Artiles
Open Access
Article
21 January 2026Milling Mechanism of Sheet Fiberglass Plastic by a Tungsten Carbide Tool with Diamond and Diamond-like Wear-Resistant Coatings
The study focuses on identifying the specific mechanisms of the FR4 fiberglass composite milling process using tungsten carbide end mills with wear-resistant diamond-like and diamond coatings. The processing was carried out at cutting speeds from 115 to 300 m/min and feed of 0.075 and 0.15 mm/tooth. At the same time, the vibroacoustic signal was recorded in three formats: changes in the RMS value and the amplitude of the acoustic emission in the low-frequency and high-frequency ranges, as well as the parameter Kf, which is the ratio of the RMS amplitudes of the signals in the low-frequency and high-frequency ranges. It is shown that the coating material has a predominant effect on the surface roughness. The minimum roughness value was RA = 0.2 µm for the case of a diamond-coated tool. In addition, the coating improves processing performance by increasing the cutting speed for tools with DLC by 1.3 times and for tools with diamond coating by 1.7 times, provided that the RA increases slightly but does not exceed 0.36 µm. When processed with an uncoated instrument, the mill captures the fiber, bends it and breaks it into bundles, creating grooves. The mechanism of glass fiber destruction by a DLC mill is similar, with the difference that the length of the fragmented fiber sections is noticeably reduced due to reduced friction. The mechanism of cutting fiberglass with a diamond-coated milling cutter is significantly different. There are characteristic scratches on the worn sections of the fiber, and there are no signs of destruction of the composite between the matrix and the fiber. Studies of vibration signals have shown that frequency ranges up to 20 kHz and from 33 to 48 kHz are informative enough to diagnose the fiberglass milling process. The most significant values of the Kf parameter were observed at large amplitudes of low-frequency vibrations, typical for processing with uncoated and DLC milling cutters. The lowest Kf values were obtained using diamond-coated milling cutters. A correlation was found between the values of the Kf parameter and the roughness values of the treated end surface of the fiberglass plate.
Open Access
Article
21 January 2026Study on the Alleviative Effect of Diethyl Aminoethyl Hexanoate (DA-6) on Pepper Seed Germination under Salt Stress
Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6) is a broad-spectrum high-energy plant growth regulator with multiple functions similar to auxin, gibberellin, and cytokinin. Research on crops such as corn, rice, peanuts, flowers, and vegetables has shown that it can increase the activity of plant peroxidase (POD) and nitrate reductase, promote plant cell division and elongation, and facilitate seed germination and seedling growth. This experiment used the seeds of the chili variety “Changxian Tianxia” as research materials. The experiment was conducted by designing DA-6 soaking experiments with different concentration gradients to determine physiological indicators of pepper growth, screen a suitable DA-6 concentration for pepper seed germination, and study the alleviating effect of DA-6 on pepper seed growth under salt stress. The aim is to provide a scientific basis for high-yield cultivation of chili in saline alkali soil. In the seed germination experiment, five DA-6 concentration treatment groups were set up, namely 0, 0.1 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L, and 5 mmol/L. Three biological replicates were set up for each treatment group to screen for the most suitable DA-6 concentration for pepper seed germination. The germination and growth effects of pepper seeds under salt stress were then studied using this concentration. The growth physiological indicators were measured to investigate the alleviating effect of aminobutyric acid on pepper seed germination under salt stress. The experimental results showed that the appropriate concentration of aminobutyric acid ester (DA-6) promoted the germination of pepper seeds under salt stress. Under the treatment of soaking seeds in DA-6 at a concentration of 1 mmol/L, the activities of catalase (CAT) and POD increased by 8.6% and 14.6%, respectively, while inhibiting the accumulation of MDA (reducing it by 11.4%), improving the antioxidant effect of plant cell membranes, and enhancing the salt tolerance of pepper seeds. This experiment shows that soaking pepper seeds in 1 mmol/L DA-6 can effectively improve the antioxidant capacity of pepper seeds under salt stress environment, enhance seed germination rate and growth effect, and alleviate the damage caused by salt stress to pepper seedling growth to a certain extent.
Open Access
Article
21 January 2026An Industry 4.0-Based Data Visualization Framework for Improved Manufacturing Data Analysis—A Case Study
The proliferation of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing has created an unprecedented opportunity to leverage Big Data for process optimization and efficiency improvements. However, the sheer volume of data can also lead to critical information being overlooked, potentially hindering productivity and competitiveness. This paper presents a straightforward Industry 4.0-based data visualization framework designed to transform raw manufacturing data into actionable insights. Specifically, this work focuses on the analysis of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) data. The framework utilizes a practical dashboard tool to enable manufacturers to perform in-depth data analysis and identify areas for improvement in real-time. Such a framework enables prompt intervention when corrective actions are needed, ultimately increasing efficiency and reducing production downtime. The framework was successfully implemented at a tire manufacturing company on a single machine within a short period of time. The results highlighted the effectiveness of data visualization in identifying specific operational losses and informing strategic decision-making. This work emphasizes the critical role of technology and proper policies in leveraging data to optimize production processes and drive continuous improvement in Industry 4.0 environments.
Open Access
Article
20 January 2026Can Global Contract Research Organisations Contribute to Decarbonisation? The Impact of Environmentally Sustainable Business Practice on Scope 1 and 2 Emissions
Carbon emissions of clinical trials have been one of the contributors to global emissions. However, the clinical research industry, particularly contract research organisations (CROs) engaged in trials, has received little attention in the existing literature regarding their carbon footprint. This research examines the sustainable practices implemented by leading global CROs and how these practices influence scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions. The findings show that increasing the number of sustainability initiatives is insufficient to achieve a measurable reduction in emissions. At the same time, whilst some sustainable practices, such as building upgrades and real estate improvements, lead to a reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions, others, such as equipment upgrades, are associated with higher emissions. The study, therefore, uncovers a counterintuitive finding—that renewable energy practices showed a positive correlation with emissions. This may be viewed as a paradox, although it serves as a critical warning against measuring sustainability by the quantity of initiatives, rather than their quality or ultimate effect. By assessing the impact of organisational environmental practices on emissions, the study contributes to knowledge by providing a more nuanced understanding of the effectiveness of environmentally sustainable business strategies adopted by CROs.
Open Access
Article
20 January 2026Modafinil Suppresses Hypertrophic Scar Formation by Inhibiting Adenosine Deaminase and Activating Adenosine Signaling
Modafinil (MF) is a clinically approved wake-promoting agent with emerging anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects, although its upstream molecular target has remained undefined. Here, we identify adenosine deaminase (ADA) as a previously unrecognized target mediating the therapeutic actions of MF. Its S- and R-isomers (MF-S and MF-R) robustly increased intracellular cAMP levels in fibroblasts with efficacy comparable to NECA, despite minimal direct binding to adenosine receptors, and suppressed KCa3.1 channel activity via a PKA–dependent mechanism. MF-S markedly upregulated CD39 and CD73, leading to increased adenosine availability. Pharmacological inhibition of CD73 with AB680 abolished MF-S–induced increases in cAMP and Epac levels and reversed suppression of TGFβ–induced collagen expression. Consistently, MF-S attenuated canonical profibrotic signaling by inhibiting TGFβ–induced Smad4 upregulation. In vivo, MF-S significantly reduced hypertrophic scarring in a rabbit ear model, with efficacy comparable to Contratubex. Mechanistically, MF-S directly inhibited purified ADA at subnanomolar concentrations and suppressed cellular ADA activity in fibroblast and immune cells. Collectively, these findings establish ADA inhibition as a key upstream mechanism by which MF enhances adenosine–cAMP signaling to suppress inflammation and fibrosis, highlighting MF and its isomers as promising therapeutic candidates for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.
Open Access
Review
20 January 2026Porous Carbon-Based Adsorbents for CO2 Sequestration from Flue Gases: Tuning Porosity, Surface Chemistry, and Metal Impregnation for Sustainable Capture
Escalating atmospheric CO2 levels and the consequent climate crisis have become urgent imperatives for advancing efficient carbon capture technologies. Porous carbon adsorbents stand out as a leading candidate in this field, owing to their inherently high specific surface areas, tailorable pore architectures, and cost advantages over conventional solid adsorbents. This review focuses on recent progress in the rational engineering of porous carbons for boosted CO2 capture performance, with a particular emphasis on three complementary modification pathways: pore structure refinement, surface functional group regulation, and metal oxide incorporation. We begin by clarifying the distinct mechanisms of CO2 physisorption and chemisorption on carbonaceous surfaces, while also elucidating how key operating parameters (temperature, pressure) and real-world flue gas components (e.g., water vapor, SO2) modulate adsorption behavior. Critical evaluation is then given to strategies for enhancing three core performance metrics—CO2 uptake capacity, selectivity over N2, and cyclic stability—including the construction of sub-nanometer micropores (<0.8 nm) for efficient low-pressure CO2 capture, the introduction of nitrogen- and oxygen-containing moieties to strengthen dipole–quadrupole interactions with CO2 molecules, and the loading of alkaline metal oxides (e.g., MgO, CaO) to enable reversible chemisorption, which is especially beneficial under humid conditions. Finally, we outline the key challenges that hinder the practical application of porous carbon adsorbents, such as the design of hierarchical pores for both high uptake and fast mass transfer, the precise control of heteroatom doping sites and concentrations, and the mitigation of competitive adsorption in complex multicomponent flue gases. Corresponding future research priorities are also proposed, with a focus on scalable and sustainable synthesis routes using biomass or waste precursors. Ultimately, this review seeks to provide targeted insights for the rational design of high-performance porous carbon adsorbents, thereby accelerating their deployment in sustainable CO2 capture systems.
Open Access
Article
19 January 2026Life Cycle Assessment of the Emissions Reduction Potential of Recycled-Carbon-Fibre for Western-Australian Offshore Wind Turbine Blades
The objective of this study is to conduct a review of recycled-carbon-fibre (rCF) wind turbine blades’ feasibility, through a comparison of global and Australian wind sector waste, and a comparison of virgin-carbon-fibre (vCF) with rCF wind turbine blades’ greenhouse-gas GHG-emissions, and, recommend an approach for carbon-fibre CF-use in the fledgling Australian offshore wind industry, based on global-warning-potential GWP. This study assesses the life-cycle GHG-emissions of virgin-carbon-fibre wind turbine blades versus recycled-carbon-fibre wind turbine blades, in both non-structural and structural configurations. All production, use and recycling is assessed in terms of a West Australian context, in which the functional unit is three turbine blades used on an onshore wind farm, towards potential applicability for (as yet, non-existent) offshore WA fields. An approach incorporating a GaBi/Sphera database-study provides a timely screening/preliminary study, in which it was found that non-structural recycled carbon fibre wind turbine blades had very similar GHG emission levels compared to standard virgin carbon fibre blades, with sensitivity analysis revealing that in worst-case scenarios, non-structural carbon fibre has higher GHG emissions. Structurally recycled carbon fibre blades performed significantly better than standard virgin carbon fibre wind turbine blades with a 56% reduction in GHG emissions; savings were not affected significantly by parameter changes during sensitivity analysis. It is evident that recycled-carbon-fibre can significantly reduce wind turbine blades’ GWP and contribute to the circular economy in the fledgling West Australian offshore-wind-turbine sector.
Open Access
Article
19 January 2026Advancing Youth Engagement in Agriculture: A Cross-National Comparative Policy Analysis and Framework for Sustainable Rural Development
Youth engagement in agriculture has emerged as a critical issue for sustainable agri-food systems, yet policies remain fragmented and uneven across countries. This paper presents a comparative case study of four national contexts to assess how governments address or neglect the challenges young people face in the agricultural sector. Using a desk-based review of policy documents, reports, and secondary literature, this study critically compares the policy environments of Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Italy. It explores the role of youth in agriculture and rural development by identifying gaps in institutional support, policy coherence and access to resources, while also highlighting areas of innovation and promising practices. This paper develops a conceptual framework to capture the key aspects necessary to increase youth participation in agriculture and rural development. The framework emphasises the importance of integrated strategies combining structural access, system-level integration, youth agency, and institutional capacity. Overall, this cross-country analysis aims to enhance the understanding of youth-in-agriculture policy environments, providing a roadmap for future policy-making and the development of sustainable rural communities.
Open Access
Article
16 January 2026Operation Management Optimization of Hydropower Stations Based on Big Data Technology: A Case Study of X Hydropower Station Group
In the operation management of hydropower stations, uneven scheduling often leads to issues such as resource wastage and unequal energy distribution; big data technology offers a new approach for optimizing the scheduling of hydropower stations in the information era. Taking the X Hydropower Station Group as a case study, this paper explores data acquisition, cleaning, clustering analysis, and the formulation of seasonal scheduling strategies to enhance the efficient utilization of hydropower resources and ensure the stable operation of the power grid. K-means clustering analysis is applied to explore typical output curves of cascaded hydropower stations, revealing the relationships between water levels, inflow rates, and load rates. Furthermore, a grey prediction model is developed to forecast future load rates, providing robust data support for short-term operational scheduling plans. The research not only improves monitoring and decision-support capabilities but also enhances the adaptability and response speed to seasonal changes, ensuring the stability and reliability of the power supply.
Open Access
Review
15 January 2026Renal Aging and Fibrosis in the Elderly: Frontiers in Non-Invasive Assessment
Today’s society has gradually entered an aging phase, and among the elderly population, the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is significantly increased. Renal fibrosis is the key pathological mechanism for the development of chronic kidney disease to end-stage renal disease. With the increase in age, the phenomenon of glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in aging kidneys gradually aggravates, and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decreases, further affecting renal function. Fibrosis not only accelerates the loss of renal function but also significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, which seriously affects the quality of life and life expectancy of patients. This paper reviews the relevant literature and discusses the characteristics of an aging kidney and the diagnostic methods for renal fibrosis.
