This study focused on recycling of the waste Si-Zr-B-based glass frits from industrial processes and transformation of this frits to high value-added glass-ceramic materials suitable for radiation shielding applications. For this aim, the samples were fabricated by adding different amounts of Sm2O3 (%0, 10, 20) into the waste glass matrix. Microstructural properties were investigated by using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Density and Vickers hardness measurements were performed to evaluate physical and mechanical properties. In addition, radiation shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (MAC), linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), half-value layer (HVL), and mean free path (MFP) were calculated by using the XCOM database with wide range of photon energy to determine the photon-matter interaction behavior. The hardness and the density values increased from 8.8 to 9.6 GPa and from 2.7 to 2.88 g/cm3, respectively. This results showed that densification and mechanical performance improved with increasing Sm2O3 content. On the other hand, the decrease in HVL and MFP and the increase in MAC and LAC values observed with the amount of Sm2O3 content revealed that the samples have superior radiation attenuation capacity. Overall, the findings showed that waste-derived glass ceramics with Sm2O3 addition improved mechanical strength, physical properties and radiation shielding efficiency of the samples. These materials were promising candidates for applications in medical radiation environments, nuclear facilities, and hazardous waste management systems.
Within Southeast Asian smallholder farming systems, pole sitao functions as a key vegetable legume linking food security, livelihood resilience, and the viability of low-input and organic production systems. However, yield instability under heterogeneous farmer-managed environments limits reliable varietal recommendation. This study evaluated the yield performance, stability, and adaptation of six organic pole sitao lines, namely a farmer’s variety and the advanced lines PS-131100, PS-131070, PS-131085, PS-131289, and PS-131073, across contrasting elevation environments in southern Philippines. On-farm trials were conducted over two cropping seasons in mid-elevation (≈651 m above sea level [asl]) and high-elevation (≈915 m asl) farmer fields using a randomized complete block design with three replications per environment. Fresh pod yield (t ha⁻¹) was analyzed using linear mixed-effects models fitted by restricted maximum likelihood (REML), with genotype, elevation, cropping season, and genotype × elevation interaction treated as fixed effects and replication as a random effect. Model-based adjusted means, best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs), and genotype plus genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis were employed to assess genotype performance and yield stability. Results revealed a highly significant genotype effect on yield (p < 0.01), while elevation, cropping season, and genotype × elevation interaction were not significant, indicating consistent genotype ranking across environments. Among the evaluated lines, PS-131289 consistently produced the highest yields, had the highest BLUP value, showed superior yield stability, and was positioned closest to the ideal genotype in the GGE biplot. The biplot further indicated the presence of a single mega-environment across elevations and seasons, indicating broad adaptation. Thus, yield differences were primarily genetically driven and stable across environments. These findings provide on-farm evidence that PS-131289 is a promising high-yielding and stable line for organic pole sitao production in mid- and high-elevation environments.
Production efficiency and the ability to respond rapidly to customer demands are critical to maintaining competitiveness in contemporary manufacturing environments. In this context, cellular manufacturing systems (CMS) have gained attention as a production strategy that combines the advantages of mass production with flexibility. CMS aim to improve production efficiency by forming part families and machine groups, reducing waiting times, transportation requirements, and labor requirements, and enabling products to be manufactured rapidly and cost-effectively. This study presents a systematic review of 30 research articles on CMS published between 2015 and 2023 and indexed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The selected studies were evaluated and classified according to their objective functions, solution methods, cell formation methods, numbers of cells, transportation costs, maintenance costs, cell layouts, operation sequences, alternative process routes, grouping approaches, labor considerations, and demand or production volume. The studies were also categorized into four main categories of cell formation methods, and the development of these methods is presented.
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with the lowest survival rates worldwide. Recent studies have demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a significant role in PDAC progression through the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, promotion of metastasis, and activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. Although non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to regulate these processes, their effects on pancreatic cancer remain unclear. This study aimed to develop novel Nimesulide derivatives with enhanced antioxidant potential. In this context, a series of compounds (2a–j and 3a–c) were synthesized via chemical modification of Nimesulide, and their structural characterization was confirmed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and MS analyses. The synthesized compounds were evaluated using a DPPH radical scavenging assay to ascertain their antioxidant activities, and some derivatives exhibited notable activity. Furthermore, the interactions of the compounds with COX-2 and MetAP2 enzymes were investigated using molecular docking. The results indicated that some compounds interacted with COX-2 at alternative hydrophobic pockets rather than the active site, whereas they exhibited strong binding affinity toward MetAP2 by forming multiple interactions with active site amino acid residues. These findings suggest that the synthesized Nimesulide derivatives represent promising antioxidant compounds with favorable in silico interactions toward PDAC-associated targets, warranting further biological evaluation for potential therapeutic applications.
The environmental pollution created by waste glass frits generated in industrial production processes makes the conversion of these materials into secondary products important in terms of both sustainability and resource efficiency. In this context, the recycling of waste glasses not only reduces the need for disposal but also offers an alternative way to access high value-added engineering materials. Waste glass frits that generated in enamel applications can be used as the alternative materials. Therefore, in this study, the waste glass frit with SiO2-ZrO2-B2O3-Na2O-ZnO-CaO-Al2O3-K2O-Fe2O3 oxide components generated in enamel applications was transformed into an adaptable composite for advanced applications. For this purpose, Si3N4 was added to the waste frit matrix at rates of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% wt., and the samples were shaped and sintered using powder metallurgy processes to obtain the final products. Microstructural (SEM–EDS), mechanical (hardness), and physical (density) characterizations were performed on the produced samples to determine Si3N4 effect on the structural properties. Additionally, the changes in optical absorbance and band gap were evaluated using UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was observed that increasing the Si3N4 content significantly transformed the microstructure by altering the reinforcement-matrix interface within the structure. The hardness and density results revealed that Si3N4 addition directly affected the mechanical behavior, while the changes in optical response showed that the matrix-reinforcement interaction also reshaped the optical performance. In the 15 wt.% Si3N4 sample exhibited improvement on density (2.57 g/cm3) and Vickers hardness (14 GPa), indicating enhanced mechanical consolidation. The same composition also showed a narrowing optical band gap (4.61 eV) compared to the other samples, confirming a clear modification of the electronic structure due to Si3N4 addition.
