Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall., live in Changbai Mountain being exposed to chilling temperature, high light intensities and water scarcity condition. To adapt to the harsh environment, the cold resistance mechanisms of R. chrysanthum have been successfully evolved in the long-term adaptive process. In our present work, the methods of proteomics combined with physiological and biochemical analyses were used to investigate the effects of cold stress on the photosynthesis and antioxidant system of Rhododendron chrysanthum Pall. and the molecular mechanisms involved in cold resistance of plants. A total of 153 photosynthesis related proteins were identified in present work, of which 7 proteins including Rubisco large subunit (rbcL) were up-regulated in experiment group (EG) compared with control group (CG). Simultaneously, four chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured in present study. The results showed that the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), actual quantum yield of PSII (Y(II)) and photochemical quenching (qP) were significantly higher in EG, whereas the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) was notably decreased. Cold stress could lead to a significant reduction in electron transport rate (ETR) accompanied with an increase in excitation pressure (1-qP). The abundance of PetE which involved in the plants photosynthetic electron transfer was also significantly influenced by cold stress. Moreover, the up-regulated expressions and higher levels of enzymatic activities of Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Ascorbate peroxidases (APXs) were detected in EG. All these changes which can help plants to survive in low temperature are considered as the crucial parts of cold tolerance mechanisms. These results revealed that photosynthesis and redox adjustment play significant roles in the defense of cold-induced damage.

Fungi are rich sources of secondary metabolites of agrochemical, pharmaceutical and food importances, such as mycotoxins, antibiotics and antitumor agents. Secondary metabolites play vital roles in fungal pathogenesis, growth and development, oxidative status modulation, and adaptation/resistance to various environmental stresses. LaeA contains an S-adenosylmethionine binding site and displays methyltransferase activity. The members of velvet proteins include VeA, VelB, VelC, VelD and VosA, for each member with a velvet domain. LaeA and velvet proteins can form multimeric complexes such as VosA-VelB and VelB-VeA-LaeA. They belong to global regulators and are mainly impacted by light. One of their most important functions is to regulate gene expression that are responsible for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The aim of this mini-review is to represent the newest cognition on the biosynthetic regulation of mycotoxins and other fungal secondary metabolites by LaeA and velvet proteins. In most cases, LaeA and velvet proteins positively regulated production of fungal secondary metabolites. The regulated fungal species mainly belong to the toxigenic fungi from the genera of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Fusarium, Magnaporthe, Monascus, and Penicillium for the production of mycotoxins. We can control secondary metabolite production to inhibit the production of harmful mycotoxins while promoting the production of useful metabolites by global regulation of LaeA and velvet proteins in fungi. Furthermore, the regulation by LaeA and velvet proteins should be a practical strategy in activating silent biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in fungi to obtain previously undiscovered metabolites.

Milk serves as a crucial source of natural bioactive compounds essential for human nutrition and health. The gastrointestinal digestion of milk proteins releases various biologically active peptides that positively impact human health and enhance physiological performance. With the growing production of cheese, Greek yogurt, and other dairy products, the volume of unutilized acid whey is significantly increasing. Acid whey, containing almost all whey proteins and approximately one-quarter of casein, presents a valuable raw material for generating peptides with potential health benefits. These peptides exhibit properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, antithrombotic, opioid, mineral-binding, and growth-stimulating activities, contributing to improved human immunity and the treatment of chronic diseases. Enzymatic hydrolysis of milk proteins has been developed as a method to produce these peptides, facilitating their use in food fortification. To incorporate whey into functional beverages, it undergoes fermentation by lactic acid bacteria with proteolytic activity. To specifically enrich these beverages with peptides exhibiting targeted bioactivities, it is essential to select lactic acid bacteria strains possessing the requisite protease profiles. Additionally, the sensory properties of the final product can be enhanced using starter cultures with diverse metabolic capabilities, even in the absence of added flavoring agents. Given the imperative to develop waste-free technologies and enhance the profitability of the dairy industry, there is a growing need to efficiently utilize and transform acid whey into a broad spectrum of valuable products and food additives. This approach is justified not only by the nutritional benefits of the bioactive components in whey but also by the commercial potential of safe and health-enhancing products.

Agriculture contributes towards South African economy, but this sector is highly vulnerable to risks imposed by climate change. Smallholder maize farmers are specifically susceptible to climate change impacts. Maize crop plays a crucial role in the country's food security as it is considered a stable food for households and source of feed for livestock. The study aimed to analyze the socio-economic factors influencing smallholder maize farmers’ willingness to adopt climate-smart agriculture. It was conducted in three different areas due to their specific agro-ecological zones. Multipurpose research design was used to gather data, and multistage random sampling to choose the study areas. Subsequently, 209 purposively selected farmers were interviewed face-to-face using structured questionnaires and focus discussion groups. Descriptive statistics and Double-hurdle regression model were used to analyze the data. Descriptive results indicated that 81%, 67%, and 63% farmers were willing to adopt CSA in Ga-Makanye, Gabaza, and Giyani, respectively. Empirical results from the first and second hurdles of the regression analysis showed that farmers’ education, crop diversification, information about CSA positively influenced the decision to adopt CSA while household size and agricultural experience negatively influenced the decision to adopt CSA. It is recommended that the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development should provide CSA workshops and educational programs to farmers to enhance their knowledge and decision-making processes regarding adaptation strategies.

Background: Alfalfa, the most economically important forage legume worldwide, features modest genetic progress due to long selection cycles and large extent of non-additive genetic variance associated with its autotetraploid genome. Methods: To improve the efficiency of genomic selection in alfalfa, we explored the effects of genome parametrization (as autotetraploid and diploid dosage, plus allele ratios) and SNP marker subsetting (all available SNPs; only genic regions; only non-genic regions) on genomic regressions, together with various levels of filtering on reading depth and missing rates. We used Genotyping by Sequencing-generated data and focused on traits of different genetic complexity, i.e., dry biomass yield in moisture-favorable (FE) and drought stress (SE) environments, leaf size, and onset of flowering, assessed on 143 genotyped plants from a genetically-broad European reference population and their phenotyped half-sib progenies. Results: On average, allele ratio improved the predictive ability compared with other genome parametrizations (+7.9% vs. tetraploid dosage, +12.6% vs. diploid dosage), SNP subsetting offered an advantage compared with any tested subsettings (+3.7% vs. genic regions, +7.6% vs. non-genic regions). However, when focusing on specific traits, different combinations of genome parametrization and subsetting reached better performances. We also released Legpipe2, a SNP calling pipeline tailored for reduced representation (GBS, RAD) medium-sized genotyping experiments.

Plant activators have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional pesticides for crop disease manage-ment due to their unique mode of action. By priming the plant's innate immune system, these compounds can induce systemic acquired resistance against a broad spectrum of pathogens without directly inhibiting their proliferation. Key advantages of plant activators include prolonged defense activity, lower effective dosages, and negligible risk of developing pathogen resistance. Among the various defensive pathways tar-geted, the salicylic acid (SA) signaling cascade has been extensively explored, leading to the successful devel-opment of commercial activators like benzothiadiazole for widespread application in crop protection. While the action sites of many SA-targeting activators have been preliminarily mapped to different steps along the pathway, a comprehensive understanding of their precise mechanisms remains elusive. This review provides a historical perspective on plant activator development and outlines diverse screening strategies employed across multiple levels, from whole-plant bioassays to molecular and transgenic approaches. We expound on the intricate components, biological relevance, and regulatory circuits governing the SA pathway, while criti-cally examining the structural features, bioactivities, and proposed modes of action of classical activators such as benzothiadiazole derivatives, salicylic acid analogs, and other small molecules. Insights from field trials as-sessing their practical applicability are also discussed. Furthermore, we highlight the current status, challenges, and future prospects in the realm of SA-targeting activator development globally, with a focus on recent en-deavors in China. Collectively, this comprehensive review aims to synthesize existing knowledge and provide a roadmap for future research toward developing more potent and mechanistically understood plant activa-tors that fortify crop immunity against disease.

The environment significantly impacts the life of bees and their feeding. This study aimed to investigate bee foraging using melissopalynological analysis and DNA metabarcoding in ​​intensive farming, reserved, and urbanized areas. The highest alpha diversity was observed in the reserved and in the intensive farming areas. The urbanized area has less diversity. In the intensive farming area predominated: Sinapis, Helianthus, and Fagopyrum; in the reserved area: Melilotus, Helianthus, and Brassica. In the urbanized area garden plants: radish (Raphanus sativus) and cucumber (Cucumis hystrix) and agricultural plants: soybean (Glycine max) and melon (Cucumis melo) were often found. The most significant agreement was between the rbcL and the melissopalynological analysis. The ITS2 revealed equal matches with both rbcL and melissopalynology but this marker missed or underestimated some genera. Trifolium pretense and Brassica nigra, were identified simultaneously by three analyses. Species Convolvulus arvensis, Melilotus officinalis, Echium vulgare, Brassica rapa, Helianthus divaricatus, and Onobrychis viciifolia were found in all ecological areas. Imperfect databases put some limits for identification of some taxa using metabarcoding. Further research and expansion of plant databases is needed. Studying the food preferences of bees in different environmental conditions and landscapes is necessary to develop measures to preserve their population.

Global wastes accumulate at an accelerating rate especially food and slaughterhouse waste constituting a major proportion owing to inefficient management. The high protein concentration of fish waste and keratinaceous byproducts is hazardous, harbouring pathogens, and emitting toxins. Transforming proteinaceous waste into amino acids (AAs) reduces waste bulk and offers a smarter nutrient approach for agriculture. However, this resource remains underutilized triggering eco-system pollution, diseases spreading, and climate change. Currently, small quantities of proteinaceous waste are valorized as animal feed, fertilizer, and in medical, and biotechnological sectors, which cannot solve bulk waste accumulation further, natural AA sources in agriculture are less recognized meanwhile researchers focus on synthetic AAs. Introducing various plant-nutrient formulas enriching fish AA with keratinaceous waste hydrolysate has not been broadly discussed. With this novel approach, using proteinaceous waste resources in agriculture would solve environmental pollution while minimizing land degradation by synthetic fertilizer. In this review, we illustrate the potential and benefits of valorizing proteinaceous waste in bulk through bioconversion. More importantly, we spotlight the biocompatibility of natural AAs and propose an enrichment, to use the ultimate product as catalysts for crops. Consequently, this approach reduces hazardous waste while paving a paradigm change in agriculture.

Energy harvesting is an emerging topic recently. This harvested energy is used to operate wireless sensors for different industrial monitoring and automation. To maximize the harvested energy in spinning systems, the harvester should vibrate at resonance for different spinning frequencies which can be achieved by active fitting. In this research, a novel methodology was developed by actively customizing the length of vibrating element beam to manipulate its natural frequency according to the spinning frequency. Different models were investigated numerically and experimentally to verify the proposed methodology. COMSOL Multiphysics software V5.1 was used to develop the numerical model, then and tip deformation and voltage difference results were benchmarked. The numerical model was verified experimentally by attaching a piezoelectric MIDE PPA 1021 which its vibrating length was varied by changing the supporting length from 0 mm to 12 mm to a spinning object having variable frequency from 0-200 Hz. It is found that the MIDE PPA 1021 beam vibrated at its resonance throughout the specified spinning frequencies. The proposed harvester can be applied in battery-free sensors being used in automotives, wind-mills blades, and rotating machinery.

The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the growth performance of buffalo calves fed diets characterized by different forage/concentrate ratio with or without the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae supplementation (CBS 493.94, Yea-Sacc®). Twenty-four male buffalo calves (mean age 145.1 ± 16.1 days; mean weight 108.0 ± 18.7) were assigned randomly to 4 groups, homogeneous for age, fed four different diets: diet 1 F:C ratio 50:50; diet 2 F:C ratio 30:70; diet 3 F:C ratio 50:50 + Yea-Sacc® and diet 4 F:C ratio 30:70 + Yea-Sacc®. Buffalo calves were individually weighted before the start of the experiment and the data were used as a covariate, monthly until the end of the trial. Dry matter intake (DMI), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. The differences in diets’ composition significantly (p

The incremental sheet forming represents a relatively recent technology that guarantees high customization, thanks to the layered manufacturing principle typical of rapid prototyping, and cost-effectiveness, because it does not require dedicated equipment. Research has initially shown that this process is effective in metal materials capable of withstanding plastic deformation but, in recent years, the interest in this technique has been increasing for the manufacture of complex polymer sheet components as an alternative to the conventional technologies, based on heating-shaping-cooling manufacturing routes. Conversely, incremental formed polymer sheets can suffer from some peculiar defects, for example twisting. To reduce the risk of this phenomenon and the occurrence of failures, a viable way is to choose toolpath strategies that make the tool/sheet contact conditions less severe, and this represents the main goal of the present research. Polycarbonate sheets were worked by incremental forming; in detail, cone frusta with a fixed wall angle were manufactured with a reference and a stair toolpath strategy, and both the forming forces and the twist angle were monitored. The analysis of the results highlighted that a stair toolpath involving an alternation of diagonal up and vertical down steps represents a useful strategy to mitigate the forming forces and, with them, the occurrence of the twisting phenomenon in incremental formed thermoplastic sheets.

Hydrogen has a leading role in accomplishing a net zero green-house gas emission future. Today’s challenge is producing green hydrogen to cover the fuel demand of transportation and industry, to gain independence from fossil fuels. This review’s goal is to demonstrate critically the existing methods of biomass treatment and assess their ability to scale up. Biomass is an excellent hydrogen carrier and biomass-derived processes are the main target for hydrogen production as it is an innovative pathway to green hydrogen production. Comparing the existing processes, thermochemical treatment is found to be far more evolved than biological or electrochemical treatment especially with regard to scaling prospects.

In this paper, a novel microwave catalyst Ni@SiC/CNFs (NSC), C/Ni (NC), and C/SiC (SC) were successfully synthesized by electrostatic spinning method, and proved to degrade methylene blue with high efficiency under microwave irradiation. The results imply that the catalyst Ni@SiC/CNFs with double shell structure gave a 99.99 % removal rate in 90 s for the degradation of methylene blue under microwave irradiation, outperformed the C/Ni and C/SiC and most other reported catalysts in similar studies. On the one hand, the possible mechanism of the methylene blue degradation should be ascribed to that double shell structure increases the polarization source of the material, resulting in excellent microwave absorption properties; and on the other, the in-situ generation of active species OH• and O2 - under microwave radiation and the synergistic coupling effect of metal plasma greatly improved the degradation efficiency of methylene blue. The findings of this study could provide a valuable reference for the green degradation of industrial dye wastewater and its sustainable development process.

Simulated crime scene investigation is an essential component of forensic science education, but its implementation poses challenges relating to cost, accessibility and breadth of experience. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology which offers exciting prospects for teaching and learning, especially for imparting practical skills. We document here a multidisciplinary experimental study in which a bespoke VR crime scene app was designed and implemented, after which it was tested by both undergraduate student and staff/postgraduate student cohorts. Through both qualitative and quantitative analyses, we demonstrate that VR applications support learning of practical crime scene processing skills. VR-based practical sessions have the potential to add value to forensic science courses through offering cost-effective practical experience and the ability to work in isolation, in a variety of different scenarios. Both user groups reported high levels of satisfaction with the process and reports of adverse effects (motion sickness) were minimal. With reference to user feedback, we proceed to evaluate the scalability and development challenges associated with large-scale implementation of VR as an adjunct to forensic science education.

Livestock farming plays a crucial role in agriculture and is important in meeting people's needs for a better life in the new era. However, due to China's "double carbon" target, the development of animal husbandry has been affected by the level of carbon emissions. To study the spatial dis-tribution and dynamic evolution of livestock carbon emissions in Shandong Province, we used panel data from 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong Province from 2001 to 2022 to determine the spatial differentiation of livestock carbon emissions in Shandong Province and their dynamic evolution by combining spatial and non-parametric estimation methods based on livestock carbon emissions and livestock emission intensity measured by city. The results of the study show that the distribution of carbon emissions from animal husbandry in Shandong Province is in a "dis-persed-aggregated" pattern, and the intensity of carbon emissions shows a gradual downward trend, with a ladder-like distribution characterized by high in the west and low in the east. Through the analysis of the dynamic evolution of nuclear density, we observe that the regional differences of animal husbandry carbon emissions in Shandong Province are expanding, showing the characteristics of polarization. The difference of carbon emissions in the peninsula is gradually narrowing, and the phenomenon of polarization is weakening. The carbon emissions of animal husbandry in the central and western regions of Shandong are polarized.

The aim of this paper is to establish a valid procedure for better understanding all the phenomena associated with the high-speed machining of Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) composites. Both rectangular and circular specimens were machined at high speeds (up to 50 m/min) in order to understand what occurred for all values of fiber orientation angles during machining operations. An innovative testing methodology was proposed and studied to investigate the phenomenon of burr formation and thus understand how to avoid it during machining operations. To this end, the forces arising during the machining process and the roughness of the resulting surface, were carefully studied and correlated with the cutting angle. Additionally, the cutting surface and chip morphology formed during cutting tests were examined using a high-speed camera. Close correlations are found between the variations of the cutting forces' signals and the trends of the roughness and the morphology of the machined surface.

Autonomous navigation in dynamic environments poses a significant challenge in the field of ro-botics with the primary goals of ensuring both smooth and safe movement. This study introduces control strategy based on an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) to enhance au-tonomous robot navigation in dynamic environments, emphasizing on collision-free path plan-ning. This strategy employs, a path planning technique to develop a trajectory that allows the ro-bot to navigate smoothly while avoiding collisions with both static and dynamic obstacles. The developed control system incorporates four ANFIS controllers: two are tasked with guiding the robot toward its end point, and the other two are activated for obstacle avoidance. The experi-mental setup conducted in CoppeliaSim involves a mobile robot equipped with ultrasonic sensors navigating in an environment with static and dynamic obstacles. Simulation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the model's capability in ensuring collision-free navigation, employing a path planning algorithm to ascertain the shortest route to the target destination. The simulation results highlight the superiority of the ANFIS-based approach over conventional methods, partic-ularly in terms of computational efficiency and navigational smoothness.

The production of recombinant enzymes, mainly used for obtaining pure and functional target molecules, holds significant importance in modern biotechnology. This study aimed to produce recombinant α-amylases (Amy3500 and Amy1974), derived from B. amyloliquefaciens MDC1974 and B. subtilis MDC3500 respectively, using the pBE-S shuttle vector, and to characterize them. Both α-amylase genes were molecularly cloned into the E. coli/B. subtilis pBE-S shuttle vector, both with (Amy1974sig and Amy3500sig) and without their own signal peptides (Amy1974 and Amy3500), along with a signal peptide originating from the plasmid, and tested in flask fermentations. For recombinant Amy3500, the amylase variants resulted in similar levels of volumetric activity (700-750 U/mL). In contrast, the expression of Amy1974 nearly doubled compared to Amy1974sig with double signal peptides, reaching 2000 U/mL. The SDS-PAGE estimated the molecular weight of Amy1974 α-amylase to be 54.6 kDa, which was in accordance with the theoretical molecular mass calculations. However, the estimated molecular weight of Amy3500 amylase was significantly reduced when exiting the producer cells. Ca2+ had no significant activating effect on the activities of Amy1974 amylase and Amy3500 amylase, likely due to its tight binding to the protein scaffold. Both enzymes exhibited broad activity peaks between 45-70°C, with a maximum at 65°C. The Amy1974 and Amy3500 α-amylases demonstrated broad pH optima and pH-dependent thermostability, with optimum pH values at 6.5 and 5.8, and thermal stability peaks at pH 7.6 and 5.9, respectively. Both α-amylases displayed high relative activity against various starches, including corn amylopectin and potato amylose, while showing comparatively lower activity towards cyclodextrins. The Amy1974 amylase converts starch to dextrins of varying lengths, whereas Amy3500 almost entirely converts starch into glucose.

Laser-Powder Directed Energy Deposition (DED-LB/Powder) is an additive manufacturing process that is gaining popularity in the manufacturing industry due to its numerous advantages, particularly in repairing operations. However, its application is often limited to case studies due to some critical issues that need to be addressed, such as the degree of internal porosity. This paper investigates the effect of the most relevant process parameters of the DED-LB/Powder process on the level and distribution of porosity. Results indicate that, among the process parameters examined, porosity is less affected by travel speed and more influenced by powder mass flow rate and laser power. Additionally, a three-dimensional finite element transient model was introduced, which was able to predict the development and location of lack-of-fusion pores along the building direction.

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a lectin associated with fibrosis and inflammation, and increased circulating concentrations are considered a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) in humans. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the serum concentration of Gal-3 in dogs with cardiac disease, both with and without AF. Dogs with AF associated with congenital and acquired heart diseases were selected, while clinically healthy dogs and dogs with heart diseases but without AF served as controls. We statistically compared the serum concentration of Gal-3, assessed using a commercial canine-specific ELISA kit, among healthy dogs and dogs with heart disease with and without AF. Additionally, associations between Gal-3 and clinical and echocardiographic variables were evaluated. A total of 80 dogs were included, of which 17/80 (21.2%) were clinically healthy and 63/80 (78.8%) had heart disease, with 30/63 (47.6%) having AF. No significant difference in Gal-3 concentration was found between healthy dogs (3.90 ± 0.38 ng/mL) and dogs with heart disease, either with or without AF (3.45 ± 0.28 ng/mL, P=0.226 and 4.46 ± 0.27 ng/mL, P=0.286, respectively). Gal-3 showed a significant positive correlation with age (r=0.46, P < 0.001). The results of this study suggest that Gal-3 does not have predictive value for the development of AF in dogs, but it is associated with advanced age.

The toxic cadmium (Cd) poses a serious threat to plant growth and human health. Populus euphratica CPK21 has previously been shown to attenuate Cd toxicity by reducing Cd accumulation, enhancing antioxidant defense and improving water balance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Here, we confirmed a protein-protein interaction between PeCPK21 and AtNF-YC3 by yeast two-hybrid, HaloTag pull-down and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. AtNF-YC3 was induced by Cd and strongly expressed in PeCPK21-overexpressed plants. Overexpression of AtNF-YC3 in Arabidopsis reduced salt inhibition of root length, fresh weight and membrane stability under Cd stress conditions (100 µM, 7 d), suggesting that AtNF-YC3 appears to contribute to the improvement of Cd stress tolerance. AtNF-YC3 improved Cd tolerance by limiting Cd uptake and accumulation, activating antioxidant enzymes, and reducing H2O2 production under Cd stress. We conclude that PeCPK21 interacts with AtNF-YC3 to limit Cd accumulation, enhance the ROS scavenging system, and thereby positively regulate plant adaptation to Cd environments. This study highlights the interaction between PeCPK21 and AtNF-YC3 under Cd stress conditions, which can be utilized to improve Cd tolerance in higher plants.

Despite energy-related financial concerns and the growing demand for sustainability, many energy efficiency measures are not being implemented in industrial practice. There are a number of reasons for this, including a lack of knowledge about energy efficiency potentials and the assessment of energy savings as well as the high workloads of employees. This article describes the systematic development of an expert system, which offers a chance to overcome these obstacles and contribute significantly to increasing the energy efficiency of production machines. The system employs data-driven regression models to identify inefficient parameter settings, calculate achievable energy savings, and prioritize actions based on a fuzzy rule base. Proposed measures are first applied to an analytical real-time simulation model of a production machine to verify that constraints required for the specified product quality are met. This provides the machine operator with the expert means to apply proposed energy efficiency measures to the physical entity. We demonstrate the development and application of the system for a throughput parts cleaning machine in the metalworking industry.

The article presents several innovative systems developed through student laboratory projects, including two autonomous vehicles, a four-legged walking robot, an active ankle-foot orthosis, a ball on beam balancing mechanism, a ball on plate system, and a manipulator arm—all powered by pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs). Fluidic muscles offer significant potential in various mechatronic systems, robots, and manipulators due to their flexible, lightweight nature and compliance. Their ability to produce smooth and adaptable motions is particularly beneficial in applications requiring natural and human-like movement, such as rehabilitation and assistive devices. Although PAMs powered control systems face challenges with nonlinear phenomena, their biologically inspired design holds promise for future applications across various industries. These may include innovative applicability in industrial, automotive, and aerospace sectors, as well as use in sports, medical aids, entertainment, and animatronics. Incorporating self-made laboratory systems actuated by PAMs into control systems education offers a comprehensive learning opportunity that combines theoretical concepts with hands-on experience. This approach develops the necessary skills of future engineers, expanding their understanding of technical principles and preparing them for future challenges in engineering practice.

In recent years, the utilization of machine learning algorithms and advancements in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology have marked significant shifts in remote sensing practices. In particular, the integration of machine learning with physical models and their application in UAV-satellite data fusion have emerged as two prominent approaches for estimating vegetation biochemistry. This study evaluates the performance of five machine learning regression algorithms (MLRAs) for mapping crop canopy chlorophyll at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) in Michigan, USA, across three scenarios: (1) application to Landsat 7, RapidEye, and PlanetScope satellite images; (2) application to UAV-satellite data fusion; and (3) integration with the PROSAIL radiative transfer model (hybrid methods PROSAIL + MLRAs). The results indicate that the majority of the five MLRAs utilized in UAV-satellite data fusion perform better than the five PROSAIL + MLRAs. The general trend suggests that the integration of satellite data with UAV-derived information, including the normalized difference red-edge index (NDRE), canopy height model, and leaf area index (LAI), significantly enhances the performance of MLRAs. The UAV-RapidEye dataset exhibits the highest coefficient of determination (R2) and the lowest root-mean-square errors (RMSE) when employing kernel ridge regression (KRR) and Gaussian processes regression (GPR) (R2 = 0.89 and 0.89 and RMSE = 8.99 µg/cm2 and 9.65 µg/cm2, respectively). Similar performance is closely observed for the UAV-Landsat and UAV-PlanetScope datasets (R2 = 0.86 and 0.87 for KRR, respectively). For the hybrid models, maximum performance is attained with Landsat data using KRR and GPR (R2 = 0.77 and 0.51 and RMSE = 33.10 µg/cm2 and 42.91 µg/cm2, respectively), followed by R2 = 0.75 and RMSE = 39.78 µg/cm2 for PlanetScope data upon integrating partial least squares regression (PLSR) into the hybrid model. Across all hybrid models, RapidEye data yielded the most stable performance, with R2 ranging from 0.45 to 0.71 and RMSE ranging from 19.16 µg/cm2 to 33.07 µg/cm2. The study highlights the importance of synergizing UAV and satellite data which enables effective monitoring of canopy chlorophyll in small agricultural lands.

This article develops algorithms for the characterization and the visualization of micro-scale features by using a small number of sample points, and with a goal to mitigate for the measurement shortcomings which are often destructive or time consuming. We implement the algorithms to rapidly examine the microscopic features of a Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) surface. Such images are highly dense; therefore, traditional image processing techniques might be computationally expensive. The contribution of this research include first, we develop local and global algorithm based on modified Thin Plate Spline (TPS) model to reconstruct high resolution images of the micro-surface’s topography, and its derivatives by using low resolution images. Second, we obtain a bending energy algorithm from our modified TPS model, and use it to filter out image defects. Finally, we develop a computationally efficient Windowing technique, which combines TPS and Linear Sequential Estimation (LSE), to enhance the visualization of images. The Windowing technique allows rapid image reconstruction based on the reduction of inverse problem.

Real assets in the energy market are subject to ecological uncertainty due to the penetration of renewables. We illustrate this point by analysing electrolysers, a class of assets which recently became the subject of a large interest, as they lead to the production of the desirable green hydrogen and green ammonia. The latter has the advantage of being easily stored and has huge potential in decarbonising both the fertilizer and shipping industries. We consider the optimization of green ammonia production with different types of electricity procurement in the context of stochastic power and ammonia markets, a necessary assumption to translate the features of renewable, hence intermittent, electricity. We emphasise the importance of using stochastic prices to effectively model the volatile nature of the price dynamics, illustrating the project risks that can be mitigated by hedging activities. This study shows the pivotal role of flexibility when dealing with fluctuating renewable production and volatile electricity prices to maximise profits and better manage risks.

Expansins are cell wall (CW) proteins that mediate the CW loosening and regulate salt tolerance in a positive or negative way. The transcription of Populus trichocarpa expansin A6 (PtEXPA6) was downregulated upon prolonged duration of salt stress (48 h) after a transient increase induced by NaCl (100 mM). The role of PtEXPA6 in salt tolerance was determined by transferring the PtEXPA6 gene into the hybrid species Populus alba × P. tremula var. glandulosa clone 84K (84K) and Populus tremula × P. alba INRA '717-1B4' (717-1B4). The PtEXPA6-transgenic poplars of 84K and 717-1B4 showed a greater reduction in photosynthesis, stem height and diameter growth under salt stress and a reduced capacity for ROS scavenging by antioxidant enzymes, which is associated with excessive Na+ accumulation in roots and shoots. NMT flux recordings showed that the radial translocation of Na+ salt into the root xylem and real-time Na+ translocation from roots to leaves were greater in PtEXPA6-transgenic poplars than in wild-type poplars. Analysis of comparative contractility and comparative extensibility of intact root tips indicated that PtEXPA6 increased the CW loosening in the transgenic poplars of 84K and 717-1B4. Noteworthy, the PtEXPA6-promoted CW loosening was shown to facilitate radial and longitudinal transport of Na+ in transgenic poplars. We conclude that overexpression of PtEXPA6 leads to CW loosening that facilitates radial translocation of Na+ into the root xylem and subsequent Na+ translocation from roots to leaves, resulting in excessive Na+ accumulation and consequently reduced salt tolerance in transgenic poplars.

Carbon dioxide (CO2)miscible fracturing huff and puff technology plays a pivotal role in enhancing the recovery rate of crude oil, particularly in reservoirs with challenging physical properties, strong water sensitivity, high injection pressure, and complex water injection dynamics. In this study, the oil-increasing mechanism and huff and puff effect of CO2 miscible fracturing fluid are investigated through a comprehensive experimental approach. Specifically, experiments on PVT gas injection expansion, minimum miscible pressure, and CO2 miscible fracturing huff and puff are conducted on the G fault block reservoir in J Oilfield. The findings demonstrate that injecting CO2 into reservoirs leads to oil volume expansion, viscosity reduction, and saturation pressure increase. Additionally, the inclusion of solubilizers and viscosity reducers further enhances the efficiency of crude oil extraction. Solubilizers not only improve oil recovery but also reduce the minimum miscible pressure required for effective CO2 dispersion. Furthermore, the shut-in time, permeability, and huff and puff method all have considerable impacts on huff and puff recovery rate. This study offers valuable technical insights, supporting the application of CO2 miscible fracturing huff and puff technology to enhance oil recovery in low-permeability reservoirs.

This study aimed to solve the problems of sealing and tearing failure of packer’s rubber cylinders during CO2 downhole injection. Using the simulation software, Comsol, a rubber cylinder model in a supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) environment was established. The thermal analogy method was used to simulate the CO2 diffusion and rubber cylinder swelling process, thus we analyzed the deformation and stress of the rubber cylinder caused by temperature, pressure and CO2 as swelling agent. Results showed that, in the SC-CO2 environment, under the influence of CO2 diffusion and the consequent swelling, the rubber cylinder body is prone to large deformation, and the maximum shear stress is significantly increased, leading to shear failure of the rubber cylinder. The reduction of the initial seating pressure can alleviate the impact of deformation, whereas the reduction of the maximum contact pressure could cause the rubber cylinder to lose its seal. We also analyzed the change rules between various factors and the maximum contact pressure of the rubber cylinder, which provides a theoretical basis and technical support for improving the sealing performance of the packer’s rubber cylinder in the SC-CO2 environment.

This study examined the impact of differences in fruit load of olive trees on the rate of stem refilling. The experiment was conducted in a commercial olive orchard over the consecutive years of 2021 and 2022, during which the biennial bearing cycle of olive trees resulted in minimal fruit production in 2021 and maximal production in 2022. The rate of stem refilling was determined by quantifying the differences in water volume traversing the apex and base of the principal branches of experimental trees using sap flow sensors. Concurrent measurements of tree water status were also conducted using psychrometers, while soil moisture content dynamics were continuously recorded. Results indicate that alternate bearing significantly influences the stem refilling process, while soil moisture availability also plays a pivotal role. Water reserves were more intensively utilized during the year of full production (“ON” year) primarily to fulfill the water demands of developing fruits. This replenishment occurred in various periods during the day, including early morning, afternoon, and night, when stomatal conductance measurements indicated stomatal closure. The study suggests a more intense replenishment of reserves during the night in "ON" year trees, irrespective of soil moisture, water vapor pressure deficit, or phenological fruit development stage.

Lindernia dubia (L.) Pennell is a species with invasive behavior outside of its native range of distribution (North America), linked mainly to aquatic habitats. This annual species has been acknowledged as a weed in rice paddies in Europe and Asia. Due to the impacts of this invasive plant, some authors have even listed this species as a global invader. The present work focused on spontaneous plant species occurring in cattail seedlings grown in central Spain for the establishment of constructed wetlands. Weed inventory revealed the presence of L. dubia as a dominant spontaneous species in this crop environment. A suite of mesocosm experiments were designed to study the distribution of L.dubia versus the distribution of the other dominant plant species, and to determine traits associated with its weedy potential. Results showed that L.dubia presents competitive attributes such as morphological variability, early flowering, long seeding time, short growth cycle, small and light seeds and high seed production and germination rate (25 ⁰C), meaning a high reproductive capacity in a cycle of about three months, in non-limiting conditions for plant growth. Data from this work provide a basis for understanding the weedy potential of L.dubia, and for management decisions of a potentially invasive species, little investigated in Europe

The rational design of magnetic carbon composites, encompassing both composition and microstructure, holds significant potential for achieving exceptional electromagnetic wave absorbing materials (EAMs). In this study, FeCo@CM composites was efficiently fabricated through an advanced microwave plasma assisted reduction chemical vapor deposition (MPARCVD) technique, offering high efficiency, low cost, and energy-saving benefits. By depositing graphitized carbon microspheres, the dielectric properties were significantly enhanced, resulting in improved electromagnetic wave absorption performances through optimized impedance matching and a synergistic effect with magnetic loss. A systematic investigation revealed that the laminar-stacked structure of FeCo exhibited superior properties compared to its spherical counterpart, supplying a higher number of exposed edges and enhanced catalytic activity, which facilitated the deposition of uniform and low-defect graphitized carbon microspheres. Consequently, the dielectric loss performance of the FeCo@CM composites was dramatically improved due to increased electrical conductivity and the formation of abundant heterogeneous interfaces. At a 40 wt% filling amount and a frequency of 7.84 GHz, the FeCo@CM composites achieved a minimum reflection loss value of -58.2 dB with an effective absorption bandwidth (fE) of 5.13 GHz. This study presents an effective strategy for developing high-performance EAMs.

The use of green hydrogen as a high-energy fuel of the future may be an opportunity to balance the unstable energy system, which still remains renewable energy sources. This work is a comprehensive review of recent advancements in green hydrogen production. The review outlines the current energy consumption trends. It presents the tasks and challenges of the Hydrogen Economy towards green hydrogen, including production, purification, transmission, storage, and conversion into electricity. This work discusses the main types of water electrolyzers: alkaline electrolyzers, proton exchange membrane electrolyzers, solid oxide electrolyzers, and anion exchange membrane electrolyzers. Despite the higher production costs of green hydrogen compared to grey hydrogen, the review suggests that as renewable energy technologies become cheaper and more efficient, the cost of green hydrogen is expected to decrease. The review highlights the need for cost-effective and efficient electrode materials for large-scale applications. It concludes by comparing the operating parameters and cost considerations of the different electrolyzer technologies. It sets targets for 2050 to improve the efficiency, durability, and scalability of electrolyzers. The review underscores the importance of ongoing research and development to address the limitations of current electrolyzer technology and to make green hydrogen production more competitive with fossil fuels.

Determination of antibody titre of dogs vaccinated against canine distemper in Jos North and South local Government Areas of Plateau State was carried out by collection of sera of vaccinated dogs and administration of well-structured questionnaires to dog owners. The samples collected were analyzed using the immune-blot ELISA Kit to determining the antibody titre (immunoglobulin G). It indicated that dogs vaccinated against the disease mounted adequate protective immunity. The result revealed that 54 (90.0%) of the sampled dogs have protective immunity, with those given more than one dose having higher level of protective antibody. Statistically, the result showed that the antibody titre did not differ significantly in relation to immunity and sex, breed, age and location but significant difference was seen in relation to number of primary vaccination. The result also revealed that those dogs that received booster doses (secondary vaccination) had more protective antibody. The study was aimed at evaluating the antibody titre of dogs vaccinated against canine distemper in Jos, Plateau State.

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.

Developing countries, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), are exceptionally vulnerable to climate change due to their distinct geographical and environmental characteristics. The impacts of climate change extend across their ecosystems, water resources, and vital economic sectors, such as food systems, health, education, and energy. Escalating sea levels and heightened salinity levels imperil freshwater reserves, while warmer ocean temperatures and acidification disrupt water demand, tourism, health services, and fisheries. Furthermore, developing countries bear the brunt of water shortages, flooding, and deteriorating water quality. Alarmingly, nearly two-thirds of the global population experience severe water scarcity for at least one month annually, with the majority residing in developing countries. By 2025, half of the world's population could inhabit areas grappling with water scarcity, predominantly concentrated in developing nations. In this context, innovative adaptation strategies, notably transformative wastewater projects, are imperative for fostering sustainability and resilience in these regions. However, significant barriers impede progress, creating a stark disparity between current financing capabilities and the imperative to fund water security initiatives. Compounding these challenges, developing countries find themselves ensnared in a burgeoning debt crisis, marked by escalating interest rates and inflation, which threatens to impede developmental progress and curtail investments in adaptation and mitigation endeavors. Consequently, there arises a critical necessity to harness innovative financial mechanisms to transform these debts into assets that facilitate climate action. This paper meticulously explores the potential of debt-for-climate swaps as a catalyst for advancing transformative wastewater projects, with a focused lens on their strategic deployment to underpin critical initiatives. Through rigorous examination of case studies and empirical evidence, the paper elucidates how debt-for-climate swaps can effectively bolster sustainable wastewater management systems in developing countries. Furthermore, it delineates best practices for leveraging these mechanisms to fortify environmental sustainability and resilience. Additionally, the paper delineates the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders, including governments, policymakers, the private sector, communities, and climate financial institutions. By amalgamating theoretical insights with tangible examples, this paper furnishes a comprehensive framework for harnessing debt-for-climate swaps to enhance water security and resilience in developing countries. It endeavors to furnish actionable strategies for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to navigate the complex terrain of climate change and engender sustainable development.

This article introduces a novel payload structure, which has been experimentally proven to have smaller impact force while the carried internal electronics remains intact. The study describes in details how materials and geometric structures were chosen based on information analysis. It is clarified how possible geometric structures and materials can be chosen to yield optimal efficiency. Finite element method simulations were carried out to investigate the mechanical properties of several geometric structures, which has led to the dodecahedron form. For the frame, Polylactic Acid were chosen as an optimal material. A low air pressure test for parts of the structure, and also the whole structure were carried out with successful results. Drop tests, with force measuring sensors and high speed videos, were carried out for measuring and comparing the maximal impact force of classical payloads and the novel one. Laboratory and real life tests demonstrated that the developed new structure is safer and it is applicable.

Many of the wide-ranging symptoms of COVID-19 have not been associated previously with a respiratory illness. A similarity between these atypical symptoms and the symptoms of malnutrition was observed. To investigate, a comparison of COVID-19 symptomatology with recognised states of malnutrition showed a significant relationship that was further explored in a review of the literature. This hypothesis links the atypical symptoms to the effects of increasing protein malnutrition. The rapid appearance of malnutrition symptoms at the beginning of the COVID-19 infection is concurrent with the rapid cell proliferation of the immune system. Although previous work has, in general, assumed that the body is capable of providing for the needs of the immune system during infection, heightened immune activity from the commencement of COVID-19 could require an early increase in energy yielding sources. Should insufficient availability of protein resources occur, this could quickly lead to malnutrition. Any continuing insufficiency, during the active phase of the virus, might result in widespread depletions in the tissues and the consequential malfunctioning of many organs. A new appraisal of the immune system requirements needed to counteract the impact of the novel virus, COVID-19, could show the potential benefit for earlier protein intervention in the disease process. This hypothesis could also have relevance for other life situations where a rapid cell proliferation might occur.

This paper studies the impact of agricultural subsidies and product certification on the use rate of green pesticides based on experimental economics. We found that agricultural subsidies effectively increased the utilization rate of green pesticides. If the agricultural subsidies raised from 20% to 100%, the green pesticides’ using rate increased by 438.51%. We also found that product certification increased the utilization rate of green pesticides by 376.16%%.The increase of agricultural subsidies is more effective than the product certification. Under a higher proportion of agricultural subsidies, farmers’ behavior will maintain “status bias”. Therefore, there are three suggestions proposed. Firstly, because of high price of green pesticides and lower production, the subsidies for agricultural materials should raise greatly to effectively improve the utilization rate of green pesticides. It is recommended that green pesticide provided free of charge in some wealthy areas. Secondly, both subsidies and product certification can improve the use rate of green pesticides. However, since the effect of agricultural subsidies is better than product certification, and farmers may have status bias. Therefore, it is recommended to give priority to the substantial increase on the proportion of agricultural subsidies, and then to product certification.

The commercial aviation industry is constantly evolving, driven by technological innovation and the growing demand for more efficient and environmental friendly transportation solutions. In this context, the design and development of next-generation aircraft is a crucial task, with the goal of reducing environmental impact and improving flight efficiency while continuing to ensure passenger comfort and safety. This paper aims at evaluating the technical feasibility as well as economic and environmental viability of a narrow body aircraft powered by hydrogen for direct combustion. Notably, the paper offers innovative insights regarding the update of literature models for conceptual design, in order to consider the impact of hydrogen fuel on the sizing loop at aircraft level. Moreover, it also focuses on the evaluation of operating costs for the aforementioned aircraft class, highlighting the required model updates and considerations to properly match the effect on costs of the introduction of the innovative fuel. Ultimately, a preliminary analysis of upstream sustainability of the concept, considering fuel life cycle, is provided, in order to understand the overall competitiveness, not only in terms of monetary resources but also of environmental impact, beyond the pure operating life of the airplane.

Abstract: Brassinosteroids (BR) are essential plant hormones that play a crucial role in regulating plant growth and development, as well as their resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, including pathogen infections. In the context of plant im-munity, BR influence various processes such as the expression of genes related to pathogen defense, the production of antimicrobial compounds, and the re-inforcement of the plant cell structure. The aim of work is understand the role of BR in plant defense against abiotic and biotic stresses. BR are involved in the regulation of metabolic processes, water economy, and photosynthesis, contributing to increased plant resistance to abiotic stresses. The study discusses various mechanisms of BR action on plant immunity, including the regulation of gene expression related to defense, activation of the plant defense system, in-teraction with other plant hormones, regulation of water and salt balance, and influence on photosynthetic processes. In the context of plant immunity, BR influence various processes, including the expression of genes related to pathogen defense, the production of antimicrobial compounds, and the reinforcement of the plant cell structure. Additionally, BR are involved in the regulation of metabolic processes, water economy, and photosynthesis, con-tributing to increased plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The paper emphasizes the importance of further research on the role and mechanisms of action of BR in plant immunity, which may contribute to the development of more effective strategies for the use of BR in agriculture, horticulture, and plant protection.

The paper introduces a control hybrid model that is designed on the basis of OOSEM (Object-Oriented Systems Engineering Method), MDA (Model-Driven Architecture) concepts, RealTime UML/SysML (Unified Modeling Language/Systems Modeling Language), and an algorithm based on UKF (Unscented Kalman Filter). This hybrid model enables the implementation of control elements for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and can be adapted to reuse for most standard AUV platforms. To obtain this goal, the dynamic model of AUV is integrated with the following specializations of OOSEM/MDA, in which the analysis model is clarified via the use-case model definition and then combines with HA (hybrid automata) to precisely define the requirements for control. Next, the designed model is specialized via real-time UML/SysML to get the core control blocks, which describe the behaviors and structures of control parts in detail. This design model is then transformed into the model of implementation with the assistance of round-trip engineering to conveniently realize the controller of AUVs. Based on this new model, an AUV controller for low-cost turtle-shaped AUVs is implemented that performs tracking for a planar trajectory with accepted feasibility.

The use of alternative fuels and electric vehicles is an opportunity to reducing exhaust emissions. We observe that the regulations on exhaust emissions from mobile sources are becoming gradually stricter on the all the world. As is widely known, using alternative fuels instead of conventional fuels helps lower vehicle emissions. The most popular alternative fuels are hydrogen, propane, biobutanol, methanol, dimethyl ether, etc. It is very important that more than a dozen alternative fuels are under development. The article contains a comparison of the operating costs of electric cars and cars with an internal combustion engine. This work shows also the characteristic of new alternative fuels and their impacts on exhaust emissions.

The global steel industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and the adoption of green hydrogen in Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) production has the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and support climate targets. This review explores the environmental, economic, technological, and social implications of using green hydrogen in DRI processes. The findings suggest that green hydrogen can reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional methods, enhance energy security, and stimulate local economic development. However, high initial costs, energy efficiency concerns, and social acceptance issues remain significant barriers. The review also highlights the importance of integrating carbon capture and storage technologies, addressing logistical challenges, and considering the geopolitical implications of a shift towards green hydrogen. Green hydrogen presents a promising solution for decarbonising the steel industry but continued research, investment in infrastructure, and strategic planning are essential to overcome the challenges and drive widespread adoption.

A convenient and efficient strategy for the preparation of 2-sulfonylindoles has been achieved through iodophor/H2O2-mediated 2-sulfonylation of indoles with readily available sulfonyl hydrazides in aqueous phase. Iodophor is commercially available and serves as the green catalyst and aqueous phase. A series of 2-sulfonylated products from indoles and N-methylpyrrole were synthesized in moderate yields in only 10 min. Control experiments were also conducted to reveal the mechanism. This method is environment friendly, easy to operate and suitable for a wide range of substrates.

Evaluating the economic and environmental effects of farmers' green production behaviors holds important reference value for promoting sustainable agricultural development, alleviating agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution, and achieving the organic combination of environmental protection and economic development. This paper utilizes survey data from 1,345 farm households in the main rice production areas of Jiangxi Province, China, using the example of reduced fertilizer application (RFA) among rice farmers. By constructing a DEA—SBM model with undesirable outputs to measure environmental effects, and applying an endogenous switching model to test the economic and environmental effects of farmers' adoption of green production technologies. The study found that: (1)The behavior of RFA by farmers has a significant positive impact on their net profit per mu(NPPA), helping farmers increase their income, with the increase ranging from 2.05% to 6.54%. (2)The behavior of RFA by farmers has a significant positive impact on agricultural green productivity(AGP), contributing to the improvement of the environment, with the improvement ranging from 44.09% to 45.35%. (3)Heterogeneity analysis found inconsistencies in the income-enhancing and environmental-enhancing effects at different quantiles of NPPA and AGP. Therefore, attention should be placed on improving the agricultural product quality supervision system under the market circulation mechanism, creating land scale conditions conducive to the promotion and application of fertilizer reduction technologies, and promoting the implementation of externality internalization compensation systems.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) occasionally threatens the life of the host as a persistent pathogen even though it is normal flora of humans and animals. We characterized drug resistance in S. aureus isolated from animal carcasses and milk samples from the abattoirs and dairy farms in the Eastern Cape Province. Methods: A 1000 meat swab samples and 200 raw milk samples were collected from selected abattoirs and dairy farms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. S. aureus was isolated and positively identified using biochemical tests and confirmed by molecular methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test against 14 different antibiotics was performed against all isolates. Antibiotic resistance genes were also detected. Results: Of the 1200 samples collected, 134 (11.2%) samples were positive for S. aureus. Resistance ranged from 71.6% for penicillin G to 39.2% for tetracycline. Resistance gene (blaZ) was detected in 13 (14.9%), while msrA was found in 31 (52.5%) of S. aureus isolates. Conclusions: The present result shows the potential dissemination of multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains in the dairy farms and abattoirs in the Eastern Cape. Therefore, this implies that the organism may rapidly spread through food and pose serious public health risk

The ongoing challenge to ensure a sustainable and affordable energy supply forces industrial companies to implement appropriate measures. These measures typically lead to an increased system complexity, which has to be addressed during operation. Whereas existing approaches from the field of supervisory and optimal control appear to be capable of mastering this issue, these are still not adopted in industry. Therefore, this work presents a procedure model for the systematic development of application-oriented operating strategies for industrial energy supply systems. The procedure model combines research approaches from the fields of sequencing control and approximate MPC to extract rule-based operating strategies. By splitting the procedure model into five phases, expert knowledge can be integrated in a target-oriented manner. Subsequently to the description, the procedure model is exemplary applied to the example of an industrial heating supply system. Throughout an optimization study, the developed operating strategy is compared to a MPC strategy as well as a baseline strategy. Whereas the conventional MPC approach is the upper bound with regard to optimality, the developed operating strategy is able to generate comparable results. Compared to the baseline strategy, a relative reduction in operating expenses of 5.4 % to 37.0 % are achieved in this specific use case.

Wasted Green tuff powder produced by cutting Towada stone is recycled as environmental cleaning material. The optimum temperature for green tuff powder calcination to reduce the hydroxyl radical produced in hydrogen peroxide decomposition with ultraviolet light (UV) and no light. The green tuff calcined at 800 °C shows the large decomposition rate of hydrogen peroxide with no UV light when measured by using ESR. With UV light, the optimum temperature for calcinating the green tuff powder in order to reduce hydroxyl radical is also 800 °C. Next, the powder calcined at 800 °C is used to produce the tile by compression and heating, and then the formaldehyde adsorption rate was measured. The green tuff powder calcined at 800 °C showed a high adsorption rate, similar to that of the activated carbon. The tiles formed at 40 MPa and heated st 1100 °C were the strongest and also adsorbed formaldehyde. The adsorbed formaldehyde on the green tuff tile and powder might have a possibility to decompose by photocatalytic.

Lap joints were friction stir welded in AA 7075-T6 at 1320 rpm and using two welding speeds: 70 mm/min and 120 mm/min. The temperature profiles of the weld zone were registered during the process; furthermore, the microhardness, tensile strength, and microstructure of the joints produced were examined. This study brings new insights into the thermomechanical behavior of the material during the process. The peak temperature obtained with the lower welding speed (70 mm/min) is 10% higher than that obtained with the higher speed (120 mm/min). Moreover, a 5% increase in microhardness and a 6% increase in tensile strength were were observed increasing the welding speed. Addition-ally, the microstructure examination demonstrated that, by decreasing the welding speed, the larger interaction between the tool and the material results in a deeper stir zone due to the increased heat diffusion downwards to the material. This heat flow affects the thermal profile and influences the resulting mechanical properties of the welded joints.

Involving local people in natural area management is very important to address the complexity of environmental management issues for sustainable use of local resources. Participatory methods require the contribution of local stakeholders in decision making. Mapping the environmental views of local communities allows for detecting aspects that could facilitate management efforts. This research – in the frame of the Skyros LIFE project and the PAMNATURA project - measures local acceptability of the conservation actions proposed by the LIFE project in Skyros Island (Greece) in relation with recording local people’s environmental orientation using the 15-item revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The research was carried out by means of questionnaires. The LIFE project proposed actions were grouped into three categories according to their theme, i.e. promoting (a) Nature protection, (b) Agro-pastoralism and (c) Ecotourism. The sample seems to largely agree with the LIFE project proposals, while the results showed high scores for most of the NEP scale items, implying pro-environmental beliefs, though there appears disagreement or neutrality regarding a few items. Local acceptability of the proposed actions was found to correlate to local people’s environmental concern measured through the NEP scale. Drawing on the results, implementation of actions related directly or indirectly to economic activities, preservation of traditional activities, as well as environmental education, interactive informing and consultation could enhance local participation. Skyros island seems to offer an appropriate social background for applying participatory and adaptive management and implementing conservation programs.

The rapid development of electric vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and wearable electronic devices has led to a high interest in research related to the synthesis of graphene with a high specific surface area for energy applications. However, the problem of graphene synthesis scalability, as well as the lengthy duration and high energy intensity of the activation processes of carbon materials, are significant disadvantages. In this study, a reactor was developed for the green, simple, and scalable electrochemical synthesis of graphene oxide with a low oxygen content of 14.1 %. The resulting material was activated using a fast joule heating method. The processing of mildly oxidized graphene with a high–energy short electrical pulse (32 ms) made it possible to obtain a graphene–based porous carbon material with a specific surface area of up to 1984.5 m2/g. The low energy intensity, simplicity, and use of environmentally friendly chemicals render the proposed method scalable.

Companies are increasingly focusing on sustainable business practices. Internal and external stakeholders’ expectations manifest in legal requirements, national and international standards, and market and customer expectations, among other things, must be considered. In addition to profit maximization as the usual target for corporate management, management must consider environmental sustainability aspects such as resource efficiency, greenhouse gas intensity, and a company's emissions behavior. In addition, social aspects relating to the company's employees, the immediate urban environment, the situation in the supply chain, and effects on the market environment must increasingly be considered. Specifically, companies are faced with the chal-lenge of dealing with conflicting objectives regarding the various aspects of sustainability and, if necessary, weighing them up against each other. These trade-offs must be made against the company's socio-economic and ecological environment, corporate strategy, and sustainability goals. This paper provides an overview of current approaches and research gaps on this topic through a literature review. It shows a lack of methods and frameworks to specifically deal with trade-offs and conflicts of goals.

The classical joint economic lot-sizing (JELS) policy in a single-vendor single-buyer system generates an equal production quantity in all cycles, where the input parameters remain static indefinitely. In this paper, a new two-echelon supply chain inventory model is developed involving a hybrid production system that simultaneously focuses on green and regular production methods with optimal allocation fraction of green and regular productions. Unlike the classical mathematical formulation, each cycle is independent from the previous one, and consequently, the input parameters can be adjusted to be responsive to the dynamic nature of demand rate and price fluctuation. A rigorous heuristic approach is used to derive a global optimal solution for a joint hybrid production system. The model accounts for carbon emissions from production and storage activities related to green and regular produced items along with transportation activity under a multi-level emission-taxing scheme. The results emphasize the significant impact of green production on emissions. That is, the higher the allocation fraction of green production the lower the total amount of emissions generated by the system, i.e., the system becoming more sustainable. Adopting a hybrid production method not only decreases the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions dramatically, but also reduces the per unit time total cost when compared with regular production. One of the main findings is that the total system cost generated by the base closed-form formula of the proposed model is considerably lower than that of the existing literature i.e., 33.59% (16.13%) lower in the first cycle (subsequent cycles) when the regular production method is assumed. Moreover, the optimal production rate generated by the proposed model is the one that minimizes the emissions production function. Illustrative examples and special cases that reflect different realistic situations are compared to outline managerial insights.

Understanding how industrial agglomeration affects agricultural green production efficiency is essential for green agricultural development. This study uses the super-efficient EBM-GML to measure and analyze the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and core sources of dynamics of agricultural green production efficiency in China by using panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2020. It also empirically investigates the relationships between industrial agglomeration, land transfer, and agricultural production efficiency. By using fixed, intermediary, and threshold effects models, the internal links between the industrial agglomeration, land transfer, and agricultural green production efficiency are examined. The findings indicate that the green production efficiency of Chinese agriculture exhibits the regional characteristics of being “high in the west and low in the east, high in the south and low in the north” in terms of space; in terms of time series, the overall trend is that of growing, with an average annual growth rate of 11.45%, and the growth primarily depends on the “single-track drive” of green technological progress. By promoting land transfer, industrial agglomeration can increase the agricultural green production efficiency and decomposition index. Land transfer has a double-threshold effect on the influence of industrial agglomeration on agricultural green production efficiency. As a result, this study suggests adhering to the idea of synergistic development, promoting agricultural green development, strengthening the development of industrial agglomerations, promoting the quality and efficiency of industry, improving land-transfer mechanisms, and placing a focus on resource efficiency improvements, as well as other policy recommendations.

Chitooligosaccharides (COS) are -1,4-linked homo-oligosaccharides of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) or glucosamine (GlcN), and also include hetero-oligosaccharides composed of GlcNAc and GlcN. These sugars are of practical importance because of their various biological activities, such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities, as well as triggering the innate immunity in plants. The reported data on bioactivities of COS used to contain some uncertainties or contradictions, because the experiments were conducted with poorly characterized COS mixtures. Recently, COS have been satisfactorily characterized with respect to their structures, especially the degree of polymerization (DP) and degree of N-acetylation (DA); thus, the structure-bioactivity relationship of COS has become more unambiguous. To date, various green-chemical strategies involving enzymatic synthesis of COS with designed sequences and desired biological activities have been developed. The enzymatic strategies could involve transglycosylation or glycosynthase reactions using reducing end-activated sugars as the donor substrates and chitinase/chitosanase and their mutants as the biocatalysts. Site-specific chitin deacetylases were also proposed to be applicable for this purpose. Furthermore, to improve the yields of the COS products, metabolic engineering techniques could be applied. The above-mentioned approaches will provide the opportunity to produce tailor-made COS, leading to the enhanced utilization of chitin biomass.

The most potential renewable energy source for global emissions reductions is green hydrogen production. Iraq is looking into several sources of alternative energy to lessen its dependency on fossil fuels and to considerably cut its carbon dioxide emissions. This research examined the conceptual framework for the production and consumption of green hydrogen in Iraq. On the basis of accessible official and public data from government agencies, the potential capabilities of renewable energy resources are assessed, and certain fair assumptions are also established for a full study and evaluation of a possible hydrogen production in the country. The data presented here demonstrate conclusively that the contributions of renewable energy to the production of green hydrogen are substantial, giving the country prominence in the area of green hydrogen production. A pathway for a green hydrogen economy in the country by 2050 is proposed by this research based on its analysis. It is distributed in three stages: green hydrogen as a fuel for industry; using green hydrogen for fuel cells; and hydrogen commercialization. On the other hand, the research found a number of challenges to the implementation of a green hydrogen production that can be used in Iraq and other developing countries, including technological, economic, and social problems in addition to the related policy consequences.

Induction heating is a fast, reproducible, and efficient heating method used in various manufacturing processes. However, there is no established additive manufacturing (AM) process based on induction heating using wire as feedstock. This study investigates a novel approach to AM based on inductive heating, where a steel wire is melted and droplets are detached periodically using a two-winding induction coil. The process parameters and energy input into the droplets are characterized. The induction generator exhibits sluggish response to the excitation voltage, resulting in a lag in the coil current. The process is captured using a high-speed camera, revealing regular droplet formation and uniform size and shape when operated within an appropriate process window. Larger drops and increased spatter formation occur outside this window. The proposed method allows for the production of droplets with almost spherical shapes. Further analysis and characterization of droplet formation and energy input provide insights into process optimization and overall efficiency.

Powdery mildew is a severe disease causing substantial yield losses in wheat production worldwide. The Chinese wheat landrace Changanhongmai (CAHM) exhibits high resistance to the physiological race E09 of powdery mildew. This study aims to characterize the powdery mildew resistance gene in CAHM, and develop molecular markers for marker-assisted selection of wheat. To investigate the genetic characteristics of this resistant gene, we developed F1 plants, F2 generation population, and F2:3 families from a cross between CAHM and SY225. Genetic analysis demonstrated that all F1 plants were resistant to the disease, while the ratio of resistant to susceptible plants was 3: 1 in both the F2 population and F2:3 families, indicating that CAHM is inherited in a manner of single dominant powdery mildew resistance gene, which was tentatively designated as PmCAHM. By using bulk segregation analysis, we constructed a genetic map encompassing Xgwm273, Xwmc626, Xgwm11, Xgwm18, Xgdm28, Xgpw7812, Xgpw5195, Xwmc694 and PmCAHM. Among these markers, Xgpw7812 and Xgpw5195 were flanking markers tightly linked to PmCAHM at a genetic distance of 2.5 cM and 8.4 cM, respectively. Furthermore, nullisomic-tetrasomic analysis revealed that PmCAHM is located on chromosome 1B. These results indicate that PmCAHM differs from the internationally recognized powdery mildew resistance genes in both location and source. In addition, a new germplasm/line NW1748 with large seeds and powdery mildew resistance was developed from the cross and back cross populations of Fengyou 1718 (FY1718)/CAHM//FY 1718. Therefore, PmCAHM can serve as a novel powdery mildew resistance source for breeding of wheat by using NW1748 as the donor in the future.

Regeneration of lost tail is of great importance to lizards. Anolis carolinensis, a green lizard, is capable of regenerating its tail efficiently after autotomy. Hence, it is considered as a model organism in regeneration study. A. carolinensis shed its tail in order to distract the predator’s attention and thus makes a way to escape. Restoring of the amputated tail takes several days and the mechanism is currently clearly understood. Although save its life, tail regeneration is associated with the impairment of several vital functions in Anoles. In addition, various differences have been observed between original and regenerated tail in terms of mechanism and structure. To date, very little work has been conducted on tail autotomy and regeneration at molecular and genetic level. The genes responsible for regeneration in anoles are identified recently. These genes are evolutionarily conserved through all tetrapod vertebrates. They are, however, in a state of ‘switched-off’ in other vertebrates including humans. Consequently, a throughout study of these so called ‘switched-off’ genes may provide a way of restoring lost organs in human, and thus could revolutionize the modern medical science.

Pardosa pseudoannulata is one of the most common wandering spiders in agricultural fields and a potentially good bioindicator for heavy metal contamination. However, little is known about the mechanism by which spiders respond to heavy metals at the molecular level. In this study, high-throughput transcriptome sequencing was employed to characterize the de novo transcriptome of the spiders and to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after cadmium exposure. We obtained 60,489 assembled unigenes, 18,773 of which were annotated in the public databases. Ultimately, 3450 cDNA simple sequence repeats were identified and validated as potential molecular markers in the unigenes. A total of 2939, 2491 and 3759 DEGs were detected among the three libraries of two Cd-treated groups and the control. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that metabolism processes and digestive system function were predominately enriched in response to Cd stress. At the cellular and molecular levels, significantly enriched pathways in lysosomes and phagosomes as well as replication, recombination and repair demonstrated that oxidative damage resulted from Cd exposure. Based on the selected DEGs, certain critical genes involved in defence and detoxification were analysed. These results may elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying spiders' responses to heavy metal stress.

The prevention of destruction caused by red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), using essential oils derived from certain herbal plants presents an interesting alternative to synthetic insecticides, known for their harm to both consumers and the environment. The research aimed to investigate the chemical compositions and fumigating effects of essential oils derived from cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton) and galangal (Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd) against T. castaneum. Chemical compositions were analyzed using GC-MS, while fumigation bioassay was conducted via a vapor-phase test. Experimental setup followed factorial design in CRD with 5 replications. Factor A encompassed 4 types of essential oils: the manually extracted essential oils from cardamom leaves (MCL) and galangal leaves (MGL), the commercially produced essential oils from cardamom seeds (CCS) and galangal rhizomes (CGR). Factor B consisted of 7 concentrations: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 µL/L air. Results indicated that MCL contained eucalyptol, trans-calamenene, and isospathulenol as its main compounds. Similarly, CCS was characterized by camphene and eucalyptol. MGL exhibited caryophyllene, aciphyllene, and α-bisanolene. Lastly, CGR was composed of methyl cis-cinnamate, safrole, and p-vinylphenyl isothiocyanate. Study noted that 250 µL/L air over 168 hours of CGR, demonstrated 94% fumigation efficiency against adult T. castaneum. These results suggest the potential of galangal rhizome derived essential oil as an insecticide for managing T. castaneum populations in agricultural product storage.

Mustard, a widely used condiment, is derived from mustard seeds and partially defatted mustard flour. Varieties of mustard are primarily distinguished by the ratios of mustard seeds and spices used in their production. This study assessed the microbiological safety of mustard products from the Mustard and Ketchup Factory in Poland, produced between 2019-2021, in compliance with Polish and EU regulations. Three mustard types were analyzed: gourmet, creamy, and spicy, crafted from 'Borowska' white mustard and 'Małopolska' Sarepta mustard seeds. The preparation included powdered mustard seeds, water, sugar, and vinegar. Samples of mustards (20 g each) were tested in triplicate for Salmonella, spore-forming anaerobic bacteria, coliform bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, mold, and yeast. Additionally, water and spices used in production were analyzed for total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Salmonella, aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, and mold. Results indicated that spices and water met all microbiological criteria. Mustard samples tested negative for Salmonella and anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, with coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, mold, and yeast counts within acceptable limits, ensuring compliance with food safety and hygiene standards. This research underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and strict microbiological standards to maintain food safety. Future studies should develop advanced microbial detection methods and implement robust quality control measures to reduce contamination risks in mustard and other food products.

In this paper the authors present a method which facilitates computationally efficient parameter estimation of dynamical systems from a continuously growing set of measurement data. It is shown that the proposed method, which utilises Sequential Monte Carlo samplers, is guaranteed to be fully parallelisable (in contrast to Markov chain Monte Carlo methods) and can be applied to a wide variety of scenarios within structural dynamics. Its ability to allow convergence of one's parameter estimates, as more data is analysed, sets it apart from other sequential methods (such as the particle filter).

Many remote sensing analytical data products are most useful when they are in an appropriate regional or national projection, rather than globally based projections like Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) or geographic coordinates, i.e., latitude and longitude. Furthermore, leaving data in the global systems can create problems, either due to misprojection of imagery because of UTM zone boundaries, or because said projections are not optimised for local use. We developed the open-source Irish Earth Observation (IEO) Python module to maintain a local remote sensing data library for Ireland. This pure Python module, in conjunction with the IEOtools Python scripts, utilises the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL) for its geoprocessing functionality. At present, the module supports only Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI/TIRS data that have been corrected to surface reflectance using the USGS/ESPA LEDAPS/ LaSRC Collection 1 architecture. This module and the IEOtools catalogue available Landsat data from the USGS/EROS archive, and includes functions for the importation of imagery into a defined local projection and calculation of cloud-free vegetation indices. While this module is distributed with default values and data for Ireland, it can be adapted for other regions with simple modifications to the configuration files and geospatial data sets.

Ice accumulation poses considerable challenges in transportation, notably in the domain of general aviation. The present study combines the strengths and limitations of conventional aircraft de-icing techniques with the emerging trend toward all-electric aircraft. The study aims to utilize laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology to create a multifunctional surface, seamlessly integrating hydrophobic properties with efficient electrical heating to mitigate surface icing effectively. We investigated the utilization of a 10.6 μm CO2 laser for direct writing on polyimide (PI), a widely-used insulating encapsulation material. From the thermomechanical perspective, our initial analysis using COMSOL Multiphysics software revealed that when the laser power P exceeds 5 W, the PI substrate experience ablative damage. The experimental results show that when P ≤ 5W, an increase in power has a positive impact on the quality, surface porosity, roughness reduction, line-spacing reduction, and water contact-angle enhancement of the graphene. Conversely, when P > 5 W, higher power negatively affects both the substrate and the graphene structure by inducing excessive ablation. However, it influences the graphene line height positively and is consistent with overall experimental-simulation congruence. Furthermore, the incorporation of high-quality graphene resulted in a surface that exhibited higher contact angles (CA > 120°), lower energy consumption, and higher heating efficiency compared to the use of traditional electrically heated materials for anti-icing applications. The potential applications of this one-step fabrication method extend across various industries, particularly aviation, marine engineering, and other ice-prone domains. Moreover, the method has extensive prospects for addressing pivotal challenges associated with ice formation and serves an innovative and efficient anti-icing technology.

During choriogenesis in insects, chorion (eggshell) is formed by surrounding follicular epithelial cells in ovarioles. However, the regulatory endocrine factor(s) activating choriogenesis and the chemical components on eggshell deserve further exploration. In two representative Coleopterans, a Coccinellid Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata and a Chrysomelid Leptinotarsa decemlineata, genes encoding the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) receptor heterodimer, ecdysone receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and two chitin biosynthesis enzymes UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase (UAP) and chitin synthase (ChS1), were highly expressed in ovaries of the young females. RNA interference (RNAi)-aided knockdown of either HvEcR or Hvusp in H. vigintioctopunctata inhibited oviposition, suppressed the expression of HvChS1, and lessened the positive signal of Calcofluor staining on the chorions, which suggests the reduction of a chitin-like substance (CLS) deposited on eggshells. Similarly, RNAi of LdEcR or Ldusp in L. decemlineata constrained oviposition, decreased the expression of LdUAP1 and LdChS1, and declined CLS contents in the resultant ovaries. Knockdown of LdUAP1 or LdChS1 caused similar defective phenotypes, i.e., reduced oviposition and CLS contents in the L. decemlineata ovaries. These results, for the first time, indicate that 20E signaling activates choriogenesis in two Coleopteran species. Moreover, our findings propose the deposition of a CLS on the chorions.

Green hydrogen is likely to play an important role in meeting the net zero targets of countries around the globe. Hence, producing green hydrogen cheaply and effectively is an important area of research. One potential option for green hydrogen production is to run electrolysers directly from offshore wind turbines, with no grid connection and hence no expensive cabling to shore. The removal of the grid presents an unusual integration challenge. The variable nature of wind turbines and farms results in a power output that can fluctuate more quickly than the electrolyser’s ability to respond without significantly stressing the electrolyser. Thus, the use of a battery, with the wind farm, becomes essential to even out some of the power variations that the electrolyser cannot deal with. In this work, a proof of concept of a wind farm control methodology designed to reduce variability in wind farm active power output is presented. Smoothing the power supplied by the wind farm to the battery reduces the size and number of battery charge cycles and helps to increase battery lifetime. Considering off-grid wind farms which exclusively power an electrolyser, this work quantifies the impact of the wind farm control method on battery lifetime for wind farms of 1, 4, 9 and 16 wind turbines. This is achieved using suitable wind farm, battery and electrolyser models. As an example, for the largest wind farm studied, consisting of 16 x 5 MW wind turbines, batteries with a lifetime of 15 years have approximately a 30 % reduction in required capacity (reduced from 14 MWh to 10 MWh) compared to operating without wind farm control. It is found that reducing the variability of the active power output of wind farms through the wind farm control methodology presented can have a significant impact on battery degradation and hence on battery lifetime. Hence, wind farm control can reduce the required battery capacity for a given lifetime or it can increase the lifetime of a given battery capacity. The work presented shows that wind farm control could play a critical role in reducing the levelised cost of green hydrogen produced from wind farms with no grid connection and paves the way for the design and testing of a full implementation of the wind farm control.

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is considered vital to the success of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Systems Thinking has been identified as a core competency necessary to incorporate into ESD. Systems Thinking orientated ESD learning tools, established methods of assessment of sustainability skills, and studies to demonstrate effectiveness of such learning tools, are all lacking. There is a wealth of experience in the System Dynamics field regarding the application of Systems Thinking and simulation to environmental problems, sustainability and systems education. Many System Dynamicists regard simulation as essential for teaching Systems Thinking. The substantial body of research into the design of effective simulation-based learning environments (SBLEs) can also inform ESD initiatives. This research describes a randomised controlled trial (n=106) to investigate whether an online sustainability learning tool that incorporates Systems Thinking and System Dynamics simulation increases understanding of a specific problem and supports transfer of knowledge to a second problem with a similar systemic structure. The effects of Systems Thinking and simulation were tested separately and in combination. The learning tool was designed for a single online learning session. Simulation was found to increase ESD learning outcomes significantly, and also to support transfer of skills, although less significantly.

Abiotic stress, especially drought stress poses a significant threat to the terrestrial plant growth, development, and productivity. Although mulberry have great genetic diversity and extensive stress tolerant traits in agroforestry systems, only a few reports offer preliminary insight into biochemical responses of mulberry leaves under drought conditions. In this study, we performed a comparative metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis on the “drooping mulberry” (Morus alba var. Pendula Dippel) under PEG-6000-simulated drought stress. Our research revealed that drought stress significantly enhanced flavonoid accumulation and up-regulated the expression of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes. Furthermore, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were elevated. In vitro enzyme assays and fermentation tests indicated the involvement of flavonol synthase/flavanone 3-hydroxylase (XM_010098126.2) and anthocyanidin 3-O-glucosyltransferase 5 (XM_010101521.2) in the biosynthesis of flavonol aglycones and glycosides, respectively. The recombinant MaF3GT5 protein was found to recognize kaempferol, quercetin, and UDP-glucose as substrates, but not 3-/7-O-glucosylated flavonols and UDP-rhamnose. MaF3GT5 is capable of forming 3-O- and 7-O-monoglucoside, but not di-O-glucosides, form kaempferol. This implies its role as a flavonol 3, 7-O-glucosyltransferase. The findings from this study provided insights into the biosynthesis of flavonoids and could have substantial implications for the future diversified utilization of mulberry.

Enhancing soil fertility and maize productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage practices, nitrogen management strategies, and acidified hydrochar on soil fertility and maize productivity. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with split-split plot arrangement and four replications. Main plots received shallow tillage and deep tillage. Sub-plots were treated with nitrogen (120 kg ha⁻¹) from farmyard manure and urea, including control, 33% FYM + 67% urea (MU), and 80% FYM + 20% urea (MF). Acidified hydrochar treatments H0 (no hydrochar) and H1 (with hydrochar, 2 t ha⁻¹) were applied to sub-sub plots. Deep tillage significantly increased plant height, biological yield, grain yield, ear length, grains ear-1, thousand grain weight, and nitrogen content compared to shallow tillage. MU and MF improved growth parameters and yield over the control. Hydrochar effects varied; H1 enhanced certain yield components but reduced plant height and soil properties compared to H0. Canonical discriminant analysis linked deep tillage and MU/MF nitrogen management with improved yield and soil characteristics. In conclusion, deep tillage combined with integrated nitrogen manage-ment enhances maize productivity and soil health. However, hydrochar application requires op-timization. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate tillage and nitrogen strategies for sustainable maize production. These insights guide policymakers, agronomists, and agricultural extension services in adopting evidence-based strategies for sustainable agriculture, enhancing food production, and mitigating environmental impacts. Future research should in-vestigate long-term impacts across diverse environments to validate these results.

As waterflooding multi-layer reservoirs get into the high-water-cut stage, inter-layer conflicts become increasingly serious, leading to a worsening development effect over time. Production layers regroup is an effective approach for resolving inter-layer conflicts and improving waterflooding efficiency. At the current stage, there are limitations for most of the methods of production layers regroup. This article proposes a smart method for optimizing the layer regroup plan based on genetic algorithm. Comprehensively considering various factors that affect the regroup of layers, based on the combination principle of "smaller intra-group variance and larger inter-group variance of each influencing factor are expected ", genetic algorithm is used to calculate the fitness value of the initial combination schemes, the advantageous schemes with higher fitness values are selected as the basis of the next generation. Then crossover and mutation operations are performed to those advantageous schemes to generate new schemes. Through continuous selection and evolution, until the global optimal solution with the highest fitness value is found, the optimal combination scheme is determined. Comparative analysis with numerical simulation results demonstrates the reliability of this intelligent method, with an increased oil recovery of 4.34% for the sample reservoir. Unlike selecting a preferable plan from a limited number of predefined combination schemes, this method is an automatic optimization to solve the optimal solution of the problem. It improves both efficiency and accuracy as compared to conventional reservoir engineering methods, numerical simulation methods and most of the mathematical methods, thus could provide effective guidance for EOR strategies of waterflooding reservoirs in high-water-cut stage.

The mass composition of Particulate Matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in San Joaquin Valley (SJV) is dominated by ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) which is a secondary pollutant. The goal of this research was the investigation of the relationship between emissions, meteorology and PM2.5 concentrations in Fresno for the winter season. It was found that the location of sites near emission sources such as freeways compared with residential sites strongly affected measured PM2.5 concentrations. It was found that although long-term trends showed declines in both emissions and PM2.5 concentrations there was substantial variability between the years in the PM2.5/emissions relationship. Much of the yearly variation in the relationship between emissions and PM2.5 concentrations can be attributed to yearly variations in weather, such as atmospheric stability, precipitation frequency and average wind speed. There are moderate correlations between PM2.5 concentrations and temperature differences between nearby surface stations at varying elevations which explains some of the daily and seasonal variation in PM2.5. Occurrence of precipitation was related to low PM¬2.5 although the higher wind speeds and lower atmospheric stability associated with precipitation likely explain some of the low PM2.5 as well as washout of PM.

The present work aims to explain the aluminum hydrolysis reaction kinetics based on properly chosen theoretical model with machined aluminum waste chips and alkali solutions up to 1M as a promoter, and to estimate overall reaction profit. In order to obtain results of better accuracy, we work with flat Al waste chips because a flat surface is preferable to maximally increase the time for created hydrogen bubbles to reach the critical gas pressure. At describing the reaction kinetics, flat shape allows using a planar one-dimensional shrinking core model instead of much complicated polydisperse spheric shrinking core model. We analyze the surface chemical reaction and mass transfer rate steps to obtain the first order rate constant for surface reaction and the diffusion coefficient of aqueous reactant in the byproduct layer, respectively. With our reactor we achieved H2 yield of 1145 mL per 1 g Al with 1M NaOH, which is 92% of the theoretical maximum. At estimation of the profit, we pay much attention to the loss of alkaline and find a crucial dependence on its price. Nevertheless, in terms of consumed and originated materials for sale, conversion of the aluminum waste material into green hydrogen by properly chosen reaction parameters has a positive profit even by consuming alkali of chemical grade.

In the recent years, tubular nanostructures have been related with immense advances in various fields of science and technology. Considerable research efforts have been centered on the theoretical prediction and manufacturing of non-carbon nanotubes (NTs), which meet modern requirements for the developing of novel devices and systems. In this context, diatomic inorganic nanotubes formed by atoms of elements from the 13th group of the periodic table (B, Al, Ga, In, Tl) and nitrogen (N), have received much research attention. In the present work, the elastic properties of single-walled boron nitride, aluminium nitride, gallium nitride, indium nitride and thallium nitride nanotubes were numerically evaluated using the nanoscale continuum modelling approach (also called molecular structural mechanics). The elastic properties (rigidities, surface Young´s and shear moduli, and Poisson´s ratio) of nitride nanotubes are discussed with respect to the bond length of the corresponding diatomic hexagonal lattice. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of the mechanical response of nitride compound-based nanotubes, covering a broad range from the well-studied boron nitride NTs to the hypothetical thallium nitride NTs.

Phagocytosis (and endocytosis) is an unusual cellular process which results in the formation of a novel subcellular organelle, the phagosome. This phagosome contains not only the internalised target of phagocytosis, but also the external medium, creating a new border between extracellular and intracellular environments. The boundary at the plasma membrane is, of course, tightly controlled and exploited in ionic cell signalling events. Although there has been much work on the control of phagocytosis by ions, notable Ca2+ ions influxing across the plasma membrane, increasing our understanding of the mechanism enormously, very little work has been done exploring the phagosome/cytosol boundary. In this paper, we have explored the changes in the intra-phagosomal Ca2+ ion content which occur during phagocytosis and phagosome formation in human neutrophils. Measuring Ca2+ ion concentration in the phagosome is potentially prone to artefacts as the intra-phagosomal environment experiences changes in pH and oxidation. However, by excluding such artefacts, we conclude that there are open Ca2+ channels on the phagosome, which allow Ca2+ ions to ‘drain’ into the surrounding cytosol. This conclusion was confirmed by monitoring the translocation of intracellularly expressed YFP-tagged C2 domain of PKC-γ. This approach marked regions of membrane at which Ca2+ influx occurred, the earliest being the phagocytic cup, and then the whole cell. This paper therefore presents data which has novel implications for understanding phagocytic Ca2+ signalling events, such as peri-phagosomal Ca2+ hotspots, and other phenomena.

In the digital age, 3D as-built monitoring of structures and buildings is becoming increasingly important. It provides the basis for automated quality control and progress monitoring through as-built and as-planned model- comparisons, as well as 3D modelling for automated repair, refurbishment and reuse in existing construction. Especially for 3D model-based manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing, efficient as-built monitoring is essen- tial to ensure the quality and accuracy of buildings and products. Therefore, three different 3D scanning devices have been evaluated for 3D as- built monitoring of concrete structures with different characteristics: An indus- trial handheld laser scanner commonly used in automotive and mechanical en- gineering, a mobile device with lidar for commercial public use, and a terrestri- al laser scanner commonly used for surveying. The devices were tested on 3D printed, cast, and assembled structures of different sizes and geometries. The scan results are compared to the as-planned models based on their dimen- sional distances using Cloud-to-Cloud Comparison (C2C). The results show that the applicability is highly dependent on the size, geometric complexity and surface texture of the concrete structures. While small and flat structures can be captured completely and with micrometer accuracy using the handheld industri- al laser scanner, terrestrial laser scanners are suitable for capturing large struc- tures and environments. The handheld, photogrammetry-based mobile device has demonstrated the broadest applicability for concrete structures. The accura- cy and coverage of the point cloud results were respectively high. Therefore, photogrammetry-based scanning with advanced mobile devices is a cost- effective, fast and portable alternative for 3D as-built monitoring and data ac- quisition of a wide range of concrete structures.

The integration of clean energy generation with wastewater treatment holds promise for addressing both environmental and energy concerns. Focusing on photocatalytic hydrogen production and wastewater treatment, the study introduces PdIn/TiO2 catalysts for the simultaneous removal of the pharmaceutical contaminant paracetamol and hydrogen production. Physicochemical characterization showed a high distribution of Pd and In on the support as well as a high interaction with it. The Pd and In deposition enhances the light absorption capability and significantly improved HER in comparison to TiO2 not only in the electrolyte but also in presence of paracetamol. Regarding PTM oxidation, TiO2 and PdIn/TiO2 showed an irreversible behavior toward the PTM oxidation, limited by the adsorption of species on the electrode surface. Thus, PdIn-doped TiO2 stands out as a promising catalyst, showcasing enhanced physicochemical properties and superior catalytic performance. This underscores its potential for both environmental remediation and sustainable hydrogen production.

Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is a re-emerging threat to greenhouse cucumber and other Cucurbitaceae crop productions worldwide. This seed-borne virus can easily spread from a contaminated seed to seedlings and to adjacent plants through mechanical contact of the foliage of diseased and healthy plants causing extensive yield losses. Additionally, infection may not be limited to the current crop but may also affect subsequent crops due to the long-term persistence of the virus on contaminated crop residues, greenhouse hard surfaces and soil or soil-less greenhouse substrates. In the present work, three greenhouse trials were conducted to develop an integrated pest management strategy towards controlling CGMMV in commercial cucumber greenhouses, by implementing an effective sanitization program and using resistant and grafted cucumber varieties. Results of sanitization trial highlighted that pressure washing and cleansing with an alkaline foam cleanser has eliminated CGMMV on some of the most heavily infested areas. However, three successive applications of cleanser and disinfectants were essential to completely eliminate CGMMV on porous and uneven surfaces, such as cement alleyway, tray gutter and floor mats. The varietal trial revealed that out of 15 cucumber varieties evaluated, two Mini (‘Katrina’ and ‘Khassib’) and three Long English (‘Sepire’, ‘Bomber’ and ‘LC13900’) had reduced or delayed CGMMV infection spread in the greenhouse but were intermediate in yield. The varieties ‘Sunniwell’ and ‘Bonbon’ were the most tolerant to CGMMV. They showed a high CGMMV infection level without compromising yield. These results proved the need for new productive cucumber varieties with CGMMV resistance. Grafting experiment showed only yield increase in case of grafted ‘Picowell’ over ‘Bonbon’ and not marked CGMMV resistance, which is a much desirable result when the grafting experiments are evaluated for their economic potential. In all, the current experimental trials unfold unique methodologies on CGMMV management in commercial greenhouses that are recommended to the growers to be followed for reducing crop losses and get benefitted on revenue compromise.

Purpose, This research aimed to examine the effect of green logistics (GL) and green human resource management (GHRM) on the performance of environmentally friendly manufacturing industries oriented towards sustainable development of organizations (SDO) through the role of sustainable production (SP) as a mediating variable. Methodology, A quantitative approach was employed through a standardized questionnaire to obtain data from 110 manufacturing industries in Indonesia that implemented environmentally friendly practices. Advanced statistical techniques, such as Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and data analysis using Smart PLS (Partial Least Square) version 4 were utilized to analyze the collected data. Findings, The results showed that the model supported the statistical significance of all seven hypotheses and confirmed the direct and mediating effects of GL, GHRM, and SP on SDO. Practical implications, This research added critical insights into the theory and practice of GL and GHRM to realize SDO through the role of SP as a mediator in environmentally friendly manufacturing industries. Originality, This research contributd to the existing literature by adding to the effect of SP mediation on the relationship of GL and GHRM on SDO. There was no previous research that discussed the important role of SP mediation in influencing the relationship between GL and GHRM on SDO.

The main purpose of this work was to tests of form and size of fatigue wear of the top layer of oil gear pump wheel (3PW-BPF-24). The object of tests was operated during a determined number of hours at strictly controlled operational and environmental parameters. A microscope of focal differentiation by Alicona InfiniteFocus G4 (with Focus-Variation optical measuring technology) was used for an identification, measurement and description of noticed superficial defects, which resulted from the fatigue process of the top layer and an earlier thermochemical treatment. The work was finished with an analysis of obtained results (based on the analysis of 3D scans) and conclusions concerning about optimization of the thermal treatment. Taking into consideration the presented results (suggestions) in the technology of improving strength properties of gear wheels (of this type oil pumps) may render it possible to obtain an appropriate fatigue endurance of the top layer, i.e. a minimization of observed superficial defects.

The extensive metabolic diversity of microalgae, coupled with their rapid growth rates and cost-effective production, position these organisms as highly promising resources for a wide range of biotechnological applications. These characteristics allow microalgae to address crucial needs in both the agricultural, medical, and industrial sectors. Microalgae are proving to be val-uable in various fields, including the remediation of diverse wastewater types, the production of biofuels and biofertilizers, and the extraction of various products from their biomass. For decades, the microalga Chlamydomonas has been widely used as a fundamental research model organism in various areas such as photosynthesis, respiration, sulfur and phosphorus metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and flagella synthesis, among others. However, in recent years, the potential of Chlamydomonas as a biotechnological tool for bioremediation, biofertilization, biomass, and bio-products production has been increasingly recognized. Bioremediation of wastewater using Chlamydomonas presents significant potential for sustainable reduction of contaminants and fa-cilitates resource recovery and valorization of microalgal biomass, offering important economic benefits. Chlamydomonas has also established itself as a platform for the production of a wide va-riety of biotechnologically interesting products, such as different types of biofuels, and high-value-added products. The aim of this review is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the potential of Chlamydomonas in these aspects, and to explore their interrelationship, which would offer significant environmental and biotechnological advantages.

Matrices and their inverses allow accurate calculations to be produced quickly and compactly and can be used to control any process represented by a system of equations. Singular matrices require extensive workarounds (costing time and money) to solve these systems of equations because they have no inverse. Finding their inverse involves division by zero. Nevertheless, recently a new number set called semi-structured complex numbers was developed to enable division by zero in algebraic equations. The aim of this research was to demonstrate that the inverse of a singular matrix can be found using semi-structured complex numbers. This research reveals (1) Singular matrices and their inverses can be used to find a unique solution to a pair of simultaneous equations that appear to have infinitely many solutions or appear to have no solution; (2) Singular matrices map coordinates in projective space to coordinates in Euclidean space and their inverse maps coordinates in Euclidean space to coordinates in projective space; (3) the inverse of a singular matrix proves that parallel lines in Euclidean space do not intersect but in projective space intersect at a “point at infinity” and (4) collinear lines that intersect at infinitely many points in Euclidean space only intersect at one point in projective space.

Faced with increasing climate challenges, this pioneering study introduces groundbreaking approaches to ensure the resilience of potato crops in east-central Poland. Our research aimed to develop an innovative, cost-effective system tailored to the diverse local conditions of this region. Conducted between 2018 and 2020, the study analyzed integrated and organic production systems across different soil types and potato varieties. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with three replications in two locations. Integrated practices, enhanced by mineral fertilization and chemical protection, notably delayed the onset of late blight by 16 days and extended the critical infection period by 17% compared to their organic counterparts. Remarkably, the integrated systems resulted in a 49% increase in total production and a 52% increase in commercial yields, demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing crop resilience. Different potato varieties exhibit varied responses to cultivation systems, influencing both yield and disease resistance. Further investigation into these varietal responses can help optimize cultivation practices, leading to improved efficiency and sustainability in potato farming. Location and soil conditions have a significant impact on potato yield and the spread of potato blight. Further research into specific soil properties and the adaptation of varieties to local conditions can contribute to increased productivity and stability in potato production. This study not only paves the way towards sustainable agriculture but also highlights the crucial role of soil diversity in shaping resilient farming practices.

Ultrasound, as mechanical waves with frequencies exceeding 20 thousand hertz, has found wide applications in medicine, physiotherapy, and more recently in agriculture. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ultrasound on potato yield and its parameters, particularly on seed potato yield, quantity, mass, and multiplication coefficient of potato tubers. The research was based on a three-year field experiment, utilizing the randomized block design in a split-split-plot arrangement, in the central-eastern region of Poland. The primary factor were technologies: a) technology with employing ultrasonic pre-planting treatment, b) traditional cultivation without this treatment. The secondary factors were potato varieties. Sonication of tubers was conducted using a bath-type ultrasonic device equipped with piezoe-lectric transducers. Results revealed a significant influence of cultivation technology, cultivar, and weather conditions on seed tubers yield, quantity, and multiplication coefficient of potato tubers. However, genetic traits of the examined varieties and random factors significantly affected the individual seed tuber mass and the number of shoots emerging from a single tuber. Future Outlook: Future research could focus on further optimizing ultrasound application techniques in potato cultivation, considering diverse varieties and environmental conditions. Additionally, it would be worthwhile to analyze the long-term effects of ultrasound on tuber seed potato quality and their ability to adapt to changing climatic and soil conditions. Furthermore, studies investi-gating the impact of ultrasound on other plant species could broaden our understanding of po-tential benefits in agriculture.

Three edible aquatic weeds, helencha (Enhydra fluctuans), malancha (Alternanthera philoxeroides), and kalmi (Ipomoea aquatica), were used to produce edible paper sheets. The composition of the raw and paper sheet samples was analyzed, including proximate composition, amino acid content, minerals and heavy metal contents, and bioactive compounds. The dried raw and paper sheets showed similar proximate composition, with carbohydrates being the highest (50.38-64.63%), followed by crude protein (15.25-19.13%), ash (9.30-15.88%), and lipid (1.549-3.43%). The weeds and paper sheets were rich in essential minerals like Na, Ca, Zn, and Fe. Acceptable levels of heavy metals, including Ni, Pb, and Cu, were found. The paper sheets contained seven essential and eight non-essential amino acids. A. philoxeroides sheets showed the highest amino acid content (16146.81mg/100g), while I. aquatica showed the lowest (13118.67 mg/100g). The aquatic weeds paper sheets were rich in containing bioactive compounds and the number in E. fluctuans, A. philoxeroides, and I. aquatica paper sheets were 31, 33, and 40, respectively. There were no significant changes in the nutritional content of aquatic weeds in paper sheet form compared to the raw weeds which suggests promising prospects for the production and consumption as a source of nutrition and bioactive compounds.

The scarcity and pollution of freshwater are extremely crucial issues today and the expansion of water reuse have been considered as an option to reduce its impact. This study aims to assess the efficiency of an integrated greywater treatment system and hydroponic lettuce production as a part of a green wall structure and to evaluate the health risk associated with the production and consumption of lettuce through quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and chemical health risk assessment. The study was conducted based on the unique configuration of source separation system; on-site greywater treatment system; green wall structure as a polishing step; and hydroponic lettuce production in the green wall structure. The final effluent from the system was used to grow three lettuce varieties by adding urine as a nutrient solution. Both water samples and plant biomass were collected and tested for E. coli and heavy metals contamination. The system has gained a cumulative 5.1 log10 reduction of E. coli in the final effluent and no E. coli found in the plant biomass. QMRA results indicated that the system attained the health-based targets, 10–6 DALYs per person per year. Similarly, health risk index (HRI) and targeted hazard quotient (THQ) results did not exceed the permissible level, thus the chemical health risk concern was insignificant.

Population based studies have associated poor living conditions with the persistent disparity in the health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. This project assesses the applicability of the Health Community Assessment Tool and its role in improving the environment of a small community in the Midwest of WA. The action research cycles started with the initial reflection on the suitability of the HCAT version 2 for the local community context and whether it was fit-for-purpose. The researcher provided ‘critical companionship’, while the participants of the study were invited to be co-researchers (the Assessors) who critically examined the HCAT and assess the community. The relevant domains to the serviced town (an outer regional community) were pest control and animal management; healthy housing; food supply; community vibrancy, pride and safety; reducing environmental tobacco smoke; and promoting physical activity. The Assessors found the HCAT descriptors mostly aligned with their community context but found some of the items difficult to apply. Based on participant’s suggestions, some of the original scoring scales were reformatted. School attendance and illicit drug use were identified as a key outcome indicator for youth but were missing from the HCAT. The HCAT domains applied helped streamlining core business of agencies in the local community. The face validity of HCAT items were confirmed in this research with minor adjustments to reflect local context. Youth engagement to education is of high community concern and the development of an item would create similar interagency collaborative dialogues.

South Africa (SA) is grappling with a severe food insecurity crisis exacerbated by socioeconomic challenges. This resulted in the Department of Basic Education (DBE) advocating for the establishment of vegetable gardens at schools. However, information on the suitability of the soils in SA for sustainably growing Beetroot is unavailable. This study aimed to assess the suitability of soils for sustainable Beetroot production at various schools in the Kgakotlou circuit. Four Secondary Schools were selected: Mothimako, Madipoane, Klaas Mothapo and Phomolong. A detailed soil survey was carried out to study soils in vegetable gardens. Soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of physicochemical properties. The soil suitability was evaluated using the physicochemical properties of the soils and optimal soil requirements for Beetroot production. We found various soils in the schools, including Cambisols (Hutton and Nkonkoni), Leptosol (Glenrosa), Plinthosol (Westleigh), and Acrisols (Tshiombo and Tubatse). Portions of the gardens on Hutton and Westleigh soil were moderately suitable (S2), limited by electrical conductivity (EC). Meanwhile, portions of Tshiombo, Tubatse, and Nkonkoni were marginally suitable (S3), limited by pH and EC. Portions on Glenrosa soil at Klaas Mothapo and Phomolong were not suitable (NS) and were limited by shallow depth, soil pH and EC. The results reveal the importance of considering soil suitability before establishing vegetable gardens in school settings. Indexing soil suitability using the physicochemical properties of soil resources for sustainable beetroot production is proposed for schools in the Kgakatlou circuit and other parts of SA.

Wounding and exogenous auxin are needed to induce adventitious roots in Chestnut microshoots. However, the specific inductive role of wounding has not been characterized in this species. In the present work two main goals were established: First, we prompted to optimize exogenous auxin treatments to improve overall health status of the shoots at the end of the rooting cycle. Second, we developed a time-series transcriptomic analysis to compare gene expression in response to wounding alone and wounding plus auxin, focusing in the early events within the first days after treatments. Results suggest that the expression of many genes involved in the rooting process is under direct or indirect control of both stimuli. However, specific levels of expression of relevant genes are only attained when both treatments are applied simultaneously, leading to the successful development of roots. In this sense, we have identified four transcription factors upregulated by auxin (CsLBD16, CsERF113, Cs22D, CsIAA6), with some of them being also induced by wounding. The highest expression levels of these genes occurred when wounding and auxin treatments were applied simultaneously, correlating with the rooting response of the shoots. Results in this work clarify the genetic nature of the wounding response in chestnut, its relation to adventitious rooting and might be helpful in the development of more specific protocols for the vegetative propagation of this species.

A simulation is performed to analyze the forces that arise in a conducting DNA-like double helix in the field of a microwave electromagnetic wave under half-wave resonance conditions. The helix is comprised of twenty-and-a-half turns and has geometric parameters proportional to the size of an actual DNA molecule. The forces acting on the strands of a double helix, both in the central region and at the edges of the helix, are investigated. It has been demonstrated that the afore-mentioned forces induce a change in the shape of the helix, specifically mutual repulsion of the strands, as well as their stretching and twisting in the field of electromagnetic waves. As opposed to a pair of parallel straight conductors, there is a radial repulsion of strands in all regions of a double DNA-like helix, including the center and the edges. This unique interaction of currents in a double DNA-like helix can be attributed to its pitch angle, a characteristic that has been estab-lished through empirical evidence. Consequently, exposure to an electromagnetic wave under half-wave resonance can damage the double helix. Conversely, the impact of electromagnetic waves has the potential to introduce novel avenues for controlling the shape of the double helix. These nonlinear effects must be considered for both actual DNA molecules and double DNA-like helices that serve as components of metamaterials and metasurfaces.

George Satayana stated that “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. As our UK “good outcome” death toll of 20,000 from coronavirus (SARS CoV -2/ COVID -19) in 2020 has sadly been surpassed; never has a phrase been more pertinent. The last major pandemic on a similar scale to COVID-19 is “Spanish Flu” from 1918. We aim to delineate the timeline of events in response to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and compare this to the timeline of COVID 19 response, given that the NHS and WHO have since both been long established. In the last 102 years many changes have occurred. Health services across the world have significantly improved, with the advent of mechanical ventilation and antimicrobial treatments. Vaccination programmes against common pathogens have prevented many large-scale disease threats, however novel illnesses have also emerged. Worldwide communication through the Internet and many agencies including the World Health Organisation has improved, and the awareness and surveillance of disease is more prominent. Despite advances in healthcare and communication, the national and international timeline for public health intervention in the current COVID pandemic in comparison to the Spanish flu pandemic of more than 100 years ago is virtually identical. The World Health Organisation operates to promote global health and prevent spread of disease, with this in mind; should the WHO have intervened earlier?​ We need to learn quickly from this pandemic and improve planning for the future.

Physical-law based models are widely utilized in the aerospace industry. One such use is to provide flight dynamics models for use in flight simulators. For human-in-the-loop use, such simulators must run in real-time. Due to the complex physics of rotorcraft flight, to meet this real-time requirement, simplifications to the underlying physics sometimes have to be applied to the model, leading to model response errors in the predictions compared to the real vehicle. This study investigated whether a machine-learning technique could be employed to provide rotorcraft dynamic response predictions, with the ultimate aim of this model taking over when the physics-based model's accuracy degrades. In the current work, a machine-learning technique was employed to train a model to predict the dynamic response of a rotorcraft. Machine learning was facilitated using a Gaussian Process (GP) non-linear autoregressive model, which predicted the on-axis pitch rate, roll rate, yaw rate and heave responses of a Bo105 rotorcraft. A variational sparse GP model was then developed to reduce the computational cost of implementing the approach on large data sets. It was found that both of the GP models were able to provide accurate on-axis response predictions, particularly when the input contained all four control inceptors and one lagged on-axis response term. The predictions made showed improvement compared to a corresponding physics-based model. The reduction of training data to one-third (rotational axes) or one-half (heave axis) resulted in only minor degradation of the GP model predictions.

High quantities of biomass produced in greenhouses create environmental problems, as this side stream and its downgraded products are not further used in the production cycle. The aim of our research was the identification and semi-quantification of molecules extracted from vegetative tomato plant residues with sustainable green alternative solvents using vacuum-assisted soxhlet and solid-liquid extraction to evaluate the possibilities for high-value applications. To identify compounds, GC-MS analysis, and the Folin-Cioalteau method was used. In sum, 285 different compounds have been assigned to 383 detected peaks using GC-MS analysis. The solvents 2-MTHF and ethyl acetate, compared to ethanol and hexane, provided better results with a maximum number of 99 ± 8.83 compounds, a maximum total concentration of 5,894.82 ± 586.48 and 3,363.02 ± 71.14 mg NEQ kgdw-1 and a total phenolic content of 2,143.25 ± 155.17 and 1,605.92 ± 66.46 mg GAE kgdw-1, respectively. With 781.2 ± 112.66 and 718.25 ± 54.89 mg NEQ kgdw-1 the compound neophytadiene was the most common terpene in ethyl acetate and 2-MTHF extracts, respectively. It can be concluded that vegetative tomato plant residues contain a high variety of bioactive molecules. Green solvents, such as 2-MTHF and ethyl acetate, enhance the extraction of these molecules from the solid matrix.

Attention to the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) involve also statistical surveys showing an increasing trend in the incidence of WMSDs. Technological development retrieves new tools and methods for the assessment of physical load at work. In addition to the conventional questionnaires and scaling assessment systems, these methods are mostly based on the direct sensing of appropriate parameters, which allows more precise quantification. The aim of this paper is to compare the assessment of ergonomic risk through current legislative regulations. A Captiv wireless sensor system was used at a car headlight quality control assembly workplace for sensing, data acquisition and data processing. During the evaluation of the postures and movements at work, we discovered differences in the applicable standards: Decree 542/2007 Coll. (Slovak legislation), STN EN 1005-4+A1, French standards default in the Captiv system. Standards define the thresholds for hazardous postures with significant differences in several evaluated body segments, which also affects the final evaluation of the measurements. Based on the results of our research, we found that respondents were in an acceptable position for approximately 63% of the total duration of the work activity in terms of the Legislative method, 44% with Captiv and 27% with Standards method.

The giant octopus caught off the east coast of Korea is an important fishery resource with the largest haul and is mostly caught using net pots. While giant octopus pots have different shapes, drum, rectangular, and cylinder pots are mostly used. However, these pots have not been thoroughly evaluated. Here, we evaluated the fishing performance of three giant octopus pots, their fluid resistance, and underwater movement. Six sea trials were conducted near the Hupo region in Gyeongsangbuk-do. In total, 163 individuals (62,724 g), 190 individuals (49,913 g), and 154 individuals (52,364 g) were caught using drum, rectangular, and cylinder pots, respectively. Drum pots showed significant differences in the amount of catch by weight (ANOVA test, p<0.05). Moreover, the percentage of minimum conservation size was the lowest in cylinder pots (6.5%). Drum pots showed the highest stability in the underwater stability test, while underwater fluid resistance at 2.5 kt fluid speed was in the following order: drum pots (7.66 kgf) > rectangular pots (7.16 kgf) > cylinder pots (7.04 kgf). Therefore, drum pots showed excellent fishing performance. This study provides foundational data for developing managing systems for giant octopus resources and establishing the extent of fishing gear usage.

Abstract: In this paper we describe how the administration of drone brood homoge-nate (DBH) influenced intestinal secretion of IgA, MUC-2, morphometric parameters, peripheral blood values, and expression of cytokines. A total of 12 pigs were divided into three groups, two experimental, first fed with 100 mg DBH.kg-1 (E1), second with 200 mg DBH.kg-1 (E2) of body weight, and a control (C) group without DBH in the di-et. Animals didn't show significant changes in average weight gains and feed conver-sion among evaluated groups. Feeding a diet containing 200 mg DBH.kg-1 of body weight in the E2 group produced an increase (p < 0.05) in the red cell distribution width, the percentage of metabolic activity of blood phagocytes in the peripheral blood, as well as splenic cell subpopulations CD4+ and CD21+. The villi height and their cutting surface were increased in the E2 group (p < 0.01), together with a gradual decrease in the concentration of MUC-2 and sIgA (p < 0.001). Upregulation of IL-8 (p < 0.0001), IL-10 (p < 0.05), and IL-18 (p < 0.001) was found mainly in E2 group. Results suggest, that supplementation of DBH in the feed of pigs formed optimal intestinal homeostasis.drone

The growing demand for nutritious foods has spurred investigations into alternative sources of nutrition beyond traditional options. For this reason, the present study approaches the amaranth, which is a plant with high potential, highlighting the morphological growth, grain biomass pro-duction, and quantitative traits of seven varieties of amaranth cultivated in the pedoclimatic con-ditions of Somes meadow in Transylvania. A bifactorial trial was implemented with factors ama-ranth species and amaranth varieties. Two amaranth species and seven varieties were studied. Differences are reported between morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the seven amaranth varieties studied in this research. The interrelationships between amaranth morphological traits quantified by using Pearson simple correlations show that morphological traits moderately con-tribute to grain fresh biomass yield, while morphological traits and fresh biomass strongly con-tributed to grains dry biomass yield. Our study shows that morpho-productive, and nutritional characteristics of the seven amaranth varieties comprised by our study recommend the plans to be used in various nutritional aims, being a valuable replacer of traditional raw materials in specific food and feed industry sectors.

With the increasing use of data-driven modeling methods new approaches to complex problems in the field of wind energy can be addressed. Topics reviewed through literature include wake modeling, performance monitoring and controls applications, condition monitoring and fault detection, and other data-driven research. Literature shows the advantages of data-driven methods reduce computational expense or complexity, particularly in the cases of wake modeling and controls, as well as various data-driven methodologies’ aptitude for predictive modeling and classification, as in the cases of fault detection and diagnosis. Significant work exists for fault detection while less work is found for controls applications. A methodology for creating data-driven wind turbine models for arbitrary performance parameters is proposed. Results are presented utilizing the methodology to create wind turbine models relating active adaptive twist to steady-state rotor thrust as a performance parameter of interest. Resulting models are evaluated by comparing root-mean-square-error (RMSE) on both the training and validation data sets, with Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), deemed an accurate model for this application. The resulting model undergoes particle swarm optimization to determine the optimal aerostructure twist shape at a given wind speed with respect to the modeled performance parameter, aerodynamic thrust load. The optimization process shows an improvement of 3.15% in thrust loading for the 10 MW reference turbine, and 2.66% for the 15 MW reference turbine.

The application potential of cellulosic materials in natural composites and other fields needs to be explored to develop innovative, sustainable, lightweight, functional biomass materials that are also environmentally friendly. This study investigated Typha augostifolia (Typha sp.) as a potential new raw material for extracting cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) for application in wastewater treatment composites. Alkaline treatments and bleaching were used to remove cellulose from the stem fibers. The CNCs were then isolated from the recovered cellulose using acid hydrolysis. The study showed a few distinct functional groups (O-H, -C-H, =C-H and C-O, and C-O-C) in the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the smooth surface of CPC and CNCs that resulted from removing lignin and hemicellulose from powdered Typha augostifolia. Based on the crystalline index, the powdered Typha augostifolia, CPC, and CNCs were 42.86%, 66.94% and 77.41%. The loss of the amorphous section of the Typha sp. fiber resulted in a decrease in particle size. It may be inferred from the features of a Typha sp. CNC that CNCs may be employed as reinforcement in composites for wastewater treatment.