Ammonium sulfate has been utilized in agriculture; however, there is a dearth of research on its application in maize cultivation subsequent to the implementation of nitrification inhibitors or coating. This study aims to analyze the impacts of various combinations of ammonium sulfate fertilizers on soil nutrients, plant nutrient uptake, yield, and fertilizer utilization efficiency in maize cultivation to ascertain the optimal and stabilized disposal method for ammonium sulfate. A completely randomized design was employed with five treatments (AU, the control using urea; AS, treatment using ammonium sulfate; ASN, treatment using ammonium sulfate with a nitrification inhibitor; ASG, treatment using oil-coated ammonium sulfate; ASD, treatment using oil-humic acid-coated ammonium sulfate). Results showed that: (1) Compared with AU and AS, ASN, ASG and ASD decreased the leaching rates of TN, NH4+-N and NO3-N to the 10-20 cm soil layer, and more residual N was obtained in 0-10 cm soil layer. The first-order kinetic equation Nt=N0(1-e-kt) can better fit the process of nitrogen accumulation and release, and the N release rate constant is AU>CK>AS>ASH>ASN>ASD; (2) Compared with AU and AS treatments, the plant dry weight, grain dry weight, spike width, spike length, and yields of maize increased by 8.85-11.08%, 12.98-14.15%, 2.95-3.52%, 5.50-5.65%, and 43.21-51.10% under ASG treatment respectively. The impact of effective spike number on maize yield was found to be significant, as demonstrated by the path analysis conducted in this study. Furthermore, the accumulation levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium within above-ground plants significantly increased under the ASG treatment compared to the AU and AS treatments. The partial productivity of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased by 1.43-1.51-fold under ASG treatment, while grain nitrogen balance, grain phosphorus balance, and grain potassium balance increased by 1.41-1.58-fold, 1.51-1.95-fold, and 1.15-l.96-fold respectively. The oil-coated ammonium sulfate, therefore, exhibited the optimal slow-release effect of nutrients, thereby achieving superior performance in enhancing maize production and efficiency.

The composition simplex (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) of the leaf is the main scores used by different approaches like the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System and Compositional Nutrient Diagnosis to study the nutrient interactions and balance in plant leaves. However, the application and validation of these concepts to grain composition remains unexplored. Contrary to foliar analysis's early intervention for nutrient deficiency detection and correction, applying this approach to seeds assesses diverse cultivars' potential, enabling anticipation of their adaptation to climate conditions and informed selection for future crops. In the present study, a collected database of more than 924 scores including the grain yield (kg ha-1) and the nutrient composition (mg kg-1) of different corn varieties is used to develop a novel nutrient-based diagnostic approach to identify reliable markers of nutrient imbalance. A 'nutrient signature' model is proposed based on the impact of the environ-mental conditions on the nutrient indices and composition (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) of the corn grains. The yield threshold used to differentiate between low and high-yielding subpopulations is established at 12.000 kg ha-1and the global nutrient imbalance index (GNII) of 2.2 is determined using the chi-square distribution function and vali-dated by the Cate-Nelson partitioning method, which correlated yield data distribution with the GNII. Therefore, the nutrient compositions were classified into highly balanced (GNII ≤ 1.6), balanced (1.6 < GNII ≤ 2.2), and imbalanced (GNII > 2.2). In addition, we found that the Xgboost model's predictive accuracy for GNII is signif-icantly affected by soil pH, organic matter, and rainfall. These results pave the way for adapted agricultural practices by providing insights into the nutrient dynamics of corn grains under varying environmental conditions.

Because Canadian Nitrogen (N) fertilizer use has more than doubled since 1990 (1.2 to 2.9 MtN by 2021), a better understanding of this trend is needed. A comprehensive set of Recommended N Rates (RNR) that agreed with fertilizer sales data from 1996 and 2001 was compared with the Fertilizer Use Survey (FUS). The FUS was conducted from 2014 to 2021, with 2017 being the most representative year for these data. Using non-parametric statistics, confidence intervals were derived from the histograms used to present the FUS data. N application rates from the RNR for Canola, Spring and Duram wheat, and Oats in the west were all below their respective FUS confidence intervals, whereas N application rates for Grain corn showed almost no difference in N use between the RNR and FUS. Crop-specific N application rates interpolated from the RNR and FUS were integrated over their respective crop areas and plotted against national fertilizer sales records from 1990 to 2021. The rapid increase in N use between 2001 and 2017 (0.89 MtN), 90% of it (0.80 MtN) in Western Canada, was primarily due to increased application rates per crop, rather than crop area changes. The FUS-RNR interpolations were a good approximation of N sales records and could improve farm GHG emissions modelling. The economically important crops in Western Canada should be the main focus for N-related GHG reduction measures, but production losses need to be avoided.

To investigate the effects of organic fertilizer combined with reduced chemical fertilizer on radish yield, quality, and soil environment in high mountainous areas (elevation: 1800 m), and to mitigate the environmental pollution caused by excessive use of chemical fertilizers. The field trial was conducted to study the effects of different fertilizer treatments. (Control:local fertilizer application rate: 375 kg·hm² reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·hm² organic fertilizer; T1:12% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·hm² organic fertilizer; T2:20% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·hm² of organic fertilizer; T3:28% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·hm² organic fertilizer). Four different fertilizer ratios were studied to assess their impacts on radish quality, yield, and soil environment. The findings showed that T2 significantly increased radish yield by 12.92%. Moreover, it led to significant improvements in the content of vitamin C, soluble sugars, soluble solids, soluble proteins, titratable acidity, and glucosinolates, which increased by 10.62%, 2.15%, 50.00%, 26.90%, 43.90%, and 44.57%, respectively. Treatment T2 also significantly increased soil nutrient content, with a 7.69% and 14.29% increase in total nitrogen and total phosphorus content compared to the control (Control) treatment, and a significant reduction of 21.64% in soil bulk density . T2 treatment significantly enhanced soil urease activity, sucrase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and catalase activity, showing an improvement of 28.97%, 55.92%, 52.08%, and 17.47% compared to the control, respectively (p&lt;0.05). Moreover, treatment T2 resulted in a relative abundance increase of 12.25% and 10.43% in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria respectively. Thus, the combined application of T2:20% reduction in chemical fertilizer + 4500 kg·hm² of organic fertilizer improved the quality and yield of radish while optimizing the soil environment. T2 effectively promoted radish growth, enhanced radish yield and quality, and improved the soil environment.

A field experiment was conducted for 2 years in Green Tea Laboratory of Saitama Prefectural Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, Iruma, Saitama, Japan from March 2014 to December 2015. Controlled release fertilizers (CRF) or organic fertilizers (ORG) which is the mixture of chicken manure and oil cakewere applied with the amount of 450 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2014 and 397 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 in 2015. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissionsfrom soil in green tea fields were measured by closed chamber method. The results showed that CRF has significantly lower N₂O compared to ORG. The cumulative N₂O emissions from CRF accounted for 51% of N₂O emissions from ORG fields and 138% of control with no fertilizer treatment. The N₂O flux from the row was higher than that of under the canopy, since fertilizer were applied on the row. However the total emission from the area between the rows was lower than that under the canopy because of the area ratio of row and canopy was 1:5.

The substitution of chemical fertilizers by organic manure plays a critical role in sustainable crop production. Nevertheless, organic amendments promote the global warming potential (GWP) in rice paddies due to increased methane (CH4) emissions. Increasing evidence shows that lime application can reduce CH4 emissions from acidic paddy soils, while it is still not clear whether liming can reduce the GWP in rice fields under organic manure substitution. A two-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the impacts of pig manure substitution and lime application on grain yield, CH4 and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in a subtropical double-cropped rice field in China. The experiment consisted of three treatments: chemical fertilization (CF, 100% N from urea), 50% of chemical N substituted by pig manure (1/2N + M), and the 1/2N + M treatment plus lime amendment (1/2N + M + L). On average, 1/2N + M reduced rice yield by 5.65% compared to CF, while lime application had no effect on rice yield. Mean cumulative CH4 emissions were 218.8% higher in 1/2N + M than in CF, whereas 1/2N + M + L reduced CH4 emissions by 36.6% compared to 1/2N + M. Neither pig manure substitution nor lime application affected N2O emissions. Consequently, 1/2N + M increased the GWP and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) by 214.6% and 228.3%, respectively, compared to CF. In contrast, 1/2N + M + L reduced the GWP and GHGI by 36.4% and 36.5% compared to 1/2N + M. Lime application can mitigate CH4 emissions and GWP induced by pig manure amendment in double-cropped rice fields.

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Crop production in Afghanistan suffers from limited phosphorus (P) availability, which severely hinders national agriculture sustainability. This present study hypothesized that deep fertilizer placement could significantly enhance uptake of immobile P and thus tissue P accumulation and crop yield. A two-year pot experiment growing two maize (Zea mays) hybrid cultivars (Xida-789 and Xida-211) was therefore conducted to test these hypotheses under three contrasting fertilizer placement methods (broadcast, side band, and deep band). In doing so, P concentrations in both maize tissues and soils were compared at 45, 60, and 115 days after sowing (DAS) under nine combinations of nitrogen (N) and P fertilizer rates (kg ha-1: N112P45, N112P60, N112P75, N150P45, N150P60, N150P75, N187P45, N187P60, N187P75). Results have shown that deep band placement significantly increased P uptake efficiency, leading to greater P concentration and accumulation in maize tissues compared to other two fertilization methods. This improved P uptake was attributed to several factors associated with deep placement, including reduced P fixation, enhanced root access to P, and moisture availability for P uptake. Additionally, deep band placement combined with higher N application rates (N187 and N150) further enhanced plant P uptake by promoting P availability and utilization mechanisms. Deep band placement also resulted in significantly higher total soil P, Olsen-P, and P use efficiency than broadcast and side band methods, indicating a more efficient P fertilization strategy for maize that can improve growth and yield. This present study also found positive correlations between P concentration in plant organs and soil Olsen-P, highlighting the importance of adequate soil P levels for optimal plant growth. Overall, our results have showed that deep band fertilizer placement emerged as a superior strategy for enhancing P uptake efficiency, utilization, and maize productivity compared to broadcast and side band placement. This approach can potentially optimize P fertilizer utilization, improve maize growth and yield, while minimizing environmental P losses associated with broadcast applications.

This study reports rapid hydrolysis, acylation, and lipolysis with lipase B from Candida antarctica (CalB) and nanofructosome encapsulated CalB (CalB@NF) enzymes immobilized on silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Si-MNPs). Enzymatic hydrolysis was confirmed for conversion to p-nitrophenol (p-NP, λex=400 nm) from p-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB, λex=270 nm), and various catalytic parameters such as Km, Vmax, and Kcat were calculated from Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk plot. Efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis was in the order of CalB > Si-MNPs@CalB > CalB@NF > Si-MNPs@CalB@NF, and reusability was much better with the enzyme immobilized on Si-MNPs than with the native enzyme. Enzymatic acylation was confirmed by the formation of benzyl benzoate (λex=229 nm) from benzoic anhydride (λex=240 nm), and efficiency exceeded 99% in all samples. Finally, enzymatic lipolysis was confirmed by the decomposition of olive oil to fatty acid such as oleic acid (λex=230 nm) using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), column chromatography, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H -NMR). The lipases immobilized on Si-MNPs have the advantage of good thermal stability and reusability and are thus applicable to a wide range of industries.

A 2-month incubation study was carried out using two soil types to determine nitrogen mineralization of different inorganic-organic amendments. The following seven treatments (T) were established; T1 = control, T2 = 5 g of dry algae per kg of soil (100%DA), T3 = 136g of agri-mat per kg of soil (100%GA), T4 = 61 g of ground grass per kg of soil (100%GG), T5 = 2.5 g of dry algae + 2.5 g of nitrogen fertilizer (NF) per kg of soil (50%DA50NF), T6 = 50%GA50NF, T7 = 50%GG50NF. Three samples per treatment were drawn at 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days for mineral-N determination. A 2-month glasshouse experiment was established afterwards with the following five treatments: T1 = Control, T2 = 50%DA, T3 = 50%GA, T4 = 50%GG, and T5 = 100NF. The results indicated that nitrogen mineralization was significantly higher in organic-inorganic amendments compared to sole organic amendments. The percentage differences ranged from 157% to 195%. The 50%DA treatment increased spinach yield by 20.6% in sandy loam and 36.5% in loam soil. It is difficult to fully recommend the 50%DA treatment without field-scale evaluation, but it is a promising option to be considered.

Is the production of the “AnchoisFert” organic fertilizer via the circular economy process based on omega-3 lipid extraction of milled anchovy fillet leftovers with citrus limonene followed by mild drying economically and technically viable? This study answers this question and identifies the main obstacles, chiefly of economic and organizational nature, to be overcome prior to commercialization of this new organic fertilizer. Along with non-variable and proven efficacy, successful competition with conventional organic and inorganic fertilizers requires affordable cost and regular supply. This, inter alia, requires to establish new and mutually beneficial relationship between bioeconomy firms and fish processing companies.

Rhizosphere microorganisms can utilize nutrient resources in the rhizosphere efficiently, while rhizosphere growth-promoting bacteria play a crucial role in regulating soil fertility and promoting plant health. In this study, we employed a combination of isolation, purification, identification of dominant microorganisms, and high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the main microbial groups and diversity in the rhizosphere soil of Helichrysum arenarium（L.）Moench. in Altay, Xinjiang，China. By isolating bacterial strains from the rhizosphere soil using a dilution coating method, we successfully obtained 43 strains. Subsequently, selective medium was utilized to screen for growth-promoting characteristics among these isolated strains from the rhizosphere soil of H. arenarium（L.）Moench.. The results obtained through high-throughput amplification sequencing revealed that the rhizosphere soil harbored diverse bacterial communities belonging to 35 phyla, 93 orders, 215 families, 324 genera and 231 species associated with H. arenarium（L.）Moench., as well as fungal communities consisting of 14 phyla ,47 orders ,96 families ,204 genera and 571 species. Among these bacterial communities identified, eight phyla exhibited relative abundances exceeding 1%, with Actinobacteriota being most predominant at an abundance rate of 41.30%. Additionally,five bacterial genera were found to have relative abundances exceeding 1% ,with Arenimicrobium_luteum being most abundant at 6.11% . Furthermore,four fungal phyla displayed relative abundances surpassing1 % ,with Ascomycota accounting for 67.21% of total fungal community composition.Finally,four fungal genera demonstrated relative abundances higher than 1% ,with Knufia representing 3.80% of total fungal community composition.The analysis on culturable bacteria's promotion activity within the rhizospheric soil indicated that two strains,S16and S29, exhibited the highest solubility index for inorganic phosphorus. However, it lacked the ability to dissolve organophosphorus and potassium. On the other hand, strains S7 and S10, which were screened, demonstrated nitrogen-fixing capabilities. Nine strains with excellent iron-bearing capacity were identified, with strain S16 exhibiting the highest D/d value and strongest iron-bearing capacity among them. Our findings revealed that 43 rhizosphere soil bacteria belonged to three genera. The ten growth-promoting bacteria were identified as Kocuria rosea, Priestia megaterium, Bacillus mobilis, B. bataviensis, B. mycoides (two strains), B. paramobilis, and Alcaligenes faecalis. This study provides a particular research basis for the influence of H. arenarium（L.）Moench. rhizosphere microorganisms on soil nutrient release and depicts a solution for improving the yield and quality cultivation of H. arenarium（L.）Moench. by isolating, screening, and identifying rhizosphere soil growth-promoting bacteria, including screening strains with growth-promoting functions and analyzing the population structure of rhizosphere and habitat soil in combination with high-throughput sequencing technology.

Tomato quality is intricately regulated by a combination of factors, including the presence of bioactive compounds referred to as secondary metabolites and various organoleptic characteristics. These attributes are notably influenced and harmonized by the specific growing conditions, with a particular emphasis on the type of fertilization employed. Traditionally, chemical fertilizers have been favoured in crop cultivation due to their cost-effectiveness and ability to accelerate crop growth. However, in pursuit of sustainable and intelligent agricultural practices, there is a growing need for alternative fertilizers. In this context, the present study aimed to assess the impact of fertilizers derived from waste materials, specifically sulphur bentonite and orange residue (referred to as SB), on tomato quality. This assessment extended to examining qualitative and quantitative alterations in aroma-related volatile compounds and the antioxidant systems of tomatoes, in comparison to the conventional use of fertilizers such as horse manure and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). The results obtained revealed distinct effects of different fertilizers on tomato quality. Notably, parameters such as TPRO (total protein), TCARB (total carbohydrate), LIC (lycopene content), TCAR (total carotenoid content), total phenols, total flavonoids, and aroma profiling exhibited significantly superior values in the group treated with SB fertilizer. These findings strongly suggest that the novel fertilizer functioned as a bio-stimulant, enhancing the nutraceutical and sensory attributes of tomatoes, with a pronounced impact on the synthesis of secondary metabolites and the aroma profile of the fruits.

Inappropriate use of fertilizers is one of the major production constraints in sesame. Studies to optimize the use of N fertilizer on sesame were conducted at Humera Agricultural Research Center (HuARC) under rain fed and irrigation conditions. Thirteen (13) N doses were evaluated in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) during 2016, 2017 and 2018. In the rain fed condition; results showed higher number of days to 50% flowering on the higher N application. The 31-121.5 kg N ha-1 have scored higher seed yield, where the lower (18 kg N ha-1) and higher (156 kg N ha-1) N doses scored lower seed yield. In the irrigation condition; higher N application rate prolonged the flowering time to some extent and days to 90% maturity was reduced as N rate increased. Heavier seed weights and maximum seed yield were recorded on 64 and 75 kg N ha-1 and the lower N doses scored low seed yield. Agronomic efficiency of N fertilizer (N-AE) was higher on 64 kg N ha-1 under both growing conditions. The partial budget analysis revealed that 64 kg N ha-1 (rain fed) and 75 kg N ha-1 (irrigation) had the higher net profit, MRR and residual ranking. Therefore, for the greater sesame productivity 64 kg N ha-1 has to be recommended for rain fed and 64 to 75 kg N ha-1 for the irrigated sesame.

In the present work, a predictive modelling and optimization with the adaptive network based fuzzy inference system(ANFIS) modelling of mechanical properties of laser-coated NB/SiC/Ni welds was studied based on Taguchi design by laser cladding. An ANFIS model based on a Sugeno type fuzzy inference system was developed for predicting the hardness properties of SiC/BN/Ni welds by laser cladding with experimental data required for network training and prediction. Based on analysis of variance, three important factors were taken as inputs for the fuzzy logic inferences, while the hardness properties was taken as the output of the ANFIS. The microstructure of welds were analysed using scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer. Highly developed leaf-like dendrites and eutectic crystals were found in some areas of the melting zone for the BN/SiC/Ni weld, which was significantly hardened. The ANFIS model based on Taguchi's design provides a better pattern of response because the predicted and experimental values were highly similar. As a result, a satisfactory result was achieved between the predicted and experimental values of hardness in laser-coated NB/SiC/Ni welds, whereby the success and validity of the method was verified.

The physical properties of nano-fertilizers (NFs) are important in determining their performance, efficacy, and environmental interactions. Nano-fertilizers, due to their small size and high surface area-to-volume ratio, enhance plant metabolic reactions, resulting in higher crop yields. The properties of nano-fertilizers depend on the synthesis methods used. The nanoparticle's nutrient use efficiency (NUE) varies among plant species. This review aims to analyze the relationship between the physical properties of NF and their influence on crop performance and nutrient uptake efficiency. The review focuses on the physical properties of NFs, specifically their size, shape, crystalline, and agglomeration. This review found that smaller particle-sized nanoparticles exhibit higher nutrient use efficiency than larger particles. Nano-fertilizer-coated additives gradually release nutrients, reducing the need for frequent application and addressing limitations associated with chemical fertilizer utilization. The shapes of nano-fertilizers have varying effects on the overall performance of plants. The crystalline structure of nanoparticles promotes a slow release of nutrients. Amorphous nano-fertilizers improve the NUE and, ultimately, crop yield. Agglomeration results in nanoparticles losing their nanoscale size, accumulating on the outer surface, and becoming unavailable to plants. Understanding the physical properties of nano-fertilizers is crucial for optimizing their performance in agricultural applications.

This paper reports results of analysis of field ion emission mechanism from tungsten-epoxy composite emitters that are compared to tungsten nano-field emitters. In this context, the mechanism of emission from this type of emitters is described based on a theory of induced conductive channels. The tungsten emitters were prepared using the electrochemical polishing technique and coated with a layer of the epoxy resin. Field ion microscope (FIM) analyses are reported including the study of the emission-ion density distributions from both the uncoated and coated emitters. Two forms of emission patterns have been observed in the ion emission microscopy technique describing the differences in the emission mechanism of both types of emitters. The observed results show: (a) the expected crystalline surface atomic distribution images of the field ion microscopy in the case of uncoated tungsten tips, and (b) randomly distributed emission spots that describe the locations of the induced conductive channels inside the resin coating layer.

Enhanced supercontinuum generation (SCG) is experimentally demonstrated in integrated silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) waveguides incorporating highly nonlinear graphene oxide (GO) in the form of two-dimensional (2D) films. On-chip integration of the 2D GO films with precise control of their thickness is realized by using a transfer-free and layer-by-layer coating method. The control of the film length and coating position is achieved via window opening in the upper silica cladding of the photonic integrated chips. Detailed SCG measurements are performed using the fabricated devices with different waveguide geometries and GO film thicknesses, and the results are compared with devices without GO. Significantly improved spectral broadening of ultrashort optical pulses with ultrahigh peaks powers exceeding 1000 W is observed for the hybrid devices, achieving up to 2.4 times improvement in the spectral bandwidth relative to devices without GO. Theoretical analyses for the influence of GO film thickness, coating length, coating position, and waveguide geometry are also provided by fitting the experimental results with theory, showing that there is still significant room for further improvement. This work opens up a promising new avenue towards improving the SCG performance of photonic integrated devices by incorporating functional 2D materials.

Reducing fertilizer-N rate, applying nitrification inhibitor (NI), and incorporating straw are widely recommended to improve N use efficiency of crops and decrease N losses. However, how these practices affect crop N uptake by regulating the fertilizer-N fate during the growing season is not well understood. We conducted a field 15N tracer study to explore the effectiveness of reduced N application, NI, and straw incorporation on fertilizer-N fates for maize cultivation in Northeast China. The following six treatments were used: 1) no N fertilization (control); 2) 200 kg urea-N ha−1 (100%N); 3) 200 kg urea-N ha−1 and 2400 kg dry-straw ha−1 (100%N+S); 4) 160 kg urea-N ha−1 (80%N, i.e., 20% reduction of N fertilization); 5) 160 kg urea-N ha−1 and nitrification inhibitor (Nitrapyrin) (80%N+NI); 6) 160 kg urea-N ha−1, nitrification inhibitor and 2400 kg dry-straw ha−1 (80%N+NI+S). Our results showed that the five N fertilization treatments yielded 16%–25% more grain and 39%–60% more crop N uptake than the control receiving no N fertilizer, but the differences among the five treatments were not statistically significant. In contrast to plant growth, changes in fertilizer-N fates in soil and plant pools were more pronounced. Compared with the 100%N treatment, 20% fertilizer-N reduction (80%N) decreased 15N concentration in topsoil and plant pools but increased the proportion of plant 15N recovery at harvesting (N use efficiency, NUE15N, 60% vs. 50%) (P &lt; 0.05). Nitrapyrin co-application (80%N+NI) delayed soil nitrification and increased soil 15N retention at harvesting (52% vs. 36%), thereby decreasing NUE15N significantly (P &lt; 0.05). Straw incorporation (100%N+S) decreased fertilizer-N retention compared with NI co-application because it promoted NUE15N significantly (P &lt; 0.05). The combined application of NI and straw (80%N+NI+S) was more conducive to fertilizer-N retention in soil. Our findings demonstrate that NI and straw additions are efficient strategies for stabilizing fertilizer-N in soils and potentially minimizing N loss; however, their effects on NUE15N vary and the related mechanism must be further clarified in long-term trials.

The study’s objective was to evaluate the influence of thinning on the quality and regularity of yield of 'Regina' cherries grown on a dwarf Gisela 5 rootstock. The experiments were conducted in the years 2009-2012 in Western Poland. Trees were thinned using a chemical agent, ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) at doses of 20g ATS × L-1, 30g ATS × L-1 and 40g ATS × L-1, and by hand, and the results of chemical and hand thinning were compared with those obtained for unthinned trees. The course of weather conditions in winter and during flowering had a significant impact on yield. Chemical thinning is known to be an effective method to regulate fruiting of pome trees, but it can also be successful if applied to cherry trees, as reflected by the alternate bearing index, which was the lowest after applying ATS at a dose of 40g. ATS treatment improved fruit quality in full crop years. Thinning resulted in, among other things, larger and darker fruit and higher content of total soluble solids and titratable acidity. Treatment with 40g ATS × L-1 significantly stimulated the vegetative growth of trees.

Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) is a surface treatment, similar to anodizing, that produces thick oxide films on the surface of metals. In the present work, PEO coatings were obtained on zinc-aluminized (ZA) carbon steel using as electrolyte a solution containing sodium silicate and potassium hydroxide, and working with high current densities and short treatment times in DC mode. The surface morphology resulted the typical one of PEO layers, with the presence of a lot of pores and micro-cracks. Considering the cross section, the thickness of the coating was strongly influenced by the process parameters, with different dissolution grades of the ZA layer depending on the current density and treatment time. The PEO layer resulted mainly composed by aluminum and zinc oxides and silicates. The corrosion resistance was remarkable increased in the samples with the PEO coating.

Taking Korla fragrant pear as the research object, single factor testing and water and fertilizer coupling testing were conducted. Under the premise of the drip irrigation mode, the effects of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus on the growth, fruit quality, and yield of Korla Fragrant Pear were studied to provide a theoretical basis for efficient water and fertilizer management. Among them, the single factor test set water, nitrogen and phosphorus as the three factors, and each factor was set at five levels, namely, water (W1, 5460 m3·hm−2;W2, 5880 m3·hm−2;W3,6300 m3·hm−2; W4, 6720 m3·hm−2; W5, 7140 m3·hm−2), nitrogen (N1, 150 kg N·hm−2;N2, 225 kg N·hm−2; N3, 300 kg N·hm−2; N4, 375 kg N·hm−2; N5, 450 kg N·hm−2), phosphorus (P1,75 kg P2O5·hm−2; P2, 150 kg P2O5·hm−2; P3, 225 kg P2O5·hm−2; P4, 300 kg P2O5·hm−2; P5, 375 kg P2O5·hm−2). The results showed that the total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents in leaves under the W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 treatments were significantly higher than those under other treatments, and the fruit quality was better. Therefore, the W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 treatments were selected as the water and fertilizer inputs for the water–fertilizer coupling test for Korla fragrant pear. Eight treatments were set up in the water and fertilizer coupling test: Treatment 1 (T1, W3N3P3), Treatment 2 (T2, W3N3P4), Treatment 3 (T3, W3N4P3), Treatment 4 (T4,W3N4P4), Treatment 5 (T5, W4N3P3), Treatment 6 (T6, W4N3P4), Treatment 7 (T7, W4N4) P3), and Treatment 8 (T8, W4N4P4). The results showed that the leaf area index of the T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments was significantly higher than that of the other treatments at maturity. The T3 treatment resulted in the highest fruit yield, single fruit weight, and primary fruit rate. The results of the grey correlation degree analysis of fruit quality showed that T3 treatment had the highest degree of correlation and ranking of each fruit quality index, indicating that T3 treatment had the highest fruit quality. Detailed investigation of pear tree growth and fruit quality showed that the T3 treatment (375 kg·hm−2 nitrogen application, 225 kg·hm−2 phosphorus application and 6300 m3·hm−2 irrigation) had the best fruit growth and development performance, and the sweet pear fruit quality was the best.

Research focused on understanding wider systemic factors driving behavioral change is limited with a dominant focus on the role of individual farmer and psychosocial factors for farming practice change, including reducing fertilizer application in agriculture. Adopting a wider systems perspective, the current study examines change and the role that supporting services have on fertilizer application rate change. A total of 238 sugarcane growers completed surveys reporting on changes in fertilizer application along with factors that may explain behavior change. Logistic regressions and negative binomial count-data regressions were used to examine whether farmers had changed fertilizer application rates and if they had, how long ago they made the change, and to explore the impact of individual and system factors in influencing change. Approximately one in three sugarcane growers surveyed (37%) had changed the method they used to calculate fertilizer application rates for the cane land they owned/managed at some point. Logistic regression results indicated growers were less likely to change the basis for their fertilizer calculation if they regarded maintaining good relationships with other local growers as being extremely important, they had another source of off-farm income, and if they had not attended a government-funded fertilizer management workshop in the five years preceding the survey. Similar drivers promoted early adoption of fertilizer practice change; namely, regarding family traditions and heritage as being unimportant, having sole decision-making authority on farming activities and having attended up to 5 workshops in the five years prior to completing the survey. Results demonstrated the influence of government-funded services to support practice change.

In no-tillage systems, there is an accumulation of crop residues (CR) which plays an important role in available of soil-N. A study was set up to provide information regarding the CR N credit, and the influence of N mineral fertilizer. An incubation was run in a loam soil with addition of a similar rate of residue (10 Mg ha-1; sugarcane, soybean, and brachiaria) and N mineral fertilizer (urea; 120 kg N ha-1). After the stabilization of biological activity, soil and remaining residues were collected, and N monitored. Results showed that the N credit was positive with application of soybean, sugarcane, and brachiaria. There was an expressive performance of soybean N credit represented by a positive balance, and a reduction from 2.49 to 0.9 g kg-1 of N in residue, with direct increase of 90% of soil-N. There is no need of N fertilizer to potentialize the soybean N credit, but it is requested to potentialize N credit of brachiaria and sugarcane. The urea demonstrated be a good enhancer of brachiaria N credit, but it was not adequate to sugarcane residues. Based in our result, the accumulation and incorporation of CR can be considered as a N credit with positive contribution in soil-N.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) within the exosomes are short non-coding RNAs that are associated with many diseases including cancers and are crucial players in regulating gene expression and regula-tion. Owing to their potential role as emerging biomarkers, efficient isolation, and quantification methods of miRNA from the exosomes in the cell’s supernatant are complicated and challenging. The quantitative PCR method is the gold standard for miRNA identification and estimation. Nucleic acid-based assays are expensive, labour-intensive, and require expertise. In this work, we demon-strated an aptamer-based magnetic separation of the exosomes, and quantification of the miRNA using a fluorescence switching assay. The fluorescence assay relies on the fluorescence of the fluorophore labelled cDNA quenched by carbon nanomaterials coated on magnetic beads (OFF state). When the target miRNA210 is introduced to the system, the cDNA detaches from the quenching surface. As a result, the fluorescence intensity increases (ON state) with increasing miRNA concentration within the dynamic range of 0-100 nM. This method can detect miR210 as low as 5 pM. This method does not exhibit any cross-reactivity with other closely related miRNAs. The method was validated by spiking miRNA with the standard RT-PCR method using SYBR green as a fluorescent probe. This method can be used for the minimally invasive detection of cancer biomarkers in breast cancer patients.

There is increasing use of wood-based composites in industry not only because of the shortage of solid wood, but above all for their better properties such as: strength, aesthetic appearance, etc. compared to wood. Medium density fibreboard (MDF) is a wood-based composite that is widely used in the furniture industry. The goal of the research conducted was to determine the effect of the type of coating on the drill cutting blades on the value of thrust force (F_t), cutting torque (M_c), cutting tool temperature (T) and surface roughness of the hole in drilling MDF panels. In the tests three types of carbide drills (HW) were used: not coated, TiAlN coated and ZrN coated. The measurement of both the thrust force and the cutting torque was carried out using an industrial piezoelectric sensor. The temperature of the cutting tool in the drilling process was measured using an industrial temperature measurement system using a K-type thermocouple. It was found that the value of the maximum temperature of the tool in the drilling process depends not only on the cutting speed and feed rate, but also on the type of coating of the cutting tool. The value of both the cutting torque and the thrust force is significantly influenced by the value of the feed rate and the type of drill coating. The effect of varying plate density on the surface roughness of the hole and the variation of the value of the thrust force is also discussed. The results of the investigations were statistically analysed using a multi-factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Nanoparticles have been proposed for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The research has demonstrated marvelous effort to understand the mechanisms of nanoparticles-EOR. Nevertheless, gaps still exist in terms of understanding the improved fluids and fluid-rock interactions by nanoparticles, which are the key driving forces for oil mobilization. This paper investigates four types of polymer-coated silica nanoparticles as additives for water flooding oil recovery in water-wet reservoirs. A series of flooding experiments were performed with nanoparticles at 0.1 wt.% in seawater at ambient conditions. The dynamics of fluids, fluid-rock interface interactions and fluid flow behavior were characterized in order to understand oil recovery mechanisms of nanoparticles. Experimental results showed an increase in oil recovery up to 14.8%-point with nanofluid injection compared to an average of 40% of the original oil in place (OOIP) obtained from control water flood test. Moreover, the nanoparticles mobilized residual oil and incremented oil recovery up to 9.2% of the OOIP. Displacement studies show that no single mechanism could account for the EOR effect with the application of nanoparticles. Instead, the mobilization of oil seemed to occur through a combination of reduced oil/water IFT, change in the rock surface roughness and wettability to more water-wet, and microscopic flow diversion due to clogging of the pores.

【Objectives】To elucidate and enhance the impact of nitrogen fertilizer on capsaicin, thus providing guidance on fertilizer application for the cultivation of high spiciness chilli.【Methods】The experiment was conducted with five nitrogen fertilizer concentrations, N1 (urea 750 kg.hm-2), N2 (urea 562.5 kg.hm-2), N3 (urea 375 kg.hm-2), N4 (urea 187.5 kg.hm-2), and N0 (no nitrogen fertilizer). Nitrogen treatment was applied to two varieties with different spiciness from seedling stage, and the fruit was sampled at three fruit developmental periods, and the contents of capsaicin, capsaicin precursors, capsaicin competitive substances, as well as capsaicin related enzyme activities and gene expression were analyzed.【Results】When applying N2 and N3, both types of peppers exhibited higher fruit length, fruit width, and fruit weight, which favored yield increase. Specifically, N2 resulted in varied increases in total phenol, flavonoid, and tannin contents of the two varieties. Moreover, placenta weight and PAL enzyme activity of capsaicin synthase significantly increased, while capsaicin degrading enzyme activities of POD and PPO decreased notably. Additionally, the expression of capsaicin synthetic genes such as PAL, AT3, 4CL, C4H, COMT, PAMT, and HCT was up-regulated in N2-treated fruits, leading to a significantly higher capsaicin content compared to the other four treatments. Further reduction of nitrogen application to N3 and N4 resulted in decreased precursor substance total phenol content and PAL activity, increased competitive substance flavonoid, lignin, POD and PPO enzyme activities, at the same time, the expression levels of capsaicinoid synthetic genes were down-regulated in N3, N4 treatments, which lead to an reduction in total capsaicinoid content. During fruit development, the capsaicinoid content showed a trend of 35 d > 50 d > 20 d for both varieties. Additionally, the contents of total capsaicinoid, total phenol, flavonoid, and lignin, as well as PAL enzyme activity and the expression of PAL, AT3, 4CL, C4H, COMT, PAMT, and HCT of the fruit, exhibited characteristics of lower layer > middle layer > upper layer. Furthermore, the activities of capsaicinoid degrading enzymes POD and PPO gradually increased from bottom to top.【Conclusions】The N2 (562.5 kg.hm-2) treatment resulted increases of placenta mass, maximum precursor substance total phenol content and synthase enzyme activity, and decreases of competing substances and degradative enzyme activity, resulting in more substances being available for capsaicin synthesis. Combined with the higher fruit weight in the N2 treatment, N2 was therefore considered to be a suitable nitrogen fertilizer dosage for high spiciness chilli cultivation.

Soil is an extremely significant resource for human survival, and agglomerates, as the basic unit of soil structure, not only enhance soil fertility and control the biological validity of nutrients, but also strengthen the soil's erosion resistance. The mass application of fertilizers may have a significant impact on crop growth and soil structure, and the rational application and dispensing of fertilizers will be an urgent issue to be addressed. Therefore, the effect of fertilizer application on the stability of water-stable soil aggregates needs to be studied under different meteorological and soil conditions to draw more general and feasible conclusions. Our Meta-analysis of data from 220 of 56 published studies found that fertilizer application increased mean weight diameter (MWD) by an average of 18% compared to the no-fertilizer treatment. Among the nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and organic (OM) fertilizer treatments, the organic fertilizer treatment had a greater stimulatory effect on MWD (26%). Among the different fertilizer levels, low level of phosphorus (<40kg·hm-2·yr-1), high level of N (>120kg·hm-2·yr-1), and low level of organic fertilizer (<5000kg·hm-2·yr-1) increased MWD by 19%, 14%, and 41% respectively. Across soil types and land use types, the response to MWD was positive for red soils and paddy fields, and the stimulatory effect of organic fertilizer was more significant compared to chemical fertilizer. The regression model showed that the response ratio of MWD was negatively correlated with the response ratio of soil pH and bulk density (BD), and positively correlated with the response ratio of soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial mass carbon (MBC). Meanwhile, the PLS-SEM model showed that average annual temperature was the main factor affecting the stability of soil aggregates, and the average annual rainfall is the secondary factor. Therefore, this study found that the long-term use of organic fertilizers in place of some chemical fertilizers was more effective than chemical fertilizer alone. Temperature and rainfall have greater effects on the response of fertilizer to soil aggregate stability.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture are significant contributors to global change. We experimentally manipulated biogeochemical control points of irrigation and nitrogen (N) to examine management strategies that could impact GHG flux, i.e., carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and soil physiochemical changes over a growing season in an arid New Mexico sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cropping system. Sorghum is water and N efficient and amenable to environmental stress. Interrogating how crop systems perform in intense heat, aridity and ultraviolet stress of the southwestern US climate can inform future management in areas that produce more food currently, but that will undergo these stresses in the near future. Water was applied at regionally typical rates, or at ~30% below those rates. Timing N to plant needs may reduce N loss and N2O emissions, and we tested this hypothesis by adding equal amounts of fertilizer to all plots, with half receiving all fertilizer at planting versus plots fertilized at 50:50 planting and 30 days post-planting. Gas flux from soil was analyzed via FTIR. More biomass was harvested from the fully irrigated plots; N timing did not significantly affect biomass. Soil pH fluctuated throughout the season in response to both treatments. Carbon dioxide emissions significantly increased in fully irrigated plots through time. Methane uptake was depressed by full irrigation. Nitrous oxide flux was lower in split N plots, but N2O emissions were not impacted by reduced irrigation. These results suggest that arid adapted crops can maintain economically feasible yield, and biogeochemical monitoring within a growing season can help manage for GHG flux.

The production of sugar beet in the Republic of Kazakhstan is insufficient to meet the do-mestic sugar needs of the population. This shortfall is attributed to the natural and climatic conditions, the high cost of production, and the low use of mineral fertilizers. The objective of the study is to investigate the impact of the organic humic fertilizer "Tumat" on the growth, development, yield, and sugar content of sugar beet in the conditions of irrigated light chestnut soils in Southeast Kazakhstan. The research employed widely accepted methods of field experiments and laboratory studies from the Commonwealth of Inde-pendent States. Scientific research confirms the effectiveness of using the organic humic fertilizer "Tumat" for cultivating sugar beets. This fertilizer is highly bioavailable and con-tains a balanced mix of essential macronutrients and micronutrients, polyunsaturated fat-ty acids, and other biologically active substances. Foliar feeding of sugar beets enriches the soil with exchangeable potassium, mobile phosphorus, and easily hydrolyzable nitrogen during the plant's vegetative period. Using "Tumat" fertilizer improves seed germination, stimulates growth and development, accelerates the ripening of sugar beets, and enhances tuber yield and sugar content. "Tumat," an organic humic fertilizer, is recommended as an environmentally safe and effective agricultural product that boosts the productivity and quality of sugar beets, as well as soil fertility.

Faecal sludge (FS) contains a significant amount of plant nutrients. After drying and composting, FS has been used as soil ameliorant in several countries. Use of FS-based compost on lettuce may meet reservations due to possible microbiological contamination. The objectives of this research are: (l) to determine the fertilizer value of different formulations of sawdust and faecal sludge compost (SDFS) pellets, (2) to compare the effect of these SDFS formulations with poultry manure, commercial compost, mineral fertilizer and non-fertilization on lettuce cultivation. The SDFS products were made by enriching and pelletized with ammonium sulphate, mineral-NPK or ammonium sulphate + muriate of potash + triple super phosphate. Lettuce was cultivated in a greenhouse and in an open field. The result showed that the fresh weight obtained from all SDFS pellets with/without enrichments were higher than those obtained from commercial compost, poultry manure, mineral fertilizer or no fertilizer. Cultivation in the open field gave higher yields than those in the greenhouse. No helminth eggs were detected in composts or lettuces. Some faecal coliforms were detected in lettuces despite fertilization treatments. A properly treated fecal sludge-based fertilizer can be a sustainable solution for lettuce production which helps urban and peri-urban agriculture.

Taking Korla fragrant pear as the research object, single factor testing and water and fertilizer coupling testing were conducted. Under the premise of the drip irrigation mode, the effects of water, nitrogen, and phosphorus on the growth, fruit quality, and yield of Korla Fragrant Pear were studied to provide a theoretical basis for efficient water and fertilizer management. Among them, the single factor test set water, nitrogen and phosphorus as the three factors, and each factor was set at five levels, namely, water (W1, 5460 m3·hm−2;W2, 5880 m3·hm−2;W3,6300 m3·hm−2; W4, 6720 m3·hm−2; W5, 7140 m3·hm−2), nitrogen (N1, 150 kg N·hm−2;N2, 225 kg N·hm−2; N3, 300 kg N·hm−2; N4, 375 kg N·hm−2; N5, 450 kg N·hm−2), phosphorus (P1,75 kg P2O5·hm−2; P2, 150 kg P2O5·hm−2; P3, 225 kg P2O5·hm−2; P4, 300 kg P2O5·hm−2; P5, 375 kg P2O5·hm−2). The results showed that the total nitrogen and total phosphorus contents in leaves under the W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 treatments were significantly higher than those under other treatments, and the fruit quality was better. Therefore, the W3, W4, N3, N4, P3, and P4 treatments were selected as the water and fertilizer inputs for the water–fertilizer coupling test for Korla fragrant pear. Eight treatments were set up in the water and fertilizer coupling test: Treatment 1 (T1, W3N3P3), Treatment 2 (T2, W3N3P4), Treatment 3 (T3, W3N4P3), Treatment 4 (T4,W3N4P4), Treatment 5 (T5, W4N3P3), Treatment 6 (T6, W4N3P4), Treatment 7 (T7, W4N4) P3), and Treatment 8 (T8, W4N4P4). The results showed that the leaf area index of the T1, T2, T3, and T4 treatments was significantly higher than that of the other treatments at maturity. The T3 treatment resulted in the highest fruit yield, single fruit weight, and primary fruit rate. The results of the grey correlation degree analysis of fruit quality showed that T3 treatment had the highest degree of correlation and ranking of each fruit quality index, indicating that T3 treatment had the highest fruit quality. Detailed investigation of pear tree growth and fruit quality showed that the T3 treatment (375 kg·hm−2 nitrogen application, 225 kg·hm−2 phosphorus application and 6300 m3·hm−2 irrigation) had the best fruit growth and development performance, and the sweet pear fruit quality was the best.

In this paper, we have proposed an effective metasurface design to accomplish cloaking of equilateral patch antennas and their array configuration. As such, we have exploited the concept of electromagnetic invisibility, employing the mantle cloaking technique with the intention to eliminate the destructive interference ensuing between two distinct triangular patches situated in a very congested arrangement (sub-wavelength separation is maintained between the patch elements). Basically, we demonstrate that implementation of the planar coated metasurface cloaks onto the patch antenna surfaces compels them to become invisible to each other, at the intended frequencies. In effect, an individual antenna element does not sense the presence of the other, in spite of being in a rather close vicinity. We also exhibit that the cloaks successfully reinstate the radiation attributes of each antenna in such a way that it emulates their respective performance in an isolated environment. Moreover, we have extended the cloak design to an interleaved one dimensional array of the two patch antennas and it is shown that the coated metasurfaces assure efficient performance of each array in terms of their matching as well as radiation characteristics, in turn, enabling them to radiate independently for various beam-scanning angles.

The concept of friction damper is widespread technique and used to reduce the structural vibrations in many industrial applications. These friction dampers are generally coated with low wear rate materials to reduce the fretting wear. This paper investigates the use of physical vapor deposition (PVD) nitride based AlTiN coating material applied over the stainless steel friction damper to enhance the damping capacity and to reduce the fretting wear. A friction test rig has been developed to measure the dynamic hysteresis characteristics of friction damper at high temperature (700 °C). The damping capacity and fretting wear analysis is carried out at room temperature, 300 °C and 600 °C. The force versus displacment characterisitcs curve is used to predict the damping capacity and fretting wear analysis is carried out at microscopic level for the comparision. It is observed that at room temperature AlTiN coated friction damper has not much influence to improve the damping capacity and to reduce the fretting-wear. However, at high temperature it has better damping capacity and less wear in comparision to uncoated friction damper. Wear behaviour in coated and uncoated damper is different at room temperature and at elevated temperature.

The performance of two bio inoculants either in single or in combined applications with organic fertilizer was tested to determine their effect on plant growth and yield under normal and unfavorable field conditions such as low pH value and low content of P. Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi ((AMF; three species of Glomus) and the plant growth-promoting bacterial strain Kosakonia radicincitans DSM16656 were applied to barley in two years field experiment with different soil pH levels and available nutrients. Grain yield, content of P, N, K, Mg, and soil microbial parameters were measured. Grain yield and content of nutrients were significantly increased by the applications of mineral fertilizer, organic fertilizer, AMF, K. radicincitans, and combined application of organic fertilizer with AMF and with K. radicincitans over the control under normal growth conditions. Under low pH and low P conditions, only the combined application of the organic fertilizer with K. radicincitans and organic fertilizer with AMF could increase grain yield and content of nutrients of barley over the control.

In order to formulate a reasonable water input model for cotton fields in southern Xinjiang, scientific and rational fertilization, reduce soil carbon leaching, and improve soil carbon sequestration capacity, the undisturbed soil column leaching test was used to simulate the current field management method in the study area. Two methods of drip irrigation and flood irrigation were set up, and three irrigation and three nitrogen fertilizer levels were used to carry out the undisturbed soil column leaching test. The results showed that the amount and mode of water and nitrogen input affected the distribution and leaching loss of organic carbon and inorganic carbon in soil. When the nitrogen application rate increased from 270 kg·hm-2 to 450 kg·hm-2, the leaching loss of soluble organic carbon and soluble inorganic carbon increased significantly. When the water input increased from 6000 m3·hm-2 to 9000 m3·hm-2, the leaching loss of DOC and DIC increased significantly. The carbon leaching loss under drip irrigation was higher than that under flood irrigation. The leaching rates of DOC and DIC were the fastest under the conditions of high water ( 9000 m3·hm-2 ) and high fertilizer ( 450 kg·hm-2 ). It shows that water and nitrogen input and irrigation methods are important factors affecting soil carbon leaching. In the case of excessive water input, long-term high-frequency irrigation is the main factor affecting carbon leaching.

Many studies on flexible strain and pressure sensors have been reported due to growing interest in wearable devices for healthcare. However, most are fabricated with multiple ingredients and complicated methods even though commercial textiles, such as cotton, nylon, polyester, and silk were used. Here we present flexible pressure and strain (motion) sensors prepared with only graphene oxide (GO) and commercial silk fabrics and yarns. The pressure sensors were fabricated by simply dipping the silk fabric into GO solution followed by thermal treatment at 400 °C for reduction of GO (rGO). The pressure sensors were made from rGO-coated fabrics, which were stacked in 3-, 5-, and 7-layers. The super-sensitivity of 2.58 ×103 kPa-1 at low pressure was observed in the 7-layer pressure sensor. The strain sensors were obtained from rGO-coated twisted silk yarns whose gauge factor was 0.307. Although this value is small or comparable to other sensors, it is appropriate for motion sensing. The results of this study show a cost-effective and simple method for the fabrication of pressure and motion sensors with commercial silk and GO.

In the contemporary era, there has been a notable surge in the systematic utilization of therapeutic drugs that exhibit stimulus-responsive drug release patterns in specific target areas. However, challenges such as premature drug release and limited biocompatibility persist. To address these issues, the application of a lipid coating on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) has emerged as a promising strategy. This lipid coating not only enhances the stability and biocompatibility of nanocarriers but also facilitates targeted drug delivery to diseased cells while minimizing drug release throughout the body. MSNs, renowned for their unique attributes including high porosity, morphology, and controllable pore size, have been widely recognized as suitable platforms for drug/gene delivery systems. Furthermore, graphene-based nanomaterials such as graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide have garnered significant interest in the fields of biology and biomedicine. These materials possess exceptional characteristics such as a large surface area, distinct surface properties, high biocompatibility, and pH sensitivity, making them ideal candidates for incorporating drugs, genes, photosensitizers, and other cargo to design innovative drug delivery systems. This study aims to emphasize the ongoing efforts and advancements in enhancing the capacity and versatility of nanocomposites comprising graphene MSN composites for applications in drug delivery.

Some cancer cells rely heavily on non-essential biomolecules for survival, growth, and proliferation. Enzyme based therapeutics can eliminate these biomolecules, thus specifically targeting neoplastic cells; however, enzyme therapeutics are susceptible to immune clearance, exhibit short half-lives, and require frequent administration. Encapsulation of therapeutic cargo within biocompatible and biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) is a strategy for controlled release. Unfortunately, PLGA NPs exhibit burst release of cargo shortly after delivery or upon introduction to aqueous environments where they decompose via hydrolysis. Here we show the generation of hybrid silica-coated PLGA (SiLGA) NPs as viable drug delivery vehicles exhibiting sub-200 nm diameters, a metastable Zeta potential, and high loading efficiency and content. Compared to uncoated PLGA NPs, SiLGA NPs offer greater retention of enzymatic activity and slow the burst release of cargo. Thus, SiLGA encapsulation of therapeutic enzymes, such as asparaginase, could reduce frequency of administration, increase half-life, and improve efficacy for patients with a range of diseases.

We experimentally investigate power-sensitive photo-thermal tuning (PTT) of two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) films coated on integrated optical waveguides. We measure the light power thresholds for reversible and permanent GO reduction in silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides integrated with 1 and 2 layers of GO. Raman spectra at different positions of a hybrid waveguide with permanently reduced GO are characterized, verifying the inhomogeneous GO reduction along the direction of light propagation through the waveguide. The differences between the PTT induced by a continuous-wave laser and a pulsed laser are also compared, confirming that the PTT mainly depend on the average input power. These results reveal interesting features for 2D GO films coated on integrated optical waveguides, which are of fundamental importance for the control and engineering of GO’s properties in hybrid integrated photonic devices.

Background- Fertilizers are essential to enhancing food security by enhancing crop growth. The selection of chemical fertilizers over organic fertilizers brings environmental consequences. The government is trying to achieve food security and promote organic fertilizers over chemical fertilizers by implementing various programs. Aim- The study is carried out to understand the effect of government policies on farmers' chemical fertilizer consumption patterns. Design- The data of fifteen years of chemical fertilizer consumption was divided into three sub-groups. Statistical analysis was done to understand the trend of chemical fertilizer consumption of the farmers. Results- The analysis of data clearly shows the steadily increasing pattern of chemical fertilizer consumption. Conclusions- The study clearly shows there is no effect of sustainable agriculture policies framed by the government on the consumption of chemical fertilizers by farmers. Across the study period, farmers were inclined to use chemical fertilizers, related to a lack of awareness of the principles of appropriate fertilizer management that can limit environmental damage.

Background and Objectives: Due to huge demand and availability of Banana, innovative cost effective method is necessary to promote and smoothen the banana production among farmers commercially mitigating the demand. Method and Materials: In this study, we feed cow dung mixture along with Urea, TSP, MoP, water to the distal part of rachis after cutting down male bud as soon as the female flowers matured into fruits (T1). The effect of this method was then compared with two control groups; one with the same strategy except fertilizer applied on root following ring method (C1, Positive control) and another was male flower untouched without applying fertilizer on rachis or root (C2, Negative control). Results and Conclusion: T1 showed more than double increase in length than controls. In the same way, in case of shape (diameter), T1 (0.46 cm) showed twice as better growth in the C1 (0.22 cm) and C2 (0.18 cm). Trend analysis showed the test group T1 curve is much steeper than the control groups suggesting faster growth rate than the other two. Finally, the cost of fertilizers for T1 per plant was estimated 0.091 USD while for positive control C1 it was 2.9 USD. This study shows an approach to be effective and economic comparing to traditional method of fertilizer application, which can be adapted as a new method of banana production.

Intensive greenhouse horticulture can cause various environmental problems. Among them, the management, storage and processing of crop residues can provoke aquifer contamination, pest proliferation, bad odors or the abuse of phytosanitary treatments. Biosolarization put in value any fresh plant residue and is an efficient technique for the control of soil-borne diseases. This study aims to examine an alternative means of managing greenhouse crop residues through biosolarization and to investigate the influence of organic matter on yield and quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, L.) fruit. With this purpose, the following nutritional systems were evaluated: inorganic fertilization with and without brassica pellets (Fert, Fert + and Fert ++), fresh tomato plant debris with and without brassica pellets (Rest, Rest + and Rest ++) and no fertilizer application (Control). The addition of organic matter equaled all the treatments except for control with regard to yield and quality of the tomato fruit. In light of these results, the application of tomato plant debris to the soil through biosolarization is postulated as an alternative for the management of crop residues, solving an environmental problem and having a favorable impact on the production and quality of tomatoes as a commercial crop.

Cu-Sn shape-memory microwires were fabricated by a glass-coated melt spinning method. Effects of Sn content on the microstructure and mechanical property of microwires were investigated. The phase transforms from martensite to austenite with Sn content increasing from 14.0 atomic percent (at.%) to 16.5 at.%, and highly ordered intermetallic phase, δ, formed with higher Sn content. The fracture stress, σf, and the critical stress for martensitic transformation, σMs, increases with Sn content increasing. The mechanical property as well as superelasticity were improved greatly by high cooling rate of the glass-coated melt spinning method.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element impacting on biological systems and ecosystems. Because the toxicity of Hg species is highly dependent on concentration levels and chemical forms, sensitive identification of chemical forms for Hg, i.e., Hg speciation, is of major significance in providing meaningful information about the source of Hg exposure. In this study, a microfluidic-based device made of high clarity poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was fabricated. Then titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) were attached to the treated channel interior with the aid of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC). After coupling the nano-TiO2-coated microfluidic-based photocatalyst-assisted reduction device (the nano-TiO2-coated microfluid-ic-based PCARD) with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), a selective and sensitive hyphenated system for Hg specia-tion was established. Validation procedures demonstrated that the method could be satisfactorily applied to the determination of mercuric ion (Hg2+) and methylmercury ion (CH3Hg+) in both human urine and water samples. Remarkably, the zeta potential measured clearly indicated the PDADMAC-capped nano-TiO2 with predominance of positive charges indeed provided steady force for firm attachment to the negatively charged device channel. The cause for the durability of the nano-TiO2-coated microfluidic-based PCARD was clarified thus.

This research was presented the special designed microfluidic device generated for sperm separation based on assumption of different surface electrical charged of sperms X and Y. However, to avoid ethical problem, the microfluidic chip has been tested with the mimic electrical charged particles, TiO₂-coated Polystyrene beads, (TiO₂-coated Ps-beads), instead of spermatozoa. The work has been separated into three main parts. Firstly, the simply but efficient fabrication of negatively charged TiO₂-coated Ps-beads has been presented. In addition, various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Tungsten Scanning Electron Microscopy (W-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mode, and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS), have been reported in this work to elucidate the reasons behind the persistence of negatively charged on the surface of TiO₂-coated Ps-beads. Results show that the fabricated TiO₂-coated Ps-beads was partly coated in the mixed forms of amorphous Ti⁴⁺ and had caused a negatively charge to appear on the surface after fabrication and had sustained its electrical charged for long. Secondly, process of simulation and fabrication of microfluidic device was presented. Finally the negatively charged TiO₂-coated Ps-beads were tested in this microfluidic devices. For design of microfluidic devices integrated with a couple of microelectrodes, the simulated structures were fabricated by photolithographic technique and tested with the Ps-beads. Percentage of validation for Ps-beads separation indicated that the 100 mm-distance-between-electrodes microfluidic device exhibits to be the highest performance prototype at 86.96%. For further confirmation, another model so called the single path prototype has been established. It is confirmed by 92.59% of validation for the utilization of the device. The successfully designed microfluidic devices can be examined with actual spermatozoa later. Furthermore, process to fabricate the negatively charged TiO₂-coated Ps-beads can be established as testified samples for development of other microfluidic devices.

We present a distributed optical-fiber temperature sensor with enhanced sensitivity based on an Al-coated fiber using the Rayleigh backscattering spectra (RBS) shift in optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR). The Al-coated sensing fiber with a higher thermal expansion coefficient compared to silica produces a strain-coupled shift in the RBS under an increase in temperature. This effect leads to an enhanced temperature sensitivity of the distributed measurement scheme. Our results revealed that the temperature sensitivity obtained using the Al-coated fiber in OFDR was ~56% higher relative to that of a single-mode fiber. Moreover, the minimum measurable temperature recorded was 1 °C with a spatial resolution of 5 cm.

Balanced nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) rates coupling with rational fertilization methodology could promote crop N accumulation, N use efficiency and yield production, particularly in semi-arid and arid regions. To test these characteristics, a two-year (2018 and 2019) pot experiment was therefore performed by growing summer maize in a rain-proof glass greenhouse, under 9 combined N (112, 150 and 187 kg ha-1, urea) and P (45, 60, 75 kg ha-1, calcium superphosphate) rates and three contrasting fertilizer placements. The fertilizers were placed by broadcast on soil surface (Broadcast), side band on 4 cm strip soil surface within 7 cm from sowing line (Side band) and deep band on 4 cm strip below 7 cm soil depth within 7 cm from sowing line (Deep band). Results from three maize growth stages (eight-leaf, 45 days after sowing, DAS; tasseling, 60 DAS; and harvest, 115 DAS) showed that leaf, stem, root N accumulation and total soil N were significantly increased under Deep band than under both Side band and Broadcast at N150P60, N187P60, N150P75 and N187P75, but not at N112P45, N150P45, N187P45, N112P60 and N112P75. Significantly greater leaf, stem, and root N accumulations were also displayed at N150 and N187 than at N112 for the same P60 or P75 under Deep band at 60 DAS and 115 DAS, while were for leaf and stem N accumulations at P75 and P60 than at P45 for the same N150 under Deep band at 45 DAS, 60 DAS and 115 DAS. Significantly greater agronomy N use efficiency, partial factor productivity and N use efficiency exhibited under Deep band than under Side band and Broadcast at N150P75 and N187P75, but at N150P60 and N187P60 for NUE only. In addition, leaf, stem, seed, root N concentrations positively correlated with their own N accumulations or soil N concentration at tasseling and harvest stages. Our results demonstrate that a synchronized N150P60, N187P60, N150P75 or N187P75 fertilization rate with Deep band placement can improve soil N availability and root N uptake, and hereby greater aboveground N accumulation, N use efficiency and yield production of maize particularly practical for small-holder farmers globally.

Magnesium and its alloys are not normally used as bio-resorbable temporary implants due to their high and uncontrolled degradation rate in physiological liquid environment. The improvement of corrosion resistance to simulated body fluids (SBF) of a Magnesium alloy (AZ31) coated with poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and contact angle measurements were used to characterize surface morphology, material composition and wettability, respectively. pH modification of the SBF corroding medium, mass of Mg2+ ions released, and weight loss of the samples exposed to the SBF solution, and electrochemical experiment were used to describe the corrosion process and its kinetics. Materials biocompatibility was described by evaluating the effect of corrosion by products collected in the SBF equilibrating solution on hemolysis ratio, cytotoxicity, Nitric Oxide (NO), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). The results showed that the PHB coating can diffusively control the degradation rate of Magnesium alloy improving its biocompatibility: hemolysis rate of materials was lower than 5%, while in vitro Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells（HUVECs) compatibility experiments showed that PHB coated Mg alloy promoted cell proliferation and had no effect on the NO content, the T-AOC was enhanced compared with the normal group and bare AZ31 alloy. PHB coated AZ31 Magnesium alloy extraction fluids have a less toxic behavior due to the lower concentration of corrosion by-products deriving from the diffusion control exerted by the PHB coating films both from metal surface to the solution and vice versa. These findings provide more reference value for the selection of such system as tunable bioresorbable prosthetic materials

Polyamides (PAs) are one of the most important engineering polymers; however, the difficulty in dissolving them hinders their applications. Formic acid (FA) is the most common solvent for PAs, but it has industrial limitations. In this contribution, we proposed a new solvent system for PAs by replacing a portion of the FA with urea and calcium chloride (FAUCa). Urea imparts the hydrogen bonding and calcium ion from the calcium chloride, as a Lewis acid was added to the system to compensate for the pH decrease due to the addition of urea. The results showed that the proposed solvent (FAUCa) could readily dissolve PAs, resulting in less decrease in the mechanical properties during the dissolution. The composite prepared using the FAUCa has almost the same properties like the one prepared using the FA solution. The solution was applied on a polyamide 66 fabric to make an all-polyamide composite coated-fabric, which then was characterized. The FAUCa solution had a higher viscosity than the one prepared using the neat FA solvent, which can be an advantage in the applications which needs higher viscosity like preparing the all-polyamide composite coated-fabric. A more viscouse solution makes a denser coating which will increase the water-/gas-tightness. In conclusion, using the FAUCa solvent has two merits: 1. replacement of 40 % of the FA with less harmful and environmentally-friendly chemicals and 2. enabling for the preparation of more viscouse solutions, which makes denser coating.

Sustainable agriculture is at the forefront of modern farming practices, with a growing emphasis on optimizing crop production while minimizing environmental impact. The choice of fertilizer application technology plays a critical role in achieving these objectives. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), a valuable crop globally, serves both as a source of human nutrition and livestock feed. To address the challenges of enhancing soybean production while minimizing ecological harm, this study evaluates and compares the performance of different fertilizer application technologies. In this study we combined remote and ground surveys to allow a comprehensive understanding of the impact of these technologies on soybean cultivation. The study focuses on deep placement of slow-release nitrogen fertilizers with coated urea at a 20 cm depth, conventional nitrogen fertilizer application, and manure organic fertilizer application. Remote surveys are conducted using advanced smart farming tools such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), ground surveys such as soil plant analysis development SPAD measurements, and soybean parameters to assess the impact of fertilizer application. This study revealed that deep placement fertilizer demonstrated better performance compared to other fertilizer application technologies for soybean cultivation. The findings from this study contribute to the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices and empower farmers with knowledge to make informed decisions for optimizing green soybean production.

Lime application with other complementary sustainable management practices increases crop yield, but liming is modestly applied in Serbia. This study investigated the influence of liming (1000 kg/ha) combined with the common application of mineral fertilizers on maize yield and the chemical properties of Pseudogley soil. The experiment was conducted near Kraljevo, Western Serbia, on maize hybrid ZP 606, sown in a two-year monoculture. The experiment had three treatments: fertilizer, fertilizer+lime, and control treatment. The soil is acid, poor in humus, and contains an increased content of mobile aluminum. There was a significant increase in yield under the fertilizer and lime+fertilizer treatments, compared with the control. The yield of maize in the limed treatment was 4.4–9% higher than in the fertilizer treatment. The positive effects of liming on soil are related to an increase in pH, base saturation, and available phosphorus and a decrease in available aluminum. In the fertilizer treatment, there was a small decrease in pH and base saturation, whereas the amount of aluminum remained high, indicating that further application of fertilizers without lime can increase the aluminum content and foster its toxicity. The long-term sustainability of maize production in Serbia should include liming as a regular management practice on Pseudogley soil, with the utilization of smaller doses of lime because of the potential CO2 effects. To improve soil health, food, and environmental security, and incorporate new crops, developing a framework promoting liming as a sustainable management practice is of high importance.

Biochar soil amendment along with non-tillage agriculture, are often proposed as a strategy for organic carbon sequestration in soil. How the quality of biochar might influence the priming effect on soil organic matter mineralization and whether the addition of fresh organic matter will affect its stability in soil is still questionable. In the study, six biochars of different biomass origin and three exogenous organic matter sources were added to two distinct arable soils. CO2 emission was monitored for 100 days of incubation and CO2 flux was estimated. Results showed that biochar application increased soil CO2 fluxes. The highest peaks were recorded in treatments with food waste biochars, suggesting that this feedstock serves as sources of labile C fractions to soil microbes. Co-application of raw organic materials (manure and fresh clover biomass) enhanced CO2 emission and estimated carbon losses, especially in sandy soil with low organic carbon content. Biochar properties and content of labile C fractions can stimulate CO2 emission, however in a long-term period this contribution is negligible. Findings of our study showed that more attention should be paid to priming effects caused by addition of exogenous organic matter e.g. fertilizers or cover crops when applied to biochar amended soils.

Phosphorus (P) is the most important substance in inorganic fertilizers used in agriculture industry. In this study, a multi-product and multi-objective model is presented considering economic and environmental concerns to design a renewable and sustainable P-fertilizer supply chain management (PFSCM). To handle complexities of the proposed model, an ensemble knowledge-based three-stage heuristic-metaheuristic algorithm utilizing heuristic information available in the model, whale optimization algorithm, and variable neighborhood search (named H-WOA-VNS) is proposed. At first, a problem-dependent heuristic is designed to generate a set of near-optimal feasible solutions. These solutions are fed into a population-based whale optimization algorithm which benefits from both exploration and exploitation strategies. Finally, a single-solution metaheuristic based on variable neighborhood search is applied to further improve the quality of the solution using local search operators. The objective function of the algorithm is formulated as a weighted average function to minimize total economic cost, while increasing crop yield and P use efficiency. Experimental results over five synthetic datasets and a real case study of the P-fertilizer supply chain confirm the superiority of the proposed method against the state-of-the-art techniques. The results demonstrate that the proposed method performs well in optimizing both the economic cost and environmental issues.

Mentha is one of the predominant cash crops in India. However, it is a heavy feeder of nutrients. Organic sources of nutrients not only help in adequate nutrition but also maintain favorable physicochemical and biological soil environments. The present study was conducted to evaluate the response of different combinations of nutrients with microbial bio-fertilizer on mentha crops from 2020 to 2022. The experiment was carried out in the Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications and eight treatments viz; T1 - Control, T2 - RDF (N 75 kg ha-1, P2O5 20 kg ha-1), T3 - RDF + water soaking of roots, T4 - RDF + root soaking with bio-fertilizer, T5 - RDF + bio-fertilizer @ 10 kg ha-1, T6 - 100% N from FYM + water soaking of roots, T7 - 100% N from FYM + root soaking with bio-fertilizer and T8 - 100% N from FYM + bio-fertilizer @ 10 kg ha-1. The treatment T8 (100% N from FYM + bio-fertilizer @10 kg ha-1) significantly outperformed and recorded the highest growth and yield attributes viz; emergence count, stools count, plant height, leaf area index, leaf stem ratio, fresh and dry herb yield.

Fiber-based flexible sensors have promising applications potential in human motion and healthcare monitoring, owing to their merits of lightweight, flexibility, and easy processing. Now, high-performance elastic fiber-based strain sensors with high sensitivity, large working range and excellent durability are in great demand. Herein, we have easily and quickly prepared a highly-sensitive, durable fiber-based strain sensor by dip-coating of highly-stretchable polyurethane (PU) elastic fiber in MXene/ waterborne polyurethane (WPU) dispersion solution. Benefiting from the electrostatic repulsion force between the negatively charged WPU and MXene sheets in the mixed solution, very homogeneous and stable MXene/WPU dispersion was successfully obtained and the interconnected conducting networks were correspondingly formed in coated MXene/WPU shell layer, which makes as-prepared strain sensor exhibit a gauge factor of over 960, a large sensing range of over 90% and detection limit as low as 0.5% strain. As elastic fiber and mixed solution have the same polymer constitute, tight bonding of MXene/WPU conductive composite on PU fibers was achieved, enabling the as-prepared strain sensor endure over 2500 stretching-releasing cycles and thus show good durability. Full-scale human motion detection was also performed by the strain sensor, and a body posture monitoring, analysis, and correction prototype system was developed via embedding the fiber-based strain sensors into sweater, strongly indicating the great application prospect in exercise, sports and healthcare.

The silane (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), possesses one terminal amine group and three ethoxy groups extending from each silicon atom, serving as a crucial interface adherent between organic and inorganic materials. In corrosion prevention, APTES is frequently employed as a primer, with subsequent topcoat as an extra protective layer. This topcoat is particularly useful in covering sites where APTES may exhibit poor bonding, such as those involving Cu or Cu-rich alloying elements. In our study, we applied a thin layer of APTES to cleaned AA2024-T3 samples using concentrated vapor deposition, followed by spin-coating with a diluted PS/acetone solution. Through combinatorial experimentation, we investigated the impact of APTES on the corrosion resistance of the coating system on AA2024-T3. Our findings indicate that a higher surface energy of the APTES primer contributes to better corrosion resistance in the overall coating system. This improvement can be attributed to enhanced wettability achieved by the PS/acetone solution on the cured APTES primer, leading to a more uniform coverage of the dried PS topcoat. Additionally, our research revealed that, in the early stages of exposure to the corrosion solution, a thinner APTES primer enhances protection against corrosion. This effect is attributed to hydrolytic stability mechanisms, and the interactions between hydrolyzation/condensation in soaked APTES and the dissolution of naturally formed aluminum oxide pre-existing in the bare samples. Finally, we observed that an APTES primer subjected to additional heat treatment before topcoating exhibits superior performance in corrosion resistance.

Hemorrhagic shock is the primary cause of death in patients with severe trauma, and the development of rapid and efficient hemostatic methods is of great significance in promoting the life-saving of trauma patients. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning technology. The PCL-PDA loading system was developed by modifying the surface of polydopamine (PDA) inspired by mussel adhesion protein, and the efficient and stable loading of thrombin (TB) was realized on the premise of ensuring the bioactivity of TB. The new thrombin loading system overcomes the disadvantages of harsh storage conditions, poor strength, easy to fall off, and can use thrombin to start rapid coagulation cascade reaction, which has the characteristics of fast hemostasis, good biocompatibility, high safety and wide range of hemostasis. The physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of PCL-PDA-TB membrane were verified by scanning electron microscopy, cell proliferation test, cell adhesion test and extract cytotoxicity test. Red blood cell adhesion, platelet adhesion, dynamic coagulation time and animal models all verified the coagulation effect of PCL-PD-TB membrane. Therefore, PCL-PDA-TB membrane has great potential in wound hemostasis.

Drug delivery to the brain represents a challenge especially in the therapy of central nervous system malignancies. Simvastatin (SVT), as other statins, has shown potential anticancer properties that are difficult to exploit in the CNS. In the present work the physico-chemical, mucoadhesive and permeability enhancing properties of simvastatin-loaded poly-ε-caprolactone nanocapsules coated with chitosan for nose-to-brain administration were investigated. Lipid-core nanocapsules coated with different molecular weight (MW) chitosans (LNCchit) prepared by a novel one-pot technique were characterized for particle size, surface charge, particle number density, morphology, drug encapsulation efficiency, interaction between surface nanocapsules with mucin, drug release and permeability across two nasal mucosa models. Results show that all formulations present adequate particle size (below 220 nm), positive surface charge, narrow droplet size distribution (PDI<0.2) and high encapsulation efficiency. Nanocapsules presented controlled drug release and mucoadhesive properties dependent on the MW of the coating chitosan. The results of permeation across RPMI 2650 human nasal cell line evidenced that LNCchit increased the permeation of SVT. In particular, the amount of SVT permeated after 4h for nanocapsules coated with low MW chitosan, high MW chitosan and control SVT was 13.91 ± 0.78 µg, 9.15 ± 1.23 µg and 1.42 ± 0.21 µg respectively. These results were confirmed by the SVT ex vivo permeation across rabbit nasal mucosa. This study highlighted the suitability of LNCchit as promising strategy for the administration of simvastatin for a nose-to-brain approach for the therapy of brain tumors.

This research was specifically aimed at assessing the influence of sulfur in triple-super phosphate (TSP) on wheat yield. From the results, wheat showed response to sulfur (S) from gypsum (in 67%); and nitrogen (N) from urea in about 100% (of 24 sites). Based on this N was found to be the most limiting element to wheat production followed by sulfur, and then by phosphorus. TSP is tested to contain agronomically up to 2-6% by weight of S. However, wheat didn’t show response to S impurity supplied in the form of TSP. Though, not statistically significant, it is observed that there have always been yield increments by certain percent due to S from TSP in 8 out of 10 target sites, which is depicted in the increasing trends of yield response curves. From this it is learnt that, the benefits of the accidental/incidental application of such high analysis fertilizers can be many-folds in the quality attributes of wheat, if the soils of such investigation at the same time would contain significant amount of organic matter (OM). Indeed, such analysis would be vital in varietal specific nutrient requirement studies in precision-farming and/or in categorizing soils into fertility gradients and fertilizer recommendation domains.

Metal corrosion poses a significant challenge for industries by decreasing the lifespan of materials and escalat-ing maintenance and replacement costs. This study is critically important as it assesses the corrosion resistance properties of annealed steel wire electrodes coated with manganese, employing chronoamperometry and linear voltammetry techniques. The electrodes were immersed in an electrolyte solution and subjected to chronoam-perometry at various voltages (-0.55 V, -0.60 V, and -0.70 V) and durations (60 seconds and 1800 seconds). Sub-sequently, linear voltammetry was performed over a potential range from -0.8 V to 0.8 V to generate Tafel plots. The Butler-Volmer equation was applied to the data obtained to determine the corrosion current density. The re-sults indicate that the optimal conditions for forming a highly effective protective manganese layer occur at a potential of -0.70 V for 1800 seconds. Under these conditions, the electrodes exhibited superior corrosion re-sistance. The study also revealed that shorter durations and less negative potentials led to less effective manga-nese coatings, with higher corrosion rates and reduced stability. These findings are significant for developing ef-ficient corrosion protection methods in industrial and research applications, providing clear parameters for op-timizing the manganese electrodeposition process on annealed steel.

Developing a biomolecular detection method that minimizes photodamage while maintaining an environment suitable for biological constituents to maintain their physiological state is expected to drive new diagnostic and mechanistic breakthroughs. In addition, ultra-sensitive diagnostic platforms are needed for rapid and point-of-care technologies for various diseases. Considering this, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is proposed as a non-destructive and sensitive approach to address the limitations of fluorescence, electrochemical, and other optical detection techniques. However, to advance the applications of SERS, novel approaches to enhance the signal of substrate materials are needed to improve reproducibility and costs associated with manu-facture and scale-up. Due to their physical properties and synthesis, semiconductor-based nanostructures have gained increasing recognition as SERS substrates; however, low signal en-hancements have offset their widespread adoption. To address this limitation and assess the po-tential for use in biological applications, zinc oxide (ZnO) was coated with different concentra-tions (0.01-0.1 M) of gold (Au) precursor. When crystal violet (CV) was used as a model target with the synthesized substrates, the highest enhancement was obtained with ZnO coated with 0.05 M Au precursor. This substrate was subsequently applied to differentiate exosomes derived from three cell types to provide insight into their molecular diversity. We anticipate this work will serve as a platform for colloidal hybrid SERS substrates in future bio-sensing applications.

Influence of Joule heating on magnetic properties, giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) effect and domain wall (DW) dynamics of Fe75B9Si12C4 glass-coated microwires was studied. A remarkable increase in GMI ratio is observed in Joule heated samples. The hysteresis loops of Joule heated samples maintain a rectangular shape, while a slight decrease in coercivity after Joule heating is observed. On the other hand, a modification of MOKE hysteresis loops is observed upon Joule heating. Additionally, DW dynamics improvement after Joule heating is observed. The observed GMI ratio improvement along with the change in MOKE loops and DW dynamics improvement has been discussed considering magnetic anisotropy induced by Oersted magnetic field in the surface layer during Joule heating and the internal stress relaxation. A remarkable GMI ratio im-provement observed in Fe-rich Joule-heated microwires with a rectangular hysteresis loop and fast DW propagation, together with the fact that Fe is a more common and less expensive metal than Co, makes them suitable for use in magnetic sensors.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of seed and fertilizer rates on biomass yield and other agronomic treats of two oat varieties (Bona-bas and Bate) at the Kuyu sub-site of Fitche Agricultural Research Center in 2022. Four levels of Nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 23, 46, and 69 kg ha-1) and three levels of seed rates (60, 80, and 100 kg ha-1) with two oat varieties (Bona-bas and Bate) were using randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement with three replications. Soil samples before and after were collected and analyzed. The analysis of soil samples before planting indicated that the soil pH was strongly acidic (5.16) and after harvest, it raised to a strongly acidic level (5.29). The interaction effect of varieties, seed rates, and fertilizer rates showed highly significant (p<0.001) variation on the number of tillers per plant, leaf area per plant, leaf-to-stem ratio, fresh biomass yield, dry matter yield, days to maturity, and seed yield. The treatment combination of Bona-bas: FR46:SR100 has produced the highest dry matter yield (5.1 t/ha), followed by Bona-bas: FR46:SR60 and Bona-bas: FR69:SR80 which produced the same value of 4.9 t/ha dry matter yield. This study recommends that for the better agronomic performance of oat varieties, 46 kgha-1 N of fertilizer with 60 kgha-1 of seed rate is preferable to use by farmers in the study area and other areas having similar agroecologies and soil types. In addition, it is essential to conduct the year-over location to confirm the present findings and the result needs to be supported with animal evaluation trials.

Inherent low soil fertility status limits productivity of rice in the lowland ecologies in Northern Ghana. Combining organic and inorganic N fertilizers could help to maintain the fertility of lowland soils for rice production. A screen house pot experiment was carried out to investigate the combined effect of biochar-compost and inorganic N fertilizer on the nitrogen uptake and agronomic performance of rice plants grown on Eutric Gleysol lowland soil. Inorganic N fertilizer alone and its combinations with different types of biochar-compost (based on the proportions of biochar and compost) were used as treatment. A control (unamended soil) was also included. The incorporation of biochar-compost and inorganic N fertilizer improved the growth parameters and yield components of rice plants. The combination of biochar-compost and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer was also found to improve nitrogen uptake and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in rice plants. This practice could be the most likely viable option for alleviating lowlands soil fertility issues and increasing rice productivity in Northern Ghana.

High rates of phosphorus (P) currently being applied to soils for the production of vegetables in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam has led to the concern of its negative effect on the economics and the environment. This research presents a comprehensive study on the determination of P supplying capacity in this region of Vietnam to examine the possibility of reducing P fertilizer input. One hundred twenty (120) soil samples were collected to evaluate total P and Bray 1 available P in the soils. Phosphorus maximum sorption, degree of P saturation, P release, and the effect of P fertilizer on corn (Zea mays L.) yield in greenhouse and fields were also determined. Total P concentrations of 56.7% soil samples evaluated yielded high P concentrations (>560 mg P/kg), while 74.2% of the samples had high Bray 1 available P concentrations (>20 mg P/kg soil). Maximum P sorption ranged from 149 to 555 mg P/kg soil, respectively and has negative correlation to available P (r = - 0.63*), degrees of P saturation ranged from 0.63 to 5.46% correlated to available P (r = 0.98**) and maximum P release ranged from 1.2 to 61.9 mg P/kg soil, respectively correlated to available P (r = 0.96**). Corn grown in soils with available P concentrations >15 mg P/kg did not respond to P fertilizer in greenhouse or field experiments. We conclude that many farmers in this region can reduce P fertilizer input, thus increasing their profits and reducing negative environmental impacts associated with excess soil P for sustainable agriculture.

The potential agricultural use of metal nanoparticles (NPs) for slow-release micronutrient fertilizers is beginning to be investigated by both industry and regulatory agencies. However, the impact of such NPs on soil biogeochemical cycles is not clearly understood. In this study, impacts of a commercially-available copper NPs on the soil nitrification kinetics was investigated via batch experiments. The X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy analysis showed that the NPs readily oxidized to Cu(II) and strongly retained in soils with minimum dissolution (<1% of total mass). The Cu2+ (aq) at 1mg/L showed the beneficial effect on the nitrification, an increase in the rate of nitrification kinetics (Vmax). However Vmax was negatively impacted by ionic Cu at 10-100mg/L and CuNP at 1-100 mg/L. The trace metal toxicity of soil nitrifiers seems to be critical in the soil nitrification processes. Among CuNPs, the suppressed nitrification kinetics was concentration dependent at >10mg/L. The reaction products of surface oxidation such as the release of ionic Cu seem to play an important role in suppressing the nitrification process. Considering the potential use of copper NPs as a slow-release micronutrient fertilizer, further studies are needed in heterogeneous soil systems.

A new biodegradable paper-based film is a hot research topic in the development of green agriculture. In this paper, a black paper base film coated with cooked tung oil with excellent mechanical properties, hydrophobic surface, high heat transfer and strong weather resistance was prepared by spraying high pigment carbon black solution on the surface of base paper. The results showed that the surface solidified oil film with rough structure was made by the brush coating process of cooked tung oil, and the base film of black paper was given hydrophobic structure, and the contact angle reached 98.9 °. Cooked tung oil permeates into the inside of the paper base, and after curing, it forms a multi-dimensional network film structure. The maximum tensile stress of the black paper base film is about 123% higher than that of the original paper base film. The coloring of carbon black makes the black paper base film have heat conduction effect, and the average heat transfer rate reaches 15.12 °C/s. Cooked tung oil is combined with the paper-based fiber high-toughness layer to form a stable system. The existence of the cured film improves the basic mechanics and hydrophobicity, and the resistance to ultraviolet radiation and hot air is greatly improved. This study provides a feasible scheme for the application of a black paper base film coated with cooked tung oil.

Ion beam-assisted deposition (IBAD) has been proposed as a promising texturing technology that uses film epitaxy method to obtain biaxial texture on a non-textured metal or compound substrate. Magnesium oxide (MgO) is the most well explored texturing material. In order to obtain the optimal biaxial texture, the actual thickness of the IBAD-MgO film must be controlled within 12 nm. Due to the bombardment of ion beams, IBAD-MgO has large lattice deformation, poor texture and many defects in the films. In this work, an additional homogeneous epitaxy MgO (epi-MgO) layer has been deposited on the IBAD-MgO layer by electron-beam evaporation. The biaxial texture can be optimized by the deposition of additional epi-MgO layer. The effects of growth temperature, film thickness, deposition rate and oxygen flux on the texture and morphology of the epi-MgO film were systematically studied. After the research of epi-MgO process, the best full width at half maximum (FWHM) values were 2.2 for the out-of-plane texture and 4.8° for the in-plane texture, respectively. Subsequently, the LaMnO3 cap layer and YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) functional layer was deposited on the epi-MgO layer to test the quality of MgO layer. Finally, the critical current density of YBCO films is 6MA/cm2 (77K, 500nm, self-field), indicating that this research provides a high-quality MgO substrate for the YBCO layer.

Interface solar steam generation (ISSG) are charming for its applications in desalination and wastewater treatment. Biomass is an attractive substrate for utilizing solar vapor evaporators because of its natural pore structure and water transportability. Polymers like polydopamine (PDA) and polypyrrole (PPy) with broadband spectrum absorption are fascinating in photothermal materials (PTMs). Herein, PDA coated daikon-based (PDA-DK) and PPy coated daikon-based (PPy-DK) PTMs have been exploited for solar steam generation. When polyethylene foam (PEF) was used as an insulating layer to limit heat loss from the PTMs to bulk water, the evaporation rate of PDA-DK and PPy-DK was raised from 0.82 kg m–2 h–1 and 0.96 kg m–2 h–1 to 1.50 kg m–2 h–1 and 1.60 kg m–2 h–1, respectively. Meanwhile, the corresponding photothermal conversion efficiency was increased to 89.01% and 98.97%, which was increased by nearly 40% under 1-sun irradiation. In addition, PDA-DK and PPy-DK exhibited remarkable stability for the solar steam generation without significant change through 15 cycles. Furthermore, PDA-DK and PPy-DK could effectively desalt seawater and purify dyeing wastewater. All the results indicate that PDA-DK and PPy-DK have great potential in real-world applications for solar steam generation.

In this study, a new method for synthesizing Ag-NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ @ SiO2 nanocomposites was introduced. Using a hydrothermal method, the synthesized Yb3+- and Er3+-codoped NaYF4 upconversion luminescent materials and Ag nanoparticles were doped into upconversion nanomaterials and coated with SiO2 up-conversion nanomaterials. This material is known as Ag-UCNPs-SiO2’ it improves both the luminous intensity because of the doped Ag nanoparticles and has low cytotoxicity because of the SiO2 coating. The morphology of UCNPs was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mapping confirmed the successful doping of Ag nanoparticles. Successful coating of SiO2 was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fluorescence spectra were used to compare changes in luminescence intensity before and after doping Ag nanoparticles. The reason for the increase in luminescence intensity after doping with Ag nanoparticles was simulated using first-principles calculations. The cytotoxicity of Ag-UCNPs-SiO2 was tested via the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, and its imaging ability was characterized using the micro-CT method.

The implementation of gold-hydrogel core-shell nanomaterials in novel light-driven technologies requires the development of well-controlled and scalable synthesis protocols with precisely tunable properties. Herein, new insights are presented concerning the importance of using the concentration of gold cores as a control parameter in the seeded precipitation polymerization process to modulate – regardless of core size – relevant fabrication parameters such as encapsulation yield, particle size and shrinkage capacity. Controlling the number of nucleation points results in the facile tuning of the encapsulation process, with yields reaching 99% of gold cores even when using different core sizes at a given particle concentration. This demonstration is extended to the encapsulation of bimodal gold core mixtures with equally precise control on the encapsulation yield, suggesting that this principle could be extended to encapsulating cores composed of other materials. These findings could have significant impact on the development of stimuli-responsive smart materials.

We have experimentally analyzed multi-azimuth degradation mechanisms that govern failures of commercially-available high-power (1 Watt) phosphor-coated white (hppc-W) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) covered with peanut-shaped lens under three current-stress aging (CSA) conditions. Comprehensive analyses focus on photometric, chromatic, electrical, thermal, and packaging characteristics. At the packaging level, (a) the decrease of the phosphor-conversion efficiency, (b) the yellow-browning of the optical lens, and (c) the darkening of the silver-coated reflective layer deposited with extraneous chemical elements (e.g., C, O, Si, Mg, and Cu, respectively) contribute collectively to the integral degradation of the optical power. By contrast, Ohmic contacts, thermal properties, and angles of maximum intensity remain unchanged after 3840 h aging in three cases. Particularly at the chip level, the formation of point defects increases the number of non-radiative recombination centers, and thus decreases the optical power during aging stages. Nevertheless, in view of the change of the ideality factor, the dopant activation and the annealing effect facilitate the increase of the optical power in two specific aging stages (192 h∼384 h and 768 h∼1536 h), respectively. This work offers a systematic guidance for the development of reliable LED-based light sources in general-lighting areas.

Electrospinning is the versatile technique to generate large quantities of micro- or nano-fibers from a wide variety of shapes and sizes of polymer. Natural bone is a hierarchically composites with the dispersion of inorganic ceramic along organic polymer. The aim of this study, the electrospun poly (lactic acid) (PLA) mats coated with chitosan (CH) and calcium silicate (CS) powder were fabricated. The morphology, chemical composition, and surface properties of CS/CH-PLA composites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In vitro, the CS/CH-coated PLA mats increased the formation of apatite on the surface when soaking in cell cultured medium. During culture, the adhesion and proliferation of the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on CS/CH-PLA were significantly promoted relative to those on PLA. Collagen I and fibronectin levels and promoted cell adhesion were observed upon an increase in CS content. Further, compared to PLA mats without CS/CH, CS10 and CS15 mats markedly enhanced the proliferation of hMSCs as well as their osteogenesis properties, which was characterized by bone-related gene expression. Our results demonstrated that the biodegradable and electroactive CS/CH-PLA mats had potential application as an ideal candidate for bone tissue engineering. Together, findings from this study clearly demonstrated that PLLA-C2S composite scaffold may function as an ideal candidate for bone tissue engineering.

The purpose of this experiment was to assess the morphological parameters and dry matter yield of Brachiaria decumbens ILRI-10871 grown for two years under four fertilizer rates (0,100, 300kg N and manure). The field experiment was carried out at Robit Bata Kebele in the Bahir Dar Zuria district of Amhara region, Ethiopia. Each 9-m2 plot in the treatments was arranged in a 4x2 factorial configuration in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Morphological data were collected from 10 randomly selected plants grown in the middle rows of each plot. All recorded datasets were subjected to a general linear model procedure of SAS (9.0) at a significance level of alpha

The major issue of raw materials depletion and more specifically of phosphorous (an important fertilizer) has currently become an emergent aspect, due to expected depletion problems, needing immediate handling. This was the reason for the implementation of PhoReSe project that aimed to remove and recover phosphorus from the secondary (biologically treated) effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP “AINEIA”, located near Thessaloniki, N. Greece), treating the wastewaters of the nearby touristic area. Regarding the phosphorous supplementary removal and recovery treatment options, two methods mainly examined, initially in laboratory scale (batch experiments), i.e. (1) the adsorption of phosphorous, and (2) the chemical precipitation of phosphorus. Both methods further applied in pilot-scale, by performing initially the adsorption of phosphorous onto the AquAsZero commercial sorbent, which is a mixed manganese iron oxy-hydroxide, followed by the chemical precipitation of phosphorous, implemented after the de-sorption process of previously saturated adsorbent. The final precipitate of this procedure examined as an alternative/supplementary fertilizer, returning with this way phosphorus into the natural cycle. These experiments, as applied successfully in pilot-scale, set the basis for the larger-scale relevant application for similar WWTP facilities.

TThe following three objectives were tested in this study: (1) investigate the utility of low-altitude remote sensing using UAS technology to compare the effects of different N application systems in rice production; (2) use spatial extrapolation to scale up plot-level generated to farmer field rice yield data based on crop spectral signatures, and (3) predict and map out rice productivity as a function of N placement systems. Images were captured on a UAV platform at midseason of the rice crop. Orthomosaics were developed for selected fields in rice-producing zones. Grain yields were assessed from low, medium, and high crop health plots delineated based on NDVI values. On the plot scale, UDP outyielded non-UDP by 0.84%. Individual plot yield data were scaled up to the farmer field level through Jenks natural breaks classification and es-tablishing an empirical relationship between OSAVI and plot yields. Assessment of the scaled-up field levelfield-level data also confirmed the superiority of UDP N man-agement over the non-UDP systems in promoting rice yields. Scaling up plot scale da-ta to whole field levels also facilitated generating and mapping expected yield maps for individual farmer fields in the three zones studied. This study has established a tangible simple but tangible protocol protocol for predicting and mapping rice yields in small-scale farmer fields using UAS data.

Chemical and mechanical properties of plasma-assisted nitrided (PAN), TiN cathodic arc coated, and PAN with TiN coated samples were thoroughly evaluated on tool steel samples of 1.2379. The evaluation involved SEM, nano-indentation, profilometer, micro scratch, and corrosion tests. The results revealed that PAN treatment alters the roughness of the surface, while it has minimal impact on the coefficient of friction. However, it increases the substrate's hardness, making it twice as hard and three times more resilient against scratch tests, along with improved corrosion resistance. TiN-coated samples are four times harder than untreated ones, but they exhibit a higher elastic modulus (E), leading to a lower H/E index. The most promising results were obtained with PAN+TiN treatment, combining high hardness (H) with lower E, resulting in a high H/E index, a crucial criterion for wear resistance. These samples also demonstrated superior scratch hardness and corrosion resistance, despite being thinner and rougher.

A new three-dimensional numerical model of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) with a single straight channel has been developed to primarily investigate the important impact of the double-sided microporous layer (MPL) coating on the overall performance of the fuel cell and the distribution of the current and the oxygen concentration within the cathode gas diffusion layers (GDLs). Realistic experimentally estimated interfacial contact resistance values between the gas diffusion layer and each of the bipolar plates and the catalyst layer values were incorporated into the model, and parametric studies were performed. The results showed that the double-sided MPL coating could significantly improve the fuel cell performance by up to 30%. Also, it was shown that the neglect of the contact resistance between the MPL and the catalyst layer could overestimate the fuel cell performance by up to 6%. In addition, the results showed that the fuel cell performance and the distribution of the current and oxygen are more sensitive to the porosity of the MPL facing the bipolar plate than the porosity of the MPL facing the catalyst layer. All the above results are presented and critically discussed in detail.

If a lubricant contains structures capable of conducting energy, reactions involving zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) may take place both very close to and away from the solid surfaces, with this indicating that ZDDP can be a highly effective anti-wear (AW) additive. The central thesis of this article is that the tribocatalytic effect is observed only when the energy emitted by the solids is transmitted by ordered molecular structures present in the lubricant, e.g., graphene. The friction tests were carried out for 100Cr6 steel balls in a sliding contact with uncoated or a:C-H-coated HS6-5-2C steel discs in the presence of polyalphaolefin 8 (PAO 8) as the lubricant, which was enhanced with graphene and/or ZDDP. There is sufficient evidence of the interactions occurring between ZDDP and graphene and their effects on the tribological performance of the system. It was also found that the higher the concentration of zinc in the wear area, the lower the wear. This was probably due to the energy transfer resulting from the catalytic decomposition of ZDDP molecules. Graphene, playing the role of the catalyst, contributed to that energy transfer.

Electromagnetic cloaking approach is employed with the intention to curb the destructive effects of mutual interference for rectangular and circularly shaped patch antennas situated in a tight spacing (sub-wavelength separation is employed). Primarily, we show that by coating the top surface of each patch with an appropriately designed metasurface, it is possible to considerably reduce the mutual coupling between the said antennas. We also demonstrate that, despite the close proximity of these patches, the individual radiation characteristic of each antenna is reinstated to emulate their performance in an isolated scenario. Furthermore, the cloak construct is extended to a tightly spaced, interleaved linear patch antenna array configuration and it is shown that the coated metasurfaces successfully enhance the performance of each array in terms of their matching characteristics, total efficiencies as well as their far-field realized gain patterns for a broad range of beam-scan angles. The decoupling and cloaking action of these metasurfaces are demonstrated by various full-wave numerical simulation results. We believe that the simple planar structure of our metasurface design (according to simulation models) makes it feasible for fabrication and the fact that it is used to accomplish cloaking of an electrically large antenna surface, makes it unique in itself.

Abstract: Marine eutrophication is a pervasive and growing threat to global sustainability. Thereby nutrient discharges to the marine environment should be reduced to a minimum. When fertilizers are loaded to vessels in ports, a significant amount of nutrients are released into the sea, but so far these actions have received little attention. Here, we employed the Boosted Regression Trees modeling (BRT) to define relationships between fertilizer loading, loading area, rain intensity and nutrient discharge to the marine environment and then used the established relationships to predict daily nutrient discharge due to fertilizer loading. The studied subject was a port in the Gulf of Finland, where significant amount of both nitrogen and phosphorus are loaded to vessels. BRT models accounted for a significant proportion of the variability of nutrient discharge. As expected, the nutrient discharge increased with the amounts of fertilizers loaded and the intensity of rain. On the other hand, with increasing loading area the amounts of total nitrogen discharge increased, but phosphorus discharge decreased. The latter result may be due to different char-acteristics of the loading areas of different terminals. The model predicted that at the studied port the total nitrogen and phosphorus discharge into the marine environment due to fertilizer loading was 272,906 and 196 kg per year, respectively. Im-portantly, the developed model can be used to predict nutrient loads for different future scenarios to propose the best mitigation methods for nutrient discharges to the sea.

Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination has become a serious problem in China. In this study, the goals of the field experiments were to understand how the application of nitrogen fertilizer at the full heading stage and filling stage reduced the uptake of Cd in rice by affecting the distribution of Cd in iron plaques on the root surfaces and subcellular in the root and flag leaf. The hydroponic culture experiments aimed to explore the effect of interaction or deficiency of nitrogen and cadmium on cadmium accumulation in rice at the late growth stage. The results showed that under the condition of having enough nitrogen supply during the early growth stage, applying nitrogen fertilizer during the full heading stage and filling stage resulted in a significant increase in the concentration of Fe and Cd on the root plaques at the milk stage and mature stage. Additionally, it increased the concentration and proportion of Cd in the soluble fraction of subcellular in the flag leaves at the milk stage. On the other hand, when there was a deficiency of nitrogen, the concentration of Fe in the root plaques increased significantly, while the concentration of Cd in the root plaques decreased significantly. Moreover, the proportion of Cd in the flag leaf cell walls increased significantly. Regardless of whether there was sufficient or deficient nitrogen supply during the early growth stage, applying nitrogen at the full heading stage reduced the Cd concentration in brown rice by 35.11% and 57.25%, respectively. Under hydroponic culture conditions with both Cd exposure and later-stage nitrogen supply significantly increased the Cd concentration in brown rice. However, in the absence of Cd, nitrogen supply significantly reduced the Cd concentration in brown rice. The accumulation of Cd in brown rice was significantly correlated with the accumulation of Fe and Mn at the late growth stage. Our findings indicate that when there is sufficient nitrogen nutrition during the early growth stage of rice, topdressing nitrogen fertilizer at the full heading stage combined with lime with mineral element fertilizers such as Fe and Mn is an effective approach to reduce the presence of cadmium in rice grains.

A fern, Polypodium aureum, possesses a specialized spore-releasing mechanism like a catapult induced by quick expansion of vaporized bubbles. This study introduces lipid-coated perfluorocarbon droplets to enable repeatable vaporization-condensation cycles, inspired by the repeatable vaporization of Polypodium aureum. Lipid-perfluorocarbon droplets have been considered not to exhibit repeatable oscillations due to bubble collapse by low surface tension of lipid layers. However, a single lipid-dodecafluoropentane droplet with a diameter of 9.17 µm shows expansion-contraction oscillations over 4,000 cycles by changing lipid composition and applying low power of 1.7 MHz ultrasound to induce partial vaporization of droplets. The optimal combinations of shell composition, droplet fabrication, and acoustic conditions can minimize damage on shell structure and quick recovery of damaged shell layers. The highly-expanding oscillatory microbubbles provide a new direction for fuel-free micro or nanobots as well as biomedical applications of contrast agents and drug delivery.

The tribological performance of metalwork steel tools is of vital importance in both cold and hot working processes. One solution for improving metal tool life is the application of coatings. This paper investigates the effect of CrAlSiN thin-film PVD-deposition on the tribological behaviour of tool steel K340. The sliding wear performance of the coated K340 steel is analysed in relation to both the uncoated K340 steel and a range of tool steels dedicated to hot- and cold-working, such as X155CrVMo12-1, X37CrMoV5-1, X40CrMoV5-1, 40CrMnMo7 and 90MnCrV8. The investigated tool steels were heat-treated, while K340 was subjected to thermochemical treatment and then coated with a CrAlSiN hard film (K340/CrAlSiN). The hardness, chemical composition, phase structure and microstructure of steels K340 and K340/CrAlSiN are examined. Tribological tests were conducted using the ball-on-disc tester in compliance with the ASTM G99 standard. The tests were performed under dry unidirectional sliding conditions, using an Al2O3 ball as a counterbody. The wear factor and coefficient of friction are estimated and analysed with respect to hardness and alloying composition of the materials under study. SEM observations are made to identify the sliding wear mechanisms of the analysed tool steels and PVD-coated K340 steel. In contrast to the harsh abrasive-adhesive wear mechanism observed for uncoated tool steels, the abrasive wear dominates in case of the AlCrSiN. The deposited thin film effectively prevents the K304 substrate from harsh wear severe degradation. Moreover, thanks to the deposited coating, the K304/CrAlSiN sample has a COF of 0.529 and a wear factor of K=5.68×10−7 m3 N−1 m−1, while the COF of the reference tool steels ranges from 0.702 to 0.885 and their wear factor ranges from 1.68×10−5 m3 N−1 m−1 to 3.67×10−5 m3 N−1 m−1. The CrAlSiN deposition reduces the wear of the K340 steel and improves its sliding properties, which makes it a promising method for prolonging the service life of metalwork tools.

The surface enhanced fluorescence（SEF）detection bases by plasmonic nanopillars array with nanoparticles has opened up a new gate in the application of biological imaging and sensing. The fluorescence enhancement of the probe molecule depends on its position in equilibrium, which is close to the hot spot leading to the electromagnetic field enhancement, but not too close to the metal surface resulting in quenching. Here, a large scale SiO₂-Ag-cicada wing SEF substrate was fabricated by magnetron sputtering with correction enhancement factor of 797.6. Thereinto the cicada wing provides the skeleton of the nanopillars array structure, the deposited Ag constructs two kinds of hot spots, and SiO₂ forms a separation layer to prevent quenching. Moreover, the substrate exhibited good reproducibility, high sensitivity with low limits of detection (LOD) and high stability for oxidation resistance. We propose that SEF substrate with modification of SiO₂ can not only improve the enhancement performance, but also expanding its application in the biological investigations.

A portable urea sensor for use in the fast flow condition was fabricated using porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membranes coated with amine-functionalized parylene, parylene-A, by vapor deposition. To generate a specific electrochemical sensor signal from urea, the urea-hydrolyzing enzyme urease was immobilized on the parylene-A-coated PTFE membranes via chemical crosslinking using glutaraldehyde. The urease-immobilized membranes were assembled in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fluidic chamber, and a screen-printed carbon three-electrode system was used for electrochemical measurements. The success of urease immobilization was confirmed using fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The optimum concentration of urease for immobilization on the parylene-A-coated PTFE membranes was determined to be 48 mg/mL, and the optimum number of membranes in the PDMS chamber was found to be 8. Using these optimized conditions, we fabricated the urea biosensor and monitored urea samples under various flow rates ranging from 0.5 to 10 mL/min in the flow condition using chronoamperometry. To test the applicability of the sensor for physiological samples, we used it for monitoring urea concentration in the waste peritoneal dialysate of a patient with chronic renal failure, at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min.

The combination of calcium phosphates (CaP) with bioactive glasses (BG) has received an increased interest in the field of bone tissue engineering. In the present work, biphasic calcium phosphates (BCP) obtained by hydrothermal transformation (HT) of cuttlefish bone (CB) were coated with a Sr-, Mg- and Zn-doped sol-gel derived BG. The scaffolds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The initial CB structure was maintained after HT and the scaffold functionalization did not jeopardize the internal structure. The results of in vitro bio-mineralization after immersing the BG coated scaffolds in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed extensive formation of bone-like apatite onto the surface of the scaffolds. Overall, the functionalized CB derived BCP scaffolds revealed promising properties for their use in bone tissue engineering field.

In the present work, we designed a mild strategy to make Cu₂(OH)PO₄ (CHP) nanoparticles on cotton fabrics (CFs) to achieve multi-functionalities. The phytic acid (IP6) assisted method was employed to synthesize nanoparticles (CHP-IP6). Under Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), we characterized the coated cotton fabrics. The CHP-IP6 treated fabrics showed prominent photocatalytic activity, excellent photocatalytic stability and thorough discoloration of methylene blue (MB) stain under sunlight irradiation.

Protective coatings, in recent years also from nanocomposite formulations, are commonly applied onto architectural stone and stone artefacts, mainly to prevent absorption into the porous stone structure of condensed water and dissolved atmospheric pollutants. While standard protocols are available to assess a coating’s performance, understanding the response of the coating-stone system is a complex task, due to the interplay of various factors determining the overall behaviour. Characterization techniques allowing to correlate the extent and nature of surface modification upon treatment with the most relevant physical properties (i.e water absorption and surface wettability) are thus of great interest. Electrokinetic analysis based on streaming current measurements, thanks to its sensitivity towards even minor changes in the surface chemical composition, may fulfil such requirement. Indeed, by involving the interaction with a testing aqueous electrolyte solution, this technique allows to probe not only the outer surface but also the outermost layer of the pore network, which plays a crucial role in the interaction of the stone with condensed atmospheric water. In this work a correlation was found between the extent of surface modification, as determined by streaming current measurements, surface wettability and capillary water absorption of 6 coating-lithotype combinations (3 lithotypes and 2 nanocomposites).

The effects of soluble silicon fertilization on monocots and dicots have been widely studied. However, little is known regarding its effects on protecting epiphytes against insect and fungal pests. The efficacy of silicon fertilizer to reduce damage by thrip pest complexes, namely: Thrips palmi Karny, Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande, Chaetanaphothrips orchidii Moulton, and Chaetanaphothrips signipennis Bagnall (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), and fungal pathogens: Botrytis cinerea Persoon (Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) and Fusarium spp. Link (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae) was examined during a nine-month greenhouse trial in Hawaii. The trial assessed yield, quality, and pest damage across three common varieties of dendrobiums. All replicates received additional soluble silicon fertilizer applications alternating weekly between soil drench and foliar (50 mg Si/plant) applications. Yield, quality, and spray length, pest damage, plant vigor, SPAD, and leaf temperature were measured. Data were analyzed using a generalized linear model (glm) with repeated measures followed by post-hoc pair-wise comparisons in R, version 4.3.1. Treatment effects were significant at P

Silver and gold nanoparticles are a promising tool for medical and industrial application, therefore, their ecotoxicity should be carefully examined. The effect of silver (12 nm) and gold (4.7) nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol on Spirulina platensis biomass growth and biochemical composition was investigated. The spirulina cultivation medium was supplemented with nanoparticles in concentration range 0.025-0.5 µM. Given concentrations stimulated spirulina biomass growth, while content of proteins, carbohydrates and auxiliary pigments was affected insignificantly by presence of nanoparticles in cultivation medium. The pronounced effect of gold nanoparticles at concentration 0.5 µM on the lipids content was observed. TEM images demonstrate that nanoparticles penetrate inside the cell, resulting in ultrastructural changes in cells.

In this study, a slow-release urea fertilizer hydrogel was synthesized from hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol and glycerol blends with paper (blended paper) as second layer. The fertilizer hydrogel was characterized by SEM, XRD and FTIR. Its retention in sandy soil, swelling behavior in distilled and tap water as well as slow-release behavior to urea were investigated. The results indicated that the fertilizer had good slow-release properties and ability to retain water in soil. However, the addition of blended paper as a second layer matrix was found to help improve the release properties of the fertilizer. The swelling kinetic of the hydrogel followed the Schott’s Second order model. The release kinetics of urea in water was best described by the Zero order model signifying that the release behavior was independent of fertilizer concentration

The application of distributed fiber optic strain and temperature measurement can be utilized to address a multitude of measurement tasks across a diverse range of fields, particularly in the context of structural health monitoring in the domains of building construction, civil engineering, and special foundation engineering. However, a comprehensive understanding of the influences on the measurement method and the sensors is essential to prevent misinterpretations or measurement deviations. In this context, this study investigated the effects of moisture exposure, including various salt solutions and a high pH value, on a distributed strain measurement using Rayleigh backscattering. Three fiber optic sensors with different coating materials and one uncoated fiber were exposed to five different solutions for 24 hours. The study revealed significant discrepancies in deformation between the three coating types depending on the surrounding solution. Furthermore, in contrast to the prevailing literature, which predominantly describes swelling effects, a negative deformation was observed in a magnesium chloride solution. The findings of this study indicate that corresponding effects can impact the precision of measurement, potentially leading to misinterpretations. Conversely, these effects could be used to conduct large-scale monitoring of chemical components using distributed fiber optic sensing.

The production of nanoparticles enhances the bioactivity of biological molecules for drug delivery to infection sites. This study explains how silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coating enhanced the hypoglycemic effects of vanillic acid in male diabetic rats with diabetes brought on by streptozotocin. (STZ). Four groups of 24 rats were created for the investigation and divided into them. The first group rats (G1; untreated) were given a basal diet, whereas the other three groups all developed diabetes through STZ injection. Diabetic rats who were not getting therapy were included in the second group (G2; STZ-positive), whereas the other diabetic rats were divided into the third group (G3, vanillic acid-treated) and the fourth group (G4; AgNPs-coated vanillic acid treated). The treatment lasted four weeks. In G2, the induction of diabetes led to an increase in serum glucose, glycated proteins, renal indices, interleukin-6 (IL-6), K+, immunoglobulins, and lipid peroxidation, while decreased Ca++, Na+, and other antioxidants in the kidney tissue homogenate. In addition, aberrant signs were present in the pancreas and kidneys of diabetic rats. The renal and pancreatic tissues were effectively enhanced by vanillic acid or vanillic acid-coated AgNPs, bringing them very close to their pre-diabetic conditions. AgNPs-coated vanillic acid offered a stronger defense against STZ-induced diabetes and lessened the effects of hyperglycemia compared to ordinary vanillic acid. Additionally, using vanillic acid coated with silver nanoparticles greatly reduced inflammation when compared to using vanillic acid alone. This outcome suggests increased antioxidant activity.

An effective method for coating textile fabrics with porous materials is proposed, and the removal rates of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and fine dust particles in the coated textile fabrics are evaluated. The textile fabrics made of polyester are used to effectively reduce fine dust particles through static electricity. Zeolite and coconut shell activated carbon are used as porous material to reduce SOx and NOx, respectively. The effects of the epoxy content and dilution solution types on the SOx removal rate of textile fabrics coated with zeolite are evaluated to determine the optimum coating conditions. In addition, the effects of external environmental conditions, such as washing and freeze thawing, on the SOx and NOx removal rates of the textile fabrics coated with porous materials using the optimum coating conditions are examined. The test results show that the SOx removal rate of textile fabrics coated with zeolite decreases with the increase in the epoxy content. The decrease is 2.9 times larger for textile fabrics coated using deionized water than those coated using isopropyl alcohol. After one wash, the SOx removal rate decreases dramatically. However, the decrease is reduced by 16% when the epoxy content ratio is increased by 0.5%. The effects of washing and freeze thawing on the SOx and NOx removal rates of textile fabrics coated using the deionized water diluted with the epoxy content ratio of 2% are minimal. Consequently, to maintain stable SOx and NOx removal rates under external environmental conditions such as washing and freeze thawing, 98% deionized water dilution and 2% epoxy content ratio are required for the optimum coating of textile fabrics with zeolite and coconut shell activated carbon.

To increase rice production, fertilizer plays a crucial role in rice yield. In this research, we applied the coupled atmospheric and crop model, which is based on the WRF and CERES-Rice models, to find the appropriate nitrogen fertilizer level for increasing rice yield production in northern Thailand. The model was conducted from October to December in 2011 to 2015. To evaluate the model capability, the output from the model, including meteorological data, i.e., precipitation and temperature, and rice production, as compared to actual observation data. The modeling system shows an acceptable level of output for statistical examination; for example, the R² values were 0.93, 0.76, and 0.97 for precipitation, temperature, and rice production, respectively. To assess the optimization of the nitrogen fertilizer level, we designed 9 experiments: control cases and other cases that were multiplied by a factor of 2 – 10 times the nitrogen fertilizer levels. The model suggested that we can produce worthwhile rice yield production by approximately 4830 kg/ha if we increase the nitrogen fertilizer levels by 36 kg/ha.

Field experiments were carried out during 2011-2014 at the Research and Experimental Center to Combating Desertification located in the Elsen Tasarkhai station of central Mongolia. The study was aimed to identify the effects of oxidized brown coal humic acid fertilizer on the relative growth rate of several trees for forest rehabilitation. The trees used were Populus sibirica, Salix ledebouriana and Acer tataricum. The experiment was carried out with the concentrations of 2,000, 10,000 and 20,000 mg L-1 of humic acid fertilization treatments. The measurement of relative height growth rate (RHGR) was conducted for a period of 4 years. The treatments showed significant differences within humic fertilizer concentrations which differed depending on the species. Compared to the monthly RHGR over the study, the treatment of fertilizers were significantly better for tree growth. P. sibirica in the 10,000 and 20,000 mg L-1 humic acid fertilizers had significant height growth rates. In addition, when the humic acid treatments were compared to control, A. tataricum decreased over the years which were statistically significant for high growth rate and a positive effect of humic acid fertilization treatments was observed. Furthermore, results showed that oxidized brown coal humic acid fertilizers as organic fertilizer can have a positive effect for the growth of A. tataricum during the study years. The results showed that the soil chemical properties EC, CO2, NO3, and K2O were significant among all the treatments compared to the control. The effect on P2O5 statistically significantly increased among all the treatments. However, pH and Mg were not significant effect among all the treatments. Combining the results obtained from the oxidized brown coal humic acid fertilization with sustainable land management practices can help improve soil organics for environmental issues in degraded sandy soil regions.

Plasma-activated water (PAW) is an emerging and promising green technology in the agriculture sector during recent years. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of the spraying of PAW and amino acid fertilizer concentrations on the physiological, biochemical and phytochemical characteristics of German chamomile varieties under field conditions. Method: The experiment was performed during 2020–2021 as a factorial using a randomized complete block design with three replications, in an arid and warm region. The factors contained five fertilizer levels (0 (control), 1, 2, 3 ml·L−1 amino acid and PAW) and three German chamomile cultivars Bona, Bodegold, Lianka). Physiological, biochemical and phytochemical traits such as plant height, fresh and dried flower weight, chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, CHN elements, C:N ratio, total protein, amino acid profile, essential oil yield, apigenin content and major secondary metabolites were examined. Results: The ANOVA indicated that the impact of the cultivar and fertilizer was significant on all physiological, biochemical and phytochemical studied parameters. The amino acid fertilizer and PAW enhanced physiological features, hydrogen, C:N ratio, essential oil yield, apigenin content and main phytochemical compositions like chamazulene and α-bisabolol, but it had no incremental effect on the carbon, nitrogen, and total protein percentage. Conclusion: Findings revealed that the application of foliar amino acid fertilizer and PAW treatments improves physiological, biochemical and phytochemical parameters in German chamomile cultivars under field conditions.