Water Control Research Articles

Antimicrobial efficacy of a citric acid/hydrochloric acid blend, peroxyacetic acid, and sulfuric acid against Salmonella and background microbiota on chicken hearts and livers.

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a blend of citric acid and hydrochloric acid (CP), peroxyacetic acid (PAA), and sulfuric acid (SA) against Salmonella and mesophilic aerobic plate counts (APC) on chicken hearts and livers. Samples were inoculated with a five-serovar cocktail of Salmonella at ca. 4.8logCFU/g and treated by immersion with a water control (90s), CP (5% v/v, 30s), PAA (0.05% v/v or 500ppm, 90s), or SA (2% v/v, 30s), all at 4°C and with mechanical agitation. Samples were vacuum packed and stored for up to 3 days at 4°C. Three independent replications were performed for each product, treatment, and time combination. The average Salmonella reductions in chicken hearts after 3 days were 1.33±0.25, 1.40±0.04, and 1.32±0.12logCFU/g for PAA, SA, and CP, respectively. For chicken livers, the values were 1.10±0.12, 1.09±0.19, and 0.96±0.27 for PAA, SA, and CP, respectively. All antimicrobials reduced Salmonella counts in both chicken hearts and livers by more than one log, in contrast to the water control. All treatments effectively minimized the growth of APC for up to 3 days of refrigerated storage, and no differences in objective color values (L, a, or b) were observed. The poultry industry may use these antimicrobials as components of a multifaceted approach to mitigate Salmonella in nonconventional chicken parts.

Enhancing Leaf Nutrient Levels in Polyembryonic Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Seedlings: The Impact of Saline Water Irrigation and 28-Homobrassinolide Spray

The leaf nutrients play a key role in the growth of a plant. Therefore, a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of saline water and spray of 28-homobrassinolide on leaf nutrient status of polyembryonic mango (Mangifera indica L.) seedling during the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Agriculture Experimental Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Paria, (Gujarat). The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design with factorial concept comprising of four salinity levels [S1: Best available water (control), S2: 2 dS m-1, S3: 4 dS m-1, S4: 6 dS m-1] and three spray concentration of 28-homobrassinolide [H1: No spray, (control), H2 : 0.5 ppm and H3 : 1 ppm]. Saline water application and 28-homobrassinolide spray was started at 80 days after sowing up to 240 days. The treatment containing application of water having lowest salinity (best available water) resulted in significantly higher leaf nutrient contents except Na up to 9 months after sowing during both years and in pooled analysis. Application of saline water having EC 6 dS m-1 adversely affected the growth of polyembryonic mango seedlings, reduced nutrient contents after 6 months of sowing. After 6 month of sowing, highest nutrient contents except Na was noted in mango seedlings treated with spray of 1 ppm 28-homobrassinolide during both years and in pooled analysis. The interactions of salinity levels and 28-homobrassinolide spray significantly affect leaf nutrient content of mango seedlings. Leaf nutrient contents except Na up to 9 months after sowing during both the years and in pooled analysis were recorded in treatment combination of best available water along with 1 ppm spray of 28-homobrassinolide. Maximum content of Na was observed in plants irrigated with 6 dS m-1 salinity level without spray of 28-homobrassinolide. Hence, it can be concluded that polyembryonic mango seedlings can be grown with saline irrigation having salinity up to 4 dS m-1 along with 1 ppm 28-homobrassinolide spray for better growth, biomass, nutrient contents and higher survival up to 9 months after sowing.

Acute stress does not modulate selective attention in a composite letter task

Acute stress has been demonstrated to affect a diverse array of attentional processes, one of which is selective attention. Selective attention refers to the cognitive process of deliberately allocating attentional resources to a specific stimulus, while ignoring other, distracting stimuli. While catecholamines have been shown to narrow attention, investigations on the influence of the stress hormone cortisol have yielded ambiguous results. We conducted two separate studies utilizing different laboratory stress induction paradigms to examine if cortisol influences the ability to selectively attend to local or global elements of a visual stimulus. In Study 1, 72 healthy young men took part either in the stressful Socially Evaluated Cold Pressor Test (SECPT) or a non-stressful (warm water) control, before being exposed to a composite letter task (CLT). Study 2 comprised a sample of 72 healthy young men and women and made use of a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as well as a non-stressful control version, the friendly-TSST (f-TSST). Via endocrine, physiological, and subjective markers, we confirmed a successful stress induction. As verified with Bayesian statistics, stress did not affect selective attention in neither of the two studies. Furthermore, we were able to replicate the previously demonstrated absence of global precedence for composite figures composed of letters. Our results offer novel insights into the temporal dynamics of the effects of acute stress on attentional processes. Future studies should manipulate the timing of stress induction and investigate the effects of stress on letter vs. non-letter composite figures to shed further light on the underlying mechanisms.

Silica and Selenium Nanoparticles Attract or Repel Scale Insects by Altering Physicochemical Leaf Traits.

Although nanoparticles have gained attention as efficient alternatives to conventional agricultural chemicals, there is limited knowledge regarding their effects on herbivorous insect behavior and plant physicochemistry. Here, we investigated the effects of foliar applications of nano-silica (SiO2NPs) and nano-selenium (SeNPs), and bulk-size silica (SiO2) on the choice behavior of the arrowhead scale insect on mandarin orange plants. One leaf of a bifoliate pair was treated with one of the three chemicals, while the other was treated with water (control). The respective SiO2, SeO2, calcium (Ca), and carbon (C) content levels in the leaf epidermis and mesophyll were quantified using SEM-EDX (or SEM-EDS); leaf toughness and the arrowhead scale density and body size were measured. First-instar nymphs preferred silica-treated leaves and avoided SeNP-treated leaves. SiO2 content did not differ between control and SiO2NP-treated leaves, but was higher in bulk-size SiO2-treated leaves. The SiO2 level in the control leaves was higher in the SiO2NP treatment compared with that in the control leaves in the bulk-size SiO2 treatment. Silica-treated leaves increased in toughness, but SeNP-treated leaves did not; leaf toughness increased with mesophyllic SiO2 content. The insect density per leaf increased with leaf toughness, SiO2 content and, in the SiO2NP treatment, with epidermal C content. There was no correlation between SeO2 content and insect density. This study highlights the potential uses of SeNPs as an insect deterrent and of silica for enhancing leaf toughness and attracting scale insects.

Effects of moderate ethanol exposure on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer in adult Wistar rats

While past studies have provided evidence linking excessive alcohol consumption to increased risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC), existing data on the effects of moderate alcohol use on these conditions have produced mixed results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on risk factors associated with the development of CVDs and CRC in adult rats. Twenty-four, 14-month-old, non-deprived male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to either an ethanol group, which consisted of voluntary access to a 20% (v/v) ethanol solution on alternate days, or a water control group (n = 12/group) for 13 weeks. Blood samples were collected to analyze levels of albumin, glucose, adiponectin, lipids, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), C-reactive protein (CRP), high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), liver function enzymes, and antioxidant capacity. Colonic gene expression related to colon carcinogenesis was also assessed. Ethanol-treated rats were found to have significantly higher HDL-C and apoA1 levels compared to controls. Moderate alcohol consumption led to significantly lower CRP levels and a trend for decrease in HMGB-1, TNF-α, and 8-oxo-dG levels. In the ethanol-exposed group, colonic gene expression of superoxide dismutase was upregulated while aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 showed a trend for increase compared to the control group. These results indicate that adopting a moderate approach to alcohol consumption could potentially improve health biomarkers related to CVD and CRC by increasing HDL-C levels and antioxidant activity and reducing DNA damage and inflammatory activity.

Reduced Freshwater Mussel Juvenile Production as a Result of Agricultural and Urban Contaminant Mixture Exposures.

Freshwater mussels provide invaluable ecological services but are threatened by habitat alteration, poor water quality, invasive species, climate change, and contaminants, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Contaminants of emerging concerns are well documented in aquatic environments, including the Great Lakes Basin, but limited information is available on how environmentally relevant mixtures affect freshwater mussel biology throughout their varied life stages. Our main goal was to assess mussels' reproductive output in response to exposure to agricultural and urban CEC mixtures during glochidial development through juvenile transformation and excystment focusing on how exposure duration and treatment affect: (1) the number of glochidia prematurely released by brooding females, (2) glochidial transformation through host-fish excystment, and (3) the number of fully metamorphosed juveniles able to continue the lifecycle. Mussels and host fish were exposed to either a control water (CW), control ethanol (CE), agriculture CEC mixture (AM), or urban CEC mixture (UM) for 40 and 100 days. We found no effect from treatment or exposure duration on the number of glochidia prematurely released. Fewer partially and fully metamorphosed AM juveniles were observed during the 100-day exposure, compared with the 40-day. During the 40-day exposure, CW produced more fully metamorphosed individuals compared with CE and UM, but during the 100-day exposure AM produced more fully metamorphosed individuals compared with the CW. There was reduction in fully metamorphosed juveniles compared with partially metamorphosed for CE and UM during the 40-day exposure, as well as in the CW during the 100-day exposure. These results will be important for understanding how mussel populations are affected by CEC exposure. The experiments also yielded many insights for laboratory toxicology exposure studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1112-1125. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Effects of adaptive duration to salinity in drinking water on behavior, weight gain and blood biochemical parameters in growing goats.

This experiment aimed to determine the effect of adaptive duration to saline water on behaviors, weight gain and blood biochemical parameters in growing goats. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design, which included four treatments with five animals per group. The goats were administered either fresh water (control) or seawater with a salinity of 1.5%, with varying durations of adaptation to seawater. The adaptive durations included an abrupt change (A0) from fresh water to seawater with a salinity of 1.5% or stepwise adaptation either 4 (A4) or 7 (A7) days of increasing saline concentrations. The results showed that dry matter intake in the non-adapted goats (A0 group) was lower than that of the control group or the adapted goats throughout the experiment (p<0.05). In contrast, water intake from drinking saline water was greater than that in the control group (p<0.05). Body weigh did not differ among the treatments; however, non-adapted goats exhibited a lower weight gain than the adapted goats (p<0.05). The goats in the A0 and A4 groups exhibited increased plasma levels of urea, AST, and ALT compared with the control and A7 groups. However, blood electrolyte levels remained unchanged and were within the normal range for goats. Therefore, it is concluded that the stepwise adaptation to seawater with a salinity of 1.5% for 21 days has no influence on productivity and health status of goats.

Meteorological Data and Spectral Analyses of Non-Equilibrium Processes in Water during the Total Solar Eclipse of 11.08.1999 in Bulgaria

There are partial or total solar eclipses every year on our planet. They are observed from relatively small areas. From 1950 to 2100, three total solar eclipses fell within the territory of Bulgaria. The two solar eclipses from the 20th century were observed on 15.02.1961 and 11.08.1999. The next total solar eclipse will happen on 3.09.2081. The partial solar eclipses in Bulgaria were on 3.10.2005, 29.03.2006, 1.09.2008, 4.01.2011, and 25.10.2022. The question of the influence of solar eclipses on the Earth’s atmosphere, water, and living organisms is an area of interest for many researchers. In this connection, studies have been conducted on atmospheric and water parameters during partial and total solar eclipses. Most investigations were performed with meteorological data – temperature and humidity. In the last 30 years, other methods have also been applied for the investigations of solar eclipses – spectral methods with infrared (IR) spectroscopy, studies of magnetic and electric fields, polarization, and measurements of the parameters of the fluids in plants. Our studies have used meteorological methods and analyses. For the effects on the water, spectral methods are applied to the non-equilibrium energy spectrum (NES) and differential non-equilibrium spectrum (DNES). A deionized water sample examined during the solar eclipse on 11.08.1999 was used, aiming to analyze the parameters of NES and DNES. The deionized water control sample was tested on 10.08.1999 at the same time as the solar eclipse of the next day. The results of our research show relatively rapid and significant changes in air parameters during a solar eclipse, which are most prominent immediately after its culmination. The conditions of non-equilibrium arising during the solar eclipse allow for studying the restructuring of the hydrogen bonds of water molecules. The results of the current studies prove that the solar eclipse’s significantly affect water which is the primary substance in the Nature and living organisms. These data are consistent with other ones which also prove that, during a solar eclipse, the structure of water undergoes significant changes. By influencing the water, this natural phenomenon affects the whole Nature and all living organisms on the planet.

Abstract P331: Diet and Probiotic Administration Significantly Influence Behavior and Forebrain Inflammation in Male Mice

There is a high degree of comorbidity between psychological and gastrointestinal disease, which implies a functional relationship exists between the two systems. Collectively, research suggests that the gut-brain axis is bidirectional, and involves complex relationships between immune, neural, endocrine, and metabolic pathways. In this pilot study, we seek to further investigate the microbiome’s role in a bottom-up model by studying the short-term effects of different diets and probiotic supplementation on behavior and the expression of inflammatory biomarkers in the forebrain. Weanling, male C57Bl/6 mice were purchased from a commercial vendor and acclimated to a solid diet for one-week. Mice were randomly assigned to receive one of three diets for eight weeks: chow, the American Institute of Nutrition 1993 formulation (AIN), or our novel Americanized diet (AD). After six-weeks of diet, mice were then administered a commercially available probiotic, or water control, for the final two weeks of the study. Aggressive tendencies were measured during the probiotic administration period and dietary intake was recorded during the final week of the study. Animals were then euthanized and the forebrain was dissected and processed for the quantification of mRNA for Bdnf (BDNF), Nfkb1 (Nf-κb), Gfap (GFAP), Ptgs2 (PTGS2), and Nr3c1 (NR3C1) by real-time RT-PCR. Data were analyzed using General Linear Model Procedures in SPSS with significance determined at P&lt;0.05. There was a significant decline (P&lt;0.001) in aggressive behavior over the testing period, and mice administered the probiotic tended (P=0.15) to display less signs of aggression regardless of the diet. For dietary intake, there was a numerical increase in daily caloric intake in mice consuming the AD (~13 kcal/day), while mice consuming chow and AIN were similar (9 and 10 kcal/day, respectively). Additionally, there were numerical differences between probiotic and control groups for two of the diets. Quantification of gene expression in the forebrain revealed that diet significantly (P=0.002) affected GFAP expression, with mice consuming chow having significantly lower values than mice fed AIN or AD. Probiotic treatment significantly (P=0.02) affected NF-κB expression, with mice administered the probiotic having greater forebrain NF-kb as compared to control mice. This was most obvious in mice fed the chow and AIN diets, but not the AD. Collectively, our pilot study’s findings suggest that short term probiotic supplementation and dietary variation have potential effects on neuroinflammation, brain function, and satiety. Furthermore, our data indicates that the efficacy of probiotic administration is dependent upon the quality of diet consumed.

Effectivity of Irrigation Solution from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni Leaf Extract on the Growth of Enterococcus faecalis Bacteries

Disinfection of Enterococcus faecalis bacteria in dental root canal treatment using NaOCL 0.5-2.5% is still a challenge. There is still very little data on the effectvity of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extract irrigation solution against the growth of Enterococcus faecalis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni leaf extract irrigation solution against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 through MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimal Bactericide Concentration) values. A number of 100 µl of E. faecalis suspension was inoculated into 96 microtitration wells, each containing 100 µl of 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.125%, 1.56% of Stevia leaf extract irrigation solutions, positive (NaOCL 2.5%) and negative (distilled water) control. Incubation was carried out for 24 hours at 37°C then optical density was measured with a microplate reader at 600 nm. Five µl of 10-9 dilution of each group was dripped and spread onto nutrients agar plate. The number of Enterococcus faecalis colonies was counting manually. There was no significant difference in average colony count of Enterococcus faecalis between the 100% and 50% Stevia leaf extract irrigation solution groups and the positive control (p&gt;0.05). However, the 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.125%, and 1.56% Stevia leaf extract irrigation solution groups showed significant differences (p&lt;0.05). Stevia leaf extract irrigation solution suppressed growth at MIC 6.25% by turbidimetry and MIC 1.56% by total plate count method using nutrient agar and than killed Enterococcus faecalis at MBC 50%. The bactericidal ability of 100% and 50% Stevia leaf extract irrigation solution is equal to NaOCL 2.5%.

Inoculum density-dependent, additive effectiveness of fungicides or biofungicides with cultivar resistance for integrated management of Cercospora leaf spot on beet greens

Cercospora leaf spot, caused primarily by Cercospora beticola, is common on red beet wherever this vegetable crop is grown. The effectiveness of a conventional (propiconazole rotated with azoxystrobin) and an organic biofungicide (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens mixed with copper octanoate) program were tested on four cultivars of beet that differed in susceptibility. Three inoculum densities were established by inoculating a 1-m portion of one row, allowing conidia to splash to the adjacent row, and not inoculating the remainer of the plot. Foliar severity was reduced by both fungicide programs compared to the water-treated control, but the conventional fungicides were more effective in the high inoculum area than the organic fungicides. The conventional fungicides also increased the fresh weight of healthy leaves compared to the water control, but the organic fungicides did not differ from the other two treatments. All cultivars except the most resistant one, Bull's Blood, had greater healthy weights in 2022 when the inoculum density was lower than in 2021. Cultivars sorted in the same order of susceptibility regardless of fungicide program. In all treatments, mean weight of diseased individual leaves was greater than healthy leaves. Partial cultivar resistance and fungicides or biofungicides had additive effects for integrated management of Cercospora leaf spot on red beet.

Pesticide‐free management of invasive ants impacting ground‐nesting wildlife populations

AbstractNonnative, invasive ants, and especially the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, are a widespread threat to ground‐nesting wildlife. In this paper I describe a method of controlling fire ants using hot water. The hot water approach was applied to reduce fire ant impacts on sea turtles and ground‐nesting songbirds and to demonstrate its utility in protection of different ground‐nesting species in different habitats. Fire ant controls using hot water provided 90% or greater control, significantly improving survival of both turtle and bird hatchlings, without the use of pesticides. The success of the method and the availability of necessary equipment shows that hot water control of fire ant populations should be considered as a tool for wildlife affected by fire ants and is useful for a wide variety of scenarios where fire ant controls are desirable or necessary. The method does require that 1) wildlife nest locations are known and that 2) nearby fire ant colonies can be found and treated with hot water. The method can be used as a complement to broadcast or bait‐station baiting strategies or as a stand‐alone method for managing fire ants.

Monitoring the Water Quality Distribution Characteristics in the Huaihe River Basin Based on the Sentinel-2 Satellite

Remote sensing technology plays a crucial role in the rapid and wide-scale monitoring of water quality, which is of great significance for water pollution prevention and control. In this study, the downstream and nearshore areas of the Huaihe River Basin were selected as the study area. By utilizing spectral information from standard solution measurements in the laboratory and in situ water quality data matched with satellite spatiotemporal data, inversion models for total phosphorus (TP) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) water quality parameters were developed. The validation results using field measurements demonstrated that the inversion models performed well, with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.7302 and 0.8024 and root mean square errors of 0.02614 mg/L and 0.0368 mg/L for total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen, respectively. By applying the models to Sentinel-2 satellite images from 2022, the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of total phosphorus and ammonia nitrogen concentrations in the study area were obtained. The ammonia nitrogen concentration ranged from 0.05 to 0.30 mg/L, while the total phosphorus concentration ranged from 0.10 to 0.40 mg/L. Overall, the distribution appeared to be stable. The southern region of the Guan River estuary showed slightly higher water quality parameter concentrations compared to the northern region, while the North Jiangsu Irrigation Main Canal estuary was affected by the dilution of river water, resulting in lower concentrations in the estuarine area.

Effect of saline irrigation and plant-based biostimulant application on fiber hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) growth and phytocannabinoid composition.

Phytocannabinoids represent the hallmark of the secondary metabolism of Cannabis sativa. The content of major phytocannabinoids is closely related to genetic variation as well as abiotic elicitors such as temperature, drought, and saline stress. The present study aims to evaluate hemp response to saline irrigation supplied as NaCl solutions with an electrical conductivity (EC) of 2.0, 4.0, and 6.0 dS m-1 (S1, S2, and S3, respectively) compared to a tap water control (S0). In addition, the potential beneficial effect of a plant-based biostimulant (a legume protein hydrolysate) in mitigating the detrimental effects of saline irrigation on crop growth and phytocannabinoid composition was investigated. Sodium chloride saline irrigation significantly reduced biomass production only with S2 and S3 treatments, in accordance with an induced nutrient imbalance, as evidenced by the mineral profile of leaves. Multivariate analysis revealed that the phytocannabinoid composition, both in inflorescences and leaves, was affected by the salinity level of the irrigation water. Interestingly, higher salinity levels (S2-S3) resulted in the predominance of cannabidiol (CBD), compared to lower salinity ones (S0-S1). Plant growth and nitrogen uptake were significantly increased by the biostimulant application, with significant mitigation of the detrimental effect of saline irrigations.

Using resampled nSight-2 hyperspectral data and various machine learning classifiers for discriminating wetland plant species in a Ramsar Wetland site, South Africa

Mapping wetland ecosystems at the species level provides critical information for understanding the nutrient cycle, carbon sequestration, retention and purification of water, waste treatment and pollution control. However, wetland ecosystems are threatened by climate variability and change and anthropogenic activities; thus, their assessment and monitoring have become critical to inform proper management interventions. Contemporary studies show that satellite-based Earth observation (EO) has significant potential for achieving this task. While many multispectral EO data are freely and readily available, its broad spectral bands limit its utility in differentiating subtle differences among similar plant species. In contrast, hyperspectral data has a high spectral resolution, which is superior in discerning minute differences in similar plant species. However, this data is associated with high dimensionality and multicollinearity, which negatively affect the performance of traditional, parametric classification algorithms. To this end, machine algorithms are often preferred to classify hyperspectral data due to their robustness to various data distributions and noise. The current study compared the performance of three advanced machine learning classifiers, i.e., Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), in discriminating four dominant wetland plant species, i.e., Crocosmia sp., Grasses, Agapanthus sp. and Cyperus sp. using simulated hyperspectral data from an upcoming sensor, i.e., nSight-2. The results revealed that SVM is superior, with an overall accuracy of 93.18% (and class-wise accuracies > 85%). In comparison, there were minor differences in the performances of RF and PLS-DA, i.e., 84.09% and 83.63%, respectively. Overall, the results demonstrated that all the evaluated classifiers could achieve acceptable mapping accuracies. However, SVM is more robust, providing exceptional accuracies, and should be considered for operational mapping once the sensor is in space.

Modeling, experimental investigation and real-time control of active water cooling system for photovoltaic module

ABSTRACT Photovoltaic (PV) cells are integral in harnessing solar energy, yet their performance is hindered by excessive heat generation, impacting efficiency and sustainability. Addressing the challenge of efficiency loss in photovoltaic (PV) cells due to overheating, this study focuses on optimizing active water cooling control for PV modules. The aim is to develop a dynamic, sustainable model and integrate a PID controller tuned by Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA), targeting optimal operating temperatures. This study introduces a dynamic model and a closed-loop control system to manage PV cell temperature, investigating the correlation between water flow and temperature regulation. Experimental data is gathered using a pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) as an excitation signal, forming the foundation of an Auto Regressive eXogenous (ARX) model. The closed-loop system incorporates a PID controller and tuned using the Sine Cosine Algorithm (SCA) to optimize performance. The resulting model is rigorously validated through experimental investigation, demonstrating its precision in capturing the system’s dynamics. Moreover, the implementation of a controller-based cooling system substantiates the model’s practical efficacy. The research demonstrates significant improvements when implementing a controller-based water-cooling system for photovoltaic (PV) modules. Compared to the baseline scenario without cooling, the system achieves a 34.5% reduction in average PV temperature (from 59.2°C to 38.9°C) and a 9.46% increase in average power output (from 196.7W to 215.3W). Moreover, this system utilizes only 248.8 liters of water, marking a substantial 64% decrease in water consumption compared to traditional free-flow cooling methods, which use 790.9 liters. The research demonstrates that the controller-based cooling approach is a sustainable option, delivering power output comparable to the free-flow method, yet significantly lowering water consumption. This research signifies a turning point for sustainability, offering an efficient and water-conscious approach for enhancing PV system performance, a crucial step toward a greener and more environmentally responsible energy future.

Evaluating the effects of chitosan incorporated with seabuckthorn leaf extract composite edible coatings on the shelf life of peach (Prunus persica L.) fruits

Peaches are highly nutritious and delicious fruits with a limited shelf life. The present study was aimed to test the efficiency of chitosan (CHI) coatings incorporated with seabuckthorn leaf extract (ST) in extending the shelf life of peach fruits at refrigerated temperature. Peach fruits of ‘Elberta’ cultivar were coated with one of the following treatment combinations: distilled water (control), CHI (1.0%), CHI (1%) + ST (0.5%), CHI (1%) + ST (1.0%), CHI (1%) + ST (1.5%) and CHI (1%) + ST (2.0%) and then stored at 4 °C for 25 days. The combined treatment of CHI and ST showed a synergistic effect in significantly decreasing the skin browning and maintaining the firmness during the storage period, corroborated by the decline in the polyphenol oxidase, cellulase and pectinase enzyme activity. In particular, fruits treated with CHI (1%) + ST (1.5%) and CHI (1%) + ST (2.0%) showed maximum efficiency in retaining the physico-chemical attributes, increasing the antioxidant potential and controlling the browning during post harvest period upto 25 days under refrigerated temperature at 4 °C. Furthermore, besides maintaining the quality parameters, the treated fruits showed a significant reduction in microbial spoilage and maintaining the acceptable sensory attributes. Therefore, the study employing the incorporation of Seabuckthorn leaf extract into chitosan edible coating could be a valuable addition and promising approach to different existing preservation techniques towards extending the shelf life of peach fruits.

Dynamic alterations in physiological and biochemical indicators of Cirrhinus mrigala hatchlings: A sublethal exposure of triclosan

Triclosan (TCS), a biocide used in various day-to-day products, has been associated with several toxic effects in aquatic organisms. In the present study, biochemical and hematological alterations were evaluated after 14 d (sublethal) exposure of tap water (control), acetone (solvent control), 5, 10, 20, and 50 μg/L (environmentally relevant concentrations) TCS to the embryos/hatchlings of Cirrhinus mrigala, a major freshwater carp distributed in tropic and sub-tropical areas of Asia. A concentration-dependent increase in the content of urea and protein carbonyl, while a decrease in the total protein, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and bilirubin was observed after the exposure. Hematological analysis revealed a decrease in the total erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, and partial pressure of oxygen, while there was an increase in the total leucocyte count, carbon dioxide, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide and serum electrolytes. Comet assay demonstrates a concentration-dependent increase in tail length, tail moment, olive tail moment, and percent tail DNA. An amino acid analyzer showed a TCS-dose-dependent increase in various amino acids. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed different proteins ranging from 6.5 to 200 kDa, demonstrating TCS-induced upregulation. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis exhibited a decline in peak area percents with an increase in the concentration of TCS in water. Curve fitting of amide I (1,700–1600 cm−1) showed a decline in α-helix and turns and an increase in β-sheets. Nuclear magnetic resonance study also revealed concentration-dependent alterations in the metabolites after 14 d exposure. TCS caused alterations in the biomolecules and heamatological parameters of fish, raising the possibility that small amounts of TCS may change the species richness in natural aquatic habitats. In addition, consuming TCS-contaminated fish may have detrimental effects on human health. Consequently, there is a need for the proper utilisation and disposal of this hazardous compound in legitimate quantities.

Transcriptome analysis reveals regulatory mechanisms of different drought-tolerant Gleditsia sinensis seedlings under drought stress

BackgroundGleditsia sinensis is a significant tree species from both ecological and economic perspectives. However, its growth is hampered by temporary droughts during the seedling stage, thereby impeding the development of the G. sinensis industry. Drought stress and rehydration of semi-annual potted seedlings using an artificial simulated water control method. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses were conducted on leaves collected from highly resistant (HR) and highly susceptible (HS) seedling families at five different stages during the process of drought stress and rehydration to investigate their gene expression patterns.ResultsThe differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly enriched in pathways related to “chloroplast” (GO:0009507), “photosynthesis” (GO:0015979), “plant hormone signal transduction” (map04075), “flavonoid biosynthesis” (map00941), “stress response”, “response to reactive oxygen species (ROS)” (GO:0000302), “signal transduction” (GO:0007165) in G. sinensis HR and HS families exposed to mild and severe drought stress. Additionally, the pathways related to “plant hormone signal transduction” (map04075), and osmoregulation were also enriched. The difference in drought tolerance between the two families of G. sinensis may be associated with “transmembrane transporter activity” (GO:0022857), “stress response”, “hormones and signal transduction” (GO:0007165), “cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis” (map00073), “ribosome” (map03010), “photosynthesis” (map00195), “sugar metabolism”, and others. An enrichment analysis of DEGs under severe drought stress suggests that the drought tolerance of both families may be related to “water-soluble vitamin metabolic process” (GO:0006767), “photosynthesis” (map00195), “plant hormone signal transduction” (map04075), “starch and sucrose metabolism” (map00500), and “galactose metabolism” (map00052). Osmoregulation-related genes such as delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS), Amino acid permease (AAP), Amino acid permease 2 (AAP2) and Trehalose-phosphate synthase (TPS), as well as the antioxidant enzyme L-ascorbate peroxidase 6 (APX6), may be significant genes involved in drought tolerance in G. sinensis. Five genes were selected randomly to validate the RNA-seq results using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and they indicated that the transcriptome data were reliable.ConclusionsThe study presents information on the molecular regulation of the drought tolerance mechanism in G. sinensis and provides a reference for further research on the molecular mechanisms involved in drought tolerance breeding of G. sinensis.

Dynamic Modeling and Control of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle for Gas Turbine Waste Heat Recovery

The gas turbine is a crucial piece of equipment in the energy and power industry. The exhaust gas has a sufficiently high temperature to be recovered for energy cascade use. The supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle is an advanced power system that offers benefits in terms of efficiency, volume, and flexibility. It may be utilized for waste heat recovery (WHR) in gas turbines. This study involved the design of a 5 MW S-CO2 recompression cycle specifically for the purpose of operational control. The dynamic models for the printed circuit heat exchangers, compressors, and turbines were developed. The stability and dynamic behavior of the components were validated. The suggested control strategies entail utilizing the cooling water controller to maintain the compressor inlet temperature above the critical temperature of CO2 (304.13 K). Additionally, the circulating mass flow rate is regulated to modify the output power, while the exhaust gas flow rate is controlled to ensure that the turbine inlet temperature remains within safe limits. The simulations compare the performance of PI controllers tuned using the SIMC rule and ADRC controllers tuned using the bandwidth method. The findings demonstrated that both controllers are capable of adjusting operating conditions and effectively suppressing fluctuations in the exhaust gas. The ADRC controllers exhibit a superior control performance, resulting in a 55% reduction in settling time under the load-tracking scenario.