Applicable Method Research Articles

Entomopathogenic Fungi in Forest Habitats of Ixodes ricinus.

(1) Background: In addition to the microclimate, host availability, and tick microbiota, soil environmental microorganisms can affect tick populations. This study aimed to (1) determine the presence and diversity of entomopathogenic fungi (EF) in forests, where ticks are abundant, and (2) estimate the effectiveness of the isolated EF strains against Ixodes ricinus. (2) Methods: EF were isolated using the trap insect method from soil collected from tick sites. A bioassay was used to estimate the effectiveness of EF against ticks. (3) Results: The presence of EF was found in all tested forest habitat types. A total of 53 strains belonging to the genera Metarhizium, Beauveria, and Isaria were isolated. All the six strains subjected to the bioassay showed potential efficacy against both adult and nymphal stages of I. ricinus; however, the strains differed in their effectiveness. The most effective isolate against I. ricinus was the soil environmental strain of Metarhizium anisopliae. (4) Conclusion: The study indicates that tick habitats can be the source of entomopathogenic fungi, which have a lethal effect on ticks, as demonstrated in preliminary laboratory tests with I. ricinus. However, for practical use, extensive field tests and further research on application methods and long-term effects are necessary to develop effective and sustainable tick management strategies.

Optimizing the preparation of polymer nanocoatings by self-assembly and gamma irradiation of elaidic acid on copper surfaces

Self-assembling molecular layers (SAMs) can serve as a densely packed film of monomers that can be easily crosslinked to form nanometer-thick polymer coatings with high protective properties. However, the properties of the resulting coatings are highly dependent on the preparation method used to apply the SAM to the surface.In this work, the influence of different SAM preparation steps (preparation of the oxide layer, self-assembly and drying) on the corrosion resistance of the coated samples, as well as the method of applying the molecules to the surface (immersion, spraying, brush application), was investigated. Elaidic acid, an unsaturated trans fatty acid, was applied to copper and crosslinked with gamma radiation. The properties of the coatings were studied by electrochemical methods, contact angle measurements, XPS, AFM and FTIR. The results show that the oxidation step is crucial for obtaining proper coatings, while the drying at elevated temperatures is not required. It has also been shown that the immersion of samples results in coatings with the best protective properties, while the application by brush can be an alternative method of application. On the other hand, spraying the elaidic acid results in a less uniform coating.

Tilapia head gelatins to stabilize fish oil emulsions and the effect of extraction methods

The preparation and use of gelatins from fish by-products have attracted much attention in the field of food science. Herein, four types of tilapia head gelatins were extracted and characterized: hot water-pretreated gelatin (HWG), acetic acid-pretreated gelatin (AAG), sodium hydroxide-pretreated gelatin (SHG), and pepsin enzyme-pretreated gelatin (PEG). The gel strength values followed the order: PEG (74 ± 1 Bloom) > AAG (66 ± 1) > HWG (59 ± 1) > SHG (34 ± 1). The foaming properties, fish oil emulsion viscosity, emulsion activity, and emulsion stabilization ability followed this order: PEG > HWG ≥ AAG > SHG. The effect mechanisms of extraction methods and gelatin concentrations on the emulsion stability involved the interfacial tension, emulsion viscosity, and fat-binding capacity. This work provided important knowledge for analyzing the relations between the structure and function of gelatin. It also provided a high-value application method of fish wastes.

A study on nickel application methods for optimizing soybean growth

Fertilization with nickel (Ni) can positively affect plant development due to the role of this micronutrient in nitrogen (N) metabolism, namely, through urease and NiFe-hydrogenase. Although the application of Ni is an emerging practice in modern agriculture, its effectiveness strongly depends on the chosen application method, making further research in this area essential. The individual and combined effects of different Ni application methods—seed treatment, leaf spraying and/or soil fertilization—were investigated in soybean plants under different edaphoclimatic conditions (field and greenhouse). Beneficial effects of the Soil, Soil + Leaf and Seed + Leaf treatments were observed, with gains of 7 to 20% in biological nitrogen fixation, 1.5-fold in ureides, 14% in shoot dry weight and yield increases of up to 1161 kg ha−1. All the Ni application methods resulted in a 1.1-fold increase in the SPAD index, a 1.2-fold increase in photosynthesis, a 1.4-fold increase in nitrogenase, and a 3.9-fold increase in urease activity. Edaphoclimatic conditions exerted a significant influence on the treatments. The integrated approaches, namely, leaf application in conjunction with soil or seed fertilization, were more effective for enhancing yield in soybean cultivation systems. The determination of the ideal method is crucial for ensuring optimal absorption and utilization of this micronutrient and thus a feasible and sustainable management technology. Further research is warranted to establish official guidelines for the application of Ni in agricultural practices.

THE PROBLEM OF REGULATING FUNGICIDES ON THE SKIN SURFACE FOR OCCUPATIONAL SKIN DISEASE IN AGRICULTURAL WORKERS’ RISK PREDICTION

The aim. To establish the norms of fungicides on the skin surface and predicting the risk of occupational skin pathology in agricultural workers to develop measures to prevent diseases caused by dermal exposure to pesticides. Materials and methods. The natural experiment was performed in accordance with modern requirements (European Food Safety Authority (2022), and the risk assessment was carried out according to the Recommendations (Approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 324 issued on 13.05.2009) with different methods of spraying techniques: rod, air blast fan spraying, pre-sowing, aviation, knapsack treatment. 17 series of natural experiments were performed, and the air of the working zone area (n =56) and dermal exposure (n =56) were analyzed for each worker with different pesticide application methods. Quantitative determination of pesticide content was carried out by gas-liquid and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. The results were statistically processed using a package of licensed statistical programs MedStat v.5.2 (Copyright © 2003-2019) and Microsoft® Excel® for Microsoft 365 MSO. Results. It was established that there is pesticide contamination, mainly of the gloves of tank filling operators when preparing working solutions. No contamination of the skin surface was detected; only pesticide residues were present on the surface of the workers’ overalls. A comparison of the exposure dose in case of percutaneous exposure during the performance of technological operations with different methods of processing, dermal equivalents of Acceptable Operator Exposure Level of pesticide to workers’ skin (DE AOEL) and the allowable dermal dose for professional contingents (ADderm) and the hazard coefficients by dermal exposure (HCderm) showed that that dermal exposure during individual technological operations with different processing methods had a reliable difference between processing methods, but there is no difference within one application method. Conclusions. During the comparison of the hazard coefficients for dermal exposure, calculated according to different models, no significant difference was found between the risks calculated according to DE AOEL and ADderm for individual technological operations in various treatment methods, except for the operator who performed knapsack treatment and the risk calculated according to ADderm is significantly lower compared to the DE AOEL risk.

Study of medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary medical system in riverine areas of Punjab, Pakistan

BackgroundThe use of medicinal plants to treat various veterinary illnesses has been practiced for millennia in many civilizations. Punjab is home to a diverse ethnic community, the majority of whom work in dairy farming, agriculture, and allied professions and have indigenous practices of treating animal illnesses using native flora. This study was designed to (1) document and preserve information about the applications of medicinal plant species in ethnoveterinary remedies among inhabitants of Punjab, Pakistan, and (2) identify popular plants for disease treatment by quantitative analysis of the obtained data and to assess the pharmacological relevance of these species.MethodsTo collect data from informants (N = 279), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used. The ethnoveterinary data were analyzed using principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority.ResultsA total of 114 plant species utilized in the ethnoveterinary medicinal system were found, which were divided into 56 families and used to treat 16 different illnesses. The Poaceae family, with 16 species, was the most common in the region. The most commonly employed growth form in herbal preparation was herb (49%). The most used part in ethnoveterinary remedies was leaves (35%), while powder was the most commonly used way for preparing ethnoveterinary remedies (51 applications). According to principal component analysis, the most typically used species in the research region were grasses. Five grasses (Arundo donax, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eleusine indica, Hordeum vulgare, and Pennisetum glaucum) showed a 100% FL value when used to treat diuretics, helminthiasis, digestive problems, fever, cough, worm infestation, indigestion, galactagogue, oral infections, and genital prolapse. The maximum value of disease cured level (DCL%) was recorded at 87.6% for endo- and ecto-parasitic ailments in the study area.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that medicinal plants play an important part in satisfying farmers’ animal healthcare demands, making it a feasible practice. The study also provides a wealth of knowledge regarding ethnoveterinary methods for further planning and application, providing an option for farmers who cannot afford allopathic therapy.

Evaluation of methods used to improve grasslands as ring‐necked pheasant brood habitat

AbstractRing‐necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) demographic response is sensitive to chick survival and nest success. The establishment and management of grasslands within agricultural landscapes, often through cropland conversion programs (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program [CRP]), have positive impacts on survival and nest success. Newly established CRP and early successional habitat can provide vegetative structure selected by pheasant chicks. Ideal brood habitat provides an abundance of arthropods, an open understory promoting efficient chick movement, and a protective canopy cover. However, the natural succession of grasslands changes desired vegetative structure and challenges managers with providing adequate habitat for pheasant chicks. We investigated the efficacy of different methods of CRP management, including haying, burning, herbicide application, interseeding, and grazing, to provide adequate brood rearing habitat in cool‐ and warm‐season grasslands. We assessed chick body mass change using human‐imprinted ring‐necked pheasant chicks and investigated changes in vegetation composition and structure in relation to various habitat treatments in north‐central and north‐eastern South Dakota during mid‐June and mid‐July of 2013, 2014, and 2015. Generally, treatments that incorporated interseeding, herbicide application, or their combination had the greatest chick mass gain, reduced litter cover and depth, and increased bare ground and forb cover. Effective management for brood habitat may require more aggressive techniques than simple haying or prescribed fire techniques.

A GPU-accelerated adaptation of the PSO algorithm for multi-objective optimization applied to artificial neural networks to predict energy consumption

Optimization research often confronts the challenge of developing time consuming processes. This article introduces an innovative approach that leverages the computational power of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to speed up that optimization process. We present an innovative adaptation of Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) to meet the requirements of multiobjective optimization problems. This approach aims to leverage the strengths of a multi-objective approach to perform energy consumption prediction using neural networks. By employing GPU parallel techniques, our method not only speeds up the optimization process but also enhances the efficiency of neural network training execution. The main advantage of our approach lies in its dual ability to simultaneously optimizing neural network architectures by determining the minimum number of hidden neurons and fitting the weights of the networks in order to achieve the lowest error. Preliminary results suggest a notable enhancement in prediction accuracy of forecasting electric energy consumption, as a result of optimizing the architecture and parameters of the neural network using the proposed method. This PSO adaptation stands out for its ability to address complex problems, increase efficiency and produce accurate predictions, making it a novel solution in Machine Learning heuristic methods for application in the solution of advanced prediction problems with time constraints from time series.

A novel approach in biomedical engineering: The use of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel encapsulating human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for enhanced osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis in bone regeneration

Developing effective methods for alveolar bone defect regeneration is a significant challenge in orthopedics. Exosomes from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSC-Exos) have shown potential in bone repair but face limitations due to undefined application methods and mechanisms. To address this, HUMSC-Exos were encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel (Exo@PVA) to create a novel material for alveolar bone repair. This combination enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) more effectively than Exos alone. Additionally, Exo@PVA significantly improved alveolar bone regeneration and defect repair in rats. The microRNA-21-5p (miR-21-5p) in Exo@PVA, identified through the GEO database and analyzed via in silico methods, played a crucial role. miR-21-5p promoted BMSC osteogenic differentiation by inhibiting WWP1-mediated KLF5 ubiquitination and enhanced HUVEC angiogenesis by targeting ATP2B4. These findings underscore the potential of an Exo-based approach with PVA hydrogel scaffolds for bone defect repair, operating through the miR-21-5p/WWP1/ATP2B4 signaling axis.

The use of biocidal products to control urban pests and vector arthropods

Abstract Pest management and vector control are important for their impact on health, quality of life, and the economy of touristic areas. The many different methods with which insecticides are applied, the specific equipment required, and the lack of clear terms often give rise to confusion and misunderstandings. This paper organises and describes their application methods, equipment, and most suitable use, and highlights their strengths and weaknesses.

Post-thyroidectomy bilateral cervical plexus block relieves pain: a systematic review.

To assess the effectiveness of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) in treating post-thyroidectomy pain. MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, LILACS, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were extensively searched. The search period extended from 1968 until December 2022. Randomized controlled trials comparing BSCPB to placebo, no block in patients with thyroidectomy for benign or malignant thyroid disease were included. Outcomes werepain in the first 24h after surgery. Analgesic rescue, period before the first rescue dosage, and 24-h opioid usage were secondary outcomes. The RoB 2 instrument was used to evaluate the risk of bias. 34 of 354 studies were eligible. There were 2,519 patients. BSCPB reduced the intensity of painpostoperatively[SMD:-1.17(95%CI:-1.54to-0.81)] andin the first 24h [-0.62 (95%: 0.91 to 0.33)]. A considerable delay for the first opioiddose, rescue analgesics, and postoperative opioid usage was also found. BSCPB's 24-h analgesic efficacy minimizes the requirement for rescue analgesia, postoperative opioid intake, and rescue analgesia start time. The choice of anesthetic and different application methods might affect its effectiveness.

Survey on Redundancy Based-Fault tolerance methods for Processors and Hardware accelerators - Trends in Quantum Computing, Heterogeneous Systems and Reliability

Survey on Redundancy Based-Fault tolerance methods for Processors and Hardware accelerators - Trends in Quantum Computing, Heterogeneous Systems and Reliability

Machine learning for predicting halogen radical reactivity toward aqueous organic chemicals

Rapid advances in machine learning (ML) provide fast, accurate, and widely applicable methods for predicting free radical-mediated organic pollutant reactivity. In this study, the rate constants (logk) of four halogen radicals were predicted using Morgan fingerprint (MF) and Mordred descriptor (MD) in combination with a series of ML models. The findings highlighted that making accurate predictions for various datasets depended on an effective combination of descriptors and algorithms. To further alleviate the challenge of limited sample size, we introduced a data combination strategy that improved prediction accuracy and mitigated overfitting by combining different datasets. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) with MF and Random Forest (RF) with MD models based on the unified dataset were finally selected as the optimal models. The SHapley Additive exPlanations revealed insights: the MF-LightGBM model successfully captured the influence of electron-withdrawing/donating groups, while autocorrelation, walk count and information content descriptors in the MD-RF model were identified as key features. Furthermore, the important contribution of pH was emphasized. The results of the applicability domain analysis further supported that the developed model can make reliable predictions for query compounds across a broader range. Finally, a practical web application for logk calculations was built.

Migration roles of different oxygen species over Cu/CeO2 for propane and soot combustion

Determining the migration rules of oxygen species in catalytic combustion, especially for catalysts composed of transition metal oxides, is essential yet challenging. This study hydrothermally synthesized nanosphere-structured cerium dioxide (CeO2) and its copper-loaded catalysts (Cu/CeO2) to identify the distinct functions of superficial oxygen species (O) and lattice oxygen (O2–). The presence of Cu-Ce solid solution at the Cu/CeO2 interface lowered the apparent activation energy for the catalytic combustion of propane and soot. The catalytic combustion of propane followed the Mars-van Krevelen mechanism, with O2– serving as the dominant reactive phase while O played a subordinate role. The solid–solid reaction between soot and superficial oxygen of the catalyst was responsible for catalyzed soot combustion. The O species produced by surface defective sites exhibited higher activity than O2–, which drained easily at the beginning of the reactions. The isotopic oxygen exchange tests revealed the mechanism of metal oxide (CuO/CeO2) interactions for active oxygen species migration, with the results demonstrating the solid solution at the phase interface as portholes for oxygen migration, thus increasing oxygen mobility between the gaseous phase and the surface by lowering the migration activation energy. In situ, infrared results showed that the reaction path of soot catalytic combustion was single, without any intermediate production formation, compared to multiple paths in the propane oxidation process. This study provided an easily implemented and widely applicable method, which deepens our understanding of the characterization of the function and migration of predominant oxygen species in diverse combustion reactions involving oxide-based catalysts. Additionally, this study clarified differences and similarities between the reaction mechanisms of solid–solid and solid–gas catalysis.

Effect of zinc and boron on grain quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum) in north-western plain zone of India

An experiment was conducted to study the “Effect of zinc and boron on grain quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) during the winter (rabi) season of 2018–2019 and 2019–20 at the agronomy research farm of IFTM University, Lodhipur Rajput, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Ten treatments, viz. T1 , Control (no fertilizer); T2 , zinc @ 5 kg/ha (SA); T3 , zinc @ 1 kg/ha (FA); T4 - zinc @ 1 + 1 kg/ha (2 FA); T5 , zinc @ 5 kg/ha (SA) + zinc @ 1 kg/ha (FA); T6 , boron @ 0.5 kg/ha (SA); T7 , boron @ 0.1 kg/ha (FA); T8 , boron @ 0.2 kg/ha (2 FA); T9 , boron @ 0.5 kg/ha (SA) and boron @ 0.1 kg/ha (FA) and T10-, zinc @ 5 kg/ha + boron @ 0.5 kg/ha (SA) were comprised in randomized block design (RBD) with the three replications. The results revealed that different levels and application methods of zinc and boron significantly improved the grain quality of wheat. Maximum Zn content (35.4 and 35.9 mg/ha) and Zn uptake (185.1 and 197.1 g/ha) in 2018–19 and 2019–20, respectively were recorded with Zn @ 5 kg/ha (SA) + zinc @ 1 kg/ha (FA). Moreover, maximum B content (58.5 and 59.5 mg/ha) and B uptake (361.9 and 376.4 g/ha) in 2018–19 2019–20, respectively were observed with B @ 0.5 kg/ha (SA) and B @ 0.1 kg/ha (FA). Maximum protein content in grain (12.6 and 12.7%) and protein yield (712.8 and 744.9 kg/ha) was recorded under Zn - 5 kg/ha (SA) + B 0.5 kg/ha (SA) in 2018–19 and 2019–20, respectively

The Big Data Thinking in Furniture Innovative Design Under the Environment Configuration of Modern Chinese Houses

"Big data" is a popular word at present, and its application in various industries has gradually become widespread. In the furniture industry, the application effect of big data in the market is more and more prominent, and the great value brought by big data to furniture enterprises is also more and more obvious. How to use big data to obtain the information advantage brought by big data is also an important problem faced by furniture enterprises. This paper introduces the application and application methods of big data in new furniture design, and discusses how furniture design can effectively use big data to seize market opportunities and achieve new business development. This paper discusses how to apply more extensive data thinking in furniture design, model development and subsequent design to improve product innovation design, so as to provide effective reference for the new development of furniture design. At the same time, we explored innovative furniture design in combination with reality, and found that using big data can effectively enhance the pertinence of furniture design and optimize user experience.

REVIEW: MATERIALS FOR IMPREGNATION OF POROUS METALLIZATION THERMAL SPRAYED ANTICORROSIVE COATINGS OF SUBMERSIBLEOILFIELD EQUIPMENT. Part 1

Submersible oilfield equipment undergoes aggressive corrosive effects of petroleum fluid, abrasive effects of mechanical impurities during operation, and also operates at elevated temperatures in the bottom. The most effective way to protect the outer surface of oilfield equipment is the use of metallization thermal sprayed coatings, and therefore the application of thermal spraying technology is becoming more and more in demand.However, the formation of a coating structure from many particles of molten material, due to their spraying, incomplete melting and loose packaging, leads to the formation of porosity, and porosity is one of the main disadvantages of thermal sprayed coatings. To eliminate this disadvantage, it is possible to use impregnation of porous coatings with various compositions, in which case the coating becomes composite. Depending on the operating environment, temperature conditions and operating conditions, metal, organic and inorganic impregnating compositions are used,but their use in the oil environment has been little studied, therefore the development of composite impregnated coatings is relevant for the protection of submersible oilfield equipment. The article highlights the influence of technological modes of its application on the porosity of thermal sprayed coating and the quality of substrate surface preparation. The main methods of sealing the porosity of thermal sprayed coatings by impregnation are described. The mechanism of impregnation (infiltration) of porous coatings, used methods of application and their classification are described, the determining role of wetting the coating with an impregnating material is emphasized. The effect of the rough surface of a thermal sprayed coating is shown, which consists in enhancing the wetting properties of the impregnating composition, the influence of roughness on the formation of adhesive bonds between the coating and the impregnating composition.The review presents traditional impregnating materials used in industry and their application modes.The application of metal and non-polymer inorganic impregnating compounds, represented mainly by salts of inorganic acids (nitrates, phosphates, silicates), is described. Specific test results are presented, including for the corrosion and abrasive resistance of thermal sprayed coatings after the application of impregnating compounds.

Deep learning based event reconstruction for cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy

The objective of the cyclotron radiation emission spectroscopy (CRES) technology is to build precise particle energy spectra. This is achieved by identifying the start frequencies of charged particle trajectories which, when exposed to an external magnetic field, leave semi-linear profiles (called tracks) in the time–frequency plane. Due to the need for excellent instrumental energy resolution in application, highly efficient and accurate track reconstruction methods are desired. Deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNNs) - particularly suited to deal with information-sparse data and which offer precise foreground localization—may be utilized to extract track properties from measured CRES signals (called events) with relative computational ease. In this work, we develop a novel machine learning based model which operates a CNN and a support vector machine in tandem to perform this reconstruction. A primary application of our method is shown on simulated CRES signals which mimic those of the Project 8 experiment—a novel effort to extract the unknown absolute neutrino mass value from a precise measurement of tritium β −-decay energy spectrum. When compared to a point-clustering based technique used as a baseline, we show a relative gain of 24.1% in event reconstruction efficiency and comparable performance in accuracy of track parameter reconstruction.

Reappraisal of Traditional Persian Medicine in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Seizure

Reappraisal of Traditional Persian Medicine in the Treatment of Epilepsy and Seizure

Online vs Traditional Recruitment Approaches: Preferences of Saudi Employers and Employees

Purpose: This study analyses and compares traditional and e-recruitment methods for job applications from the perspectives of employees and employers. Research Design: The study collected data from employees and employers in business organizations located in Yanbu Industrial City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. An internet-mediated approach was used, and a survey questionnaire was designed. The sample size was determined to be 328 using an unknown population sample size formula. Data were gathered from 103 employees and 53 employers. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted, and Chi-square was used to analyze the approaches of Traditional and e-recruitment for the job application process. Findings: The findings indicate that a high percentage of employees and employers’ preference for online methods in job applications. However, the chi-square test reveals a discrepancy between the perspectives of employees and employers. Employees support the use of online methods, while employers reject the hypothesis that online application methods are effective. Implications: One of the implications of online recruitment systems is that managers who use e-recruitment systems may have concerns about the accuracy and accountability of applicant data. Additionally, the lack of in-person interactions during the online application process can lead to frustration for job seekers and missed opportunities for employers to obtain or share more information. Originality: This study is arguably one of the leading studies that investigates the perceptions of employers and employees regarding the e-recruitment process in Saudi Arabia. Its findings would be of great help to employers in improving the e-recruitment system.