Recovering cobalt from waste batteries is crucial for resource recycling and environmental protection. Here, MOF-OH, a Zr-based MOF, was synthesized and merged into a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) matrix to create MOF-OH-PAN nanofibers (NFs). These NFs showed a high cobalt ion adsorption capacity of 33.1 mg/g, retaining over 90% of the capacity after six cycles. The adsorption mechanism involves Co(II) surface diffusion followed by strong bonding with functional groups. This technology enables efficient cobalt recovery from waste batteries, supporting reuse and reducing resource depletion and environmental pollution. The study provides insights into waste battery resource management, highlighting environmental and economic benefits and contributing to green resource recovery and circular economy initiatives. Full article

Throughout the smart city literature, there are mentions of capacities, the application of which is claimed to result in the sustainable achievement of objectives. Because of the often desperate need for smart city objectives to be met, we sought to understand which were the capacities and whether the components of these capacities are explained sufficiently for them to be effective in practice. We applied a four-stage methodology commencing with a search of multiple databases for smart city capacity knowledge. We next assembled the evidence from the items identified in that search using a thematic analysis that identified the capacity to exploit technology, innovate, collaborate, and orchestrate. Next, we followed the threads of knowledge, iteratively allocating the knowledge to each of the four capacities to a typology of what, why, and who. The fourth stage was a cross-capacity analysis that generated further refinement and identified important factors. We identified that capacities are not sufficiently explained. In addition to the need for more levels of detail as to practical implementation, we identified significant underdevelopment of the literature as to the impact of institutional complexity and the influence of stakeholders. We propose research directed at increasing the effectiveness of capacities, define the concept of smart city capacities, propose a framework of the components of capacities, and draw on established stakeholder theory to create a stakeholder influence research framework. Full article

Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris (sylvestris) is the only native wild grapevine in Eurasia (Europe and western Asia) and is the existing ancestor of the grapevine varieties (for wine and table grape production) belonging to the subsp. sativa. In Slovenia, the prevailing opinion has been that there are no Slovenian sylvestris habitats. This study describes sylvestris in Slovenia for the first time and aims to present an overview of the locations of the wild grapevine in the country. In this project, a sample set of 89 accessions were examined using 24 SSR and 2 SSR markers plus APT3 markers to determine flower sex. The accessions were found in forests on the left bank of the Sava River in Slovenia, on the border between alluvial soils and limestone and dolomite soils, five different sites, some of which are described for the first time. The proportion of female to male accessions differed between sites. At two sites, female plants dominated; at others, the ratio was balanced. The plants’ genetic diversity and structure were compared with autochthonous and unique varieties of subsp. sativa from old vineyards in Slovenia and with rootstocks escaped from nature from abandoned vineyards. Sylvestris was clearly distinguishable from vinifera and the rootstocks. Based on genetic analyses, it was confirmed that Slovenian sylvestris is closest to the Balkan and German sylvestris groups. Meanwhile, a safety duplication of the wild grapevine accessions has been established at the University Centre of Viticulture and Enology Meranovo, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Maribor. Full article

Machine safety is not only a prerequisite for successful production but also the foundation for the sustainability and growth of any manufacturing organization. The latest approaches in this rapidly developing field integrate effective risk management tools and strategies into occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems. The study, through a real example from practice, describes the use of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method for machine safety improvement, considering the possible types of losses. Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) was applied to assess the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and, therefore, the overall sustainability level of the relevant safety measures. These were proposed risk reduction measures that typically raised uncertainty among managers regarding the estimation of cost-effectiveness. The advantage of the application decision tree approach is the possibility to identify and establish relatively homogeneous groups of undesirable events and their impact on the organization’s objectives. A comprehensive model has been developed to support management decision making in manufacturing organizations towards implementing and improving safety measures in line with manufacturing sustainability goals. Full article

Influenza A virus (IAV) continues to pose serious threats to the global animal industry and public health security. Identification of critical host factors engaged in the life cycle of IAV and elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of their action are particularly important for the discovery of potential new targets for the development of anti-influenza drugs. Herein, we identified Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydratase 3 (HACD3) as a new host factor that supports the replication of IAV. Downregulating the expression of HACD3 reduced the level of viral PB1 protein in IAV-infected cells and in cells that were transiently transfected to express PB1. Silencing HACD3 expression had no effect on the level of PB1 mRNA but could promote the lysosome-mediated autophagic degradation of PB1 protein. Further investigation revealed that HACD3 interacted with PB1 and selective autophagic receptor SQSTM1/p62, and HACD3 competed with SQSTM1/p62 for the interaction with PB1, which prevented PB1 from SQSTM1/p62-mediated autophagic degradation. Collectively, these findings establish that HACD3 plays a positive regulatory role in IAV replication by stabilizing the viral PB1 protein. Full article

In civil aviation, severe weather conditions such as strong wind shear, crosswinds, and thunderstorms near airport runways often compel pilots to abort landings to ensure flight safety. While aborted landings due to wind shear are not common, they occur under specific environmental and situational circumstances. This research aims to accurately predict aircraft aborted landings using three advanced deep learning techniques: the conventional deep neural network (DNN), the deep and cross network (DCN), and the wide and deep network (WDN). These models are supplemented by various data augmentation methods, including the Synthetic Minority Over-Sampling Technique (SMOTE), KMeans-SMOTE, and Borderline-SMOTE, to correct the imbalance in pilot report data. Bayesian optimization was utilized to fine-tune the models for optimal predictive accuracy. The effectiveness of these models was assessed through metrics including sensitivity, precision, F1-score, and the Matthew Correlation Coefficient. The Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithm was then applied to the most effective models to interpret their results and identify key factors, revealing that the intensity of wind shear, specific runways like 07R, and the vertical distance of wind shear from the runway (within 700 feet above runway level) were significant factors. The results of this research provide valuable insights to civil aviation experts, potentially revolutionizing safety protocols for managing aborted landings under adverse weather conditions, thereby improving overall airport efficiency and safety. Full article

To investigate the impact of Al and Nb elements on the formation of a protective oxide layer on the surface of Fe-35Ni-20Cr-xAl-yNb (x = 0, 2, 4, 6 wt.%; y = 0, 1, 2 wt.%) alloys, their oxidation behavior was examined at 1000 °C, 10⁻¹⁷ atm. and 10⁻²⁵ atm. oxygen pressure, and the oxidation mechanism was analyzed by Factsage and Pandat calculations. Enhancing the Al content at 10⁻¹⁷ atm. inhibited the generation of FeCr₂O₄ on the alloy surface and increased the Al content in the M₂O₃ layer. When the Al content exceeded 6 wt.%, the oxide film partially peeled off. It was found that the addition of Nb increased the activity of Cr and Al and decreased the activity of Ni and Fe and promoted the formation of Al₂O₃, and the appearance of Nb₂O₅ in the subsurface layer increased the density of the oxide film. In addition, under an oxygen pressure of 10⁻²⁵ atm., the only protective layer on the surface of the alloy comprised of Al₂O₃. The experimental results demonstrated that the Fe-35Ni-20Cr-4Al-2Nb alloy generated a continuous and dense Al₂O₃ protective film, and the reduction in oxygen pressure and the addition of Nb elements were favorable for selective external oxidation of Al₂O₃. Full article

Fractional integro-differential equations (FIDEs) of both Volterra and Fredholm types present considerable challenges in numerical analysis and scientific computing due to their complex structures. This paper introduces a novel approach to address such equations by employing a Cubic B-spline collocation method. This method offers a robust and systematic framework for approximating solutions to the FIDEs, facilitating precise representations of complex phenomena. Within this research, we establish the mathematical foundations of the proposed scheme, elucidate its advantages over existing methods, and demonstrate its practical utility through numerical examples. We adopt the Caputo definition for fractional derivatives and conduct a stability analysis to validate the accuracy of the method. The findings showcase the precision and efficiency of the scheme in solving FIDEs, highlighting its potential as a valuable tool for addressing a wide array of practical problems. Full article

Monotonic circuits are a class of input–output mode (IOM) asynchronous circuits that are relaxed compared to quasi-delay-insensitive (QDI) IOM asynchronous circuits in terms of signaling the completion of internal processing. Some recent works have demonstrated the superiority of monotonic logic over QDI logic for arithmetic circuits such as adders and multipliers. This paper presents a new monotonic asynchronous two-bit full adder (TFA) that can be duplicated and cascaded to form a ripple-carry adder (RCA). While an RCA is a slow adder with respect to synchronous design, with respect to IOM asynchronous design an RCA is a noteworthy adder since it has perhaps the least reverse latency that is not attainable through other IOM asynchronous adders. Conventionally, an RCA is constructed via a cascade of one-bit full adders (OFAs). An OFA adds two input bits along with any carry input and produces a sum bit and any carry output. On the other hand, a TFA simultaneously adds two pairs of input bits along with any carry input and produces two sum bits and any carry output. Using our proposed monotonic TFA, we realized an RCA to compare its performance with RCAs constructed using different asynchronous OFAs, and RCAs constructed using existing TFAs. We considered the popular delay-insensitive dual-rail scheme for encoding the adder inputs and outputs, and two 4-phase handshake protocols, namely return-to-zero handshaking (R0H) and return-to-one handshaking (R1H) for communication separately. We used a 28 nm CMOS process for implementation and considered a 32-bit addition as an example. Based on the design metrics estimated, the following inferences were derived: (i) compared to the RCA using the state-of-the-art monotonic OFA, the RCA incorporating the proposed TFA achieved a 26% reduction in cycle time for R0H and a 28.5% reduction in cycle time for R1H while dissipating almost the same power; the cycle time governs the data application rate in an IOM asynchronous circuit, and (ii) compared to the RCA comprising an early output QDI TFA, the RCA incorporating the proposed TFA achieved a 22.3% reduction in cycle time for R0H and a 25.4% reduction in cycle time for R1H while dissipating moderately less power. Also, compared to the existing early output QDI TFA, the proposed TFA occupies 40.9% less area for R0H and 42% less area for R1H. Full article

In this paper, we introduce Wide-TSNet, a novel hybrid approach for predicting Bitcoin prices using time-series data transformed into images. The method involves converting time-series data into Markov transition fields (MTFs), enhancing them using histogram equalization, and classifying them using Wide ResNets, a type of convolutional neural network (CNN). We propose a tripartite classification system to accurately represent Bitcoin price trends. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of Wide-TSNet through various experiments, in which it achieves an Accuracy of approximately 94% and an F1 score of 90%. It is also shown that lightweight CNN models, such as SqueezeNet and EfficientNet, can be as effective as complex models under certain conditions. Furthermore, we investigate the efficacy of other image transformation methods, such as Gramian angular fields, in capturing the trends and volatility of Bitcoin prices and revealing patterns that are not visible in the raw data. Moreover, we assess the effect of image resolution on model performance, emphasizing the importance of this factor in image-based time-series classification. Our findings explore the intersection between finance, image processing, and deep learning, providing a robust methodology for financial time-series classification. Full article

Estimating soil erodible fraction based on basic soil properties in arid lands is a valuable research topic in the field of soil science and land management. The Proximal Sensing (PS) technique offers a non-destructive and efficient method to assess wind erosion potential in arid regions. By using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) models and combining soil texture and chemical properties, determined through Visible-Near Infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy in 96 soil samples, this study aims to predict soil erodibility, soil organic matter (SOM), and calcium carbonate equivalent (CaCO₃) in arid lands located in Elkobaneyya Valley, Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Results showed that the soil erodibility fraction (EF-Factor) had the highest values and possessed a strong relationship between slope and SOM of 0.01% in determining soil erodibility. The PLSR model performed better than SVM for estimating SOM, CaCO₃, and EF-Factor. Furthermore, the results showed that the spectral responses of CaCO₃ were observed in separate places in the wavelengths of 570, 649, 802, 1161, 1421, 1854, and 2362 nm, and the wavelengths with SOM parameter were 496, 658, 779, 1089, 1417, 1871, and 2423 nm. The EF-factor shows the highest significant correlation with spectral reflectance values at 526, 688, 744, 1418, 1442, 2292, and 2374 nm. The accuracy and performance of the PLSR model in estimating the EF-Factor using spectral reflectance data and the distribution of data points for both the calibration and validation data-sets indicate a good accuracy of the PLSR model, with RMSE values of 0.0921 and 0.0836 Mg h MJ⁻¹ mm⁻¹, coefficient of determination (R²) values of 0.931 and 0.76, and RPD values of 2.168 and 2.147, respectively. Full article

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption grows steadily on a global scale, yet there is no consistent experience for EV drivers to charge their vehicles, which hinders the important EV mass market adoption. The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is the solution to this challenge, as it provides standardization and open communication between EV infrastructure components. The interplay of the OCPP with open cross-functional communication standards boosters driver experience on the one hand, while the charging station itself is integrated into a renewable energy ecosystem. This paper presents a deep dive into the combination of the OCPP with the OpenADR protocol, the Open Smart Charging Protocol (OSCP), the ISO 15118, and eRoaming protocols to explore possibilities and limitations. Furthermore, we suggest LoRa communication as an alternative to IP-based communication for deep-in building applications. Hence, this paper reveals the next important steps towards a successful EV mass market transition powered by user-friendliness and green energy. Full article

This study focuses on the development of a body for an electric racecar, utilizing CAD software for the design. A simplified full-vehicle geometric model was constructed. Based on fundamental theories of computational fluid dynamics and using CAE software platforms, the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω physical model was chosen to establish a three-dimensional computational model of the racecar’s external flow field. Simulations were conducted to analyze the pressure, airflow streamlines, and velocity distribution around the body and its surrounding flow field, elucidating the impact of body shape structure on aerodynamic characteristics. Finally, a manufacturing process for the body was designed, and a prototype was produced and integrated into the complete vehicle for road testing. The results indicate that the designed electric racecar body maintained consistent airflow over its surface, meeting the basic requirements of aerodynamics. Full article

This paper presents a novel ultrasonic-assisted electrodeposition process of Mn-doped NiCo₂O₄ onto a commercial nickel foam in a neutral electroplating bath (pH = 7.0) under an ultrasonic power of 1.2 V and 100 W. Different sample properties were studied based on their crystallinity through X-ray diffraction (XRD), morphology was studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photodegradation was studied through ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry. Based on the XRD results, the dominant crystallite phase obtained was shown to be a pure single NiCo₂O₄ phase. The optical properties of the photocatalytic film showed a range of energy band gaps between 1.72 and 1.73 eV from the absorption spectrum. The surface hydroxyl groups on the catalytic surface of the Mn-doped NiCo₂O₄ thin films showed significant improvements in removing methyl red via photodegradation, achieving 88% degradation in 60 min, which was approximately 1.6 times higher than that of pure NiCo₂O₄ thin films. The maximum hydrogen rate of the composite films under 100 mW/cm² illumination was 38 μmol/cm² with a +3.5 V external potential. The electrochemical performance test also showed a high capacity retention rate (96% after 5000 charge–discharge cycles), high capacity (260 Fg⁻¹), and low intrinsic resistance (0.8 Ω). This work concludes that the Mn-doped NiCo₂O₄ hybrid with oxygen-poor conditions (oxygen vacancies) is a promising composite electrode candidate for methyl red removal, hydrogen evolution, and high-performance hybrid supercapacitor applications. Full article

The position of the fetal head during engagement and progression in the birth canal is the primary cause of dystocic labor and arrest of progression, often due to malposition and malrotation. The authors performed an investigation on pregnant women in labor, who all underwent vaginal digital examination by obstetricians and midwives as well as intrapartum ultrasonography to collect four “geometric parameters”, measured in all the women. All parameters were measured using artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, called AIDA (artificial intelligence dystocia algorithm), which incorporates a human-in-the-loop approach, that is, to use AI (artificial intelligence) algorithms that prioritize the physician’s decision and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). The AIDA was structured into five classes. After a number of “geometric parameters” were collected, the data obtained from the AIDA analysis were entered into a red, yellow, or green zone, linked to the analysis of the progress of labor. Using the AIDA analysis, we were able to identify five reference classes for patients in labor, each of which had a certain sort of birth outcome. A 100% cesarean birth prediction was made in two of these five classes. The use of artificial intelligence, through the evaluation of certain obstetric parameters in specific decision-making algorithms, allows physicians to systematically understand how the results of the algorithms can be explained. This approach can be useful in evaluating the progress of labor and predicting the labor outcome, including spontaneous, whether operative VD (vaginal delivery) should be attempted, or if ICD (intrapartum cesarean delivery) is preferable or necessary. Full article

In the more than 70 years since Markowitz introduced mean-variance optimization for portfolio construction, academics and practitioners have documented numerous weaknesses in the approach. In this paper, we propose two easily understandable improvements to mean-variance optimization in the context of multi-asset class portfolios, each of which provides less extreme and more stable portfolio weights. The first method sacrifices a small amount of expected optimality for reduced weight concentration, while the second method randomly resamples the available assets. Additionally, we develop a process for testing the performance of portfolio construction approaches on simulated data assuming variable degrees of forecasting skill. Finally, we show that the improved methods achieve better out-of-sample risk-adjusted returns than standard mean-variance optimization for realistic investor skill levels. Full article

Queen triggerfish Balistes vetula is an important reef-associated species for commercial fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean. It exhibits a relatively unique reproductive strategy as a nesting benthic spawner, investing substantial energy in territorial defense, building and maintaining nests, and caring for fertilized eggs during the reproductive season. Prior to this study, no comprehensive life history information existed in the literature for queen triggerfish. This study provides the first comprehensive documentation of age, growth, size/age at sexual maturity, reproductive seasonality, and reproductive output for a Balistes species in the Caribbean. From 2013 to 2023, we collected 2190 fish samples from fisheries-dependent and -independent sources from the waters of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fish ranged from 67 to 477 mm fork length (FL). We documented that queen triggerfish is sexually dimorphic with males attaining larger mean sizes-at-age compared to females and the species is characterized by a moderately young age at median sexual maturity (A₅₀ = 3.3 y). The maximum age for our U.S. Caribbean samples was 23 y based on increment counts from otoliths. Spawning season encompassed the months of December to August in the region, and female spawning frequency ranged from an estimated 2 to 84 times per year; female spawning frequency increased with increasing size and age of fish. We documented that commercial fishers in the U.S. Caribbean mainly target “plate-size” individuals, defined in our study as 235–405 mm FL, which appears to act as a self-imposed slot size range limit and results in the fishery not removing individuals in the smallest and largest size groups at high rates. The percentage of immature fish from fisheries-dependent sources was close to 0 (0.8%). Commercial fishing for queen triggerfish in the region currently appears to be sustainable, but monitoring of the population should continue. Full article

(1) The main goals of general anesthesia include pain management and a safe anesthetic protocol for smooth recovery. In this retrospective study, we compared two anesthetic protocols for general anesthesia with isoflurane during emergency laparotomy: sedation with xylazine and the intraoperative infusion of lidocaine (X group) versus medetomidine as a preoperative sedation and intraoperative infusion (M group). (2) The medical records of horses who underwent emergency laparotomies between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed. According to the anesthetic protocol, patients were allocated to the X or M groups. Data about the horse, signalment, history, and anesthetic variables were analyzed. (3) Group X had a significantly higher heart rate (HR), lower respiratory rate (RR) and mean and diastolic arterial pressure (MAP/DAP). A progressive increase in HR and RR was observed in both groups. Group X underwent a decrease in RR and an increase in DAP. In Group M, a decrease in MAP and DAP was observed. Group M exhibited a longer recovery time with similar recovery scores. Both protocols provided safe anesthesia for emergency laparotomy, with minor cardiovascular and respiratory depression. Minor respiratory depression was detected when xylazine was used, while recovery was longer with medetomidine. Full article

Background: A diet high in purines can impair the function of the gut microbiota and disrupt purine metabolism, which is closely associated with the onset of hyperuricemia. Dietary regulation and intestinal health maintenance are key approaches for controlling uric acid (UA) levels. Investigating the impacts of fermented foods offers potential dietary interventions for managing hyperuricemia. Methods: In this study, we isolated a strain with potent UA-degrading capabilities from “Jiangshui”, a fermented food product from Gansu, China. We performed strain identification and assessed its probiotic potential. Hyperuricemic quails, induced by a high-purine diet, were used to assess the UA degradation capability of strain JS-3 by measuring UA levels in serum and feces. Additionally, the UA degradation pathways were elucidated through analyses of the gut microbiome and fecal metabolomics. Results: JS-3, identified as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, was capable of eliminating 16.11% of uric acid (UA) within 72 h, rapidly proliferating and producing acid within 12 h, and surviving in the gastrointestinal tract. Using hyperuricemic quail models, we assessed JS-3’s UA degradation capacity. Two weeks after the administration of JS-3 (2 × 10⁸ cfu/d per quail), serum uric acid (SUA) levels significantly decreased to normal levels, and renal damage in quails was markedly improved. Concurrently, feces from the JS-3 group demonstrated a significant degradation of UA, achieving up to 49% within 24 h. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed JS-3’s role in gut microbiota restoration by augmenting the probiotic community (Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides unclassified_f-Lachnospiraceae, and norank_fynorank_o-Clostridia_UCG-014) and diminishing the pathogenic bacteria (Macrococus and Lactococcus). Corresponding with the rise in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, JS-3 significantly increased SCFA levels (p < 0.05, 0.01). Additionally, JS-3 ameliorated metabolic disturbances in hyperuricemic quails, influencing 26 abnormal metabolites predominantly linked to purine, tryptophan, and bile acid metabolism, thereby enhancing UA degradation and renal protection. Conclusions: For the first time, we isolated and identified an active probiotic strain, JS-3, from the “Jiangshui” in Gansu, used for the treatment of hyperuricemia. It modulates host–microbiome interactions, impacts the metabolome, enhances intestinal UA degradation, reduces levels of SUA and fecal UA, alleviates renal damage, and effectively treats hyperuricemia without causing gastrointestinal damage. In summary, JS-3 can serve as a probiotic with potential therapeutic value for the treatment of hyperuricemia. Full article

As the most consumed tea in the world, all kinds of black tea are developed from Wuyi black tea. In this study, quality components, regulatory gene expression, and key enzyme activity during the processing were analyzed to illustrate the taste formation of WBT. Withering mainly affected the content of amino acids, while catechins and tea pigments were most influenced by rolling and the pre-metaphase of fermentation. Notably, regulatory gene expression was significantly down-regulated after withering except for polyphenoloxidase1, polyphenoloxidase2, leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase, chalcone isomerase, and flavonoid 3′, 5′-hydroxylase. Co-expression of flavonoid pathway genes confirmed similar expression patterns of these genes in the same metabolic pathway. Interestingly, rolling and fermentation anaphase had a great effect on polyphenol oxidase, and fermentation pre-metaphase had the greatest effect on cellulase. Since gene regulation mainly occurs before picking, the influence of chemical reaction was greater during processing. It was speculated that polyphenol oxidase and cellulase, which promoted the transformation of quality components, were the key factors in the quality formation of WBT. The above results provide theoretical basis for the processing of WBT and the reference for producing high-quality black tea. Full article

Palm oil (PO), a semi-solid fat at room temperature, is a popular food ingredient. To steer the fat functionality, sucrose esters (SEs) are often used as food additives. Many SEs exist, varying in their hydrophilic-to-lipophilic balance (HLB), making them suitable for various food and non-food applications. In this study, a stearic–palmitic sucrose ester with a moderate HLB (6) was studied. It was found that the SE exhibited a complex thermal behavior consistent with smectic liquid crystals (type A). Small-angle X-ray scattering revealed that the mono- and poly-esters of the SE have different packings, more specifically, double and single chain-length packing. The polymorphism encountered upon crystallization was repeatable during successive heating and cooling cycles. After studying the pure SE, it was added to palm oil, and the crystallization behavior of the mixture was compared to that of pure palm oil. The crystallization conditions were varied by applying cooling at 20 °C/min (fast) and 1 °C/min (slow) to 0 °C, 20 °C or 25 °C. The samples were followed for one hour of isothermal time. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that nucleation and polymorphic transitions were accelerated. Wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) unraveled that the α-to-β′ polymorphic transition remained present upon the addition of the SE. SAXS showed that the addition of the SE at 0.5 wt% did not significantly change the double chain-length packing of palm oil, but it decreased the domain size when cooling in a fast manner. Ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) revealed that the addition of the SE created smaller crystal nanoplatelets (CNPs). The microstructure of the fat crystal network was visualized by means of polarized light microscopy (PLM) and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM). The addition of the SE created a finer and space-filling network without the visibility of separate floc structures. Full article

There is a growing interest in exploring new natural sources of colorants. This study aimed to extract anthocyanins from broken black bean hulls (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) by modifying water with a eutectic mixture (choline chloride:citric acid (ChCl:Ca)). Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was employed and optimized in terms of temperature (30–70 °C), ultrasound power (150–450 W), and eutectic mixture concentration in water (1–9% (w/v)), resulting in an optimal condition of 66 °C, 420 W, and 8.2% (w/v), respectively. The main quantified anthocyanins were delphinidin-3-O-glycoside, petunidin-3-O-glycoside, and malvidin-3-O-glycoside. The half-life of the anthocyanins at 60 °C increased twelvefold in the eutectic mixture extract compared to the control, and when exposed to light, the half-life was 10 times longer, indicating greater resistance of anthocyanins in the extracted eutectic mixture. Additionally, the extracts were concentrated through centrifuge-assisted cryoconcentration, with the initial cycle almost double the extract value, making this result more favorable regarding green metrics. The first concentration cycle, which showed vibrant colors of anthocyanins, was selected to analyze the color change at different pH levels. In general, the technology that uses eutectic mixtures as water modifiers followed by cryoconcentration proved to be efficient for use as indicators in packaging, both in quantity and quality of anthocyanins. Full article