Applications In Industry Research Articles

Current Review: Alginate in the Food Applications

Due to global development and increased public awareness of food’s effects on health, demands for innovative and healthy products have risen. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly polymer usage in modern food products is a promising approach to reduce the negative health and environmental effects of synthetic chemicals. Also, desirable features such as flavor, texture, shelf-life, storage condition, water holding capacity, a decrease in water activity, and an oil absorption of fried food have been improved by many polysaccharides. One of the important polymers, which is applied in the food industry, is alginate. Alginates are a safe and widely used compound in various industries, especially the food industry, which has led to innovative methods for for the improvement of this industry. Currently, different applications of alginate in stable emulsions and nano-capsules in food applications are due to the crosslinking properties of alginate with divalent cations, such as calcium ions, which have been studied recently. The main aim of this review is to take a closer look at alginate properties and applications in the food industry.

Engineering thioesterase as a driving force for novel itaconate production via its degradation scheme

Incorporation of irreversible steps in pathway design enhances the overall thermodynamic favorability and often leads to better bioconversion yield given functional enzymes. Using this concept, here we constructed the first non-natural itaconate biosynthesis pathway driven by thioester hydrolysis. Itaconate is a commercially valuable platform chemical with wide applications in the synthetic polymer industry. Production of itaconate has long relied on the decarboxylation of TCA cycle intermediate cis-aconitate as the only biosynthetic route. Inspired by nature's design of itaconate detoxification, here we engineered a novel itaconate producing pathway orthogonal to native metabolism with no requirement of auxotrophic knock-out. The reversed degradation pathway initiates with pyruvate and acetyl-CoA condensation forming (S)-citramalyl-CoA, followed by its dehydration and isomerization into itaconyl-CoA then hydrolysis into itaconate. Phenylacetyl-CoA thioesterase (PaaI) from Escherichiacoli was identified via screening to deliver the highest itaconate formation efficiency when coupled to the reversible activity of citramalate lyase and itaconyl-CoA hydratase. The preference of PaaI towards itaconyl-CoA hydrolysis over acetyl-CoA and (S)-citramalyl-CoA also minimized the inevitable precursor loss due to enzyme promiscuity. With acetate recycling, acetyl-CoA conservation, and condition optimization, we achieved a final itaconate titer of 1 g/L using the thioesterase driven pathway, which is a significant improvement compared to the original degradation pathway based on CoA transferase. This study illustrates the significance of thermodynamic favorability as a design principle in pathway engineering.

Structural engineering of metal-organic framework catalysts for efficient conversion of glucose into 5-HydroxyMethylFurfural

The research on sustainable and efficient routes to produce valuable chemicals from renewable biomass has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Among these chemicals, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) holds significant promise as a versatile platform molecule for various applications in the chemical industry. This study investigates the production of 5-HMF from glucose using zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) as environmentally friendly catalysts, an alternative to the traditional homogeneous catalysts. UiO-66 and its functionalized derivatives (e.g. UiO-66(NH2),UiO-66(COOH)2, and UiO-66(OH)2) were synthesized to study the effect of the functional groups on the dehydration reaction. The synthesized MOFs were fully characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption-desorption, Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Pyridine-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (Py-FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The catalytic performance of the synthesized MOFswas evaluated for the dehydration of glucose to 5-HMF in DMSO and further optimized in other monophasic and biphasic systems. Results indicated that UiO-66(COOH)2 exhibited exceptional catalytic activity for the conversion of glucose to HMF, with a significantly higher HMF yield of 44 % compared to other reported MOF catalysts and to that of H2SO4, which yielded 35 % at a temperature of 140 °C and a 6 h reaction time. This is mainly attributed to the effect of the bifunctional active acid sites of the metal nodes and the functional group of the organic linker (free carboxylic groups), which acted as the main source of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites respectively, compared to UiO-66. Additionally, the results suggested that the catalyst with higher acid density, higher relative mesopority, and a moderate B/L ratio could enhance glucose dehydration regardless of the surface area. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrated excellent reusability and stability, with a decrease of only 10 % after four reaction cycles. The recycled catalyst revealed no structural alterations in its framework. This study contributes to the growing body of research on Zr-based MOF as a stable and efficient catalyst for glucose valorization to produce 5-HMF under mild reaction conditions.

Protective Effects of an Octapeptide Identified from Riceberry™ (Oryza sativa) Protein Hydrolysate on Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress in L929 Cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in oxidative stress and cellular damage, underscoring the importance of identifying potent antioxidants. This research focuses on the antioxidant capabilities of Riceberry™-derived peptides and their protective effects against oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in L929 cells. By simulating human digestion, Riceberry™ protein hydrolysate was generated, from which antioxidant peptides were isolated using OFFGEL electrophoresis and LC-MS/MS. Notably, an octapeptide (VPAGVAHW) from the hydrolysate demonstrated significant antioxidant activity, particularly against oxidative stress induced by iodoacetic acid (IAA) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ER stress caused by tunicamycin (TM) in L929 cells. This peptide's effectiveness was evident in its dose-dependent ability to enhance cell viability and mitigate stress effects, although its efficiency varied with the stress inducer. Our study suggests that Riceberry™-derived peptides could serve as a promising natural antioxidant with potential benefits for health promotion and applications in the food industry, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic antioxidants.

Modulation of pea protein isolate hydrogels by adding kappa‐carrageenan: gelling properties and formation mechanism

SummaryOur study focuses on the gelling properties of pea protein (PP), which are comparatively weaker than those of other plant proteins, thereby limiting its application. However, we found that the addition of κ‐carrageenan (κ‐CAR) significantly (P < 0.05) increased PP gels' hardness and water‐holding capacity irrespective of gel formation temperature (80 or 95 °C). Rheological and microstructural analysis confirmed a synergistic effect between PP and κ‐CAR, with higher synergy values observed in hydrogels formulated at 95 °C. Molecular force studies revealed that non‐covalent interactions were dominant, with disulphide bonds contributing only to the structure of gels formed at 95 °C. These promising findings not only enhance our understanding of the PP and κ‐CAR gel formation mechanism but also hold practical implications, potentially leading to improved gelling properties of PP and expanding its applications in the food industry.

Pectic polysaccharides from Tartary buckwheat sprouts: Effects of ultrasound-assisted Fenton treatment and mild alkali treatment on their physicochemical characteristics and biological functions

Buckwheat sprouts are rich in pectic polysaccharides, which possess numerous health-improving benefits. However, the precise structure–activity relationship of pectic polysaccharides from Tartary buckwheat sprouts (TP) is still scant, which ultimately restricts their applications in the food industry. Hence, both ultrasound-assisted Fenton treatment (UAFT) and mild alkali treatment (MATT) were utilized for the modification of TP, and then the effects of physicochemical characteristics of original and modified TPs on their bioactivities were assessed. Our findings reveled that the UAFT treatment could precisely reduce TP’s molecular weight, with the levels decreased from 8.191 × 104 Da to 0.957 × 104 Da. Meanwhile, the MATT treatment could precisely reduce TP’s esterification degree, with the values decreased from 28.04 % to 4.72 %. Nevertheless, both UAFT and MATT treatments had limited effects on the backbone and branched chain of TP. Moreover, our findings unveiled that the UAFT treatment could notably promote TP’s antioxidant, antiglycation, and immunostimulatory effects, while remarkedly reduce TP’s anti-hyperlipidemic effect, which were probably owing to that the UAFT treatment obviously reduced TP’s molecular weight. Additionally, the MATT treatment could also promote TP’s immunostimulatory effect, which was probably attributed to that the MATT treatment significantly decreased TP’s esterification degree. Interestingly, the MATT treatment could regulate TP’s antioxidant and antiglycation effects, which was probably attributed to that the MATT treatment simultaneously reduced its esterification degree and bound phenolics. Our findings are conducive to understanding TP’s structure–activity relationship, and can afford a scientific theoretical basis for the development of functional or healthy products based on TPs. Besides, the UAFT treatment can be a promising approach for the modification of TP to improve its biological functions.

Characterization of the Metabolites of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidaclothiz in Mice.

As a member of the neonicotinoid group, imidaclothiz has garnered increasing attention due to its possible health risks. This study investigated the metabolism and distribution of imidaclothiz in mice. Seven imidaclothiz metabolites were found, four of which are known, and three are unknown. The metabolic reactions observed were hydroxylation, nitrate ester hydrolysis, methylation, urea formation, and reduction to NO. Precise quantification revealed that after 2 h of oral administration, imidaclothiz rapidly dispersed into various organs and tissues, peaking at 4 h, and was then swiftly eliminated. No propensity for accumulation in the body, particularly in the liver, was observed. Toxicity data from the T.E.S.T prediction indicated that imidaclothiz had moderate toxicity to rats, and a majority of its metabolites were more toxic than the parent compound. These findings complement the existing knowledge of the imidaclothiz environmental fate in mammals and offer a reference point for its application in agriculture and industry.

Supported ionic liquids to purify microbial L-Asparaginase

L-Asparaginase (ASNase) is a versatile enzyme that converts L-asparagine into ammonia and aspartic acid. This enzyme has applications in the food industry and health sector. However, high purity ASNase is required, resulting in high production costs. Therefore, in this work, two supported ionic liquids (SILs), specifically silica modified with dimethylbutylpropylammonium chloride ([Si][N3114]Cl) or triethylpropylammonium chloride ([Si][N3222]Cl), were investigated as alternative adsorption materials to purify ASNase. Different conditions were evaluated to improve enzyme purity, including total protein content in the cell extract, contact time, and SIL/cell extract ratio (w/v). Under optimal conditions using [Si][N3114]Cl, a maximum ASNase purification of 6.1-fold is achieved in a single step, resulting from the preferential attachment of other proteins on [Si][N3114]Cl SIL. According to the results, hydrophobic interactions rule the selective adsorption of protein impurities from the cell extract by the SIL, thereby increasing the ASNase purification levels. This approach offers a significant advantage, not requiring the desorption and elution of the target enzyme, while envisioning the application of SILs in a flow-through elution approach. The protonation state of protein surface was calculated by computational analysis, revealing that positively charged amino acids such as arginine and lysine block the effective binding of the enzyme to the SILs. Overall, if properly designed, SILs are promising alternative supports for the downstream processing of ASNase from cell extracts.

A critical investigation into identifying key focus areas for the implementation of blockchain applications in the mining industry

Digital information and data are crucial drivers of progress in various industries, including mining, where data-driven decision making optimizes resource extraction, enhances safety, and ensures sustainability. The adoption of digital technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things has amplified the importance of digital information. However, the integrity and security of this information are paramount, leading to the exploration of blockchain technology as a potential solution for secure digital value exchange in mining. This research examines blockchain's capabilities, drawing insights from its applications in sectors like banking, government, healthcare, and entertainment, and evaluates their relevance to mining's core value chain processes. The study identifies blockchain's distributed ledger technology, cryptographic security, and decentralization as unique advantages that can revolutionize mining by enhancing transaction speed, reducing costs, and improving supply chain transparency and compliance with sustainability standards. Blockchain's transparent and auditable records can enhance business transparency, fostering trust among stakeholders, including investors and regulatory bodies. The technology's consensus mechanisms and smart contracts further promote trust in collaborative ventures. This research provides a foundational understanding for decision-makers in the mining industry to evaluate blockchain's feasibility and potential return on investment, guiding strategic planning and resource allocation for blockchain applications. By leveraging blockchain, mining companies can optimize operations, improve sustainability practices, and establish a robust foundation for future growth, positioning blockchain as a transformative technology in the sector.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for selective detection of hypochlorite (ClO−) and gallium (III) (Ga3+) ions in environmental and food samples

Hypochlorite (ClO−) and gallium (Ⅲ) ions (Ga3+) have extensive applications in various human industries and daily activities. However, their inherent toxicity poses significant risks to environmental preservation and human well-being. Hence, the development of reliable and handy detection tools for ClO− and Ga3+ in the environment and food is crucial. In this study, a ratiometric fluorescent probe was prepared based on benzothiazolaldehyde and pyridine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide, which exhibited exceptional performance characteristics for the selective detection of ClO− and Ga3+. These features include high specificity, low detection limits (0.28 μM for ClO−, 0.13 μM for Ga3+), mild pH conditions (pH 4–11 for ClO−, pH 6–11 for Ga3+), fast response time (within 30 s), as well as versatile applicability across different matrices such as water, soil, food, and plant samples. Additionally, this probe can be used with a smartphone color recognition app. The probe offers a convenient and effective tool for the detection of ClO− and Ga3+, demonstrating its potential application value in environmental monitoring and food safety.

Characterization and subcellular localization of selenium in Limosilactobacillus fermentum Ln-9 obtained by intense pulsed light-ultraviolet combined mutagenesis

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) can convert inorganic selenium (Se) to organic Se and elemental forms with low toxicity and high bioavailability, but a comprehensive Se analysis of Se-enriched LAB is lacking. In this study, Limosilactobacillus fermentum Ln-9 was obtained by intense pulsed light-ultraviolet combined mutagenesis, and its characteristics and subcellular localization of Se were analyzed. The results displayed that Ln-9 accumulated 3.03 times Se that of the original strain. Under optimal fermentation conditions, the total Se content of Se-enriched Ln-9 (SeLn-9) reached 12.16 mg/g with 96.34% contained in Se nanoparticles (SeNPs), which was much higher than that of organic macromolecules. Furthermore, SeNPs were mainly localized outside the cell, Se-proteins were in the membrane and cytoplasmic fractions, and Se-polysaccharides were in the membrane fraction. Besides, SeLn-9 maintained a good morphology and gastrointestinal tolerance and had an enhanced antioxidant capacity. These findings make Ln-9 promising for applications in the food industry.

Induction Motors Shadow Model-Based on Efficiency for Digital Twin Application in Industry 4.0

Induction Motors Shadow Model-Based on Efficiency for Digital Twin Application in Industry 4.0

Evolutionary Probability and Stacked Regressions Enable Data-Driven Protein Engineering with Minimized Experimental Effort.

Protein engineering through directed evolution and (semi)rational approaches is routinely applied to optimize protein properties for a broad range of applications in industry and academia. The multitude of possible variants, combined with limited screening throughput, hampers efficient protein engineering. Data-driven strategies have emerged as a powerful tool to model the protein fitness landscape that can be explored in silico, significantly accelerating protein engineering campaigns. However, such methods require a certain amount of data, which often cannot be provided, to generate a reliable model of the fitness landscape. Here, we introduce MERGE, a method that combines direct coupling analysis (DCA) and machine learning (ML). MERGE enables data-driven protein engineering when only limited data are available for training, typically ranging from 50 to 500 labeled sequences. Our method demonstrates remarkable performance in predicting a protein's fitness value and rank based on its sequence across diverse proteins and properties. Notably, MERGE outperforms state-of-the-art methods when only small data sets are available for modeling, requiring fewer computational resources, and proving particularly promising for protein engineers who have access to limited amounts of data.

Engineering a versatile yeast platform for sesquiterpene production from glucose or methanol.

Natural sesquiterpene are valuable compounds with diverse applications in industries, such as cosmetics and energy. Microbial synthesis offers a promising way for sesquiterpene production. Methanol, can be synthesized from CO2 and solar energy, serves as a sustainable carbon source. However, it is still a challenge to utilize methanol for the synthesis of value-added compounds. Pichia pastoris (syn. Komagataella phaffii), known for its efficient utilization of glucose and methanol, has been widely used in protein synthesis. With advancements in technology, P. pastoris is gradually engineered for chemicals production. Here, we successfully achieved the synthesis of α-bisabolene in P. pastoris with dual carbon sources by expressing the α-bisabolene synthase gene under constitutive promoters. We systematically analyzed the effects of different steps in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway when methanol or glucose was used as the carbon source. Our finding revealed that the sesquiterpene synthase module significantly increased the production when methanol was used. While the metabolic modules MK and PMK greatly improved carbon source utilization, cell growth, and titer when glucose was used. Additionally, we demonstrated the synthesis of β-farnesene from dual carbon source by replacing the α-bisabolene synthase with a β-farnesene synthase. This study establishes a platform strain that is capable to synthesize sesquiterpene from different carbon sources in P. pastoris. Moreover, it paves the way for the development of P. pastoris as a high-efficiency microbial cell factory for producing various chemicals, and lays foundation for large-scale synthesis of high value-added chemicals efficiently from methanol in P. pastoris.

Advanced Evaluation of Novel Quinoline Derivatives for Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Acidic Environments: A Comprehensive Electrochemical, Computational, and Surface Study

Corrosion poses a significant threat to the integrity and longevity of iron and its alloys, which are crucial materials for modern industry and infrastructure. This study investigates the effectiveness of two recently synthesized inhibitors based on quinoline structures: MPQ (2-methyl-5-(propoxymethyl) quinolin-8-ol) and AAQ ((((2-aminoethyl)amino)methyl)-2-methylquinolin-8-ol) in protecting steel against environmental degradation, particularly in acidic and chloride-rich conditions such as hydrochloric acid. The inhibitors exhibited significant corrosion inhibition efficiencies of 92.37% for MPQ and 84.13% for AAQ, as demonstrated through electrochemical analysis. Surface characterization techniques, including SEM-EDX(Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis), AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy), and contact angle measurements, revealed the formation of a protective barrier film that reduces the corrosion rate. Additionally, theoretical calculations using the Gaussian package provided insights into the adsorption behaviors and protective mechanisms of the inhibitors on mild steel surfaces. The findings contribute to the ongoing search for viable corrosion inhibitors, offering prospects for application in industries and critical infrastructures to enhance corrosion protection and durability.

Genome characterization of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides UTNElla29 isolated from Morus nigra (L.) fruits: A promising exopolysaccharides producing strain

Lactic acid bacteria produce various natural polysaccharides that are secreted into the cellular matrix and bonded to the cell surface or released into the surrounding environment. Due to their broad applications in the food industry, the search for novel polysaccharide producer strains remains of interest. In this study, we report the genome sequencing and characterization of Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides strain UTNElla29 isolated from Morus nigra (L.) fruits. Using in silico different “genome mining” tools we prospect their genetic potential. The genome size was estimated at 2,272,560 bp and a GC content of 39.26%. Of the total proteins, 2170 matched in the EggNOG database. The key genes related to amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, were annotated. The genome harbors one intact prophage, one CRISPR array, and two putative gene sequences associated with CAS3 Type I, and no plasmids indicating its stability. Moreover, no acquired resistance genes, virulence and pathogenic factors, nor biogenic amines were predicted, suggesting its safety. In vitro preliminary studies showed that EPS yield from 0.4 to 10.2 (g/L) dry biomass and the production varied with the inoculum size and sugar type MRS containing medium. Furthermore, several polyketides and terpenes were predicted, indicating the possibility of generating a wide range of naturally compounds with broad biological functions. However, these promising results suggest that Ella29 is a beneficial strain to be further exploited in vitro for various technological use.

Micro container made of levitated liquid bead

Liquid bead, an emerging digital microfluidic platform offers a wide range of applications in research and industry. Making liquid beads using acoustic levitation technology allows for the fabrication of micro container. Extensive insight into levitated liquid beads is essential for determining their performance. Firstly, this paper unfolds the unique interface of the levitated liquid bead, which has thin membrane of shell material on top and thus serves as a micro container. Next, we characterised the puncture toughness of liquid beads to assess the capability of releasing the liquid content. Liquid bead with larger corresponding shell volume and lower core volume recorded the highest resistance against needle penetration. Finally, we observed the thermal behaviour of liquid beads at elevated temperature. The liquid beads showed no morphological change over 10-minutes period at 50 °C. Liquid bead exceeded the critical temperature threshold of 65 °C, which resulted in breaking the thin membrane and releasing the liquid from the core.

Production and characterization of low-density silicon nitride reinforced zinc nanocomposite coatings on mild steel for applications in marine and automotive industries

In today's automotive, marine and petrochemical industries, the desire for lightweight materials has increased. Hence, necessitating the production of components with low density. In this work, lightweight Zn–Si3N4 coatings were developed by including Si3N4 in the zinc matrix. The optimal coatings were produced on steel samples at 45 °C and varied Si3N4 particles and voltages following ASTM A53/A53M standard. The deterioration (corrosion) property i.e. corrosion rate (CR) and current density (jocorr) of the uncoated (control) and coated samples were examined in 0.5 M of sulphuric acid using a potentiodynamic polarization technique following ASTM G3/G102 standard. The microstructure of the samples was studied via the SEM micrographs and XRD patterns, while the wear performance resistance (following ASTM G99 standard) and electrical conductivity of the samples were examined with a pin-on-disc tribometer and ammeter-voltmeter. The corrosion experiment indicated that the uncoated mild steel specimen possessed a CR of 12.345 mm year−1 and jocorr of 1060 μA/cm2, while the CR and jcorr of the coated samples ranged from 2.6793 to 4.7975 mm year−1 and 231−413 μA/cm2, respectively. The lower CR and jcorr values of the coated specimens, relative to the coated sample showed that the coatings possessed superior passivation ability in the test medium. The SEM micrographs of the samples showed refined morphology, while the XRD patterns revealed high peak intensity crystals such as Zn4SiN, ZnNSi, Zn4N and Zn2NSi, which could be beneficial to the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the steel. Moreover, the wear resistance study indicated that the COF of the uncoated sample ranged from 0.1 to 0.5, while those for coated specimens ranged from 0.05 to 0.35. Similarly, the uncoated steel exhibited a wear volume (WV) of 0.00508 mm3, while the WV of the coated specimens ranged from 0.00266 to 0.0028 mm3, indicating the existence of high strengthening mechanisms between the interface of the protecting device and the steel. Also, the electrical conductivity of the mild steel sample reduced from 12.97 Ω−1cm−1 to 0.64 Ω−1cm−1, indicating that the electrical resistivity of the steel was enhanced by the coatings.

Study on preparation and anti-sand erosion performance of thick DLC coating combined with FCVA deposition and HVP technology

To address the compatibility issues between the hardness and thickness of DLC coatings and to improve the erosion resistance of engine blades, a thick DLC coating was prepared using a combination of filter cathode vacuum arc (FCVA) deposition technology and high voltage pulse (HVP) technology. The prepared thick DLC coating exhibits low residual stress (1.79 ± 0.087 GPa) and high C-sp3 content (70.13%), with a thickness and hardness of 18.46 μm and 51.07 ± 0.23 GPa, respectively. The results of anti-sand erosion tests indicate that the mass loss rates of DLC coating at the erosion angles of 45° and 90° are 4.44 × 10-3 mg/g and 1.99 × 10-2 mg/g, respectively. The good erosion resistance of thick DLC coatings is attributed to the consumption of residual impact energy by carbon cluster structures, which prevents the generation and propagation of cracks. Therefore, the thick and super-hard DLC coatings can be prepared by combining FCVA deposition technique with HVP technique, which has great potential applications in the aerospace industry.

A real-time vehicle safety system by concurrent object detection and head pose estimation via stereo vision

A considerable number of vehicular accidents occur in low-millage zones like school streets, neighborhoods, and parking lots, among others. Therefore, the proposed work aims to provide a novel ADAS system to warn about dangerous scenarios by analyzing the driver's attention and the corresponding distances between the vehicle and the detected object on the road. This approach is made possible by concurrent Head Pose Estimation (HPE) and Object/Pedestrian Detection. Both approaches have shown independently their viable application in the automotive industry to decrease the number of vehicle collisions. The proposed system takes advantage of stereo vision characteristics for HPE by enabling the computation of the Euler Angles with a low average error for classifying the driver's attention on the road using neural networks. For Object Detection, stereo vision is used to detect the distance between the vehicle and the approaching object; this is made with a state-of-the-art algorithm known as YOLO-R and a fast template matching technique known as SoRA that provides lower processing times. The result is an ADAS system designed to ensure adequate braking time, considering the driver's attention on the road and the distances to objects.