Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) is a fundamental laboratory instrument applied for investigation of the material properties in various fields such as pharmaceutical, environmental, food and petrochemical applications. The differential thermal analysis (DTA) is common thermal analysis method in which an analyte and an inert reference are heating at a certain heating rate while any temperature change is recorded. In this method, changes in the weight of a specimen are measured while its temperature is increased. Moisture and volatile contents of a sample can be measured by TGA. In our research, it provides qualitative and quantitative data for kinetics of thermal weight losses of the 'Black Beauty' zucchini samples due to the influence of three salinity levels: 1g/l, 2g/l and 4g/l NaCl. The equipment used in this experiment is Shimadzu DTG-60H. The TGA thermograms for the fruits and leaves of the germinated zucchini in different salinity conditions were studied. For the zucchini leaves, an increase in the temperature at which certain reactions take place was noted, along with the increase in the salinity level. For the determination of structural chemical components, complementary methods such as IR and UV Vis spectroscopy are necessary.

In the context of increasing the global interest in Elaeagnus angustifolia L., this study represents the first in-depth scientometric and bibliometric analysis covering the period 2013-2023. The article discusses the evolution of research on this species, using data extracted from the Web of Science and Scopus databases, where we have analyzed 203 and respectively 188 articles. The applied methodology involves quantitative and qualitative analyzes of publications, citations, and international collaborations, highlighting the main areas of interest and the dynamics of collaboration. The results show a significant focus of research in the fields of ecology, pharmacology, and agriculture, while highlighting the growing interest in the plant's bioactive properties. The findings point out promising future research directions, such as the potential of phytoremediation and its use in alternative medicine, although the study acknowledges its limitations, including incomplete coverage of non-English literature. The analysis revealed a clear need to explore the complex interactions between Elaeagnus angustifolia L. and other species in its native and introduced ecosystems. Understanding these interactions can contribute to the development of strategies for conservation and sustainable use, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary studies to promote effective ecological management and maximizing the species' ecological and pharmacological benefits.

Helianthus annuus L. is the second most notable oilseed crop all around the world, after soybean, and comes from temperate North America. Sunflowers use for not only human consumption it uses also for many purposes. Morphological, geographical, molecular, and archaeological data indicate that sunflowers used as food, medicine, body painting in rituals, bioenergy and dye. Sunflower is a self-fertilize plant and it needs to pollen activity and honey bee for fertilization. There are some objectives in terms of sunflower breeding. These are drought resistance, resistance to disease and pets, breeding for self-fertile lines and branching shape. The pioneering sunflower breeding study was belonged to develop varieties with increased oil content. This was followed by the development of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and haploid induction methods. In order to produce new cultivars with classical breeding methods is time consuming. To reduce this period uses double haploid technology and molecular marker-based technology. Molecular markers have been employed in a wide range of fields, including genetic mapping, paternity testing, identification of mutant genes related to hereditary diseases, cultivar identification, marker-assisted crop breeding, population history, epidemiology, food safety, and population studies. Among these, the start codon targeted (SCoT) marker has gained popularity for its ability to target a specific region around the ATG start codon, which is conserved across all plant species. SCoT markers are considered useful tools for studying genetic diversity in various plant species due to their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, high polymorphism, reproducibility, and time-saving attributes. Drought is defined as geographic location, amount, and time of precipitation. Also, it is defined as a shortage of water availability sufficient to cause a loss in yield or a period of no rainfall or irrigation that results in insufficient soil moisture leading to reduced crop growth and yield. Sunflower is one of the plants that needs a high amount of water during the development period. Studies of sunflower mainly focuses on drought response. This study aims to compare drought tolerant and sensitive Turkish cultivars using the SCoT marker system to find a linked DNA region that could be responsible for the tolerance. This research conducted with five common sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) genotypes that from three of them was drought tolerant, two of them was drought sensitive genotypes. The DNA of each sample was isolated from fresh leaves using the DNeasy Plant Mini Kit. Altogether 25 primers were tested and 13 SCoT primers gave enough polymorphism and PCR amplification was performed in a 2720 thermocycler. DNA bands were visualized by UV illumination using a gel document system (Bio-Rad). The approximate fragment size was compared with the GeneRuler™ 1 kb DNA ladder (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Banding profiles generated by SCoT primers were compiled into a data binary matrix based on the presence or absence of the selected band. The dendrogram and principal component analysis (PCA) were conducted using Past 4.04 software. Altogether 25 primers were tested and 13 SCoT primers successfully amplified 3 droughts tolerant and 2 drought sensitive genotypes of Helianthus annus L. and 13 SCoT primers gave 100% amplification with polymorphism. The total number of bands from 13 SCoT primers was 161, with 125 bands showing polymorphism and the average percentage of polymorphic bands was 76.79%. The size range of bands was from 250-8000 bp. The total number of bands range from 4 to 27 an average of 12.38 bands, while the number of polymorphic bands varied from 2 to 21 an average of 9.61 bands per primer. Based on the similarity and difference matrices highest value was belonged to drought tolerant cultivar with name 8129R. On the other hand, drought sensitive genotypes 9718A and 97251A have shown closely related values. The PCA result supports the results of similarity and distance matrices, which shows that 9718A and 97251A are closely related. In conclusion, the SCoT marker can be used as an effective molecular marker in case of sunflower genetic diversity analysis. Especially, drought tolerant cultivars TUNCA and P64LL62 showed similar characteristics in terms of genetical background of drought tolerant

Climate change, environmental pollution, population growth and overwhelming amounts of waste have led to the need to identify alternative fuels to replace fossil fuels. The gasification process of biomass residues from agriculture and agro-industry represents a suitable source for energy recovery through the production of syngas, including H2, CO and CH4. The gasification processes are carried out in area 500 °C ÷ 1000 °C. Various types of gasifiers were examined, in fixed bed and fluidized bed, following the gasification process and the contribution of specific gasification agents. The oxidation agents used in the biomass gasification process are: air, CO2, steam, O2. The effect and type of catalysts used were followed from the perspective of the highest possible percentage of hydrogen. This report analyzed the production of syngas, especially hydrogen, through gasification by comparing and analyzing the results of various types of biomass and aimed to bring a globalist approach to the production of hydrogen-rich syngas based on current technologies.

Eggplant seed production is an important activity in breeding and cultivars maintaining of this species. Our research paper presents the influence of foliar treatments with biostimulants with amoni acids applied during the vegetation period, on the dynamics of seed germination, the percentage of germinated seeds and seed vigor index at eggplant. Biological material consist of two Romanian eggplant cultivars, Luiza and Belona. Four treatments were carried out, at 14 days interval, starting from the fruit setting. Three biostmulants were used for the treatments, Florone, Florabax and Rerum. After the fruit harvesting at physiological maturity, the seeds were extracted and used for assessing the germination dynamics in the laboratory. The seeds were placed on Petri dishes at 20OC for 16 hours and 30OC for 8 hours. After 14 days, germinated seeds were analysed for evaluation of sprouts, to calculate seed vigor index. Our results concluded that foliar treatments applicated in vegetation period with Florabax and Rerum can improve the seed germination process and have a positive influence on the percentage of germinated seeds and seed vigor index at eggplant.

Hallux valgus (HV) is one of the most common chronic deformations. It causes pain and difficulty with footwear and many patients require surgery. Hallux valgus is common and moderate or greater deformity is associated with foot pain, decreased function and worse foot health. Pain is not only a highly noxious experience per se, but it can also have an overwhelmingly negative effect on nearly every other aspect of life, including mood and capacity to function in daily roles. The purpose of this study is to estimate the impact of related to hallux valgus deformity pain on the quality of life in untreated subjects. Materials and methods: A self-reported questionnaire was distributed through podiatrists, orthopedists and kinesitherapists to 65 patients, suffering from hallux valgus deformity. Questionnaire includes 3 sections: (1) personal information, pain localization and pain intensity; (2) Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index (MFPDI); (3) EuroQol- 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-5L). Results: Responses from MFPDI shows markedly impairment of avoiding of standing for a long time, feeling of self-conscious about the feet and the shoes, having constant pain in the feet which is worsening in the evening, and more pain and discomfort during everyday activities. Most of the subjects felt mild to moderate pain. The maximum average degree of pain is correlated with the pain presented below the ball of the hallux, the local pain of the deformity (over 4.29) in relation to the absence of pain in the region of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (under 3). It feels more painful when combined with pain under the balls of all the other toes and/or under the fifth toe. Feeling pain under the ball of the hallux with or without pain under the balls of the other toes (metatarsalgia) was associated with significantly higher scores on the Functionality, Personal Appearance, and Pain subscales of the MFPDI, but not on the Work/Leisure subscale. However, the values are below 50% of the MFPDI subscales range. Conclusions: The intensity and localization of pain in hallux valgus deformity worsens some aspects of the quality of life, mainly related to the avoidance of activities that require prolonged standing and the concern about the feet and the shoes that must be worn.

Providing nutrition is a key factor in plant growth and development. Among the basic nutrients is calcium, in the form of ions (Ca2+). In the present research, it was observed how the new formulations of this macroelement demonstrate the achievement of positive effects. From the conducted research it emerged that the production of cobs increased between 12 and 33% and the grain yield remained constant. Against the background of calcium fertilization, the cobs showed insignificant lengths between 19 and 22 cm. At the same time, an increase in grain production was found between 10-30% and the absolute grain weight (MTG) was generally higher than that of the control. Crude protein (PB%) in grains was between 9-12% with slight increases. The other quality elements showed slight decreases in the case of starch content, while the oil fell within insignificant parameters. Among the correlations obtained between the studied characters, negative values were noted between cob production and grain yield (r = -0.58), between grain yield and crude protein (PB%) (r = -0.810) and between the production of grain and oil content (r = -0.026). Positive correlations were obtained between cob production and mass of one thousand grains (MTG) (r = 0.882), between grain production and mass of one thousand grains (r = 0.828) and between grain production and grain moisture (r = 0.329). As a result of the research carried out, it was found that positive effects were obtained through liming the corn crop, which recommends the use of new formulations in production conditions.

Previous studies indicated that massage relieves pain and fatigue, reduces blood pressure, decreases heart rate, decreases cortisol release and depression, and regulates sleep. Therefore, massage is a method that is frequently used to overcome sleep problems. But previous studies were mostly conducted in various pathological conditions and in infants. The aim of the current study is to determine the impact of the main parameters of the massage on the quality of sleep. Materials and methods: An online self-report questionnaire was administered to clients of four massage therapists with more than 10 years of practice and to first-year students at the National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria, after practicing back and low back massage under the supervision of their instructor. The questionnaire contains 4 sections collecting personal information and information about massage parameters, sleep quality on non-massage days and sleep quality on the night following massage session. 74 healthy volunteers completed the questionnaire. Results: 74 healthy volunteers completed the questionnaire. We excluded 2 participants younger than 18 years old. Statistical analysis showed a significant improved of quality of sleep based on the studied sleep parameters: time for transition to sleep (with - 6,16 min), sleep duration (with 39 min), need for more sleep (increasing “no” answers from 25 to 46 after massage) and self-reported sleep rate (with 1,42). We also find correlation between massage duration and falling asleep during massage and the time for transition to sleep, sleep duration, and sleep rate with better results for 60- and 90-min massage duration and drifting off during massage. CONCLUSIONS: Massage is a useful non-pharmacological method for improving the quality of sleep the night after especially 60- and 90-min massage duration and drifting off during massage. More studies are needed to evaluate the delayed effects of massage therapy on sleep parameters and quality of sleep as well as to establish the neurophysiological and biochemical mechanisms of this effects.

This paper aims to investigate the usage and impact of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, in agricultural land monitoring. The main objective of this research is to thoroughly examine the use of UAVs in agriculture, focusing on obtaining precise and up-to-date information about land conditions to support decision-making processes and implement sustainable management strategies. The contributions of this study include the identification of the advantages and limitations of UAV in monitoring and protecting agricultural land, as well as exploring how these technologies can optimize agricultural processes and support informed decision-making. The paper also addresses current challenges facing agricultural lands, such as soil degradation, crop loss, and climate change pressure, emphasizing the importance of precise monitoring and adequate protection for sustainable agriculture. Throughout history, the evolution of drones has been analyzed, from early prototypes to modern models, highlighting the technological advancements that have led to the popularization of UAVs in agriculture. Presently, the use of UAVs in agriculture has become increasingly popular due to their ability to collect detailed data and provide relevant information in real-time, thereby contributing to increased efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. In the future, it is anticipated that UAV technology will become increasingly sophisticated and integrated into agricultural activities, contributing to the transformation of this sector and generating increased interest among younger generations of farmers and agricultural researchers. The method used involved a review of specialized literature to assess the impact of this technology at the national level and the execution a drone flight using specific software to collect relevant data for monitoring agricultural land. Detailed mission planning was conducted beforehand, and during the flight, various techniques and strategies were applied for land mapping and data collection. The system also provided real-time information about weather conditions and air traffic, contributing to efficient operations management and ensuring safe flight. The results obtained consisted of precise and detailed data about the monitored land, which were subsequently analyzed and interpreted to identify potential threats or issues. The images processing included their transformation into 3D and 2D maps, as well as generating NDVI maps to assess the vegetation status of the land. These data allow the identification and evaluation of various aspects of agricultural land, including pest-related problems, nutrient deficiencies, or water stress, thereby contributing to informed decision-making and optimized crop management. The paper highlights the importance of UAV technology and demonstrates its potential in increasing efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. By integrating UAVs into agricultural workflows and using them in data collection and analysis, it is possible to more efficiently identify and manage the challenges and risks associated with agricultural activities, thereby contributing to the development of smarter and more sustainable agriculture.

The study represents the results of the investigation of some peculiarities of the leaves of three wild sunflower species: Helianthus mollis, H. maximilliani, H. nutalli. The leaf width and length, leaf thickness and the thickness of the epidermis, and the peculiarities of the leaf pubescence were studied. The wild sunflower species can be a source of genes of tolerance for many factors, including diseases and drought. We found that the investigated species had statistically significant differences in the leaf blade parameters. The thickness of the leaf was similar. However, the epidermis thickness showed statistically reliable differences between H. maximilliani and H. nutalli. This can be a reason for the different tolerance of this species to drought and high temperatures. Leaf pubescence also showed clear differences between all species. H. mollis has a greater number of hairs on the top and lower epidermis of leaves out of all investigated species. H. nutalli has the lowest number of hairs on its top surface of all these species. However, H. maximilliani has an almost equal number of hairs on both the top and lower epidermis.