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26 pages, 9275 KB  
Article
High-Resolution Mapping, Attribution, and Carbon Loss Assessment of Forest Disturbances in China’s Critical Regions Using Multi-Source Remote Sensing
by Yifei Cao, Xiaoming Wang, Zhuoyang Han, Chenlan Shi and Hongke Hao
Remote Sens. 2026, 18(12), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18121982 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
Forest disturbances significantly affect the terrestrial carbon cycle, yet high-resolution detection, driver attribution, and carbon loss quantification remain challenging in cloudy and complex terrains. Here, we investigated the Northeast China and Southwest Hengduan Mountains forest regions from 2021 to 2024. We developed a [...] Read more.
Forest disturbances significantly affect the terrestrial carbon cycle, yet high-resolution detection, driver attribution, and carbon loss quantification remain challenging in cloudy and complex terrains. Here, we investigated the Northeast China and Southwest Hengduan Mountains forest regions from 2021 to 2024. We developed a Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) framework integrating multi-source remote sensing (Sentinel-1/2, Landsat 8/9) and multi-algorithm ensembles (LandTrendr, CCDC, 1D-CNN) to extract 10 m disturbance features. Automated driver attribution and carbon loss quantification were achieved utilizing the Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), Dynamic World, and GEDI L4B LiDAR data. Validation yielded overall spatial accuracies of 91.15% in the Northeast and 89.62% in the Hengduan Mountains, with corresponding ensemble F1-Scores of 0.92 in both regions. Results indicated the disturbed area in the Northeast (1084.58 ha) significantly exceeded the Hengduan region (133.48 ha). Natural degradation dominated both regions (Northeast: 72.25%; Hengduan: 88.43%), though the Northeast experienced more wildfires and anthropogenic activities. Topographically, Northeast disturbances clustered on low-lying, gentle landscapes, whereas Hengduan events occurred on steep, high-altitude terrains. Due to denser per-pixel carbon storage, the Hengduan area exhibited higher carbon emission costs per unit area. Ultimately, this framework provides a quantitative technical foundation supporting high-resolution forest conservation and spatial evaluations for carbon neutrality commitments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Forest Remote Sensing)
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18 pages, 23890 KB  
Article
Structural Optimization and Finite Element Analysis of Variable-Stiffness Biodegradable Vascular Stents
by Hanbing Zhang, Shiliang Chen, Tianming Du, Yanping Zhang, Lifang Wu and Aike Qiao
J. Funct. Biomater. 2026, 17(6), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfb17060296 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
Premature structural failure of biodegradable vascular stents (BVSs) induced by stress corrosion cracking (SCC) remains a critical challenge. Heterogeneous plaques compress the stent, leading to inadequate expansion and inducing stress concentration that exacerbates SCC. This study proposes variable-stiffness stents to improve radial support [...] Read more.
Premature structural failure of biodegradable vascular stents (BVSs) induced by stress corrosion cracking (SCC) remains a critical challenge. Heterogeneous plaques compress the stent, leading to inadequate expansion and inducing stress concentration that exacerbates SCC. This study proposes variable-stiffness stents to improve radial support and mitigate non-uniform degradation. The stents were designed with shortened axial ring segments and selective strut widening at the stenotic regions for targeted stiffness enhancement. They were virtually deployed in arteries with non-calcified and calcified plaques to evaluate immediate performance, while long-term service behavior was assessed via degradation simulation under combined electrochemical corrosion and SCC effects. The results show that variable-stiffness stents exhibited comparable residual stenosis to uniform-stiffness stents with identical local structures at plaque regions. Dual-stiffness designs yielded a smoother luminal profile than uniform-stiffness counterparts, and gradient-stiffness designs achieved further improvements. Local strut widening extended full recoil time, with a more marked effect on high-stiffness segments, by 52.6% and 41.2% in non-calcified and calcified plaques, while simultaneously increasing volume loss to mitigate non-uniform degradation. In addition, widened gradient-stiffness designs further prolonged the stable support time by 9.7%. These findings show variable-stiffness stents with widened gradient-stiffness design exhibit a more favorable immediate and long-term performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metals and Alloys for Biomedical Applications (2nd Edition))
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22 pages, 4269 KB  
Review
Process Integration and Reliability Challenges of Through-Glass Vias for Glass-Based Advanced Packaging: A Focused Review
by Dong Bae Park, Jinho Jo, Seonwoo Kim, Da-Yeong Lee, Suin Chae, Soobin Park, Se-Hoon Park, Tae-Young Lee, Kyoung-Min Kim, Nam Son Park, Seong-Eui Lee, Sang O Kim and Hyunjin Nam
Micromachines 2026, 17(6), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17060720 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
Recent advances in chiplet architectures, heterogeneous integration, 2.5D/3D packaging, high-performance computing, and RF applications have increased the demand for high-density vertical interconnects and low-loss packaging platforms. Glass substrates have attracted considerable attention for next-generation advanced packaging because of their low dielectric loss, high [...] Read more.
Recent advances in chiplet architectures, heterogeneous integration, 2.5D/3D packaging, high-performance computing, and RF applications have increased the demand for high-density vertical interconnects and low-loss packaging platforms. Glass substrates have attracted considerable attention for next-generation advanced packaging because of their low dielectric loss, high dimensional stability, smooth surface, and compatibility with large-area panel-level processing. Through-glass vias (TGVs) are essential vertical interconnect structures that enable the electrical integration of glass substrates. This focused review summarizes TGV technologies for glass-based advanced packaging from the perspectives of via formation, seed layer deposition, metallization, Cu filling, defect formation, reliability, and plugging-based alternative architectures. Representative TGV formation methods, including laser drilling, selective laser etching, laser-induced deep etching, wet/dry etching, and photosensitive glass processing, are compared. Metallization approaches based on sputtering, electroless plating, ALD/CVD, and hybrid processes are discussed together with Cu electroplating strategies such as conformal plating, bottom-up filling, pulse or pulse-reverse plating, and engineered-geometry filling. Key defects, including voids, seams, pinch-off, seed discontinuity, Cu/glass interfacial delamination, glass cracking, and Cu protrusion, are reviewed in relation to thermomechanical reliability. Finally, polymer/dielectric plugging, plugging/re-drilling, conductive paste plugging, and hybrid Cu/plugging structures are discussed as application-specific alternatives for balancing electrical performance, reliability, manufacturability, yield, and cost. Full article
(This article belongs to the Collection Microdevices and Applications Based on Advanced Glassy Materials)
36 pages, 4441 KB  
Article
Evaluation of Classical Sediment Load Formulas and Proposal of CFD-Based Deposition Formula for Deep Stormwater Drainage Tunnels
by Yoon Seo Lee, Chan Jin Jeong and Seung Oh Lee
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(12), 6016; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16126016 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
Deep stormwater drainage tunnels are increasingly being used to mitigate urban flooding, but in-tunnel sediment deposition reduces their discharge capacity and complicates their maintenance. With direct field observation constrained, numerical simulation is essential, and river-based total sediment load formulas require reassessment for use [...] Read more.
Deep stormwater drainage tunnels are increasingly being used to mitigate urban flooding, but in-tunnel sediment deposition reduces their discharge capacity and complicates their maintenance. With direct field observation constrained, numerical simulation is essential, and river-based total sediment load formulas require reassessment for use in deep tunnels. The three-phase (air–water–sediment) CFD solver SedInterFoam is first validated against a benchmark open-channel suspended sediment experiment, and is then applied to a horseshoe tunnel under a fixed design discharge for multiple inlet sediment concentrations spanning urban stormwater conditions. Four classical formulas (Yang, Shen–Hung, Ackers–White, Engelund–Hansen) are evaluated at the CFD-resolved hydraulic state; Toffaleti is omitted because its zone-based formulation is incompatible with the partially filled horseshoe geometry. The CFD consistently shows persistent retention of a substantial fraction of the inlet sediment load, whereas the transport capacity-limited interpretation of the classical formulas predicts near-complete sediment throughput—indicating structural inadequacy for the dilute, supply-limited regime typical of urban stormwater. A Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-style dimensionless deposition formula is therefore proposed, with inlet sediment loading as the explicit independent variable and a tunnel correction factor 𝐾tunnel absorbing the geometric, hydraulic, and sediment variations. Its regression yields an almost linear scaling and a nearly constant deposition ratio, while analysis of the internal flow and concentration fields shows that the retained sediment is strongly concentrated near the bed and that near-bed turbulent mixing weakens moderately with a rising inlet concentration. While calibrated for a single non-cohesive settleable sand fraction, the framework provides a transferable basis for inlet-loading-dependent deposition prediction in deep stormwater drainage tunnels, and subsequent extension of 𝐾tunnel to broader sediment conditions with field-based validation is expected to enable maintenance planning, dredging volume estimation, and sediment retention risk assessment. Full article
21 pages, 3641 KB  
Article
Design and Simulation of a High-Performance GaN Vertical Merged P-i-N/Schottky (MPS) Diode with Multi-Drift-Layer and Field-Plate Termination
by Yun Seop Yu, Saebin Yoon and Jong Hyeok Oh
Micromachines 2026, 17(6), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17060722 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
This paper presents the design, structural optimization, and two-dimensional (2D) technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation of a gallium nitride (GaN) vertical Merged P-i-N/Schottky (MPS) diode incorporating a multi-drift-layer doping profile, composite SiO2/Si3N4 passivation, and field-plate (FP) termination. The [...] Read more.
This paper presents the design, structural optimization, and two-dimensional (2D) technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulation of a gallium nitride (GaN) vertical Merged P-i-N/Schottky (MPS) diode incorporating a multi-drift-layer doping profile, composite SiO2/Si3N4 passivation, and field-plate (FP) termination. The proposed device is constructed on an n+-GaN substrate with a three-sub-layer n-type drift region and a p-GaN/p+-GaN anode region. Systematic TCAD simulations are performed to investigate the dependences of key performance metrics—including knee voltage (Vknee), specific on-resistance (Ron), breakdown voltage (BV), reverse leakage current (Jleak), and Baliga’s figure of merit (BFOM)—on the Schottky metal work function, multi-drift-layer doping concentration, drift-layer thickness, Schottky-to-PN contact length ratio (γw), operating temperature, and reverse recovery switching transients. Results demonstrate that the MPS architecture effectively decouples forward conduction loss from reverse blocking capability, overcoming the conventional RonBV trade-off. The optimal doping profile (nmm = 2 × 1015, nm = 2 × 1015, n = 1 × 1016 cm−3) achieves a BFOM of ~31.97 GW·cm−2 with BV ≈ 5.98 kV and Ron ≈ 1.12 mΩ·cm2. Joint doping–thickness optimization further identifies a graded doping profile (nmm = 2 × 1015, nm = 5 × 1015, n = 1 × 1016 cm−3) combined with layer thicknesses (Tnmm, Tnm, Tn) = (4.49, 5, 20) μm as the overall optimum, achieving BFOM = 55.36 GW·cm−2 (BV = 6.61 kV, Ron = 0.79 mΩ·cm2)—a +73% improvement, governed by the punch-through/field-stop design principle. The optimal contact ratio of γw = 1.33 yields a BFOM of 38.71 GW·cm−2. Temperature analysis confirms a positive BV temperature coefficient due to drift-region-limited avalanche breakdown, and the BFOM improves monotonically from 33.31 to 37.82 GW·cm−2 between 200 K and 450 K. Mixed-mode switching simulations show that increasing γw substantially reduces reverse recovery charge (Qrr), demonstrating the strong potential of the proposed MPS diode for high-voltage, high-frequency, and high-temperature power electronic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Electronics and Devices)
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19 pages, 792 KB  
Article
A Unique SLC26A4 Mutation Spectrum in a Mongolian Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct Cohort via Whole-Exome Sequencing: A Preliminary Study
by Jargalkhuu Erdenechuluun, Bayasgalan Gombojav, Tserendulam Batsaikhan, Yue-Sheng Lu, Narandalai Danshiitsoodol, Zaya Makhbal, Maralgoo Jargalmaa, Tuvshinbayar Jargalkhuu, Ho-Peng Hsu, Pei-Hsuan Lin, Hung-Ju Su, Chien-Hsing Lin, Yu-Ting Chiang, Chuan-Jen Hsu, Pei-Lung Chen, Jacob Shu-Jui Hsu, Cheng-Yu Tsai and Chen-Chi Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(12), 5364; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125364 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Abstract
Enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) is a common inner ear malformation that causes sensorineural hearing loss. It is frequently associated with pathogenic variants in the SLC26A4 gene. This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of hearing loss in Mongolian patients with EVA. Whole-exome [...] Read more.
Enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) is a common inner ear malformation that causes sensorineural hearing loss. It is frequently associated with pathogenic variants in the SLC26A4 gene. This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of hearing loss in Mongolian patients with EVA. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 19 Mongolian patients from 15 unrelated families diagnosed with EVA with or without cochlear incomplete partition type II. All patients underwent high-resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone to confirm the diagnosis. Biallelic SLC26A4 pathogenic variants were identified in all 15 families, achieving a 100% diagnostic yield. The most frequent variant was c.919-2A>G (40%), followed by c.2027T>A (23.3%) and c.1318A>T (16.7%). The spectrum of variants includes population-specific variants found in East Asians (c.919-2A>G), North Asians (c.2027T>A), and Southwest Asians (c.716T>A), suggesting a unique mutation spectrum in this Mongolian cohort characterized by variants prevalent across various Eurasian populations, which remains to be confirmed in larger studies. Furthermore, correlation analyses on multi-ethnic allele frequencies of biallelic SLC26A4 genotypes demonstrated positive correlations with deaf cohorts of East Asian, North Asian, Northeast Asian, and Western Asian groups. Digenic inheritance (with pathogenic variants in FOXI1, KCNJ10, or EPHA2) was not observed, and there was no clear genotype–phenotype correlation between specific SLC26A4 genotypes and hearing levels or inner ear malformations. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the genetic landscape of EVA in the Mongolian population. The identification of biallelic SLC26A4 pathogenic variants in all families underscores the clinical role of this gene in EVA pathogenesis. The observed pan-ethnic mutation spectrum likely reflects the genetic diversity resulting from historical migrations of Mongolians. Full article
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29 pages, 4396 KB  
Article
Synergistic Role of Crosslinker and Silane-Based Additive in Designing Structurally Robust Bio-Based Polyurethane Coatings
by Mayankkumar L. Chaudhary, Kinal Chaudhari, Rutu Patel and Ram K. Gupta
Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1490; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121490 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Abstract
Bio-based polyurethane (PU) coatings offer sustainable alternatives to petrochemical coatings but often suffer from inferior mechanical performance, durability, and chemical resistance. This work addresses that challenge by integrating a trifunctional bio-based crosslinker (glycerol) and a silane-based additive (hexamethyldisilane (HMDS)) to simultaneously enhance structural [...] Read more.
Bio-based polyurethane (PU) coatings offer sustainable alternatives to petrochemical coatings but often suffer from inferior mechanical performance, durability, and chemical resistance. This work addresses that challenge by integrating a trifunctional bio-based crosslinker (glycerol) and a silane-based additive (hexamethyldisilane (HMDS)) to simultaneously enhance structural robustness and hydrophobicity. Coatings were synthesized using a renewable soybean oil polyol (SOP), glycerol (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%), and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), followed by the addition of HMDS (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt.%). Mechanical tests identified 10 wt.% glycerol as the optimal content, yielding a maximum tensile strength of 47.18 MPa. Incorporating 10 wt.% HMDS into the optimized formulation greatly increased water contact angle (WCA, 95.76°) and chemical resistance with minimal loss of mechanical performance (38.19 MPa, tensile strength); higher HMDS loadings caused network disruption and reduced strength. Calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses confirmed that the modified coatings retained high thermal stability. This synergistic crosslinker additive strategy produced a structurally robust, water-resistant bio-based coating, demonstrating a viable high-performance sustainable coating solution for industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Polymer Coatings)
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33 pages, 6006 KB  
Article
Deep Learning-Enhanced Dielectric Sensing for Rapid Quality Assessment of ‘Starks Gold’ Sweet Cherries
by Erhan Kavuncuoglu, Kamil Sacilik, Mehmet Akif Buzpinar, Burak Ozbey, Necati Cetin and Fernando Auat Cheein
Agronomy 2026, 16(12), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16121161 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Abstract
Soluble solids content (SSC) is one of the most important indicators of sweetness, ripeness, and market quality in sweet cherries. However, conventional SSC determination is destructive, labor-intensive, and unsuitable for rapid or large-scale quality assessment. Therefore, there is a need for fast, non-destructive, [...] Read more.
Soluble solids content (SSC) is one of the most important indicators of sweetness, ripeness, and market quality in sweet cherries. However, conventional SSC determination is destructive, labor-intensive, and unsuitable for rapid or large-scale quality assessment. Therefore, there is a need for fast, non-destructive, and data-driven sensing approaches that can estimate internal fruit quality without damaging the sample. This study aimed to develop a non-destructive approach for SSC prediction in sweet cherries by combining open-ended coaxial probe dielectric spectroscopy with deep learning models. An open-ended coaxial probe measurement system was designed and developed to determine the dielectric properties of sweet cherries and was coupled with an Agilent E4991A impedance analyzer operating over a frequency range of 5–3005 MHz. A total of 10,080 dielectric measurements and 2100 reference SSC measurements were collected over 26 experimental days. The dielectric constant (ε′), loss factor (ε″), and loss tangent (tan δ) were extracted and used to construct separate ε′, ε″, tan δ, and integrated combined datasets. Six deep learning architectures, namely convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU), CNN-LSTM, and convolutional long short-term memory (ConvLSTM), were trained and optimized using Bayesian optimization and early stopping. CNN achieved the best performance on the tan δ dataset (test R2 = 0.9099, RMSE = 0.8354 °Brix, MAE = 0.6599 °Brix), whereas GRU yielded the highest accuracy on the integrated combined dataset (test R2 = 0.8622, RMSE = 1.0331 °Brix, MAE = 0.7958 °Brix). ConvLSTM provided the most consistent performance across all four datasets (test R2 = 0.8081–0.8651), demonstrating strong predictive capability and practical computational efficiency. These findings confirm the potential of reduced-range dielectric spectroscopy combined with deep learning for rapid, non-destructive SSC assessment in sweet cherries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Farming: Advancing Techniques for High-Value Crops)
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16 pages, 6181 KB  
Article
Thermochemical Simulation of Scheelite–Millscale Aluminothermy Reactions in Tungsten-Alloyed Steel Production
by Theresa Coetsee, Frederik De Bruin, Oleg Komarov, Artyom Popov and Vilena Khudyakova
Reactions 2026, 7(2), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/reactions7020036 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 59
Abstract
This study investigates the thermochemical reaction behaviour of scheelite–millscale aluminothermy for direct tungsten alloying in steel production. Experimental mixtures of aluminium, millscale, and scheelite concentrate were simulated using gas–slag–metal (g-s-m) equilibrium calculations in FactSage 8.3 at 2200 °C, and compared with previously reported [...] Read more.
This study investigates the thermochemical reaction behaviour of scheelite–millscale aluminothermy for direct tungsten alloying in steel production. Experimental mixtures of aluminium, millscale, and scheelite concentrate were simulated using gas–slag–metal (g-s-m) equilibrium calculations in FactSage 8.3 at 2200 °C, and compared with previously reported experimental results. The simulations reproduced metal yields accurately with 0.901 to 0.940 correlation coefficients and predicted tungsten levels consistent with measured steel compositions. However, significant discrepancies were observed in predicted silicon levels, with simulations overestimating steel %Si by up to 3.5%, despite negligible gas-phase losses. Oxygen partial pressure calculations indicate that the Fe/FeO reaction equilibrium controls process reduction conditions. Backcalculation of activity coefficients revealed that FactSage minimisation routines understated silicon activity coefficient values. SiO2 mass transfer may play a role in low %Si in steel, but this is not clear due to differences in expected mass transfer regimes in aluminothermy under ASR and SHS conditions. Overall, the simulations demonstrate adequate predictive capability for alloying trends and metal yields while highlighting limitations in predicting silicon partitioning. These findings confirm the utility of thermochemical simulation for designing aluminothermic feed mixtures, reducing the number of experiments needed to optimise the aluminothermic feed mixture ratios. Full article
16 pages, 4512 KB  
Article
Soil Potassium Application Ameliorates Drought-Induced Seed Yield Loss and Enhances Nutritional and Seed Oil Quality in Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)
by Zehua Wan, Yiming Xu and Sheng Fang
Plants 2026, 15(12), 1830; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants15121830 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 128
Abstract
Sesame is a considerable oilseed crop, but its growth and production are restricted by drought. Potassium (K) is well known for its mitigating effects against drought. Here, two consecutive years of experiments were conducted with varying K fertilizer rates (0, 60, and 120 [...] Read more.
Sesame is a considerable oilseed crop, but its growth and production are restricted by drought. Potassium (K) is well known for its mitigating effects against drought. Here, two consecutive years of experiments were conducted with varying K fertilizer rates (0, 60, and 120 kg K2O ha−1) under well-watered and drought conditions to evaluate the impacts of K on sesame seed quality. The results demonstrated that, compared to well-watered conditions, drought caused a decline in seed oil content (5.9–8.6%) but inversely induced an increase in seed K (8.5–23.8%), lignans (10.2–21.6%), and essential amino acids over a period of 2 years. Potassic fertilizer significantly increased seed K, oil, and lignans contents, aligning with ameliorative oil and protein yield relative to K deficiency plants under drought. Moreover, K supply (especially 120 kg K2O ha−1) increased proline and tryptophan contents by 5.2% and 4.9% under drought compared to the plants without K application, which contributed to producing lignans and enhancing the capacity against oxidative changes. Under drought, 60 and 120 kg K2O ha−1 application significantly increased linoleic (5.5–9.3%), and stearic acids (7.1–13.7%) content while decreasing palmitic (5.3–14.7%), oleic (4.6–6.4%), and linolenic acids (4.8–11.9%) content, respectively, thereby increasing the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids and unsaturation index compared with control without K. Overall, K application at the rate of 120 kg K2O ha−1 could be considered as a practical and straightforward strategy to improve the quality of sesame seed products by increasing seed K, oil, lignans, linoleic acid, and unsaturated index for pharmaceutical and food purposes in areas encountering drought stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drought Stress Adaptation in Bioenergy Crops)
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69 pages, 17802 KB  
Review
Structured Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Catalysts for Process Intensification: Transport, Stability, and Scale-Up in Monoliths, Foams, Films, and Washcoats
by Özgür Yılmaz and Ahmet Akif Kızılkurtlu
Catalysts 2026, 16(6), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16060547 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 79
Abstract
There is increasing interest in structured layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based catalysts because they combine tunable acid–base/redox chemistry with reactor architectures that can reduce diffusion lengths, improve heat management, and lower pressure-drop penalties. This review evaluates LDH, LDH-derived oxide (LDO/MMO), reduced metal/LDO, reconstructed hydroxide-rich, [...] Read more.
There is increasing interest in structured layered double hydroxide (LDH)-based catalysts because they combine tunable acid–base/redox chemistry with reactor architectures that can reduce diffusion lengths, improve heat management, and lower pressure-drop penalties. This review evaluates LDH, LDH-derived oxide (LDO/MMO), reduced metal/LDO, reconstructed hydroxide-rich, and mixed dynamic states integrated into honeycomb monoliths, open-cell foams, meshes/felts, thin films, washcoats, coated plates, microchannels, capillaries, and additively manufactured lattices. To move beyond descriptive comparison, the literature is assessed using unified evaluation dimensions: operative active state, support architecture, coating/integration route, active-phase loading, coating thickness and uniformity, reactor-volume-normalized productivity or STY, ΔP/L, axial/radial thermal gradients, time-on-stream, coating loss, regeneration recovery, and pilot-readiness. Representative benchmarks illustrate both the promise and reporting gaps of the field: NiFe-LDH-derived monoliths for CO2 methanation have reached ~70% CO2 conversion at 300 °C with >90% CH4 selectivity and only 0.7% post-test mass loss; NiFe-LDH/iron-foam monoliths retained 85% ozone conversion after 168 h; high-entropy LDH-derived oxides showed T50/T90 values of 246/254 °C for toluene oxidation; and Au/LDH capillary films achieved 31.9% glycerol carbonate yield and 3.78 g h−1 g−1 productivity. The strongest current cases are pollution abatement and CO2 methanation, whereas biomass upgrading, fine-chemical flow, high-entropy coatings, and photo/electrocatalytic films require deeper module-level validation. Overall, structured LDH catalysts should be treated as coupled chemistry–coating–reactor systems whose performance must be judged simultaneously by activity, accessible catalyst inventory, transport efficiency, pressure drop, thermal profile, durability, regeneration, and manufacturability. Full article
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17 pages, 3797 KB  
Article
A Harpin Protein-Based Enzyme Complex Sustains Maize Yield Under Reduced Fertilization by Enhancing Soil Nutrient Availability
by Lidong Huang, Hu Wang and Guoxiang Zhang
Agronomy 2026, 16(12), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16121159 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 123
Abstract
Excessive chemical fertilization in maize production has reduced fertilizer-use efficiency and increased pressure on soil quality, whereas reducing fertilizer input without yield loss remains challenging. This challenge has shifted attention toward strategies that improve crop nutrient acquisition and utilization under lower fertilizer supply. [...] Read more.
Excessive chemical fertilization in maize production has reduced fertilizer-use efficiency and increased pressure on soil quality, whereas reducing fertilizer input without yield loss remains challenging. This challenge has shifted attention toward strategies that improve crop nutrient acquisition and utilization under lower fertilizer supply. Harpin protein-based enzyme complexes may provide a regulatory approach, but their field performance under reduced fertilization remains unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted from 2023 to 2024 using two maize cultivars, Heyu236 and Fuyuan2. In 2023, the harpin protein-based enzyme complex was applied at 200-fold and 300-fold dilutions under conventional fertilization to identify effective spraying concentrations. In 2024, the same two concentrations were evaluated under conventional fertilization and 15%, 30%, and 45% fertilizer reductions. In the 2023 concentration screening trial under conventional fertilization, the enzyme complex increased kernels per ear by 5.6–9.7% and tended to increase the yield by 0.4–17.2% (not significant). In 2024, under reduced fertilization, enzyme application combined with 30% fertilizer reduction produced a stable yield response. In particular, the 300-fold dilution combined with 30% fertilizer reduction increased kernels per ear by 18.1% and 13.2% and grain yield by 16.9% and 9.5% in Fuyuan2 and Heyu 236, respectively. Soil analyses showed that the enzyme treatment mainly improved nutrient availability, as reflected by higher available P, available K, alkali-hydrolyzable N, organic matter, and available Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn in the soil. These findings suggest that the harpin protein-based enzyme complex helped maintain maize yield under moderate fertilizer reduction by improving kernel formation and soil nutrient availability. Among the tested treatments, foliar application at 300-fold dilution combined with 30% fertilizer reduction showed the greatest potential for reducing fertilizer input while sustaining maize productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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15 pages, 718 KB  
Review
Hearing Loss and Dementia: Risk Factor, Early Marker, or Both?
by Ljiljana Cvorovic, Ana Jotic, Bojana Bukurov, Saša Jakovljevic, Simona Aleksic and Katarina Jovanovic
Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121687 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 58
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hearing loss and dementia are highly prevalent conditions in older adults and represent a growing public health challenge. Over the past decade, a substantial body of epidemiological evidence has demonstrated a consistent association between age-related hearing loss and cognitive dysfunction, including incident [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hearing loss and dementia are highly prevalent conditions in older adults and represent a growing public health challenge. Over the past decade, a substantial body of epidemiological evidence has demonstrated a consistent association between age-related hearing loss and cognitive dysfunction, including incident dementia. However, the nature of this relationship remains incompletely understood. Methods: This narrative review provides a structured overview of current evidence, focusing on epidemiological findings, mechanistic pathways, and clinical implications. Hearing loss has been associated with both accelerated cognitive decline and increased dementia risk, with a clear severity–impact relationship. Results: Several interacting mechanisms have been proposed, including increased cognitive load, structural and functional brain changes, social isolation, and shared vascular and metabolic risk factors. Emerging concepts such as the “auditory brain” and central auditory dysfunction further suggest that hearing impairment may also represent an early manifestation of neurodegenerative processes. Intervention studies have yielded mixed results. While hearing rehabilitation improves communication and quality of life, randomized evidence has not consistently demonstrated a reduction in cognitive decline in the general population, but potential benefits may exist in higher-risk subgroups. Increasing attention has been directed toward the role of neuroplasticity, with evidence suggesting that delayed intervention may limit the effectiveness of rehabilitation due to long-standing auditory deprivation. Conclusions: Taken together, current evidence suggests that hearing loss may represent both a potentially modifiable risk factor and an early marker of cognitive decline. Early identification and timely management of hearing impairment may therefore play an important role in maintaining cognitive and brain health and improving quality of life in older adults. Full article
29 pages, 459 KB  
Review
Consequences of Heat Stress on Physiology, Microbiome Dynamics, and Multi-Omics in Dairy Cows: More than Meets the Eye
by Themistoklis Giannoulis, Eleni Dovolou, Zissis Mamuris and Georgios S. Amiridis
Biology 2026, 15(12), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15120918 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 439
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) is at the top of the challenges facing modern dairy production, with annual losses according to global projections, under high-emission scenarios, reaching US$14.7–40.0 billion by the end of the century. This review emphasizes three interconnected topics that account for most [...] Read more.
Heat stress (HS) is at the top of the challenges facing modern dairy production, with annual losses according to global projections, under high-emission scenarios, reaching US$14.7–40.0 billion by the end of the century. This review emphasizes three interconnected topics that account for most of the proportion of the productive and reproductive losses during HS. First, the physiological consequences of HS are reviewed, with emphasis on the pair-fed thermal neutral (PFTN) paradigm, which established that reduced dry matter intake (DMI) accounts for only 35–50% of the observed milk yield decline, with the remainder arising from tissue-level effects of hyperthermia on mammary function, metabolism, and reproductive performance. Second, HS-induced microbiome disruption is examined as an active pathophysiological amplifier, whereby rumen dysbiosis compromises intestinal barrier integrity and drives systemic endotoxaemia, chronically amplifying the immune suppression already imposed by the thermal insult. Third, we focus on the integration of multi-omics platforms as a management approach, since single-omics analyses capture only a fraction of the biological complexity underlying the HS response. As the available datasets expand in coverage and scale, their integration through AI-driven analytical frameworks has the potential to substantially advance beyond the current fragmented picture, progressively building toward a systems-level model of thermal stress. Evidence-based mitigation strategies spanning environmental cooling, targeted nutritional supplementation, and genomic selection are critically evaluated within this framework, with emphasis on equity of access to evidence-based solutions across global dairy production systems. Full article
23 pages, 12795 KB  
Article
Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Astaxanthin Using Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent: Process Optimization and Anti-Aging Activity Evaluation
by Yuan Cao, Yalu Ji, Chong Chen, Wenyu Han and Zhijian Su
Foods 2026, 15(12), 2119; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122119 - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 189
Abstract
Deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction is a green and efficient technology. As a substitute for organic reagents, DESs are widely used to extract active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine. This study established an environmentally friendly and efficient method for extracting astaxanthin (AST) from [...] Read more.
Deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction is a green and efficient technology. As a substitute for organic reagents, DESs are widely used to extract active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine. This study established an environmentally friendly and efficient method for extracting astaxanthin (AST) from Phaffia rhodozyma (PR) using ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvents (DESs-UAE). The astaxanthin content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Six types of deep eutectic solvents composed of DL-menthol and selected hydrogen bond donors were prepared and evaluated, among which the DL-menthol–acetic acid system showed superior extraction performance. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize extraction parameters (ultrasonic power, time, and temperature), and the optimal conditions were determined as follows: ultrasonic power 420 W, ultrasonic time 20 min, and ultrasonic temperature 60 °C, achieving an AST extraction rate of 62% (2.49 mg/g). Compared with conventional organic solvent extraction, DESs exhibited a significantly higher AST extraction rate from PR, except for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis demonstrated that DES-UAE treatment disrupted the cellular structure of PR, resulting in numerous surface pores; this facilitated the release of intracellular bioactive components and significantly improved AST extraction efficiency. The PR extract showed no significant cytotoxicity and could effectively promote L929 cell proliferation. It concentration-dependently increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in H2O2-induced oxidative stress L929 cells, thereby alleviating oxidative damage. Additionally, it concentration-dependently upregulated type I collagen expression in these cells, ameliorated the decline in collagen synthesis function, and exerted a protective effect against cellular oxidative damage. This study provides a green alternative to toxic solvents and offers important theoretical and chemical support for the extraction of natural products and the high-value utilization of Phaffia rhodozyma (PR). Deep eutectic solvents have emerged as promising green alternatives to hazardous organic solvents, yet hydrophobic DESs tailored for lipophilic astaxanthin extraction from Phaffia rhodozyma and the linkage between extraction performance and anti-aging bioactivity remain insufficiently explored. Here, an ultrasound-assisted hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent extraction strategy was constructed to acquire astaxanthin, aiming to overcome low efficiency and environmental risks of conventional organic extraction techniques. Six DL-menthol-based DESs were prepared and screened, and DL-menthol–acetic acid possessed the optimal extraction capacity. Key extraction parameters were optimized via response surface methodology, and the maximum astaxanthin extraction recovery reached 62% (2.49 mg/g) under 420 W ultrasonic power, 20 min treatment and 60 °C. This yield was markedly higher than that of most common organic solvents; though comparable extraction effect was obtained with DMSO, the adopted DES possessed outstanding low-toxic and biodegradable superiorities that DMSO cannot match. SEM characterization verified that the combined treatment destroyed yeast cell structure and formed porous morphology, which accelerated intracellular astaxanthin release and accounted for improved extraction efficiency. Biological assays proved the extract possessed good biosafety and proliferation-promoting effect on L929 cells. It effectively relieved cellular oxidative injury by elevating the SOD level and reducing MDA accumulation in oxidative damaged cells, and upregulated type I collagen expression to mitigate aging-related collagen loss. This work develops an eco-friendly and high-efficiency extraction route for lipophilic active substance, confirms the practical value of hydrophobic DES, and provides experimental basis for high-value utilization of Phaffia rhodozyma resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Food Analytical Methods)
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