Baking is among the most favoured methods for preparing sweet potatoes. The Maillard reaction that occurs during the baking process enhances the flavour, rendering the sweet potatoes both delicious and appealing in colour. By investigating and optimizing the baking temperature and time, one can significantly improve both the flavour and quality of sweet potatoes while also understanding how various baking conditions affect their nutritional composition. Experimental results indicate that the ideal conditions for maximizing the edible quality of sweet potatoes are a baking time of 70 min at a temperature of 140 °C. The sweetness value is highest at 140 °C and 70 min respectively, the value is 18.02 and 18.96, while bitterness and astringency values are at their lowest. The bitterness and astringency values are -11.77 and -6.26 at 140 °C, and -2.51 and -4.99 at 70 min. Additionally, the levels of aromatic components, such as linalool and benzaldehyde, which contribute to the sweet aroma, are also highest under these conditions. Sensory scores of sweet potatoes treated under these conditions were significantly higher than other groups, reaching 86 ± 3 out of a total score of 100.
Controlling mAb N-linked glycosylation is essential for ensuring therapeutic safety and efficacy. Because culture supplements can differentially affect both glycosylation profiles and culture performance, empirical optimization is often necessary. In this study, fed-batch shake-flask cultures of a CHO cell clone producing adalimumab, a biosimilar of the anti-TNF-α antibody Humira, were supplemented with copper or melezitose at specific concentrations. The goal was to increase G1F and decrease hybrid (e.g., -NAF) glycan levels to better match the innovator profile. Effects on cell growth and productivity were also investigated. Copper supplementation at 1.5 mM slightly increased G1F glycans, decreased hybrid glycans (e.g., NAF), and increased Man5 glycans. Similarly, 25 mM melezitose also slightly increased G1F glycans, although it reduced Man5 levels and had little to no effect on hybrid glycans. Melezitose slightly decreased cell growth and productivity, whereas copper enhanced productivity. These findings are directly applicable to clinical mAb candidates. Although only single concentrations of copper and melezitose were tested, these results suggest that copper and melezitose supplementation can be used as levers to modulate glycosylation.
This study aimed to develop simit with enhanced nutritional value and acceptable sensory properties by partially replacing wheat flour with buckwheat, einkorn, and quinoa flours. Simit samples were prepared with buckwheat (10%, 30%, 40%), einkorn (10%, 25%, 40%) and quinoa (10%, 15%, 25%) flours, alongside a control made with 100% wheat flour. Sensory evaluation was conducted by 80 panellists using a 7-point hedonic scale to assess colour, odour, taste, texture and overall liking. Texture, volume, density and caloric values were also determined. Control simit received the highest overall sensory score (5.28 ± 1.18). Among the fortified simit samples, 10% einkorn flour had the highest sensory acceptance and was comparable to the control, with no significant difference in overall liking (5.08 ± 1.10). Simit prepared with 10% quinoa flour showed the second-highest overall liking score (4.66 ± 1.29). However, higher fortification levels were associated with a significant decline in consumer acceptance. The 25% quinoa sample was the least preferred (2.81±1.71), whereas a low texture-liking score was observed in the 40% buckwheat sample (2.78±1.21). Instrumental texture analysis indicated that hardness increased markedly with higher substitution levels, showing an approximate 188% increase in the 40% buckwheat sample (from 5.17±1.45 N to 14.89±3.03 N) and a 198% increase in the 25% quinoa sample (to 15.39±2.32 N), accompanied by reduced gumminess and chewiness. All samples showed similar energy values (366.1±11.22–377.1±11.01 kcal), while dietary fibre content increased significantly, reaching 71% higher than the control in the 40% buckwheat simit (from 3.35±0.12 g to 5.74±0.12 g/100g).
Wetlands are diverse and complex ecosystems that provide a wide variety of niches for their inhabitants. The diversity and resources supported by wetlands ensure their ecological sustainability, continuation of elemental cycles, and ecosystem balance. The geographical location, water sources, and the plants and animals that inhabit these ecosystems dictate their characteristics. Among these inhabitants, fungi in wetlands play a crucial role in various ecological functions such as nutrient recycling, natural selection, and mutualistic relationships between different kingdoms. In contrast, research on the significance of fungi and an in-depth taxonomic study of their occurrence and role in tropical wetland ecosystems, such as coastal freshwater wetlands, is sparse. This mini-review consolidates research findings related to the Ascomycota inhabiting tropical wetlands in Thailand, with a particular focus on coastal freshwater wetlands dominated by wetland-dwelling grasses of Poales. Thus, the study helps to unravel the importance of investigating wetland-associated fungal diversity and highlights critical research gaps in the systematics of fungi associated with wetland ecosystems.
Mango seeds, a major by-product of mango processing, are a potential source of functional lipids. This study first evaluated solvent-extracted mango kernel oil (MKO) from four cultivars, namely Chokanan, Keawban, Kaewkamin, and Khiewsawoey, based on their physicochemical and thermal properties. Significant differences were observed among the four cultivars in iodine value (25.87–37.45 g/100 g), acid value (2.41–14.30 mg KOH/g oil), saponification value (24.69–27.95 g KOH/100 g), slip melting point (28.10–55.01 °C), and thermal transition parameters. These results indicated that mango cultivar strongly influenced MKO quality and melting behavior. Based on its overall physicochemical and thermal characteristics, Chokanan mango kernel oil (CHK-MKO) was selected for further comparison of extraction methods. CHK-MKO obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction had a lower acid value and higher slip melting point than solvent-extracted oil. In contrast, solvent extraction produced oil with higher antioxidant activity and phenolic content. CHK-MKO obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction was then incorporated into chocolate formulations to partially replace cocoa butter in combination with rice bran wax. Hardness and sensory attributes differed significantly with the addition of CHK-MKO. Sensory evaluation by 100 untrained consumers showed that formulations containing MKO, rice bran wax, and cocoa butter at ratios of 10:10:80 and 20:20:60 had higher scores for taste, mouthfeel, and overall liking. These findings suggest that mango kernel oil has potential for partial cocoa butter replacement in chocolate and for the valorization of mango processing by-products.
This work demonstrates that a combined real-time in-situ low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) is a powerful technique for investigating the nucleation and growth processes of thin films. The crystallization from amorphous vanadium oxides (VOx) to vanadium dioxide (VO2) structures upon annealing under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) was studied. The VOx thin films were grown by direct current magnetron sputtering with an angle of incidence of 85°. In-situ LEEM observations revealed that at 340 °C, the film surface progressively developed interconnected crystalline domains, forming a distinctive cellular-like network. In-situ NEXAFS further revealed that, before any morphological changes, the V-O local coordination gradually relaxed toward a more ordered state, followed by clear nucleation of VO2 at 340 °C, evidenced by a distinct separation of the π* and σ* bands. This crystallization is accompanied by progressive crystal field splitting of the V 3d states and increased separation between the π and σ* features of the O K-edge, consistent with the development of long-range octahedral symmetry in VO2. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that this crystallization was mainly structural, with no significant change in vanadium oxidation state. Additionally, ex-situ Raman spectroscopy confirmed the monoclinic M1 phase of VO2 after the post-deposition annealing process. These findings not only provide important insight into the crystallization mechanism of VOx thin films but also suggest that precise control over the sequence of structural and electronic ordering during fabrication may open new opportunities for tailoring the properties of VO2-based devices.
Alkali zirconium silicate glasses containing 0–1.5 mol% La2O3 were synthesized using the conventional melt-quenching technique. The effects of La2O3 incorporation on the structure, chemical durability, and weathering resistance of the glass samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, 29Si MAS NMR, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). XRD confirmed the homogeneous incorporation of La2O3 into the glass matrix. XAS demonstrated that La3+ ions were present in the +3 oxidation state and were coordinated by six O2- ions. Raman spectroscopy revealed that increasing La2O3 concentration promoted the formation of Q2(La) and Q3(La) units, accompanied by a decrease in Q3 and Q4 units. These results suggest that La3+ ions are incorporated into the glass network through Si–O–La linkages, observed as Q2(La) and Q3(La) units in the Raman spectra. The 29Si MAS NMR analysis indicated a reduction in Q2 units and an increase in Q4 units. The reduction in Q2 of 29Si NMR compared to Raman may be attributed to several factors. Chemical durability tests indicated that Na+ leaching from samples immersed in solutions of varying pH decreased with increasing La2O3 content, while weathering tests demonstrated a reduction in Na+ accumulation on the glass surface, from 3.06 to 1.29 µg/cm2. These improvements in durability are attributed to La3+ ions, which enhance network rigidity and transform the role of Na+ ions from network modifiers to charge compensators, thereby reducing ion exchange with H+ ions.
Carbon dioxide hydrogenation is an attractive route for converting greenhouse gases into valuable fuels and chemicals. In this work, the effect of manganese (Mn) promoter loading on Co/SiO2 catalysts was systematically investigated for CO2 hydrogenation under mild reaction conditions. Catalysts with different Mn loadings (1-7 wt%) were synthesized using the incipient wetness impregnation method and characterized by XRD, BET, TEM, H2-TPR, and CO2-TPD techniques. The introduction of Mn significantly influenced the physicochemical properties of the catalysts, including metal dispersion, surface basicity, and reducibility. The BET analysis revealed a gradual decrease in surface area with increasing Mn loading due to partial pore blocking, while H2-TPR results indicated enhanced reducibility associated with Co-Mn interactions. CO2-TPD results demonstrated that Mn addition increased the strength of basic sites, which facilitates CO2 adsorption and activation. Catalytic testing at 230 degrees C and atmospheric pressure showed that the 20CS5Mn catalyst exhibited the lowest methane selectivity and favors to produce C5+ selectivity. The reaction pathway is proposed to proceed through a reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction followed by Fischer-Tropsch-like hydrogenation of CO intermediates on cobalt active sites. Although the selectivity toward C5+ hydrocarbons remained relatively low, Mn promotion was found to slightly enhance hydrocarbon chain growth compared with the unpromoted catalyst.
In this paper, we propose a new extension of the Moyal distribution to extend its applicability to positive-valued and heavy-tailed data that are widely observed in real-world applications, called the Slash Truncated Moyal distribution. The model is constructed by combining the concepts of a truncation and a slash type extension. The truncation is applied to obtain a positive valued random variable, and the slash extension is derived using the stochastic representation of the ratio of two independent random variables: the truncated Moyal distribution and a power of the standard uniform distribution. In our study, we derive various important properties of the proposed distribution such as moment-generating function, moments, skewness, and kurtosis. Moreover, we derive its parameter estimation via the maximum likelihood estimation method and investigate its performance via a simulation study. The results of our analysis indicate that the proposed distribution offers greater flexibility in terms of kurtosis than the original Moyal distribution and other modified models. Finally, the proposed distribution is applied to two real applications in medical sciences. The empirical results, compared with the original Moyal distribution, other modified Moyal distributions, and widely used heavy-tailed distributions, clearly demonstrate the superior goodness-of-fit of the proposed Slash Truncated Moyal distribution over competing distributions, highlighting its effectiveness and practical relevance.
To investigate the feasibility of using stable carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen isotope ratios for tracing the geographical origin of Artemisia argyi and to develop a corresponding origin traceability model, this study collected 75 A. argyi leaf samples from five major producing regions: Ningbo, Anyang, Qichun, Anguo, and Nanyang. The stable isotope ratios (delta C-13, delta N-15, delta H-2, delta O-18) in the samples were determined using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical methods, including analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis, were employed to establish an origin traceability model. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the C, N, H, and O isotope ratios among A. argyi samples from different regions. The 3D scores plots from PCA demonstrated relatively concentrated and independent distribution patterns for samples from each origin, indicating the feasibility of origin discrimination. The discriminant analysis yielded an initial correct classification rate of 89.3% and a cross-validated rate of 81.3%, suggesting a satisfactory overall traceability performance. These findings demonstrate that stable isotope technology, combined with appropriate chemometric methods, can effectively identify the geographical origin of A. argyi. This study provides a theoretical basis for verifying A. argyi 's origin authenticity and evaluating its regional typicity.
Mangrove ecosystems support complex microbial symbioses that enhance plant growth, stress tolerance, and ecosystem resilience, yet endophytic fungal diversity and functional organization remain poorly understood in the Indo-Pacific region, limiting their application in mangrove conservation and restoration. Using the Batticaloa Lagoon mangrove ecosystem in Eastern Sri Lanka as a model system, this study investigated the taxonomic diversity, community structure, and inferred functional trait distribution (based on in vitro analyses of isolated endophytes) of culturable putative endophytic fungi associated with Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. and Excoecaria agallocha L. across leaf, stem, and root tissues. Endophytic fungal communities were hierarchically structured by host identity and tissue-level environmental filtering. Root assemblages functioned as primary reservoirs of taxonomic and inferred functional diversity. A total of 45 putative fungal taxa representing 39 genera were isolated from 7,800 tissue segments and identified conservatively, primarily at the genus level. Avicennia marina supported significantly higher species richness and colonization frequency than E. agallocha, with distinct host-specific dominance patterns. Fusarium sp. 1 and Neofusicoccum sp. dominated A. marina, whereas Phyllosticta sp. 1, Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp. 1 dominated E. agallocha. Alpha diversity analyses indicated higher richness but lower evenness in A. marina, while E. agallocha harbored fewer but more evenly distributed taxa. Beta diversity analyses demonstrated substantial turnover between hosts and tissue types, with root communities exhibiting strong host specificity. In vitro functional traits of fungal isolates varied strongly: approximately half showed medium-to-high IAA production, one-third exhibited phosphate solubilization, and salt tolerance were widespread. Trait-based analyses (community-weighted means and indicator values), identified root tissues as hotspots of functional potential enriched in nutrient-mobilizing and stress-tolerance traits, as assessed by in vitro assays. These findings, which are restricted to the culturable fraction of the mycobiota, provided baseline data for an underexplored mangrove system and highlight the importance of conserving endophytic diversity to enhance mangrove conservation and restoration strategies, pending in planta and field validation of the functional traits identified.
Bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and bacterial leaf streak disease caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzicola are the major rice diseases affecting the quality and quantity of rice production. Endophytic actinomycetes are promising biocontrol agents against plant diseases and promote plant growth. This study aimed to isolate endophytic actinomycetes from wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff.) collected in Thailand and to evaluated their abilities to control bacterial blight and bacterial leaf streak in rice. A total of 188 actinomycete strains were obtained from wild rice plants. In vitro antagonistic assays showed that 118 strains exhibited inhibitory activity against X. oryzae pv. oryzae and 110 strains against X. oryzae pv. oryzicola. Ten strains that showed strong antagonistic activity against both pathogens were further evaluated for plant growth-promoting traits. Pot experiment conducted on KDML 105 rice showed that all selected strains had positive effects on rice seedlings by increasing root length, shoot length, and seed vigor index. Under greenhouse conditions, strain WRS1.2, which exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against rice fungal pathogens in vitro, reduced the severity of bacterial blight by 73.18 +/- 4.31% and bacterial leaf streak by 86.67 +/- 10.61%. In addition, strain WRS1.2 was able to colonize KDML 105 rice roots. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain WRS1.2 was closely related to Streptomyces parvulus NBRC 13193T. In summary, S. parvulus WRS1.2 demonstrated a promising biocontrol agent for both bacterial rice diseases and also promote plant growth. The strain should be further developed and applied to promote sustainable rice production in the future.
Microbes from geothermal hot springs have attracted attention due to their potential contributions to a sustainable bioeconomy. However, compared to prokaryotes, fungal diversity in these extreme environments remains relatively underexplored. This study reports the isolation and characterization of a fungal strain from water and sediment samples collected at Wahava Hot Springs, Padiyathalawa, Sri Lanka, where temperatures ranged from 40.1 to 46.7 degrees C and pH values were neutral (7.2-7.4). Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tub2 gene regions, and morphological characteristics identified the isolate as Pseudothielavia terricola. Temperature-dependent growth was evaluated using radial growth and submerged biomass accumulation assays and compared with the mesophilic reference strain Aspergillus niger. Pseudothielavia terricola exhibited sustained growth up to 45 degrees C, with optimum radial growth and biomass production at elevated temperatures. In contrast, A. niger showed reduced growth at high temperatures. The isolate also produced extracellular amylase, demonstrated by starch hydrolysis on agar plates at 45 degrees C. These findings represent the first report of P. terricola from a Sri Lankan hot spring, highlighting its potential for future studies on thermostable enzyme production.
Porosity is one of the parameters of the nanocomposite scaffold pore structure that must be developed using poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA)/Chitosan (CS)/corn starch as a polymer composite for making porous nano-carbonated hydroxyapatite (n-CHA). This study aims to evaluate the effect of adding corn starch concentrations of 5 and 10 wt% on the physicochemical properties and antibacterial activity of n-CHA/PVA/CS/corn starch nanocomposite scaffolds synthesized using the gas foaming method. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) results indicate that all nanocomposite scaffolds showed the C-H stretching from alkyl groups for PVA was shown at 2932-2162 cm-1. X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) results show that adding corn starch 10 wt% reduces crystallite size and increases microstrain in the nanocomposite scaffold, indicating changes in microstructure. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization showed that the addition of corn starch contributed to the formation of macroporous structures on the nanocomposite scaffold surface. Adding corn starch 10 wt% affected the highest porosity (71.6%) compared with the other nanocomposite scaffolds. Antibacterial activity tests showed the scaffold's weak inhibitory power against gram-positive bacteria in the oral cavity. Further testing is required on hard tissue types, particularly bone tissue, such as the bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Based on physicochemical properties analysis, the n-CHA/PVA/CS/corn starch nanocomposite scaffold can be a candidate for bone tissue engineering.
The effects of the position of fluorophenyl substituents and the number of fluorine atoms on the structural, electronic, and photophysical properties of cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes (PtM1, PtM2, PtM3, PtP1, PtP2, and PtP3) were investigated computationally using DFT and TD-DFT. Specifically, the frontier molecular orbitals, charge-transfer characteristics, absorption and emission spectra, phosphorescence behavior, and oxygen-quenching mechanisms of the complexes were examined. All complexes exhibit characteristic MLCT and LLCT transitions. The meta-substituted derivatives (PtM1-PtM3) display slightly improved electron transfer characteristics relative to the para-substituted analogs (PtP1-PtP3). The meta-substituted complexes exhibit redshifts in their emissions, indicating a reduced HOMO-LUMO energy gap. Furthermore, all complexes display high triplet exciton generation fractions, indicating efficient intersystem crossing (ISC). The radiative decay rates (kr) are notably higher for the meta-substituted complexes, 1.53 x 105 s-1 (PtM1), 1.68 x 105 s-1 (PtM2), and 1.72 x 105 s-1 (PtM3), compared to the para-substituted complexes, 1.22 x 105 s-1 (PtP1), 1.23 x 105 s-1 (PtP2), and 1.23 x 105 s-1 (PtP3). Additionally, increasing the number of fluorine atoms further enhances the kr values, suggesting an improved phosphorescence efficiency. Hence, fluorophenyl-substituted cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes represent promising candidates for photodynamic therapy (PDT). DFT-based theoretical investigations offer meaningful interpretations of the observed photophysical behavior and provide design principles for developing new, efficient photosensitizers for PDT applications.
Dye-POM-TEOA photocatalytic system was prepared by sensitizing H3PW12O40 with Eosin Y and its photocatalytic degradation performance was studied by simulating cotton dyeing wastewater with phenol. The results showed that dye sensitization significantly increased the effectiveness of H3PW12O40 in degrading phenol. When the catalyst H3PW12O40 was 0.3 g, Eosin Y dye solution was 5 mL and appropriate amount of TEOA was added, the degradation rate of phenol at 20 mg/L was up to 82% after 2 hours of simulated sunlight photolitholysis. The degradation process conforms to the first-order kinetic model.
Pinus koraiensis, a key species for afforestation in Northeast China, faces severe cold stress at the seedling stage. Non-salicylic acid (non-SA) low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) have been reported to regulate plant stress resistance while their regulatory mechanisms on cold resistance of this conifer species remain largely unclear. This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effects and optimal application concentrations of non-SA LMWOAs (oxalic acid OA, citric acid CA, malic acid MA) on the cold hardiness of P. koraiensis seedlings, and explicitly propose the "nutrient activation-physiological regulation" synergistic mechanism as a testable scientific hypothesis. In this study, seedlings were sprayed with relevant concentrations of LMWOAs before being subjected to 4 degrees C stress. The effects on membrane stability, antioxidant enzymes, osmoregulatory and chlorophyll were then measured. The results showed that 5.0 mmol & centerdot;L-1 of LMWOAs was the optimal concentration, with citric acid being the most effective, followed by malic acid and then oxalic acid. Specifically, 5.0 mmol & centerdot;L-1 citric acid reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content by 62.6% (p<0.05) and relative electrolyte leakage to 12.5% (p<0.01) compared to the low-temperature control group. Exogenous organic acids enhance the cold hardiness of P. koraiensis seedlings through three pathways: chelating intracellular metal ions to stabilize cell membrane structures, activating antioxidant enzyme systems (SOD, POD, CAT, APX) to scavenge reactive oxygen species, and promoting the accumulation of osmotic regulatory substances (proline, soluble proteins). Meanwhile, exogenous LMWOAs effectively alleviated chlorophyll degradation under low-temperature stress. This study reveals the potential "nutrient activation-physiological regulation" synergistic mechanism of non-SA LMWOAs regulating cold hardiness of P. koraiensis seedlings, and provides a reliable theoretical basis and technical support for cold-tolerant seedling cultivation of P. koraiensis in northern cold regions.
Artocarpus odoratissimus (tarap) is a tropical fruit native to Borneo and Mindanao and valued for its nutritional and economic benefits. However, its highly perishable nature and the absence of effective storage methods present significant challenges to maintaining quality and extending shelf-life. This study evaluated the effects of calcium chloride (CaCl₂), gum arabic (GA) and their combined application on the postharvest quality and antioxidant properties of tarap fruit during cold storage at 10±2°C and 85-90% relative humidity over three weeks. Four coating treatments were applied: (1) control (distilled water), (2) 3% CaCl2, (3) 5% GA, and (4) a combined treatment of 3% CaCl2 + 5% GA (CaCl₂-GA). The influence of these treatments on peel and pulp colour, firmness, pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids concentration, ascorbic acid content, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity was assessed throughout storage. Results indicated that the combined CaCl₂–GA treatment was the most effective in reducing visual deterioration and preserving firmness in both peel and pulp from week 2 onward compared to the control. Coated fruits exhibited slower changes in pH, SSC and titratable acidity, indicating suppressed metabolic activity. The uncoated fruits initially showed the highest antioxidant activity and phenolic content, but these values declined rapidly during storage. In contrast, coated fruits maintained -more stable antioxidant properties over time. The CaCl₂–GA treatment extended the marketable shelf life of tarap fruit from approximately 7 days in uncoated fruit to 21 days under cold storage conditions. These findings suggest that the CaCl₂-GA composite coating synergistically enhances the postharvest quality, textural integrity and antioxidant stability of tarap fruit under cold storage, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and practical postharvest preservation strategy.
Morchella (morels) are rare edible fungi with high economic value but challenging cultivation requirements. Traditional yield prediction methods rely on manual records and statistics, which are time-consuming and yield low accuracy due to morels' long growth cycles, complex environmental factors, and insufficient documentation. This study presents a novel machine learning approach for predicting wild morel yields in Gannan Prefecture, China, using ten years (2013-2023) of monthly meteorological data. Random Forest was applied for feature selection, and Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) was used to address zero-yield data. The resulting datasets were then employed to develop predictive models with six machine learning algorithms, namely Random Forest, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Multilayer Perceptron (MLP), Transformer, and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Comparative analysis revealed that the GBM-LSTM hybrid model achieved superior performance (MSE: 8047.40, RMSE: 90.43, MAE: 60.90, R2: 0.81). Feature importance analysis identified air humidity (0.298) as the most critical factor affecting morel yields, followed by oxygen concentration, rainfall, light intensity, air quality, CO2 concentration, and average low temperature. Climate trend analysis over the past decade indicates that environmental deterioration, including an increase in temperature (+1.2 degrees C), a decrease in rainfall (-8.3%), and a reduction in humidity (-6.7%), has been accompanied by a decline in wild morel production, highlighting the vulnerability of this valuable species to climate change. These findings provide scientific guidance for optimizing cultivation strategies and developing climate-adaptive management practices for sustainable morel production.
Lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) is a specialized concrete incorporating a foaming agent to increase the mixture volume while reducing overall density. Prior research indicates that incorporating ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) at optimal levels (40 to 60%) as a partial cement replacement can enhance various engineering properties of concrete, but limited study on strength development and dimensional stability for slag-based concrete at higher replacement level. This study aims to evaluate the engineering performance specifically compressive strength, flexural strength, and dimensional stability of high-volume slag-based lightweight foamed concrete. The influence of different curing conditions on these properties was also examined. Although GGBFS has been shown to improve long-term strength, the results reveal that a 75% slag replacement exceeds the optimal level, with lower compressive and flexural strengths compared to the 100% cement control mix at both early and later curing stages. Among the three curing conditions tested, water curing proved most effective, yielding consistent strength gains over time. Dimensional stability was also enhanced in the 75% slag mix compared to the control mix, suggesting better long-term durability performance in this regard. Compressive strength tests conducted on cube specimens confirmed that, despite reduced early-age strength, the 75% slag mix maintained values within acceptable limits for non-structural applications complied with MS 76. This study underscores the viability of high-volume slag substitution as a sustainable approach to reduce cement usage while maintaining functional performance in lightweight foamed concrete.
