Mohammed Benamara^1,2, Boumediene Touati³, Said Bennaceur⁴, Bendjillali Ridha Ilyas^5,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.123, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.072641 - 27 December 2025

Abstract This study explores the thin-layer convective solar drying of Marrubium vulgare L. leaves under conditions typical of sun-rich semi-arid climates. Drying experiments were conducted at three inlet-air temperatures (40°C, 50°C, 60°C) and two air velocities (1.5 and 2.5 m·s⁻¹) using an indirect solar dryer with auxiliary temperature control. Moisture-ratio data were fitted with eight widely used thin-layer models and evaluated using correlation coefficient (r), root-mean-square error (RMSE), and Akaike information criterion (AIC). A complementary heat-transfer analysis based on Reynolds and Prandtl numbers with appropriate Nusselt correlations was used to relate flow regime to drying performance, and an… More > Graphic Abstract

Yang Liu¹, Biao Chen¹, Xin Liu², Chenxi Luo², Shihui Xiao^2,*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 2127-2146, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.070973 - 31 December 2025

Abstract This study evaluated corn kernel drying performance and quality changes using hot air drying (HAD) and infrared drying (ID) across temperatures ranging from 55°C to 80°C. Optimal drying parameters were determined by using the entropy weight method, with drying time, specific energy consumption, damage rate, fatty acids, starch, polyphenols, and flavonoids as indicators. Results demonstrated that ID significantly outperformed HAD, achieving drying times up to 20% shorter and reducing specific energy consumption and kernel damage by up to 79.3% and 66.7%, respectively, while also better preserving quality attributes. Both methods exhibited drying profiles characterized by More >

K. Wang^a,b,*, G. L. Lian^c, Y. F. Qiao^d

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.22, No.10, pp. 889-904, 2025, DOI:10.15251/CL.2025.2210.889

Abstract The remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD), characterized by its high concentrations of toxic metal ions and low pH, presents a significant environmental challenge. In this study, exfoliated two-dimensional MoS_₂ nanosheets were prepared using a liquid-phase ultrasonication method and evaluated for their efficiency in removing Cd^²⁺, Cu^²⁺, and Pb^²⁺ from aqueous solutions. Detailed structural and morphological analyses confirmed that the exfoliation process significantly enhanced surface area, pore volume, and exposure of reactive sulfur sites. Through isotherm and kinetic modeling analyses, the adsorption behavior was found to align with the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, which implies More >

Yousra Hammouti^1,2,*, François Mesnard², Oussama Khibech³, Mohamed Taibi¹, Yousra Belbachir³, El Hassania Loukili⁴, Reda Bellaouchi⁵, Abdeslam Asehraou⁵, Mohamed Addi^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.11, pp. 3563-3583, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071139 - 01 December 2025

Abstract Centaurium erythraea Rafn (“Gosset El Haya”) has long been prized in North African folk medicine, yet Moroccan chemobiological data remain scarce. Ethanol extracts of northern Moroccan aerial parts were profiled by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and found rich in phenolics, dominated by 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (57.8%) and naringin (10.3%). The extract exhibited strong antioxidant power in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of ≈74 µg mL⁻¹, and a total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of ≈201 µg mL⁻¹ and selective antimicrobial activity, sharply inhibiting Aspergillus niger, Penicillium digitatum, and Rhodotorula glutinis while sparing Staphylococcus aureus. In-silico absorption, distribution, metabolism,… More >

Sy-Yu Shiau^*, Shuting Ni, Yanli Yu, Songling Cai, Wenbo Huang

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3047-3060, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070289 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Consumers are increasingly demanding natural colorants that are safe and offer health benefits. In addition to their ornamental characteristics, Kanzan cherry (KC) blossoms present a promising source of red-hued natural colorants and functional bioactive substances. This research utilized distilled water to extract KC petals (KCP) and their ground powders (KCPP) under varying temperatures (30°C–90°C) and times (30–180 min). The total monomeric anthocyanins (TMAC) and total phenolics (TPC) in the extracts were evaluated via the pH differential and Folin–Ciocalteu methods. Antioxidant capacities were assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging ability and reducing power. Results indicated that… More >

Tri Susanti^1,2, Syahnur Haqiqoh¹, Pratiwi Pudjiastuti^2,*, Siti Wafiroh^2,*, Esti Hendradi³, Oktavia Eka Puspita⁴, Nashriq Jailani⁵

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.13, No.9, pp. 1841-1857, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2025.02024-0084 - 22 September 2025

Abstract This study aims to enhance the mechanical properties, disintegration, and dissolution rates of cross-linked carrageenan (CRG) capsule shells by shortening the long chains of CRG through a hydrolysis reaction with citric acid (CA). The hydrolysis of CRG was carried out using varying concentrations of CA, resulting in hydrolyzed CRG (HCRG). This was followed by cross-linking with xanthan gum (XG) and the addition of sorbitol (SOR) as a plasticizer. The results indicated that the optimal swelling capacity of HCRG-XG/SOR hard-shell capsules occurred at a CA concentration of 0.5%, achieving a maximum swelling rate of 445.39% after… More >

Yun Wang^1,2,#, Xin-Yu Li^1,3,#, Sheng-Li Wu^1,3, Pianchou Gongpan¹, Da-Hong Li², Chang-An Geng^1,3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.8, pp. 2563-2574, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.068185 - 29 August 2025

Abstract Twelve lignans (1–12) isolated from Amomum tsao-ko leaves were evaluated for the inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase and PTP1B. Compounds 1−4 and 10 showed inhibition on α-glucosidase with inhibitory ratios ranging from 53.8% to 90.0%, while compound 10 demonstrated 56.1% inhibition on PTP1B at 200 μM. Notably, erythro-5-methoxy-dadahol A (2) and threo-5-methoxy-dadahol A (3) displayed obvious inhibition on α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values of 33.3 μM and 22.1 μM, significantly outperforming acarbose (IC₅₀ = 344.0 μM). Kinetic study revealed that compound 3 maintained a mixed-type mode, engaging with both free enzyme and enzyme-substrate complex via non-competitive and uncompetitive mechanisms. Molecular docking simulations further clarified its More >

Martin Nyanzi Mawejje, Jon Pocock, Santiago Septien^*

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.8, pp. 3177-3199, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.063898 - 24 July 2025

Abstract Onsite sanitation offers a sustainable alternative to centralized wastewater treatment; however, effective faecal sludge management is crucial for safe disposal and resource recovery. Among emerging treatment solutions, solar thermal drying holds significant promise to reduce sludge moisture content and enhance handling. Despite this potential, its application remains limited, with important knowledge gaps, particularly concerning the drying kinetics under different environmental and operational conditions. This study aims to fill these gaps by investigating the solar thermal drying behaviour of faecal sludge from ventilated improved pit latrines (VIPs) and urine-diverting dry toilets (UDs), with a specific focus… More >

Mariam Habouria¹, Sahbi Ouertani^1,*, Noura Ben Mansour², Soufien Azzouz¹, Mohamed Taher Elaieb³

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.1, pp. 345-360, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2024.057387 - 26 February 2025

Abstract The aim of this paper was to characterize through experiment the moisture and temperature kinetic behavior of Eucalyptus gomphocephala wood samples using microwave heating (MWH) in two scenarios: intermittently and continuously. The mechanical properties and surface appearance of the heated samples were also investigated. Continuous and intermittent microwave drying kinetic experiments were conducted at a frequency of 2.45 GHz using a microwave laboratory oven at 300, 500, and 1000 watts. Drying rate curves indicated three distinct phases of MWH. Increasing the microwave power with a shorter drying time led to rapid increases in internal temperature and… More >

R. Vigi^a, G. R. Štrbac^a, D. D. Štrbac^b,*, O. Bošák^c, M. Kubliha^c

Chalcogenide Letters, Vol.21, No.1, pp. 21-37, 2024, DOI:10.15251/CL.2024.211.21

Abstract The processes of glass-transition and crystallization of chalcogenide glass As₄₀Se₃₀Te₃₀ with 5 at.% silver were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry. The values of glass-transition temperatures and activation energy were determined. Two crystallization processes were also detected and three-dimensional growth. Using non-isoconversional models the activation energies for both processes amounted to 112(2) kJ/mol and 97(2) kJ/mol. Isoconversional models were used to track changes in activation energy. The presence of Te significantly affects the thermal parameters as well as the structure of the glass while the presence of Ag does not significantly change the degree of connectivity of More >