Artiles
Open Access
Article
16 March 2026Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Interspecific Relationships of the Genus Viburnum Inferred from Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Polymorphism Markers
The genus Viburnum (Adoxaceae) comprises deciduous broad-leaved shrubs with a thicket-like growth habit, and globally about 150–200 species are recognized. In Korea, several native Viburnum taxa have recently been listed as threatened, emphasizing the need for robust genetic information to support conservation and management. This study aimed to evaluate genetic diversity and interspecific relationships among 33 Viburnum taxa and to establish a practical framework for their identification and management using start codon targeted (SCoT) markers. SCoT markers were chosen because they are easier to apply than simple sequence repeat (SSR) and generally provide richer nuclear variation than chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), offering a simple yet informative tool for distinguishing closely related members of this shrub genus. Seventeen SCoT primers produced 489 polymorphic bands, revealing substantial nuclear variation among the 33 Viburnum taxa. An unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA), we grouped the 33 accessions into four major genetic clusters, and this clustering pattern was in good agreement with the structure inferred from principal component analysis. These clusters highlighted the genetic isolation of the V. plicatum group and the close affinity of the V. carlesii complex, while also indicating complex relationships among East Asian species. In contrast, V. plicatum formed Cluster IV, highlighting the taxonomic positions of these lineages and their potential priority for conservation and breeding. Overall, the results demonstrate that SCoT markers provide an efficient, operationally simple system for discriminating between closely related accessions and major genetic lineages within Viburnum. The SCoT-based approach developed here provides baseline information for species and cultivar identification. It also supports germplasm conservation and the selection of genetically divergent parents for future breeding programs.
Open Access
Perspective
16 March 2026Reviving Philosophical Anthropology for the Age of Extinction
This article argues that the discipline of Philosophical Anthropology is directly relevant for comprehending the present human condition, especially regarding our collective ecological predicament and the consequences of climate change. By centralizing relations, focusing on lived experience at various levels, and adopting an interdisciplinary approach, Philosophical Anthropology provides powerful conceptual instruments for making sense of human–biosphere relations. Its focus on explaining the human condition in an antireductionist fashion, emphasizing biological and chemical processes and multiple lifeforms, is a valuable approach. These approaches are critically examined with refers to the works of Scheler, Gehlen, and Plessner, combined with a discussion of the concept of responsivity. This theoretical foundation resonates with current trends in anthropology, environmental philosophy, 4E cognition, and ecocriticism, allowing for greater appreciation of the embeddedness of organisms and the agency of non-human actors, as well as of emotional responses such as eco-anxiety and solastalgia. By integrating results from philosophy, anthropology, the exact sciences, and life sciences, a reinvigorated PA could well provide the conceptual and methodological foundation for a comprehensive theory of the Age of Extinction.
Open Access
Article
16 March 2026Research on the Bearing Characteristics of Bucket Foundations for Offshore Wind Turbines in Double-Layered Clay
Bucket foundations have been widely used in marine engineering, such as offshore wind power, due to their anti-overturning performance and convenient installation. In China’s coastal areas, clay soil is widely distributed, and most of the seabed has layered clay. However, the bearing capacity of bucket foundations in layered soil is significantly different from that in homogeneous soil. Currently, there is relatively little research on the bearing capacity of bucket foundations in layered clay. Therefore, the finite element analysis method is adopted to establish a bearing capacity calculation method of bucket foundations in double-layer clay. The axial failure mechanisms and ultimate bearing capacity of bucket foundations in double-layer clay are deeply discussed, and the corresponding ultimate bearing capacity calculation method is given based on the numerical analysis results. The combined bearing capacity of bucket foundations in double-layer clay is fully analyzed, and the evolution method of V-H, V-M, H-M, and V-H-M failure envelopes is given.
Open Access
Article
16 March 2026Domain-Specific Cloud Business Operating System for New Power Systems: Concept, Key Technologies and Initial Applications
The deep digitization of power system business faces three major challenges: computational resources are prone to crashes, business response is slow, and platform maintenance is unsustainable. To address these issues, this paper proposes a domain-specific cloud Business Operating System (BOS) for new power systems. BOS establishes a unified management paradigm for four core digital objects—Containers, Tasks, Programs, and Data—through their standardized definition and indexed organization. Building upon this foundation, it implements three dedicated plugins to enable synergistic task-container co-scheduling, plug-and-play program integration, and optimized data access. This paper elaborates on BOS’s architecture and its rationale as an operating system, detailing the key technologies for object management. Case studies on a real-world regional power grid demonstrate that BOS effectively ensures the efficient execution of large-scale computational tasks, supports the agile integration of domain-specific models and algorithms, achieves seamless and efficient data connectivity across business chains, thereby providing a robust foundation for next-generation power system digitization.
Open Access
Article
13 March 2026Beneficial Effects of Food Containing Lactononadecapeptide on Memory Function in Elderly Japanese Subjects—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
With the extension of average life expectancy, diseases accompanied by cognitive and memory impairments, such as dementia, are increasing. The risk of dementia has been suggested to decrease with an increase in the intake of milk and dairy products. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of consuming test food containing lactononadecapeptide (LNDP) on memory and attention in healthy elderly Japanese subjects aged 65 years or older over 24 weeks. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial was conducted, and memory function was evaluated using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) test and the total score of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). Based on the results of the ROCF test and SDMT, the repeated intake of the test food significantly improved memory function in elderly subjects. Therefore, the repeated intake of test food containing LNDP may improve memory and attention in elderly Japanese individuals with mild cognitive decline.
Open Access
Article
13 March 2026Te Substitution-Induced Structural Evolution and Thermoelectric Properties of Quasi-1D BiSeI
Halide-chalcogenide compounds are promising candidates for thermoelectric applications owing to their low thermal conductivity and tunable electronic structures. Here, we systematically investigate Te-substituted BiSe1−xTexI (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5). Structural and spectroscopic analyses confirm the successful incorporation of Te into the BiSeI-type framework, accompanied by lattice expansion, vibrational softening, and pronounced bandgap tuning. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verifies that Te occupies Se sites and modifies the local electronic environment, while electron microscopy reveals a morphology evolution from ribbon-like grains to plate-like and fragmented particles with increasing Te content. Thermoelectric measurements show that Te substitution simultaneously enhances electrical conductivity and suppresses thermal conductivity, arising from band-structure modulation, increased carrier concentration, mass fluctuation, and strengthened phonon scattering. Consequently, BiSe0.7Te0.3I achieves the highest ZT (~0.27 at 400 K), substantially higher than pristine BiSeI. This work demonstrates that heavy-element doping is an effective strategy for optimizing the thermoelectric performance of halide-chalcogenides.
Open Access
Review
13 March 2026Recent Progress in Photonic Design and Charge Transport Optimization for Organic Solar Cells
Organic solar cells (OSCs) are attracting attention as a possible replacement for traditional photovoltaics because they are low-cost, lightweight, and have adjustable optoelectronic features. The commercialization of single-junction OSCs still faces challenges in achieving high power conversion efficiency (PCE) and operating stability. Recent developments in photonic crystals, plasmonics, nanophotonics, and metamaterials have significantly addressed these issues, especially in single-junction systems. This paper reviews the latest advancements in charge transport engineering, nanophotonic light-trapping methods, and nanostructured interfaces specifically designed for single-junction OSCs. It also highlights recent record-breaking efficiencies that exceed 20% PCE. We discussed integrating plasmonic nanoparticles, optical microcavities, nanostructured electrodes, and improved photonic materials to increase light absorption, exciton dissociation, and charge collection within the specific limitations of single-junction devices. Furthermore, we stress the important role of computational modeling and recent experimental breakthroughs in enhancing optical and electrical performance. Rather than treating optical and electrical processes independently, this review emphasizes the synergistic role of photonic enhancement strategies in simultaneously improving light trapping and charge transport, highlighting how nanophotonic designs influence carrier generation, recombination, and extraction in single-junction OSCs.
Open Access
Research Highlight
12 March 2026A Novel Approach to Synthesis Alkyd Resin from Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET)
Reducing carbon footprints is an essential requirement in the chemical industry. Researchers are concentrating on creating sustainable products derived from renewable resources or waste materials. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste significantly contributes to carbon footprints; the chemical recycling of PET waste possesses extensive opportunities within the chemical sector. For instance, PET waste can be transformed into valuable alkyd resin, which is utilized in the production of oil-based paints. This research work focuses on the synthesis of long oil alkyd resin using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET). As the incorporation of rPET in alkyd resin has several limitations such as two-step synthesis, inability to produce long oil alkyd, and long drying time. To overcome these limitations, a novel synthesis route has been devised to produce long oil alkyd resin. In this study, three long oil alkyd resins were synthesized, each containing varying amounts of rPET. The presence of rPET in the alkyd resins was confirmed by spectroscopic techniques. To assess the impact of rPET content on alkyd resin, physicochemical properties, performance testing, and instrumental analysis have been conducted. A comparison is made between these resins and the benchmark long oil alkyd resin, and the results are discussed. Furthermore, to synergize the coating applications, viscoelastic behavior and mechanical properties of the dried films were assessed, including exterior durability. Alkyd resin containing 8% rPET shows performance properties that are comparable to the benchmark alkyd resin. This alkyd requires 80 min for surface drying and 4 h to reach a tack-free state. It has a gloss value of 86 at 20° angle. The scratch hardness is recorded as 900 g, while the gloss retention stands at 88.34% following 240 h of QUV exposure. This novel synthesis route helps to incorporate the rPET in the alkyd backbone with reduced carbon footprint to meet the goal of sustainability and the circular economy.
Open Access
Article
11 March 2026Aerial Remote Sensing for Precision Archaeology Using RGB–Multispectral Image Fusion of UAS Data
Precision Archaeology leverages advanced technologies, such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), for documenting archaeological sites with high spatial resolution and accuracy. This paper presents a reproducible RGB–multispectral (MS) image-fusion workflow for Precision Archaeology, combining PPK-based georeferencing with quantitative assessment of product accuracy and spectral preservation. Within this framework, the repeatability of the results produced by the UAS data fusion method confirms its reliability and establishes it as a valuable documentation tool. Among the experimental applications conducted to date, this paper adds two more: the Sanctuary of Eukleia at Aigai and the funerary ensemble in the Philippi plain, where Aerial Remote Sensing was performed using a UAS equipped with a Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK)–Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. A ground-based GNSS receiver was used to measure control points (CPs) and the base point used to correct the coordinates of the UAS image acquisition centers using the PPK method. For both archaeological sites, RGB and MS stereoscopic images were acquired from flight altitudes of 60 and 100 m, respectively, achieving an overall theoretical solution accuracy of under 2 cm. Digital surface models (DSMs) were generated with spatial resolutions of approximately 2 cm for the RGB and about 14 cm for the MS images, along with orthophotomosaics with spatial resolutions of roughly 1 cm for RGB and 7 cm for MS images. In the final stage, image fusion of the RGB and MS orthophotomosaics was applied, improving the spatial resolution of the MS orthophotomosaics from 7 cm to approximately 1 cm, while simultaneously preserving nearly all the original spectral information in the new fused images. Spectral preservation was quantified via band-wise correlation between the original MS and fused images (≈0.99 average for the Philippi dataset; ≈0.85 average for Aigai, likely influenced by a ~45 min RGB–MS acquisition gap and corresponding shadow/illumination differences). These new images can be used for classification purposes, enabling the identification of different materials and the detection of archaeological feature pathology with optimal spatial resolution and accuracy.
Open Access
Article
11 March 2026Cost-Aware UAV Photogrammetric Mission Design: Experimental Trade-Offs Between Overlap, Geometry, and Mapping Quality
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry enables high-resolution mapping and 3D reconstruction, yet operational and processing costs often scale rapidly with conservative mission designs (e.g., high overlap and redundant geometries). This paper presents an experimentally validated, cost-aware network-design study that quantifies cost–quality trade-offs in urban UAV photogrammetry. Five mission strategies—reduced sidelap with increased endlap, cross-flight compensation, partial high-overlap calibration, multi-altitude acquisition, and oblique cross-flight integration—are evaluated using a controlled experimental campaign over two urban test areas (2 × 20 ha), comprising 98 test blocks with overlaps ranging from 60% to 95%, sidelap from 20% to 80%, image counts from 70 to 2961, 7 check points, 15–17 ground control points, and GSD values between 2.6 cm and 4.6 cm, including nadir, oblique, cross-flight, and multi-altitude imagery. Each configuration is assessed using three indicators: (i) cost (flight and processing cost proxies), (ii) completeness, quantified by the number of reconstructed tie points, and (iii) accuracy, defined as a combined image–ground error at check points. Results show that cost reductions of over 50% in both flight and processing proxies can be achieved under the tested conditions while maintaining checkpoint accuracy comparable to a high-overlap reference configuration, provided that reduced overlap is compensated by stronger network geometry (e.g., cross-flight and/or oblique views). The analysis highlights product-dependent recommendations: vector map (MAP) generation can remain reliable even with very low sidelap (down to approximately 20%) when supported by adequate longitudinal overlap, whereas ortho-image mosaic (OIM) production requires at least moderate overlap in both directions (typically ≥60% endlap and sidelap) to ensure radiometric and geometric consistency. In contrast, dense 3D mesh reconstruction demands substantially stronger network geometry, including cross-flight and oblique imagery in addition to nadir views, with overlap levels exceeding 60% and preferably approaching 80%. These findings provide practical mission-planning guidelines that support efficient autonomous and semi-autonomous UAV mapping workflows.
