High Ratio Research Articles

Impact of biopolymer-based Trichoderma harzianum seed coating on disease incidence and yield in oilseed crops

The use of microbe-based biological control for crop pests is recognized as an environmentally safe substitute for conventional chemical pesticides. However, the practical application of microbial inoculants in large-scale agriculture is underexplored, impeding their widespread commercial adoption. This study addresses the scarcity of research on effective delivery methods for microbial inoculants, particularly through seed coating, which has the potential to be a cost- and time-efficient strategy in crop management. In this research, the Trichoderma harzianum strain Th4d, a biological control agent (BCA), was incorporated into specially formulated biopolymeric compositions based on chitosan and cellulose. The efficacy of this seed coating approach was tested against various soil- and seed-borne pathogens in oilseed crops, including soybean, groundnut, and safflower. Results indicate that safflower treated with the biopolymer chitosan-based T. harzianum Th4d 1 % liquid formulation blend exhibited a higher seed yield of 793 kg/ha, seed germination of 84.7 %, and a significant reduction in wilt and root rot by 64.7 %. In groundnut crops, the seed coating led to a seed germination rate of 88.6 %, a 72 % reduction in root rot incidence, and a seed yield of 3040 kg/ha. Similarly, soybean crops treated with the biopolymer chitosan and T. harzianum Th4d displayed 83.4 % seed germination, a 70.9 % reduction in root rot, and a seed yield of 1239 kg/ha. Further on-farm evaluations demonstrated promising results, with the biopolymer chitosan-based T. harzianum Th4d 1 % liquid formulation blend seed treatment showing a high incremental cost-benefit ratio in safflower (1:4.5), soybean (1:2.5), and groundnut crops (1:3.3). This study underscores the potential of microbe-based seed coating as a sustainable and economically viable strategy for pest management in oilseed crops."

Tympanic Membrane Regeneration Therapy for Pediatric Tympanic Membrane Perforation.

To evaluate tympanic membrane regeneration therapy (TMRT) for pediatric tympanic membrane perforations (TMPs). Intervention study. Research institute hospital. In this study, 20 patients with chronic TMP (M/F: 13/7, 13/8 ears, age 0-15 years) treated with TMRT were evaluated. As comparison, 20 pediatric patients with chronic TMP who underwent myringoplasty/tympanoplasty were included. For the TM repair procedure, the edge of the TMP was disrupted mechanically, and gelatin sponge immersed in basic fibroblast growth factor was placed inside and outside the tympanic cavity and covered with fibrin glue. The TMP was examined 4 ± 1 weeks later. The protocol was repeated up to four times until closure was complete. Closure of the TMP and hearing improvement were evaluated at 16 weeks after the final regenerative procedure. Adverse events were monitored. The mean follow-up period was 427.1 days. The TM regenerated in all cases, but pinhole reperforation occurred in two cases, and the final closure rate was 90.5% (19 of 21). Hearing improved to 24.9 ± 7.6 dB on average before surgery and to 13.8 ± 5.4 dB after surgery. The AB gap improved from 12.9 ± 8.0 to 5.2 ± 3.5 dB.The myringoplasty/tympanoplasty group had significantly lower AB gap improvement compared with the TMRT group. There were no adverse events. TMRT can be expected to regenerate near-normal TMs with a high closure ratio, resulting in better-hearing improvement compared with the myringoplasty/tympanoplasty group, and is an effective treatment for children with long life expectancy.

Establishment of a clinical model based on vessels encapsulating tumour clusters that could efficiently predict recurrence of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy

According to previous studies, vessels encapsulating tumor clusters (VETC) could promote metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a manner independent from epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, the prognostic significance of VETC among patients undergoing curative hepatectomy has not been fully explored. This study was performed to assess the prognostic significance of VETC among patients undergoing curative hepatectomy.81 patients undergoing curative hepatectomy were included in this study. A predictive model based on VETC was established. Then this predictive model based on VETC was compared with American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor Nodal Metastasis (AJCC TNM) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) system.It was revealed by multivariate Cox regression analysis that high neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (P=0.013, HR=6.175, 95%CI: 1.468-25.977), number of tumors (P＜0.001, HR=4.119, 95%CI 1.886-8.995) and VETC positivity (P=0.010, HR=2.440, 95%CI 1.235-4.821) were independent predictive factors for disease-free survival (DFS). Additionally, by Kaplan-Meier analysis, we revealed that VETC positivity was associated with worse DFS (P=0.018). Then the clinical predictive model combining NLR, number of tumors, and VETC was compared with AJCC TNM stage and BCLC classification system by performing time-dependent receiver operating curve (td-ROC) analysis, revealing that the clinical predictive model was superior to AJCC TNM stage and BCLC system at different time points. Additionally, we demonstrated that the clinical model could well predict DFS by plotting calibration curves.VETC could be utilized as an efficient prognostic factor for HCC and the clinical predictive model combining NLR, number of tumors, and VETC was superior to AJCC TNM stage and BCLC system in predicting cancer recurrence.

Generalized N-State Random Pulse Position Discontinuous PWM for High-Frequency Harmonics Reduction and Performance Improvement at High Modulation Ratios

Generalized <i>N</i>-State Random Pulse Position Discontinuous PWM for High-Frequency Harmonics Reduction and Performance Improvement at High Modulation Ratios

Analysis of the synergetic effect of process parameters of hydrogenated amorphous carbon deposition in plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using machine learning

The synergetic effects of process parameters on hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films properties were quantitatively analyzed in plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Predictive models, created from experimental datasets and machine learning, indicate a synergetic effect between the H2 ratio and ion energy impacting on the substrate. At a H2 ratio of 75 %, etch rates of 200 nm/min were predicted, regardless of radio frequency (RF) bias. These rates decreased to 120–140 nm/min at lower H2 ratios, primarily depending on RF bias. Quadrupole mass spectrometry and Raman scattering were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms. High H2 ratios led to a greater presence of low-mass hydrogen-rich molecules in the plasma. The C2H3 radical intensity at a 75 % H2 ratio was 15 times greater than that at 0 % at an RF bias of 50 W, and similar trends were observed for other low-mass neutrals. The synergetic effects of H2 ratio and RF bias decreased the film's hydrogen content. Machine learning and those diagnostics revealed that ion bombardment induces dehydrogenation of a-C:H, influenced by hydrogen-rich species. This study demonstrates that machine learning can uncover complex plasma processes and optimize material synthesis.

Low-Temperature Drift Bandgap Reference Based on Exponential Compensation Design

Abstract In analogue and mixed-signal systems, a stable and accurate reference voltage source is essential to ensure system performance. In this paper, a high-precision bandgap reference (BGR) with a high power supply ripple rejection ratio (PSRR) and lowtemperature drift is proposed, which mainly consists of a core circuit, an exponential temperature compensation circuit, a PSRR enhancement circuit and a start-up circuit. The PSRR is improved by using a PSRR enhancement circuit and a low-pass filter. An exponential compensation circuit is used to reduce the temperature drift coefficient of the bandgap reference. Based on a 0.18 μm BCD process for design and simulation, the output reference voltage is 1.203 V with a temperature drift coefficient of 2.635 ppm/°C over the temperature range of −40°C to 125°C. The PSRR is −144.4 dB at a frequency of 10 Hz, and −43.8 dB at a frequency of 1 MHz, and the layout area is 316 μm × 156 μm.

Relationship between fatigue and quantitative electromyography findings in patients with myasthenia gravis

BackgroundFatigue is a common complaint among patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). In this study, we investigated the alterations in muscle morphology in patients with MG experiencing fatigue using quantitative electromyography (QEMG), and explored the relationship between electrophysiological findings and the severity of both fatigue and disease. MethodsWe performed QEMG of the biceps brachii muscle using the peak ratio method and multi-motor unit potential (MUP) analysis across three groups: 18 MG patients with fatigue, 34 MG patients without fatigue, and 33 healthy subjects. Stimulated single-fiber EMG was performed on the frontalis muscle. The severity of perceived fatigue and disease was subsequently assessed using the quantitative myasthenia gravis (QMG) score, the MG-activities of daily living (MG-ADL) profile, self-reported fatigue questionnaires, and handgrip strength measurements. ResultsThe QEMG study revealed a reduced mean MUP duration and size index (SI), in addition to an increased peak ratio in patients with MG (p < 0.05), which tended to be more pronounced in those experiencing fatigue. Compared to healthy subjects, MG patients with fatigue displayed a myopathic pattern characterised by a high peak ratio, short duration, and small-amplitude MUPs, without any increase in the number of phases or small time intervals. The mean peak ratio was positively correlated with the QMG, MG-ADL, and Fatigue Impact Scale total and physical subscores (p < 0.05). Further, MG patients with fatigue exhibited reduced maximum grip strength, which was positively correlated with the mean MUP duration, amplitude, SI, and thickness, and negatively correlated with the mean peak ratio (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the jitter or block measurements (p > 0.05). ConclusionsThe present study investigated electrophysiological findings that were not considered or theorised in prior studies on patients with MG experiencing fatigue. The results of this study suggest that myopathic changes may be a critical pathophysiological component underlying the fatigue associated with MG.

Compact frequency‐reconfigurable circular patch antenna with varactor diode: Design, tuning, and compactness optimization

AbstractIn this study, a frequency‐reconfigurable circular patch antenna with a varactor diode has been presented. The proposed antenna has been designed and investigated in four steps: circular patch antenna (Antenna 1), antenna with double slots (Antenna 2), antenna with quad slots (Antenna 3), and antenna with varactor diode (Antenna 4). The proposed antenna has been made compact with rectangular slots and a hyperabrupt junction tuning varactor diode (SMV1249‐079LF). The proposed antenna has been designed and produced in 32 × 32 × 0.64 mm3 dimensions, approximately 80% minimized compared to a microstrip circular patch antenna operating at 850 MHZ resonance frequency. This frequency‐reconfigurable antenna can perform between the range of 0.85–1.3 GHz frequency with 0–3 V DC voltage tuning of the varactor diode. So, using with the varactor diode, the proposed antenna has obtained a 53% tuning range between 0.85 and 1.3 GHz frequencies. This study offers a different antenna design, compactness, and high tuning ratio compared to previous studies. This frequency reconfigurable antenna can be preferred with its wideband structure in different communications areas and wireless energy transfer systems.

The mechanism of proppant transport dynamic propagation in rough fracture for supercritical CO2 fracturing

Supercritical CO2 fracturing technology has shown great potential for enhancing production in unconventional reservoirs. It is essential to clarify the transport mechanism of proppant under the dynamic propagation conditions within rough fractures. A realistic rough fracture model is reconstructed, and Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations are conducted to track proppant movement during fracture propagation. The typical transport characteristics of proppant within rough fractures are revealed, and the effects of fracture propagation rate, proppant density, mass flow rate, particle size, sand ratio, and temperature on the support effect are discussed. The results show that the flow channels formed by sand carrying fluid in rough fractures are complex, with fracture propagation changing some flow channels. The proppant forms an irregular sand bed interspersed with unfilled areas, and complex flow characteristics are generated. The increase in fractal dimension increases the resistance in the fluid flow process and affects the movement of the proppant, which tends to create unfilled areas. Low density and size of proppant can improve the proppant placement length. In a certain temperature range, high temperature injection of sand carrying fluid can improve the proppant placement effect. In addition, the low sand ratio and high mass flow rate pumping can be used to form the dominant channel, followed by pumping with a high sand ratio and low mass flow rate for effective support.

Improving H2S remediation efficiency through metal-free biochar modification: Nitrogen introduction and mesopore formation

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) poses substantial risks to human safety and infrastructure due to its toxicity and corrosive properties. In this study, we present a novel approach to enhance the selective catalytic oxidation of H₂S by synthesizing a nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon catalyst (denoted as M/B-X-PZ-T) through pyrolysis at 600–800 °C. Our catalyst, derived from commercial biochar, incorporates melamine as a nitrogen source and employs KCl and ZnCl₂ as porogens via the salt-templating method. The resulting catalyst, M/B-1-PZ-700, exhibits an impressive specific surface area of up to 1269.77 m²/g and a high mesopore ratio, with effective nitrogen doping reaching up to 15.35 at%. Remarkably, M/B-1-PZ-700 demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving 100 % H₂S conversion and 94 % sulfur selectivity at 170 °C, surpassing previous nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts. Furthermore, our optimized catalyst maintained over 95 % H₂S conversion and superior sulfur yield for 36 h, indicating excellent long-term stability. This metal-free catalyst derived from biochar offers a promising, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for effectively mitigating hazardous H₂S emissions.

Design and analysis of a piezo-actuated hydraulic micro-displacement amplifier with high bandwidth and large amplification ratio

Micro-displacement amplifiers show great potential for enhancing the performance of piezoelectric ceramic stacks. However, designing a compact micro-displacement amplifier with a high amplification ratio and broad bandwidth remains challenging. This article introduces a hydraulic micro-displacement amplifier driven by a piezoelectric ceramic stack with a large amplification ratio, high bandwidth, and eliminating parasitic displacement. Theoretical and simulation analyses are performed for the hydraulic micro-displacement amplifier, optimizing parameters such as edge thin ring thickness and spring stiffness. A prototype was fabricated and tested in a series of experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that, under steady-state conditions, the hydraulic micro-displacement amplifier achieves an amplification ratio of 26.12 with a standard deviation of 2.28. The maximum output displacement is 172.4 μm at 150 V, and the resonant frequency is 445 Hz under a 20 N load. This study provides a novel approach to designing micro-displacement amplifiers.

Silicon nitride directional coupler-based polarization beam splitter utilizing shallow ridge waveguides for improved fabrication tolerance

This study presents the design and fabrication of a silicon nitride (Si3N4) asymmetrical directional coupler (DC)-based polarization beam splitter (PBS) utilizing a shallow ridge waveguide structure. The use of Si3N4 with a moderate refractive index contrast and the design of a shallow ridge waveguide enables the DC structure to have a wider coupling gap of approximately 600 nm, which can be readily achieved with standard I-line lithography. The simulation results indicate that the polarization splitting is highly efficient with minimal insertion loss. This is corroborated by the experimental measurements, which show consistent broadband performance. The fabricated polarization beam splitter (PBS) exhibits a high polarization extinction ratio (PER) of over 20 dB for both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes across a broad bandwidth of 120 nm (1500-1620 nm). This work demonstrates the potential of shallow ridge Si3N4 waveguides to enhance the fabrication tolerance and performance of integrated photonic devices.

In-situ passivating surface defects of ultra-thin MAPbBr3 perovskite single crystal films for high performance photodetectors

Ultra-thin single crystal film (SCF) without grain boundary, inherits low charge recombination probability as bulk single crystals. However, its low depth brings a high surface defects ratio and hinders carrier transport and extraction, which affects the performance and stability of optoelectronic devices such as photodetectors, and thus surface defect passivation is of great practical significance. In this paper, we used the space confined method to grow MAPbBr3 SCF and selected BA2PbI4 for surface defect passivation. The results reveal that BA cation passivates MA vacancy surface defects, reduces carrier recombination, and enhances carrier lifetime. The carrier mobility is as high as 33.6 cm2V−1s−1, and the surface defect density is reduced to 3.4 ​× ​1012 ​cm−3. Thus, the self-driven vertical MAPbBr3 SCF photodetector after surface passivation exhibits more excellent optoelectronic performance.

Developing sustainable steel slag-based aerated concrete: Effects of accelerated carbonation on performance and carbon emissions

This research undertakes an in-depth examination of the properties of carbonated steel-slag aerated concrete (CSSAC), the mineral composition and microstructure were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), life cycle assessment (LCA) also employed for evaluating its environmental impacts. Results revealed that a strength of 6.6 MPa and a dry density of 958 kg/m3 for CSSAC was achieved through carbonation curing, utilizing a 30 vol% CO2 concentration at ambient pressure for a duration of 24 h. Nonetheless, elements such as high water-solid ratio, cement content, and foaming agent content were found to negatively affect the strength development. Furthermore, the overuse of lime as a cement substitute formed a dense pore structure on the surface layer, consequently lowering CO2 sequestration efficiency. It was found that compressive strength was enhanced and water absorption was reduced by 66 % with calcium stearate, through effective pore structure optimization. Significantly, the carbon footprint of CSSAC stood at a minimal 0.0673 kg∙CO2∙eq/kg, achieving a substantial 73.36 % reduction when compared with its original carbon footprint. This adoption of carbonation curing effectively mitigated the carbon footprint of the product, offering actionable insights for the manufacturing of zero-carbon and even negative-carbon building materials.

In situ microbubble-mediated strategy for highly efficient anti-crude oil-fouling membrane with parallel nanosheet structure

Membrane fouling caused by highly viscous oils severely hampers the long-term application of oil–water separation membranes. In situ aeration, achieved by applying a voltage to the membrane to produce bubbles, can effectively reduce the adhesion of oil contaminants. Herein, the parallel NiFe-layered double hydroxide arrays were successfully constructed on Ni foam using a hydrothermal method. Compared with NF@NFLDH having randomly aligned nanosheet arrays, NF@NFLDH-P can produce more numerous micro-size bubbles. A substantial number of the microbubbles spontaneously coalesced with oil droplets, and the synergy of buoyancy and kinetic energy significantly hindered oil fouling on the NF@NFLDH-P membrane. Specifically, this microbubble–mediated anti-oil-fouling strategy substantially reduced the flux attenuation and maintained a high flux recovery ratio during long-term crude oil–water separation, exhibiting a great operational life. This study suggests an innovative way to design future anti-fouling membranes with bubble-mediated capabilities.

Ammonia diffusion combustion and emission formation characteristics in a single cylinder two stroke engine

Liquid ammonia diffusion combustion (LADC) is an effective approach to achieving high ammonia energy ratio (AER) and combustion efficiency in engines. However, there is a lack of simulation studies of LADC mode in ammonia/diesel dual direct injection engines. To address this gap, the study develops a numerical model based on an independently modified marine two-stroke engine. This model analyzes the combustion performance of ammonia in LADC mode and the pollutant generation mechanisms in LADC mode across various AER conditions. The findings indicate that in the LADC mode, the liquid phase ammonia spray exhibits a concentrated distribution area, facilitating thorough combustion of ammonia fuel. The diesel mixture and flame are entrained into the liquid phase ammonia spray, facilitating multi point ignition. This process notably enhances combustion speed, thereby reducing overall combustion duration. In comparison to pure diesel combustion, soot emissions are reduced by 99 % under the LADC mode, and CA90 advanced by 11.8 °C A. In addition, when the AER range is from 50 % to 70 %, the engine exhibits favorable combustion and emission characteristics. By appropriately adjusting the liquid ammonia injection quantity, the indicated thermal efficiency improves by 10.7 %, the equivalent indication specific fuel consumption decreases by 13.9 %, and the emission such as NOx and soot can be also reduced effectively.

Main Challenges and Strategies to Develop Santos Basin Sub-Salt Fields, Deep water Brazil

Abstract Santos basin of Brazil is a hot area of oil and gas exploration and development in the world. Many sub-salt oil fields have been discovered in recent years. The reservoirs are mainly composed of microbial carbonate rocks with strong heterogeneity, which has developed a variety of storage space types. The fluid is complex with high gas oil ratio and CO2 content. The re-injection of produced gas brings uncertainty to the production performance and the stability of facilities. The project investment is huge due to many factors such as deep-water, deep buried and far away from the coastline. The complexity of reservoir and high investment of project make the economic and effective development of reservoir full of great challenges. This paper describes the development strategies of Brazil’s sub-salt deep-water oilfield and the main successful methods to maximize recovery and profits under uncertain conditions. It includes the following three aspects: (1) abundant information acquisition to reduce the main uncertainties; (2) development plan with robustness and flexibility to deal with potential risks; (3) multidisciplinary comprehensive research to evaluate reservoir mode and development mode.

Interaction between plant-specific transcription factors TCP and YABBY expressed in the tendrils of the melon Cucumis melo

Plant tendrils are specialized organs that can twine around other structures to facilitate climbing. They occur in a variety of plant families and have diverse ontogenic origins. In cucurbits, tendrils originate from lateral shoots. Fine mapping verified that the tendril-less ctl mutation of the melon Cucumis melo corresponds to a frameshift mutation in the CmTCP1 gene, which encodes a TCP transcription factor. A yeast two-hybrid screen for CmTCP1/CTL-interacting proteins identified a member of the plant-specific YABBY transcription factor family, which was named CmYAB1. Each of the N- and C-terminal regions of CmTCP1 interacted with CmYAB1. The ctl mutation impaired the interaction between CmTCP1 and CmYAB1. Both proteins interacted in vitro and were localized to the nucleus in plant cells. In situ expression analysis revealed the coexistence of the CmTCP1 and CmYAB1 mRNAs in the abaxial domains of developing tendrils. An RNA-seq analysis of the seven YABBY genes in the melon genome revealed relatively high expression ratios of CmYAB1 in tendrils compared with those in leaves. These results suggest a novel function of the YABBY protein through its interaction with a TCP protein in the development of cucurbit tendrils.

A pore-scale investigation of viscous coupling effect on immiscible two-phase flow in porous media

Viscous coupling effect plays a significant role in immiscible two-phase flow within porous media, while its influence on relative permeability remains uncertain. In this paper, an improved MRT-based viscosity-modified multicomponent multiphase (MCMP) pseudopotential lattice Boltzmann model, capable of handling high viscosity ratio, is employed to simulate two-phase flow with different viscosities in a cross-array circular structure and a real rock structure, respectively. The applicability of this model for two-phase flow with various viscosity ratios has been verified by some typical tests. Systematically, the effects of viscosity ratio, structural configuration, and wetting condition on the relative permeability curves are investigated in conjunction with their component distributions and velocity fields at different two-phase saturations. These results indicate that due to the two-phase flow competition under different structural conditions, the viscous coupling effect has varying degrees of impacts on the mobility of thin phase and viscous phase. Further, the mechanism of two-phase lubricating effect is also discussed under different wetting conditions at Darcy flow regime.

Aluminium nanoparticle-based ultra-wideband high-performance polarizer

The polarizer-based device industry is expanding quickly, requiring high-quality research on nanoscale wideband polarizers. Here, we investigated the possibility of utilizing Al dimer nanostructures on broad-band polarizers. Metals are always considered promising candidates for reflection-based polarizer development because of their high extinction ratio. This study proposes a novel nanoparticle polarizer comprised of semi-immersed Al nano-dimers with a 200 nm radius on a CaF2 substrate. Our proposed nano-dimer-based design demonstrated impressive polarization anisotropy in the near-infrared (NIR) and THz ranges than conventional wire-grid-based ones. This study includes calculating performance parameters for the extraction of the proposed polarizer, including insertion loss, extinction ratio (ER), Mueller matrix values, and polarization ellipse diagram. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation-based results suggested obtaining more than 55 dB extinction ratio for the 0.2 to 9 THz range. In the THz region, simulation results suggest impressively better performance than conventional wire-grid polarizers. In THz frequency range, our proposed polarizer demonstrated its extinction ratio of up to 60 dB. The average extinction ratio and insertion loss over the 1–1665 μm wavelength were 29.01 dB and ∼1 dB, respectively. The idea of Al dimer and the insight gained from the results extracted from the rigorous simulation report suggested a great opportunity for developing micro-scale metallic wideband polarizers.