Volume 21 Issue 1

A yangqin is a musical instrument that is played by striking it with handled hammers. The sound signals were captured using a PicoScope oscilloscope which enabled waveform viewing, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), spectrum visualization, and voltage-based triggering. The progression from the bass bridge to the treble bridge is as follows: (G2, A2, B2, C3, D3, E3), (D3, E3, F3, G3, A3, B3), (C4, D4, E4), (F4, G4, A4, B4), (C5, D5, E5) (F5, G5, A5, B5), and (C6, D6, E6). Courses 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 have 3 strings, where courses 1, 4, and 5 have 3 harmonics, whereas courses 3, 6, and 7 have only 2 harmonics. Courses 2, 8, and 9 has 2 strings only, where course 2 has 4 harmonics whereas course 8 and 9 only has only 2 harmonics. The gradient (m) of the equation from frequency versus partial number from the tenor bridge do not fit any of the fundamental frequency (f­₀). The difference (d=f₀-m) between m and f₀ is due to the number of partials which are not harmonic overtones. Due to the inharmonic overtones, the deviation (D=d/f₀) ranges from 6% (course no 6) to 70% (course no 7).

Peanut skin, a polyphenol-rich agro-residue, constitutes a promising renewable source of natural antioxidants for food and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the extraction of total polyphenol content (TPC) as a function of temperature, ethanol concentration, solvent-to-solid ratio, and extraction time. The TPC was determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, and the developed quadratic model was statistically significant (F = 40.74, R² = 0.98), indicating an adequate fit. Ethanol concentration and extraction time exerted the most pronounced effects, with significant quadratic and interaction terms. The optimal extraction conditions ( approximately 55 °C, 30% ethanol, 160 min) yielded extracts with high phenolic recovery and moderate antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ ranged from 120 to 150 µg/mL, DPPH assay). The results validated RSM model is a reliable tool for optimizing polyphenol recovery from peanut skin. Additionally, it also highlights the potential of peanut skin valorization as a sustainable and cost-effective strategy for producing natural antioxidants, contributing to the circular bioeconomy and industrial exploitation of agricultural residues.

This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and biological activities of Ferulago platycarpa methanol extract (ME) and essential oil (EO). The EO was obtained via hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS, revealing sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as the dominant class, with caryophyllene (65.8%) and α-pinene (9.65%) as the major constituents. The methanol extract was subjected to LC-MS/MS analysis, which identified eleven phenolic compounds, with chlorogenic acid as the most abundant. The extract showed significantly higher total phenolic (1196.22±11.64 mg GAE/100g) and antioxidant (1870.00±17.69 mg QEE/100g) contents compared to the ME. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays demonstrated that the methanol extract exhibited potent inhibitory activity against carbonic anhydrase II (CA-II, IC₅₀=0.023 µg/mL), acetylcholinesterase (AChE, IC₅₀=110 µg/mL), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, IC₅₀=390 µg/mL). In contrast, the EO showed higher inhibition against α-amylase (IC₅₀=5920±10.45 µg/mL) and BChE (IC₅₀=1.32±0.65 µg/mL), while its α-glucosidase showed no inhibition. Antioxidant assays indicated superior activity for the methanol extract compared to the EO. Furthermore, antimicrobial testing revealed that the EO demonstrated broader and more effective antimicrobial action, exhibiting lower MIC and MBC values against several bacterial and fungal strains. Collectively, these results highlight F. platycarpa as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with promising applications in antidiabetic, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and antimicrobial therapies.

This study investigated how live-streaming e-commerce influences consumers’ purchase intentions toward green furniture. Using the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework and the Sheth–Newman–Gross consumer value model, the study examined how key live-streaming features—interactivity, utility, and harmony—affect consumer perceptions. Survey data from 510 Chinese consumers were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results show that these features significantly enhanced green product utility perception and environmental self-responsibility, which both positively impact purchase intention. Additionally, consumer green trust negatively moderated these effects. These findings suggest that when green trust is low, consumers are more likely to rely on functional and emotional value perceptions to guide their purchasing decisions. The study provides new insights into green furniture marketing in digital contexts, emphasizing the need to balance rational and emotional appeals in live-streaming strategies. It contributes to the sustainable consumption literature by focusing on a high-involvement product and offers practical guidance for improving the effectiveness of green product promotion through interactive platforms.

To enhance the forming quality of wood-plastic composite (WPC) models manufactured by fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing, particularly in terms of surface quality and mechanical properties, this study analysed the 3D printing process parameters (layer height, extrusion ratio, and printing speed) for WPC filaments. Through surface roughness and tensile property tests, the optimal combination of process parameters for achieving the best forming quality was determined. Based on the optimized parameters, FFF technology and WPC filament were applied to practice 3D printing of wooden crafts. Experimental results showed that as the layer height decreases, extrusion ratio increases, and printing speed decreases, both the arithmetic average roughness (R_a) and average maximum height (R_z) of the WPC models decreased, leading to a significant improvement in surface quality. Concurrently, the mechanical properties of the WPC models were enhanced due to the increase in ultimate strength and elongation at break. Under the process conditions of 0.1 mm layer height, 110% extrusion ratio, and 20 mm/s printing speed, the printed wooden bowl and spoon exhibited excellent surface quality and favorable mechanical properties, providing a valuable reference for the application of 3D printing in the rapid fabrication of wooden crafts.