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SiC particles coated with Ti-Si-C layer were prepared by the molten salt synthesis method using NaCl-KCl eutectic mixture as the reaction medium and Ti metal powder as the Ti source. The synthesis was conducted under static argon atmosphere at 900 °C for 1–3 h. The post-synthesis treatment included dissolution of salts in hot water, followed by ultrasonic dispersion and sedimentation procedures. The thickness of the Ti-Si-C layer varied from 0.1 to 0.9 μm as the ratio of Ti to SiC components in the starting mixture changed from 0.05 to 0.4. The layer contained mainly nanocrystalline Ti 5 Si 3 , minor phases were TiC and Ti 3 SiC 2. The as-prepared powders were hot pressed under 30 MPa at 1700 °C. The densification behavior of the samples during hot pressing as well as changes both in phase composition and in microstructure were studied. The flexural strength of the hot-pressed samples increased with an increase in the Ti:SiC molar ratio, giving the value as high as 213 ± 20 MPa for the sample with Ti/SiC = 0.4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of wood‐plastic composites (WPCs) with high filling fibers and excellent physical properties remained a great challenge. This study used Camellia oleifera shell (COS, agroforestry product waste) as raw material, and prepared 60 wt% COS/high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) WPCs using profile extrusion method through pretreating fibers including hot water, hot steam, alkali, acid, extraction, and fine fiber screening. After pretreatments, the relative contents of cellulose and lignin increased, the relative contents of hemicellulose and extract decreased significantly, and the length‐diameter ratio was improved. The flexural strength, tensile strength and impact strength of hot water and steam heat treated composites reached 31.4, 17.1 MPa and 6.9 kJ/m2, 31.8, 16.8 MPa and 6.7 kJ/m2, respectively. Compared with untreated 28.8, 14.7 MPa and 5.5 kJ/m2, the advantages were more obvious. Alkali treatment and acid treatment improved the thermal stability and residue rate of the material. Extraction treatment and alkali treatment significantly reduced the processing torque force, which was conducive to processing, while acid treatment was the opposite. The highest water absorption and thickness expansion rate were 13.75% and 3.60% respectively at 7 days after alkali treatment, which were considerably higher than 5.60% and 0.78% without treatment, while other pretreatments improved the dimensional stability of the material. Highlights: High filling Camellia oleifera shell waste/HDPE composites were prepared.Physical and chemical pretreatments improved interfacial adhesion of the composites.Heat treatments significantly improved mechanical performance of the composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates a sustainable and renewable mobile energy system designed for electricity production, hydrogen generation, and seawater desalination. It targets critical energy and freshwater needs during disaster scenarios, particularly in island nations and coastal cities where infrastructure may be compromised. The system integrates advanced technologies, including wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, solar collectors, and reverse osmosis units, all mounted on a green ship. Simulations using Engineering Equation Solver software indicate that in July, the system can produce 2,201,865 MJ of electricity, 7252 kg of hydrogen, and 3456 tons of fresh and hot water. This output can power 1072 electric vehicles and 1284 hydrogen-powered vehicles while supplying cold water to 57,600 people and hot water to 5760 people. By relying on renewable energy, the system prevents approximately 43,543 kg of carbon emissions in July. The total monthly economic value is estimated at $47,241.36, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable solution for disaster response and coastal communities. [Display omitted] • Hydrogen generation of the combined hybrid renewable system. • Thermodynamic efficiencies of components and overall the system for a green ship. • The comparison of the power generation of the wind turbine, Organic Rankine Cycle, and solar cell. • The monthly carbon saving quantity of the renewable hybrid system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates lignocellulosic biocomposites' physicochemical properties and strength parameters with varying thermoplastic content. Biocomposites were prepared using wood (Pinus sylvestris) or hemp shives (Cannabis sativa L.) combined with 25% and 50% ABS regranulate. The research focused on evaluating the mechanical energy consumption during the compaction of wood-ABS biocomposites with different pine fractions pretreated with hot water extraction (HWE) and analyzing the relationship between strength and thermoplastic content. Results indicate that the composition of the mixture and the size of the hemp shives fraction did not significantly influence energy consumption during densification. Energy values ranged from 1.234 × 10⁻8 J to 8.296 × 10⁻8 J. While the densification of pine after HWE was unsuccessful without ABS, preheating the mixtures with ABS facilitated the production of a uniform composite. The work required for densification ranged from 1.404 × 10⁻5 J to 2.711 × 10⁻5 J for fractions without ABS. For mixtures with ABS, the work required was 1.954 × 10⁻5 J for fraction 0 ÷ 0.4 (f1) and 0.042 × 10⁻5 J for fraction 0.4 ÷ 0.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress state of the primary circuit main pipeline is very complex mixed constant stress and periodic cyclic stress during the operation of nuclear power plants, which often affects the failure behavior of the stainless steel (SS) pipe. The fatigue behavior of 304LN SS under mixed constant stress and cyclic stress was investigated, and it was found that the coupling effect of constant stress and cyclic stress has a significant collaborative acceleration on the fatigue behavior. The research results showed that the cracks in the 304LN SS did not propagate even after 78 days under both constant load conditions of 5 KN and 7.5 KN, while the crack growth rate (CGR) of the specimen increased by about an order of magnitude when coupled with a cyclic fatigue load. The fatigue life of 304LN SS was the longest under 200 °C high-temperature water, and its life was roughly the same under 250 °C and 300 °C water. In a 300 °C high-temperature water environment, the fatigue life under the coupling of constant stress and cyclic fatigue stress is significantly lower than that under symmetric cyclic stress alone. There is a synergistic acceleration effect on the fatigue life of 304LN SS when constant stress is coupled with periodic cyclic stress, which is attributed to the combined effect of a corrosion environment and mechanical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, fresh wolfberry in the current season was used as the experimental material, and a radio frequency (RF)-hot air combined segmented drying process was adopted for berry preservation. Ultrasonic treatment, hot water blanching, sucrose infiltration, ultrasonic and blanching, ultrasonic and infiltration, and NaOH and NaCl solution impregnation were used for pre-treatment of combined drying. Taking natural drying and conventional Na2CO3 dewaxing treatment as the control group, the effects of different pretreatment methods on drying characteristics, quality, and microstructure of wolfberry during combined drying were investigated. The drying time after ultrasonic and blanching pretreatment was the shortest (13.5 h), which effectively retained total flavonoids (1.79 mg/g) and enhanced their antioxidant activity (I = 60.78%). NaCl impregnation treatment significantly increased the total phenol content (8.77 mg/g), whereas the retention rate of soluble sugar (0.73 g/g), ascorbic acid (3.96 mg/100 g), betaine (2.72%), and other nutrients increased significantly after ultrasonic and infiltration treatment, with improved color, rehydration rate and microstructure over other treatment methods. The Weibull distribution function can accurately describe the RF-hot air combined drying process of wolfberry after different pretreatment, and simulated results were consistent with the results of the combined drying characteristic curve of wolfberry. The aim of this study was to explore suitable pretreatment methods to improve the drying rate and ensure the quality of dried products of wolfberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mango fruits undergo numerous postharvest quality losses during storage. Hence, the present study aimed to increase the shelf life of mango fruits by applying hexanal‐based enhanced freshness formulations (EFF) in combination with hot water treatment (HWT). RESULTS: The findings revealed that, among all the tested applications, the combination of EFF 1.0% + HWT reduced the weight loss, decay incidence, and activity of cell wall degrading enzymes of mango fruits. Also, the combined treatment was effective in maintaining the fruit quality parameters such as soluble solid contents, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and activity of antioxidant compounds. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the postharvest application of EEF 1.0% in combination with HWT can be used in extending the shelf life of mango cv. 'Langra,' fruits stored at 12° C and 85–90% relative humidity for 35 days. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) is one of the main active ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine Bletilla striata (Thunb) Richb.f and the extraction method of BSP has a significant impact on its properties. This study investigated the effects of four extraction methods, namely hot water extraction, ultrasonic extraction, enzyme extraction, and microwave extraction, on the structure and antioxidant properties of BSP. Characterization results from FTIR and NMR showed that all four BSP consisted mainly of glucose and mannose, forming α-glycosidic and β-glycosidic linkages to form glucomannan. Hot water extraction had the lowest extraction rate of BSP at 21.78% ± 0.73%. The polysaccharide BSP-H obtained from hot water extraction had the smallest absolute Zeta potential and Grain size, but the largest molecular weight at 204 kDa. It exhibited the best thermal stability and superior antioxidant activity compared to polysaccharides extracted using the other three methods, as evaluated by three different antioxidant assays. Although the antioxidant activity of BSP-V was slightly weaker, it showed a significant improvement compared to the remaining two polysaccharides. These results suggest that hot water extraction is the most suitable method for large-scale application of BSP, preserving its activity effectively, thus facilitating practical production and product development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this novel study, BaCe 0.9 Y 0.1 O 3– δ , BaCe 0. 9 Eu 0.1 O 3– δ , BaCe 0.9 Nd 0.1 O 3– δ , and BaCe 0.9 Dy 0.1 O 3– δ powders were synthesized by the self-combustion method and processed into thick porous films (60–70 % porosity) to investigate the water vapor sensing properties in the 400–700 °C temperature range. All samples showed a stable response value to water vapor in the whole temperature range, expressed as impedance ratio in dry and wet argon (Z dryAr / Z wetAr), and were able to detect 0.03 vol% of water vapor at 550 °C within the impedance range of 103 Ω at 100 Hz. The response values increased with the partial pressure of water and decreased with the temperature, whereas the maximal value of 3.41 reached the BaCe 0.9 Eu 0.1 O 3– δ sample at 550 °C and p (H 2 O) = 4.28 kPa. The average response time was several seconds and only slightly changed with the material type and experimental conditions. The recovery time depended on temperature and the Z dryAr / Z wetAr ratio, whereas the increase in the gas flow rate from 100 cm3/min to 200 cm3/min significantly reduced the recovery time for the BaCe 0.9 Eu 0.1 O 3– δ sample from 230 s to 55 s at 550 °C and p (H 2 O) = 2.14 kPa. All the samples exhibited stability and a high degree of reversibility after multiple exchanges of wet and dry atmospheres at different temperatures. Yet, their tendency to deteriorate in the presence of CO 2 might challenge a potential application in aggressive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims Methods Results Conclusion Low boron (B) availability is associated with strongly weathered, coarse‐textured, and low organic matter soils, widespread in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). It is unknown to what extent B fertilization can increase maize yields in SSA. This study aims to understand the soil properties controlling B availability to field‐grown maize.Boron fertilizer omission trials with maize were executed at 15 sites in Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Yield, B uptake, and soil parameters potentially relevant for B availability, including extractable soil B (hot water, 0.01 M CaCl2, and 0.43 M HNO3), were determined.Soil B pools were strongly intercorrelated and were positively correlated with organic carbon, suggesting the relevance of organic matter for soil B availability. Soil parameters described limited variation in B uptake and the yield response to B fertilization. Boron fertilization did not increase yields in any of the 15 sites but increased uptake in 11 sites. Yields were reduced through B fertilization in five sites, likely because B application induced toxicity. No clear critical soil or plant B concentrations indicating deficiency could be derived, but positive yield responses to B fertilization were absent with hot water B levels above 0.69 mg kg−1.Assessing B fertilizer needs in maize grown in tropical soils based on soil or plant tissue concentrations remains challenging. Improving soil organic matter status could potentially alleviate B deficiency in crops when present. Recommendations are given to overcome the identified challenges associated with studying B availability in tropical soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient catalysts are imperative to accelerate the slow oxygen reaction kinetics for the development of emerging electrochemical energy systems ranging from room-temperature alkaline water electrolysis to high-temperature ceramic fuel cells. In this work, we reveal the role of cationic inductive interactions in predetermining the oxygen vacancy concentrations of 235 cobalt-based and 200 iron-based perovskite catalysts at different temperatures, and this trend can be well predicted from machine learning techniques based on the cationic lattice environment, requiring no heavy computational and experimental inputs. Our results further show that the catalytic activity of the perovskites is strongly correlated with their oxygen vacancy concentration and operating temperatures. We then provide a machine learning-guided route for developing oxygen electrocatalysts suitable for operation at different temperatures with time efficiency and good prediction accuracy. Catalyst screening is an important process but it's usually time-consuming and labor intensive. Here the authors report the prediction of oxygen vacancy for perovskites using machine learning techniques to develop suitable oxygen electrocatalysts for solid oxide fuel cells at reduced temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urea is a non-toxic, harmless, and abundant bulk organic chemical featuring high nitrogen content. Therefore, urea could be a prime green candidate for introducing nitrogen atoms into organic molecules. In this regard, urea in organic synthesis has been mainly employed as building block, component of solvent systems, catalyst, or for pH adjustment, while uses of urea as NH3-source towards the construction of small organic compounds are scarce. Here, nothing but high-temperature water (HTW) is employed to conduct the aquathermolysis of urea, generating NH3 to propel the Debus–Radzsisweski multicomponent reaction (MCR) towards imidazoles. The approach does neither require additional catalysts nor reaction auxiliaries or volatile organic compounds as solvent. Urea was used as N-source in combination with different 1,2-diketones and aldehydes featuring a variety of functional groups towards 23 lophine analogues (190 °C, 1–3 hours). Moreover, the presented synthesis performs equally or better than classical syntheses when acid-sensitive substrates are employed. The greenness of the synthesis using urea in HTW was assessed through green metrics and compared with syntheses reported in the literature in a large-scale fashion. Overall, the reported syntheses feature E-factor and process mass intensity values in ranges comparable to those of syntheses reported in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a sulfonated covalent organic framework (COF) capable of atmospheric water harvesting in arid conditions. The isothermal water uptake profile of the framework was studied, and the network displayed steep water sorption at low relative humidity (RH) in temperatures of up to 45 °C, reaching a water uptake of 0.12 g g−1 at 10 % RH and even 0.08 g g−1 at just 5 % RH, representing some of the most extreme conditions on the planet. We found that the inclusion of sulfonate moieties shifted uptake in the water isotherm profiles to lower RH compared to non‐sulfonated equivalents, demonstrating well the benefits of including these hydrophilic sites for water uptake in hot, arid locations. Repeated uptake and desorption cycles were performed on the material without significant detriment to its adsorption performance, demonstrating the potential of the sulfonated COF for real‐world implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Depressurization combined with heat (mainly hot water) injection is an important technique for exploiting natural gas hydrate (NGH). To overcome the problems of pore water intrusion and hot water energy loss in the technique, this paper employs a method of setting sealing boundaries in permeable overburden and underburden to exploit NGH. The influence of the presence of sealing boundaries on NGH exploitation performances was numerically investigated. The results indicate that the sealing boundaries in permeable overburden and underburden can inhibit water intrusion and reduce heat loss, significantly improving the efficiency of hydrate dissociation and gas production. Specifically, the hydrate dissociation and gas production efficiency increased by 22.0–30.1% and 63.9–85.1%, respectively. Moreover, there is an optimal sealing vertical distance within the range of 0–15 m, maximizing the mining efficiency of NGH at the end of production. On the other hand, the presence of sealing boundaries effectively limits the escape range of CH4 in the permeable overburden and underburden, resulting in an increasing gas-to-water ratio and an increasing energy efficiency. These findings provide theoretical and technical support for the mining of NGH by depressurization combined with heat injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PV technology has become widespread in the Netherlands, reaching a cumulative installed capacity of 22.4 GWp in 2023 and ranking second in the world for solar PV per capita at 1268 W/capita. Despite this growth, there is an inherent discrepancy between energy supply and demand during the day. While the netting system in the Netherlands can currently negate the economic drawbacks of this discrepancy, grid congestion and imbalanced electricity prices show that improvements are highly desirable for the sustainability of electricity grids. This research analyzes the effectiveness of a Power-to-Domestic-Hot-Water (P2DHW) system at improving the utilization of excess PV electricity in Dutch households and compares it to similar technologies. The results show that the example P2DHW system, the WaterAccu, compares favorably as a low cost and flexible solution. In particular, for twelve different households differing in size (1–6 occupants), PV capacity (2.4–8 kWp), and size of hot water storage boiler (50–300 L), it is shown that the total economic benefits for the period 2024–2032 vary from −€13 to €3055, assuming the current net metering scheme is abolished in 2027. Only for large households with low PV capacity are the benefits a little negative. Based on a multi-criteria analysis, it is found that the WaterAccu is the cheapest option compared to other storage options, such as a home battery, a heat pump boiler, and a solar boiler. A sensitivity study demonstrated that these results are overall robust. Furthermore, the WaterAccu has a positive societal impact owing to its peak shaving potential. Further research should focus on the potential of the technology to decrease grid congestion when implemented on a neighborhood scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both steam and hot water flooding of high-viscosity oils in the presence of swelling clays are difficult methods for producing oil efficiently because of potential formation permeability reduction. This paper pertains to heavy oil recovery from the East Moldabek formation where the oil API gravity is about 22 and is inundated with swelling clays. To achieve this, we used the IntersectTM reservoir simulator to compare oil recovery economics using both hot water and steam injection as a function of steam cycle duration, temperature, and steam dryness. We also studied clay swelling in the East Moldabek formation where clay poses a significant challenge due to its impact on permeability reduction. In this research, we developed an equation based on experimental data to establish a relationship between water mineralization and permeability in the East Moldabek formation. The equation provides valuable insight on how to mitigate clay swelling which is crucial for enhancing oil recovery efficiency—especially in sandstone reservoirs. Our modeling studies provide the recovery efficiencies for salinities of the hot water EOR versus cyclic steam EOR methods in a formation containing swelling clays. Specifically, the reduction in formation permeability as a function of the distilled water fraction is the controlling parameter in hot water or steam flooding—when the formation water mixture becomes less saline, oil recovery decreases. Our research shows that clay swelling can significantly impact cyclic steam stimulation outcomes, potentially reducing its effectiveness, while hot water flooding may offer a more cost-effective and operationally feasible solution in formations where clay swelling is a concern. Economic analysis reveals the potential for achieving an optimal favorable condition for hot water injection. Therefore, this paper provides a guideline on how to conduct thermal oil recovery for heavy oils in fields with high clay content such as the East Moldabek deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of natural gas hydrates by the pressure reduction method is affected by the decomposition heat absorption effect, and the range of the formation temperature reduction area is expanding. At the same time, the temperature reduction phenomenon is more significant around the production wells under the influence of gas throttling and expansion effects, and hydrate formation will occur under certain temperature and pressure conditions, leading to blockage of effective seepage channels in the reservoir in the region and elevation of seepage resistance, which may affect the output of hydrate decomposition gas. A numerical simulation model is constructed for the purpose of studying the secondary hydrate generation pattern around the well, analyzing the impact of secondary hydrates around wells on the production capacity, and assessing the effectiveness of prevention methods to inform the actual production of hydrates. The results demonstrate that secondary hydrate is typically formed in the near-well area of the upper part of the production well, and the secondary hydrate around the upper part of the production well is the first to be formed, exhibiting the highest saturation peak and the latest decomposition. The formation of the secondary hydrate can be predicted based on the observed change in temperature and pressure, and the rate of secondary hydrate formation is markedly rapid, whereas the decomposition rate, approximately 0.285 mole/d, is relatively slow. Additionally, the impact of secondary hydrates on cumulative gas production is insignificant, and the effect of secondary hydrates on capacity can be ignored. Hot water injection, wellbore heating, and reservoir reconstruction can effectively eliminate secondary hydrates around the well. Reservoir reconstruction represents a superior approach to the elimination of secondary hydrates, which can effectively enhance production capacity while preventing the generation of secondary hydrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Intensive mariculture practices, particularly high stocking densities, have led to suboptimal growth rates and increased susceptibility to diseases in hybrid grouper, a popular species in aquaculture. Therefore, the use of medicinal plants has become promising to increase the immune response and resist disease. We examined the antimicrobial activity against Vibrio sp., because the Vibrio sp. is a common pathogen in fish. This study demonstrated that ethyl caffeate is nontoxic and increases the phagocytic rate, phagocytic index, and respiratory burst of head kidney leukocytes in hybrid grouper. Ethyl caffeate also has potent antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic bacteria in hybrid grouper aquaculture. Ethyl caffeate (EC) is considered a sustainable way to address the current challenges as they are cheap and environmentally friendly. Ultimately, it has potential to increase the metabolite secondary activity of beneficial bacteria. This study investigated the effect of substances on nonspecific immune responses of head kidney leukocytes, the antimicrobial activity against Vibrio sp., as well as the time-kill of Vibrio sp. by combining the substances with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Pediococcus sp. The substances are B. pilosa hot water extract, B. pilosa powder extract, B. pilosa methanol extract, B. pilosa ethanol extract, B. alba hot water extract, B. alba powder extract, B. alba methanol extract, B. alba ethanol extract, and bioactive compounds, namely cytopiloyne, flavonoid, phenol, ethyl caffeate, luteolin, chlorogenic acid, butein, and linoleic acid. The results showed that some of them were nontoxic to the head kidney leukocytes, which can increase the phagocytic rate, phagocytic index, and respiratory burst. These substances were able to inhibit the growth of Vibrio sp.; they can even completely kill the pathogenic bacteria. The largest of the inhibition zone formed from the EC group at a concentration range of 5–50 µg/mL against V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, and V. harveyi with a value of 19.7 ± 0.56, 19.3 ± 1.53, and 20.6 ± 1.53 mm. Furthermore, the time-kill studies showed that the LAB and P. acidilactici can completely kill the Vibrio sp. at 6 h incubation time, mainly in the group of combination with EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCompared with other construction methods, artificial freezing technology has the advantages of good anti-penetration performance and zero pollution to the surrounding environment, and is widely used in tunnel construction under complex environment, in which the thawing temperature field during the construction period has been the focus of attention in the actual construction.Taking the freezing of the tube curtain of the undersea tunnel in the Sanya estuary waterway as the engineering background, the finite element software was used to establish a model to analyse the development of the thawing temperature field, the 0°C isotherm and the warming curves at the observation points.The results show that: when the circulating hot water temperature reaches more than 30°C, the effect of shortening the thawing time is not obvious, which means that the thawing time is gradually stabilised when the circulating hot water temperature rises to a certain value. The thawing time decreases with the increase of seepage velocity, and the effect of shortening the thawing time is not obvious when the head difference exceeds 4m, which indicates that the thawing time is gradually stabilised when the head difference increases to a certain value. The results obtained provide reference for similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) is a (probably) rare syndrome that occurs in frequent and chronic cannabis users. It is characterised by cyclical vomiting and gastrointestinal symptoms. CHS is frequently misdiagnosed resulting in extensive investigations and delayed diagnosis and treatment. Standard anti‐emetic treatments are typically not effective, and no standardised treatment protocol exists for CHS. Bathing or showering in hot water is often reported to relieve symptoms. Little is known of the aetiology of CHS as the literature is predominantly informed by case reports and chart reviews. Similarly, little is known of the demographics and cannabis use patterns of those who develop CHS. The number of CHS cases globally appears to have risen following liberalisation of cannabis regulation and access in some countries, underscoring the need for wider recognition of CHS in emergency care and by the wider public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel synthetic pathway for synthesizing isocyanate-free polyurethanes is reported here. β-Amino alcohols were efficiently synthesized from the aminolysis of the epoxide ring of (R)-(+)-limonene oxide with different primary amines as nucleophiles and hot water as catalysts. The regio- and diastereoselectivities of the reactions were investigated and supported by computational studies. DFT calculations were performed to understand the experimental results more deeply. It confirmed the crucial roles of water molecules and the nature of the nucleophile in forming the products. The formation of the product is entirely driven by the free energy of activation that affects the reaction rate. Cyclic carbamates were prepared from β-amino alcohols using the dialkyl carbonate (DAC) chemistry. An oligourethane was obtained from Anionic Ring-Opening Polymerization (AROP) of a cyclic carbamate derived from (R)-(+)-limonene-oxide. All the products were characterized by employing 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The assignments of the signals in 1H and 13C NMR spectra were also supported by 2D NMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The technology of additive manufacturing has advantages for prototyping. In certain instances, it may be preferable to use 3D-printed components as the primary component making it essential for these components to have sufficient mechanical properties. Therefore, the effect of ambient conditions on the mechanical properties of these components can be quite significant. In this study, the effect of different ambient conditions on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed PLA parts was investigated. Three specific conditions were considered for this purpose: hot-dry air, hot water, and cold-dry air. Standard samples were fabricated using a 3D-printer and then subjected to the aforementioned environments for 30-min before being tested with a universal testing device. The yield strength, maximum strength, elastic modulus, and toughness values were obtained from the resulting stress–strain graphs of the printed components. The study revealed that ambient conditions significantly affect the mechanical strength of PLA components. Notably, the components retained their tensile strength in cold and dry environments, whereas their mechanical properties deteriorated under wet conditions. Additionally, cold conditions appeared to enhance the mechanical properties of the printed components. In conclusion, it was determined that variable ambient conditions can either degrade or improve the mechanical properties of PLA-printed components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widely distributed Species in different geological and ecological environments often exhibit great intraspecific diversity. Aphaniops stoliczkanus (Day, 1872) is an endemic species of Middle East occurring over a vast geographic range in different basins. This species has been observed in freshwater, brackish water and hot sulphur springs; therefore, its populations are known to exhibit considerable morphological variation. In the present study, we have investigated the poorly studied populations of A. stoliczkanus of the Hormuz and Makran basins of Iran in terms of otolith morphology and morphometrics. According to the results, these populations can be divided into two distinct groups including east and west of the Strait of Hormuz. Our results also provide evidence that there is a relationship between otolith morphology and the environment, serving as environmental factors that may influence the formation of specific regions in the otolith shape. Despite the remarkable morphological similarities among otoliths in geographically close populations of Charak and Chiruyeh, our data purposed that geographically these populations have different dorsal tip shapes in their otolith. In comparison to the data from other studies, the otoliths of Qeshm Island appear to resemble the overall shape of otolith found in Oman very closely. However, it is believed that Qeshm Island population was separated from the Hormuz basin populations during the Holocene Sea level rise. Also, the outcomes of this study provide insights into the potential role of environmental factors in shaping intraspecific diversity and the migration patterns of this species within the Persian Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two physical treatments (heat via water bath and cold air) with various temperatures (20/70/75/80°C and - 80/-90°C) and exposure times (20, 30, 40 s) were carried out to identify a decontaminating effect on zoonotic pathogens on broiler carcasses. Subsequently, carcasses were analyzed for thermotolerant Campylobacter (C.), Salmonella, Escherichia (E.). coli and total colony count (TCC). Moreover, for the hot water treatment, qPCR with viable/dead differentiation (v-qPCR) was applied to detect viable but non-culturable cells (VBNC) of Campylobacter, referred to as intact but putatively infectious units (IPIU). Hot water immersion was tested on carcasses inoculated with C. jejuni and Salmonella, while cold air treatment was evaluated for naturally contaminated carcasses of broiler flocks colonized with Campylobacter. For hot water treatment, the statistically significant reducing effect was about 1 log10 CFU/ml for both Salmonella and Campylobacter for 70-80°C and 20/30 s treatments. The effect of heat treatment for Campylobacter was smaller when samples were analyzed with v-qPCR with reductions of 0.5-0.8 log10 IPIU/ml in mean. Cold air treatments at -90°C were effective in reducing the mean contamination level of Campylobacter by 0.4-0.5 log10 CFU/ml at all exposure times (p < 0.05). Hot water treatments showed a decreasing trend on TCC by 0.6-0.9 log10 CFU/ml (p < 0.05). TCC counts were not significantly affected by cold air treatment. For E. coli no statistically significant reductions were observed by hot water treatment. The cold air treatment at -90°C for 20 and 40 s led to a reduction of E. coli by 0.4 and 0.8 log10 CFU/ml (p < 0.05), respectively. Treatment of carcasses with higher bacterial levels tended to show higher reduction. The research demonstrated that the efficacy of physical treatments for decontamination of broiler carcasses was more pronounced for hot water immersion than for cold air exposure. In conclusion, the results shed light on the potential application of these physical treatments in practice to reduce the quantitative load of contaminating pathogens to enhance food safety in the broiler meat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial value of teak wood is associated with its heartwood, which has a naturally darker color than sapwood. To reduce this color disparity, thermal modification can be used to homogenize the color between sapwood and heartwood by minimizing color differences. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of thermal modification in making the color of teak sapwood similar to that of heartwood. Thermal modification was carried out at 160, 180, 200, and 220 °C for 150 min. Thermal modification of teak sapwood at 180 °C ensured greater color similarity to the heartwood of a fast-growing 16-year-old plantation. The material darkened with increasing process temperature. There was a change in the content of soluble substances, and hot water extraction had greater correlations with hue angle, lightness, and yellowness. Thermal modification also reduced the number of hydroxyl groups and improved the wood's thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high extractives content in rice straw severely hinders surface adhesion, resulting in poor strength and dimensional stability of rice straw particleboard bonded with castor oil-based polyurethane (CPUR) resin. In this study, rice straw was pretreated with liquid hot water (LHW) at 150 °C for 20 min to reduce its extractives content for particleboard production with CPUR resin. The effects of LHW pretreatment on the chemical composition of the rice straws was evaluated. In addition, effects of CPUR resin dosage and density on mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the rice straw particleboards were investigated. The results indicated that LHW pretreatment significantly reduced the extractives and hemicellulose contents of the rice straw. The LHW pretreatment significantly improved the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the rice straw particleboards. The overall performances of the rice straw particleboards were enhanced as the CPUR dosage increased. Increase of density led to upgraded mechanical properties but lowered dimensional stability of the rice straw particleboards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterborne polyurethanes emulsions (WPU) based on polyethylene carbonate diol (PECD) were synthesized, characterized and modified by polypropylene carbonate diol (PPCD) and organosilicon KH-792. The mechanical, thermal and hydrolysis resistance properties of waterborne polyurethanes were comprehensively investigated. The results show that PECD based WPU has very excellent mechanical properties. The tensile strength and the elongation at break the PU was up to 73 MPa and 1040%, which was much higher than that reported for similar types of PPCD-based WPU. It was found that water absorption of PECD based WPU can be decreased dramatically, from 40.9% to 21.1%, after 50% PECD was replaced by PPCD, while tensile strength only decreased from 73.0 MPa to 63.4 MPa. The addition of KH-792 has great influence on PECD based WPU, when 1% KH-792 was added, the water absorption rate decreased from 21.1% to 11.88%, the mechanical strength remained at 63.3 MPa, the WPU film remained transparent after soaking in 80 ℃ hot water for 4 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimization of extraction parameters, including the process time, temperature, and liquid-to-solid ratio, was conducted in order to obtain the polysaccharide-rich fraction from the lyophilized Agaricus bisporus fruiting body. The efficiency of extraction for polysaccharides and antioxidant activity was determined by analyzing the extracts for total carbohydrate content, the reducing sugars content, and the antioxidant activity employing DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The results showed that all parameters, except for the extraction time, impacted differently on the extraction efficiency of polysaccharides and antioxidant activity. The highest total carbohydrate content was observed at the longest process time, highest temperature, and a liquid-to-solid ratio of 118 mL/g. To minimize the reducing sugar level, a lower temperature is required, while the highest antioxidant activity requires a moderate temperature and the lowest liquid-to-solid ratio. The optimization of antioxidant activity by means of the DPPH and H2O2 method failed, which shows that the specific mechanism of polysaccharides as antioxidants needs further investigation. The aqueous extraction method demonstrated to be an efficient and simple approach to recover the potentially bioactive polysaccharide fractions from Agaricus bisporus that are also active as antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharides from cyanobacteria are extensively reported for their complex structures, good biocompatibility, and diverse bioactivities, but only a few cyanobacterial species have been exploited for the biotechnological production of polysaccharides. According to our previous study, the newly isolated marine cyanobacterium Cyanobacterium aponinum SCSIO-45682 was a good candidate for polysaccharide production. This work provided a systematic study of the extraction optimization, isolation, structural characterization, and bioactivity evaluation of polysaccharides from C. aponinum SCSIO-45682. Results showed that the crude polysaccharide yield of C. aponinum reached 17.02% by hot water extraction. The crude polysaccharides showed a porous and fibrous structure, as well as good moisture absorption and retention capacities comparable to that of sodium alginate. A homogeneous polysaccharide (Cyanobacterium aponinum polysaccharide, CAP) was obtained after cellulose DEAE-52 column and Sephadex G-100 column purification. CAP possessed a high molecular weight of 4596.64 kDa. It was mainly composed of fucose, galactose, and galacturonic acid, with a molar ratio of 15.27:11.39:8.64. The uronic acid content and sulfate content of CAP was 12.96% and 18.06%, respectively. Furthermore, CAP showed an in vitro growth inhibition effect on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The above results indicated the potential of polysaccharides from the marine cyanobacterium C. aponinum SCSIO-45682 as a moisturizer and anticancer addictive applied in cosmetical and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses data from natural gas combination boilers across a 6-year timeframe, exploring how demand for space heating and hot water have both changed over time, and highlights the impact of factors such as external temperature and the UK energy price cap. The results show that there has been a significant decrease in annual space heating and hot water demand since 2021. Space heating typically contributes 88% of the total annual gas demand of the boilers, with hot water contributing the other 12%. For the same mean temperature across the fourth quarter (8.5 °C), 2018 had a daily mean energy demand of 50.4 kWh, whereas the 2022 value was 41.4 kWh. This 9.0 kWh (18%) difference of the daily mean for Q4 suggests a shift in consumer demand influenced by other factors such as the energy price cap. This analysis provides additional understanding of how consumer energy demand for heating continues to evolve and invites further studies to be completed on future trends of energy demand for both space heating and hot water. Here, we also highlight the benefit of considering space heating and hot water as separate demands, as this provides additional insights and is something the paper helps to advocate for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When building a tunnel in an environment rich in high‐temperature hot water, it is particularly necessary to pay attention to the influence of sulfate ions in underground hot water on tunnel shotcrete. In order to study the sulfate erosion mechanism and mechanical properties of shotcrete in a real high‐temperature hot water environment, this study was carried out by setting the curing temperature (20, 40, 60, and 80°C), humidity (55% RH, 95% RH), and erosion age (0, 15, 30, 60, and 90 d) as the test influencing factors; a full combination of dry‐wet cycle test was carried out, and the specimens under different conditions were analyzed macroscopically and microscopically. The results show that with the increase of the number of dry‐wet cycles, the quality of shotcrete increases first and then decreases, and the mechanical properties gradually decrease. In the early stage of erosion, the erosion product is mainly ettringite, and the macroscopic damage is aggregate spalling. In the later stage of erosion, the erosion product is mainly gypsum, and the macroscopic damage is expansion damage. Compared with standard curing, a certain degree of high temperature curing has little effect on the sulfate attack resistance of shotcrete, but when the curing temperature exceeds 60°C, the concrete is seriously damaged. Finally, by constructing the damage model of sulfate attack shotcrete, the variation of compressive strength of shotcrete with age after sulfate attack under different curing conditions was successfully predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reliable electricity, elevators, heat, hot water, and water are aspects of safe and accessible housing. Interruptions to these services represent a persistent challenge faced by public housing residents in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). We compiled outage data spanning 2020–2022 from NYCHA's online service interruptions portal and paired these data with demographic and meteorological sources to understand the burden of these outages. To ease dissemination of these data—a spatiotemporally granular outage dataset that could fill gaps surrounding urban outage health impacts—we provide a public dashboard for visualization and download of the service interruption data in an analysis-ready format. We demonstrated that (1) outages often exceeded health-relevant restoration windows (e.g., 8 h for electrical interruptions); (2) senior developments (exclusively residents 62 +) had the longest duration of elevator, heat, and hot water outages; and (3) outages sometimes overlapped with temperature extremes—potentially increasing their health risk. Residents of NYCHA, who are predominately low-income, Black, and Hispanic face a disproportionate burden of service interruptions. Like all New Yorkers, NYCHA residents deserve to live in dignified housing that is safe and accessible. Addressing service interruptions are one way to make public housing safer and push toward climate and environmental justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of acute carbon monoxide inhalation (COi) and hot water immersion (HWI) are of growing interest as interventions to stimulate erythropoietin (EPO) production. However, whether EPO production is further augmented when combining these stressors and whether there are sex differences in this response are poorly understood. Therefore, we measured circulating EPO concentration in response to acute COi and HWI independently and in combination and determined whether the responses were altered by sex. Participants completed three study visits—COi, HWI, and combined COi and HWI—separated by 1 week in a randomized, balanced, crossover design. Renal blood velocity was measured during all interventions, and carboxyhaemoglobin was measured during and after COi. Serum samples were analysed every hour for 6 h post‐intervention for EPO concentration. HWI decreased renal blood velocity (46.2 cm/s to 36.2 cm/s) (P < 0.0001), and COi increased carboxyhaemoglobin (1.5%–12.8%) (P < 0.0001) without changing renal blood velocity (46.4–45.2 cm/s) (P = 0.4456). All three interventions increased peak EPO concentration from baseline (COi: 6.02–9.74 mIU/mL; HWI: 6.80–11.10 mIU/mL; COi + HWI: 6.71–10.91 mIU/mL) (P = 0.0048) and to the same extent (P = 0.3505). On average, females increased EPO while males did not in response to COi (females: 6.17 mIU/mL; males: 1.27 mIU/mL) (P = 0.0010), HWI (females: 6.47 mIU/mL; males: 2.14 mIU/mL) (P = 0.0104), and COi and HWI (females: 6.65 mIU/mL; males: 1.76 mIU/mL) (P = 0.0256). These data emphasize that combining these interventions does not augment EPO secretion and that these interventions may work better in females. What is the central question of the study?Do acute heat stress and carbon monoxide inhalation alone and in combination increase erythropoietin, and are there sex differences in erythropoietin?What is the main finding and its importance?All interventions increased erythropoietin, but combining the two interventions did not further augment erythropoietin. While erythropoietin increased in females in response to all interventions, there was greater erythropoietin variability in males and therefore, on average, males did not increase erythropoietin. This suggests that combining heat and hypoxic stressors does not further augment erythropoietin concentrations but these interventions may have greater efficacy in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the ontological politics and practices of handwashing using hot tap water during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden through attending to how handwashing was performed, what thoughts and emotions handwashing practices evoked, and reflections about why these thoughts and emotions emerged. In analyses based on written diaries, stories, digital photos, and videos from the private sphere of the home, we show how the concepts of humans, non-humans, childhood, economy, ethics, infrastructure, and nature – together with public health organizations' promotions of handwashing recommendations – are enacted and woven into the fabric of hot tap water use. Hot tap water emerged as an ambiguous commodity, differently shaped depending on past experiences and how messages from authorities were received. The politics of the seemingly mundane activity of washing hands (especially prior to the COVID-19 pandemic) consists of connectivities and relationships between various phenomena in fluid space, and blurs the boundaries between local and global, past and present. Thrifty handwashing practices previously established in the private sphere were challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as popular versions of surgical scrubbing were promoted. These versions were sometimes challenged when the inclusion of hot water was questioned at home and in public debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drinking water temperatures are expected to increase in the Netherlands due to climate change and the installation of district heating networks as part of the energy transition. To determine effective measures to prevent undesirable temperature increases in drinking water, a model was developed. This model describes the temperature in the drinking water distribution network as a result of the transfer of heat from the climate and above and underground heat sources through the soil. The model consists of two coupled applications. The extended soil temperature model (STM+) describes the soil temperatures using a two-dimensional finite element method that includes a drinking water pipe and two hot water pipes coupled with a micrometeorology model. The extended water temperature model (WTM+) describes the drinking water temperature as a function of the surrounding soil temperature (the boundary temperature resulting from the STM+), the thermal sphere of influence where the drinking water temperature influences the soil temperature, and the hydraulics in the drinking water network. Both models are validated with field measurements. This study describes the WTM+. Previous models did not consider the cooling effect of the drinking water on the surrounding soil, which led to an overestimation of the boundary temperature and how quickly the drinking water temperature reaches this boundary temperature. The field measurements show the improved accuracy of the WTM+ when considering one to two times the radius of the drinking water pipe as the thermal sphere of influence around the pipe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Fubaiju (CMF) is regarded as one of the three most renowned varieties of white Chrysanthemum in China, and different extraction methods have significant effects on its composition and activities. Therefore, six extractions were used in this study to assess the effects on extracts. The basic chemical composition showed that hot water extract (Hw) had the highest total phenolic content, alkali water immersion-assisted hot water extract (Al) had the highest content of protein, and enzyme-assisted hot water extract (Enz) had the highest content of carbohydrate. The UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS results evinced the presence of 19 small-molecule compounds, including chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, tuberonic acid glucoside, luteolin-7-O-rutinoside, and other substances. In addition, the antioxidant test found that the Hw exhibited the best 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (82.05 ± 1.59 mM TE/mg) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) (61.91 ± 0.27 mM TE/mg) scavenging ability. The anti-glycation test demonstrated that Enz possessed the most pronounced inhibitory effect on glycation products, including fructosamine and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Additionally, the Enz also exhibited the most significant inhibitory effect on the protein oxidation product N'-formylkynurenine. The correlation analysis revealed that there was a close relationship between antioxidant properties and glycation resistance of extracts, and tuberonic acid glucoside, 1,3-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 1,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and isochlorogenic acid B were key small molecule components that affected activities. In summary, the extracts of CMF can be regarded as an excellent antioxidant and anti-glycosylation agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residues from selenium-enriched Cardamine violifolia after the extraction of protein were still rich in polysaccharides. Thus, the recovery of selenium polysaccharides (SePSs) was compared using hot water extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction techniques. The yield, extraction rate, purity, specific energy consumption, and content of total and organic selenium from different SePS extracts were determined. The results indicated that at conditions of 250 W (ultrasonic power), 30 °C, and a liquid-to-material ratio of 30:1 extracted for 60 min, the yield of SePSs was 3.97 ± 0.07%, the extraction rate was 22.76 ± 0.40%, and the purity was 65.56 ± 0.35%, while the total and organic selenium content was 749.16 ± 6.91 mg/kg and 628.37 ± 5.93 mg/kg, respectively. Compared to traditional hot water extraction, ultrasonic-assisted extraction significantly improves efficiency, reduces energy use, and boosts both total and organic selenium content in the extract. Measurements of particle size, molecular weight, and monosaccharide composition, along with infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy, revealed that ultrasonic-assisted extraction breaks down long-chain structures, decreases particle size, and changes monosaccharide composition in SePSs, leading to lower molecular weight and reduced dispersity. The unique structure of SePSs, which integrates selenium with polysaccharide groups, results in markedly improved antioxidant activity and reducing power, even at low concentrations, due to the synergistic effects of selenium and polysaccharides. This study establishes a basis for using SePSs in functional foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SiC/SiC composites in aerospace applications are exposed to a variety of thermal conditions, in particular, thermal stress due to rapid heating and cooling. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and evaluate the resistance of SiC/SiC composites to repeated temperature cycling. This paper investigates the evolution of properties and damage mechanisms of 2D and 2.5D SiC/SiC composites after different thermal shock cycles at 1300 °C. It was found that SiC/SiC composites exhibit a temporary weight increase at the beginning of the thermal shock cycle. Subsequently, the weight decreases and stabilizes as the number of thermal shocks increases. After 10–30 thermal shocks at 1300 °C, the density of SiC/SiC composites decreases while the porosity increases. The fracture behavior of SiC/SiC composites remains the same as that of the initial composites, with 2D SiC/SiC composites exhibiting pseudo-tough fracture and 2.5D SiC/SiC composites exhibiting brittle fracture. The residual strength of the SiC/SiC composites decreased slightly while the residual modulus remained stable. This is related to the reaction of the SiC, and BN with water and oxygen at high-temperature. The thermal shock damage of SiC/SiC composites is anisotropic and is influenced by the structure of the fiber preforms. This is due to the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of the components within the composites and the structural properties of the fiber preforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic hot water (DHW) consumption represents a significant portion of household energy usage, prompting the exploration of smart heat pump technology to efficiently meet DHW demands while minimizing energy waste. This paper proposes an innovative investigation of models using deep learning and continual learning algorithms to personalize DHW predictions of household occupants' behavior. Such models, alongside a control system that decides when to heat, enable the development of a heat-pumped-based smart DHW production system, which can heat water only when needed and avoid energy loss due to the storage of hot water. Deep learning models, and attention-based models particularly, can be used to predict time series efficiently. However, they suffer from catastrophic forgetting, meaning that when they dynamically learn new patterns, older ones tend to be quickly forgotten. In this work, the continuous learning of DHW consumption prediction has been addressed by benchmarking proven continual learning methods on both real dwelling and synthetic DHW consumption data. Task-per-task analysis reveals, among the data from real dwellings that do not present explicit distribution changes, a gain compared to the non-evolutive model. Our experiment with synthetic data confirms that continual learning methods improve prediction performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The automatic control device is a critical component of absorption refrigeration systems. Its functional enhancement can reduce operating costs, improve energy efficiency, and ensure long-term stable unit operation. Given that absorption refrigeration systems operate under various dynamic conditions, the rational design of control strategies is particularly important. This study analyzes the influence of changes in the cooling water and heat source water flow rates on the outlet temperature of chilled water in the unit based on the open-loop response characteristics of absorption refrigeration systems. It proposes a dual-loop energy-saving control strategy for single-effect hot water lithium bromide absorption refrigeration systems based on the setpoint comprehensive optimization algorithm. Considering the multiple variables, strong coupling, large inertia, long time delay, and nonlinear characteristics of absorption refrigeration systems, as well as the difficulties in modeling these systems, this study applies a model-free adaptive control algorithm to the system's control. It derives both SISO and MIMO model-free control algorithms with time-delay components. Through simulations comparing MFAC, improved MFAC, and traditional PID control, the dual-loop energy-saving control strategy is demonstrated to effectively reduce system heat consumption by approximately 20%, decrease power consumption by about 10%, and enhance the system's SCOP by approximately 19.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxide layer development of X6CrNiNb18-10 (AISI 347) during exposure to high-temperature water has been investigated. Stainless steels are known to form a dual oxide layer in corrosive environments. The secondary Fe-rich oxide layer has no significant protective effect. In contrast, the primary Cr-rich oxide layer is known to reach a stabilized state, protecting the base metal from further oxidation. This study's purpose was to determine the development of oxide layer dimensions over exposure time using SEM, TEM and EDX line scans. While a parabolic development of Cr in the protective primary layer and Fe in the secondary layer was observed, the dimensions of the Ni layer remained constant. Ni required the presence of a pronounced Fe-rich secondary layer before being able to reside on the outer secondary layer. With increasing immersion time, the Ni element fraction surpassed the Cr element fraction in the secondary layer. Oxide growth on the secondary layer could be observed. After 480 h, nearly the entire surface was covered by the outer oxide layer. In the metal matrix, no depletion of Cr or Ni could be observed over time; however, an increased presence of Cr and Ni in the primary layer was found at the expense of Fe content. The Nb-stabilized stainless steel was subject to the formation of Niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), with the quantity and magnitude of element fraction increasing over exposure time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is a popular fruit grown in tropical and subtropical regions. Mango has a distinctive aroma, flavour, and nutritional properties. Annual global mango production is >50 million tonnes. Major producers of mango include India, Bangladesh, China, Mexico, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand, and the Philippines, and it is shipped worldwide. Harvested mango fruit are highly perishable, with a short shelf life. Physiological disorders are among the major factors limiting their postharvest quality and shelf life, including when fruit need phytosanitary treatments, such as hot water treatment, vapour heat treatment, and irradiation. This review focuses on problematic physiological disorders of mango flesh, including physiology and biochemistry. It considers factors contributing to the development and/or exacerbation of internal disorders. Improved production practices, including pruning, nutrient application, and irrigation, along with monitoring and managing environmental conditions (viz., temperature, humidity, and vapour pressure deficit), can potentially maintain fruit robustness to better tolerate otherwise stressful postharvest operations. As demand for mangoes on international markets is compromised by internal quality, robust fruit is crucial to maintaining existing and gaining new domestic and export consumer markets. Considering mango quality, a dynamic system, a more holistic approach encompassing pre-, at-, and post-harvest conditions as a continuum is needed to determine fruit predisposition and subsequent management of internal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) adhesive is often used in the wood industry because it can be rapidly cured at room temperature to produce a high bonding strength. However, PVAc is a linear polymer susceptible to thermal creep, so it will fail to bond in high temperature and humidity environments. In this study, the hot water resistance of PVAc adhesive is improved by introducing lignin with a complex structure to construct multiple cross‐linked networks with a high cross‐link. However, due to the large steric hindrance, the reactivity of lignin hydroxyl groups is low. In the process of preparing adhesive, alkali lignin is hydroxymethylated to improve its reactivity, and then 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate is used as a cross‐linker to construct interpenetrating and semi‐interpenetrating polymer networks. The hydroxymethylation occurs through the reaction of formaldehyde with lignin under alkaline conditions. Optimal reaction conditions include a reaction ratio of 0.20, a reaction temperature of 80°C, and a reaction time of 3.5 h. On those conditions, the bonding strength of the lignin‐based PVAc adhesive reaches 1.8 MPa after hot‐water treatment. Therefore, the lignin‐based hot water‐resistant PVAc adhesive has shown good application potential in high temperature and humidity environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in modern medicine have extended human life expectancy, leading to a world with a gradually aging society. Aging refers to a natural decline in the physiological functions of a species over time, such as reduced pain sensitivity and reaction speed. Healthy-level physiological pain serves as a warning signal to the body, helping to avoid noxious stimuli. Physiological pain sensitivity gradually decreases in the elderly, increasing the risk of injury. Therefore, geriatric health care receives growing attention, potentially improving the health status and life quality of the elderly, further reducing medical burden. Health food is a geriatric healthcare choice for the elderly with Ganoderma tsuage (GT), a Reishi type, as the main product in the market. GT contains polysaccharides, triterpenoids, adenosine, immunoregulatory proteins, and other components, including anticancer, blood sugar regulating, antioxidation, antibacterial, antivirus, and liver and stomach damage protective agents. However, its pain perception-related effects remain elusive. This study thus aimed at addressing whether GT could prevent pain sensitivity reduction in the elderly. We used a galactose-induced animal model for aging to evaluate whether GT could maintain pain sensitivity in aging mice undergoing formalin pain test, hot water test, and tail flexes. Our results demonstrated that GT significantly improved the sensitivity and reaction speed to pain in the hot water, hot plate, and formalin tests compared with the control. Therefore, our animal study positions GT as a promising compound for pain sensitivity maintenance during aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the proximate composition and inhibitory potential of hot water and ethanolic extracts of the pulp, peel and whole fruit of green banana (Musa sapientum) on α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase. Bioactive compounds were identified using GC‐MS analysis. In addition, the cytotoxic effect on human gingival fibroblast (hGF) was evaluated using the sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. The results showed that the peel of green banana had the highest amount of ash (10.05%), fat (2.83%), protein (3.64%) and total dietary fibre (36.62%). The carbohydrate content of the whole fruit (81.79%) and pulp (81.50%) was higher than that of the peel (71.90%). The moisture content of the pulp (13.08%) was higher than that of the peel (11.58%) and whole fruit (11.30%). The ethanolic green banana peel extract showed a good inhibitory effect of α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase with the concentration necessary for 50% inhibition (IC50) of 0.512 and 0.100 mg·mL−1, respectively. The α‐glucosidase inhibitory effect of the ethanolic green banana peel extract and the hot water green banana peel extract was not significantly different from that of acarbose (IC50 0.108 mg·mL−1). GC‐MS analysis of the ethanolic green banana peel extract revealed fatty acids and fatty acid ester (9‐octadecenamide (Z), octadecanamide and other compounds). The ethanolic peel extract exhibits a significant noncytotoxicity effect on hGF cells at concentrations ranging from 0.0001 to 1.0 mg·mL−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been widely implemented to mitigate economic and environmental harms. Boater education, watercraft inspection, and hot water decontamination are popular strategies for preventing AIS spread through recreational boating. However, few studies have quantified the effectiveness of these strategies under field conditions. We estimated the effectiveness of AIS preventions based on the performances of boaters, watercraft inspectors, and hot water decontaminators. Participants (n = 144) were recruited at public water access sites in Minnesota (n = 56) and Wisconsin (n = 1). Each participant was asked to inspect and remove AIS from a boat consistently staged with macrophytes in the same six locations, adult zebra mussels in two locations, spiny water flea in one location, and residual water in one location. The types and amounts of AIS removed were used to estimate the effectiveness of each prevention method. We observed that removal rates varied by type of AIS and location – the locations with macrophytes were most commonly removed by all participant types. There were also regional (within or outside of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area) differences for some species, such as spiny water flea, perhaps due to regionally specific outreach campaigns. Hot water decontamination had the highest percentage of intervention effectiveness (mean = 84.4%), but was not significantly better than watercraft inspection (mean = 79.2%). Our results suggest boaters are less effective (mean = 56.4%) at removing AIS than both trained professional groups in this study, but nevertheless play an important role in AIS prevention. Furthermore, we identified areas of the boat that were often overlooked (e.g., winch, bow line, transducer) by boaters and could be incorporated into future outreach campaigns. We observed high variability in the actions (i.e., time spent, places looked, methods used) taken among individuals from each participant group, revealing opportunities for standardizing outreach and professional training to maximize effectiveness. This was particularly evident among decontaminators, who often made risk-based decisions to modify the protocol and relied on equipment that often failed to reach minimum temperature thresholds for lethal exposure. This study can better inform AIS managers as they weigh the cost-benefit of each prevention strategy to meet their management objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the changes in the zeolite framework and catalytic active sites during zeolite‐based vapor‐phase and aqueous catalytic processes is crucial. Herein, the evolution of framework T atoms (Si and Al) in ammonium hexafluorosilicate (AHFS)‐treated HZSM‐5 zeolite under steam and hot liquid water (HLW) environments was inverstigated using various characterization techniques. In HLW, Si−O−Si bonds exhibit poorer hydrothermal stability than Si−O−Al bonds, in contrast to steam. Significant Si atom leaching occurs regardless of whether the framework tetrahedral Al atoms (Al(IV)‐1) are removed. Similar to steam, Al(IV)‐1 species in HLW sequentially evolve into partially coordinated framework Al species and then into extra‐framework Al (EFAL) species through partial and complete hydrolysis. The generated EFAL species act as Lewis acid sites, but their local structures or chemical environments may differ. These findings reveal the difference in the T−O−T bonds attacked by water molecules: the Si−O−Al bonds are primarily attacked in steam, whereas the Si−O−Si bond are primarily attacked in HLW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recent ban on the production and use of long-chain perfluorinated compounds, the development of alternative approaches to prepare liquid-repellent surfaces that avoids the use of such compounds has become an urgent issue. We have succeeded in the development of fish-mimicking hydrophilic transparent hydrogel-based films with long-lasting anti-oil adhesion properties. Such films could be prepared by simply mixing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), nanoclay particles (NCPs), and a waterborne aminosilane (AOS) using an integral blend (IB) method. When submerged in water, these films displayed underwater superoleophobicity (advancing and receding contact angles (CAs) of diiodomethane were ~171°/~163°) with low CA hysteresis (less than 8°), because the hydrophilic nature of the films promoted the formation of a thin layer of adsorbed water on the topmost film surfaces, similar to fish scales. Furthermore, when our films were coated onto the inside of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles and pre-wetted using 80 °C hot water vapors, these film surfaces could effectively repel various oils and were able to maintain their oil-repellent properties for more than 5 weeks. These water-driven, non-perfluorinated transparent hydrogel-based films are expected to increase recycling of PET bottles for oils that are generally incinerated or landfilled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]