The protection of grapevine from the diseases is now particularly focused on the development of environmentally friendly strategies. Although sulphur is not in itself a toxic substance, a large use towards powdery mildew, in organic vineyards especially, may cause problems to environment, health and safety of viticultural workers and plant phytotoxicity. The activity on powdery mildew of sulphur applied at doses reduced up to 50% in tank mixtures with silicates and Equisetum arvense based products, never tested on grapevine, was assessed. Two-year trials were carried out applying the products every 7-9 days in the period of greatest risk for spring ascosporic infections, in two organic vineyards in the Abruzzo region, Italy. The effectiveness towards the disease of the mixtures was demonstrated, often to a greater extent than that of full-dose sulphur, normally used in the vineyards. Furthermore, in vines treated with the mixtures, increases in yield quantity and quality, such as higher contents of soluble solids and lower levels of total acidity, have been shown. Due to the strong efficacy demonstrated on the leaves, silicon-based products + sulphur mixtures can also be recommended in eradicative applications, aimed at reducing the inoculum of the disease. The great activity of the mixtures demonstrated in this study suggests confirmation through further investigations on different cultivars and vine-growing areas at different levels of infection, also testing the effectiveness of individual silicon products against the disease.

The evolution of photovoltaic cells is intrinsically linked to advancements in the materials from which they are fabricated. This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the latest developments in silicon-based, organic, and perovskite solar cells, which are at the forefront of photovoltaic research. We scrutinize the unique characteristics, advantages, and limitations of each material class, emphasizing their contributions to efficiency, stability, and commercial viability. Silicon-based cells are explored for their enduring relevance and recent innovations in crystalline structures. Organic photovoltaic cells are examined for their flexibility and potential for low-cost production, while perovskites are highlighted for their remarkable efficiency gains and ease of fabrication. The paper also addresses the challenges of material stability, scalability, and environmental impact, offering a balanced perspective on the current state and future potential of these material technologies.

: Organic poultry need high-quality proteins in their diet. The EU’s organic regulation forbids synthetic amino acids; therefore, soybean, with its balanced essential amino acid content, has become the most used protein source, though much of it is imported from non-EU countries. Soybean, however, has some important problems related to sustainability and crop competition; therefore, it must be substituted with a high-protein-value alternative such as insect meal. In this study, 900 Aviagen Savanna broilers were reared using three different organic diets. The diets used the following as protein feed material: soybean only (S100), 50% black soldier fly larvae meal (BSL) and 50% soybean (BSL50), and 100% BSL only (BSL100). Broiler performance, welfare, and fatty acids (FA) in the thigh and breast were analyzed. BSL50 and BSL100 negatively affected growth performance, while BSL100 worsened all of the market-related measures of performance. Meat quality was worse in BSL50 and BSL100, with a significant increase in saturated FA (SFA) and a corresponding decrease in polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Among SFA, lauric acid (C12:0) more notably increased. The increase in SFA represents a negative aspect of BSL meal inclusion, namely the production of lauric acid; however, this trend could have a beneficial effect, which will be more deeply explored with regard to its impact on animal and human health.

The pursuit of an environmentally sustainable manufacturing process advocates for the substitution of harmful reagents for less damaging and recyclable solutions. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of using cellulose microfibrils synthesized via different hydrolysis reactions as reinforcing agents in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at varying con-centrations. The investigation explores the morphology, thermal properties, and chemi-cal behavior of the cellulose particles. The cellulose microfibrils (CMF) produced using citric acid exhibited the highest yield and aspect ratio. Notably, particles from organic acids demonstrated greater thermal stability, with oxalic acid-derived particles displaying the maximum thermal degrada-tion temperature. Subsequently, cast films of PVA reinforced with the cellulose microfibrils underwent comprehensive analyses, including Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal degradation temperature (Td), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile strength tests. The thermal behavior of cast films experienced notable changes with the addition of cellulose particles, evidenced by increased melting and crystallinity temperatures, along with a rise in the degree of crystallinity. The incorporation of cellulose particles led to a substantial improvement in mechanical properties. Films containing CMF dis-played higher Young’s modulus, and the sample incorporating 5% CMF derived from citric acid exhibited the most significant increase in modulus.

Hydrogels are water-absorbing polymers that can hydrate forage plants in the soil. The objec-tive was to evaluate the replacement of synthetic hydrogels derived from petroleum by biode-gradable hydrogels in Mombaça grass pastures (Megathyrsus maximum). The experimental treat-ments consisted of: No hydrogel (NH); Synthetic commercial hydrogel (CH), made from a syn-thetic polyacrylamide product; and Biodegradable test hydrogel (TH), obtained from cashew gum (Anacardium occidentale). The experimental design was randomized blocks with five replica-tions and three treatments. Morphogenesis, production, chemical and mineral composition of the Mombaça grass pasture were assessed. The data was subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison by the Snott-Knott test at 5% probability. Leaf elongation rate was 42.3 mm day-1 in the TH treatment, which was higher (P<0.05) than NH (35.0 mm day-1). Green leaf mass yield was higher in TH in comparison to NH and CH. On the other hand, there was no effect of hydration on chemical composition. The mineral composition of Mombaça grass showed more Zn when TH was used. It can be concluded that biodegradable hydrogels can replace synthetic commercial hydrogels in pastures.

Two gallium porphyrins, a tetraphenyl GaCl porphyrin, termed as (TPP)GaCl, and an octaethylporphyrin GaCl porphyrin, termed as (OEP)GaCl were synthesized to use as electron cascade in ternary organic bulk heterojunction films. A perfect matching of both gallium porphyrins energy levels with that of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) or poly[N-9′-heptadecanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)] (PCDTBT) polymer donor and the 6,6-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) fullerene acceptor forming an efficient cascade system that could facilitate electron transfer between donor and acceptor was demonstrated. Therefore, ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) using the two porphyrins in various concentration were fabricated, where a performance enhancement was obtained. In particular, (TPP)GaCl-based ternary OSCs of low concentration (1:0.05 vv%) exhibited a ~17 % increase of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared with the binary device due to improved exciton dissociation, electron transport and reduced recombination. On the other hand, ternary OSCs with the (TPP)GaCl of high concentration (1:0.1 vv%) and (OEP)GaCl (1:0.05 and 1:0.1 vv%) showed poorest efficiencies due to very rough nanomorphology and suppressed crystallinity of ternary films when the GaCl porphyrin introduced in the blend, as revealed from X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The best performed devices exhibited also improved photostability, when exposed to sunlight illumination for a period of 8 h than the binary OSCs, attributed to the suppressed photodegradation of the ternary (TPP)GaCl 1:0.05-based photoactive film.

Single photon ionization (SPI) based on vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lamps has been extensively investigated and applied due to its clean mass spectra as a soft ionization method. However, the photon energy of 10.6 eV and photons flux of 106 photons/s of commercial VUV lamp limits its range of ionizable analytes as well as sensitivity. This work designs a chemical ionization focusing integrated (CIFI) ionization source time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS) based on VUV lamp for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs). The photoelectrons obtained from the VUV lamp through the photoelectric effect ionized the oxygen in the air to obtain the reagent ions O2+, and segmented quadrupole constituted the ion-molecule-reaction region (IMR) and radially focused the ions using a radio-frequency electric field, which improved the yield and transport efficiency of the sample ions and the sensitivity of mass spectrometry, resulting in 44-fold and 1154-fold increase in signal response to benzene and pentanal, respectively. To verify the reliability of the ionization source, the linear correspondence and repeatability of benzene and pentanal were investigated. Satisfactory dynamic linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 5-50 ppbv, and daytime RSD reached 3.91% and 6.26%, respectively. Finally, the CIFI ionization source TOFMS was applied to the determination of OVOCs, and the LOD of 12 types of OVOCs can reach the pptv level, indicating that the ionization source has the potential for accurate and sensitive online monitoring of atmospheric OVOCs.

In this study, the gravimetric characterization and analysis of the solubilized extract of the organic fraction of Urban Household Solid Waste (RSDU) from the municipality of Belém do Pará was carried out in order to obtain the composition of the collected materials and the characteristics of the liquid resulting from the solubilization of these materials . The waste used to carry out this research was collected door-to-door, in which the points and neighborhoods served were determined through the sectorization of these locations and representative statistical sampling. For the sectorization of neighborhoods, family income values ​​were considered as the main parameter. After collecting the solid waste, the material was sent to the facilities of the Federal University of Pará (FUPa), where the waste was classified into paper, cardboard, tetrapak, rigid plastic, soft plastic, metals, glass, organic matter, waste toilets, fabrics and others. The organic fraction of solid waste was separated and sent to the drying, crushing and packaging processes. Subsequently, the solubilized extract of the organic fraction of solid waste was obtained, following the methodology recommended by NBR standard nº 10.006/2004, of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards and the values ​​obtained were compared with Ordinance GM/MS nº 888/2021 and CONAMA Resolution nº 357/2005, in addition to results obtained by other authors. After carrying out the gravimetric characterization, it was possible to obtain the average proportions of 5.09% paper, 3.20% cardboard, 0.94% tetrapak, 3.58% rigid plastic, 9.97% soft plastic, 2.00% metals, 55.57% organic matter, 1.86% glass, 14.26% sanitary waste, 3.23% fabrics and 3.00% other waste. High values ​​of organic residues were found in the gravimetric composition, which can be explained by the collection method used and the high humidity of the organic solid residues. In the analyzes of the solubilized extract, values ​​of Hp (3.69 to 4.92), Turbidity (791 to 1,733 uT), Apparent Color (8,500 to 12,500 uC), True Color (6,000 to 14,000 uC), Total Dissolved Solids (5,330 to 8,040 mg/L), Total Nitrogen (201.80 to 359.90 mg/L), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (161 to 289 mg/L), Nitrate (10 to 40 mg/L), Total Phosphorus (52.30 to 166.80 mg/L) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (28,701 mg/L to 38,608 mg/L), in addition to other measured parameters, in which such information makes it possible to check the similarities of the waste solubilization conditions to that of leachates from landfills, in addition to not being in compliance with environmental and health legislation, demonstrating risks to the local environment and public health.

N'-(5-bromofuran-2-carbonyl)isonicotinohydrazide (1) was obtained as a white solid in 83% yield by 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA)/4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP)-catalyzed reaction of 5-bromofuran-2-carboxylic acid and isoniazid in dichloromethane at room temperature. The structure of N'-(5-bromofuran-2-carbonyl)isonicotinohydrazide (1) was elucidated by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FTIR, and the high resolution mass spectrometers. Molecular docking screening of the title compound (1) on the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein (PDB ID: 5IKR) exhibited that compound (1) has a good binding affinity, suggesting that it is very interesting for further structure optimization and in-depth research as a potential COX-2 inhibitor.

Bovine mastitis (BM) has been causing great economic and financial losses in the dairy industry worldwide and one of its major pathogenic agents is S. aureus. BM treatment still relies on antibiotics. The extensive use of antimicrobials gives rise to bacterial strains such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and mupirocin-resistant S. aureus (MuRSA). This study aimed to investigate and compare the prevalence of MRSA and MuRSA and antimicrobial susceptibility in S. aureus isolates from bovine mastitis milk in conventional and organic dairy farms. Milk samples were taken from mastitis-infected cattle in 6 conventional and 7 organic dairy farms from South Korea. According to the Food Codex, 163 suspected S. aureus colonies were isolated from the pooled milk samples from each farm. Further rapid coagulase test confirmed 11 out of 74 isolates from 4 conventional farms (CF1, CF2, CF3, CF4) while 17 out of 89 isolates from 3 organic farms (OF1, OF2, OF3) exhibited coagulase activity. Multiplex PCR amplification showed that the nuc gene marker for S. aureus was found in all coagulase-positive isolates from OF 1 and at least one isolate from CF1, CF2, CF3, and CF4. Conversely, only 2 isolates from CF2 contained mecA gene for MRSA while none had the mupA gene for MuRSA. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that conventional farm isolates were more resistant to antibiotics particularly, against ampicillin and tetracycline, and, in turn, could imply a potential to develop multidrug resistance if stringent measures to control antimicrobial use in dairy farms is not implemented properly.

In this work, a high throughput nanozymatic method was developed for green nanozyme-mediated biodegradation of organic dyes in real water media. The nanozymes were synthesized and characterized for their size and morphology by TEM and DLS analysis. The nanozymatic properties of the as-prepared nanomaterials were evaluated by standard enzyme activity assay, revealing high peroxidase-like performances for the as-prepared nanozymes. Therefore, for exploring more precise, the kinetics behavior of the as-prepared nanozymes was evaluated by the standard Lineweaver-Burk method, revealing a V_max as high as 0.263 µM sec^-1 and a K_m as low as 0.03 mM, revealing high catalytic efficiency and affinity of the as-prepared nanozymes. Hence, the as-prepared nanozymes were utilized for organic dye degradation in real water media using methylene blue as a model organic dye. The effective factors on the dye degradation including pH, ionic strength, degradation time, nanozyme amount, etc. were optimized by the one-factor-at-a-time optimization method. At optimal experimental conditions, the as-prepared nanozymes can degrade about 99.0% of the organic dye within a degradation time as low as 7 min. The developed method was finally employed for the nanozyme-mediated degradation of methylene blue from real water media such as pool, mineral, river, and tap water samples. The results of this study revealed an excellent biodegradation yield of over 94.3%-99.0% for the different real samples, proving the suitability of the developed method for dye degradation in real water media.

In the last decades, consumers are increasingly interested in organic products and they strongly demand for reliability of the traceability of the organic products they use to buy and eat. Different researches have been carried out over the years to investigate on new and reliable systems to test the authenticity of products obtained using organic cultivation methods. The monitoring of some chemical components, derived from primary and/or secondary metabolism, in horticultural organic and conventional products, has highlighted the diversity induced by the two production techniques while the difference in fertilization practices has been shown to impact on the isotopic distribution of some elements, with particular reference to nitrogen. An integrated system is proposed to validate, through the acquisition of isotopic data and other chemical and biochemical parameters, the authenticity of organic products. This approach is intended to be coupled to the application of chemometric multivariate analysis of isotopic data combined with other quality and nutraceutical parameters, giving the possibility to discriminate organic from conventional products, thanks to the different isotopic signature impressed by the different nitrogenous source combined with the qualitative pattern of the crops, significantly affected by the different treatments. The main perspectives of the presented integrated approach, based on the combined use of chemometric and analytical tools, are linked to the feasibility of applying a reliable system to authenticate productions obtained with organic fertilizers (organic agriculture) respect to those obtained with the use of synthetic fertilizers (conventional agriculture), protect and valorize virtuous farmers and support political stakeholders and decision makers to counteract food fraud.

Land’s basic metric is soil organic carbon (SOC) yet global estimates range 1,417–15,000 Gt C. Erosion of ancient topsoil and loss of soil taxa are most urgent of all context-triage concerns, and most ignored. Re-evaluation of topographical terrain on a non-flat Earth increases most soil dynamic inventories. Carbon credits of our neglected and disappearing SOC stocks are enumerated for mineral soils (~4,100 Gt C plus ca. 20–30% glomalin), Permafrost (>4,200 Gt C), peat (1,123 Gt C), plant roots (916 Gt C), litter (600 Gt C), microbes (200 Gt C), fungi (30 Gt C), biocrust (10–20 Gt C), earthworms (2.3–3.6 Gt C), termites (0.15 Gt C), nematodes (0.06 Gt C), ants (0.024 Gt C), and soil viruses (0.02–4.0 Gt C). Net contribution to atmospheric CO₂ is more from biotic topsoil loss (>10 Gt C/yr) than fossil fuels (<10 Gt C/yr). Although higher CO₂ results in a terrestrial greening effect with Net Primary Productivity (NPP) now ~220 Gt C/yr (cf. ~20 Gt C/yr Ocean NPP), this is arguably offset by topsoil erosion, desert expansion, plus fire at net ~16–20 Gt C/yr lost due, in part, to extravagant meat-eating with unsupportable, humus-depleting farm management. In particular, excess synthetic Nitrogen acidifies topsoil and destroys the natural SOC biota. Review shows critical topsoil loss up to 20,000 tonnes per second and, when soil microbes/invertebrates are properly considered, extinctions as high as 23 taxa per second. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fail without solid soil foundation. Rather, heritage farm-data points to resolution in organic husbandry. Remedy via natural vermi-compost, 100% organic farming and practical Permaculture is under a simple premise that the Problem (i.e., SOC loss) is the Solution (viz., SOC restoration).

Immersive experiences in green areas and particularly in forests have long been known to produce beneficial effects for human health. However, the exact determinants and mechanisms leading to healthy outcomes remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether inhaling plant-emitted biogenic volatile compounds, namely monoterpenes (MTs), can produce specific effects on anxiety. Data from 505 subjects participating in 39 structured forest therapy sessions in different Italian sites, were collected. Monoterpenes air concentration was measured at each site. STAI State questionnaires were administered before and after the sessions as a measure of anxiety. A propensity score matching analysis was then performed, considering an above-average exposure to inhalable air MTs as the treatment: the estimated effect was -1.28 STAI-S points (95% C.I. -2.51 to -0.06, p = 0.04), indicating that the average effect of exposure to high MT air concentrations during forest therapy sessions is to decrease anxiety.

Entomopathogenic fungi perform important functions in the ecosystem as natural antagonists of insects, which can be used in agriculture. Interestingly, recent studies showed a significant promotion of tested plants growth in the presence of fungi. We hypothesize that some of various compounds produced by entomopathogenic fungi can positively affect plant development. To test this hypothesis, fungal extracts of entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana were prepared at different conditions of temperature and pH. In addition to determination of the ammonium nitrogen content, the composition of extracts was analyzed by elemental ICP-OES. Then, their effect on the wheat germ growth was studied using various extract concentrations. After experiments, tested plants were measured, weighed, and the chlorophyll content was determined. Finally, the impact of extracts on the selected G+ and G- bacteria growth was examined to exclude the possibility of interference with soil microorganisms. The highest length of the wheat shoot was obtained for the use of 10-times diluted extract (10%) at pH 10 obtained at 20°C. In contrast, addition of 10% extract (pH 10) obtained at 75°C resulted in the shortest shoot. Generally, the extracts obtained at 75°C showed phytotoxic properties leading to lower values of shoot length and fresh weight in comparison to the control group. Our preliminary results are the first confirming the potential of fungal water extracts as factors promoting plant growth. Further detailed study should be carried out to confirm the effects in real environment conditions. Also, the consistency of the plant growth stimulation across different entomopathogenic fungi, and agriculturally used plant species should be tested.

Volatile compounds, abundant in breath, can be used to accurately diagnose and monitor a range of medical conditions. This offers a non-invasive, low-cost approach with screening applications; however, uptake of this diagnostic approach has been limited by conflicting published outcomes. Most published reports rely on large scale screening of the public, at single time points and without reference to ambient air. Here, we present a novel approach to volatile sampling from cellular headspace and mouse breath that incorporates multi-time point analysis and ambient air subtraction revealing compound flux as an effective proxy of active metabolism. This approach to investigating breath volatiles offers a new avenue for disease biomarker discovery and diagnosis. Using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS), we focus on low molecular weight, metabolic substrate/by-product compounds and demonstrate that this non-invasive technique is sensitive (reproducible at ~1 µg cellular protein, or ~500,000 cells) and capable of precisely determining cell type, status and treatment. Isolated cellular models represent components of larger mammalian systems and we show that stress- and pathology-indicative compounds are detectable in mice, supporting further investigation using this methodology as a tool to identify volatile targets in human patients.

Wet anaerobic storage of algal biomass is a promising preservation approach which can ensure continuous supply of these feedstocks to biorefineries year-round. An effective solution to preservation must ensure minimal dry matter loss and change in biochemical composition during storage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the preservation of Nannochloropsis gaditana biomass through wet anaerobic storage and its impact on biomass quality. Prior to storage, algae sample was inoculated with two different strains of lactic acid bacteria and thereafter stored for 30 and 180 days. Each inoculant limited dry matter loss to &lt;10% (dry basis) after the storage durations. Final pH values (4.3 - 4.8) indicate that the biomass samples were properly ensiled, achieving the acidic conditions necessary for preservation. Compositional analysis of the biomass after storage showed a reduction in carbohydrate content, a relative increase in lipid content, and no significant change to the protein fraction. Glucose and galactose were the prevalent sugar monomers. The low dry matter loss and minimal compositional change indicates that wet anaerobic storage is an effective means of preserving algal biomass, ensuring a constant supply of algal biomass feedstock to a biorefinery.

Reducing the amount of precipitation in summer in the Chernozems area alters soil organic matter (SOM). To compensate for the lack of moisture, farmers are introducing new agricultural technologies such as no-till cultivation. In turn, no-till practices influence the composition of SOM. We examined the impacts of the rise of aridity and no-till technology on the chemical composition of bioavailable and recalcitrant pools of OM. The properties of SOM were assessed using double-shot pyrolysis with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The thermolabile substances that are volatilised in the first stage of pyrolysis (300°C) are considered the bioavailable pool. Accordingly, substances are obtained in the second pyrolysis stage (500°C) were attributed to the recalcitrant pool. Identified in both steps of pyrolysis, products were assigned to different chemical groups (lignin-derivative, polysaccharide-fragments, indoles, etc.) and relative abundances were calculated. In work for the separation of substances, a polar column was used for chromatography of the thermolabile fraction. With an increase in aridity in Сhernozems, the content in the bioavailable pool of polysaccharide fragments decreased and the proportion of indoles increased. In the recalcitrant pool, the abundance of six-membered rings with nitrogen and aromatic compounds decreases at the same time the contents of unsubstituted and O-substituted acyclic compounds as well as pyridine increases. The influence of the NT was more noticeable in the recalcitrant OM. The NT practice promotes biological activity and to rich in nitrogen compounds the bioavailable OM; this process contributes to the accumulation of carbon in the recalcitrant OM.

Organic-organic interactions play important roles in the secondary organic aerosol formation, but the interactions are complex and poorly understood. Here we use environmental molecular beam experiments combined with molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the interactions between methanol and nopinone, as atmospheric organic proxies. In the experiments, methanol monomers and clusters are sent to collide with three types of surfaces, i.e., graphite, thin nopinone coating on graphite and multilayer surfaces, at temperatures between 140 K and 230 K. Methanol monomers are efficiently scattered from the graphite surface, whereas the scattering is substantially suppressed from nopinone surfaces. The desorption from the three surfaces is similar, suggesting that all the surfaces have weak or similar influences on the methanol desorption. The molecular dynamics results show that upon collisions the methanol clusters shatter, and the shattered fragments quickly diffuse and recombine to clusters. The desorption involves a series of processes, including detaching from clusters and desorbing as monomers. The experimental results also show that all trapped methanol molecules completely desorb within a short experimental time scale at temperatures of 180 K and above. At lower temperatures, the desorption rate decreases, and a long experimental time scale is used to resolve the desorption, where three desorption components are identified. The fast component is beyond the experimental detection limit. The intermediate component exhibits multi-step desorption character and has an activation energy of E_a = 0.18 ± 0.03 eV, in good agreement with simulation results. The slow desorption component is related to diffusion processes due to the weak temperature dependence.

With increasing interest in understanding contribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to particulate air pollution in urban areas, an exploratory study was carried out to determine levels of carbonaceous aerosols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the City of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. PM2.5 samples were collected using a high-volume sampler for 24 h in several areas in Kuala Lumpur during the north-easterly monsoon from January to March 2019. Samples were analysed for water soluble organic carbon (WSOC), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC) and secondary organic carbon (SOC) in PM2.5 was estimated. Particle-bound PAHs were analysed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Average concentrations of WSOC, OC and EC were 2.7 ± 2.2 (range of 0.63-9.1) µg/m3, 6.9 ± 4.9 (3.1-24.1) µg/m3 and 3.7 ± 1.6 (1.3-6.8) µg/m3, respectively, with estimated average SOC of 2.3 µg/m3, contributing 34% to total OC. The average of total PAHs was 1.8 ± 2.7 ng/m3. Source identification methods revealed natural gas and biomass burning, and urban traffic combustion as dominant sources of PAHs in Kuala Lumpur. To understand human health risk posed by PAHs, a deterministic screening health risk assessment was also conducted for several age groups including infant, toddler, children, adolescent and adult. The total concentration of BaPeq is 3.8 ng/m3, with the average of 0.29 (range of 0.001-1.6) ng/m3. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of PAH species were well below the acceptable levels recommended by the USEPA. Future work is needed using long-term monitoring data to understand the origin of PAH contributing to SOA formation and to apply source-risk apportionment to know better the potential risk factors posed by the various sources in urban areas in Kuala Lumpur.

The European Union green deal has proposed the “organic farming action plan” to render this farming system more sustainable for climate mitigation and adaptation and to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). While this policy instrument is fundamental to reach sustainable agriculture, there is still no agreement on what sustainable agriculture is and how to measure it. This opinion paper proposes an ecosystem-based framework on the crop life-cycle to determine the balance between economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainability to support decision-making.

This study investigated the spatial variability of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) in Hongqipao reservoir dominated by different vegetation types and the possible relationships with other soil properties. Top 0–50cm soil samples were collected in sites dominated by different vegetation types within the reservoir littoral zone. There was high spatial variability for SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN in the Hongqipao reservoir. In addition, the SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents decreased with increasing soil depth. This could be attributed by the fact that when plants detritus decompose, most of their organic matter is mineralized and a new soil layer which contains a greater amount of organic carbon is formed at the top. According to Pearson's correlation values and redundancy analysis (RDA) results, SOC was significantly and positively correlated with TN likely because the vegetation organic matter and liter could be the main nitrogen sources. Similarly, soil moisture content (MC) was significant positive correlated with SOC and TN. Conversely, BD was significant negative correlated with SOC and TN contents in the 0-50 cm soil profiles. However, no significant correlations were observed between SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents and soil pH values. SMBN was significantly and positive correlated with C:N ratio and BD and negative related with MC. Multiple linear regression model revealed that all measures soil properties in this study could explain higher significant variability of the response variables (SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents). This implies that all the measured soil variables within the different vegetation types in the reservoir played a crucial role in determining the contents of SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN. This study further suggests that vegetation types play a major role in determining the spatial characteristics of SOC and TN. Any changes in the vegetation types in the reservoir may influence the distribution of SOC and TN. This may affect the global carbon budget and the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration significantly.

For cereals grown under organic conditions, information on levels of free asparagine (free Asn) as a precursor to acrylamide (AA) formation, is almost completely lacking. This study investigated the impact of organically grown cereal species and cultivars of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), winter spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta), winter rye (Secale cereale), winter einkorn (Triticum monococcum) and winter emmer (Triticum dicoccum) on the level of free Asn with simultaneous consideration of grain yields and flour qualities over three growing seasons (2005–2006, 2006–2007 and 2007–2008) in Southwest Germany. Additionally, the relation of free Asn and AA was investigated. Heritability revealed how strongly the level of free Asn was linked to the genotype. In this context free Asn of species and cultivars grown at a second location in Southern Germany were analysed. The level of free Asn was significantly influenced by species and within species by cultivars. Rye was found to exhibit the highest free Asn amount (52 mg 100 g⁻¹), followed by einkorn (32 mg 100 g⁻¹), emmer (16 mg 100 g⁻¹) wheat (10 mg 100 g⁻¹) and spelt (8 mg 100 g⁻¹), which showed the overall lowest free Asn content. Hence, replacing rye with spelt in food products would lead to an 85% reduction of free Asn in raw material. Within species, cultivars differed in their levels of free Asn by up to 67% for wheat, 55% for spelt and 33% for rye. Year also had a significant impact as almost all samples were significantly higher in their level of free Asn in 2008 compared to 2006 and 2007. Rye was most significantly affected by year as the level of free Asn varied by up to 32% between years. In contrast, wheat and spelt were only affected minimally by year. A high heritability was found for wheat (0.79) and spelt (0.91) concerning locations in 2008, meaning that the level of free Asn is mainly determined by the genotype and less influenced by environmental conditions. In contrast, heritability was low for wheat (0.23) but high for spelt (0.71) and rye (0.67) regarding years. As for organically grown cereals the relation between free Asn and AA formation was never investigated before. Correlation of both parameters was calculated. There was also a close correlation between free Asn and AA. Across species and years, the amount of free Asn correlated with the AA content in heated flour with R² = 0.69***. Thus, free Asn can serve as an indicator for AA formation during processing. In conclusion, the level of free Asn can be highly influenced by proper selection of species and cultivars under organic growing conditions.

Microporous organic polymers (MOPs) are promising materials for gas sorption because of the intrinsic and permanent porosity, designable framework and low density. The introduction of nitrogen-rich building block in MOPs will greatly enhance the gas sorption capacity. Here, we report the synthesis of MOPs from the 2,4,6-tris(4-ethynylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine unit and aromatic azides linkers via click polymerization reaction. FTIR and solid state 13C CP-MAS NMR confirm the formation of the polymers. CMOP-1 and CMOP-2 exhibit microporous networks with BET surface area of 431 and 406 m2 g-1 and narrow pore size distribution under 1.2 nm. Gas sorption isotherms including CO2 and H2 were measured. CMOP-1 stores superior CO2 level of 8.2 wt% (1.88 mmol g-1) at 273 K/1.0 bar and H2 uptake up to 0.6 wt% at 77 K/1.0 bar, while CMOP-2 with smaller surface area shows lower CO2 adsorption capacity of 7.3 wt% (1.66 mmol g-1) and H2 uptake (0.5 wt%). In addition, I2 vapor adsorption was tested at 353 K. CMOP-1 shows higher gravimetric load of 160 wt%. Despite of the moderate surface area, the CMOPs display excellent sorption ability for CO2 and I2 due to the nitrogen-rich content in the polymers.

The stability of twenty seven composts and organic substrates (including raw, less stable and stable materials) was assessed using two different liquid phase tests were carried out. One of the tests was introduced in 1998 and was based on the calculation of a Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate (SOUR). The newly introduced liquid phase test presented here is simpler to set-up and to perform that the older liquid phase test. It is based on the quantification of oxygen consumption in the headspace of a BOD bottle that contains the liquid-solid solution. The results indicate that a marginal correlation does exist between the main indices calculated from both tests. The correlation was stronger for the indices calculated for stable-processed organics than for the raw (unprocessed materials). The SOUR ranged from 1520 to 3650mg O₂/kg VS-h for the raw materials and from 110 to 1150 mg O₂/kg VS-h for the processed materials, respectively. The corresponding stability rate related index (LSRI₂₄) of the new liquid phase test introduced here ranged from 240 to 1180 mg O₂/dry kg-h for the raw materials and from 64 to 792 mg O₂/dry kg-h for the processed ones.

The optical conductivity in the charge order phase is calculated in the extended Hubbard model describing an organic Dirac electron system α-(BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ using the mean field theory and the Nakano-Kubo formula. A peak structure due to interband excitation being characteristic in two-dimensional Dirac electron system is found above the charge order gap. It is shown that the peak structure originates from the Van Hove singularities of the conduction and valence bands, where those singularities are located at a saddle point between two Dirac cones in momentum space. The frequency of the peak structure exhibits drastic change in the vicinity of the charge order transition.

The present study describes the activities performed to test a new method for measuring the mobility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the solid phase of sediments within the context of environmental pollution risk assessment. The method is based on the design of a new configuration (new materials) of the commercial passive sampler Chemcatcher as probe for predicting the bioavailability of persistent organic pollutants in marine sediments (or in water saturated soils).

The discharge of industrial effluents containing toxic heavy metals in water sources has serious consequences for human health and the environment, and biosorption appears to be an environmental-friendly and cost-effective alternative that can be used for wastewater treatment. The use of different types of agricultural waste as biosorbents for the removal of toxic heavy metals, although an alternative, is quite difficult to apply in practice because these wastes have many other uses. Based on these considerations, in this study, soybean biomass (SB), soybean waste biomass obtained from oil extraction (SBW) and biochar obtained from soybean waste pyrolysis (BC-SBW) were testes as biosorbents form the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions, in batch systems. Under optimal conditions (pH = 5.4, 4.0 g biosorbent/L, room temperature (25 ± 1 C), contact time = 180 min), the biosorption capacity increase in the order: SB < SBW < BC-SBW for both metal ions (Pb(II) ions (69.43 mg/g < 99.81 mg/g < 116.83 mg/g) and Cd(II) ions (25.63 mg/g < 36.12 mg/g < 49.10 mg/g)), indicating that BC-SBW has the highest efficiency in removing toxic heavy metals. In addition, experiments on wastewater samples have shown that, in addition to significant reducing the content of heavy metals, BC-SBW also significant improved other quality indicators (such as: pH, TSM, CCO-Cr, CBO5), compared to the other biosorbents (SB and SBW). Quantitative evaluation of the biosorptive performance of each biosorbent (SB, SBW and BC-SBW) shows that BC-SBW has a real chance of being used on an industrial scale for wastewater treatment. All these aspects allowed the development of a circular approach for the use of soybean biomass in the removal processes of toxic heavy metals. This approach minimizes the shortcomings of using biomass as a biosorbent and increase the chance of using these materials in industrial practice.

Titanium-based Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) manufactured by additive manufacturing offer tremendous lightweighting opportunities. However, processing the high reinforcement contents needed to substantially improve elastic modulus while conserving significant ductility remains a challenge. Ti-TiC MMCs fabricated in this study report fracture strains in tension up to 1.7% for a Young’s modulus of 149 GPa. This fracture strain is 30% higher than previously reported values for Ti-based MMCs produced by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) displaying similar Young’s moduli. The heat treatment used after the LPBF process leads to the doubling of the fracture strain due to the conversion of TiCx dendrites into equiaxed TiCx grains. As-built microstructure shows both un-dissolved TiC particles and sub-stoichiometric TiC dendrites resulting from a partial dissolution of TiC particles. Reduction of the C/Ti ratio in TiC during the process results in an increase in the reinforcement content, from a nominal 12 vol% to an effective 21.5 vol%. The variation of the TiC lattice constant with its stoichiometry is measured, and an empirical expression is proposed for its effect on TiC’s Young’s modulus. The lower TiC initial powder size distribution displayed the best mechanical performance.

We investigated theoretically the electron-surface optical phonon interaction across the long-range Fröhlich coupling in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides such as WS2, WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2 monolayers on SiC and hexagonal BN dielectric substrates. We employed the effective Hamiltonian in the 〖K_(+ ) (K〗_-) valley of the hexagonal Brillouin zone, to assess electronic energy shifts induced by the interaction between electronic states and surface polar optical phonons. Our results indicate that the interaction between electron and surface optical phonon depends upon the polar nature of the substrate. We have also calculated the polaronic oscillator strength as well as the polaronic scattering rate of the lower polaron state in monolayer WS2, WSe2, MoS2, and MoSe2 on SiC and hexagonal BN dielectric substrates. As a result, we have proved theoretically; firstly, the enhancement of polaronic scattering rate with temperature, and secondly, the notable influence of the careful selection of surrounding dielectrics on both Polaronic oscillator strength and polaronic scattering rate. Thus, the optimal dielectrics would be those exhibiting both elevated optical phonon energy and a high static dielectric constant.

To enhance the corrosion resistance of molybdenum metal in molten zinc, this study successfully fabricated TiB2 coatings on molybdenum substrates using the molten salt electrophoretic deposition technique and investigated their corrosion resistance in molten zinc. Initially, TiB2 nanoparticles with a size ranging from 50 to 150 nm were synthesized using the borothermal reduction method in NaF-AlF3 molten salts at 1238 K. Subsequently, electrophoretic deposition experiment was conducted by applying a cell voltage of 1.2 V (corresponding to an electric field of 0.6V/cm) for 1 h in the molten salts containing TiB2 nanoparticles, resulting in a uniform, continuous, and dense TiB2 coating with a thickness of 35 μm on the molybdenum substrate. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of the TiB2 coated molybdenum metal to molten zinc was tested through continuous immersion. After 120 h of immersion, the TiB2 coating showed no signs of cracking or peeling off, successfully protecting the molybdenum metal substrate from corrosion by molten zinc. The results confirm that the molten salt electrophoretic deposition technique can be used to prepare TiB2 coatings with good resistance to molten zinc corrosion on molybdenum metal.

The research paper investigates the synthesis of metal matrix composites (MMCs) through the amalgamation of aluminum and silicon carbide particles, employing a two-step mixing methodology called the stir casting method. Metal matrix composites are materials that enhance the capabilities of a metallic matrix by incorporating another material. This leads to better characteristics such as tensile and shear moduli, fatigue and fracture properties, thermal expansion coefficient, and more. Aluminum-matrix composites are a class of materials that possess distinct characteristics that may be modified by altering factors such as the type of reinforcing material, the amount of reinforcement, and the fabrication technique employed to produce the composite. The concept aims to combine the desirable properties of metals and ceramics by incorporating durable refractory particles into a malleable metal structure. The fabrication process employs the stir casting technique, where reinforcing phases are mechanically stirred into a molten matrix to create cast composites with reinforcement volume percentages of up to 30%. The study utilizes Response Surface Methodology to enhance the mechanical properties of the composites through the optimization of manufacturing parameters, including stirring temperature, time, and speed. The study entails analyzing the correlation between different casting conditions and the resulting changes in hardness and tensile strength.

Heavy metal pollution poses a significant threat to global populations, particularly impacting human health. Developing countries, characterized by chemical engineering and mining industrial activities, often contribute to diverse heavy metal contaminants. Consumption of water contaminated with heavy metals, prevalent in such regions, can lead to severe health risks, including gastric cancer. Addressing the urgent issue of heavy metal pollution, this paper employs a bibliographic approach to explore the latest literature on heavy metal pollution. The study discusses recent research findings and potential methods for the treatment and mitigation of heavy metal pollution, emphasizing the pressing need for effective solutions to safeguard public health.

Along time, many minted coins were withdrawn from circulation, being replaced with new ones. The returned obsolete metal coins were melted in order to sustainable reuse of the alloy for other purpose. Between the withdrawing and melting, some of the metal coins were cancelled by destruction of the original shape and dimension, using some adequate tools. In the first part, the paper is focused to present some aspects insight of the cancelling method used on the Romanian old nickel coins; also, there are presented some examples. The introductive part also includes the literature review in the field of coin manufacturing, covering the subjects as metal behavior under the striking load, aspects about the 3D modeling and FEM analysis or explaining some striking errors. Result the paper main purpose, to study the particularities of one or another cancelling method applied on subjected coins, which conducted to more or less valuable collection metal pieces. In the paper second part, is introduced the adequate 3D model, computed for the cancelling dies, respectively the coin. Then, there are introduced the assembled models, corresponding to each cancelling case, which consist by the obverse and reverse cancelling dies, having the coin inside them. For the each model, the finite element analysis is realized and is achieved for different initial conditions. The final part of the paper presents the analysis results and also the discussions and conclusions.

This work compares the multi-element analysis of human hair and nails using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with an easy, fast, cheap, non-destructive method using energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDX-RF). The ICP-MS-based method was more sensitive (over 30 elements could be quantified) and costly (requiring more time, sample, and chemicals). The EDX-based method required laboratory and certified reference materials made of hair for instrument calibration. It was less sensitive (16 elements could be quantified: S, Si, Ca, Br, Fe, Cu, Cr, Mg, Si, K, Mn, Ni, Zn, Se, Sr, Pb), but it allowed to replace troublesome grinding with the dissolution of keratin-based material with alkalic agent (tetramethylammonium hydroxide, TMAH) and formation of stable for days pellets. The method is simple, enables automation, and, due to the modification of wells in the autosampler of the EDX system by immersion of home-designed inserts, it requires smaller amounts of biological material and binder (down to 70 mg instead of 500 mg required by commercially available instrument) to perform analysis. It was concluded that the EDX-based method offers complementary selectivity and sensitivity to ICP-MS with the possibility of the reuse of the sample for further analysis.

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) poses a common and challenging clinical scenario, characterized by mechanical blockage in the pylorus, distal stomach, or duodenum, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and early satiety. Its diverse etiology encompasses both benign and malignant disorders. The spectrum of current treatment modalities extends from conservative approaches to more invasive interventions, incorporating procedures like surgical gastroenterostomy (SGE), self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) placement, and the advanced technique of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE). While surgery is favored for longer life expectancy, stents are preferred in malignant gastric outlet stenosis. The novel EUS-GE technique, employing a lumen-apposing self-expandable metal stent (LAMS), combines the immediate efficacy of stents with the enduring benefits of gastroenterostomy. Despite its promising outcomes, EUS-GE is a technically demanding procedure requiring specialized expertise and facilities.

In this study, robust composite solid electrolytes were developed and employed them to enhance the performance of Li-metal batteries significantly. The robust composite solid electrolytes are composed of a soft polymer, poly(ethylene oxide), a Li salt, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and super ionic conductive ceramic fillers such as Li1.5Al0.5Ti1.5(PO4)3 (LATP), and Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO). The main goal of this study is to enhance the electrochemical stability and ionic conductivity. The ionic conductivities of the composite solid electrolytes were found to be 2.08 × 10-4 and 1.64 × 10-4 S cm-1 with the introduction of LATP and LLZTO fillers, respectively. The results prove that the fabricated solid electrolyte was electrochemical stable at voltage exceeding 4.25 V vs. Li/Li+. The internal resistance of the solid electrolyte significantly reduced as compare to gel electrolyte. This reduction can be attributed owing to the alleviation of bulk electrolyte, charge-transfer, and interfacial electrolyte/electrode impedance. When LiFePO4 cathode sheets are coated with a composite solid electrolyte containing LATP powders, the resulting Li-metal battery displays high capacity at 5 C (with a capacity retention of 65.2% compared to the original capacity at 0.2 C) as well as superior cyclic stability and excellent Coulombic efficiency (&gt; 99.5%, over 200 cycles). These results confirm that the composite solid electrolyte acts as a protective layer which have ability to prevent the growth of Li dendrites. Consequently, the fabricated electrolyte configuration can be engineered to enable high energy/power density and electrochemical stable cyclability in Li-metal batteries.

Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) predominantly consists of compounds comprising elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, sodium, and others. Additionally, it encompasses a complex mixture of heavy metals, chlorides, sulfates, organic pollutants, and other constituents. The effective and economically viable treatment of MSWI FA poses a formidable challenge for the current stage of resource cycling. In this research report, we will adopt a novel low-temperature sintering method called "Cold Sintering Process" (CSP) as a means to immobilize heavy metals within the fly ash. By utilizing a Taguchi orthogonal array, we will adjust five control factors in the CSP, including sintering temperature, uniaxial pressure, sintering time, initial water addition, and sodium carbonate dosage. The leaching of cadmium element from the fly ash, as measured by TCLP, will serve as the quality indicator. Through the application of CSP, the MSWI FA will be transformed into structurally stable ceramic blocks, effectively immobilizing the heavy metals within the blocks. The results of the experiments showed that MSWI FA under the conditions of a temperature of 300℃, uniaxial pressure of 312 MPa, sintering time in 60 minutes, 25 wt% water addition, and 9 wt% Na2CO3 addition could effectively reduce the leaching of cadmium by 77.71%, lead by 21.14%, zinc by 42.37%, and chromium by 99.99%, as compared to the original MSWI FA TCLP results.

Reductive amination is a powerful tool in sustainable organic synthesis that allows chemists to access a wide range of valuable amine products using renewable feedstocks, mild reaction con-ditions, and with minimal waste generation. Practical applications can be found in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, contributing to greener and more sustainable chemical processes. In this work we present a heterogeneous (Rh and Pt) catalysed protocol for the fast and efficient synthesis of ractopamine hydrochloride (-adrenergic drug) under MW-assisted reductive ami-nation protocol starting from raspberry ketone and octapamine. Microwave (MW) successfully accelerated the hydrogenation reaction and reduced the reaction time from 13 hours to only 3 hours under mild conditions (50°C at 10 bar). The best catalysts were Pt/C and Rh/C, which led to high conversion and selectivity towards ractopamine:HCl. The solvent has a significant effect on the reaction outcome. The replacement of methanol with other solvents had a negative impact on the reaction yield. We also replaced the raspberry ketone with other ketone substrates, especially cyclohexanone. These preliminary experiments may be useful for further process improvements in the synthesis of β-adrenergic agonists and related structures.

A new Pd(II) complex of the previously reported ligand N,N′-bis[(2,2′-dihydroxybiphen-3-yl)methyl]-N,N′-dimethylethylenediamine (L) was obtained from a DMF/H2O mixture. It differs from a Pd(II) complex of L previously obtained by sole DMF. The roles in the solid state assembly of solvent molecules and molecular conformation (driven by specific transition metal ions) were studied by comparing six complexes of L containing different metal centers (Ni(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Pd(II)). Hirshfeld surface analysis, 2D fingerprint plots and energy frameworks calculations were used to investigate the intermolecular interactions within the crystal packing of the six complexes. As suggested by interaction energies, Pd(II) and Ni(II) complexes arrange to form ribbons, while Cd(II) and Cu(II) complexes form 3D networks. Interactions between complexes and solvent molecules in the previous Pd(II) complex are replaced by complex-complex interactions in the new Pd(II) complex, while BuOH and MeOH are interchangeable in the interactions within the crystal packing of the two Ni(II) complexes. Finally, solvent molecules are not involved in the crystal packing of the Cu(II) complex. The present study suggested that the solid state assembly of these systems is mainly driven by the molecular conformation, that depends in turn by the metal ion involved, while the solvent only plays a minor role.

This paper presents a novel approach of welding thick steel plates that offers time and energy savings compared with conventional techniques. The combination of gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and hot-wire technology simplifies the joint configuration and enhances the process tolerance. In this study, a square butt joint was prepared with as-cut edges and a thickness of 15 mm. The relationship between the welding current and the deposition rate of solo GMAW showed limitations and low process tolerance. Increasing the welding current led to a larger deposited volume with unnecessary weld penetration. An independent deposition volume due to hot-wire insertion was used to improve process tolerance. This approach provided an additional volume without increasing the welding current and reduced unnecessary penetration. With optimized parameters, full-penetration single-pass welding was achieved. Compared with the formation of a typical single-v butt joint at a similar welding speed of 30 cm/min, the proposed process reduced the minimum arc time and power consumption by approximately 83% and 62%, respectively. Moreover, a single pass at a travel speed of 60 cm/min was achieved with approximately 91% and 81% less arc time and power consumption, respectively. In summary, the combined process simplifies the joint configuration, enables full-penetration single-pass welding, and reduces time and energy requirements.

The global context of research for new sustainable energy storage technologies makes it a very active sector with significant scientific and economic challenges. Indeed, due to the irregular development of renewable energies and the shutdown of traditional power facilities, it is difficult to maintain a stable balance in terms of supply and demand: energy storage can help in particular for substantial changes in the latter. Metal air batteries have a higher energy density and are safer than other available energy storage devices. Based on the existing and proven lead-acid battery technology, this paper proposed an open cell foam manufactured by the Excess Salt Replication process for use as an anode for lead-air battery cellsies with sulphuric acid as the electrolyte. This will save lead and reduce the battery weight. A 25% antimonial lead alloy was used to produce open cell foams with a cell diameter between 2 mm and 5 mm for the antimonial lead-air battery. Preliminary results of the effective electrical conductivity of self-discharged primary battery cells, measured experimentally, showed that all antimonial lead foam-air battery cellsies performed better than that made from the same dense non porous antimonial lead alloy. This is generally due to their important specific surface area where oxidation-reduction reactions took place. A correlation between the effective electrical conductivity and the cell diameter has been established and the highest conductivity was obtained with a cell diameter of 5mm. The feasibility of such an electrical system has been demonstrated.

Gold-centered carbene-metal-amides (CMAs) containing cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) are promising emitters for thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). Aiming at design and optimization of new TADF emitters, we report a density functional theory study of over 60 CMAs with various CAAC ligands, systematically evaluating computed parameters in relation to photoluminescence properties. We demonstrate that the efficiency of TADF of CMAs, arising from a compromise of exchange energy and oscillator strength, is governed by the overlap of HOMO and LUMO orbitals, where HOMO is localized on amide and LUMO on Au-carbene. The S0 ground states and excited T1 states of the CMAs adopt approximately coplanar geometries of carbenes and amides, but rotate perpendicular in the excited S1 states, resulting in degeneracy or near-degeneracy of S1 and T1, accompanied with lowering of the S1-S0 oscillator strength from its maximum at coplanar geometries to near zero at rotated geometries. Based on computations, promising new TADF emitters are proposed and synthesized. Bright CMA complex (Et2CAAC)Au(carbazolide) is obtained and fully characterized to demonstrate that high radiative rates up to 106 s-1 can be obtained for the gold-CMA complexes with small CAAC-carbene ligands.

A formula for the turbulent Prandtl number is derived in terms of local variables available from two-equations turbulence models. The derivation is a direct consequence of the expected square additivity of the molecular and turbulent parameters defining the effective viscosity and the effective conductivity. The formula does not degenerate and leads to a Kays like formulation if approximated. Its utility and its limitation are discussed.

Heavy metal contaminants have serious consequences for the environment and human health. Consequently, effective methods for detecting their presence, particularly in water and food, are urgently required. Accordingly, the present study proposes a sensor for the detection of mercury Hg(II) and lead Pb(II) ions using graphene oxide (GO) as a quenching agent and aptamer solu-tion as a reagent. In the proposed device, the aptamer sequences are labeled by FAM and HEX fluorescent dyes, respectively, and are mixed with 500 ppm GO solution in a microfluidic device. The presence of Hg(II) and Pb(II) ions is then detected by measuring the change in the fluores-cence intensity of the GO/aptamer suspension as the aptamer molecules undergo fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The experimental results show that the aptamer sensors have a linear range of 10~250 nM (i.e., 2.0~50 ppb) for Hg(II) ions and 10~100 nM (i.e., 2.1~20.7 ppb) for Pb(II) ions. Furthermore, the limit of detection is around 2 ppb for both metals, which is signifi-cantly lower than the maximum limits of 6 ppb and 10 ppb prescribed by the World Health Or-ganization (WHO) for Hg(II) and Pb(II) in drinking water, respectively.

The outdoor sculpture of the first Portuguese king, D. Afonso Henriques (~1109 – 1185 AD), placed in Guimarães (North Portugal) is one of the most emblematic national sculptures. Created in 1887 by António Soares dos Reis, it possesses a remarkable symbolic value in the presumed birthplace of the king. In addition to the artistic and heritage importance of the monument, it is one of the few sculptures cast by a Portuguese industrial foundry in the 19th-century. This study obtained data on the sculpture's elemental composition and corrosion products, gathering important historical and technical information. For this purpose, a multi-analytical approach consisting of X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) was carried out to characterise the bulk metal and corrosion layers. The data revealed a ternary alloy of Cu, Sn, Zn with Pb, Fe, As, Bi and Mn as minor elements. The alloy matches that of other sculptures cast in that period. In terms of corrosion, it is characterised by the presence of oxides. These results represent the first step for applying an appropriate conservation strategy for bronze sculptures with similar characteristics.

The energy crisis and environmental problems are becoming more and more severe due to the long-term consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore, energy conversion devices with high energy density and environmental friendliness (such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, etc.) have been ex-pected to be reliable alternatives to traditional fossil energy. However, due to the inevitable use of precious metals as the electrode catalysts for these devices, the popularization of these alternatives is seriously hindered. Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) exhibit similar surface and adsorption properties to noble metals since the atomic distance between metal atoms increases and the d-band center of metal atoms downshift after the nitrogen atoms enter the metal lattice. TMNs have become one of the best electrode materials to replace noble metal electrocatalysts in energy storage and conversion devices. In this review, the latest development in the electrocatalytic ap-plication of TMNs nanocrystalline is covered. Firstly, we briefly discuss the structure and activity origin of TMNs and introduce the common physical and chemical methods for the preparation of TMNs. Subsequently, we illustrate the applications of unary TMNs and multivariate TMNs in oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Finally, we summarize the challenges and problems of TMNs encountered at the present stage, and expect its future de-velopment.

FeIFeI Fe2(S2C3H6)(CO)6(µ-CO) (1a-CO) and its FeIFeII cationic species (2a+-CO) are the simplest model of the CO-inhibited [FeFe] hydrogenase active site, which is known to undergo CO photolysis within a temperature- dependent process whose products and mechanism are still a matter of debate. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TDDFT) computations, the ground state and low-lying excited state potential energy surfaces (PESs) of 1a-CO and 2a+-CO have been explored aimed at elucidating the dynamics of the CO photolysis yielding Fe2(S2C3H6)(CO)6 (1a) and Fe2(S2C3H6)(CO)6+ (2a+), two simple models of the catalytic site of the enzyme. Two main results came out from these investigations. First, a-CO and 2a+-CO are both bound with respect to any CO dissociation with lowest free energy barriers around 10 kcal mol-1, suggesting that at least 2a+-CO might be synthetized. Second, focusing on the cationic form, we found at least two clear excited state channels along the PESs of 2a+-CO that are unbound with respect to equatorial CO dissociation.

In this work, effects of 20 transition element additives on the interfacial adhesion energy and electronic structure of Al (111)/6H-SiC (0001) interfaces have been studied by first principles method. For clean Al (111)/6H–SiC (0001) interfaces, both Si-terminated and C-terminated interfaces have covalent bond characteristics. The C-terminated interface has stronger binding energy, which is mainly due to the stronger covalent bond formed by the larger charge transfer between C and Al. The results show that the introduction of many transition elements, such as 3d transitional group Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and 4d transitional group Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, can improve the interfacial adhesion energy of the Si-terminated Al (111)/6H-SiC (0001) interface. However, for the C-terminated Al (111)/6H-SiC (0001) interface, only the addition of Co element can improve the interfacial adhesion energy. Bader charge analysis shows that the increase of interfacial binding energy is mainly attributed to more charge transfer.

The use of cow bones for biomaterial is still limited; accordingly, the cow bones waste has low economic value. Basically, a human’s and a cow’s bones are the same in terms of their forming compound. Aluminum (Al) has the potential to combine with hydroxyapatite (HAp) to make metal matrix composites (MMC) that have the potential for biomaterials. Compatible elements to be combined with Al and HAp are magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), and Copper (Cu), used self-high propagating temperatures synthesis (SHS). MMC can be processed to be a useful, solid product. Applying pressure to the SHS reaction and heating process may result in biomaterial composite product consisting of some matrix materials such as Al come from cans materials used in the experiment was HAp that was processed from cow bones calcination, added by can that contained aluminum and wetting agent, namely magnesium. The exothermic temperature was 800-900°C. The compaction process was done to allow materials to be bound. Based on the ASTM F138 standard for element of biomaterials, the porosity value was below 30% and hardness level above 40 HV. Cow bones and can-based composite sample with the composition of HAp-Al-Mg: 85%-10%-5% met the standard since the hardness value was: 73.3 HV with a porosity value of 29.88%.

Liquid metal alloy, incorporated with microfluidic manipulation, has become a promising candidate for flexible resistive sensor array (RSA) that can imitate the functions of human skin. One advantage of RSA with shared rows and shared columns is to reduce the number of wires from M × N to M + N (rows: M and columns: N) and hence to greatly lessen the complexity and burden on the electrical system. The associated drawback is the crosstalk effect between adjacent elements during measurement. Although many literatures have reported several methods to resolve this limitation, almost all of them focus only on the high resistance value (≥100 Ω) RSA. There is a lack of detailed experimental data that addresses low resistance RSA with sensing elements below 100 Ω. Here, we aim to fill the gap of this field. We established two common RSA readout systems, i.e. zero potential methods (ZPM) (setting non-scanned-sampling-electrode zero potential (S-NSSE-ZP) and setting non-scanned-sampling-electrode zero potential with amplifier (S-NSSE-ZP-A)) and to compare their performances in low resistance value (≤100 Ω) RSA. For ideal resistor RSA, the measurement results show that S-NSSE-ZP has at least one time higher error than S-NSSE-ZP-A.

Efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts are highly desired in the field of water electrolysis and rechargeable metal-air batteries. In this study, a chelate polymer, composed of copper (II) and dithiooxamide, was used to derive an efficient catalytic system for OER. Upon potential sweep in 1M KOH, copper (II) centers of the chelate polymer were transformed to CuO and Cu(OH)2. The carbon-dispersed CuO nanostructures formed a nanocomposite which exhibits an enhanced catalytic activity for OER in alkaline media. The nanocomposite catalyst has overpotential of 280 mV (at 1 mA/cm2) and a Tafel slope of 81 mV/dec in 1M KOH solution. It has a seven-fold higher current than IrO2/C electrode, per metal loading. A catalytic cycle is proposed, in which, CuO undergoes electrooxidation to Cu2O3 that further decomposes to CuO with releasing oxygen. This work reveals a new method to produce an active nanocomposite catalyst for OER in alkaline media using a non-noble metal chelate polymer and a porous carbon. This method can be applied to the synthesis of transition metal oxide nanoparticles used in the preparation of composite electrodes for water electrolyzers and can be used to derive cathode materials for aqueous-type metal-air batteries.

Abstract: Metal-air batteries provide a most promising battery technology given their outstanding potential energy densities, which are desirable for both stationary and mobile applications in a ‘beyond lithium-ion’ battery market. Silicon- and iron-air batteries underwent less research and development compared to lithium- and zinc-air batteries. Nevertheless, in the recent past, the two also-ran battery systems made considerable progress and attracted rising research interest due to the excellent resource-efficiency of silicon and iron. Silicon and iron are among the top five of the most abundant elements in the earth’s crust, which ensures almost infinite material supply of the anode materials, even for large scale applications. Furthermore, primary silicon-air batteries are set to provide one of the highest energy densities among all batteries, while iron-air batteries are frequently considered as a highly rechargeable system with decent performance characteristics. Considering fundamental aspects for the anode materials, i.e., the metal electrodes, in this review, we will first outline the challenges, which explicitly apply to silicon- and iron-air batteries and prevented them from a broad implementation so far. Afterwards, we provide an extensive literature survey regarding state-of-the-art experimental approaches, which are set to resolve the aforementioned challenges and might enable the introduction of silicon- and iron-air batteries into the battery market in the future.

This study examines whether gas is emitted from the materials used in the fabrication of metal vacuum panels or not and if emitted, their degree as time goes by. As experimental materials, metal sheets, foamed concrete as a core material, and polymer materials as a sealing material between metal sheets were selected. Experiments on the type and the degree of bending of metal materials showed that aluminum’s vacuum reaching time of 0.001 torr was at least 40 sec to 90 sec in its flat plate, but its vacuum reaching time increased from 3 times to 4.5 times in case of 90 ° and 135 ° bending state. For this reason, it is judged that stainless steel or steel material is suitable because aluminum is inadequate in terms of processability at the time of fabricating the metal vacuum panel. Also, vacuum arrival times and weight changes with increasing foam content of inorganic foamed concrete increased from 22,000 sec to 42,000 sec with increasing foaming rate and also, the weight change increased from 1.7% to 8%. Also, the experimental results on the type of honeycomb materials, the PE (polyethylene) with a vacuum reaching time of 30,000 sec and with a weight change of 0.5% and the PTFE (Poly-tetrafluoro ethylene) with a vacuum reaching time of 29,000 sec and with a weight change of 2.2% showed the optimum value.

We describe the direct formation of mixed-phase (1T and 2H) MoS2 layers on Si as a photocathode via atomic layer deposition (ALD) for application in the photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of water to hydrogen. Without typical series-metal interfaces between Si and MoS2, our p-Si/SiOx/MoS2 photocathode showed efficient and stable operation in hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs). The resulting performance could be explained by spatially genuine device architectures in three dimensions (that is, laterally homo and vertically heterojunction structures). The ALD-grown MoS2 overlayer with the mixed-phase 1T and 2H homojunction passivates light absorber and surface states and functions as a monolithic structure for effective charge transport within MoS2. It is also beneficial in the operation of p-i-n heterojunctions with inhomogeneous barrier heights due to the presence of mixed-phase cocatalysts. The effective barrier heights reached up to 0.8 eV with optimized MoS2 thicknesses, leading to a 670 mV photovoltage enhancement without employing buried Si p-n junctions. The fast-transient behaviors via light illumination show that the mixed-phase layered chalcogenides can serve as efficient cocatalysts by depinning the Fermi levels at the interfaces. A long-term operation of ~ 70 h was also demonstrated in a 0.5 M H2SO4 solution.

The distribution of noble metal nanoparticles in hydrogels are influencing their nanoplasmonic response and signal used for biosensor purposes. By controlling the particle distribution, it is possible to obtain new nanoplasmonic features with new sensing modalities. Particle distributions can be characterized by using volume-imaging methods such as the focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) and the serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) techniques . Since the pore structure of hydrogels is contained by the water absorbed in the polymer network it may pose challenges for volume-imaging based on electron microscope techniques since the sample must be in a vacuum chamber. The structure of hydrogels can be conserved by choosing appropriate preparation methods, which also depends on the composition of the hydrogel used. In this paper, we have prepared low-weight percentage hydrogels, with and without gold nanorods (GNR) for conventional SEM imaging by using two different drying techniques; (1) the critical point drying (CPD) technique and (2) hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) drying of hydrogels. A qualitative characterization of the GNR-hydrogels was carried out to study the GNRs positioned in the polymer network. The effect of the two different drying methods on the hydrogel morphology were also compared. The use of HMDS as an alternative to the CPD has several advantages involving less parametrical variables for drying, involving less effort, being cost-effective, and requires no equipment use. In addition, choosing an optimized sample preparation method for SEM with optimized imaging parameters is highly important for obtaining accurate information about materials that is not correlated to artifacts. Hence, the results obtained from the preparation methods and SEM imaging parameters in this paper are useful for developing methods for mapping the metal particle distributions in micro-hydrogels by using FIB-SEM and SBFSEM techniques.

The efficiency of cold steel rolling depends mainly on the quality of the metal-working coolant (MWC) and its cost. In this connection, it is actual to search for new compositions of lubricants and emulsions, which provide the lowest values of the friction coefficients in deformation zone and are obtained by waste recycling in other industries. In this study we have developed new compositions of the MWC on basis of mono- and diglycerides and their esters of boric acid synthesized from the wastes of sunflower oil production. The new compositions of MWC were tested in DSEA on laboratory rolling mill 100x100 with a roll diameter of 100 mm. The efficiency of new MWC during cold rolling of brass L63 samples was determined by factor of metal stretch forming λ. We found the new metal-working coolants to show the most efficiency under higher cobbing that provides the highest metal stretch forming. The composition with 30 % of mono- and diglycerides is the most effective because it provides the minimum coefficient of friction that leads to increase of factor of metal stretch forming. Thereby the metal-working coolants on basis of mono- and diglycerides obtained from the wastes of sunflower oil production can be recommended for use in strip rolling of copper-zinc alloys because of a low cost, availability and high efficiency.

In this paper a perspective on the application of spatially- and Angle- Resolved PhotoEmission Spectroscopy (ARPES) for the study of two-dimensional (2D) materials is presented. ARPES allows the direct measurement of the electronic band structure of materials generating extremely useful insights into their electronic properties. The possibility to apply this technique to 2D materials is of paramount importance because these ultrathin layers are considered fundamental for future electronic, photonic and spintronic devices. In this review an overview of the technical aspects of spatially localized ARPES is given along with a description of the most advanced setups for laboratory and synchrotron-based equipment. This technique is sensitive to the lateral dimensions of the sample, therefore a discussion on the preparation methods of 2D material is presented. Some of the most interesting results obtained by ARPES are reported in three sections including: graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) and 2D heterostructures. Graphene has played a key role in ARPES studies because it inspired the use of this technique with other 2D materials. TMDCs are presented for their peculiar transport, optical and spin properties. Finally, the section featuring heterostructures highlights a future direction for research into 2D material structures.

Fiber-metal laminates (FMLs) such as Kevlar reinforced aluminum laminate (ARALL), Carbon reinforced aluminum laminate (CARALL), and Glass reinforced aluminum laminate (GLARE) offer great potential for weight reduction applications in automobile and aerospace construction. In order to investigate the feasibility for utilizing such materials in the form of laminates, sheet hydro-bulging tests are studied under the condition of uniform blank holder force for three-layered aluminum and aluminum-composite laminates using orthogonal carbon and Kevlar as well as glass fiber in the middle. The experimental results validate the finite element results and they exhibited that the forming limit of glass fiber in the middle is the highest among the studied materials, while carbon fiber material performs the worst. Furthermore, the crack modes are different for the three kinds of fiber materials investigated in the research. This study provides fundamental guidance for the selection of multi-layer sheet materials in the future manufacturing field.

Substituted bis(iminophosphoranyl)methanes are CH acidic compounds that can form complexes with formally dianionic central carbon centres. The reaction of H₂C(Ph₂P=NDip)₂ (≡ H₂L), Dip = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl, with one equivalent of di-n-butylmagnesium afforded the methanide complex [HLMgnBu] 1. Treatment of complex 1 with phenylsilane in aromatic solvents at elevated temperatures afforded the methanediide complex [(LMg)₂] 2 presumably via the MgH intermediate [(HLMgH)_n] (n = 1 or 2). The reaction of 1 with LiAlH₄ in diethyl ether yielded the AlH complex [HLAlH₂] 3. Alternatively, this complex was also obtained from the reaction of H₂L with AlH₃∙NMe₃. The molecular structures of [HLMgnBu] 1, [(LMg)₂] 2, and [HLAlH₂] 3 are reported. Complex 3 shows no sign of H₂ elimination to a methanediide species at elevated temperatures in contrast to the facile elimination of the putative reaction intermediate [(HLMgH)_n] (n = 1 or 2) to form [(LMg)₂] 2. The chemical properties of complex 2 were investigated and this complex appears to be stable against coordination with strong donor molecules.

The rising prevalence of food intolerances and increased health and environmental consciousness has driven demand for free-from (FF) and organic products. This study aims to analyze consumer needs, motivations, and challenges related to these products in Portugal through an online survey with 2268 eligible responses, with a participants’ median age of 41 years, predominantly women (76.9%). Results show that 97.4% of respondents are aware of FF products, with 60.0% being regular consumers, particularly of lactose-free milk and gluten-free bread and biscuits. Significant market gaps were identified in the variety of FF bread (62.8%), pastries (49.0%), and cookies (38.4%). Consumers identified high prices (84.9%) and excessive sugar/fat content (52.1%) as the main drawbacks of FF products currently on the market. Women showed greater knowledge and purchase levels compared to men. Trust in organic certification was low (21.4%), with skepticism higher among lower-income and male participants. Despite this, 78.1% believed in the health benefits of organic products, and 72.2% agreed that increased demand could lower prices. Overall, the study highlights the need for greater products’ variety, improved transparency, and consumer education to enhance market trust and accessibility.

Soil carbon (C) cycling under anoxic conditions is mechanistically linked to dissimilatory iron (Fe) reduction, which could be regulated by exogenous dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, the impact of complex exogenous DOM on soil microbial activity and C-Fe coupling in paddy soils remains underexplored. With a 100-day microcosm experiment, we determined that the molecular composition of DOM derived from organic fertilizers and biochar on paddy soil affects soil microbial community, Fe reduction, and C emissions. Our results indicated that biochar-DOM significantly promoted Fe reduction and accelerated CH₄ and CO₂ emissions, and organic manure-DOM increased soil CO₂ emissions, which was closely related to the molecular composition of exogenous DOM. DOM molecules with high aromaticity (AI_mod) and high DBE, including lignins-vascular plant-derived polyphenols, lignins-polycyclic aromatics (PA), and condensed aromatics-PA, promoted soil Fe reduction and CH₄ emissions by enriching soil Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB), reducing methanotrophs, and facilitating r-strategists at the early stage of incubation. Conversely, DOMs with low AI_mod, low DBE and high H/C, such as lignins-highly unsaturated and phenolic compounds and proteins-aliphatic compounds, enhanced CO₂ emissions by facilitating recalcitrant C degradation and CH₄ oxidation at the late stage of incubation. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of the molecular composition of DOMs derived from organic amendments in regulating soil Fe reduction and C emissions. The findings offer novel insights into the effective utilization of agricultural resources and the mitigation of soil C emissions.

Water quality control employs techniques mostly targeting individual analytes; group detection is also practiced, but the choice of group methods is limited, which supports interest in developing such methods. We have examined an interaction of hypochlorite with a chlorine-containing heptamethine carbocyanine dye in the presence of 30 organic and inorganic model analytes that were found to induce diverse color changes in the system. The main supposed mechanisms are retardation of the dye oxidation with hypochlorite (presumably by scavenging chlorine radicals) and substitution of chlorine atom in the dye by the most nucleophilic analytes (amines, amino acids, proteins, DNA, phenol). The grass-green substitution product is more contrastingly visible against the dark-purple hypochlorite oxidation product of the dye than against the original emerald-green dye. The indicator reaction is monitored photographically for 10–40 min and the images are processed using principal component analysis (PCA) or linear discriminant analysis (LDA), allowing for data convolution for the complex color transitions. Nitrogen compounds are discriminated from the others, and more reactive analytes (tryptophan, cysteine, bovine serum albumin, and DNA) are detected in the presence of less reactive ones in natural water. The system is promising for the development of group assays for dissolved organic matter and discrimination of water samples.

This work aims to investigate the effect of process temperature and catalyst content by thermochemical degradation of municipal solid waste (MSW) fraction (organic matter + paper + plastic) on the yield of reaction products (bio-oil, biochar, H2O and gas), physi-cochemical properties and chemical composition of bio-oils, as well as on the morphol-ogy and crystalline phases of biochar in laboratory scale. The organic matter, paper and plastic segregated from the gravimetric composition of total waste sample were subject-ed to the pre-treatments of drying, crushing and sieving. Thermal pyrolysis was per-formed at 400, 450 and 475 °C and 1.0 atmosphere, and catalytic pyrolysis at 450°C and 1.0 atmosphere, using 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0% (wt.) of FCC zeolite, bath mode, using a laboratory-scale borosilicate glass reactor. The bio-oil was characterized for acidic val-ue. The chemical functions present in the bio-oil identified by FT-IR and the composi-tion by GC-MS. Biochar was characterized by SEM/EDS and XRD. Thermal pyrolysis of the MSW fraction shows bio-oil yields between 9.44 and 9.24% (wt), aqueous phase yields between 21.93 and 18.78% (wt), solid phase yields between 67.97 and 40.34% (wt) and gas yields between 28.27 and 5.92% (wt). The bio-oil yield decreased with in-creasing process temperature. For the experiments using FCC, the biochar and gas yields slightly increased with increasing FCC content, while that of bio-oil decreased and the H2O phase remained constant. GC-MS of bio-oils identified the presence of hy-drocarbons and oxygenates, as well as nitrogen-containing compounds including am-ides and amines. The acidity of the bio-oil increased with increasing temperature and with the aid of FCC as a catalyst. The presence of hydrocarbons in bio-oil was identified by the addition of FCC catalyst due to the deoxygenation of carboxylic acids, followed by decarboxylation and decarbonylation reactions, producing aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Gaseous air pollutants emitted from anthropogenic sources are diverse and form secondary products through photochemical reactions, complicating the regulatory analysis of anthropogenic emissions in the atmosphere. Here, we used an environmental chassis dynamometer and a photochemical smog chamber to conduct a parameter sensitivity experiment to investigate the formation of secondary products from a direct-injection gasoline passenger car. To simulate the mitigation of ammonia (NH3) emissions from gasoline vehicle exhausts assuming future emission controls and to allow photochemical oxidation and aging of the vehicle exhaust, NH3 was selectively removed by a series of five denuders installed between the vehicle and the photochemical smog chamber. Overall, there were no differences in the formation of secondary organic aerosols and ozone with or without NH3 mitigation. However, the secondary particle formation potential of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) was significantly reduced with NH3 mitigation. In addition, NH3 mitigation resulted in increased particle phase acidity due to HNO3 in the gas phase not being neutralized by NH3 and condensing onto the liquid particle phase, indicating a potentially important secondary effect associated with NH3 mitigation. The present study provides new insights into the effects of NH3 mitigation on secondary emissions from gasoline vehicle exhaust and the experimental approach.

The efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) is influenced by various factors, among which environmental temperature plays a significant role. Previous studies have shown that the thermal stability of these cells can be enhanced by incorporating a third component into their structure. Ternary organic solar cells, in particular, have shown promising results in improving thermal stability. A well-designed electron transport layer (ETL) can significantly bolster thermal stability by facilitating efficient charge transport and reducing charge recombination. In this study, we investigated the effect of temperature on the efficiency of inverted ternary structures, ranging from 300 K to 400 K. The structures examined include FTO/SnO2/PM6:D18:L8-BO/PEDOT: PSS/Ag, FTO/Spiro-OMeTAD/PM6:D18:L8-BO/PEDOT: PSS/Ag, and FTO/PC60BM/PM6:D18:L8-BO/PEDOT: PSS/Ag. Through simulations employing three different electron transport layers—SnO2, Spiro-OMeTAD, and PC60BM—we observed that at 340 K (65°C) these structures maintained 92% of their original high efficiency of ~20% at 300 K, which represents a high level of thermal stability under the high PCE condition.

Our research assesses the effects of four forest species, namely Swietenia macrophylla King, Swietenia mahogany (L.) Jack., Pinus occidentalis Swartz, and Pinus caribaea Morelet var. Caribaea, on organic carbon (OC) dynamics and carbon dioxide equivalent balance (BCO2 Eq.) in the soils beneath these species. Reforestation projects in the study region cover 1,200, 543, 770, and 1,152 hectares, with these four species, respectively, being the most relevant species in reforestation projects within the country. To determine the BCO2 Eq. per unit area, we compared the greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) with the OC reserves found in the mineral soil to a depth of 30 cm and in the forest litter. For 18 months, we conducted field measurements in sixteen stands, four for each species. Our results indicate that S. macrophylla absorbed the highest amount of CO2, while S. mahogany released the highest amount into the atmosphere. BCO2 Eq. from S. macrophylla soils was -23.19 metric tons of CO2 Eq. ha-1 year-1, while for P. occidentalis, S. mahogany, and P. caribaea, the corresponding quantities were -3.838, -2.299, and +0.982, respectively. During the measurement period, soils under S. macrophylla, P. occidentalis, and P. caribaea were net sinks of CO2 Eq., while soils under S. mahogany behaved as a source. The absorption rate of CO2 Eq. from the atmosphere was approximately 6, 10, and 24 times higher in S. macrophylla when compared to the respective rates of P. occidentalis, P. caribaea, and S. mahagony.

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

Soil organic matter (SOM) is essential for nutrient cycling and soil carbon (C) accumu-lation, both of which are heavily influenced by the quality and quantity of plant litter. Since SOM dynamics in relation to plant diversity are poorly understood we investigated the effects of willow variety and mixture, and site on the soil C stocks, SOM chemical composition and ther-mal stability. Using pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry we analysed the top 10 cm of soil from two 7-year-old experimental sites in Germany and Sweden, with monocultures and mixtures of two willow varieties (Salix spp.) belonging to different species. Overall, site had the strongest effect on SOM quality. Results showed significant variability across sites for willow identity and mixture effects on C accumulation and SOM chemistry. In the German site (Ros-tock), yearly soil C accumulation was higher (p < 0.05) for variety ‘Loden’ (1.0 Mg C ha-1 year-1) compared to ‘Tora’ (0.5 Mg C ha-1 year-1), whilst in the Swedish site (Uppsala), both varieties ex-hibited similar soil C accumulation rates of around 0.6 Mg C ha-1 year-1. Willow variety identity significantly affected SOM quality at both sites, while mixing had minor effects. Our findings emphasize the significance of site-specific context and variety or species identity in shaping soil C accumulation in willow plantations.

The present work reports the effective method for removal of inorganic and organic pollutants using membranes based on different carbonaceous materials. The membranes were prepared based on cellulose acetate (18 wt. %), polyvinylpyrrolidone as a pore generating agent (2 wt. %) and activated carbon (1 wt.%). Activated carbons were developed from residues after extraction of mushroom Inonotus obliguus using microwave radiation. It has been shown that addition of activated carbon the physical (porosity, equilibrium water content and permeability) and chemical (content of the surface oxygen group) properties of the membranes. The addition of carbon material has a positive effect on the removal of copper ions from their aqueous solutions by the cellulose-carbon composites obtained. Moreover, the membranes were proved to be more effective in removal of copper ions than iron ones and phenol. The membranes were found to show higher effectiveness in copper removal from a solution of the initial concentration 800 mg/L. The most efficient in copper ions removal was the membrane containing urea-enriched activated carbon.

The chestnut tree (Castanea sativa Mill.) is gaining importance in the mountainous regions of southern Europe due to the high value of its fruits. It is essential to establish effective cultivation protocols, considering that this species is still relatively understudied. In this study, we present the outcomes of the initial establishment of a chestnut orchard conducted through a nutrient omission trial for four years. The treatments included a fertilization plan with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and boron (NPKB), the control, and four other treatments corresponding to the omission of each nutrient (-NPKB, N-PKB, NP-KB, NPK-B). The -NPKB and NP-KB treatments showed significantly lower trunk circumferences and canopy volumes compared to the other treatments. The NPK-B treatment resulted in the lowest fruit production, with a total accumulated yield (2020-2022) of 0.56 kg tree–1, a value significantly lower than that of NPKB (1.12 kg tree–1) and N-PKB (1.19 kg tree–1). The assessment of nutrient concentrations in the leaves revealed plants with deficient levels of B and K in treatments that did not receive these nutrients. Conversely, N levels in the leaves in the -NPKB treatment fell within the sufficiency range (20 to 28 g kg–1). This suggests that the sufficiency range should be adjusted to higher values, given the treatment's effect on tree growth. It was also observed that the -NPKB treatment led to lower soil organic matter compared to the other treatments, likely due to reduced herbaceous vegetation development under the canopy, leading to decreased organic substrate deposition in the soil. The main findings of this study are that N and K were crucial elements for the optimal growth of chestnut trees, while B played a significant role in fruit production.

Soil water content (SWC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) are two important factors to consider when revegetation in degraded land of arid and semiarid areas. Knowing the response of SWC and SOC to vegetation restoration as well as their coupling interaction is important for sustainability of vegetation restoration. In this study, three common plantations of the same recovery years were selected on China’s Loess Plateau, which included Pinus sylvestris, Pinus tabuliformis and Populus simonii, to evaluate the response of SWC and SOC to vegetation restoration as well as their interactions, and then revealed the influencing factors of SWC and SOC variations. Results showed that compared to the grassland, three plantations all exacerbated the deficit of deep soil water, but Populus simonii increased the SOC, while the rest all decreased the SOC. And tradeoff of Populus simonii had the lowest root mean squared error (RMSD). Therefore, Populus simonii was identified as representing a suitable revegetation technique for this region. There was strong interaction between SWC and SOC for shallow soil layers. Land use type (LUT) has an important effect on deep SOC variations, while SOC and soil texture for deep SWC variations. The results were helpful to the sustainable development of artificial forests in this region as well as other similar arid and semiarid areas.

To get more data concerning the influence of fertilizers (organic and mineral) on different forage plants existing in North-eastern Romanian grassland, the mass fractions of 14 essential, enzymatic, or considerd toxic elements was determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis together with the amount of crude proteins, ash, fibres as well as ether fact extract. Final results showed a significant variance of the content of analysed elements on organic as well as on mineral fertilized experimental plots, i.e. the content increased in 24% of plots, decreased in 23%, and remained unchanged in 45% while in 8% of plots their content was below the detection limits, as the case of Se. At the same time, an increase content of crude protein and ether extract was evidenced in fertilized grasses for all applied fertilizers while other global indicators such as neutral and acid fibre of sufuric lignin content decreased, suggesting significant higher nutritional values of fertilized forage plant.

Pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) as the third most widely used pesticides, following organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides, which are of significant importance in the analysis and detection of vegetables. However, the current pretreatment technology for PYRs confronts challenges of difficult separation and low enrichment efficiency, resulting in a cumbersome and time-consuming pretreatment process with poor selectivity. Here, a simple and efficient magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) strategy was developed to simultaneously purify and enrich five PYRs in vegetables, with the magnetic covalent organic framework nanomaterial COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 as an adsorbent. The COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was prepared by a simple solvothermal conditions method, using Fe3O4 as magnetic core, benzidine and 3,3,5,5-tetraaldehyde biphenyl as two building units. COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 could effectively capture the targeted PYRs by virtue of its abundant π-electron system and hydroxyl groups. The impact of various experimental parameters on extraction efficiency was investigated to optimize the MSPE conditions, including adsorbent amount, extraction time, elution solvent type and elution time. Subsequently, method validation was conducted under the optimal conditions in conjunction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Within the range of 5.00–100 μg·kg-1 (1.00–100 μg·kg-1 for bifenthrin and 2.5–100 μg·kg-1 for fenpropathrin), the five PYRs exhibited a strong linear relationship, with determination coefficients ranging from 0.9990 to 0.9997. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.3–1.5 μg·kg-1, and the limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.9–4.5 μg·kg-1. The recoveries were 80.2–116.7% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 7.0%. Finally, COF-SiO2@Fe3O4, NH2-SiO2@Fe3O4 and Fe3O4 were compared as MSPE adsorbents for PYRs. The results indicated that COF-SiO2@Fe3O4 was an efficient and rapid selective adsorbent for PYRs. This method holds promising prospects for the determination of PYRs in real samples.

The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a significant environmental threat, and an economic and social challenge to manage. As such, the efficient treatment of OFMSW is a significant key factor in achieving sustainable waste management. Decentralized Composting (DC) develops a new framework of waste management. The DC Analysis Model (DCAM), proposed in our previous study, provides a powerful tool for decision makers, based on the quantification of the DC project characteristics. In this paper, we focus on the qualitative analysis as a complementary tool to support decision making, in cases where quantitative analysis is unequivocal. The qualitative analysis identifies the main players in the field, the critical stakeholders and the potential conflicts between them. It also reveals the root problems and the core competencies for the project's implementation. DCAM qualitative analysis in Shefa-Amr (case study) indicates that unresolved root problems, such as the “lack of national regulation”, “clear ownership of the project” and “lack of ongoing budget” can result in an unsustainable composting system. Countering that, “the commitment of the municipality”, together with “economic viability” and securing “suitable areas for placing composters” are among the most important core competencies for the effective implementation of DC projects.

The overuse of chemical fertilisers degrades the soil ecosystem and restricts the natural development of plants. Within the coffee industry, various by-products are produced throughout the process of coffee production and consumption, which are significant in terms of environmental waste. SCG (spent coffee grounds) contain a variety of bioactive compounds that have demonstrated potential applications in various fields. These compounds can enhance soil quality by improving its chemical, physicochemical, physical properties, and biological fertility, ultimately leading to improved plant growth. This study examines the impact of SCG, vermicompost, and chemical fertilisers on the growth of organic red radish (Ravanello Cherry Belle) and soil quality. The experiment, conducted in a greenhouse, tested various concentrations and applications of SCG. Results showed that the SCGT 0.5 gm treatment yielded the highest mean plant length (18.47 cm) and fresh weight (27.54 grammes), while the SCG 10% treatment resulted in the lowest mean plant length (4.54 cm) and fresh weight (0.07 grammes). Vermicompost at 50% concentration produced the highest mean leaf surface area (58.32). These findings suggest the potential of SCG as a sustainable fertiliser alternative, contributing to improved plant growth and soil quality, thus supporting sustainable agricultural practices and a circular economy.

Multiple sources influence air quality and regional climate in complicated atmospheric emission situations like urban agglomerations. To resolve pollution plumes and source influences in polluted areas, a comprehensive chemical fingerprinting of sources utilizing non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and the identification of acceptable tracer molecules and emission ratios is required, in contrast to pristine locations, where reliance on a single or a few chemical tracers is frequently sufficient. We have characterized the prevalence of NMHCs fingerprints in the urban areas and quantified the correlation of windspeed with the concentration of these pollutants. eNose sensors and Air quality management stations provide the data to identify the emission sources of such pollutants. Based on our analysis, the average NMHC concentration in 2021 has been recorded 0.424 ppm at point 1 AQMS whereas at point 2 AQMS it was 0.256 ppm. Such outcomes could be attributed to the proximity of emissions sources, the direction and speed of the wind, or both. Moreover, traffic can be a major contributor to pollution levels in any urban area. More research based on a larger dataset is required before definitive conclusions can be drawn, and viable solutions can be proposed.

Background: Fermented milks are a source of bioactive peptides with different potential benefits on human health (mainly antioxidant and antihypertensive effects) and may be considered as functional foods. Furthermore, those made with sheep milk have higher nutritional value and higher concentrations of proteins, fats, minerals, and vitamins, if compared to milk of other species. Objectives: Aim of this study was to perform a biochemical characterization and a comparison between sheep fermented milk (SFM) made with commercial starter cultures and sheep milk YoAlp®, a fermented milk obtained using local strains of lactic acid bacteria (LABs) (Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii) which have been isolated during years in Aosta Valley mountain dairy cattle farm. Methods: Sheep milk and fermented milk (Sarda and Lacaune breeds) have been collected and immediately analyzed. Biochemical characterization, by a proteomic approach, GC/MS and microtiter plate assay methods, have been conducted to evaluate their peptide, fatty acid and aromatic profile, and to assess potential health promoting effects. Results: The comparison between SFM and YoAlp® peptide profile shows a higher number of peptides using autochthonous starter cultures (52) than commercial starter cultures (35). Among these peptides 20,78% and 29,87%, respectively, are supposed to be potentially bioactive (DPP - dipeptidyl peptidase-IV - inhibitor, ACE - angiotensin converting enzyme – inhibitor and antioxidant). In both products, the fatty acids profile was similar to that of origin sheep milk; concerning aromatic profile, YoAlp® shows yogurt typical aromatic assets, similar to the commercial one. As far as bioactivity is concerned, ACE inhibitor activity is high for both samples. Similar values, as expected by peptide profile analysis, have been obtained using commercial and autochthonous starters. Even in the case of antioxidant capacity, peptide profile bioactivity prediction has been confirmed by the assay showing a DPPH inhibition higher for SFM than for YoAlp®, but this difference is not statistically significative. Conclusions: Local strains of lactic acid bacteria from Aosta Valley seems to work as well as the commercial, preserving biodiversity and typicality. However, further analyses are needed to identify peptides generated by autochthonous LABs in order to understand microbial proteolytic activities and to investigate gastric digestion resistance of bioactive peptides which can have positive effects on human health.

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is an essential legume crop providing healthy and nutritious food for people in low- to middle-income countries, worldwide. Lentil roots support symbiotic interactions with soil rhizobia species fostering nitrogen fixation; however, assemblage and diversity of the complete microbial rhizosphere community and the effect of seed genotype and origin remains largely unexplored. In this study we examined with metagenomic analysis, the effects of seed origin on the rhizosphere’s communities in samples of the famous Greek lentil landrace Eglouvis derived from different local farmers and farming systems including a Gene Bank sample, in comparison to a commercial variety. The landrace exhibited higher rhizosphere microbiome diversity compared to the commercial variety for all indexes. A core microbiome comprised of 158 taxa was present in all samples, while higher number of unique bacterial taxa was recorded in the landrace samples compared to the commercial cultivar. Noteworthy, landrace samples originated from organic farming had more than double unique taxa compared to conventional counterparts. The study revealed higher diversity of N2 fixers and archaea, Crenarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota, in landrace samples and particularly in those derived from organic farming, underpinning the distinct recruiting efficiency of beneficial soil microbes by the landrace.

Electro-optic modulator (EOM) is one of the key devices of high-speed optical fiber communication system and ultra-wideband microwave photonic system. Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) integration platform combines the advantages of silicon photonics and organic materials, providing a high electro-optic effect and compact structure for photonic integrated devices. In this paper we present a SOH integrated EOM with comprehensive investigation of EOM structure design, silicon waveguide fabrication with Slot structure, on-chip poling of organic electro-optic material, and characterization of EO modulation response. The SOH integrated EOM is measured with 3dB-bandwidth of over 50 GHz and half-wave voltage length product of 0.26 V·cm. Furthermore, we demonstrate a microwave photonics phase shifter by using the fabricated SOH integrated dual parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator. The phase shift range of 410 degree is completed from 8 GHz to 26 GHz with a power consumption of less than 38 mW.

In recent years, frequent occurrences of low temperature disasters due to global climate change have significantly impacted the normal growth of crops. Research has indicated that inorganic selenium (which is more toxic) can not only enhance the effects of low temperature stress but also increase selenium content on plants; however, there is a scarcity of studies investigating the impacts of organic selenium and nano-selenium on crops. In order to investigate whether organic selenium and nano-selenium can enhance low-temperature tolerance and increase selenium content in pak choi (Brassica chinensis var. pekinensis. cv. ‘Suzhouqing’), different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 mg L-1) of exogenous selenium were applied in this experiment to assess their effects on plant growth, nutritional quality and antioxidant properties. RNA-Seq technology was used to sequence the transcriptome of the leaves. Based on the transcriptome data, a Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was employed to construct a network that associates with physiological traits related to stress resistance. Two highly correlated gene co-expression modules were identified, and within them, nine hub genes associated with endocytosis, antioxidant stress, absorption, transport, and metabolism of selenium were discovered. The results indicated that the beneficial effects on yield and total selenium content under low temperature were attributed to (1) protection of photosynthetic pigments for enhancing photosynthetic capacity by the up-regulation of LHca2, LHcb1, LHca1, LHcb4 in KEGG pathway: photosynthesis-antenna proteins; (2) activation of antioxidant system for efficient ROS homeostasis such as SOD, POD and CAT by the genes such as Superoxide dismutase, Monodehydroascorbate and (3) selenium absorption by endocytosis, seleninum transportation by ABC transporter gene family and selenium metabolism related genes such as Cysteine synthase, Glutaredoxin. These findings provide a foundation for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of organic selenium and nano-selenium on cyanochloride production at low temperatures.

Over the past two decades, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have become the most widely studied porous crystalline materials. Its specific physical and chemical properties are determined by the arrangement of atoms (crystal structure). Therefore, the determination of its structure is arguably the most important characterization step for COFs. Although single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) is the most widely used method for structure determination, the size of COF crystals is too small, or their crystal quality is so poor that confirmation of their structure is limited to lattice fringes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At present, many 2D-COFs have clear PXRD patterns, but not all 2D-COFs can obtain specific lattice fringes. This severely hinders the development of the COF field. Here, we discover the lattice shrinkage behavior of COFs under electron beam irradiation by comparing the lattice fringes of 2D-COFs under different conditions. By comparing the lattice fringes of TAPT-TFPT COF at room temperature and under liquid nitrogen freezing conditions, we found that the lattice fringes are in good agreement with the Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and theoretical values of COF (2.213 nm) under freezing conditions, however, the lattice fringe spacing is only 1.656 nm at room temperature. The discovery not only provides new insights into the TEM characterization of COFs, but also further expands the range of crystalline COF materials.

This research presents a comparative analysis of the yield and nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivated in an aeroponic system with two distinct nutrient solutions: (i) commercial hydroponic fertilizers and (ii) aquaponic water without added fertilizers. Both systems were maintained under the same controlled conditions, enabling the comparison of growth parameters, leaf area, antioxidant activity, mineral content, and sensory characteristics of the lettuce. The hydroponic system demonstrated superior performance concerning the fresh weight of lettuce head and root, leaf count, and leaf area. In contrast, the aquaponic system produced a higher dry weight of lettuce heads and a more extensive root-to-shoot ratio. Concerning nutrient concentration, the hydroponic nutrient solution composition exhibited elevated levels of NO3–, P, NH4+, and K in contrast to the aquaponic nutrient solution, which had a more significant S, Cl–, Na, and Mg content. Regarding the nutritional value, lettuce from the hydroponic system exhibited significantly higher levels of K, S, P, Zn, Fe, Mn, and vitamin B2. In contrast, lettuce from the aquaponic system exceeded with higher content of Ca, Na, Mg, Al, B, and Si. Remarkably, the lettuce cultivated in the aquaponic system demonstrated significantly enhanced total flavonoid and phenol content, and antioxidant capacity compared to its hydroponically grown counterpart.

Breath volatile organic compound analysis is a non-invasive tool for assessing health status; the compositional profile of these compounds in the breath of patients with chronic kidney disease is believed to change with decreasing renal function. We aimed to identify breath volatile organic compounds for recognizing patients with chronic kidney disease. Using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, untargeted analysis of breath markers was performed using breath samples of healthy controls (n=18) versus non-dialysis (n=21) and hemodialysis (n=12) patients with chronic kidney disease in this cross-sectional study. A total of 303 volatile organic compounds alongside 12 clinical variables were used to determine the breath volatile organic compound profile. Metabolomic analysis revealed that age, systolic blood pressure, and fifty-eight breath volatile organic compounds differed significantly between the chronic kidney disease group (non-dialysis + hemodialysis) and healthy controls. Thirty-six volatile organic compounds and two clinical variables that showed significant associations with chronic kidney disease in the univariate analysis were further analyzed. Different spectras of breath volatile organic compounds between the control and chronic kidney disease groups were obtained. Multivariate model incorporating age, 2-methyl-pentane, and cyclohexanone showed high performance (accuracy, 86%) in identifying patients with chronic kidney disease, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) P-values of 0.18 (0.07-2.49) 0.013; 2.10 (0.94-2.24) 0.025; and 2.31 (0.88–2.64) 0.008, respectively. Hence, renal dysfunction-associated characteristic profiles of breath volatile organic substances can be used as non-invasive markers to screen for chronic kidney disease.

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

Food demand and food supply have been heavily affected by Covid-19 pandemic. To understand changes in households’ behavior related to the pandemic, we investigate the willingness to pay for local organic apples pre- and during Covid-19. Besides, we assess whether the changes occurred within the family, estimating also separate models for the two members of the couple. Our findings show that respondents show a positive price premium for local organic apples whose consumption helps reducing the environmental costs associated with food production. The median estimated values during the pandemic range from 34% to 250%. Overall, respondents show a positive mean willingness to pay which increase with the pandemic. The socio-economic variables are the most important in explaining the willingness to pay, while the behavioral variables have more heterogeneous results even if the lifestyle and the request for information through the label are important variables. The pandemic tends to narrow the gaps in preferences between members of the couple. In conclusion, the local and organic dimension is embodied in the short chain in which knowledge and trust in the producer are crucial elements in the consumer's choices.

Nations of the world have seen unprecedented changes in climate variables in recent decades. But it is unclear to what extent climate change has impacted and will impact food systems in some developing regions, and how policymakers can frame an approach to encouraging adaptation and advancing climate-smart agriculture. Many studies attempting to link agroecology to climate change adaptation do so without understanding the potential of Agroecology not only to mitigate climate change – which is the weak response – but to reverse its impact and ‘climate proof’ our food systems. By modeling the near and far future impacts of climate change on crop production, we showed how climate will impact crop production under two crop production systems (agroecology and non-agroecology production systems). The overarching aim is to derive sustainable development strategies and lessons for policymakers and climate researchers - essential components of environment and Agricultural development. Using case studies from Nigeria, we observed that transitioning to agroecology, even at the farm level also transforms farm designs, thereby affecting their overall food and nutrition status. The result showed that the use of agroecology management practices not only reduces the impact of climate change in the near future but will also lead to increased crop yield in the future. The finding suggests that to feed the over 400 million projected population of Nigeria by 2050, the use of agroecological practices will be a better alternative to the conventional farming methods. To advance the use of agroecological farming methods, governments at every level in Nigeria need to mainstream organic agriculture in national government policies. This is important as it will not only address climate change impacts but also hunger and poverty.

Trash mulches are very effective in preventing soil erosion; reduce sediment transport rate, runoff rate and increasing infiltration. The study was carried out with the objectives to observe the sediment outflow from sugar cane leaf (trash) mulch treatments at selected land slopes under simulated rainfall conditions by using rainfall simulator of size 10 m × 1.2 m × 0.5 m with the locally available soil material collected from Pantnagar. In the present study, trash mulches with different quantities were selected to observe the effect of mulching in soil loss reduction. The quantity of mulch was taken as, 6 t/ha, 8 t/ha and 10 t/ha, three rainfall intensities viz. 11cm/h, 13cm/h and 14.65cm/h at 0%, 2% and 4% land slopes were selected. The duration of rainfall was fixed (10 minutes) for every mulch treatment. The total runoff volume was found to be varying with different mulch rates for particular rainfall input and land slope. The runoff distribution pattern was observed to be increasing with the increase in land slope. The average sediment concentration (SC) and outflow was found to be increasing with the increasing land slope, but SC and outflow decreased with increasing mulch rate for particular land slope and rainfall intensity. The SOR (SOR) for no mulch treated land was higher as compared to trash mulch treated lands. Mathematical relationships were developed for relating SOR, SC, land slope and rainfall intensity for a particular mulch treatment. It was observed that values of SOR and average SC had a good correlation with rainfall intensity and land slope for each mulch treatment. The correlation coefficients of developed models were found to be more than 90%.

There is a growing need for an area-wide knowledge of SOC contents in agricultural soils at field scale for food security, monitoring long-term changes related to soil health and climate change. In Germany, large-scale SOC maps are mostly available with a spatial resolution of 250 m to 1 km2. The nationwide availability of both digital elevation models at various spatial resolutions and multi-temporal satellite imagery enables the derivation of multi-scale terrain attributes and Landsat-based multi-temporal soil reflectance composites (SRC) as explanatory variables. On the example of an Bavarian test of about 8000 km2, the scale-specific dependencies between the representativeness of 220 soil samples and different aggregation levels of the explanatory variables were analyzed for their scale-specific predictive power. The aggregation levels were generated by applying a region-growing segmentation procedure, the SOC content prediction was realized by the Random Forest algorithm. In doing so, established approaches of (geographic) object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) and machine learning were combined. The modeling results revealed scale-specific differences. Compared to terrain attributes, the use of SRC parameters lead to a significant model improvement at large field-related scale levels. The joint use of both terrain attributes and SRC parameters resulted in further model improvements. The best modeling variant is characterized by an accuracy of R2=0.84 and RMSE=1.99.

Abstract: During firing from a mortar, an important issue is the parameters of compressibility of the ground on which the mortar is placed. This affects the operation of the mortar (including safety). During the qualification tests of the mortar, the influence of different types of substrate on its strength and work during shooting should be examined. Until now in the Polish standardization documents was no clear description about the substrate parameters used for this kind of tests. Analysis of the literature also did not allow to determine the dependence of the mortars displacement in the function of the type of substrate and its geotechnical parameters. Therefore, the authors carried out analytical and experimental analysis of the use of geotechnical methods to determine the parameters of the substrate for mortar testing. The paper presents the proposed types of standardized soil and their research methods. Preliminary tests were also carried out using the prescribed measurement methods and a comparative mortar firing test. Subsequently, an analysis of the results was carried out and the possibilities of using the proposed methods of measuring the parameters of soil compressibility were determined.

Immersion in forest environments was shown to produce beneficial effects to human health, in particular psychophysical relaxation, so much that this practice is increasingly recognized as a form of integrative medicine. Limited evidence exists about both statistical significance and size of the effects conditioned on personal characteristics, as well as on the main external variables. The primary purpose of this study was to substantiate the very concept of forest therapy by means of the quantification and significance of the psychological effects, stratified by gender, age groups and place of residence. A preliminary qualitative analysis of the main determinants, in particular the method of conducting, the meteorological comfort and the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the forest atmosphere, was afforded. Seven forest therapy sessions were performed in late summer though early fall, resulting in 150 psychological self-assessment questionnaires administered before and after each session. The results were comparable or even better than others reported in the international literature. Moreover, preliminary evidence arose about different functionality towards specific psychological indexes conditioned at least on gender and age groups, as well as meteorological comfort, structured programs and, possibly, volatile organic compounds showed an impact on the outcomes.

The rapid growth of the organic food market in Italy and in other developed countries has drawn the attention of researchers and practitioners. The diffusion of pro-environmental concerns and sustainable lifestyles among consumers are often cited as two of the main drivers of the increase in demand for organic food products. Consequently, unveiling the factors that influence consumers’ demand of, and preference for organic food is essential for all the actors involved in the supply chain. This paper presents the results of a research model which relates organic food purchase intention to consumers’ green consciousness, health motivations, food safety concerns, organic product knowledge, family and social context and perception of the intrinsic quality of food. A questionnaire, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the extant literature on organic food choice, was developed and presented to a sample of 600 Italian consumers. Causal relations among variables were then tested using Structural Equation Modelling. The results suggest that, besides the existence of green consciousness, other variables may affect consumers’ preference for organic food: among these, specific and closely interlinked elements, such as food safety concerns and perceived quality heavily affected the intention to buy organic food products.

Livestock production systems generate nuisance odor and gaseous emissions affecting local communities and regional air quality. Also, there are concerns about the occupational health and safety of farm workers. Proven mitigation technologies that are consistent with the socio-economic challenges of animal farming are needed. We have been scaling up the photocatalytic treatment of emissions from lab-scale, aiming at farm-scale readiness. In this paper, we present the design, testing, and commissioning of a mobile laboratory for on-farm research and demonstration of performance in real farm conditions. The mobile lab is capable of treating up to 1.2 m3·s-1 of air with TiO2-based photocatalysis and adjustable UV-A dose based on LED lamps. We summarize the main technical requirements, constraints, approach, and performance metrics for the mobile laboratory, such as the effectiveness (measured as the percent reduction) and cost of photocatalytic treatment of air. The commissioning of all systems with standard gases resulted in ~9% and 34% reduction of NH3 and butan-1-ol, respectively. We demonstrated that as the percent reduction of standard gases increased with increased light intensity and treatment time. These results show that the mobile laboratory was ready for on-farm deployment and evaluating the effectiveness of UV treatment.

Room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials have been attracted tremendous interest owing to their unique material characteristics and potential applications for state-of-the-art optoelectronic devices. Recently, we have reported a synthesis and fundamental photophysical properties of new RTP materials based on benzil, i.e., fluorinated monobenzil derivative and fluorinated and non-fluorinated bisbenzil derivative analogues [Yamada, S. et al, Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2020, 16, 1154–1162.]. To further understand their RTP properties, here we investigated the excited-state dynamics and photostability of the derivatives by means of time-resolved and steady-state photoluminescence spectroscopies. For these derivatives, clear RTP emissions with lifetimes on the microsecond timescale were identified. Among them, the monobenzil derivative was found to be the most efficient RTP material, showing both the longest lifetime and highest amplitude RTP emission. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectra measured at 77 K and density functional theory calculations revealed the existence of a second excited triplet state in the vicinity of the first excited singlet state for the monobenzil derivative, indicative of the presence of a fast intersystem crossing pathway. A discussion of the correlation between the excited state dynamics, emission properties, and conformational flexibility of the three derivatives is presented.

The most massive and fast-eroding thaw slump of the Northern Hemisphere located in the Yana uplands of northern Yakutia was investigated to assess in detail the cryogenic inventory and carbon pools of two distinctive Ice Complex stratigraphic units and the uppermost cover deposits. Differentiating into modern and Holocene near-surface layers (active layer and shielding layer), highest total carbon contents were found in the active layer (18.7 kg m-2), while the shielding layer yielded much lower carbon content of 1.8 kg m-2. The late Pleistocene upper Ice Complex contained 10.4 kg m-2 total carbon, and the mid-Pleistocene lower Ice Complex 17.7 kg m-2. The proportion of organic carbon from total carbon content is well above 70% in all studied units with 94 % in the active layer, 73% in the shielding layer, 83% in the upper Ice Complex and 79% in the lower Ice Complex. Inorganic carbon is low in the overall structure of the deposits.

Vertical-channel organic dual-gate/base transistors would be highly interesting since vertical organic transistors are the fastest organic transistors demonstrated today. However, incorporating a dual gate/base structure into an ultra-short channel vertical architecture represents a substantial challenge. Here, we successfully realize a new device concept of vertical organic permeable dual-base transistors (OPDBTs), where either of both base electrodes can be used to change the on-currents and tune the threshold voltages. The optimized devices yield a high on-current density of 1.54 A cm^-2 and a large current gain of 9.2×10⁵, corresponding to a high transmission value of 99.998%. The detailed operation mechanisms are investigated by calibrated TCAD simulations with the Poole-Frenkel mobility model, Gaussian density of states and tunneling model. Finally, high-performance logic circuits, e.g. inverter, NAND/AND computation functions are demonstrated with one single OPDBT operating at supply voltages of < 2.0 V. We believe that OPDBTs offer a compact and technologically simple hardware platform with excellent application potential for vertical-channel organic transistors in complex logic circuits.

The paper presents the results of energy and environmental analysis of geothermal CHP plant operation in Polish conditions. As the most favorable, for the geothermal conditions prevailing in Poland, the variant of CHP plant based on Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) has been taken into consideration. As the case study the existing geothermal well located in the town of Konin in the Wielkopolska voivodship has been chosen. The conceptual design of CHP plant has been proposed and evaluated from energy and environmental point of view. As energy performance criteria the non-renewable primary energy consumption has been chosen. In case of environmental performance carbon dioxide emission has been taken as evaluation criteria. The analysis has been performed for different operating conditions and three working fluids.

A novel solution-processed graphene-based material was synthesized by treating graphene oxide (GO) with 2,5,7-trinitro-9-oxo-fluorenone-4-carboxylic acid (TNF-COOH) moieties, via simple synthetic routes. The yielded molecule N-[(carbamoyl-GO)ethyl]-N’-[(carbamoyl)-(2,5,7-trinitro-9-oxo-fluorene)] (GO-TNF) was thoroughly characterized and it was shown that it presents favorable highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels to function as a bridge component between the polymeric donor poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl] thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) and the fullerene derivative acceptor [6,6]-phenyl-C₇₁-butyric-acid-methylester (PC₇₁BM). In this context, a GO-TNF based ink was prepared and directly incorporated within the binary photoactive layer, in different volume ratios (1-3% ratio to the blend), for the effective realization of inverted ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) of the structure ITO/PFN/PTB7:GO-TNF:PC₇₁BM/MoO₃/Al. The addition of 2% v/v GO-TNF ink led to a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.71% that was enhanced by ~13% as compared to the reference cell.

It is proposed that the primary living cells (“probionts”) cannot emerge of organic substance simply by continuous chemical complication of prebiotic macromolecules and microsystems. The complication must be accompanied by the radical thermodynamic transformation (“jump”) of prebiotic microsystems that resulted in the acquired ability to extract free energy from the environment and export entropy. This transformation is called “the thermodynamic inversion” The inversion may occur by means of the efficient (intensified) response of the microsystems on the oscillations of physic-chemical parameters in hydrothermal environment. In this case the surplus available free energy within a microsystem, when combined with the informational modality, facilitates its conversion into a new microsystem—a living probiont. It is shown the schematic representation of an oscillating prebiotic microsystem that is transforming into a living probiont. A new kind of laboratory and computational experiments on prebiotic chemistry under oscillating conditions is offered to verify the inversion concept.

One way to increase overall natural gas engine efficiency is to transform exhaust waste heat into useful energy by means of a bottoming cycle. Organic Rankine cycle (ORC) is a promising technology to convert medium and low grade waste heat into mechanical power and electricity. This paper presents an energy and exergy analysis of three ORC-Waste heat recovery configurations by using an intermediate thermal oil circuit: Simple ORC (SORC), ORC with Recuperator (RORC) and ORC with Double Pressure (DORC), and Cyclohexane, Toluene and Acetone have been proposed as working fluids. An energy and exergy thermodynamic model is proposed to evaluate each configuration performance, while available exhaust thermal energy variation under different engine loads was determined through an experimentally validated mathematical model. Additionally, the effect of evaportating pressure on net power output , absolute thermal efficiency increase, absolute specific fuel consumption decrease, overall energy conversion efficiency, and component exergy destruction is also investigated. Results evidence an improvement in operational performance for heat recovery through RORC with Toluene at an evaporation pressure of 3.4 MPa, achieving 146.25 kW of net power output, 11.58% of overall conversion efficiency, 28.4% of ORC thermal efficiency, and an specific fuel consumption reduction of 7.67% at a 1482 rpm engine speed, a 120.2 L/min natural gas Flow, 1.784 lambda, and 1758.77 kW mechanical engine power.