Volume 21 Issue 1

Grain drying is a process that succeeds harvesting and is performed to sustainably maintain the properties of grain during the storage period. Elevated moisture content in grains shortens their shelf life, as it promotes bacterial growth. In this present research, the maize grain mechanical drying process parameters; drying air temperature (30 ºC, 60 ºC, and 110 ºC), airflow rate (1.2 m/s, 1.5 m/s and 1.8 m/s), and drying time (30 min, 120 min, and 180 min); were investigated and optimized as regards their effect on the on the dried grain quality and moisture reduction process to minimize the desiccating energy consumption. A full factorial design of experiment was planned, and optimization was carried out utilizing statistical tools, including analysis of variance and the main effects plot signal-to-noise ratio. Results revealed that the evaluated dehydration process parameters, air temperature, and air flow rate, significantly influenced the drying dynamics, whilst the time parameter displayed minimal impact on the process. The optimum drying process parameters were established to be 30 ºC drying temperature, 1.5 m/s airflow rate, and 120 min drying process run time. The percentage error margin between the predicted and confirmation experimental run results at the optimum parameter setting condition was less than 15%.

A novel cellulose nano material was prepared through a controlled Fenton oxidation process utilizing hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ions. The reaction parameters enabled ferrous-catalyzed oxidation, which combined with mechanical treatment resulted in an effective fibrillation of cellulose fibers. Optical microscopy images provided a visual comparison of fiber morphology between untreated hardwood pulp and Fenton-treated samples, clearly illustrating the fibrillation effect. The samples were evaluated for fiber drainage behavior, and conclusions about accessibility and the extent of fibrillation were made. Measurements of the surface charge of the samples revealed an increase in negative charges originating from added carboxyl groups, which is essential for the dispersing and stabilization of cellulose nano fibrils and micro-fibrillated cellulose (CNF/MFC). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the introduction of the carboxyl groups due to the Fenton treatment. The CNF/MFC material was used as paper coatings, without adding additional materials. The coated samples underwent analyses of permeability and roughness, revealing possibilities for enhancements in barrier properties and hydrophobicity. The results emphasize the ability of Fenton oxidation in generating high-quality small scale cellulosic materials with customized functionalities, underscoring their potential application in advanced coating technologies and sustainable material innovation.

This study optimized the ventilation structure of a fan-driven corn circulating grain storage bin. By combining computational fluid dynamics, orthogonal experiments, and response surface optimization experiments, the internal airflow field of the corn circulating ventilation of grain storage bin was simulated and the structural parameters were optimized using Fluent simulation. The optimization function of the Design-expert 13 software was utilized to determine the optimal parameter combination as follows: the diameter of the circulating inlet was 20 mm, the number of circulation layers is 13, the diameter of the bottom ventilation opening was 6 mm, and the number of ventilation openings was 7. Using the evaluation index of relative standard deviation CV, the wind speed uniformity of the storage area before and after optimization was compared. After optimization, the relative standard deviation CV of the internal flow field of the grain storage bin increased by 24.1% compared to the initial ventilation structure of the bin. This study provides important data for the optimization of the ventilation structure of corn grain storage.

As consumer preferences increasingly emphasize emotional connection and cultural identity, jewelry design has placed greater focus on cultural symbolism and expressive qualities. This study sought to advance wooden jewelry design within a sustainability assessment framework, using natural and cultural element symbols as the core foundation, and to construct a systematic research process from element extraction to design verification through interdisciplinary approaches. First, natural and cultural element symbols were systematically classified, and users’ Kansei vocabulary related to wooden jewelry was collected and structured via the Affinity Diagram Method to identify emotional requirements. The Priority Ranking Method was then applied to quantify these requirements, followed by the use of Quality Function Deployment  to map Kansei vocabulary to element symbols, enabling the selection of core elements and the development of three design proposals. An evaluation model was subsequently established using the Entropy Weight Method, while Grey Relational Analysis was employed to determine the optimal design, which was further validated through user testing. These findings demonstrate that this framework effectively translates natural and cultural elements into a design language for sustainable wooden jewelry, offering methodological insights into integrating traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design practice.

The influence of neem gum powder (NGP) was evaluated relative to the mechanical, physical, and morphological properties of hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with varying ratios of kenaf and snake grass fibers. Six composite samples (KS1 to KS6) were fabricated with a constant epoxy content of 60 wt%. KS1 to KS5 incorporated 10 wt% NGP, while KS6 served as the control sample without gum. The results revealed a substantial improvement in mechanical performance with the inclusion of gum. The KS4 composite, containing 20% kenaf and 10% snake grass fiber, exhibited the highest tensile strength (59 MPa), flexural strength (82 MPa), inter-laminar shear strength (11.8 MPa), hardness (85.5 Shore D), and impact strength (5.23 J), along with the lowest water absorption (27%). In contrast, KS6 showed significantly lower values in all these properties, confirming the reinforcing effect of NGP. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of fractured surfaces revealed enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion in gum-containing composites, with fewer voids, reduced fiber pull-out, and minimal crack propagation, validating the mechanical test results. These findings demonstrated that the synergistic effect of hybrid fibers and gum significantly improved overall performance, making these composites promising for structural and eco-friendly applications.

Drought stress is one of the major abiotic factors limiting the growth and productivity of Rosa damascena. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different biostimulant applications on the antioxidant defense system and biochemical responses of R. damascena under varying irrigation levels. Plants were grown under three irrigation regimes (100%, 50%, and 25% of field capacity (FC)) for 28 days, and treatments included vermicompost extract (V), Bacillus OSU-142 (B), and an algal extract (A) collected from Eğirdir Lake. Antioxidant enzyme activities, oxidative stress markers (MDA, H₂O₂), and proline content were measured weekly. Results showed that decreasing irrigation levels induced significant increases in antioxidant enzyme activities, MDA, H₂O₂, and proline content, indicating oxidative and osmotic stress responses. Under well-watered conditions (100% FC), biostimulant applications had limited effects on these parameters. However, under moderate (50% FC) and severe drought stress (25% FC), biostimulant treatments effectively reduced MDA, H₂O₂, and proline accumulation, and led to lower antioxidant enzyme activities compared to controls. Bacillus OSU-142 and vermicompost were particularly effective treatments in mitigating oxidative damage and maintaining cellular homeostasis under severe water deficit. These findings show that biostimulants reduce ROS accumulation and lipid peroxidation while modulating antioxidant defense in R. damascena.

To enhance the scientific rigor and user alignment of children’s furniture design, this study proposes a data-driven multi-criteria evaluation framework for design optimization. Focusing on wooden seating products for children, online product reviews were collected and preprocessed using Python and the Jieba word segmentation tool to extract authentic user needs. An evaluation index system was established by filtering indicators through expert focus group discussions and the coefficient of variation method. During the weighting phase, subjective weights were derived using an improved Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), while objective weights were calculated via the CRITIC method. A game-theoretic approach was employed to integrate both into a composite weight vector. Finally, the TOPSIS–RSR model was applied to rank and classify the performance levels of four wooden children’s seating designs. Based on the results, specific design guidance strategies were proposed. The proposed framework effectively captures user requirements, balances subjective and objective information, and provides a clear decision-making pathway for selecting optimal design solutions. The study not only advances theoretical research but also offers practical guidance for design, with strong potential for extension to other furniture categories and resource-driven product design domains.

This study explored the feasibility of using green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris) as a renewable feedstock for bio-based lactic acid production. Microalgal biomass was subjected to dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis under various conditions to optimize fermentable sugar recovery. The optimal hydrolysis condition consisted of 2% sulfuric acid, heating at 121 °C for 20 min, and a 10% solid-to-liquid ratio. This treatment yielded 12.1 g/L glucose and 2.1 g/L xylose. The hydrolysate was then used as the sole carbon source for fermentation by Lactobacillus casei, which completely consumed the sugars and produced 10.7 g/L lactic acid within 24 h. The overall sugar-to-lactic acid conversion efficiency reached 98% without any observable inhibition, and the product consisted exclusively of L-lactic acid with no detectable D-isomer. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of microalgal hydrolysis and confirm the potential for integrating cultivation, pretreatment, and fermentation into a sustainable, carbon-neutral biorefinery process.

Endoglucanase plays a vital role in lignocellulose degradation, yet the functional diversity of glycosyl hydrolase 12 (GH12) endoglucanases remains underexplored. In this study, TpCel12a, a novel GH12 endoglucanase from Talaromyces pinophilus Y117 was identified and characterized. It exhibited optimal activity at pH 4.0 and 40 °C with a preference for xyloglucan. Size exclusion chromatography revealed a monomeric state of TpCel12a. Despite classification into the promiscuous subfamily I, TpCel12a showed strict specificity for xyloglucan and carboxymethyl cellulose, yielding XXXG-type oligosaccharides and glucose/cellobiose, respectively. A loop 3 insertion mutant, designated as TpCel12a(+TQA), enhanced substrate affinity (5-fold lower K_m) but reduced activity, suggesting a trade-off between binding and catalysis. Surprisingly, TpCel12a inhibited the hydrolytic efficiency of native T. pinophilus crude cellulase on corn cob powder, coinciding with its undetectable secretion under microcrystalline cellulose induction. This study highlights TpCel12a’s unique biochemical properties and its unexpected antagonistic role in native cellulase systems, offering insights for engineering fungal enzyme cocktails.

Phytoremediation is a critical technique for remediating heavy metal-contaminated soils in coal gangue zones of mining areas. However, resource valorization of plant residues after heavy metal remediation poses considerable challenges. Converting these residues into biochar via thermochemical routes yields a material enriched with mineral nutrients (e.g., Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu), conferring potential as a soil amendment. This study focused on remediation plants in coal gangue-affected mining regions, selecting Artemisia annua (a typical restoration plant) to prepare biochar through pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for quantitative analysis of mineral nutrients, providing a scientific basis for resource valorization of heavy metal-laden biomass residues from mining area remediation plants. The results indicated that, except for slight Mg fluctuation in hydrothermally carbonized biochar relative to the raw material, mineral nutrient concentrations (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn) in biochar prepared under other conditions were significantly enhanced (1.53 to 3.14 times via pyrolysis and 1.36 to 2.78 times via HTC). Furthermore, mineral nutrient concentrations under certain conditions complied with the Chinese agricultural industry standard for biochar (NY/T 4159-2022).