Dominant Effect Research Articles

Exploring the World of Mungbean: Uncovering its Origins, Taxonomy, Genetic Resources and Research Approaches

The mungbean is one of the important leguminous crops, holds great importance in agriculture and nutrition in Asian countries. It is a vital source of protein, playing a key role in vegetarian diets and offering versatility in culinary applications. The crop wild relatives and landraces are invaluable sources of novel genes and alleles, augmenting mungbean resilience against both biotic and abiotic stresses. Researchers have meticulously examined the roles of additive and dominant gene effects in governing vital traits, including seed weight, seed yield, plant height, days to flowering, and yield components. However, despite their potential, these genetic resources remain underutilized due to several constraints, encompassing interspecific hybridization barriers, limited trait evaluation data, and the absence of advanced breeding tools. Announcement of the VC1973A draft reference genome utilizing next-generation sequencing, have facilitated rapid DNA marker development, gene mapping, and the identification of candidate genes for complex traits, predominantly within the last decade. Reports on GBS analysis of mungbean relatively limited and mostly includes investigating population structure and LD in mungbean. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the origin, taxonomy, gene pool dynamics, and the pivotal role played by mungbean CWRs in ensuring agricultural sustainability and elevating crop improvement initiatives. Additionally, it discusses about genotypic characterization of CWRs, advances in sequencing technologies, QTLs mapping for various economically important traits and validation techniques that aid in confirming the QTLs found through GWAS.

The left–right reversed visual feedback of the hand affects multisensory interaction within peripersonal space

The interaction between vision and touch, known as the crossmodal congruency effect, has been extensively investigated in several research studies. Recent studies have revealed that the crossmodal congruency effect involves body representations. However, it is unclear how bodily information (e.g., location, posture, motion) is linked to visual and tactile inputs. Three experiments were conducted to investigate this issue. In Experiment 1, participants performed a crossmodal congruency task in which both their hand appearance and the motor trajectories were left–right reversed. The results showed that the crossmodal congruency effect was not observed in the reversal condition, whereas participants showed significant crossmodal congruency in the control condition, in which there was no visual manipulation of the hand. In Experiments 2 and 3, where either the hand appearance or motor trajectory was left–right reversed individually, a significant crossmodal congruency effect was observed. This study demonstrated that visual manipulation of hand appearance and motor trajectories both affected the crossmodal congruency effect, although neither showed a dominant effect that solely altered the crossmodal congruency effect. The present results provide insights into the relationship between visual-tactile interactions and bodily information.

Dominance Effects in the Wild

Abstract In real-world marketplaces, one may encounter an alternative that is inferior to another one in the assortment. While the presence of such seemingly irrelevant inferior alternatives should ostensibly have no influence on consumers’ decisions, an extensive literature using stylized lab experiments has found that, surprisingly, their presence matters. Specifically, the dominance effect suggests that the presence of an inferior alternative shifts consumer’s preferences toward the alternative made to be superior. However, null results in some recent lab studies and a lack of real-world evidence call into question whether, when, and how the effect exists. In this work, we find clear evidence that dominance matters in the wild. We also identify an important moderator for the dominance effect—preference uncertainty—and test it in both a real-world marketplace for digital freelance services and a lab experiment. Further, we find evidence for additional moderators that help explain how the effect works, including the count of dominated alternatives and the magnitude of dominance, consistent with a perceptual mechanism. This work is the first to use consequential field data to shed light on when and why the dominance effects occur, with implications for marketers, choice architects, user interface designers, and policymakers.

Using REIT Follow-on Equity Offerings to Pay down Credit Line Balances: Bank Certification or Monitored Financial Flexibility?

Using hand collected data from offering prospectuses and other corporate filings, we examine the market response to real estate investment trust (REIT) follow-on stock offerings’ stated uses of proceeds. We also track REIT banking relationships over time. Consistent with the idea of bank certification, we show that markets react relatively favorably to REIT equity offers where issuers have lending relationships with affiliates of the underwriters. However, we also find that reactions are most favorable where REIT issuers intend to repay their bank’s line of credit, regardless of the bank’s affiliation with the underwriters. This pattern is particularly strong among smaller firms with lower institutional ownership. We posit that credit line repayments preserve benefits of bank monitoring while enhancing financial flexibility. Further examination reveals that this monitored financial flexibility is the dominant effect.

Charcoal-based block catalyst boosts peroxymonosulfate activation for ciprofloxacin degradation

Developing high-performance and low-cost heterogeneous catalyst is an urgent need to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) towards organic pollutants degradation. Herein, a novel block catalyst comprising of iron oxide nanosheets and wood carbon (FeOX@WC) is proposed to enhance PMS activation for ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation. The resultant FeOX@WC achieved the removal rate of 86.6% in 10 min. This hardwood-derived catalyst remained the excellent degradation performance in a wide pH range of 2.0–11.0 and the co-existence of other organic pollutants. Inspired by water circulation pathway in tree, a flowthrough degradation device was constructed via using the hardwood-derived carbon block with large vessel channels and small fiber tracheids channels in diameter. The removal rate reached 75.4% in 17 min for mass pollution solution (450 mL), suggesting the good degradation ability in practical application. Quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance and electrochemical analysis reveal that non-radical pathways including singlet oxygen and electron transfer occupy the dominant effect. Nine intermediates were identified and three kinds of degradation pathways were proposed. This work provides a charcoal-based block catalyst to enhance the degradation efficiency towards aqueous CIP pollutants.

On the explosion characteristics of natural gas with hydrogen and inert gas additions

In this work, the explosion limits of three different natural gas mixtures (with various proportions of methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), and propane (C3H8)) have been investigated numerically based on detailed chemical kinetics. Furthermore, a comprehensive investigation of the effects of hydrogen (H2) and inert gas (N2, CO2) addition on the explosive properties of natural gas has been carried out. The results indicate that the C3H8 components have a dominant effect on the explosion limits of natural gas. The addition of high-hydrocarbons in natural gas can significantly reduce the auto-ignition temperature, shorten the ignition delay time, and enhance the explosion risk of the mixture. Furthermore, the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) response of natural gas in the second explosion limit gradually disappears, and changes to the Z-curve response with the addition of H2. However, the explosion tendency of the mixture is reduced with the addition of H2 under normal to high-pressure conditions. In addition, with the increase of inert gas (N2, CO2), the explosion limits of the mixtures shift upwards to a higher-pressure region, which significantly reduces the explosion tendency. Nevertheless, the explosion propensity of the mixture increases significantly under low-pressure conditions when the mixture contains hydrogen. To elucidate the critical control reactions and determine their synergistic effects, sensitivity analyses under different conditions are performed. Finally, the interaction of different fuels in natural gas mixtures is further summarized by analyzing the explosion limits of single-component, binary-component, and multi-component mixtures of hydrogen to propane. This paper provides an important guidance for the development of natural gas with high safety, low risk, and low pollution.

Understanding the genetics of important quality traits in maize (Zea mays L.) using diverse germplasm by generation mean analysis

The information about gene actions and interactions would most likely to direct and reinforce the crop breeding programs. With this objective, the present investigation was undertaken by using six generations P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1, and BC2 derived from six different crosses in maize, evaluated at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Regional Research Station Karnal from Kharif 2015 to 2016. The study underscores the significance of additive–dominance model, gene action involved in the inheritance of grain yield and quality traits. Both the scaling test and the joint scaling test detected nonallelic interactions affecting the traits, showing the inadequacy of the additive–dominance model alone in describing the manifestation of complex traits like yield and quality traits except for oil content in cross HKI 325-17AN × HKI 1128. Both additive genetic effects and dominance effects were found significant with positive and negative magnitude in all the crosses. On the note, different types of interallelic interactions (i, j, l) contributed to the inheritance of traits in the given crosses. And among them, the dominance × dominance component (l) gene effect also played a major role in the inheritance of the studied traits. Duplicate epistasis was prevalent in all the crosses for grain yield and also for protein, tryptophan, oil, and starch content in some crosses whereas a complementary type of interaction was reported for protein content in cross HKI 325-17AN x HKI 1128 and oil content in cross HKI 209 x HKI 163. In view of the diverse gene actions, i.e. additive, dominant, and epistasis, playing important roles in the manifestation of complex traits like yield and quality traits, we advocate the implementation of population improvement techniques in particular reciprocal recurrent selection to improve productivity gains in maize in terms of both yield and quality. It is concluded that crosses, where dominant gene action was found predominant, should be effectively utilized in hybrid maize programs for improved grain yield and quality traits.

НАСЛЕДУЕМОСТЬ НЕКОТОРЫХ ХОЗЯЙСТВЕННО ЦЕННЫХ ПРИЗНАКОВ У СЕЯНЦЕВ ВИНОГРАДА В ПОПУЛЯЦИИ ТАЛИСМАН х МАРКИЗА

The article presents the results of studies (2021-2022) on assessing the economically valuable properties and isolation of heterotic seedlings in the population ‘Talisman x Marquiza’. In the work of breeding new grape varieties, much attention is paid to the variety Talisman, which is highly valued as a donor of such traits as early ripeness, large berry size, downy mildew, gray rot and frost resistance. The object of the study was seedlings in the amount of 18 pcs and initial forms, in which agrobiological records were provided in accordance with 13 traits. The studies were carried out in the breeding plot of Partenit village, South Coast of Crimea. The scheme of planting grape bushes was 3 × 1.5 m, bush training – one-shouldered Guyot in the non-irrigated plot. Heredity pattern and indicators of heterosis were determined in the population according to the following traits: «bunch weight», «fruitfulness coefficient», «shoot productivity in terms of the raw bunch weight», «mass concentration of sugars». A transitional heredity pattern of «bunch weight» trait with the effect of adverse dominance of paternal form Marquiza was established in the population ‘Talisman x Marquiza’. According to this trait, the seedling № 21-11-4-39 was isolated with the effect of heterosis +1.07 %. According to the trait «mass concentration of sugars», true heterosis with the effect of +16.0 % was established in the studied family. Correspondence of the trait «fruitfulness coefficient» in initial forms and offspring was registered. Percentage content – 27.8 % of seedlings, № 21-11-4-31, № 21-11-4-37, № 21-11-4-38, № 21-11-4-49, № 21-11-4-50, heterotic according to this trait, were isolated (the effect of heterosis ranged from +22.0 % to +121.3 %). The indicator of dominance degree of shoot productivity according to the raw bunch weight trait shows a hybrid depression. Three seedlings, superior to the best form of Talisman in this indicator with the effect of heterosis from +2.96 % to +36.29 % were isolated in the population.

The effects of hand dominance, fatigue, and sex on muscle activation during a repetitive overhead fatiguing task

Previous studies have shown that the dominant arm is generally stronger and more resistant to fatigue. However, whether there are side differences in shoulder muscle activation during a fatiguing upper limb task, and whether this varies according to sex, is unknown. Thirty right-handed adults (15 females) were recruited to complete two sessions of an overhead repetitive fatiguing task (shoulder flexion between 90 and 135° at 1 Hz), performed in two separate sessions with their dominant arm (DA) and non-dominant arm (NDA) until exhaustion. Electromyographic (EMG) data was collected from 11 shoulder muscles of the moving arm, and their activation amplitude (RMS) and activation variability (SD) were assessed. Results show that time to exhaustion was not affected by arm or by sex. There were some main arm effects on EMG activity amplitude, with higher activity on the DA's pectoralis major (p < 0.001), and on the NDA's middle (p = 0.009) and posterior deltoid (p = 0.001) and infraspinatus (p < 0.001). The pectoralis major was affected by arm and fatigue mostly in males. Their DA's pectoralis major activity amplitude was higher, and the amplitude variability was lower, compared to the NDA, with both parameters showing fatigue-dependent decreases at the NDA only (arm x sex x fatigue: RMS: p = 0.007; SD: p = 0.001). As for females, the DA variability of their lower trapezius was smaller, and that of their subscapularis was higher, compared to the NDA (sex x arm, p = 0.028, p = 0.05). There was also more EMG variability on the supraspinatus' dominant side, and on the posterior deltoid and infraspinatus ND side. Results show an overhead shoulder flexion task dependency on pectoralis major control in males, and on lower trapezius and shoulder girdle stabilizers in females, which could be related to both sex- and gender-based factors. This knowledge can help identify side-specific injury risk factors due to overhead work in males and females, and help determine the appropriateness of implementing sex-specific workplace protocols, including alternating arms as fatigue compensatory and recovery strategies.

Domestic greywater treatment using electrocoagulation-electrooxidation process: optimisation and experimental approaches

A synergistic combination of electrocoagulation-electrooxidation (EC-EO) process was used in the current study to treat domestic greywater. The EC process consisted of an aluminium (Al) anode and an iron (Fe) cathode, and the EO process consisted of titanium with platinum coating mesh (Ti/Pt) as an anode and stainless steel as a cathode. The effect of operative variables, namely current density, pH, EC time and EO time, on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), colour, turbidity, and total organic carbon (TOC) was studied and optimised using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results showed that although the pH affected the removal of all studied pollutants, it had more effect on turbidity removal with a contribution of 88.44%, while the current density had the main dominant effect on colour removal with a contribution of 73.59%. It was also found that at optimal operation conditions for a current density of 2.6 A, an initial pH of 4.67, an EC time of 31.67 min, and an EO time of 93.28 min led to a COD, colour, turbidity, and TOC removal rates of 96.1%, 97.5%, 90.9%, and 98%, respectively, which were close to the predicted results. The average operating cost and energy consumption for the removal of COD, colour, turbidity, and TOC were 0.014 $/m3 and 0.01 kWh/kg, 0.083 $/m3 and 0.008 kWh/kg, 0.075 $/m3 and 0.062 kWh/kg, and 0.105 $/m3 and 0.079 kWh/kg, respectively.

Clinical Neuropsychology of Bilingual Mexican American Adults: Effect of Language Proficiency and Dominance.

To assess the association between language proficiency and absolute dominance on language versus visual-perceptual formatted and executive versus delayed memory neuropsychological measures in bilingual adults. Data from 55 bilingual, conversationally fluent, neurologically intact, Mexican American, consecutive, adults tested in separate sessions in Spanish and English in a counterbalanced order were analyzed. Age, years of education, self-reported language proficiency, Woodcock-Muñoz Language Survey-Revised (WMLS-R) picture vocabulary measures of language proficiency, and dominance (absolute Spanish-English WMLS-R difference scores) were correlated with 11 measures from La Batería Neuropsicólogica en Español and its original English language tests. Self-reported and WMLS-R measures of language proficiency were significantly correlated in each language. Absolute language dominance was not significantly associated with any Spanish or English neuropsychological raw score. The WMLS-R language proficiency, but not age or years of education, was significantly correlated with language-formatted neuropsychological measures of California Verbal Learning Test delayed free recall number of words (both languages), letter fluency (both languages), delayed story memory (in English), and Stroop interference (Spanish). Linear regression models using age, years of education, and WMLS-R picture vocabulary scores as predictors were significant for all these measures excepting the last. The WMLS-R language proficiency was not significantly associated with raw scores on any visual-perceptual formatted measure. Monolingual neuropsychological test norms for language-formatted tests likely overestimate bilingual Mexican Americans' performance.

Genomic prediction with machine learning in sugarcane, a complex highly polyploid clonally propagated crop with substantial non-additive variation for key traits.

Sugarcane has a complex, highly polyploid genome with multi-species ancestry. Additive models for genomic prediction of clonal performance might not capture interactions between genes and alleles from different ploidies and ancestral species. As such, genomic prediction in sugarcane presents an interesting case for machine learning (ML) methods, which are purportedly able to deal with high levels of complexity in prediction. Here, we investigated deep learning (DL) neural networks, including multilayer networks (MLP) and convolution neural networks (CNN), and an ensemble machine learning approach, random forest (RF), for genomic prediction in sugarcane. The data set used was 2912 sugarcane clones, scored for 26,086 genome wide single nucleotide polymorphism markers, with final assessment trial data for total cane harvested (TCH), commercial cane sugar (CCS), and fiber content (Fiber). The clones in the latest trial (2017) were used as a validation set. We compared prediction accuracy of these methods to genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) extended to include dominance and epistatic effects. The prediction accuracies from GBLUP models were up to 0.37 for TCH, 0.43 for CCS, and 0.48 for Fiber, while the optimized ML models had prediction accuracies of 0.35 for TCH, 0.38 for CCS, and 0.48 for Fiber. Both RF and DL neural network models have comparable predictive ability with the additive GBLUP model but are less accurate than the extended GBLUP model.

Investigation of structure and optical characteristics of irradiated PVP/CMC nanocomposite films based on ZnS/SnO2 nanofillers

AbstractPVP/CMC/50%ZnS‐50%SnO2 blends were formed by solid state reaction, sol‐gel methods and casting technique. The structure and the crystallite size of the nanofillers (ZnS and SnO2) were examined using x‐ray diffraction technique (XRD). The effect of laser irradiation energies compared to the proportions of loaded nanofillers on the films internal structure and morphology was studied using XRD. The high miscibility among blends has been confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis proved the presence of the nanocomposite polymer blends constituent atoms. The blends surface morphology has been investigated through scanning electron microscope (SEM). The dual effect of both different laser energies and oxygen atoms content simultaneously, on the linear and nonlinear optical parameters of nanocomposite films were explored as well. Results showed that, the laser irradiation energy process has the highest enhancement on the optical properties. The optical band gap (Eg) values were reduced from 4.8 eV (in the case of unirradiated blend) to 3.5 eV (for blends irradiated with 150 mJ/cm2) for allowed direct transitions, but for allowed indirect transitions Eg decreased from 3.3 eV (for unirradiated) to 2.2 eV (for irradiated with 150 mJ/cm2).Highlights A comparative discussion upon the effect of excess oxygen atoms has been represented. A dominant effect for the laser exposure compared to both the particle size and excess oxygen atoms. The variations of the nanocomposite films structural and optical features were promising.

Grassland cover dynamics and their relationship with climatic factors in China from 1982 to 2021

China possesses abundant grassland resources, making it imperative to comprehend the influence of climate change on Chinese grassland ecosystems. Nonetheless, the impact pathways and lag effects of climate factors on various grassland types in this region at multiple temporal scales are still to be investigated in long-term sequences. This study investigated the dynamics of grassland FVC (fractional vegetation cover), temperature, precipitation, and drought from 1982 to 2021 using trend analysis, multiple linear regression, path analysis, and correlation analysis and explored the dominant, direct, indirect, and time-lag effects of climate factors on different grassland types at multiple time scales. Precipitation-grassland correlation pathways dominated the annual-scale grassland FVC. The correlation path of temperature to grassland FVC and the direct path of temperature dominated spring grassland FVC. The correlation path of drought to grassland FVC and the direct path of drought dominated summer grassland FVC. The correlation path of temperature to grassland FVC and the direct path of temperature dominated autumn and winter grassland FVC. The effects of temperature and precipitation on alpine and subalpine meadows, desert grasslands, and alpine and subalpine plains grasslands had a 1-month lag. The response to drought exhibited a 1-month lag in desert grasslands, a 2-month lag in alpine and subalpine meadows, plains grasslands, meadows, and alpine and subalpine plains grasslands, and a 3-month lag in sloped grasslands. This study seeks to provide a scientific reference to reveal the impact of climate change on grasslands and to protect grassland ecosystems.

Assessing the contaminant reduction effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in China

This paper presents a comprehensive system for assessing contaminant emissions, including the dominant contaminant reduction effects, recessive contaminant reduction effects, and contaminant reduction efficiency indexes. The system is used to evaluate the linkage changes in contaminant emissions reduction across different sectors, the ease of regulation, and the returns on emissions reduction efforts. The study's results demonstrate that firstly, COVID-19 initially reduced contaminant emissions across almost all sectors, although this effect waned over time. Secondly, applying conventional regulatory measures to sectors with high reductions in contaminant emissions may not yield the expected results. Thirdly, while some sectors may be more difficult to regulate, they may offer a higher return on investment in terms of emissions reduction. Based on the above results, the paper advocates for timely measures to consolidate environmental gains, prevent rebounding of contaminant emissions, prioritize supervision and management of easily regulated sectors, prioritize upgrading of cleaner production in sectors with high reduction efficiency indices, and increase investment in environmental technology.

Influence of thermomechanical processing and tempering temperature on tensile flow and work hardening behaviour of India specific reduced activation ferritic martensitic steel

In the present work, an indetailed investigation has been carried out on the effect of thermomechanical treatment (TMT) and tempering temperature on microstructural features, tensile flow characteristics and work hardening behaviour of the India specific reduced activation ferritic martensitic (INRAFM) steel. The flow and work hardening characteristics of the studied steel are described by using the Voce constitutive equation and Kocks- Mecking (K-M) approach respectively in the temperature range of 300–873 K. The steel subjected to TMT and tempering for 90 min at 1033 K shows a refined martensitic lath width, finer size (Cr/W/Fe)23C6 and (V/Ta) (C/N) precipitates with an increment in number density. Furthermore, increase in tempering temperature coarsened the refined structural features. Voce equation closely fits the flow curves at 823 K and 873 K, but shows a slight deviation at temperatures below 773 K. The parameters derived from Voce equation are fairly in good correaltion with the experimental values. The strain hardening rate (θ) vs. true stress (σ) plots portrayed stage-I and stage-III work hardening stages and their corresponding phenomena were discussed. In addition, the effect of TMT and tempering treatment on the work hardening parameters obtained from K-M approach and inter-barrier spacing of the steel were also presented in this study. The work hardening characteristics of the steel signifcantly improved upon TMT due to refinement in microstructural features. The flow stress and work hardening parameters decreases with raise in test temperature due to the dominant effect of dynamic recovery.

Influences of Main Machining Process Parameters and Tool Wear on The Machining Damage Generated During Edge Milling CFRP Composites

Machining Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastics (CFRPs) composites are typically accompanied by the appearance of machining damage which strongly impacts the structural integrity of composite parts during their service lives. Studying the correlation between machining damage and its affected factors has still been an open issue. Hence, it is necessary to do more research. This study focuses on investigating the influences of main process parameters and tool wear phenomenon in terms of machining length on the machining quality which was characterized by the surface roughness criterion, the ten-point max, Rz. A full factorial design of experiments was conducted including three levels of feed speed and two degrees of spindle speed. The results revealed that machining damage was mainly influenced by process parameters at a small machining distance, whereas at a longer machining distance, tool wear had a dominant effect on the machining quality than machining parameters. These findings could provide guidelines for selecting suitable machining parameters to enhance the machining quality of CFRP.

Exploring the Syndecan-Mediated Cellular Internalization of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant.

SARS-CoV-2 variants evolve to rely more on heparan sulfate (HS) for viral attachment and subsequent infection. In our earlier work, we demonstrated that the Delta variant's spike protein binds more strongly to HS compared to WT SARS-CoV-2, leading to enhanced cell internalization via syndecans (SDCs), a family of transmembrane HS proteoglycans (HSPGs) facilitating the cellular entry of the original strain. Using our previously established ACE2- or SDC-overexpressing cellular models, we now compare the ACE2- and SDC-dependent cellular uptake of heat-inactivated WT SARS-CoV-2 with the Delta and Omicron variants. Internalization studies with inactivated virus particles showed that ACE2 overexpression could not compensate for the loss of HS in Omicron's internalization, suggesting that this variant primarily uses HSPGs to enter cells. Although SDCs increased the internalization of all three viruses, subtle differences could be detected between their SDC isoform preferences. The Delta variant particularly benefitted from SDC1, 2, and 4 overexpression for cellular entry, while SDC4 had the most prominent effect on Omicron internalization. The SDC4 knockdown (KD) in Calu-3 cells reduced the cellular uptake of all three viruses, but the inhibition was the most pronounced for Omicron. The polyanionic heparin also hindered the cellular internalization of all three viruses with a dominant inhibitory effect on Omicron. Omicron's predominant HSPG affinity, combined with its preference for the universally expressed SDC4, might account for its efficient transmission yet reduced pathogenicity.

Effects of Virtual Reality Exercises on Chronic Low Back Pain: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Low back pain is a common health problem globally. Based on the duration of pain, it is classified as acute, subacute, or chronic low back pain. Different treatment strategies are available to reduce chronic low back pain. Virtual reality (VR) is a novel approach in back pain rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare the effects of VR games on chronic low back pain. This quasi-experimental study was conducted among 40 patients with chronic low back pain. The data were collected using a nonprobability, convenient sampling technique. Patients visiting the Department of Physiotherapy, Government Services Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, were recruited and equally divided into 4 groups. Group A received the Reflex Ridge game; group B received the Body Ball game; group C combined the 2 games without back-strengthening exercises; and group D combined the 2 games with back-strengthening exercises. The participants received 8 treatment sessions, with 3 sessions/wk. The outcomes were pre- and posttest measurements of pain intensity, low back disability, and lumbar range of motion. The repeated measurement ANOVA was used for inter- and intragroup comparison, with significance at P≤.05. The study comprised a sample of 40 patients with low back pain; 12 (40%) were female and 28 (60%) were male, with a mean age of 37.85 (SD 12.15) years. The pre- and posttest mean pain scores were 7.60 (SD 1.84) and 4.20 (SD 1.62) in group A, 6.60 (SD 1.776) and 5.90 (SD 1.73) in group B, 6.90 (SD 1.73) and 5.40 (SD 1.07) in group C, and 7.10 (SD 1.53) and 3.60 (SD 0.97) in group D, respectively. The mean pain score differences of group D (combining the Reflex Ridge and Body Ball games with back-strengthening exercises) compared to groups A, B, and C were -.60 (P=.76), -2.30 (P<.001), and -1.80 (P=.03), respectively. Regarding the range of motion, the forward lumbar flexion mean differences of group D compared to groups A, B, and C were 3.80 (P=.21), 4.80 (P=.07), and 7.40 (P<.001), respectively. Similarly, the right lateral lumbar flexion mean differences of group D compared to groups A, B, and C were 2.80 (P=.04), 5.20 (P<.001), and 4.80 (P<.001), respectively. The left lateral lumbar flexion mean differences of group D compared to groups A, B, and C were 2.80 (P<.001), 4.80 (P=.02), and 2.20 (P<.001). respectively, showing significant pre- and posttreatment effects. VR exercises had statistically significant effects on improving pain, low back disability, and range of motion in all groups, but the combination of Reflex Ridge and Body Ball games with back-strengthening exercises had dominant effects compared to the other groups. Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial IRCT20200330046895N1; https://en.irct.ir/trial/46916.

Mineral Coating Enhances the Carbon Sequestration Capacity of Biochar Derived from Paulownia Biowaste

Biochar holds great promise for carbon sequestration but is restricted by high costs. Here, we introduced the water–fire coupled method and developed a mineral coating technique for biochar production from paulownia waste (Paulownia fortune). Exposure time and mineral (lime) coating were assessed for their impacts on biochar properties. The former had a dominant adverse effect on carbon content, specific surface area, and carbon capture capacity of the biochar. In contrast, the latter alleviated the adverse impact on carbon capture capacity and specific surface area, the highest being 67.07% and 176.0 m2 g−1, respectively. Without a mineral coating (B), biochar functional groups reduced at the exposure time of 0–4 min (-COOH from 0.50 to 0.19 mol/kg, phenolic-OH from 0.43 to 0.14 mol/kg). In contrast, a mineral coating (B-Ca) increased -COOH from 0.25 to 0.83 mol/kg and phenolic-OH from 0.19 to 0.72 mol/kg. The pyrolysis process with a mineral coating is conceptualized as (1) wrapping the paulownia branch with the mineral, (2) enabling oxygen-limited pyrolysis inside the branch, and (3) ending the pyrolysis with water to form biochar. Ca2+ played multiple functions of ion bridging, complexation, and reduction of COx gas formation, thus enhancing the carbon capture capacity (the ratio of C in biomass converted to biochar) to 67%. This research would improve the feasibility of biochar use for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.