Current Technology Research Articles

Spontaneous Raman bioimaging – Looking to 2050

Raman imaging has been employed for a wide range of biological sample analyses, is often chosen for its non-invasiveness, and ability to provide rich information from samples with minimal preparation requirements. In this paper we give a brief overview of the applications of spontaneous Raman imaging in bioanalysis and then consider what Raman imaging in 2050 might look like. We discuss the state of Raman imaging around its inception, then provide a snapshot of current technology, then look towards 2050. We then discuss some of the potential bottlenecks for the continuing development of Raman imaging for biological sample analysis and, where appropriate, outline approaches to overcome these challenges.

Unraveling Interface-Driven and Loss Mechanism-Centric Phenomena in 3D/2D Halide Perovskites: Prospects for Optoelectronic Applications.

In recent years, organic-inorganic metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted considerable interest due to their remarkable and rapidly advancing efficiencies. Over the past decade, PSC efficiencies have significantly approached those of state-of-the-art silicon-based photovoltaics, making them a promising material. Currently, the scientific community widely recognizes the performance of 3D-PSCs and 2D-PSCs individually. However, when both are combined to form a heterostructure, the lattice and charge dynamics at the interface undergo a multitude of mechanisms that affect their performance. The interface between heterostructures facilitates the degradation of PSCs. The degradation pathways can be attributed to lattice distortions, inhomogeneous energy landscapes, interlayer ion migration, nonradiative recombination, and charge accumulation. This Review is dedicated to examining the phenomena that arise at the interface of 3D/2D halide perovskites and their related photophysical properties and loss mechanism processes. We mainly focus on the impact of lattice mismatch, energy level alignment, anomalous carrier dynamics, and loss mechanisms. We propose a "cause-impact-identify-rectify" approach to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ultrafast processes occurring within the material. Finally, we highlight the importance of advanced spectroscopic and imaging techniques in unraveling these intricate mechanisms. This discussion delves into the future possibilities of fabricating 3D/2D heterostructure-based optoelectronic devices, pushing the boundaries of performance across diverse fields. It envisions the creation of devices with unparalleled capabilities, exceeding the limitations of current technologies.

Performance Assessment of Cell-Separation Processes for Rear-Contact Solar Cells: Comparison of Indoor and Outdoor Measurements

Half-cell and third-cell modules are the current module technology standard due to their enhanced electrical performance. Also, special module layouts for building or vehicle integrated photovoltaics rely on non-standard cell formats obtained by separation techniques. For either application, interdigitated back-contact (IBC) solar cells are one of the promising cell technologies due to their higher performance and more aesthetic appearance. Thus, a cell separation process, usually employing laser tools, is needed that splits the cells as partial cells are manufactured from full cells. However, this cell cutting also induces additional electrical losses. In this work, we analyze the performance of third cell mini-modules made of IBC cells in comparison to PERC cells as reference. Under standard test conditions (STC), an overall performance gain can only be found for the PERC cells, while current and recombination losses dominate the IBC mini-modules. Outdoor measurements under non-STC conditions reveal reduced performance gains under lower illumination. We show a detailed analysis regarding the performance differences of the IBC and PERC cell technologies at indoor STC and outdoor non-STC test conditions.

Nitrogen-doped carbon layer encapsulating NiFeP nanosheet arrays as high-performance electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction

With water electrolysis restricted to the slow kinetics of oxygen evolution reaction (OER), developing catalysts with both high activity and durability has become an urgent requirement for the development of current water electrolysis technology. Herein, we successfully prepared nitrogen-doped carbon layer encapsulating NiFe phosphide nanosheet arrays (denoted as N-C@NiFeP) catalysts by using a simple hydrothermal method combined with low temperature plasma technique. Phosphating conversion, carbonization, and nitrogen doping were realized by the same high-efficiency plasma treatment process. The nitrogen-doped carbon-coated structure modifies the NiFeP electronic structure, resulting in remarkable OER performances of N-C@NiFeP nanosheet arrays. The N-C@NiFeP nanosheet arrays possessed a tiny Tafel slope value of 27 mV dec−1 and a low overpotential of 229 mV at 10 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the N-C@NiFeP nanosheet arrays also exhibited impressive long-term durability of 100 h under sequential OER testing at 100 mA cm−2. Our work was instrumental in paving new pathways for the construction of efficient and stable OER electrocatalysts.

An Overview on Structural Health Monitoring and Fault Diagnosis of Offshore Wind Turbine Support Structures

The service environment of offshore wind turbine (OWT) support structures is harsh, and it is extremely difficult to replace these structures during their operational lifespan, making their failure a catastrophic event. The structural health monitoring (SHM) of OWT support structures is a crucial aspect of operational maintenance for OWT support structures, aiming to mitigate significant financial losses. This paper systematically summarizes the current monitoring methods and technologies for OWT support structures, including towers and foundations. Through the review of monitoring content and the evolution of monitoring techniques for supporting structures, it delves deeper into the challenges faced by wind turbine monitoring and highlights potential avenues for future development. Then, the current damage identification techniques for OWT towers and foundations are analyzed, exploring various methods including model-based, vibration-based, artificial intelligence and hybrid fault diagnosis methods. The article also examines the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and outlines potential future directions for research and development in this field. Furthermore, it delves into the current damage identification techniques for OWT towers and foundations, discussing prevalent challenges and future directions in this domain. This status review can provide reference and guidance for the monitoring design of OWT support structures, and provide support for the fault diagnosis of OWT support structures.

The Human Digi-real Duality

Current technologies allow acquiring whatever amount of data (even big data), from whatever system (object, component, mechanism, network, implant, machinery, structure, asset, etc.), during whatever time lapse (secs, hours, weeks, years). Therefore, potentially it is possible to fully characterize any system for any time we need, with the possible consequence of creating a virtual copy, namely the digital twin (DT) of the system. When technology of DT meets an augmented reality scenario, the augmented digital twin (ADT) arises, when DT meets an artificial intelligence environment, the intelligent digital twin (IDT) arises. DTs, ADTs and IDTs are successfully adopted in electronics, mechanics, chemistry, manufacturing, science, sport, and more, but when adopted for the human body it comes out the human digital twin (HDT) or alternatively named virtual human simulator (VHS). When the VHS incorporates information from surroundings (other VHSs and environment), taking a cue from the particle-wave duality (the mix of matter and energy), we can name this super-VHS as the human digi-real duality (HDRD). This work is focused on defining the aforementioned acronyms, on evidencing their differences, advantages and successful case adoptions, but highlighting technology limits too, and on foreseeing new and intriguing possibilities.

Sensing the Spin State of Room-Temperature Switchable Cyanometallate Frameworks with Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Nanodiamonds.

Room-temperature magnetically switchable materials play a vital role in current and upcoming quantum technologies, such as spintronics, molecular switches, and data storage devices. The increasing miniaturization of device architectures produces a need to develop analytical tools capable of precisely probing spin information at the single-particle level. In this work, we demonstrate a methodology using negatively charged nitrogen vacancies (NV-) in fluorescent nanodiamond (FND) particles to probe the magnetic switching of a spin crossover (SCO) metal-organic framework (MOF), [Fe(1,6-naphthyridine)2(Ag(CN)2)2] material (1), and a single-molecule photomagnet [X(18-crown-6)(H2O)3]Fe(CN)6·2H2O, where X = Eu and Dy (materials 2a and 2b, respectively), in response to heat, light, and electron beam exposure. We employ correlative light-electron microscopy using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) finder grids to accurately image and sense spin-spin interacting particles down to the single-particle level. We used surface-sensitive optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) and magnetic modulation (MM) of FND photoluminescence (PL) to sense spins to a distance of ca. 10-30 nm. We show that ODMR and MM sensing was not sensitive to the temperature-induced SCO of FeII in 1 as formation of paramagnetic FeIII through surface oxidation (detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) on heating obscured the signal of bulk SCO switching. We found that proximal FNDs could effectively sense the chemical transformations induced by the 200 keV electron beam in 1, namely, AgI → Ag0 and FeII → FeIII. However, transformations induced by the electron beam are irreversible as they substantially disrupt the structure of MOF particles. Finally, we demonstrate NV- sensing of reversible photomagnetic switching, FeIII + (18-crown-6) ⇆ FeII + (18-crown-6)+ •, triggered in 2a and 2b by 405 nm light. The photoredox process of 2a and 2b proved to be the best candidate for room-temperature single-particle magnetic switching utilizing FNDs as a sensor, which could have applications into next-generation quantum technologies.

Study on deterioration of mechanical properties and voltage-strength theoretical model of CFRP/ conductive ECC composites under coupling effect of anode polarization, load and erosion environment

This study aims to systematically investigate the deterioration of tensile properties, voltage variation, and voltage-strength theoretical model of CFRP/ conductive ECC composites under coupling effect of anode polarization, load and erosion environment. The effects of testing parameters including conductive ECC mixture type, electric current density, polarization time, tensile stress value, sulfate soak time, and sulfate attack-wet and dry cycle time were synthetically investigated. The experimental results indicated that the voltage increases approximately linearly with the increase of degradation time in the voltage-deterioration time curves. The stress-strain curve can be divided into three stages: the stress-strain linear increase stage, the strain hardening characteristic stage, and the decline stage during failure. The conductive ECC mixture type, polarization time, current density, tensile stress value, sulfate soak time, and sulfate attack-wet and dry cycle time all have significant effects the deterioration of tensile strength and the voltage change ratio of CFRP/ conductive ECC composite. More importantly, an innovative voltage-strength theoretical model was proposed, which can predict the relationship between voltage and material deterioration strength. The theoretical model is in good agreement not only with the experimental results of this study, but also with the results of other studies. The model proposed can be used to predict deterioration degree of materials in real time, which has very important guiding significance for impressed current cathodic protection-structural strengthening technology (ICCP-SS) technology. This study is expected to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the deterioration of mechanical properties and voltage-strength theoretical model of CFRP/conductive ECC composites for ICCP-SS technology.

The mortality burden attributable to wood heater smoke particulate matter (PM2.5) in Australia

Air pollution is the leading environmental risk factor for mortality worldwide. In Australia, residential wood heating is the single largest source of pollution in many regions of the country. Estimates around the world and in some limited locations across Australia have shown that the health burden attributable to wood heating PM2.5 is considerable, and that there is great potential to reduce this burden. Here, we aimed to calculate the mortality burden attributable to wood heating emissions (WHE)-related PM2.5 throughout Australia and estimate the potential health benefits of reducing WHE-related air pollution, by replacing wood heaters with cleaner heating technologies. In summary, we used a four-stage process to (1) compile a nationwide WHE inventory, (2) generate annual exposure estimates of WHE-PM2.5, (3) estimate the annual mortality burden attributable to wood heater use across Australia for the year 2015, and (4) assess the potential health benefits of replacing existing wood heaters with cleaner heating technologies. We estimated that population weighted WHE-PM2.5 exposure across Australia for 2015 ranged between 0.62 μg/m3 and 1.35 μg/m3, with differing exposures across State/Territories. We estimated a considerable mortality burden attributable to WHE-PM2.5 ranging between 558 (95 % CI, 364–738) and 1555 (95 % CI, 1180–1740) deaths annually, depending on the scenario assessed. We calculated that replacing 50 % of the current wood heater stock, with zero or lower emission technologies could produce relevant health benefits, of between $AUD 1.61 and $AUD 1.93 billion per year (303–364 attributable deaths). These findings provide a preliminary and likely conservative assessment of the health burden of wood heater smoke across Australia, and an estimation of the potential benefits from replacing the current wood heater stock with cleaner technologies. The results presented here underscore the magnitude of the health burden attributable to wood heating in Australia.

Feasibility assessment of transition metal carbides applied to chemical looping reforming – A proof-of-concept for tungsten carbide

This paper is the first study to present an innovative technology for hydrogen and syngas production named Carbide Chemical Looping Reforming (CCLR). Nine different Transition Metal Carbides (TMC) were assessed in a thermodynamic study to evaluate potential materials to be applied in the system that could possibly form hydrogen and carbide when in the presence of methane. Out of all the materials, tungsten proved to be the best suitable due to its known high resistance to carbon deposits [1], low-temperature range to form carbides (at least 750 °C), no formation of undesired compounds, and considerably high hydrogen quality in syngas range. A sensitivity analysis is performed in order to assess the better conditions of temperature, pressure and methane ratio for the process to maximize the formation of hydrogen. A study of the heat balance between the air reactor and fuel reactor is shown to prove the system can work as an autothermal process and exclude external heat sources as well as an analysis of the carbon emission potential to prove the technology accounts for lower emission when compared to current technologies, such as Steam Methane Reforming and Steam Methane Reforming with Carbon Capture and Storage. Experimental thermogravimetric analysis showed a high formation of hydrogen and carbide in the system with high selectivity towards hydrogen/syngas reactions, proving the formation of carbides in a process and replicability of the system. Lastly, an economic assessment is performed with tungsten carbide to show that the application of tungsten in CCLR could achieve a competitive level to current technologies with a hydrogen cost price of USD 3.23, with the potential to be reduced even more depending on the process configuration.

Techno-economic analysis of the effect of a novel price-based control system on the hydrogen production for an offshore 1.5 GW wind-hydrogen system

The cost of green hydrogen production is very dependent on the price of electricity. A control system that can schedule hydrogen production based on forecast wind speed and electricity price should therefore be advantageous for large-scale wind-hydrogen systems. This work presents a novel price-based control system integrated in a techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production from offshore wind. A polynomial regression model that predicts wind power production from wind speed input was developed and tested with real-world datasets from a 2.3 MW floating offshore wind turbine. This was combined with a mathematical model of a PEM electrolyzer and used to simulate hydrogen production. A novel price-based control system was developed to decide when the system should produce hydrogen and when it should sell electricity to the grid. The model and control system can be used in real-world wind-hydrogen systems and require only the forecast wind speed, electricity price and selling price of hydrogen as inputs. 11 test scenarios based on 10 years of real-world wind speed and electricity price data are proposed and used to evaluate the effect the price-based control system has on the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). Both current and future (2050) costs and technologies are used, and the results show that the novel control system lowered the LCOH in all scenarios by 10–46%. The lowest LCOH achieved with current technology and costs was 6.04 $/kg H2. Using the most optimistic forecasts for technology improvements and cost reductions in 2050, the model estimated a LCOH of 0.96 $/kg H2 for a grid-connected offshore wind farm and onshore hydrogen production, 0.82 $/kg H2 using grid electricity (onshore) and 4.96 $/kg H2 with an off-grid offshore wind-hydrogen system. When the electricity price from the period 2013–2022 was used on the 2050 scenarios, the resulting LCOH was approximately twice as high.

Evaluation of the Applicability of Synthetic Fuels and Their Life Cycle Analyses

This paper summarizes the findings of a detailed assessment of synthetic, electricity-based fuels for use in aviation, shipping, and road transport. The fuels considered correspond to the most promising alternatives that were analyzed as part of the German research project BEniVer (Begleitforschung Energiewende im Verkehr—Accompanying Research for the Energy Transition in Transport) initiated by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Focusing on usage, infrastructure, and ecological analyses, several e-fuels were evaluated and compared to fossil fuels according to the specific sector. It turns out that for all sectors evaluated, the existing sustainable synthetic fuels are already compatible with current technology and regulations. In shipping and road transport, the use of advanced, sustainable fuels will allow for a more distinct reduction in emissions once technology and regulations are adopted. However, standard-compliant synthetic gasoline and diesel are considered the most promising fuels for use in road transport if the transition to electricity is not realized as quickly as planned. For the aviation sector, the number of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) is limited. Here, the current aim is the introduction of a 100% SAF as soon as possible to also tackle non-CO2 emissions.

Comprehensive Impurity Profiling of mRNA: Evaluating Current Technologies and Advanced Analytical Techniques.

In vitro transcription (IVT) of mRNA is a versatile platform for a broad range of biotechnological applications. Its rapid, scalable, and cost-effective production makes it a compelling choice for the development of mRNA-based cancer therapies and vaccines against infectious diseases. The impurities generated during mRNA production can potentially impact the safety and efficacy of mRNA therapeutics, but their structural complexity has not been investigated in detail yet. This study pioneers a comprehensive profiling of IVT mRNA impurities, integrating current technologies with innovative analytical tools. We have developed highly reproducible, efficient, and stability-indicating ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography and capillary gel electrophoresis methods to determine the purity of mRNA from different suppliers. Furthermore, we introduced the applicability of microcapillary electrophoresis for high-throughput (<1.5 min analysis time per sample) mRNA impurity profiling. Our findings revealed that impurities are mainly attributed to mRNA variants with different poly(A) tail lengths due to aborted additions or partial hydrolysis and the presence of double-stranded mRNA (dsRNA) byproducts, particularly the dsRNA 3'-loop back form. We also implemented mass photometry and native mass spectrometry for the characterization of mRNA and its related product impurities. Mass photometry enabled the determination of the number of nucleotides of different mRNAs with high accuracy as well as the detection of their size variants [i.e., aggregates and partial and/or total absence of the poly(A) tail], thus providing valuable information on mRNA identity and integrity. In addition, native mass spectrometry provided insights into mRNA intact mass, heterogeneity, and important sequence features such as poly(A) tail length and distribution. This study highlights the existing bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement in the analytical characterization of IVT mRNA, thus contributing to the refinement and streamlining of mRNA production, paving the way for continued advancements in biotechnological applications.

Agricultural technology as a driver of sustainable intensification: insights from the diffusion and focus of patents

Sustainable intensification (SI) responds to the concurrent challenges of increasing food production while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. As an early disclosure of innovation, patents are a useful indicator of technology market potential. However, we lack understanding of the extent to which current agricultural technology patents relate to the goals of SI and which kinds of technologies can potentially address SI. Here, we analyzed the diffusion and focus of more than one million patents issued during the period 1970–2022. We explored the degree to which the patents relate to SI through the co-occurrence of efficiency and environmental friendliness targets. Our results reveal that while the rate of patent issuance has dramatically increased over the past five decades, the rate at which patents diffused to different countries had decreased over time. The USA was the biggest net exporter of patents and had produced by far the most high-impact patents (in the top 1% most-cited patents). Since 1970, only 4% of agricultural patents and 6% of high-impact patents were related to SI targets (i.e., promoting both agricultural efficiency and environmental friendliness), but the attention to SI has increased over time. The most highly cited SI-related patents had become more diverse over time, shifting from digital, machine, and energy technologies in 1980s to the current era of agroecology, information, and computer networking. Our results provide an early indication of promising technologies that may play a greater role for SI in the future, subject to the challenges of market transfer and farm adoption and complemented by non-technological innovations in farm management and institutional support.

Cross-Border Collaboration: India's UPI Success Story In Indonesia (A Case Study On Unified Payments System)

This research paper delves into the successful introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in the Indonesian market, with a primary focus on crucial elements such as the India-Indonesia (MoU), technology transfer, the impact of the 5G spectrum, credit generation, and quantitative analysis through surveys. A notable aspect of this study is examining the current technology transfer process in UPI implementation alongside previous instances, shedding light on the evolution of knowledge transfer methodologies. The effectiveness of the India-Indonesia MoU in facilitating UPI adoption reflects the dedication of both nations. The research investigates how India's expertise in UPI is customized to meet Indonesia's specific needs, historically and in the present. The study also evaluates UPI's role in promoting credit generation, thereby contributing to financial inclusion and economic growth. The research measures user sentiments, adoption rates, and transaction trends using a multifaceted approach involving surveys and quantitative data analysis. The findings provide valuable insights for policy development, the refinement of technology transfer strategies, and the sustainable growth of digital payment systems in Indonesia and similar emerging markets.

Power-to-Noise Optimization in the Design of Neural Recording Amplifier Based on Current Scaling, Source Degeneration Resistor, and Current Reuse.

This article presents the design of a low-power, low-noise neural signal amplifier for neural recording. The structure reduces the current consumption of the amplifier through current scaling technology and lowers the input-referred noise of the amplifier by combining a source degeneration resistor and current reuse technologies. The amplifier was fabricated using a 0.18 μm CMOS MS RF G process. The results show the front-end amplifier exhibits a measured mid-band gain of 40 dB/46 dB and a bandwidth ranging from 0.54 Hz to 6.1 kHz; the amplifier's input-referred noise was measured to be 3.1 μVrms, consuming a current of 3.8 μA at a supply voltage of 1.8 V, with a Noise Efficiency Factor (NEF) of 2.97. The single amplifier's active silicon area is 0.082 mm2.

Technically in love: Individual differences relating to sexual and platonic relationships with robots

Incremental advancements in technology present researchers with opportunities to examine and predict human behavior before the integration of technology into daily life. Previous studies have identified trends in both the design and reception of current social robotic technologies, including gender biases and social “othering”, which may affect how humans interact with more advanced robotic technologies in the future. The aim of the current study was to explore whether preconceived beliefs about gender inequality, interest in casual sex, and social hierarchies would relate individuals’ interest in engaging in platonic friendships (“robofriendship”) or sexual relationships (“robosexuality”) with hypothetical human-like robots. Two-hundred and twelve participants completed an online survey measuring gender, ambivalent sexism, social dominance orientation, and sociosexual orientation in relation to individuals’ interest in both robofriendship and robosexuality. It was found that hostile sexism positively predicted interest in robosexuality, particularly for men (β = .16, b = .27, 95% CI [.03, .30], t(209) = 2.364, p = .019). Conversely, hostile sexism negatively predicted robofriendship, and significant interactions effects were found in that at lower levels of SDO, women maintained greater interest in robofriendship than men (β = .26, b = .54, 95% CI [.09, .99], t(208) = −2.235, p = .02). The current study provides preliminary evidence to suggest that preconceived beliefs about social hierarchy and gender inequality may impact romantic and platonic interactions between humans and robots. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.

Crystallization and defects regulation of efficient perovskite solar cells via surface induced secondary grain growth with formamidine iodine treatment

Trap–mediated non–radiative loss is a major efficiency and stability obstale for solution–processed perovskite solar cells (PSCs). To address this issue, defect passivation using organic molecules has been identified as an effective strategy due to the ionic nature of the perovskite lattice. Herein, Ostwald ripening by using formamidine iodine (FAI) is reported to inhibit the carrier trap induced recombination via promoting secondary grain growth at perovskite surface. Based on secondary grain growth with FAI treatment, the graded passivation was presented caused by FA+ and I- from FAI. Moreover, the findings from time resolved photoluminescence and space charge–limited current technology indicate enhancements in the crystal quality. Consequently, this approach yielded a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.62% for the FAI modified MAPbI3 photovoltaics, with significantly improved open–circuit voltage ratio of 3.10%, short–circuit density ratio of 6.11%, fill factor ratio of 9.46% and PCE ratio of 19.06%. Moreover, the device show the excellent stability. This study introduces simple and reproducible procedures for fabricating PSCs, which can be readily extended to diverse optoelectronic device applications.

Analysis of Using the Light Pressure Effect to Drive Spacecraft under Complex Conditions

Light pressure driving has attracted widespread attention due to its unique physical properties and potential in various scientific and technological fields. Due to the limitations of current technology and material levels, achieving a macro-level light pressure-driven approach in the short term is unrealistic. A wide range of research areas for light-pressure driving are focused on the micro level and suitable light-pressure materials. Under the current theoretical framework, a light pressure-driven spacecraft with suitable light sail materials is a highly competitive alternative for interstellar navigation. This article mainly simulates the process of light pressure-driven spacecraft accelerating to sub-light speed through laser irradiation on the Earth’s surface and decelerating the returning spacecraft. The article comprehensively considered factors such as laser frequency, sail size, and spacecraft mass during the simulation process and provided simulation results under appropriate conditions. Due to the significant relativistic effect of this process, this paper also considered the red shift and blue shift effects of relativistic light in the simulation process.

The Influence of Sugar Beet Cultivation Technologies on the Intensity and Species Biodiversity of Weeds

Sugar beet production is highly affected by weeds. The structure of crop rotation, the use of intercrops and different tillage techniques bring several benefits to sugar beet cultivation and create different living conditions for weeds. The response of weed communities in sugar beet stands has not been studied. The experimental plot is in the cadastral area of Ivanovice na Hané (Czech Republic). During an eight-year monitoring period (2013–2020), 46 weed species were identified. The dominant species was Chenopodium album. There were also summer and winter weeds. A more varied crop rotation increased the intensity of weed infestation, with winter weeds being the most common. On the contrary, a higher proportion of cereals in the crop structure favors the presence of summer weeds. The tillage technology and the inclusion of catch crops did not significantly affect the intensity of weed infestation in sugar beet stands or the spectrum of weed species. Current cropping technologies have driven the evolution of weeds. Due to their short life cycles and relatively simple genomes, weeds can respond very quickly to technological measures and, thus, change their harmfulness.