Wang et al. (Nature 623, 340—350; 2023)¹ used satellite observations and phenological signatures to estimate the extent of planted rubber (Hevea brasiliensis Müll.Arg.) and associated deforestation for eight Southeast Asian countries. Their map implies that planted rubber has caused more than 4 Mha of deforestation since 1993 — a value greater than previously assumed. Unfortunately, their approach was flawed. Our assessment indicates that the actual extent of planted rubber is approximately half that reported by Wang et al., while the extent of associated deforestation is approximately one quarter.

The aim of this study was utilization of ground tea waste (GT) left after brewing the black tea as a biofiller of natural rubber (NR) composites. Ionic liquids (ILs), i.e., 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium lactate and 1-benzyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, often used to extract phytochemicals from tea, were applied to improve the dispersibility of GT particles in elastomeric matrix. The influence of GT loading and ILs on curing characteristics, crosslink density, mechanical properties, thermal stability and resistance of NR composites to thermo-oxidative aging was investigated. The amount of GT did not significantly affect curing characteristics and crosslink density of NR composites, but had serious impact on tensile properties. Applying 10 phr of GT improved the tensile strength by 40% compared to unfilled NR. Further increasing in GT content worsened the tensile strength due to the agglomeration of biofiller in elastomer matrix. ILs significantly improved the dispersion of GT particles in elastomer and increased the crosslink density by 20% compared to the benchmark. Owing to the poor thermal stability of pure GT, it reduced the thermal stability of vulcanizates compared to unfilled NR. Most importantly, GT-filled vulcanizates showed improved resistance to thermo-oxidative aging, since the aging factor increased by 25% compared to the unfilled vulcanizate.

Chromatin structure plays a fundamental role in regulating gene expression, with histone modifiers shaping the structure of chromatin by adding or removing chemical changes to his-tone proteins. The p53 transcription factor controls gene expression, binds target genes, and regulates their activity. While p53 has been extensively investigated in the context of cancer research, its association with histone modifiers has received limited attention. This review ex-plores the interplay between histone modifiers and p53 in regulating gene expression. We discussed how histone modifications can influence how p53 binds to target genes and how this interplay can be disrupted in cancer cells. This study provides insights into the complex mechanisms underlying gene regulation and their implications for potential cancer therapy.

Breast cancer pathogenesis, treatment, and patient outcomes are shaped by tumor-intrinsic genomic alterations that divide breast tumors into molecular subtypes. These molecular subtypes often dictate viable therapeutic interventions, and ultimately, patient outcomes. However, heterogeneity of therapeutic response may be a result of underlying epigenetic features that may further stratify breast cancer patient outcomes. In this review we examine non-genetic mechanisms that drive functional changes to chromatin in breast cancer to contribute to cell and tumor fitness, and highlight how epigenetic activity may inform therapeutic response. We conclude by providing perspectives on the future of therapeutic targeting of epigenetic enzymes, an approach which holds untapped potential to improve breast cancer patient outcomes.

Epigenetic alterations have contributed greatly to human carcinogenesis. Conventional epigenetic studies have been predominantly focused on DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin remodelling. However, recently, RNA modification (m6A-methylation) also termed ‘epitranscriptomics’ has emerged as a new layer of epigenetic regulation due to its diverse role in various biological processes. In this review, we have summarized the therapeutic potential of m6A-modifiers in controlling haematological disorders especially acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It is a type of blood cancer affecting specific subsets of blood-forming hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) which proliferate rapidly and acquire self-renewable capacities with impaired terminal cell-differentiation and apoptosis leading to abnormal accumulation of white blood cells, and thus an alternative therapeutic approach is required urgently. Here, we have described how RNA m6A-modification machineries EEE (Editor/writer: Mettl3, Mettl14; Eraser/remover: FTO, ALKBH5 and Effector/reader: YTHDF-1/2) could be reformed into potential druggable candidate or as RNA modifying drug (RMD) to treat leukemia. Moreover, we have shed-light on the role of microRNA and suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS/CISH) in increasing anti-tumor immunity towards leukemia. We anticipate, our investigation will provide a fundamental knowledge in nurturing the potential of RNA modifiers in discovering novel therapeutics or immunotherapeutic procedures.

Agroforestry is often seen as a sustainable land-use system for agricultural production providing ecosystem services. Intercropping with food crops leads to equal or higher productivity than monoculture and results in food production for industry and subsistence. Low rubber price and low labor productivity in smallholdings have led to a dramatic conversion of rubber plantations to more profitable crops. The literature analysis performed in this paper aimed at better understanding the ins and outs that could make rubber-based agroforestry more attractive for farmers. A library was set-up consisting of 415 scientific references. Of the 232 journal articles, 141 studies were carried out on rubber agroforestry. Since 2011, the number of studies per year has increased. Studies on rubber-based agroforestry systems are performed in most rubber producing countries, in particular in Indonesia, Thailand, China and Brazil. These studies focus more or less equally on perennials (forest species and fruit trees), annual intercrops and mixed plantations. Of the 47 annual crops associated with rubber in the literature, 20 studies dealt with rice, maize, banana and cassava. Agronomy is the main discipline in the literature followed by socio-economy and then ecology. Only 4 papers are devoted to plant physiology and breeding. The discussion section has attempted to analyze the evolution of rubber agroforestry research, progress in the selection of food crop varieties adapted to agroforestry systems, and to draw some recommendations for rubber-based agroforestry systems associated with food crops.

In this study, various percentage combinations of waste aggregates such as PET and crumb rubber were used to replace coarse and fine aggregates in natural rubber latex (NRL) modified concretes. Engineering properties such as compressive and flexural strengths, modulus of elasticity, and toughness obtained from compressive- and flexural stress-strain curves were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was performed to examine the microstructural properties and to study the strength development of the studied concretes. The results indicated that both the compressive and flexural strengths of NRL-modified concretes with PET and crumb rubber aggregate replacements decreased with increasing replacement ratios. SEM analysis indicated that PET and crumb rubber (hydrophobic and non-polar materials) can affect the microstructure of the studied concrete by creating a weak interface between the aggregate and cement pastes, leading to reducing strength development. With the addition of the NRL additive, the film formation was found to act as a bridge and improved the bond strength of aggregates and hydration products of NRL-modified concrete. Furthermore, the integration of PET and crumb rubber aggregate can enhance the ability of the concrete to absorb energy and improve ductility. It was found that 10% of PET and crumb rubber aggregate replacement can be used for NRL-modified concrete as a rigid pavement, as its compressive and flexural strengths met the minimum requirement specified by the Department of Highways, Thailand. This research helps repurpose waste materials and reduce the environmental footprint of concrete production.

Achieving the thermal conductivity required for efficient heat management in semiconductors and other devices requires the integration of thermally conductive ceramic fillers at concentrations of 60 vol% or higher. However, the increased filler content often negatively affects the mechanical properties of the composite matrix, limiting its practical applicability. To address this issue, in this paper, we present a new strategy to reduce the required ceramic filler content: the use of a thermally conductive ceramic composite filler with carbon nanotubes (CNT) grown on aluminum nitride (AlN). We have combined catalyst coating technology with vacuum filtration to ensure that the catalyst is uniformly applied to micrometer-sized AlN particles, followed by efficient and uniform synthesis of CNTs using a water-assisted process in a vertical furnace. By carefully controlling the number of vacuum filtration cycles and the growth time of the CNTs, we demonstrate precise control over the number and length of the CNT layers, thereby adjusting the properties of the composite to the intended specifications. When AlN/CNT hybrid fillers are incorporated into silicone rubber, while maintaining the mechanical properties of rubber, the thermal diffusivity achieved at reduced filler levels exceeds that of composites using AlN-only or simultaneous AlN and CNTs formulations. This demonstrates the critical role of CNTs on AlN surfaces. Our study represents a significant advancement in the design of thermally conductive materials with potential implications for a wide range of applications.

Histone modifications, especially H3K27 and H3K36 methylations, are crucial for epigenetic regulation and are often dysregulated in cancer. In a comprehensive analysis of 11,194 patient samples across 32 cancer types, we identified significant genomic alterations in H3K27 and H3K36 modifiers, with the most common being in KDM6B, BRPF1, KDM6A, SETD2, and NSD1. Patients with these alterations also frequently exhibited mutations in genes like TP53 and PIK3CA. Moreover, the presence of these histone modifier alterations correlated with poorer overall survival, emphasizing their potential as both oncogenic drivers and prognostic markers in various cancers.

This study investigates the dynamic characteristics of Natural Rubber (NR)/Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR) based hybrid magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) sandwich composite beams through numerical simulations and finite element analysis, employing Reddy's third-order shear defor-mation theory. Four distinct hybrid MRE sandwich configurations were examined. The validity of finite element simulations was confirmed by comparing them with results from magnetorheo-logical (MR) fluid-based composites. Further, parametric analysis explored the influence of magnetic field intensity, boundary conditions, ply orientation, and core thickness on beam vi-bration responses. Results reveal a notable 10.4% enhancement in natural frequencies in SC4-based beams under a 600mT magnetic field with clamped-free boundary conditions, attributed to in-creased PBR content in MR elastomer cores. However, higher magnetic field intensities result in slight frequency decrements due to filler particle agglomeration. Additionally, augmenting magnetic field intensity and magnetorheological content under clamped-free conditions improves the loss factor by 66% to 136%, presenting promising prospects for advanced applications. This research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of dynamic behavior and performance enhancement in hybrid MRE sandwich composites, holding significant implications for engi-neering applications. Furthermore, this investigation provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between magnetic field effects, composite architecture, and vibration response.

Conventional fertilization practices can lead to many ecological problems, such as nutrient imbalance, soil acidity, and reduced soil fertility in natural rubber plantations. To address these challenges, a field investigation was strategically carried out to substitute inorganic fertilizer with organic fertilizers consisted of six treatments, i.e., no fertilization (CK), inorganic fertilizer (NPK), 25 % replacement of inorganic through organic (25%M), 50 % replacement of inorganic through organic (50%M), 75 % replacement of inorganic through organic (75%M), and 100% organic fertilizer (100%M). The soil physicochemical properties (SOC, TN, AN, C:N, pH, NH4+-N, and NO3--N) and carbon and nitrogen converting enzymes (BG, NAG, and LAP) were all determined. The partial substitution of inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizers (i.e., 75%M at surface soil layer) showed higher SOC (14.52 g.kg-1), TN (1.06 g.kg-1), AN (20.07 mg.kg-1), C:N (14.63), NH4+-N (10.63 mgkg-1), and NO3--N(11.06 mg.kg-1) than NPK and CK. Such increase in physicochemical properties in partial replacement of inorganic with organic fertilizers plots resulted from higher carbon and nitrogen enzymes activities (BG (143.17 nmol.g-1.h-1), NAG (153.96 nmol.g-1.h-1), and LAP (153.48 nmol.g-1.h-1)) compared to NPK and CK, and further the person correlation and RDA analysis confirmed a significant positive correlation between SOC, AN, and soil enzymes. This study presents a new strategy for assessing the impact of partially replacing inorganic fertilizers with organic fertilizers in rubber plantations, mainly by modifying the soil nutrient composition in tropical regions.

Cotton cationization with low molecular-weight/polymeric cationic modifiers allows the effective dyeing of fabrics with reactive dyes under salt-free and more environmentally-friendly conditions. The current work focuses on the spectroscopic study of the intermolecular interactions, which dictate the physicochemical process associated with dyeing. Water-soluble copolymers of vinyl benzyl chloride and vinyl benzyl triethylammonium chloride (VBCTEAM) have been used as cellulose cationic modifiers. Dye uptake was assessed using Remazol Brilliant Blue and Novacron Ruby dyes. The study involves ATR-FTIR, UV-Vis, fluorescence and XPS spectroscopy. The results of binary polymer-rich dye-polymer aqueous solutions or dye-polymer precipitates at stoichiometric charge-ratio revealed that the sulfonate/sulfate anions of the dyes interact with the cationic VBCTEAM units of the polymer via electrostatic interactions. Moreover, the comparative study of unmodified/modified dyed cotton indicates that the dye reactive sites remain unaffected for cationized cotton, suggesting that electrostatic interactions are the main driving force for the high dyeing performance observed.

Despite the development of technologies, modern methods of disposal of end-of-life tires most often represent either the incineration in cement kilns or the destruction of tires in special landfills, showing a lack of sustainable recycling of this valuable material. The fundamental role of recycling is evident, and the development of high-efficiency processes represents a priority for the European market. Therefore, investigation of end-of-life rubber processing methods is of high importance for manufacturers and recyclers of rubber materials. In this paper, methods of processing of end-of-life tires are reviewed in order to obtain rubber crumb, which can later be used in the production of new industrial rubber goods and composite The processes of separation end-of-life tire into fractions by type of materials using mechanical processing methods along with mechanochemical and mechanical processes of processing the materials of used tires in order to obtain crumb rubber of various fractions and chemical reactivity are considered.

The thermal decomposition of brominated butyl rubber under air atmosphere was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) at various heating rates. The kinetic parameters were evaluated by TG and the isoconversional method developed by Ozawa. One prominent decomposition stage was observed in the DTG curves at high heating rates while an additional small peak was observed at low heating rates. The apparent activation energy determined using the TG method ranged from 219.31–228.13 kJ·mol-1 at various heating rates. The non-isothermal degradation was found to be a first order reaction, and the activation energy, as determined by the isoconversional method, increased with an increase in mass loss. The kinetic data suggested that brominated butyl rubber had excellent thermal stability. This study will indirectly aid in improving rubber pyrolysis methods and in enhancing the heat resistance of materials.

Why do stretched rubber bands not hit the hand after ejection? What is the mechanism behind the rubber band ejection dynamics? These questions represent a fascinating scientific problem. Because the size of a rubber band in the circumferential direction is much larger than that in the other two directions of its cross-section, we regard the rubber band as a slender beam and establish a mathematical model of the dynamics of the rubber band stretching and ejection. Furthermore, we obtain the dependence of the dynamic curvature of the rubber band on the arc length and time. We used the finite element software ABAQUS to simulate the dynamic process of a rubber band stretching and ejection. The simulation results and dimensional analysis were performed to examine the effect of the bending elastic rebound velocity. The mathematical model and simulation results revealed that the relationship between the curvature and time at the end of the rubber band ($s =0$) was as follows: $\kappa\sim t^{-{1}/{2}}$. This research has guiding significance for the design of rubber bands as elastic energy storage devices.

Silicone rubber formulations in the form of thin discs have been studied under room ambient conditions for their surface characteristics. The samples were silicone rubber manufactured in laboratory and those industrially manufactured. The measurements were done using an electrometer high resistance meter, applying dc voltage under normal room ambient conditions. The results show that the silicone rubber samples show higher values of surface resistivity when the dc voltage was applied. Silicone rubber samples manufactured in laboratory seem to exhibit erratic behaviour unlike their corresponding silicone rubbers manufactured in industry; this could be due to manufacturing shortcomings in laboratory and the irregularities in the way the silicone rubber adhered to the concentric ring electrodes. The empirical current traversing the surface of the silicone rubbers does not decay exponentially but rather it decays as an exponential power of the energization time.

The article presents a method for obtaining new composites using a well-known mineral, expanded perlite (EP), and an industrial polymer, butadiene rubber (BR). For the design of composites, a joint oxidative chlorophosphorylation reaction of BR and EP (as well as BR and modified EP) was carried out, and the modifications obtained from this reaction were further hydrolyzed. The structure and morphology of the obtained samples were characterized in detail using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, as well as scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. EP and BR were separately modified with a similar reaction and characterized for data interpretation.

Tapping panel dryness (TPD) syndrome is a complex disease of Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis L.) which causes cessation of latex drainage upon tapping of rubber tree. Rubber tree virus (RTV1) was identified as a novel pathogen associated with rubber tree and a potential causal agent of TPD. RTV1 is a monopartite RNA virus that is linear, non-enveloped and has a single-stranded (ss) positive RNA genome of approximately 6081 nucleotides and is composed of two major open reading frames (ORFs), ORF1 (polyprotein), and ORF2 (movement protein. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of rubber genome encoded tree microRNAs (miRNAs) as novel therapeutic targets against RTV1 using in silico algorithms. Mature rubber tree miRNAs are retrieved from the miRBase database and are used for hybridization of RTV1 using five different five different computational algorithms including miRanda, RNA22, RNAhybrid and psRNATarget. A total of eleven common rubber tree miRNAs were identified based on consensus genomic positions. The consensus of four algorithms predicted the hybridization sites of hbr-miR396a and hbr-miR398 at common locus positions 6676, 1840 respectively. To validate the prediction, secondary structures of the consensual rubber tree miRNAs and free energy of duplex binding were calculated using the RNAfold and RNAcofold algorithms respectively. We created a plot between rubber tree miRNAs and RTV1 ORFs by using Circos algorithm. In this study, we predicted eleven consensual rubber tree miRNAs. Among these miRNAs, hbr-miR398 was identified as the most effectual miRNA that may target the ORF1 gene of the RTV1 genome. The predicted data will be important in the development of rubber trees resistant to RTV1.

This research was a study of the effect of addition linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), NaHCO3, and NaCl and pasteurization on the preservation of natural rubber (NR). The samples were collected from rubber plantations of Chiang Rai province which were added with three surfactants in samples already. Physical and chemical properties were evaluated using pH, deterioration, viscosity, color, and odor. Then, the samples were stored at 28-30°C periods times of 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days. The experiment found that the color, viscosity, odor, and texture of NR samples were not spoiled after being preserved for 30 days but after 45 and 60 days found some coagulation of NR. In the case of non-preserved NR was found that spoiled NR in every period time range of 15-60 days. The pH testing found that increasing period times affect decreased pH value and increased viscosity due to salt of sulfate, carbonate, chloride, and thermal treatment of pasteurization which kill microorganisms and evaporated water. It concluded that the reagents were the process of cosurfactants with heat and frozen for increased effectiveness of anti-acid-producing bacteria and can use as short and long-term preservation of NR under the planting area condition of Thailand.

Mechanical robustness and high energy efficiency of composite materials are immensely important in modern stretchable, self-powered electronic devices. However, the availability of these materials and their toxicities are challenging factors. This paper presents the mechanical and energy-harvesting performances of low-cost natural rubber composites made of stearic acid-modified diatomaceous earth (mDE) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The obtained mechanical properties were significantly better than those of unfilled rubber. Compared to pristine diatomaceous earth, mDE has higher reinforcing efficiencies in terms of mechanical properties because of the effective chemical surface modification by stearic acid and enhanced filler-rubber interactions. The addition of a small amount of CNT as a component in the hybrid filler systems not only improves the mechanical properties but also improves the electrical properties of the rubber composites and has electromechanical sensitivity. For example, the fracture toughness of unfilled rubber (9.74 MJ/m3) can be enhanced by approximately 484% in a composite (56.86 MJ/m3) with 40 phr (per hundred grams of rubber) hybrid filler, whereas the composite showed electrical conductivity. At a similar mechanical load, the energy-harvesting efficiency of the composite containing 57 phr mDE and 3 phr CNT hybrid filler was nearly double that of the only 3 phr CNT-containing composite. The higher energy-harvesting efficiency of the mDE-filled conductive composites may be due to their increased dielectric behaviour. Because of their bio-based materials, rubber composites made by mDE can be considered eco-friendly composites for mechanical and energy harvesting applications and suitable electronic health monitoring devices.

Background. The type-2 sodium-glucose cotransporters inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a new relevant therapeutic option for patients affected by chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a real-world population from a single center, the feasibility of introducing SGLT2i and their interaction with other recommended drug classes. Methods. We evaluated the consecutive patients affected by chronic heart failure (CHF) since January 2022. At baseline clinical visit the therapy taken by the patients as well as that prescribed were accurately collected. During a 6-12 month follow-up the the changes in concomitant therapy were analyzed. Results. At baseline, among 350 patients evaluated, only 17 (5%) were already taking SGLT2i, 13 with HFrEF, 2 with CHF with mild reduced (HFmrEF) and 2 with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). After baseline evaluation, SGLT2i were prescribed to 220 (63%) of all the patients enrolled, among whom 178 (84%) of HFrEF patients, 25 (42%) of HFmrEF and 17 (22%) of HFpEF. After follow-up, SGLT2i therapy was highly tolerated and it was associated with a significant increased prescription of sacubitril/valsartan and a reduced use of diuretics. Finally, a significant improvement in functional status and left ventricular systolic function after SGLT2i therapy was observed. Conclusions. In this single center “real world” study, SGLT2i were prescribed in HFrEF patients most of all already in therapy with the other classes of drugs currently recommended for their treatment. Moreover, a further optimization in prescribed ther-apy was observed during a short term follow-up. These data further support the use of this thera-peutic approach in routine clinical practice.

Sulfur, peroxide and combined sulfur and peroxide curing systems were applied for cross-linking of unfilled and carbon black filled rubber compounds based on ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber. The results revealed that the type of curing system influenced the course and shape of curing isotherms. This resulted in the change of curing kinetics of rubber compounds. The cross-link density of vulcanizates cured with combined vulcanization systems was lower than that for vulcanizates cured only in the presence of sulfur or peroxide system. The results revealed good correlation between the cross-link density as well as the structure of the formed cross-links and physical-mechanical characteristics of the materials. It can be stated that by proper combination of vulcanization systems it is possible to modify tensile behavior of vulcanizates in targeted manner. On the other side, dynamical-mechanical properties were found not be significantly influenced by the composition of curing system.

The vulcanization of rubber compounds is an exothermal process. A carbon black-filled and natural rubber-based (NR) formulation was mixed with different levels of sulfur (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0 phr) and studied with Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) for the determination of the vulcanization enthalpy. It was found that the vulcanization enthalpy is dependent from the amount of sulfur present in the compound and the vulcanization heat released was -18.4 kJ/mol S if referred to the entire rubber compound formulation or -46.0 kJ/mol S if the heat released is referred only to the NR present in the compound. The activation energy for the vulcanization of the rubber compounds was also determined by a DSC study at 49 kJ/mol and found quite independent from the sulfur content of the compounds under study. A simplified thermochemical model is proposed to explain the main reactions occurring during the vulcanization. The model correctly predicts that the vulcanization is an exothermal process although it gives an overestimation of the vulcanization enthalpy which is larger for the EV vulcanization package and smaller for the conventional vulcanization system. If the devulcanization is conducted mechanochemically in order to break selectively the sulfur-based crosslinks, then the natural rubber compounds recovered from used tires can be re-vulcanized again and the exothermicity of such process can be measured satisfactorily with DSC analysis. This paper not only proposes a simplified mechanism of vulcanization and devulcanization but also proposes an analytical method to check the devulcanization status of the recycled rubber compound in order to distinguish truly devulcanized rubber from reclaimed rubber.

The present investigation deals with the determination of the physio-chemical properties of two commercial grade samples of local gums (Gum Arabic and Natural Rubber Latex (NRL)). The results revealed that the gum samples have high melting point that indicate thermal stability at room and moderate temperatures. The gum samples have about 95 % carbohydrate content and a corresponding high internal energy and can serve as a source of energy. The rheology of the samples revealed shear-thickening characteristics with gum Arabic being thixotropic and pseudo-plastic in nature while NRL was observed to be anti-thixotropic and rheopectic. Further results from the moisture absorption, contact angle and Fourier Transform Infrared Radioscopy (FTIR) analyses gave better insight into their hydroscopic behaviors. Gum Arabic has excellent water absorption capacity with less wettability as it consists mainly of more water-soluble compounds in comparison to Natural Rubber Latex. These insights from the study will enhance wider application of the gums with increased value-addition to the gums and the communities where they (can) thrive.

The effect of the addition of maleated polyethylene (MAPE) to compounds of natural rubber (NR) and Teline monspessulana flour (TMF) previously mercerized was investigated. Two factors were analyzed: A. concentration of MAPE with five levels 2; 4; 6; 8; 10 phr (parts per hundred rubber), B. concentration of TMF with two levels 25 and 40 phr. The effect of MAPE on compatibility between NR and HTM was evaluated by tensile testing the compounds. The mixing was performed in a laboratory scale mill. The test tubes were obtained by cutting or die-cutting crosslinked peroxide sheets, these were obtained during the compression molding process. Analysis indicate that the MAPE coupling agent improved the compatibility between HTM and NR, this effect was evidenced by the values of tensile strength and elongation at break. However, the gel content determination indicates that the addition of 10 phr of MAPE crosslinking decreases due to competition with coupling reaction MAPE - HTM.

Butyl rubber-based composite (BRC) is one of the most popular materials for the fabrication of protective glove against chemical and mechanical risks. However, in many working places such as metal manufacturing or automotive mechanical services, its mechanical hazards usually appear together with metalworking fluids (MWFs). The presence of these contaminants, particularly at high temperature, could modify its properties due to the scission, the plasticization, the crosslinking of polymer network and thus led to severe modification of mechanical and physicochemical properties of material. This work aims to determine the effect of temperature and a metalworking fluid on mechanical behavior of butyl rubber composite dealing with crosslinking density, cohesion forces and elastic constant of BRC on the based on Mooney-Rivlin’s theory. The effect of temperature with and without MWFs on thermo dynamical properties and morphology of butyl membranes is also investigated. The prediction of service lifetime is then evaluated from extrapolation of Arrhenius plot at different temperatures.

Vulcanized Rubber, as elastomer, is difficult to recycle. Today, the main end of life routes of tyres and other rubber products are landfilling, incineration in e.g. cement plants, and grinding to a fine powder, with huge quantities lacking sustainable recycling of this valuable material. Devulcanization, i.e. the breaking up of sulfur bonds by chemical, thermo-physical or biological means, is a promising route that has been investigated for more than 50 years. This review article presents and update on the state-of-the art in rubber devulcanization. This review article addresses established devulcanization technologies and novel processes described in the scientific and patent literatures. It is expected that the public discussion of environmental impacts of thermoplastics will soon spill over to thermosets and elastomers. Therefore, the industry needs to develop and market solutions proactively. Tyre recycling through devulcanization has a huge lever, since approx. 30 million tons of tyres are discarded annually.

Rubber compounds based on styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer rubber and the combinations of both rubbers were cured with different sulfur and peroxide curing systems. In sulfur curing systems, two type of accelerators, namely N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide, tetramethylthiuram disulfide and combinations of both accelerators were used. In peroxide curing systems, dicumyl peroxide, and combination of dicumyl peroxide with zinc diacrylate or zinc dimethacrylate, respectively were applied. The work was focused on investigation of the curing system composition as well as type of the rubber or rubbers combinations on curing process, cross-link density and physical-mechanical properties of vulcanizates. The dynamic-mechanical properties on the selected vulcanizates were examined, too. The result revealed correlation between the cross-link density and physical-mechanical properties. Similarly, there was recorded certain correlation between cross-linking degree and glass transition temperature. The tensile strength of vulcanizates based on rubbers combinations was higher when compared to that based on pure rubbers, which points out the fact that by rubbers combination, not only the features of both elastomers can be combined, but also improved tensile characteristics can be achieved. When compared to vulcanizates cured with dicumyl peroxide, materials cured with sulfur system exhibited higher tensile strength. By application of co-agents in peroxide vulcanization, the tensile strength overcame the tensile behavior of sulfur cured vulcanizates.

Low pressure fluid transport (1) applications often require low and precise volumetric flow rates (2) including low leakage to reduce additional costly and complex sensors. A peristaltic pump de-sign (3) was realized, with the fluid’s flexible transport channel formed by a solid cavity and the wobbling plate comprising a rigid and a soft layer (4). In operation, the wobbling plate is driven externally by an electric motor, hence, the soft layer is contracted and unloaded (5) during pump-cycles transporting fluid from low to high pressure sides. A thorough characterization of the pump system is required to design and dimension the components of the peristaltic pump. To capture all these parameters and their dependencies on various operation-states, often complex and long-lasting dynamic 3D FE-simulations are required. We present, here, a holistic design methodology (6) including analytical as well as numerical calculations, and experimental valida-tions for a peristaltic pump with certain specifications of flow-rate range, maximum pressures, and temperatures. An experimental material selection process is established and material data of candidate materials (7) (liquid silicone rubber, acrylonitrile rubber, thermoplastic-elastomer) are directly applied to predict the required drive torque. For the prediction, a semi-physical, analyti-cal model was derived and validated by characterizing the pump prototype.

Three types of the composites were tested for electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorption shielding effectiveness, curing process and physical-mechanical properties. In the first type of composites, manganese-zinc ferrite, nickel-zinc ferrite, and both fillers in their mutual combinations were incorporated into acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber. The overall content of the filler, or fillers combinations was kept on 200 phr. Then, carbon black, or carbon fibres, respectively were incorporated into each rubber formulation in constant loading - 25 phr, while the content of magnetic fillers was unchanged - 200 phr. The work was focused on the understanding of correlation among electromagnetic shielding parameters and electrical conductivity of composites in relation to their EMI absorption shielding effectiveness. The absorption shielding ability of materials was evaluated within the frequency range from 1 MHz to 6 GHz. The study revealed good correlation among permittivity, conductivity, and EMI absorption effectiveness. Although, the absorption shielding efficiency of composites filled only with ferrites seems to be the highest, the absorption maxima of those composites were reached over 6 GHz. The application of carbon based fillers resulted in higher electrical conductivity and higher permittivity of composites, which was reflected in their lower absorption shielding performance. Though, the composites with filled with ferrites and carbon based fillers absorbed electromagnetic radiation within the desired frequency range. The presence of carbon based fillers caused the improvement in tensile behavior of composites. The study also demonstrated that the higher was the ratio of nickel-zinc ferrite in magnetic fillers combinations, the higher was the absorption shielding performance.

We have particularly investigated the correlation law of the effect of different carbon black fillings on the hyper-elastic mechanical behavior of natural rubber by conducting uniaxial tensile tests over a wide range of deformations with different volume fractions of carbon black fillings (0%, 4.7%, 8.9%, 12.8%, 16.4%, 19.7%, 22.7%, 25.2%). The results show that the stress-strain curve for carbon black filled rubber increases with the amount of filling, meaning that the rubber gradually becomes "harder". We explore the correlation between the carbon black filling volume and the parameters of the Yeoh constitutive model by examining the Yeoh constitutive model to characterize the hyper-elastic mechanical behavior of rubber with different carbon black fillings. A quantitative relationship between the material parameters and the carbon black filling volume in the Yeoh constitutive model is presented. A method for calculating the material parameters of the Yeoh constitutive model is developed and it predicts the correlation between the hyper-elastic properties of rubber and the volume fraction of carbon black filling.

Poly (Lactic Acid) (PLA) / Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) blends using Dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as a crosslinking agent were prepared as a route to recycle wastes rubber from the automotive industry. The GTR were exposed to grinding and exhibited mechanical damage, traduced at the rubber network scale by chains scission and/or chemical cross-links breakage. Such damage is accompanied by a decrease of 80% of the rubber chains network density of the initial tire buffing but found independent on the type of grinding (cryogenic, dry ambient) or on the GTR size (from <400 µm to <63 µm). Moreover, the finest sieved GTR contain the largest the amount of reinforcing elements (carbon black, clay) that can be advantageously used in PLA/GTR blends. The melt-blending of these finest GTR particles obtained by cryo-grinding at an amount of 15 wt.% and in presence of the crosslinking agent (DCP), resulted in an optimum improvement of the ductility, energy at break and impact strength of the PLA/GTR blends as compared to neat PLA, while maintaining its stiffness. The results were attributed to (i) the good dispersion of the fine GTR particles into the PLA matrix, (ii) the partial re-crosslinking of the GTR particles and co-crosslinking at PLA/GTR interface and (iii) the presence of reinforcing carbon black into the GTR particles and clay particles dispersed into the PLA matrix.

The utilisation of the industrial residual products to develop new value-added materials and to reduce footprint is one of the critical challenges of science and industry. Development of the new multifunctional and bio-based composites materials is an excellent opportunity for the effective utilisation of industrial residual products. Keeping the different issues in mind, in this work, we describe the manufacturing and characterisation of the three-phases bio-based composites. The key components are bio-based binder made of peat, devulcanised crumb rubber (DCR) from used tires and part of the fly ash, i.e. the cenosphere (CS). The three-phase composite prepared in the form of a block were investigated for their mechanical properties and density. The three-phase composite was prepared in the form a) of a block were investigated for their mechanical properties, and density and b) a form of granules for determination of the water and oil products sorption were investigated. We have also investigated the dependence of the properties on the DCR and CS fraction. It has been found, that maximum compression strength (in block form) observed for composition without CS and DCR addition was- 79.3 MPa, while the second-highest value of compression strength is 11.2 MPa for composition with 27.3 wt% of CS. For compositions with bio binder content from 17.4 to 55.8 wt% and with DCR contents in range from 11.0 to 62.0 wt%, the compression strength is in the range from 1.1 to 2.0 MPa. Liquid sorption analysis (water and diesel) showed that the maximum saturation of liquids in both cases is set after 35 minutes and ranges from 1.05 to 1.4 g·g -1 for water and 0.77 to 1.25 g·g-1 for diesel. It was noted that 90% of the maximum saturation with diesel fuel comes after 10 minutes and for water after 35 minutes.

The reinforcing ability of the fillers results in significant improvements in properties of polymer matrix at extremely low filler loadings compared to conventional fillers. In view of this, present review article describes the different methods used in preparation of different rubber nanocomposites reinforced with nanodimensional individual carbonaceous fillers, such as graphene, expanded graphite, single walled carbon nanotubes, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and graphite oxide, graphene oxide and hybrid fillers consisting combination of individual fillers. This is followed by review of mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, Young modulus, and fracture toughness) and dynamic mechanical properties (glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, melting point) of these rubber nanocomposites. Finally, Payne and Mullin Effects have also been reviewed in rubber filled with different carbon based nanofillers.

Aiming to improve the flame retardancy performance of natural rubber (NR), we developed a novel flame retardant synergistic agent through grafting of MCM-41 to graphene oxide (GO)，named as GO-NH-MCM-41，as an assistant of intumescent flame retardants (IFR). The structure of GO-NH-MCM-41 was characterized by FTIR, TEM and SEM tests, which confirmed that a fine grafting had been applied between GO and MCM-41. The flame retardancy of NR/IFR/GO-NH-MCM-41 composites was evaluated by limited oxygen index (LOI), UL-94 and cone calorimeter test. The LOI value of NR/IFR/GO-NH-MCM-41 reached to 26.3%; the UL-94 ratings improved to V-0 rating. Moreover, the addition of GO-NH-MCM-41 obviously decreased the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and the total heat release (THR) of the natural rubber composites. And the addition of GO-NH-MCM-41 increased the thickness of char residue. The images of SEM indicated the char residue were more compact and continuous. The degradation of GO-NH-MCM-41 based NR composites completed with a mass loss of 35.57% at 600 ℃. The tensile strength and the elongation at break of NR/IFR/GO-NH-MCM-41 composites were 13.9 MPa and 496.7%, respectively. The results of rubber process analyzer (RPA) reached the maximum value, probably due to a better network of the fillers in the matrix.

Effectively mapping and monitoring rubber plantation is still changing. Previous studies have explored the potential of phenology features for rubber plantation mapping through a pixel-based approach (pixel-based phenology approach). However, in fragmented mountainous Xishuangbanna, it could lead to noises and low accuracy of resultant maps. In this study, we investigated the capability of an integrated approach by combining phenology information with an object-based approach (object-based phenology approach) to map rubber plantations in Xishuangbanna. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were firstly used to acquire the temporal profile and phenological features of rubber plantations and natural forests, which delineates the time windows of defoliation and foliation phases. Landsat images were then used to extract a phenology algorithm comparing three different approaches: pixel-based phenology, object-based phenology, and extended object-based phenology to separate rubber plantations and natural forests. The results showed that the two object-based approaches achieved higher accuracy than the pixel-based approach, having overall accuracies of 96.4%, 97.4%, and 95.5%, respectively. This study proved the reliability of a phenology-based rubber mapping in fragmented landscapes with a distinct dry/cool season using Landsat images. This study indicated that the object-based phenology approaches can effectively improve the accuracy of the resultant maps in fragmented landscapes.

After a survey on polymer plasticization theories and conventional criteria to evaluate polymer-plasticizer compatibility through the solubility parameter, an attempt to create a polymer-plasticizers polarity scale through solvatochromic dyes has been made. Since the Reichardt’s ET(30) dye is insoluble in rubber hydrocarbon polymers like polyisoprene, polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene copolymers and is not also useful for the evaluation of the hydrocarbons and ester plasticizers, the Nile Red solvatochromic dye was instead used extensively and successfully for this class of compounds. A total of 53 different compounds were evaluated with the Nile Red dye and wherever possible also with the ET(33) Reichardt’s dye. A very good correlation was then found between the Nile Red scale E(NR) and the Reichardt’s ET(30) scale for this class of compounds focusing on diene rubbers and their typical hydrocarbons and new esters plasticizers. Furthermore, the E(NR) scale shows also a reasonable correlation with the total solubility parameter calculated according to the Van Krevelen method. Based on the above results, some conclusion was made about the compatibility between the diene rubbers and the conventional plasticizers as well as some new and green plasticizer proposed for the rubber compounds.

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) is more efficient for fabrication modern design of silicone rubber (SR) that used in industrial engineering applications; it has been embedded in room temperature vulcanization silicone rubber (RTV-SR) matrix for controlling in dielectric characterization. Frequency dielectric measurements were performed for multiwalled carbon nanotubes SR/MWCNT nanocomposites. Hence, the dielectric properties of modern design SR/MWCNT nanocomposites has been deduced as experimental work done to clarify the benefit of filling MWCNT with different patterns inside dielectrics. In variant thermal conditions (up to 40oC), it has been investigated that the new behaviors of SR/MWCNT nanocomposites dealing with nanotechnology techniques for designing new dielectric behaviors of insulation materials. Finally, this research succeeded to characterize dielectric constant, electric modulus and dielectric loss of SR/MWCNT nanocomposites with respect to traditional silicon rubber under variant thermal conditions and frequency response analysis (FRA) according to using certain types and concentrations of MWCNTs.

Emerging soft actuators with various soft materials and traveling-wave motion have been frequently discussed. Various configurations and the resulting performances have been proposed, and it is very challenging for soft actuators in realizing large strokes. This study presents an experimentally validated nonlinear finite element model to predict the deformation produced by a spiral pneumatic rubber actuator to generate traveling-wave motion. The actuator consists of a membrane mounted on a rubber substrate with three air chambers in a spiral configuration, simplifying the actuator's structure. The sequential deformations of the successive chambers interact with each other and produce radial traveling-waves on the membrane surface, driving the objects placed on the actuator. Finite element analysis using ANSYS computer software analyzed the elastic movement by considering the influence of different initial structural types. The structure with three different length ratios was introduced using the four parameters: membrane thickness, chamber width, chamber depth, and wall thickness. The simulation results indicated an optimal structure with specific ratios. A reasonable correlation was obtained during experimental validation; the predicted displacement values were approximately 17% smaller than the experimental values. Finally, the transportation performance of the prototype was tested and a velocity of 2.28 mm/s in the desired direction was achieved. We expect that our demonstration will expand the range of applications of the spiral pneumatic rubber actuator to include conveying or worm-like robots.

The utilisation of the industrial residual products to create new value-added materials and to reduce footprint is a modern challenge of science and industry. Development of the new multifunctional and bio-based composites is an excellent opportunity for complex utilisation of industrial residual products. The study describes the preparation and characterisation of the three-phases bio-based composites. The main components are bio-based binder made of peat, devulcanised crumb rubber (DCR) from used tires and part of the fly ash the cenosphere (CS). Three-phase composite prepared in the form of a block for investigation of the mechanical properties and density and a form of granules for determination of the water and oil products sorption was investigated. This work investigated the dependence of the properties on the main component DCR and CS fraction. Is found, that maximum compression strength (in block form) observed for composition without CS and DCR addition - 79.3 MPa, the second highest value of compression strength is 11.2 MPa for composition with 27.3 wt% of CS. For compositions with bio binder content from 17.4 to 55.8 wt% and with DCR contents in range from 11.0 to 62.0 wt% compression strength is in range 1.1 to 2.0 MPa. Liquid sorption analysis (water and diesel) showed that the maximum saturation of liquids in both cases is set after 35 minutes and ranges from 1.05 to 1.4 g·g -1 for water and 0.77 to 1.25 g·g-1 for diesel. It was noted that 90% of the maximum saturation with diesel fuel comes after 10 minutes and for water after 35 minutes.

The circular supply chain was applied to many industries in the past studies, whereas the rubber recycling industry has not been explored in detail yet. Therefore, this study indentified the key factors of the circular supply chain used in remanufactured products, thereby perfecting its framework. This study put forward 5 aspects and 19 criteria for reference, so that companies in the rubber recycling industry are able to clearly know the direction of implementation when con-structing the circular supply chain for remanufactured products. This study integrated expert opinions with the fuzzy Delphi method and the fuzzy decision making trial and evaluation laboratory proposed key factors, and performed the ranking of importance. The results have displayed that key aspects include the circular business model (A3), increasing the value of resources in the supply chain (A4), and risk management of the circular supply chain (A2). The factors that the rubber recycling industry needs to pay attention to are: optimizing the production process (C2), sharing data in the product lifecycle (C4), effectively tracking and recycling products (C5), redesigning remanufactured products (C13), enhancing resource efficiency (C16), and identifying waste composition and separating materials (C14) . Based on the abovementioned, we had a discussion in this study.

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.

Raw rubber production is the sole foundation for the rubber product industry, rendering raw rubber to manufacture essential commodities to mankind such as tires, condoms, surgical gloves, and so forth. Raw rubber production involves various stakeholders; however, literature focusing on the social impacts of raw rubber production and its supply chain has hereto been limited. Social life cycle assessment, a popular tool to assess the social impacts of a product or process and was deployed herein to assess the social profiles of three Sri Lankan raw rubber supply chains (crepe rubber, concentrated latex, and ribbed smoked sheets). The Social Hotspots Database v4 on Sima Pro v9.3 was used for the analysis. Results indicated that Governance and Labour rights & decent work had been affected in its supply chain of fertilizers due to Corruption and Freedom of association & collective bargaining issues, mainly in Belarus, and China. Proposed improvement options to address these touchpoints were found to be effective. For instance, if the importation of K-fertilizer shifted into low risk countries, overall social risks associated with Corruption and Freedom of association & collective bargaining in the supply chains could be reduced by ca. 36% and 25%, respectively. As a result, social risks in the aforesaid impact categories, i.e., Governance and Labor rights & decent work, were reduced by ca. 35-41% and ca. 17-20%, respectively. Such improvements may help positioning the Sri Lankan rubber industry in the sustainability-conscious-world rubber market. Further, the methodical hierarchy developed herein is suggested to adopt in any industry to measure social sustainability subjected to the relevant refinements to the supply chains.

Due to the extremely inert surface of the polyester (PET) fabric, a toxic and traditional resorcinol-formaldehyde-latex (RFL) dipping solution is always needs to be used in in rubber composite industry. Unfortunately, other effective methods for fabric surface treatment are in urgent needed to improve the poor bonding interface between the fabric and the rubber matrix. In our study, a facile way to modify PET fabric was developed. Specifically, the fabric is treated by an alkaline solution and a coupling agent with magnetic agitation. Afterwards, the treated fabric/rubber composites are prepared through a co-vulcanization process. Attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the surface chemical compositions of the modified fabrics. The adhesion behavior is analyzed by the peel test. The results show that the fabric surface is successfully grafted with a coupling agent, and the peel strength reaches 9.8 N/mm after KH550 treatment, which is increased 32% compared with that of the original fabric/rubber composites. In addition, the vulcanization rate and interfacial fracture mechanism are also researched.

The Aminofunctional starch/Carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (ANS/XNBR) latex films were prepared with control (0), 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr of ANS loadings. The films were subjected to soil burial test for 8 weeks, which recovered every two weeks to quantify the degraded properties. The control (week 0) and biodegraded films were subjected to physical tests (crosslink density, tensile, and tear strength tests) and biodegradation quantification (mass loss retention, and water vapor transmission rates). The optimum physical properties of ANS/XNBR films were subjected to further assessment of its degradation properties which include morphological (optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM)), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) respectively. Overall, mechanical properties of biodegraded ANS/XNBR latex films decreased as biodegradation period elapses. The biodegradation assessment via water vapor transmission rates and mass loss analyses indicates the high degree of biodegradation rates were observed with higher loading of ANS/XNBR latex films. Morphological analyses via optical microscope shows the transformation of the films surface opacity during biodegradation test. SEM images depicted the microorganism remains on the film surfaces. For FTIR analysis, the most significant changes in the spectras of the films appeared in the region of 790–3000 cm⁻¹. TGA thermograph shows the thermal retention of the materials decreased, as the biodegradation period elapses for optimum ANS/XNBR latex films. From the results obtained, ANS/XNBR latex films shows optimum degradation and mechanical properties at 10 phr filler loading.

The aim of this investigation is focused on the effects of hooked-end steel fibers on both fresh and hardened properties of modified self-compacting concretes (SCC). For this purpose, the steel fibers are associated with other residues contents (i.e. marble, granite and rubber). This concatenated materials contents constitutes a novelty since no investigations are reported. It is found that the increase of rubber content, a better ability to absorb energy is observed. This indicates that a good alternative of structural material is provided. Fresh properties are evaluated by using flow, T500 time, V-funnel, J-ring methods. The mechanical behavior is evaluated in terms of compressive strength, tensile strength, static and dynamic modulus of elasticity, and damping ratio. Experimental results of the water absorption, porosity and density are also attained. It is also found that a SCC mixture containing steel fiber, marble/granite residue and rubber content is a potential mixture to be considered when in SCC designing associated with improved damping ratio. Although the rubber content decreases the mechanical behavior and slump flow, the concatenated utilization of MGR and steel fiber contents provide a slight improve in the damping result. An environmental benefit can also be associated since the cement consumption is decreased with marble additions.

According to circular economy principles, the recycling and reuse of waste tyre rubber is one of the most advanced and ecological waste disposal technologies. Each year about 19 million tons of tyres are produced, and this amount is increasing each year. One of the most innovative ways to recycle rubber waste is devulcanization. There are many methods of rubber devulcanization, but the most popular are grinding and chemical. In this article devulcanized rubber granules were used for the preparation of rubber samples. Two of them were obtained by the grinding method and one by chemical devulcanization. 15 different rubber samples were produced for the experimental measurements. Multilayer constructions with two solid layers of plasterboard on both sides (GKB and GKFI) and porous acoustic material of rubber sample inside were produced. Measurements were made in an impedance tube and compared with the results of TMM analysis. The same trends of resonant frequencies were determined. According to the results, the resonant frequencies depended on the thickness of the material, since transmission loss values depended on the mass of construction. According to the test results of transmission loss, constructions with 50mm thick rubber samples had on average 3dB better results than the structures with 25mm samples and 5dB better results than structures with 12 mm thick rubber samples. In addition, it was found that higher density plasterboards (GKFI) increased the overall transmission loss value of the structure by 5 dB. The same trends were determined by the TMM method. The test results showed that multi-layered constructions with devulcanized waste rubber had high transmission loss result and could be used for sound insulating structures.

This research seeks to interpret the component analysis of an innovative bio-asphalt binder using guayule resin in addition to crumb rubber modifier (CRM) at high concentrations. Such asphalt modification aims to minimize the dependency on virgin asphalt binder and provide new solutions concerning sustainable, flexible pavement industry. Guayule resin is a promising bioresource for asphalt binder replacement. By now, it could be considered a no value byproduct extracted during the guayule natural rubber production. CRM is a recycled material derived from scrap tires. The provided interpretation could help in understanding the asphalt-rubber-guayule interaction mechanism. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), supported by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), was used to investigate the component analyses of guayule resin composition, asphalt guayule interaction, and asphalt rubber guayule interaction, compared to corresponding asphalt rubber interaction. Additionally, the rheological properties at elevated temperatures were provided to link the microscale properties with the final product performance. The study clarified the distinct carbon and hydrogen compositional elements of guayule resin. Asphalt and guayule resin have similarities in chemical composition and rheological behavior with temperature susceptibility. The asphalt guayule binder had physical interaction. However, when both interacted with rubber, a chemical interaction was attributed, with no difference in rubber dissolution tendency, in asphalt rubber guayule, compared to asphalt rubber. A bio-binder composed of 62.5% asphalt, 25% guayule and 12.5% CRM had the potential to provide rheological properties better than base asphalt. Such behavior was interpreted by a high release of rubber components.

In tire tread applications, achieving enhanced abrasion resistance, wet grip, and rolling resistance is crucial for optimizing overall performance. To realize improvements in these attributes for silica-filled tire tread compound, it becomes imperative to improve dispersity of silica filler with investigating the effect of each component in tire tread compound. In this work, we study the effect of styrene content within solution styrene butadiene rubber (SSBR) on the properties of tire tread compounds. A higher styrene segment within SSBR contributes to increased silica dispersion and crosslink density. Thus, tire tread compounds featuring SSBR with increased styrene content not only improve physical and mechanical properties but also enhance major characteristics tailored for tire tread applications. These findings provide valuable insights into advancing the reinforced performance of tire tread compounds through the strategic utilization of SSBR enriched in styrene content.

The rebound behaviors of rubber balls based on ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) / chlorinated butyl rubber (CIIR) blends were investigated systematically. A novel method was proposed to characterize the damping capacity of the EPDM/CIIR blends. The damping capacity can be represented by the rebound height of rubber balls, and lower rebound height corresponds to better damping capacity. A mathematical model expressed by an equation obtained through theoretical derivation has been proposed to predict the rebound height of the rubber balls. The energy dissipation rate (EDR) defined by the ratio of the height loss to the rebound time was proposed to further characterize the damping capacity. The EDR value shows the highest for the pure CIIR and lowest for the pure EPDM, showing a decrease trend with the increase of EPDM content in the rubber blends. By comparison one can obtain that the damping capacity of the EPDM/CIIR blends decreases with the decrease of external excitation, the conclusion of which plays a key role in the formulation design of viscoelastic damping rubber materials.

Viscoelastic relaxation measurements on Stirene-Butadiene rubbers (SBR) doped with Carbon Nanotube (CNT) at different concentration show the time-temperature superposition (TTS). This process is described in terms of the Mode Coupling Theory (MCT) approaches to the viscoelasticity by considering the frequency behavior of the loss modulus E”(ω), and shown that the corresponding TTS is linked to a (ω)1/2 decay. From of the analysis of the obtained data we observe that the interaction between the SBR and CNT determine different decays different decays according to their concentration. The rubbers with the lowest CNT concentration are only characterized, in the studied T-range, by a fragile glass forming behavior. Whereas those at the highest ones instead show, at a specific temperature TL, a crossover towards a pure Arrhenius, that according to the MCT, indicates the presence of a kinetic glass transition (KGT); where the system response functions are characterized by scaling behaviors.

Taraxacum kok-saghyz, a rubber-producing plant with excellent potential, emerges as a viable substitute for rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). While natural rubber is a desirable material, conventional techniques for assessing rubber content have faced challenges in meeting practical production requirements. To address this issue, we have developed a pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (PY-MS) instrument for the quantitative evaluation of natural rubber (NR) content in rubber-producing plants. The derived standard curve equation, established through external standard calibration, demonstrates a correlation coefficient (R2) surpassing 0.99. The method exhibits commendable recovery rates (93.27%-107.83%), relative standard deviations (RSD≤ 3.39%), and a swift analysis time of merely 10 minutes per sample, thereby enabling accurate and efficient quantification of NR. This approach possesses significant potential for extensive utilization in the assessment of rubber content in rubber-producing plants other than TKS. The integration of pyrolysis-mass spectrometry for the identification of polymers with high molecular weight offers a valuable pathway for the examination of diverse polymers.

Electro-mechanical braking(EMB) which represents development direction of autonomous and intelligent braking plays very useful role on enhancing the braking response performance and intelligence level for mine underground electric trackless rubber-tired vehicle (ETRV). However,there is no Electro-Mechanical Brake system applied practically in coal mine UTRV until now.The accurate control of braking clamping force can determine the length and precision of braking distance of mine ETRV.In addition,because of poor working conditions in underground coal mine tunnel ,braking clamping force sensor may be easy to occur failure,which may cause vital accident.Therefore,A cascaded three-closed-loop EMB system with a positive clamping force sensor or force estimator built for ETRV is established to achieve autonomous elimination and reset of braking clearance and reliable braking force tracking ability via utilizing the electro motor rotor angle displacement and hysteresis effect of mechanical components in this EMB.The results of simulation and experiment indicate that clamping force response is faster than traditional hydraulic disk braking system and proposed force estimator presents good fault-tolerant ability when sensor is fault.This EMB can replace the current hydraulic brake system to enhance automation level of braking control for ETRVs and braking force response performance, reduce oil pollution and cost of maintenance, which is also key technology support for really precise motion control of mine autonomous driving vehicles.

We report a new fabrication method for a fully stretchable supercapacitor based on single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-coated electrospun rubber nanofibers as stretchable supercapacitor electrodes. The deposition conditions of SWCNT on hydrophobic rubber nanofibers are experimentally optimized to induce a uniform coating of SWCNT. For surfactant-assisted coating of SWCNT, both water contact angle and sheet resistance were the lowest compared to the cases with other surface treatment methods, indicating the most effective coating approach. The excellent electromechanical properties of this electrode under the stretching condition is demonstrated by the measurement of Young’s modulus and normalized sheet resistance. This superb tolerance of the electrode with respect to stretching results from i) high aspect ratios of both nanofiber templates and the SWCNT conductors, ii) highly elastic nature of rubbery nanofiber, and iii) strong adherence of SWCNT-coated nanofiber on the elastic ecoflex substrate. Electrochemical and electromechanical measurements on the stretchable supercapacitor devices reveal that the volumetric capacitance (15.2 F cm-3 at 0.021 A cm-3) of the unstretched state is maintained for strains of up to 40 %. At this level of strain, the capacitance after 1,000 charge/discharge cycles is not significantly reduced. The high stability of our stretchable device suggests potential future applications in various types of wearable energy storage devices.

This research aimed to study and compare prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal (MSK) problem and perceived discomfort among port crane operators consisting of quay and rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes working in the Laem Chabang Deep-sea Port, Thailand. Direct interviews for a cross-sectional analysis was selected for this unique job with a small amount of sample size. A standardized modified version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was lunched for 26 male participants, consisting of 11 quay and 15 RTG, where a priori power analysis using G*Power suggested the minimum as 24 for the hypothesis test. Socio-demographic characteristics showed no significant difference among them. The NMQ revealed lower back as the highest prevalent body part (76.9%) followed by neck, shoulders and upper back at the same percentage (23.1%) for all port crane group, with up to 96.2% reporting MSK problem over the past 12 months. And Borg scale rating, assessing the perceived discomfort, revealed lower back with the highest score (2.38) followed by upper back (0.65), shoulders (0.54) and neck (0.5). Remarkably, the comparation between the quey and RTG crane operators on the MSK prevalence (χ2 test) and perceived discomfort levels (Kruskal-Wallis test), regarding different 9 body parts, revealed a significant difference between the two on upper back with quay crane having more problem than the RTG at p &lt; 0.05. while the rest of them were mainly in the same direction. MSK contributors such as: working awkward posture, mental stress, height, trolley distance and vibration are considerably the main causes of this. However, the larger in scale of exposure to those for the quey crane compared to the RTG might have led to the distinguishing MSK problem found in this study which require thoroughly deliberation for the particular solutions.

Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and its various composites are extensively studied as matrix materials for oil-free lubricated mechanical friction surfaces. While numerous macroscopic friction experiments can compare the frictional performance of different NBR composites, the complex material preparation and low experimental efficiency pose challenges. Nanoscale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations can help develop materials with improved friction properties, but they cannot directly provide the friction coefficients of actual macroscopic friction surfaces. Therefore, it is important to integrate the advantages of macroscopic and nanoscale friction studies and perform a synergistic analysis to modify the friction properties of composite materials. In this study, a multi-scale approach is proposed to simulate the frictional characteristics of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced NBR by combining the MD friction simulation， micromechanical bridging model, and macroscopic finite element analysis (FEA) methods. The results of the multi-scale friction simulation of copper (Cu)-CNT/NBR composites show that the addition of CNTs significantly improves the frictional properties of NBR, and the extent of the improvement is related to the mass fraction of CNTs. As the mass fraction of CNTs increases (0%, 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%), the coefficient of friction decreases from 0.50 to 0.38. The results are validated by ring-block friction experiments at the same scale as the simulations.

In this paper, ground tire rubber (GTR) was mechano-chemically modified with road bitumen 160/220 and subsequently treated using a microwave radiation. The combined impact of bitumen 160/220 content and microwave treatment on short-term devulcanization of GTR were studied by thermal camera, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WD-XRF), static headspace and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SHS-GC-MS), thermogravimetric analysis combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR), oscillating disc rheometer and static mechanical properties measurements. The obtained results showed that bitumen plasticizer prevent oxidation of GTR during microwave treatment and simultaneously improves processing and thermal stability of obtained reclaimed rubber.

Conventional traceability systems in Cambodian agriculture, such as Rubber Supply Chain Management (RSCM), often struggle to provide timely data and fair market prices, leading to mistrust among stakeholders, exploitation by intermediaries, and hindering progress towards ethical sourcing and sustainable practices. This research aims to showcase the potential of integrating blockchain technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and Differential Privacy (DP) methods to empower Cambodian rubber farmers. By enhancing transparency, facilitating fair pricing, and promoting sustainable methods in the rubber industry, this integrated approach leverages Hyperledger Fabric (HLF) to create a decentralized and secure system for tracking rubber from its source to the end consumer. Integration with IPFS ensures secure and easily accessible data storage, further enhancing the system’s reliability. Additionally, the implementation of differential privacy techniques safeguards confidential data during information sharing among farmers and supply chain stakeholders, minimizing potential privacy concerns. This comprehensive system encourages consumers to make ethical and sustainable alternative options by providing accessible information on harvesting methods, processing procedures, labor conditions, and environmental impacts. The potential benefits extend beyond Cambodia, serving as a model for other developing countries aiming to modernize and enhance the agricultural distribution networks. Our results show that transaction send rates (TPS) and throughput in systems with and without differential privacy grow with increased transaction volumes. However, the system without differential privacy achieves greater scalability and efficiency above a certain threshold. However, it offers a slightly reduced latency, reflecting a trade-off between privacy and performance efficiency in blockchain-based agricultural traceability systems.

Synergistic effect of different fillers is widely utilized in polymer technology. The combination of various types of fillers is used to improve various properties of polymer composites. In this paper a synergistic effect of flame retardants was tested for the improvement of ceramizable composites performance. The composites were based of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) used as polymer matrix. Three different types of flame retardants were tested for synergistic effect: Mica (phlogopite) high aspect-ratio platelets along with low softening point temperature glass frit (featuring ceramization effect) and melamine cyanurate, a commonly used flame retardant promoting carbonaceous char. In order to characterize the properties of the composites, combustibility, viscoelastic properties and mechanical properties before and after ceramization were tested. The results obtained show that the synergistic effect of ceramization promoting fillers and melamine cyanurate is especially visible with respect to the flame retardant properties resulting in a significant improvement of fire resistance of the composites.

Nowadays, the study of preparing silica/rubber composites, which can be used in “green tire”, in energy saving method is fast-growing. In our work, silica modified by using alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO) and 3-Mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (K-MEPTS) together were investigated. Thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) result indicated that both AEO and K-MEPTS could be grafted on the silica surface. Raman spectroscopy confirmed that the AEO could generate a certain steric hindrance for the mercaptopropyl group on K-MEPTS. Silica modified by using AEO and K-MEPTS together can be completely co-coagulated with the rubber in preparing silica/natural rubber (NR) composites by latex compounding method. AEO can form a physical interface between silica and rubber; meanwhile, K-MEPTS can form a chemical interface between silica and rubber. The effects of chemical and physical interface between silica and rubber on dynamic and mechanical performances of silica/NR composites were also given in this research. A proper combination of physical and chemical interface between silica and NR can improve performances of silica/NR composites.

Natural rubber is an important national strategic and industrial raw material. Leaf anthracnose of rubber tree caused by the Colletotrichum species is one of the important factors restricting the yield of natural rubber. In this study, we isolated and identified strain Bacillus velezensis SF334 that exhibited significant antagonistic activity against both of C. australisinense and C. siamense, the dominant species of Colletotrichum causing leaf anthracnose of rubber trees in Hainan province of China, from a pool of 223 bacterial strains. The cell supernatants of SF334 had a significant prevention effect for leaf anthracnose of rubber tree with an efficacy of 79.67% against C. siamense and 71.8% against C. australisinense, respectively. We demonstrated that SF334 can lead to the lysis of C. australisinense and C. siamense mycelium by causing mycelial expansion, resulting in mycelial rupture and subsequent death. B. velezensis SF334 also harbors some traits of plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium such as secreting siderophore, protease, cellulose, pectinase and auxin of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), as well as has broad-spectrum antifungal activity against some important plant pathogenic fungi. The genome combined with comparative genomic analyses indicated that SF334 possesses most genes of the central metabolic and secondary metabolites of B. velezensis strains. To our knowledge, this is the first time to report a Bacillus velezensis strain as a promising biocontrol agent against leaf anthracnose of rubber tree caused by C. siamense and C. australisinense. The results suggest that B. velezensis could be a potential candidate agent for leaf anthracnose of rubber tree.

Rubber-based composites are widely used especially in transportation. The goal of this paper is to study the mechanical properties of rubber-based composites of carbon black and Nano Aluminum trioxide additive (50 nm). Various percentage of carbon black was used (20,40, and 60 phr). The increase in Carbon black percentage shows an increase in mechanical properties of the composites (for 60 phr properties tensile test improve by 49%, for hardness resistance the improve was 21%, and for the wear test the composite improve by 22%). Various wetting percentage of nano Aluminum trioxide was used (1,1.5,2, and 2.5 %). Increasing the wetting percentage increase tensile strength (27%, hardness resistance increase by 28%, and wear resistance increase nonlinearly with a percentage reaching 70%). Selecting the optimal composition of the two fillers, then study different irradiances for it with the ultraviolet laser of moderately low energy after the vulcanization process. Post ultraviolet laser of (345 nm). Furthermore, laser vulcanization shows improvement in mechanical properties.

Application of solid catalysts synthesized from agricultural wastes provides an environmentally benign and low-cost process route to the synthesis of biodiesel. An ash containing equal mixture of cocoa pod husk, plantain peel and kola nut pod husk ashes (CPK) which was obtained by open combustion of each biomass in air and calcined at 500 oC for 4 h. The calcined CPK ash was characterized to determine its catalytic potential. Two-level transesterification technique was used to synthesize biodiesel using the developed catalyst. The process parameters involved were optimized for the microwave-aided transesterification of a blend of honne, rubber seed and neem oils in volumetric ratio 20:20:60, respectively. The study showed that ash derived from combination of various biomass wastes provides a catalyst which consists all necessary catalytic ingredients in their relative abundance. The calcined CPK consists of 47.67% of potassium, 5.56% calcium and 4.21% magnesium attesting to its heterogenous status. The physisorption isotherms reveals that it was dominantly mesoporous in structure made up of nanoparticles. Maximum of 98.45 wt.% biodiesel was obtained through MeOH:oil blend of 12:1, CPK concentration of 1.158 wt.% and reaction time of 6 min under microwave irradiation. Quality of the synthesized biodiesel satisfied the requirements stipulated by standard specifications. Thus, this work demonstrates that blend of agrowastes and mixture of non-edible oils could be used to synthesize quality and sustainable biodiesel that can replace fossil diesel.

The cultivation of Hevea brasiliensis, the primary commercial source of natural rubber, is strongly impacted by South American Leaf Blight (SALB) disease, caused by the fungus Pseudocercospora ulei. Various management strategies have been implemented, including the selection of resistant genotypes and the identification of escape zones. This study evaluated the growth, early yield, and resistance to SALB of nine Colombian elite genotypes from the ECC-100 series and IAN 873 clone (control) in a large-scale clone trial in a low SALB pressure zone in the Colombian Amazon, 2017 - 2020. Favorable early performance was evident, although there was a significant increase in the severity and sporulation of P. ulei over time, especially in the ECC 35, ECC 60, and IAN 873 genotypes. However, these scores represented a low susceptibility. Genotypes with higher resistance to SALB demonstrated greater growth and early yield compared to higher susceptible genotypes. The ECC 64, ECC 73, ECC 90, ECC 25, and ECC 29 genotypes were more desirable in low SALB pressure zones due to their higher resistance and early performance. It is important to highlight that this research contributes to the selection of new SALB-resistant Colombian genotypes of H. brasiliensis in the growth stage. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their productivity in the mature stage and long-term resistance to SALB, before recommending and promoting their commercial adoption in the Colombian Amazon.

The current study assessed the influence of Anti Stripping Agents (ASA), Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) and waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on performance behavior of binder and Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) mixtures. Through this paper, the 85/100 penetration grade bitumen was utilized as original bitumen. Also, three liquid ASA’s (ASA (A), ASA (B), ASA (C)) were used as a mixture modifier. For this purpose, softening point, penetration, rotational viscosity, Dynamic Shear Rheometer, Multi Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) and Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) tests were implemented to investigate the rheological properties of modified bitumen. For evaluating the behavior of modified mixtures several tests such as; Resilient Modulus, Tensile Strength, dynamic creep, wheel track and four-point beam fatigue tests were implemented. Based on MSCR test results, utilization of mentioned polymers enhanced the elasticity of bitumens and therefore the permanent deformation resistance of binders increases. Also by the addition of PET percentage, the rutting resistance improves. Results indicated that utilization of ASAs, PET and Crumb Rubber (CR) enhance the Resilient Modulus (Mr), Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS), rutting resistance, fatigue life and Fracture Energy (FE) of asphalt mixtures. Also based on results, modification of binder by PET/CR with a ratio of 50%/50% and ASA (B) have the highest fatigue life which indicates that this mixture has highest resistance against fatigue cracking.

The paper focuses on the application of a multilevel, integrative and territorial approach to the protection of cultural heritage through planning instruments in Serbia. It points out the problems of the sectoral approach and discusses international recommendations that can be integrated into the planning methodology. The case study is the area of Djerdap National Park, which has an already established international and national importance. The research suggests that the cultural heritage in the area, with the exception of the Roman limes, is still recognized at the level of individual localities. The study emphasizes the importance of aligning all levels of governance to safeguard the whole spatial entity rather than focusing solely on its particular areas. The interna-tional and national importance of the planning area contributes to the strengthening of awareness of heritage and its institutional protection. However, the vitality of the area, which is key to its sustainable development, comes from the local level. Planning documents contribute to the inte-gration of local values and local communities into development programs and projects.

Sri Lanka is a top producer of premium quality concentrated latex (CL), which becomes a base material for dipped rubber products such as gloves and condoms. The processing of CL is resource-intensive, requiring significant amounts of energy, fuel, water, and chemicals. This process leads to various environmental issues such as wastewater pollution, malodor, and greenhouse gas emissions. Several environmental life cycle assessments (ELCA) have been conducted at international and local levels to address the aforesaid issues. However, ELCAs encapsulating different environmental impact areas on CL processing in Sri Lanka are absent. The study revealed that electricity usage was the main hotspot of the environmental burden, significantly impacting Abiotic depletion (fossil fuels), Global warming potential, Ozone layer depletion, Photochemical oxidation, and Acidification. Heavy reliance on coal in the Sri Lankan power grid was identified as the root of this trend. The study suggested two viable options to mitigate the environmental impact: installing inverters to centrifuge separators and solar systems in the factories. The second option was deemed more effective, reducing Acidification, Photochemical oxidation, and Global Warming Potential by approximately 37%, 36%, and 28%, respectively. Relevant officials may immediately consider these improvement options and collaborate to pave the way to a sustainable natural rubber industry.

As a special class of “green” elastomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) have been widely used in industries due to the combination of the excellent resilience of conventional elastomers and the easy recyclability of thermoplastics. Here, the morphology evolution of TPVs based on polyamide 6/ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (PA6/EPDM) blends was investigated by varying the content of the curing agent, phenolic resin (PF). With the incorporation of 6 wt% PF, the gel content of the EPDM phase reaches a high value of 49.6wt% and a typical sea-island structure is formed with EPDM domain in a micro-nano size. The dynamic rheology behaviors of TPVs showed that with the curing degree of EPDM phase increasing, a denser network of EPDM particles is formed in PA6 matrix. Also, a lower crystal degree and crystal peak temperature are observed, indicating that the presence of a growth restriction of PA6 crystal plate induced by a thinner plastic layer between the adjacent EPDM particles. However, the crystal form of PA6 is not changed with the increasing curing degree of the EPDM phase. This study provides an effective strategy to realize a new kind of TPVs, which can be easily introduced into industrial applications.

Glycosidic linkage analysis was conducted on the unfractionated polysaccharides in the alcohol-insoluble residues (AIRs) prepared from six red seaweeds (Gracilariopsis sp., Prionitis sp., Mastocarpus papillatus, Callophyllis sp., Mazzaella splendens, and Palmaria palmata) using GC-MS/FID analysis of partially methylated alditol acetates (PMAAs). The cell walls of P. palmata primarily contained mixed-linkage xylans and small amounts of sulfated galactans and cellulose. In contrast, the unfractionated polysaccharides of the other five species were rich in galactans displaying diverse 3,6-anhydro-galactose and galactose linkages with varied sulfation patterns. Different levels of cellulose were also observed. This glycosidic linkage method offers advantages for cellulose analysis over traditional monosaccharide analysis that is known for underrepresenting glucose in crystalline cellulose. Relative linkage compositions calculated from GC-MS and GC-FID measurements showed that anhydro sugar linkages generated more response in the latter detection method. This improved linkage workflow presents a useful tool for studying polysaccharide structural variations across red seaweed species. Furthermore, for the first time, relative linkage compositions from GC-MS and GC-FID measurements, along with normalized FID and total ion current (TIC) chromatograms without peak assignments, were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) as a proof-of-concept demonstration of the technique's potential to differentiate various red seaweed species.

Background: Educating college students about the importance of good sleep habits could lead to the adoption of healthier sleep routines, including sufficient sleep duration and sleep quality. The current pre-post study examines the impact of completing a sleep education program called “Sleep 101” on (1) sleep hygiene practices, (2) sleep quality, and (3) weekday and weekend sleep behaviors among college students. “Sleep 101” is an interactive online course developed to educate college students about the importance of sleep by addressing basic sleep physiology, the impact of sleep on mood, academic and physical performance, the interactions between sleep and various substances, and common sleep disorders. Methods: 338 college students were recruited from a midsized public university in the US and invited to participate in “Sleep 101”, of which 25 participants completed the baseline and post-intervention questionnaire. The Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) was utilized to evaluate sleep hygiene practices, while standard questions were employed to assess weekday and weekend sleep behaviors and overall sleep quality. Results: Those who completed the study demonstrated a significant increase in weekday sleep duration and were less likely to engage in negative prior bedtime activities. In addition, 40% of those who completed baseline and post-intervention assessments noticed improvements in their sleep quality. Conclusion: These findings suggest that a brief online program is beneficial in improving sleep behaviors among college and could be a scalable approach to addressing current sleep issues and preventing future sleep problems in college students.

The profile of secondary metabolites occurring in apple cuticular layer is not only characteristic for particular apple cultivar, but also dynamically reflects various external factors in growing environment. In this study, the possibility to authenticate apple samples based on analysis of their cuticular layer extracts was investigated. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) was employed for obtaining metabolomic fingerprints. In total, 274 authentic apple samples, four cultivars harvested within the seasons 2020 to 2022 in the Czech Republic and Poland were analysed. The generated complex data processed by univariate and multivariate statistical methods enabled to build classification models for discrimination of apple cultivars as well as their geographical origin. The models showed very good performance in differentiation of Czech and Polish samples for three of four cultivars: ‘Gala’, ‘Golden Delicious’ and ‘Idared’, moreover, the validity of the models was verified over harvest seasons. The diagnostic markers, besides metabolites of triterpene biosynthetic pathway, mainly represented wax esters. ‘Jonagold’, which is known to be susceptible to mutations, was the only cultivar for which the unambiguous classification of geographical origin was not possible.

Strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora is one of the main diseases of strawberry and significantly impacts the yield and quality of strawberry fruit. There are now no effective control techniques available except for fungicide sprays, which may directly impact consumers. Biological control is becoming an alternative method for the control of plant diseases to replace or decrease the application of traditional synthetic chemical fungicides. Trichoderma is widely used as a biological agent for controlling strawberry root rot. In order to provide resources for screening the highly effective biocontrol fungus for controlling strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora, the biocontrol mechanism,the control effects of Trichoderma asperellum CMT10 against strawberry root rot and growth-promoting effects on strawberry seedlings were investigated by plate culture, microscopy observation and root drenching methods.The results showed that CMT10 had obvious competitive, antibiotic and hyperparasitism effects on Neopestalotiopsis clavispora CMGF3. The CMT10 could quickly occupy nutritional space, and the inhibition rates of CMT10 against CMGF3 in confrontation culture on 7 d was 65.49%. The inhibition rates of volatile metabolite and fermentation metabolite produced by CMT10 against CMGF3 were 79.67% and 69.84%, respectively. The mycelium of strain CMT10 can act as hyperparasites by making contacting, winding and penetrating hyphae of CMGF3. Pot experiment showed that the biocontrol efficacy of CMT10 on strawberry root rot caused by Neopestalotiopsis clavispora was 63.00%. CMT10 had obvious promotion effect on strawberry growth, the plant height, root length, total fresh weight, root fresh weight, stem fresh weight and root dry weight, with the promotion rates were 20.09%, 22.39%, 87.11%, 101.58%, 79.82% and 72.33%, respectively. Overall, this study showed the ability of Trichoderma asperellum CMT10 to control strawberry root rot and their potential to develop as novel biocontrol agents to replace chemical fungicides for eco-friendly, sustainable agriculture.

Apis mellifera, especially weak ones, are highly vulnerable to Carpoglyphus lactis mites, which can rapidly infest and consume stored pollen, leading to weakened colonies and potentially colony collapse. This study aimed to ascertain and investigate the prevalence of this mite in honeybee colonies across 9 provinces in the Republic of Korea (ROK). A total of 615 honeybee colonies were collected, from 66 apiaries during the spring and 58 apiaries during the summer of 2023. A 1,242 bp segment of the the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction method. The detection levels of C. lactis in the honeybees were compared between winter and summer. Based on the COI sequence analysis, the nucleotide sequence similarity of C. lactis mites isolated in the ROK with those from China (NC048990.1) was found to be 99.5%, and with those from the United Kingdom (KY922482.1) was 99.3%. This study is the first report of C. lactis in Korean apiaries. The findings in this study demonstrate a significantly higher detection rate in winter, which is 4.1 times greater than that in summer (p &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, the results underscore the usefulness of molecular diagnostic techniques for detecting C. lactis mites.

COX II containing a dual core CuA active site is one of the three core subunits of mitochondrial Cco, which plays a significant role in the physiological process. In this report, the full-length cDNA of COXⅡ gene was cloned from Sitophilus zeamais, which had an ORF of 684 bp encoding 227 amino acids residues. The predicted COXⅡ protein had a molecular mass of 26.2 kDa with pI value of 6.37, and multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis indicated that Sitophilus zeamais COXⅡ had high sequence identity 78.51% with the COXⅡ of other insect species, especially similarity to sitophilus oryzae. This gene was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a, and induced by IPTG in E.coli Transetta (DE3) expression system. Finally the COXⅡ with 6-His tag was purified using affinity chromatography with Ni²⁺-NTA agarose. WB showed the recombinant COXⅡ was about 44 kD, and the concentration of fusion protein was 50μg/mL. UV-spectrophotometer and infrared spectrometer analysis showed that recombinant COXⅡ could catalyze the oxidation of substrate Cytc, and influenced by AITC. It was found that AITC could form a hydrophobic region with COXⅡ protein via molecular docking, besides, a sulfur atom of AITC structure could form a length of 2.9 Å hydrogen bond with Leu-31. These results will provide valuable information for elucidating the role of COXⅡ in Sitophilus zeamais responses to AITC, meanwhile, it will helpful to carry out a point mutation in AITC binding sites for the future research.

The properties of the annual, semiannual and triennial oscillations (AO, SAO and TO) in the middle atmosphere have been investigated using the TIMED/SABER temperature data. The Lomb-Scargle and wavelet spectra were used to determine the dominant oscillations in the background temperature field. The AO is prominent at the mid-latitudes. The AO amplitudes present an asymmetry between the two Hemispheres, being larger in the mesosphere than in the stratosphere. The SAO dominates the tropical regions, with three amplitude maxima at altitudes of 45, 75, and 85 km. The SAOs in the upper mesosphere (75 km) are out of phase with those in the mesopause (85 km) in the tropical regions, which can generate an enhancement of 11 K at each equinox, contributing to the lower mesospheric inversion layer. The TO is significant in the tropical region, with amplitude being maximum at 35, 45 and 85 km. Result shows that there may be potential interaction by the TO with SAO at 85km at the equator. The relation between ENSO and TO has also been discussed. The ENSO signal may modulate the amplitude of the TO, mainly in the lower stratosphere. The real origin of the TO may lie in the wave-mean-flow interaction.

This paper is focused on typical rural settlements in the Stara Planina Mountain area in Serbia. They are distinguished by their authenticity, identity and character, and they have still not been destroyed by inappropriate development as is the case in some other mountain areas in Serbia, where the effects of urbanization, globalization and homogenization are obvious. Consequently, there is a need to prevent these effects in mountain areas where there is a threat of disbalance between development and the inherited natural and cultural values. The paper starts from several important concepts that relate contemporary approaches to cultural heritage preservation, place morphology and planning future development. The concept definitions from recent documents from related fields are used. These concepts are then applied to the area of Stara Planina Mountain and its rural settlements. The necessity for an integrative approach to planning this area with significant natural and anthropogenic potential is pointed out, including its integration into international programs of sustainable development.

The research reported on this paper was aimed at improving the overall efficiency of a PDO certified artisanal cheese production process. Being a PDO certified foodstuff by the EU, it is considered to have properties and qualities determined by the geographical environment in which is made, with its production taking place in a specific and determined geographical location, in this case the Serra da Estrela region. In that sense, the authors conducted a mapping according to a systemic perspective of the processes involved in the context of manufacturing and distribution of certified Serra da Estrela cheese. Numerous methods were used throughout the process, such as a systemic design analysis, and techniques derived from ethnographic methods, which led to the collection of data in the field and consequently provided the immersion of the researcher in genuine work situations. Critical points were identified and emphasized in the systemic map with the purpose of encouraging initiatives to address and overcome the gaps and inefficiencies detected. The systemic design analysis triggered the development of design work. Observations following an ethnographic approach identified ergonomic risks in cheese making during the process of cutting excess chips, fostering the emergence of musculoskeletal disorders at the wrist. A tool that fits best to the task at hand was developed. A prototype of the new tool enabled collecting feedback from use in the work context, in order to inform product development. The domains of agricultural production and microbiology, considering the specific microorganisms developed trough the ripening process of the cheese, turned out to be aspects of high importance for the issue under focus, contributing to a broader understanding of the ripening process and its risks, simultaneously improving the efficiency and success of cheese production. If it were not for the systemic analysis, which served as a link between the boundaries of distinct domains such as the risk of microorganism contamination, ergonomics, energy efficiency, legislation and regulation policies, transportation challenges and economic viability, approached throughout the research. Simultaneously creating bridges between them, the various problems might not have been detected in the first place, as they are usually addressed in specialized disciplines, predetermined by the restrictions of each specific area of knowledge. As a consequence of the development of this research, which was based on an analysis that sought to establish possible connections between various disciplines and tried to constantly maintain a holistic perspective, making new connections and observing the issues from a new angle, apart from the already established methodologies. All this allowed to lay out the seeds for the development of a plan to tackle the critical points identified by the systemic analysis reported in this paper.

Promoting green development has become an important way to optimize the ecological and economic structure and promote sustainable development. The Yangtze River Economic Belt is an important economic corridor in China, and it remains to be examined whether the implementation of environmental regulations has enhanced the green total factor productivity (GTFP) of cities. This paper calculates the green total factor productivity of 107 cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt by using the super-efficient SBM model and the GML index with Chinese city panel data from 2007-2019 and measures the intensity of environmental regulations through textual analysis. The bidirectional fixed-effects model constructed in this paper suggests an inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and GTFP, which is confirmed by a series of robustness tests. Green technology innovation and advanced industrial structure play a mechanism role in this. In regions with lower levels of green technology and industrial structure, the inverted U-shaped relationship between environmental regulation and green total factor productivity is more significant. In addition, the phenomenon of GTFP rising and then falling because of environmental regulation is more obvious in cities in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River and outside the urban agglomerations. Therefore, when formulating environmental regulation policies, it is necessary to balance the relationship between economic development and environmental protection and harmonize the environment and economic development of the entire Yangtze River Basin.

The wetlands in northeastern Bangladesh are home to some of the most prolific and valuable ecosystems on the planet, offering a wide range of benefits to both the local and wider communities. A limited number of research on this topic have been carried out in various wetlands in coastal hilsa, but none have been located in the northeastern region of Bangladesh. Thus, the goal of this study was to better understand the most commercially relevant species (anadromous hilsa) in northeastern Bangladesh as well as to assess the wetland ecosystem services more thoroughly with the contribution of their fish genetic resources. In addition to laboratory studies, fieldwork was done in the fishing settlements along the Surma River, Hakaluki Haor, and Tanguar Haor. The study classified 77 fish species into 21 subcategories of ecosystem services, of which 56% were not threatened, 17% were vulnerable, and 10% were highly endangered. The species Hilsa was found to be the most economically significant, accounting for 1% of the GDP overall. The study determined if the hilsa stock of the examined wetlands maintains a single or several subpopulations in comparison to other parts of the country when they migrate from saline water to northeastern Bangladesh (freshwater). But when compared to other groups, the FST score was between 0.000 to 0.017, indicating that the populations are identical and that there is genetic material sharing between them. Additionally, these statistics imply that the Sylhet haor and adjacent river systems contain a single stock of Hilsa fish. Nevertheless, a number of stresses and risks, including overexploitation, illicit and destructive fishing, siltation, and natural disasters like flash floods, have been linked to changes in the supply of hilsa and other ecosystem services. This study also emphasizes the necessity of policy attention and research to address the concerns.

In this paper, we introduce a specialized, fully automated experimental arrangement designed for assessing the effectiveness of augmented and virtual reality technologies in healthcare setting and explore its design principles focusing on depth sensor characterization. The main goal of this project is to establish a robust benchtop platform for the quantitative evaluation of extended reality technologies in a controlled environment, emphasizing the practical assessment of augmented reality head-mounted devices. We outline a design concept and considerations for an experimental configuration aimed at creating a realistic testing environment. This apparatus comprises an observation platform mounted on a three-degree-of-freedom motorized system and a test phantom stage. Focusing on real-case scenarios, we utilized a range of sensors, including readily available range-sensing cameras and commercial augmented reality headsets, such as the Intel RealSense L515 LiDAR camera, mounted on the motion control system. The setup enabled automated data collection and facilitates controlled assessments and validation of various facets of augmented reality technologies, including object, hand, and head tracking, as well as static and dynamic image registration. This paper describes the system architecture, the process of automated data collection, and presents several evaluation studies conducted with this setup, providing insights into the quality and temporal noise associated with static or moving objects or observers in augmented reality applications.

To conduct high-precision and high-resolution numerical simulation of complex flow structures in turbomachinery, a high-order finite volume weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO) scheme for the large eddy simulation (LES) is improved and embedded into the three-dimensional viscous unsteady CFD solver NUAA-Turbo. Firstly, the spectral characteristics and unsteady convergence of the improved WENO scheme are studied. Compared with the classical WENO scheme, the improved WENO scheme has better dissipation and dispersion characteristics and faster convergence speed. Then, the coefficient CW of the Wall-Adapting Local Eddy-viscosity (WALE) model is calibrated by decaying homogeneous isotropic turbulence (DHIT) test case. Finally, the scheme is applied to conduct high-precision LES calculations of turbulent boundary layer flow, supersonic compression corner flow, and low-pressure turbine cascade separation flow. The numerical simulation results show that this WENO scheme has excellent shock wave capture ability and turbulence resolution and can capture more flow field details with less mesh size, greatly reducing the computational cost and laying a foundation for large-scale engineering application of LES.

To secure logic circuits against the illegal copying the insertion of the so-called key bit inputs using XOR/XNOR gates has been proposed in . The inserted gates modify (lock) the behavior of the original circuit and only the correct choice of the secret key bits guarantees the equivalent behaviour of the locked circuit to the original circuit. To break this kind of security, i.e. to find the secret key bits, there was a SAT solver based attack proposed in . The aim of this work is to experimentally verify this attack on several locked circuits with various number of primary inputs and outputs and with various number of gates. Except for the random placement of the key gates we evaluate also the positioning with chaining elimination. The obtained and presented results show that we were able to unlock 10 of 11 circuits within few minutes on a common PC.

Intermetallic compounds are increasingly being expected to utilize in tribological environments, but to date the works are hindered by insufficient ductility at low and medium temperature. This paper presents a novel multiphase intermetallic alloy with the chemical composition of Mo-40Ni-13Si (at.%). Microstructure characterization reveals that a certain amount of ductile Mo phases formed during the solidification process of ternary Mo-Ni-Si alloy melt, which is undoubtedly beneficial to the ductility improvement of intermetallic alloy. Tribological properties of the designed alloy, including wear resistance, friction coefficient and metallic tribological compatibility, were evaluated under dry sliding wear test conditions at room temperature. Results suggested that the multiphase alloy possesses an excellent property for room-temperature wear applications, which is attributed to the unique microstructural features and thereby good combination in hardness and ductility. The corresponding wear mechanism is also reported by observing the worn surface, subsurface and wear debris of alloy, which to be found is soft abrasive wear.

With the integrated development of the Internet, wireless sensor technology, cloud computing, and mobile Internet, there has been a lot of attention given to research about and applications of the Internet of Things. A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is one of the important information technologies in the Internet of Things; it integrates multi-technology to detect and gather information in a network environment by mutual cooperation, using a variety of methods to process and analyze data, implement awareness, and perform tests. This paper mainly researches the localization algorithm of sensor nodes in a wireless sensor network. Firstly, a multi-granularity region partition is proposed to divide the location region. In the range-based method, the RSSI (Received Signal Strength indicator, RSSI) is used to estimate distance. The optimal RSSI value is computed by the Gaussian fitting method. Furthermore, a Voronoi diagram is characterized by the use of dividing region. Rach anchor node is regarded as the center of each region; the whole position region is divided into several regions and the sub-region of neighboring nodes is combined into triangles while the unknown node is locked in the ultimate area. Secondly, the multi-granularity regional division and Lagrange multiplier method are used to calculate the final coordinates. Because nodes are influenced by many factors in the practical application, two kinds of positioning methods are designed: the unknown node is in the positioning unit or not. When the unknown node is on the side of the positioning unit, we use the method of vector similarity. Moreover, we use the centroid algorithm to calculate the ultimate coordinates of unknown node. When the unknown node is not on the side of the positioning unit, we establish a Lagrange equation containing the constraint condition to calculate the first coordinates. Furthermore, we use the Taylor expansion formula to correct the coordinates of the unknown node. In addition, this localization method has been validated by establishing the real environment.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a record of brain activity. Brain Computer Interface (BCI) technology formed by the EEG signal has become one of the hotspots at present. How to extract the feature signal of EEG is the most basic research of BCI technology. In this paper, A new method of recognizing fatigue, conscious, concentrated state of human brain is proposed by the combination of discrete wavelet transform and the neural network based on EEG signal. First of all, the law signal is preprocessed by the wavelet denoising method because the law EEG signal contains a large number of high frequency noise, which is decomposed into multi-layer high frequency signal and low frequency signal. thus, δ wave, θ wave, α wave, β wave are obtained by the wavelet transform. And then, frequency band energy of the different wave is regards as the feature signal of EEG. In the experiment, the feature signal is classified by radial basic function (RBF) and annealed chaotic competitive learning network (ACCLN). RBF and ACCLN networks are trained with 500 sets of sample data and are tested by 100 sets of samples in different mental states. The experimental results show that the average accuracy of RBF network under three conditions are 88.75%, 88.25%, 88.5%, respectively, and the correct rate of ACCLN network is 97%, 98%, 98%, respectively.

Early discharge after childbirth has led to a rise in neonatal readmission, becoming a major concern in recent decades. Our research aimed to identify the risk factors and incidence of neonatal readmission, as well as explore preventive measures. Our study at the Clinical Hospital of Pediatrics in Ploiești, Romania included 108 neonates admitted during the neonatal period. This accounted for 2.06% of all admissions (5226). The most prevalent cases were malnutrition (25%), fever (20.3%) and bronchiolitis (17.5%). Diarrhea and infectious gastroenteritis were also observed (14.8%), along with acute rhinoconjunctivitis (9.2%) and late onset sepsis (3.7%). No deaths were recorded. The most significant characteristics identified were number of children (p&lt;0.001) and age at maternity discharge (p&lt;0.001). By following the prevention rules, malnutrition, feeding errors, and infections can be avoided. This includes practicing proper hand hygiene for both mothers and medical staff, as well as educating and demonstrating to mothers the benefits of breastfeeding. In addition, all newborns discharged from the maternity ward should benefit from follow-up at 7-10 days of life. Our results confirm the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary team and endorse promoting breastfeeding. Implementing quality control measures and regularly evaluating the surveillance program will help improve its effectiveness.

Wearable technology has been proposed as a potential tool to change the way of human life, such as the smart bracelet and the Google Glass. In the wearable technology, the inertial sensor has great significance in tracking the object movements. The paper focused on detecting the movements of user’s finger based on the inertial sensor to give the control signals. Firstly, the attitude matrix, which represented the transformation relation of carrier coordinate system and the navigation coordinate system, was obtained. Secondly, the attitude matrix was expressed based on the quaternions. Thirdly, the finger gesture was processed by the attitude matrix to get the attitude angle. Finally, the robot was controlled by attitude angle to make the moving action. The experimental results showed the detection of the finger movement is effective.

Two interesting compounds such as quaternary ammonium lignin(QAL) and 2-ethylhexyl phosphoric acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (P507) were synthesized as ionic liquids(QP-ILs) for the extraction of metal ions. The extraction behavior of Co(II) and Ni(II) from chloride solution was compared between QP-ILs and P507. The results showed that the extraction rates of Co(II) and Ni(II) in the two solutions varied with the extraction conditions, but QP-ILs has stronger extractability for cobalt than P507, while Ni is on the contrary. Under the same conditions, the Co/Ni separation performance(βCo/Ni) in QP-ILs is superior to that in p507. At pH4.0, 55℃, concentration of 20%, extraction time of 10 minutes, the βCo/Ni of QP-ILs reached to 2703, while that of P507 was only 164. In conclusion, QP-ILs was more efficient than P507 for separating Co from mixed solutions.

Brain aging causes a wide variety of changes at molecular and cellular levels, leading to the decline of cognitive functions and increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders. The research aimed at understanding the aging of the brain has made much progress in recent decades. Technological innovations such as single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), proteomic analyses, and spatial transcriptomic analyses have facilitated the research on the dynamic changes occurring within neurons, glia, and other cells along with their impacts on intercellular communication during aging. In this review, we introduce recent trends of how neurons and glia change during aging and discuss the impact of the brain microenvironment such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

In this paper, we study the semilinear pseudo-parabolic equations $\displaystyle u_{t} - \triangle_{\mathbb{B}}u - \triangle_{\mathbb{B}}u_{t} = \left|u\right|^{p-1}u$ on a manifold with conical singularity, where $\triangle _{\mathbb{B}}$ is Fuchsian type Laplace operator investigated with totally characteristic degeneracy on the boundary $x_{1} = 0$. Firstly, we discuss the invariant sets and the vacuum isolating behavior of solutions with the help of a family of potential wells. Then, we derive a threshold result of existence and nonexistence of global weak solution: for the low initial energy $J(u_{0})<d$, the solution is global in time with $I(u_{0}) >0$ or $\displaystyle\Vert \nabla_{\mathbb{B}}u_{0}\Vert_{L_{2}^{\frac{n}{2}}(\mathbb{B})} = 0$ and blows up in finite time with $I(u_{0}) < 0$; for the critical initial energy $J(u_{0}) = d$, the solution is global in time with $I(u_{0}) \geq0$ and blows up in finite time with $I(u_{0}) < 0$. The decay estimate of the energy functional for the global solution and the estimates of the lifespan of local solution are also given.

Multimodal remote sensing data classification can enhance the model’s ability to distinguish land features through multimodal data fusion. In this context, how to help models understand the relationship between multimodal data and target tasks is the focus of researchers. Inspired by human feedback learning mechanisms, causal reasoning mechanisms, and knowledge induction mechanisms, this paper integrates causal learning, reinforcement learning, and meta learning into a unified remote sensing data classification framework and proposed the causal meta-reinforcement learning (CMRL). First, based on feedback learning mechanisms, we have overcome the limitations of traditional implicit optimization of fusion features and customized a reinforcement learning environment for multimodal remote sensing data classification tasks. Through feedback interactive learning between agents and the environment, we help them understand the complex relationships between multimodal data and labels, thereby achieving full mining of multimodal complementary information. Second, based on the causal inference mechanism we designed causal distribution prediction action, classification reward, and causal intervention reward, capturing pure causal factors in multimodal data and cutting off false statistical associations between non-causal factors and class labels. Finally, based on the knowledge induction mechanism, we designed a bi-layer optimization mechanism based on meta-learning. By constructing a meta training task and meta validation task simulation model in the generalization scenario of unseen data, we helped the model induce cross-task shared knowledge, thereby improving its generalization ability for unseen multimodal data. The experimental results on multiple sets of multimodal datasets show that the proposed method achieved state-of-the-art performance in multimodal remote sensing data classification tasks.

Moso bamboo is famous for fast growing and biomass accumulation, as well as high annual output for timber and bamboo shoots. These high outputs require high nutrient inputs to maintain and improve stand productivity. Soil nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) are important micronutrients for plant growth and productivity. Due to high variability of soils, analysing spatial patterns of soil N, P and K stocks is necessary for scientific nutrient management in Moso bamboo forests. In this study, soils were sampled from 138 locations across Yong’an City and ordinary kriging was applied for spatial interpolation of soil N, P and K stocks. Soil N stock showed a strong spatial dependence while soil N and P stocks presented a moderate spatial dependence, indicating soil N was mainly controlled by intrinsic factors while soil N and P stocks were controlled by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Different spatial patterns were observed for soil N, P and K stocks across the whole study area, indicating that fertilizations with different ratios of N:P:K should be applied for different sites to maintain and improve stand productivity. The total soil N, P and K stocks within 0-60 cm were 0.624, 0.020 and 0.583 Tg, respectively.

With the increasing concern of environment, the energy-efficiency scheduling of manufacturing industry is becoming urgent and popular. In turning processes, both spindle speed and processing time can affect the final energy consumption and thus the spindle speed and scheduling scheme need to be optimized simultaneously. Since the turning workshop can be regarded as the flexible flow shop, this paper formulates a mixed integer linear programming model for energy-efficient scheduling of flexible flow shop. Accordingly, a new decoding method is developed by considering of the optimization of spindle speed and scheduling scheme simultaneously, and an estimation of distribution algorithm adopting the new decoding method is proposed to solve large-size problems. The parameters of this algorithm are determined by statistical technique with a simplified practical case. In order to validate the proposed method, a case from practical factories is studied, in which the makespan can be shortened by 25.22%, and the consumed energy can be saved by 5.48%. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mathematical model and algorithm.

Lignocellulosic biomass, an abundant and renewable resource, serves as a crucial raw material for the production of biofuels, biochemicals, and various value-added products. This paper aims to develop and optimize a mild alkaline treatment of sawdust assisted by ultrasound, along with enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated material. The sonochemical pretreatment with alkali emerged as the optimal approach to enhance the susceptibility of cellulose to subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis, thereby increasing the yield of reducing sugars. A comparative study was performed using various ultrasonic applicators (horn and bath) and conventional assisted alkaline pretreatment. The ultrasonic assisted pretreatment revealed a higher delignification as 68% (horn) and 57% (bath) comparing with conventional pretreatment. Processes were optimized using a statistical analysis based on a 23 factorial design. The ratio between sawdust and alkanine solution (RSL = 0.5–1.5 g/100 mL), US amplitude (A = 20–60%), and working temperature (t = 30–50 °C) were selected as process factors. The optimal operating conditions to maximize the reducing sugar yield (138.15 mg GE /gsubstrate) were found as following: solid/liquid ratio RSL,opt = 1.25 g/100 mL, US amplitude Aopt = 60%, and and pretreatment temperature topt = 50 °C. The overall outcomes clearly confirmed the intensification of delignification by ultrasound assisted alkaline pretreatment

At 12:28 UTC (8:28 PM, local time) on 15 January 2023, a shallow, moderate earthquake with a magnitude (Mw) of 4.7 and a depth of one (1) kilometer shook the northern part of Leyte Island in the central part of the Philippines. The ground shaking was felt at PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS) VI, (very strong) equivalent to Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) VI in areas along the strike of the Leyte segment of the Philippine Fault. Even though this earthquake is classified as moderate in size, significant geologic, structural, and socio-economic impacts were documented. Most of the earthquake impacts that include surface rupture, liquefaction, and mass movements are limited near the epicentral area. The earthquake produced an 8-km-long surface rupture, the first documented rupture generated by a magnitude &lt;6 along the Philippine Fault, and is unusual in other surface rupturing earthquakes worldwide. It injured 18 persons and damaged 434 residential buildings and 26 public infrastructures which amounts to about 500 thousand US dollars. Structural damages were caused by surface rupture and/or poor engineering construction practices. Analysis of the seismic waveform and recorded peak ground acceleration (PGA) suggests that the subsurface geology influenced the ground motion amplification in an area near the epicenter. Based on the hypocenter, focal mechanism solution, aftershock distribution, and actual field observation, the causative fault for this event is the northern end of the Philippine Fault – Leyte segment. Moderate in size, this earthquake emphasizes the need and importance of documenting moderate-sized earthquakes as a tool and guide for medium and long-term earthquake risk assessment and resiliency.

Background: The bacterium Capnocytophaga spp. is a part of the oral microbiome of dogs, which has zoonotic potential. This study aimed to assess factors that influence the prevalence of Capnocytophaga cynodegmi and Capnocytophaga canimorsus in Wrocaw’s dog population. Methods: Molecular detection (PCR) involved 105 swabs, examining parameters such as oral cavity condition, underlying health issues, recent antibiotics, age, medications, material collection, and dog chews. Results: The study highlighted significant associations between the presence of Capnocytophaga cynodegmi and oral cavity condition, material collection method, and use of dog’s chews. Conclusions: Correlations obtained in this study between the oral health of Wroclaw's dog population and the presence of Capnocytophaga cynodegmi suggest its significance in the oral microbiome of dogs. Limitations, including the small sample size, highlight the need for more research to comprehensively understand additional factors that affect the prevalence of Capnocytophaga spp. in dogs

A simple design of an ultrathin six-band polarization-insensitive terahertz perfect metamaterial absorber (PMMA) composed of a metal cross-cave-patch resonator (CCPR) placed over a ground plane was proposed and investigated numerically. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the average absorption peaks are up to 95% at six resonance frequencies with high quality-factors (>65). In addition, the absorption properties can be kept stability for both normal incident transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) waves. The physical mechanism behind the observed high level absorption is illustrated by the electric and power loss density distributions. The different absorption mainly originates from the higher order multipolar and multipolar plasmon resonance of the structure, which are sharp different to the most previous studies of the PMMAs. Furthermore, the resonance absorption of the PMMA can be tunable by varying the geometric parameters of the unit cell.

A simple design of an ultrathin six-band polarization-insensitive terahertz perfect metamaterial absorber (PMMA) composed of a metal cross-cave-patch resonator (CCPR) placed over a ground plane was proposed and investigated numerically. The numerical simulation results demonstrate that the average absorption peaks are up to 95% at six resonance frequencies with high quality-factors (>65). In addition, the absorption properties can be kept stability for both normal incident transverse magnetic (TM) and transverse electric (TE) waves. The physical mechanism behind the observed high level absorption is illustrated by the electric and power loss density distributions. The different absorption mainly originates from the higher order multipolar and multipolar plasmon resonance of the structure, which are sharp different to the most previous studies of the PMMAs. Furthermore, the resonance absorption of the PMMA can be tunable by varying the geometric parameters of the unit cell.

The assortment of low-cost 3D printers for “in-practice” use, e.g., for clear aligner therapies, is ever increasing. To address concerns about the accuracy of orthodontic models produced on such printers when cost efficient modes of 3D printing are employed, this study examined the effect of print model body type and print angulation on accuracy. Six printing-configuration groups were included: 2 model types (solid or hollow shell) combined with 3 print angles (0°, 70°, or 90°) with 10 models/group; all models were printed with 100-µm layer thickness using a digital light processing-based 3-dimensional printer. Eleven selected structures and distances were measured on the printed models with a digital microscope and compared to the same measures on a digitized master model. The clinically-acceptability range was set at ±0.25 mm difference from the master model for single tooth measurements (intra-tooth) and ±0.5 mm for cross-arch measurements (inter-tooth). For individual measurements across all models, 98% fell within clinical acceptability. For mean measurements within each model group, only canine height for the shell-0° model had a mean difference (0.26 mm ± 0.03) outside the clinically acceptable range for intra-tooth measurements. Standard deviations for all intra-tooth measurements were within 0.07 mm. While none of the mean inter-tooth measurements exceeded the acceptability range, the standard deviations were larger (0.04 to 0.30 mm). Accuracy of orthodontic models for clear aligner therapies was not impacted beyond the clinically acceptable range when altering model body type and print angulation to improve efficiency of 3D printing. These findings suggest greater flexibility of the practitioner to alter print settings to address time and cost efficiency in various clinical scenarios and still maintain clinically acceptable model accuracy.

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.