Search Results (21,579)

Groundwater pollution in intensive horticultural areas is becoming an increasingly important problem. Over-fertilization of these crops, combined with poor irrigation management, leads to groundwater contamination through leaching. Previous research on the effect of N on sweet peppers grown in greenhouses is abundant, but data on outdoor cultivation, especially considering variety and site influences, are lacking. Therefore, this study evaluates nitrogen (N) fertilization in open-field processing-pepper crop in Extremadura, Spain to mitigate this environmental impact. Field trials were conducted in 2020, 2021, and 2022 to determine the optimum N fertilizer rate for processing peppers, with the aim of reducing environmental impacts such as nitrate leaching while maintaining crop yields. The trial consisted of applying different N doses, 0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N/ha in 2020 and 2021 and 0, 100, and 300 kg N/ha in 2022. There were four replications of each treatment, arranged in randomized blocks. Measurements included crop yield, biomass, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and canopy cover. The study also developed a critical nitrogen curve (CNC) to determine the minimum N concentration required for optimal growth. The commercial yield results showed that there were no significant differences between the two treatments with higher N inputs in the three years; therefore, the application of more than 120 kg N/ha did not significantly increase yield. Nitrogen-free treatments resulted in earlier fruit maturity, concentrating the harvest and reducing waste. In addition, excessive N application led to environmental problems such as groundwater contamination due to nitrate leaching. The study concludes that outdoor pepper crops in this region can achieve optimal yields with lower N rates (around 120 kg N/ha) compared to current practices, taking into account that initial soil N values were higher than 100 kg N/ha, thereby reducing environmental risks and fertilizer costs. It also established relationships between biomass, canopy cover, and N uptake to improve fertilization strategies. These data support future crop modeling and sustainable fertilization practices. Full article

Sustainability is about intergenerational solidarity in finding solutions to ensure the continued growth that allows organizations and companies to be proactive. In the context of contemporary technology, the fourth industrial revolution, i.e., the widely accepted notion of Industry 4.0, and swift corporate growth; the effects of industry, transportation, and urbanization on climate change; and the preservation of the environment in its entirety are becoming more and more significant. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the eco-innovation performance of European nations, comparing their evolution from 2013 to 2022, in order to identify patterns, leaders, and opportunities for improvement in the implementation of eco-innovation strategies. This study includes the analysis of the Eco-Innovation Index as well as other studies carried out at the European Union level in the field of sustainability and sustainable innovation through the graphic maps, cluster analysis, and correspondence analysis in the statistical program SPSS. Different approaches to development are taken by the EU’s member states. Even though some countries have achieved significantly lower results than the average of the Eco-Innovation Index or significantly higher results than the average, overall, all countries (except Romania) have improved their point evaluations when compared to the year 2013 when the Eco-Innovation Index started to be reported. The nations in the Northern European region produce consistent, long-term outcomes, and these countries have emerged as leaders in innovation in recent years. The countries of Luxembourg, Austria, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have the best long-term outcomes. On the contrary, Bulgaria has ranked last for a long time, with the least-rated eco-innovation activities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Noonan syndrome (NS) is a genetic multisystem disease characterized by distinctive facial features, short stature, chest deformity, and congenital heart defects. NS is caused by gene variants of the RAS/MAPK pathway, with PTPN11 accounting for about 50% of cases. This study aimed to identify PTPN11 pathogenic variants in Mexican patients with NS to enhance our understanding of the disease in this population. Methods: This study included 91 probands and 60 relatives, all of which were clinically evaluated by a geneticist. Sanger sequencing was used to screen the entire PTPN11 gene. Results: Twenty-one previously reported pathogenic variants were identified in 47.3% of the probands. The most frequently occurring were p.Asn308Asp (16.3%) and p.Met504Val (16.3%). Variants p.Tyr279Cys and p.Thr468Met were found exclusively in patients with lentiginosis. Eighty-three percent of patients carried a variant in one of the three exons (3, 8, or 13) where the greatest genetic diversity was observed. Common clinical findings identified in probands included short stature (82%), cardiac anomalies (70.7%), short neck (68.4%), and pectus excavatum (63.2%), although features represented by only one patient each were also detected. Conclusions: This study confirmed the clinical diagnosis of NS in 43 probands and 11 relatives, and further genetic analysis of the remaining 48 probands is required to identify the causal variant. The genetic and clinical variability observed in our cohort was consistent with reports from other populations, underscoring the importance of comprehensive care for all patients. This research provides the most extensive clinical and molecular characterization of NS in Mexican patients, identifying pathogenic variants of PTPN11. Full article

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) present in sewage sludge pose significant environmental and public health challenges. Composting has emerged as a promising method to mitigate these risks by reducing ARGs. This review paper evaluated the current progress in the removal of ARGs through composting, incorporating a bibliometric analysis of 228 publications from January 2010 to January 2024. This review highlights the increasing scholarly interest in this field, with a notable rise in publications since 2010. Key mechanisms identified include the denaturation of proteins and DNA at high temperatures, the adsorption of antibiotics and heavy metals by additives like biochar, and shifts in microbial communities, all contributing to the reduction of ARGs during composting. Despite these findings, challenges remain in achieving consistent ARG removal rates, addressing the potential for ARG regrowth, and understanding horizontal gene transfer post-composting. This review suggests further research into optimizing composting conditions and integrating additional treatment methods to enhance ARG removal and minimize associated risks. Full article

Load forecasting is an integral part of the power industries. Load-forecasting techniques should minimize the percentage error while prediction future demand. This will inherently help utilities have an uninterrupted power supply. In addition to that, accurate load forecasting can result in saving large amounts of money. This article provides a systematic review based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. This article presents a complete framework for short-term load forecasting using metaheuristic algorithms. This framework consists of three sub-layers: the data-decomposition layer, the forecasting layer, and the optimization layer. The data-decomposition layer decomposes the input data series to extract important features. The forecasting layer is used to predict the result, which involves different statistical and machine-learning models. The optimization layer optimizes the parameters of forecasting methods to improve the accuracy and stability of the forecasting model using different metaheuristic algorithms. Single models from the forecasting layer can predict the results. However, they come with their limitations, such as low accuracy, high computational burden, stuck to local minima, etc. To improve the prediction accuracy, the hyperparameters of these models need to be tuned properly. Metaheuristic algorithms cab be used to tune these hyperparameters considering their interdependencies. Hybrid models combining the three-layer methods can perform better by overcoming the issues of premature convergence and trapping into a local minimum solution. A quantitative analysis of different metaheuristic algorithms and deep-learning forecasting methods is presented. Some of the most common evaluation indices that are used to evaluate the performance of the forecasting models are discussed. Furthermore, a taxonomy of different state-of-the-art articles is provided, discussing their advantages, limitations, contributions, and evaluation indices. A future direction is provided for researchers to deal with hyperparameter tuning. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is critical in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has become a key endpoint in the evaluation of new therapies, including atezolizumab + bevacizumab (Atezo + Bev) therapy. Methods: This study explored the factors associated with treatment efficacy, treatment duration, and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced HCC undergoing Atezo + Bev therapy. We included 58 consecutive patients with HCC receiving Atezo + Bev from 19 November 2020, to 28 December 2023, who were followed up until the end of the study or death. We analyzed the relationships between baseline characteristics, adverse events (AEs), and HRQoL and efficacy, OS, and treatment duration. Results: The demographic (older men) and baseline characteristics (Child–Pugh score of 5, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage C) were consistent with those of previous studies. The treatment demonstrated promising efficacy with a disease control rate of 71.2%, but HRQoL scores in five functional domains and seven symptoms worsened significantly within the first 3 months. Notably, better baseline cognitive and physical function scores and absence of severe (grade ≥ 2) hypoalbuminemia were associated with an improved objective response rate, longer treatment duration, and better OS. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and managing treatment-related AEs and maintaining the HRQoL. They also highlight the crucial and reassuring role of multidisciplinary care in enhancing treatment outcomes in this cohort. Full article

In recent years, the market has seen a growing demand for healthy and convenient food options, such as fruit and cereal bars, driven by shifts in eating habits. These changes are primarily attributed to time constraints in meal preparation and the need for ready-to-eat foods. Consequently, this has promoted interest in creating a nutritious, high-quality snack combining oats and mango. This study employed a response surface analysis of extreme vertex mixtures, incorporating constraints and three components: oats, mango peel, and dehydrated mango pulp. This resulted in ten different mixtures, each with unique combinations and proportions of the three components. It evaluated the microbiological quality, proximal composition, total phenolic content, tannins, Aw, color, texture, and chemical properties during storage at room temperature. The optimal blend, which demonstrated the best quality characteristics, consisted of 44.38% oats, 5.36% mango peel, and 29.24% mango pulp. This formulation yielded a protein content of 7.1 g, dietary fiber of 20.3 g per 100 g, total phenols of 3.4 mg gallic acid per g, and no pathogenic microorganisms. According to the obtained data, Aw > 0.3, the estimated shelf life could be 12 months at room temperature. Developing a stable oat-mango snack with excellent nutritional, nutraceutical, chemical quality, and microbiological properties is technologically feasible. Full article

A recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) represents a forward-looking form of aquaculture. A RAS consists of fish tanks and water treatment processes in a closed loop to sustain the environmental conditions for fish production. However, the rapid industrialization of the technology is fraught with transfer problems. This review justifies a RAS process chain based on fish biology. The underlying concept has been evaluated by the author in experimental and commercial RAS projects. The core idea is that the fish must be considered as a technical subcomponent in a RAS, determining the technology. Fish, when considered as small biological machines, are still a black box in many ways. However, their basic biology and physiology provide all the knowledge to implement them in a technical setting. The information required to understand this concept is presented and discussed based on current scientific knowledge. The conclusion is that the technology is available but needs to be rigorously implemented. If this were carried out, fish production in RASs would be ecologically sustainable, which is already claimed for RASs but is not always the reality in commercial applications. Full article

Currently, the demand for heat production by geothermal energy is increasingly strong amid the controversy surrounding non-renewable forms of energy. In France, the Dogger aquifer in the Paris Basin (DAPB) produces saline geothermal waters (GWs) that are hot (70–85 °C), anaerobic, and slightly acidic (pH 6.1–6.4), and are characterized mainly by the presence of Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, CO₂/HCO₃⁻, and H₂S/HS. These GWs are corrosive, while the well casings used are carbon steel. GWs have been continuously treated since the 1990s by corrosion inhibitors at the bottom of production wells to reduce water–steel interactions and scaling issues. Electrochemical experiments to optimize inhibitors were carried out on site, protected from the ambient atmosphere, with actual geothermal water, using water tapping at the wellhead. Currently, carbon steel corrosion/scaling, corrosion inhibition phenomenology, and kinetics evaluation remain important challenges. These issues are, of course, linked to the durability of installations. The novelty of our work consists of our validation of a modus operandi that properly reproduces, at the laboratory scale, operating conditions similar to those encountered on the types of geothermal installations. Particular attention was paid to characterizing waters and gases from 13 production wellheads that were modelled with PhreeqC^® Version 3 hydrogeochemical software and the Thermoddem thermodynamic database for implementing standardized reconstituted geothermal water (SRGW), a well-balanced water representative of the major elements and dissolved gases of actual DAPB geothermal waters. The developed electrochemical setup enabled us to analyze corrosion mechanisms such as those observed on site and to investigate corrosion inhibition using petrosourced and biosourced inhibitors. The modus operandi constitutes a reference for further investigations, at the laboratory scale, of corrosion inhibition. These investigations may include screening and optimizing the formulas of petrosourced and biosourced inhibitors for use in DAPB waters. Full article

Background/Objectives: Polyphenols offer an array of health benefits that can contribute to well-being. Nevertheless, their bioactivity can be compromised due to their low bioavailability. Encapsulation has been explored as a strategy to enhance the stability and bioavailability of polyphenols. During encapsulation, polyphenols are protected from degradation by a wall material that acts as a protective coating. This coating shields the polyphenols from the harsh physiological conditions of digestion, ensuring their delivery to the intestine. However, the majority of evidence, particularly regarding bioavailability after digestion, is derived from in vitro studies. While these studies provide valuable preliminary insights, they cannot definitively confirm the effects in vivo due to their inability to accurately replicate physiological conditions and the complex gut microbial ecosystem. Consequently, this review seeks to evaluate the current evidence from in vivo human studies to elucidate the efficacy of encapsulation in improving polyphenols’ bioavailability. Results and conclusions: Current clinical evidence on the impact of encapsulation on polyphenol bioavailability is primarily focused on polyphenols derived from grape pomace, cocoa, and bilberries, as well as individual polyphenols such as fisetin, hesperidin, and curcumin. Encapsulation has been an effective technique in improving the bioavailability of individual polyphenols like hesperidin, fisetin, and curcumin. However, this approach has not yielded consistent results when applied to groups of polyphenols, such as bilberry anthocyanins or cocoa phenolic acids. Encapsulation by micellization has shown promising results in improving the bioavailability of curcumin in a nutraceutical context. Further studies are needed to explore the bioavailability of encapsulated polyphenols, especially in the functional food context. Full article

This research concerned the assessment of the utility value of new pea breeding materials intended for registration in the European Union. The research material consisted of sixteen breeding lines and four reference pea varieties. The evaluation was carried out based on the chemical composition of seeds and its variability within the studied genotypes. The contents of protein, starch, lipids, ash and dietary fiber (DF) were determined. The nutritional value of the protein was assessed in vitro using the value of the limiting amino acid index chemical score (CS) and the integrated essential amino acid index (EAAI). The analyzed pea genotypes were characterized by significant diversity in terms of the content of the tested components. The obtained results combined with the PCA analysis were used to select pea genotypes of the highest quality, having the potential as a raw material for the production of food with health-promoting properties. The effect of the conducted research was the identification of three pea genotypes with the greatest potential in terms of protein content and dietary fiber complex. Full article

This review discusses approaches and implementations of flowrate sensing and measurement in smart inhalers for effective respiratory disease management. It highlights the importance of compliance with proper inhaling techniques and consistent adherence for managing respiratory conditions. Methods and relevant commercial and prototype research-type devices for sensing and measuring inhalation flowrate in smart inhalers are studied and compared. The study argues that the utilisation of acoustic analysis and air-pressure sensing is a promising approach to detect and evaluate the inhaling action, ultimately allowing improvement in the treatment outcomes and life quality of patients with respiratory diseases. Full article

A wind profiler radar detects fine spatiotemporal resolution dynamical information, enabling the capture of meso- and micro-scale systems. Experience gained from observing system experiments (OSEs) studies confirms that reasonable profiler assimilation techniques can achieve improved short-term forecasts. This study further applies the adjoint-based forecast sensitivity to observation (FSO) method to investigate the quantitative impact of a profiler data assimilation strategy on short-term forecasts, and the results are consistent with those obtained from OSEs, further demonstrating that FSO and OSEs can be used to evaluate the effect of data assimilation techniques from different perspectives. Considering the unique advantage that the FSO can quantify the interactions between various observing systems and the impact on improving the model forecasts according to specific needs without costly additional calculations, we further diagnose in detail the observation impacts from multiple perspectives, including the observation platform, observation variables, and spatial distribution. And the results show that dynamical variables are more significant in improving forecasts compared to the other observed variables. Meanwhile, the dense profiler observations resulted in a more significant impact when radiosonde observations were not detected. The upper-level single winds monitored by profiler radars play a more important role in improving forecast skill. The FSO method measures the impact of an individual observing system, which can be used to enrich the evaluation of data assimilation schemes, efficiently calculate the impacts of multisource observations, and contribute to future development in adaptive observation, observation quality control, and observation error optimization. Full article

This study evaluates the vertical stress transmission through a sand–tire mixture layer under impact, focusing on this innovative blended material that can impact underground structures such as tunnels or pipelines. By conducting consolidated undrained triaxial tests, the friction angle (φ) of the sand–tire mixture was determined, ranging from 29° for pure tire to 41° for pure sand. The vertical stress factor (α), representing the ratio of response load to applied load, was found to decrease significantly with increased tire content, with a reduction of up to 50% for mixtures containing 20% tire. Additionally, the vertical stress response decreased from 35 kPa for pure sand to as low as 15 kPa for mixtures with a high tire content under a consistent applied load of 65 kPa. This study not only presents a methodological advancement in analyzing sand–tire mixtures under dynamic loads but also suggests a sustainable approach to utilizing waste tire material in civil engineering projects, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and improved material performance in geotechnical applications. Full article

This research paper optimises the configuration of multi-angled façade systems to achieve the sustainability goals of reduced energy consumption and improved indoor climate quality. The concept of a multi-angled façade system is based on proposing the use of two different orientations of windows in each façade on a vertical axis, but not tilted up and down. The large part of the multi-angled façade is oriented more to the north to optimise the use of daylight and the small part more to the south to optimise the use of solar radiation. In order to evaluate the performance of the façade, the software program IDA ICE version 4.8 is used. (EQUA, Stockholm, Sweden). Two groups of scenarios were simulated: the first group consisted of nine scenarios (A1 to A9) that included changing the area and the orientation of the two façade parts, and the second group consisted of three scenarios (B1 to B3) by changing the window to wall ratio (WWR) of these scenarios. According to the results of the simulation, two scenarios from the first group are recommended: A3 for optimal daylight penetration and A7 for optimal energy performance. Regarding the second group, scenarios B1 for optimal daylight penetration and B3 for optimal energy performance are recommended. Full article