Effective air circulation is crucial for plant growth, requiring adequate airflow and environmental stability. This study utilized Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze airflow patterns in a controlled testing chamber, focusing on how miniature fan placement affects airflow direction and temperature distribution. Ten case studies were conducted, with the CFD model validated against experimental data collected from six monitoring locations on the plant growth table. Model validation was performed using statistical analyses including coefficient of determination (R²), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). The validation results showed strong agreement between simulated and experimental data, with R² values of 0.92 for temperature and 0.89 for airflow velocity. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in both airflow and temperature models at the 0.05 level, with the CFD model validation yielding an RMSE of 2.02 and an average absolute error of 1.17. Among the tested configurations, case M1 achieved the highest air velocity (0.317 m/s) and lowest temperature (27.03 °C), compared to M2 (0.255 m/s, 27.17 °C) and M3 (0.164 m/s, 27.18 °C). The temperature variations between cases significantly impacted cold storage efficiency, with case M1’s superior airflow distribution providing more uniform cooling. These findings offer practical guidelines for optimizing ventilation system design in medicinal plant cultivation facilities, particularly in maintaining ideal storage conditions through strategic fan placement and airflow management.

In this paper, pulsed electric field (PEF) innovation extends Sugarcane juice shelf life by reducing microorganisms, preserving taste quality, and nutrition while minimizing heat usage.

This study evaluates the vacuum-assisted freeze-drying (VFD) process for producing Tiliacora triandra flakes, focusing on the impact of freezing temperatures (–10, − 20, − 30, and − 40 °C) on energy efficiency and product quality. Among the tested conditions, − 20 °C offered the best balance between energy consumption and nutrient retention. During freezing, the sample temperature dropped from 10.4 °C to − 10.9 °C within 240 min, followed by primary drying under vacuum (< 1 mbar) for 600 min, reaching − 21.5 °C with the lowest temperature change rate (0.089 °C/min). Final product temperature stabilized at 27.7 °C during secondary drying. Energy usage increased with decreasing temperature, ranging from 19.9 kWh at − 10 °C to 23 kWh at − 40 °C. At − 20 °C, consumption was 21.5 kWh, equivalent to 90.73 THB per batch. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in color parameters (p > 0.05), but flakes dried at − 20 °C demonstrated the best color stability (L* = 22.22, a* = 22.45, b* = 5.09), reflecting excellent pigment preservation. Efficiency metrics revealed that − 20 °C achieved the highest nutrient retention per unit of energy consumed (g/MJ) for protein, carbohydrate, and fiber. In contrast, − 30 °C better preserved calcium and iron, while − 40 °C required the most energy yet yielded the lowest overall product quality. These findings identify − 20 °C as the optimal condition for VFD processing of Tiliacora triandra, supporting both scientific validity and practical application in functional food and herbal product development.

This study assessed the performance of an agricultural diesel engine running on biofuel derived from Schleichera oleosa (SO), processed through a simple, chemical-free method involving pressing, soaking, drying, and hydraulic pressing, yielding clean fuel oil ready for testing. An engine tune-up was performed to enhance efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. The ANN model analyzed inputs like injection pressure, fuel timing, SO blend ratio, engine speed, and throttle position to estimate brake torque, power, BSFC, and BTE. Meanwhile, the RSM model optimized engine performance using these estimates. The ANN effectively predicted brake torque, power, BSFC, and BTE, However, the R² value for BSFC was comparatively lower than other parameters, leading to slightly higher prediction errors. This lower R² for BSFC may reflect the complexities in predicting fuel consumption due to factors like SO unique combustion properties and variations in engine operating conditions. The RSM optimization under optimal conditions predicted (%Error) with 33.19 N-m torque (1.57), 5.902 kW power (2.74), 441 g/kW-hr BSFC (4.17), and 19.09% BTE (3.88) for the DI engine, and 30.78 (0.87) N-m torque (0.87), 5.261 kW power (2.88), 375 g/kW-hr BSFC (1.35), and 25.02% BTE (6.70) for the IDI engine. The comparative analysis suggests that the DI engine achieves higher brake torque with SO biofuel, while the IDI engine demonstrates reduced BSFC.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban is a medicinal herb containing valuable bioactive compounds widely used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and traditional medicine applications. This study investigated the effects of elevated CO₂ levels (1000, 800, and 600 ppm compared to ambient ~420 ppm) on secondary metabolite composition in C. asiatica using GC-MS analysis of ethyl acetate extracts. Significant treatment effects (p < 0.001) were observed across nine identified compounds, with α-copaene showing the most pronounced response. At 1000 ppm CO₂, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, including α-copaene (10.60%) and trans-caryophyllene (8.97%), reached their highest concentrations, representing 232% and 413% increases over ambient conditions, respectively. Germacrene D demonstrated optimal synthesis at 800 ppm (8.12%) while remaining undetectable under ambient conditions. In contrast, the diterpene neophytadiene (16.84%) and the oxygenated sesquiterpene caryophyllene oxide (11.27%) exhibited maximum concentrations under ambient conditions. Principal Component Analysis confirmed distinct metabolic profiles, with the first two components explaining 84.38% of the total variance. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships (r > 0.85, p < 0.001) between structurally related sesquiterpenes. These findings establish a foundation for optimizing cultivation conditions to enhance specific bioactive compound production in C. asiatica, with potential applications in pharmaceutical production systems targeting sesquiterpene-derived medicines. The research demonstrates that atmospheric CO₂ modulation offers a promising strategy for targeted enhancement of secondary metabolite synthesis, though further investigation of molecular mechanisms and environmental interactions is necessary for commercial implementation.