structural similarity (SSIM) loss function is integrated into the SA-CycleGAN to preserve the structural and textural integrity of the synthesized images. The performance of the SA-CycleGAN and three unsupervised models (DualGAN, GP-UNIT, and DCLGAN) was evaluated by deriving NDVI time series from Sentinel-1 SAR images across four sites with different vegetation types. Ablation experiments were conducted to verify the contributions of the key components in the SA-CycleGAN model. The results demonstrate that the SA-CycleGAN significantly outperformed the comparison models across all four sites. Quantitatively, the proposed method achieved the lowest Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.0502 and the highest Coefficient of Determination (R²) of 0.88 at the Zhangbei and Xishuangbanna sites, respectively. The ablation experiments confirmed that the attention mechanism and SSIM loss function were crucial for capturing long-range features and maintaining spatial structure. The SA-CycleGAN proves to be a robust and effective solution for overcoming data gaps in optical time series. Full article