Green State Research Articles

Pressure-less joining of alumina ceramics by the reaction-bonded aluminum oxide (RBAO) method

The present work demonstrates a pressure-less and reliable joining technique for alumina ceramics through a reaction-bonded aluminum oxide (RBAO) method. Effective joining relies on the RBAO mechanism, in which Al particles are converted to alumina through oxidation and bond with alumina particles from the parts to be joined upon sintering. Alumina ceramics in a green state were successfully joined with the use of an Al/Al2O3 powder mixture as an interlayer. The oxidation behavior of the Al particles was confirmed by thermogravimetry and X-ray diffraction analyses. Joining was performed in ambient air at 1650 °C for 2 h without applying any external pressure. Microstructural observations at the joining interfaces indicated a compact joining. The joining strengths were assessed by determining the biaxial strengths at room temperature, and the joined samples exhibited no fractures at the joining interfaces. Moreover, the joints had a strength of almost 100 % when compared with those of the parent alumina ceramics.

Dual photochromics-contained photoswitchable multistate fluorescent polymers for advanced optical data storage, encryption, and photowritable pattern

Stimuli-responsive fluorescent materials that can alternate their emission states on-demand are always desired in many applications. In this study, novel photoswitchable multistate fluorescent polymer (PMFP) was prepared via simple free-radical copolymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) and styrene (St) with two photochromic fluorescent monomers, i.e. sulfonyl diarylethylene-linked 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate (SDTE) and spiropyran-linked methacrylate (SP8). The PMFP displays excellent processability, due to its rational feed ratio of BA and St which result in the relative low glass transition temperature. By changing irradiation light, the non-fluorescent ring-closed spiropyran units and ring-opened diarylethylene moieties in PMFP can be selectively converted into their corresponding luminescence states. Furthermore, as a result of the controllable fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the excited diarylethylene to the spiropyran moieties, the emission of the polymer in solution or film can be reversibly switched among distinguishable no-emission, red, and green fluorescence states. Moreover, the PMFP exhibits high brightness, high contrast, rapid photoresponse, and excellent photoreversibility. We also demonstrated that PMFP can be directly used for advanced high-density data storage, multilevel information encryption, and multicolor photorewritable pattern, as well as high-level anticounterfeiting.

Trait Expression and Environmental Responses of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Genetic Resources Targeting Cultivation in the Arctic.

In the Arctic part of the Nordic region, cultivated crops need to specifically adapt to adverse and extreme climate conditions, such as low temperatures, long days, and a short growing season. Under the projected climate change scenarios, higher temperatures and an earlier spring thaw will gradually allow the cultivation of plants that could not be previously cultivated there. For millennia, Pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been a major cultivated protein plant in Nordic countries but is currently limited to the southern parts of the region. However, response and adaptation to the Arctic day length/light spectrum and temperatures are essential for the productivity of the pea germplasm and need to be better understood. This study investigated these factors and identified suitable pea genetic resources for future cultivation and breeding in the Arctic region. Fifty gene bank accessions of peas with a Nordic landrace or cultivar origin were evaluated in 2-year field trials at four Nordic locations in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway (55° to 69° N). The contrasting environmental conditions of the trial sites revealed differences in expression of phenological, morphological, crop productivity, and quality traits in the accessions. The data showed that light conditions related to a very long photoperiod partly compensated for the lack of accumulated temperature in the far north. A critical factor for cultivation in the Arctic is the use of cultivars with rapid flowering and maturation times combined with early sowing. At the most extreme site (69°N), no accession reached full maturation. Nonetheless several accessions, predominantly landraces of a northern origin, reached a green harvest state. All the cultivars reached full maturation at the sub-Arctic latitude in northern Sweden (63°N) when plants were established early in the season. Seed yield correlated positively with seed number and aboveground biomass, but negatively with flowering time. A high yield potential and protein concentration of dry seed were found in many garden types of pea, confirming their breeding potential for yield. Overall, the results indicated that pea genetic resources are available for breeding or immediate cultivation, thus aiding in the northward expansion of pea cultivation. Predicted climate changes would support this expansion.

Book Review: Trust in a Polarized Age

Kevin Vallier, a philosopher at Bowling Green State University, is a leading advocate of “public reason liberalism,” and his latest book is a distinguished contribution that's friendlier to free markets than others coming out of this school of thought. _Trust in a Polarized Age_ tries to establish that "liberal rights help to generate trust for the right reasons."

A comparative analysis of green financial policy output in OECD countries

The mitigation of dangerous climate change requires massive investments in low-carbon technologies. Accordingly, the redirection of finance flows is a key objective of the Paris Agreement, and countries have started to enact policies to influence financial actors to this end. However, transparency on such policies is low, and it is hardly possible to compare policy activity internationally. To fill this gap, here we present a comparative analysis of green financial policy output in OECD countries from 2001 to 2019, based on a newly compiled inventory of 136 policies from 29 countries and the European Union. We show that policy output accelerated rapidly since the Paris Agreement, with countries implementing 3.3 policies on average using various governing resources. Key instruments include carbon disclosure requirements, low-carbon investment policies for public funds, and green state investment banks. However, there are huge differences in policy output between countries, and some countries that host important financial centers have implemented few policies to date. On the basis of our results, we develop a research agenda to deepen the understanding of this important but little-studied area of climate policies.

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Effect of binder system on the thermophysical properties of 3D-printed zirconia ceramics.

Fabrication of 3D‐printed ceramic parts with high complexity and high spatial resolution often demands low wall thickness as well as high stiffness at the green state, whereas printing simpler geometries may tolerate thicker, more compliant walls with the advantage of a rapid binder‐burn‐out and sintering process. In this work, the influence of the binder system on the thermophysical properties of 3D‐printed stabilized zirconia ceramics was investigated. Samples were fabricated with the lithography‐based ceramic manufacturing (LCM) technology using two different photosensitive ceramic suspensions (LithaCon 3Y230 and LithaCon 3Y210), with the same ZrO2 powder. A significant difference in stiffness in the green state (~3 MPa vs. ~32 MPa for LithaCon 3Y230 and LithaCon 3Y210, respectively) was measured, associated with a rather loose or a linked network formed in the binder due to photopolymerization. Both materials reached high relative densities, that is, >99%, exhibiting a homogeneous fine‐grained microstructure. No significant differences on the coefficient of thermal expansion (11.18 ppm/K vs. 11.17 ppm/K) or Young's modulus (207 GPa vs. 205 GPa) were measured, thus demonstrating the potential of tailoring binder systems to achieve the required accuracy in 3D‐printed parts, without detrimental effects on material's microstructure and thermophysical properties at the sintered state.

Management of Regional Development of Green Tourism Facilities

The article deals with the socio-economic aspects of economic activity of the subjects of the green tourism sphere in Ukraine. The socio-economic significance of this sectoral direction has been substantiated to ensure the stable development of regions, in particular, rural communities. Furthermore, the article proves the feasibility of improving methodological approaches to assessing the efficiency of family forms of management in the field of green tourism. The necessity of considering the material component of the motivational system of members of a peasant farm for further participation in these projects has been substantiated. Models for organizing a green estate based on a peasant farm have been developed for several marketing strategies. A positive effect has been proven for the socio-economic development of rural households based on the results of the practical implementation of the proposed recommendations.

Consumer Attitude towards Green Products: An outlook from India’s Green State

This study ascertained the importance of factors like product quality, level of awareness and the role of advertisement in consumer attitude to green products in Kerala. The key question is, how do consumers perceive, when they see green practices and products around them. The is a descriptive study and the sample unit consists of frequent & non-frequent users of two green product categories and/or who were aware of them. The consumer attitude (CA) towards green products reveals, seventy-five percent were willing to pay a price premium of one to ten percent, and ten percent agreed to pay a price premium of eleven to thirty percent. Forty percent consumers will not buy green products immediately. For consumers, the environment is not an actionable priority, and has to be imposed by the state and businesses, through heightened community awareness and experiences. The originality of this paper lies in assessing consumer Attitude towards green products from India’s Green state, in the context of local climatic pressures and the various green production and branding initiatives.

Management of the pests in the conventional and biological systems for pea growing

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a valuable grain legume crop, the seeds of which are used for human food and fodder. The seeds are consumed in a mature or green state. The priorities of the peas as a crop are the following: it is a legume, which enriches the soil with nitrogen; peas are the best possible precursor - clears the areas early; non-particular to soil and growing conditions; high protein content crop. However, the growing process of this crop could be worse by various pests that lead to product quality decay or they could even destroy the pea production. Economically important pests in field cultivation of peas are: pea aphid (Acyrthosyphon pisum Harris), pea weevil (Bruchus pisi L.) and pea moths (Laspeyresia nigricana Step. and Laspeyresia dorsana L.). Field experiments on pea variety Paldin were conducted at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Plovdiv to determine the effectiveness of different plant protection products against a natural background of pest infestation. The biological activity of the insecticides Deca EC 50 ml/da (a. i. deltamethrin), Oasis 5 EC 25 ml/da (a. i. esfenvalerate), Piretro Natura 75 ml/da (a. i. pyrethrins), Neem Azal T/C 0.3% (a. i. azadirachtin), Naturalis 100 ml/da (a. i. Beauveria bassiana), Dipel 2 X 100 g/da (a. i. Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki strain ABTS) and Rapax 100 ml/da (a. i. Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, strain EG 2348) against the main pests of peas in conventional and biological production systems was established.

A Comparison of the Sensory Experience, Health Values, and Environmental Values of Plant-Based Meal Choosers vs Meat-Based Meal Choosers

Abstract Objectives Our research question is: is there a difference in food choice values of those who choose plant-based dining options vs those who choose meat-based dining options? Our hypothesis is; sustainability/health involvement and self-reported sustainability/health behavior positively effects plant-based food choice. Methods Consumer panels were recruited from BGSU's campus and were incentivized for their participation. Sample preparation and pick up was conducted at the Oaks Dining Hall at Bowling Green State University. Consumers were served two sample tacos, one vegan and one meat-based. Panelists were provided a QR code containing the survey. Each survey included a prompt indicating what sample to consume, followed by four sensory questions about the sample, presented in a 9-point likert scale. The survey then directed participants to a page with a 30 second timer count down before prompting them to evaluate the other sample, followed by the same four sensory questions. After the samples are evaluated, the panelists are directed to an additional survey about food-choice motives, regarding sustainability/health involvement or sustainability/health self-reported behavior. This survey consisted of eight self-reported health behavior statement, seven sustainability self-reported behavior statements, four health involvement statements, and four sustainability involvement statements. Each statement was presented in a 5-point hedonic scale. Results We did not find differences in the characteristics of sustainability/health involvement or sustainability/health self-reported behaviors between those that chose vegan and those that chose meat. Among both groups, vegan choosers and meat choosers, involvement in healthy eating was higher than involvement in sustainable eating, but there was no difference in self-reported healthy eating and sustainable eating. Conclusions The student demographic we chose is more homogenous than the general population so we didn't see a significant difference in the food choice values of vegan choosers and meat choosers. Among both groups, involvement in healthy eating was significantly higher than involvement in sustainable eating. This provides a beneficial starting point for discussion and further research. Funding Sources Bowling Green State University Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship.

Effects of Forestry Intensification and Conservation on Green Infrastructures: A Spatio-Temporal Evaluation in Sweden

There is a rivalry between policies on intensification of forest management to meet the demands of a growing bioeconomy, and policies on green infrastructure functionality. Evaluation of the net effects of different policy instruments on real-world outcomes is crucial. First, we present data on final felling rates in wood production landscapes and stand age distribution dynamic in two case study regions, and changes in dead wood amounts in Sweden. Second, the growth of formally protected areas was compiled and changes in functional connectivity analysed in these regions, and the development of dead wood and green tree retention in Sweden was described. The case studies were the counties Dalarna and Jämtland (77,000 km2) representing an expanding frontier of boreal forest transformation. In the wood production landscape, official final felling rates averaged 0.84%/year, extending the regional timber frontier. The amount of forest <60 years old increased from 27–34% in 1955 to 60–65% in 2017. The amounts of dead wood, a key forest naturalness indicator, declined from 1994 to 2016 in north Sweden, and increased in the south, albeit both at levels far below evidence-based biodiversity targets. Formal forest protection grew rapidly in the two counties from 1968 to 2020 but reached only 4% of productive forests. From 2000 to 2019, habitat network functionality for old Scots pine declined by 15–41%, and Norway spruce by 15–88%. There were mixed trends for dead wood and tree retention at the stand scale. The net result of the continued transformation of near-natural forest remnants and conservation efforts was negative at the regional and landscape levels, but partly positive at the stand scale. However, at all three scales, habitat amounts were far below critical thresholds for the maintenance of viable populations of species, let alone ecological integrity. Collaboration among stakeholder categories should reject opinionated narratives, and instead rely on evidence-based knowledge about green infrastructure pressures, responses, and states.

Temperature study of Rydberg exciton optical properties in Cu2O

Rydberg excitons in ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ can be an emergent platform for solid-state quantum information processing by utilizing the exaggerated properties of high-lying excited states within the material. To develop practical quantum systems, high-temperature operation is desirable. Here, we study the temperature dependence of the yellow and green Rydberg exciton resonances in a thin ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ crystal via broad-band phonon-assisted absorption spectra between 4 K and 100 K. At 4 K, we can identify the principal quantum number $n=11$ yellow and $n=4$ green Rydberg exciton states, beyond which we are limited by the spectral resolution of standard absorption techniques. Above liquid nitrogen boiling temperature ($\ensuremath{\sim}80\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$), the $n=6$ yellow and $n=4$ green Rydberg exciton states are readily captured and higher-temperature yellow Rydberg exciton optical properties still exhibit the standard scaling laws seen at low temperatures. This promising result lays the groundwork for a new route to build a high-temperature Rydberg quantum information processing architecture with solid-state ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$.

Combining Zirconia and Titanium Suboxides by Vat Photopolymerization.

A recently developed multi-ceramic additive manufacturing process (multi-CAMP) and an appropriate device offer a multi-material approach by vat photopolymerization (VPP) of multi-functionalized ceramic components. However, this process is limited to ceramic powders with a certain translucency for visible light. Electrically conductive ceramic powders are therefore ruled out because of their light-absorbing behavior and dark color. The goal of the collaborative work described in the article was to develop a material combination for this multi-material approach of the additive vat photopolymerization method which allows for combining electrical conductivity and electrical insulation plus high mechanical strength in co-sintered ceramic components. As conductive component titanium suboxides are chosen, whereas zirconia forms the mechanically stable and insulation part. Since titanium suboxides cannot be used for vat photopolymerization due to their light-absorbing behavior, titania is used instead. After additive manufacturing, the two-component parts are co-sintered in a reducing atmosphere to transform the titania into its suboxides and, thus, attaining the desired property combination. The article describes the challenges of the co-processing of both materials due to the complex optical properties of titania. Furthermore, the article shows successfully co-sintered testing parts of the material combination of zirconia/titanium suboxide which are made by assembling single-material VPP components in the green state and subsequent common thermal treatment. The results of microstructural and interface investigations such as electrical measurements are discussed.

Greening Rates and Photosynthetic Development of Etiolated Leaves in Four Crop Species

Many aspects of early plant development are dependent on light exposure, but functional measures of chlorophyll development and chlorophyll fluorescence have not been conducted during a dark-to-light transition in seedlings. To study chlorophyll biosynthesis and overall photosynthetic activity development in leaves, seeds were germinated in darkness and etiolated leaves were then allowed to develop in lighted conditions. Zea mays (corn), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Vicia faba (broad bean), and Triticum aestivum (wheat) were investigated for the first eight days of sunlight exposure. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements were conducted daily on the first true leaf on each plant. The first 5 days of the experiment, days 0 to 4 in light, had the greatest physiological impact on leaves of etiolated plants as they transitioned to a green state. Vicia faba and T. aestivum plants developed more chlorophyll and had faster rates of chlorophyll accumulation compared to Z. mays and S. bicolor plants. The majority of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters measured had less than a 20 percent change from days 4 to 8 in light. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in V. faba and Z. mays were higher than in T. aestivum and S. bicolor and took longer to reach a maximum value. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence had similar patterns of development, with consistent differences among species. This indicates that development of photosynthetic electron transport is related to chlorophyll content and likely differs based on leaf structure or other physiological factors.

Different life‐form strategies of perennial energy crops and related nutrient exports require a differentiating view specifically concerning a sustainable cultivation on marginal land

AbstractPerennial energy crops (PECs) are increasingly used as feedstock to produce energy in an environmental friendly way. Compared to traditional conversion strategies like thermal use, sophisticated technologies such as biomethanation defined different requirements of the feedstock. Whereas the first concept relies on dry, woody material, biomethanation requires a moist feedstock. Thus, over time, the spectrum of species used as PECs has widened. Moreover, harvest dates were adjusted to provide the feedstock at suitable moisture contents. It is well known that perennial, lignocellulose‐based energy crops, compared to annual, sugar‐ and starch‐based ones, offer ecological advantages such as, inter alia, improving biodiversity in landscape, protecting soil against erosion, and protecting groundwater from nutrient inputs. However, one of the main arguments for PEC cultivation was their undemanding nature concerning external inputs. With respect to the broader spectrum of PEC species and changed harvest dates, the question arises whether the concept of PECs being low‐input energy crops is still valid. This also implies the question of suitable growing conditions and sustainable management. The aims of this opinion paper were to classify different PECs according to their life‐form strategy, compare nutrient exports when harvested in different maturation stages, and to discuss the results in the context of sustainable PEC cultivation on marginal land. This study revealed that nutrient exports with yield biomass of PECs harvested in green state are in the same range than those of annual energy crops and therewith several times higher than those of PECs harvested in brown state or of woody short rotation coppices. Thus, PECs cannot universally be claimed as low‐input energy crops. These results also imply the consequences of cultivation of PECs on marginal land. Finally, the question has to be raised whether the term PECs should prospectively be better specified in written and spoken words.

Engineering A Modular Protein Color Switch using An Entropy‐driven Beta Strand Exchange

Protein conformational switches are widely used in functional regulation and biosensing to visualize biological substances in vitro and in vivo. A major challenge in protein switch design strategies is coupling the target recognition domain to an output domain to produce a change in fluorescence wavelength or intensity. To overcome this challenge, we tested a rational design strategy that exploits two key protein engineering principles (1) loop entropy, by which long insertions into a loop of a host protein destabilizes the host due to an entropic cost associated with loop closure unless the inserted sequence adopts a folded structure; (2) alternate frame folding (AFF), which allows a protein (GFP variants, in this case) to switch between two mutually exclusive folds. For proof-of-concept, we chose an unfolded, circularly permuted FK506-binding protein (cpFKBP) as the input recognition domain, and inserted it in one of the two mutually exclusive folds of the GFP-AFF fusion protein. Upon addition of ligand, cpFKBP folding effects a conformational change in which the 10th beta strand of GFP exchanges, replacing Thr203 (green state) with Tyr203 (yellow state). Single point mutations and insertions were introduced to thermodynamically balance the protein switch for response within a reasonable timescale. We observe a shift in emission wavelength within an hour in response to ligand in vitro and in cellulo with a yellow:green color change of ~2.5-fold. This protein switch design has the advantages of genetic encodability, potential modularity and a ratiometric response. The design strategy further provides insight into protein engineering principles for application in molecular diagnostics, cellular biosensors and activatable proteins.

On the Origin of Queries: Where Chat Reference Questions Begin

Academic libraries providing chat reference services have a range of options for where and how library users can engage with chat providers. These entry points can be static or proactively invite users into the service. The study compares the URLs from which users entered chat reference at three large public research libraries in the United States. The URLs show where users were when they sought assistance with library tasks. This exploratory investigation is important for extending knowledge of user help-seeking behavior and how chat service configuration may impact use. Data are variables related to chat interactions (n = 19,839) at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and University of New Mexico (UNM) in three semesters 2019–20. Findings show users originated most chats from either the library website or discovery layer; chat initiations from other resources are minimal; chat traffic increased at all three during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment of the green spaces' state in the impact zone of the Pechenganikel smelter, the Murmansk region

The study of the state of green spaces in urbanized areas is important due to their sanitary, hygienic and aesthetic role in the harsh climatic conditions of the Arctic. The objects of research were the green spaces of the urban-type settlement Nikel (the Murmansk region). The assessment of the distribution of tree and shrub species by categories of life state was carried out; revealed damage to leaves by atmospheric emissions, insects and fungi. A high degree of damage from pollution was noted in birch, mountain ash and bird cherry; aspen up to 85 % damaged by aphids; mechanical damage to the trunks was noted in about 26 % of the surveyed trees; 5 % of trees have frost cracks in the trunk. In the course of a comparative assessment of the chemical composition of birch leaves growing in the urbanized territory of Nikel and in forest ecosystems along the gradient of atmospheric pollution in the impact zone of the Pechenganikel plant, it was found that the concentrations of pollutants in birch leaves in technologically disturbed areas exceed background values. Birch leaves in the southern direction from the plant accumulate higher concentrations of Ni, Cu, Pb, Co, Fe than in the western and northern directions. In 2019, the concentrations of heavy metals in birch leaves increased compared to the previous study period (2004). In the urban area, the content of pollutants exceeds not only the values of the regional background, but also the levels identified in forest ecosystems along the gradient of atmospheric pollution. Concentration coefficients Cc show abnormally high values for Ni, Cu, Pb, Co, Fe; the maximum Cc values are noted for Ni and Co.

The Wall Street Consensus

ABSTRACTThe Wall Street Consensus is an elaborate effort to reorganize development interventions around partnerships with global finance. The UN's Billions to Trillions agenda, the World Bank's Maximizing Finance for Development or the G20's Infrastructure as an Asset Class update the Washington Consensus for the age of the portfolio glut, to ‘escort’ global (North) institutional investors and the managers of their trillions into development asset classes. Making development investible requires a two‐pronged strategy: enlist the state into risk‐proofing development assets and accelerate the structural transformation of local financial systems towards market‐based finance that better accommodates portfolio investors. Ten policy commandments forge the ‘de‐risking state’. They create a safety net for investors in development assets, protecting their profits from demand risks attached to commodified infrastructure assets; from political risks attached to (progressive) policies that would threaten cash flows, including nationalization, higher minimum wages and, critically, climate regulation; and from liquidity and currency risks. These risks are transferred to the balance sheet of the state. The new ‘development as de‐risking’ paradigm narrows the scope for a green developmental state that could design a just transition to low‐carbon economies.