Growth Conditions Research Articles

Controlled drainage with subirrigation systems: Reduce water supply by automatic control

Controlled drainage with subirrigation (CDSI) is a viable measure to supply, retain or discharge groundwater, thereby contributing to freshwater availability in agriculture under changing environmental conditions. Relatively simple CDSI systems can be controlled manually to set a few drainage levels. More advanced systems can be controlled remotely to set any drainage level (between a technical maximum and minimum). CDSI potentially improves hydrological conditions for crop growth, but the required external water supply can be large. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate whether external water supply for subirrigation can be reduced by automatic control of CDSI systems in relation to crop water demand. Field measurements of a CDSI pilot in the Dutch sandy Pleistocene uplands were combined with weather forecasts to simulate the optimal drainage level and day by day water demand and supply using the agro-hydrological Soil, Water, Atmosphere, Plant model (SWAP). Firstly, model simulations showed that the water requirement reduced by 60 mm (dry growing season), 253 mm (average growing season) and 348 mm (wet growing season) using a dynamically managed crest level (CDSI-dyn) compared to using a fixed crest level (CDSI-fix), with minor effects on crop yield. Secondly, model simulations showed that a higher hydraulic resistance to downward seepage, a higher ditch water level or deeper roots reduced the water supply (up to 100 mm). Thirdly, accepting 10 % daily crop drought and oxygen stress for CDSI-dyn reduced the water supply requirement with 235–628 mm (dry vs wet growing season) compared to CDSI-fix. In conclusion, the required water volume for CDSI could be substantially reduced by automated control of the drainage level and water supply rate, while maintaining crop yield or accepting minor reductions, which increases the potential of implementation of CDSI systems.

Effect of mulched drip irrigation on crop biomass and carbon fluxes in maize field

The agroecosystem, a critical component of the terrestrial carbon cycle, plays an indispensable role in maintaining the balance of carbon pools and ensuring global food security. Investigating the interplay between crop yield and carbon cycle is essential for the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices. In the quest for water-efficient agricultural solutions, mulched drip irrigation emerges as a promising technique to mitigate water scarcity in agriculture. In the arid regions of northwest China, where water is a precious resource, understanding the impact of irrigation methods on the productivity and carbon dynamics of crops like spring maize is critical. Our study aimed to evaluate the influence of two irrigation methods—mulched drip irrigation (DI) and mulched border irrigation (BI)—on the biomass accumulation and carbon fluxes of spring maize by field observation and DNDC model simulation for comparative analysis. The findings based on field and flux observation data, underscore the transformative potential of shifting from BI to DI. DI was found to significantly enhance the soil's hydrothermal environment, which is crucial for fostering optimal conditions for crop growth. This improvement is instrumental in promoting the allocation of photosynthetic products to the aboveground biomass, ultimately leading to a substantial increase in grain yield. Our results indicated that the DI treatment not only bolstered the gross primary productivity (GPP) but also elevated the ecosystem respiration (RE) compared to the BI treatment. Finally, DI can increase the net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of maize fields by 6.08 %. The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model, after calibration and validation, proved to be a reliable tool for estimating ecosystem respiration under the two irrigation systems. A thorough analysis of the simulated data revealed that DI's enhancement of the soil's hydrothermal environment also led to an increase in soil heterotrophic respiration. This insight is vital as it sheds light on the complex interactions between irrigation practices and soil microbial processes, which are integral to the carbon cycle. These findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable agricultural practices and provide a theoretical foundation for strategies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. By adopting data-driven approaches and leveraging advanced models, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future that harmoniously balances productivity and environmental stewardship.

A smart monitoring and observation framework for aquaponics ecosystem

Aquaponics is a sustainable and efficient agricultural system that integrates aquaculture with agriculture. This system integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology in aquaponics systems with the potential to change sustainable agriculture by combining farming of fish (aquaculture) and soilless cultivation of plants (hydroponics) into a single, efficient ecosystem. This paper explores the design and development of a smart aquaponics system that allows aquaponic farming at commercial scale feasible, leveraging IoT to continuously gather data through various sensors, monitor environmental conditions, and automate control processes. The proposed system architecture is based on a three-tier model, ensuring scalability and maintainability. The proposed system consists of a three-layer architecture: the Perception Layer for measuring different environmental factors and controlling them, the Network Layer for data transmission, and the Application Layer for data storage, manipulation, and user interaction. The key components include sensors for monitoring pH, humidity, temperature, sunlight, oxygen levels, and water proximity; devices such as lights, water pumps, fans, and oxygen pumps for environmental control; and an ESP8266 microcontroller for system management. The system's software is developed using C# DOT NET CORE 8.0, React, MySQL, C, and Arduino. The system allows users the ability to maintain optimal conditions for fish and plant growth, notify users of irregularities, and allow remote control through a web application, proving it to be an intelligent, flexible, low-cost, and stable solution for large-scale aquaponics.

Competition between transient oscillations and early stochasticity in exponentially growing populations

It has been recently shown that the exponential growth rate of a population of bacterial cells starting from a single cell shows transient oscillations due to early synchronized bursts of division. These oscillations are enhanced by cell size regulation and contain information about single-cell growth statistics. Here, we report a phase transition in these oscillations as a function of growth rate variability. Below the transition point, these oscillations become asymptotically deterministic and can be measured experimentally, while above the transition point, the stochasticity in population growth dominates the oscillations and masks all the information about single cell growth statistics. The analytically calculated transition point, which roughly corresponds to 13% variability in single-cell growth rate, falls within physiologically relevant parameters. Additionally, we show that the oscillations can stochastically emerge even when the initial state contains multiple cells with out-of-phase division cycles. We show that the amplitude and phase of these oscillations are stochastic and vary across repeated measurements with the same initial conditions. We provide analytic expressions as well as numerical estimates for the typical oscillation amplitude and the number of generations before the amplitude falls below a given measurement threshold for in multiple growth conditions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Growth of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum BG112 in Batch and Continuous Culture with Camellia sinensis as Prebiotic

This work aimed to study the effect of Camellia sinensis extract (CSExt) as a particular growth promoter of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) in batch and continuous production processes. Growth conditions were 1% (v/v) inoculum, pHC = 6.5, 1% of dissolved oxygen (D.O.), 37 °C, and 150 rpm in a 0.2 L bioreactor using a commercial MRS broth (de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe) and 1% (v/v) or 10% (v/v) CSExt according to the experimental design. In batch experiments, the maximum specific growth rate and the affinity constant increased with the increase in CSExt. In continuous culture, biomass production increased significantly with the addition of 1% (w/v) CSExt at 0.15 (1/h). Kinetic parameters adjusted were similar to those reported in the literature. Substrate affinity and the specific growth rate increased significantly in the presence of CSExt in batch and continuous cultures. Based on the results, prebiotics from plant extracts may function as growth promoters in specific physiological stages. This is the first report showing the change in kinetic parameters of a probiotic strain growing in crude plant extracts.

Laboratory maintenance and care of Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) and other Triatominae

Abstract Triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are hematophagous insects that transmit Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent for Chagas disease, to humans and other mammals. As medically important vectors, species such as Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) have long been used as a model organism for physiological studies. Laboratory rearing of triatomines is needed to support vector and parasite research. Many environmental conditions, such as suitable housing containers, light source and duration, temperature, humidity, and density, must be addressed when adapting triatomines from a natural habitat for artificial rearing to create conditions for optimal growth and survival. Food source is also an important factor, as triatomines are considered the obligate blood feeders. Parasites and pathogens present risks not only for triatomines but also for the laboratorians handling them. Equipping an insectary space should apply best practices to ensure community, personnel, and insect health. Various triatomine colonies have been maintained in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Entomology Branch insectary for over 25 years and have more recently been made available to the research community through the Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository (BEI Resources). The CDC Rhodnius prolixus genome has been characterized and thus represents an opportunity for continued model organism research. In addition to fulfilling requests for live triatomines, inquiries are received for support in establishing new and troubleshooting existing laboratory colonies. To accompany the extensive MR4 manual, Methods in Anopheles Research, procedures for triatomine husbandry have been developed and are shared here to address the aforementioned topics.

Metabolomics, phytohormone and transcriptomics strategies to reveal the mechanism of barley heading date regulation to responds different photoperiod

BackgroundThe correlation between heading date and flowering time significantly regulates grain filling and seed formation in barley and other crops, ultimately determining crop productivity. In this study, the transcriptome, hormone content detection, and metabolome analysis were performed systematically to analyze the regulatory mechanism of heading time in highland barley under different light conditions. The heading date of D18 (winter highland barley variety, Dongqing18) was later than that of K13 (vernal highland barley variety) under normal growth conditions or long-day (LD) treatment, while this situation will reverse with short-day (SD) treatment.ResultsThe circadian rhythm plant, plant hormone signaling transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, and photosynthesis-related pathways are significantly enriched in barley under SD and LD to influence heading time. In the plant circadian rhythm pathway, the key genes GI (Gigantea), PRR (Pesudoresponseregulator), FKF1 (Flavin-binding kelch pepeat F-Box 1), and FT (Flowering locus T) are identified as highly expressed in D18SD3 and K13SD2, while they are significantly down-regulated in K13SD3. These genes play an important role in regulating the heading date of D18 earlier than that of K13 under SD conditions. In photosynthesis-related pathways, a-b binding protein and RBS were highly expressed in K13LD3, while NADP-dependent malic enzyme, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, and triosephosphate isomerase were significantly expressed in D18SD3. In the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, 41 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) and related metabolites were identified as highly expressed and accumulated in D18SD3. The DEGs SAUR (Small auxin-up RNA), ARF (Auxin response factor), TIR1 (Transport inhibitor response 1), EIN3 (Ethylene-insensitive 3), ERS1 (Ethylene receptor gene), and JAZ1 (Jasmonate ZIM-domain) in the plant hormone pathway were significantly up-regulated in D18SD3. Compared with D18LD3, the content of N6-isopentenyladenine, indole-3-carboxylic acid, 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, trans-zeatin, indole-3-carboxaldehyde, 1-O-indol-3-ylacetylglucose, and salicylic acid in D18SD3 also increased. The expression levels of vernalization genes (HvVRN1, HvVRN2, and HvVRN3), photoperiod genes (PPD), and PPDK (Pyruvate phosphate dikinase) that affect photosynthetic efficiency in barley are also analyzed, which play important regulatory roles in barley heading date. The WGCNA analysis of the metabolome data and circadian regulatory genes identified the key metabolites and candidate genes to regulate the heading time of barley in response to the photoperiod.ConclusionThese studies will provide a reference for the regulation mechanism of flowering and the heading date of highland barley.

Spectral properties of the gradient operator with nonconstant coefficients

In mathematical physics, the gradient operator with nonconstant coefficients encompasses various models, including Fourier’s law for heat propagation and Fick’s first law, that relates the diffusive flux to the gradient of the concentration. Specifically, consider n≥3\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$n\\ge 3$$\\end{document} orthogonal unit vectors e1,…,en∈Rn\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$e_1,\\ldots ,e_n\\in {\\mathbb {R}}^n$$\\end{document}, and let Ω⊆Rn\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\Omega \\subseteq {\\mathbb {R}}^n$$\\end{document} be some (in general unbounded) Lipschitz domain. This paper investigates the spectral properties of the gradient operator T=∑i=1neiai(x)∂∂xi\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$T=\\sum _{i=1}^ne_ia_i(x)\\frac{\\partial }{\\partial x_i}$$\\end{document} with nonconstant positive coefficients ai:Ω¯→(0,∞)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$a_i:{\\overline{\\Omega }}\\rightarrow (0,\\infty )$$\\end{document}. Under certain regularity and growth conditions on the ai\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$a_i$$\\end{document}, we identify bisectorial or strip-type regions that belong to the S-resolvent set of T. Moreover, we obtain suitable estimates of the associated resolvent operator. Our focus lies in the spectral theory on the S-spectrum, designed to study the operators acting in Clifford modules V over the Clifford algebra Rn\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\mathbb {R}}_n$$\\end{document}, with vector operators being a specific crucial subclass. The spectral properties related to the S-spectrum of T are linked to the inversion of the operator Qs(T):=T2-2s0T+|s|2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Q_s(T):=T^2-2s_0T+|s|^2$$\\end{document}, where s∈Rn+1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$s\\in {\\mathbb {R}}^{n+1}$$\\end{document} is a paravector, i.e., it is of the form s=s0+s1e1+⋯+snen\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$s=s_0+s_1e_1+\\cdots +s_ne_n$$\\end{document}. This spectral problem is substantially different from the complex one, since it allows to associate general boundary conditions to Qs(T)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Q_s(T)$$\\end{document}, i.e., to the squared operator T2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$T^2$$\\end{document}.

A unified characterization of convolution coefficients in nonlocal differential equations

In loving memory of my beloved miniature dachshund Maddie (16 March 2002 – 16 March 2020). We consider nonlocal differential equations with convolution coefficients of the form \[{-}M\Big(\big(a*(g\circ |u|)\big)(1)\Big)u''(t)=\lambda f\big(t,u(t)\big),\quad t\in(0,1), \] in the case in which $g$ can satisfy very generalized growth conditions; in addition, $M$ is allowed to be both sign-changing and vanishing. Existence of at least one positive solution to this equation equipped with boundary data is considered. We demonstrate that the nonlocal coefficient $M$ allows the forcing term $f$ to be free of almost all assumptions other than continuity.

Optimal agronomic measures combined with biochar increased rice yield through enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in soda saline-alkali fields

Soda saline-alkali stress severely hampers rice growth, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield formation. Biochar addition has been recognized as a potential solution to mitigate the adverse effects of saline-alkali stress on crops. Similarly, optimal agronomic measures are known to optimize crop growth conditions and enhance yield formation and resource utilization efficiency. Despite this knowledge, there is limited understanding of the combined effects of optimizing agronomic measures and biochar addition on ionic accumulation, nitrogen use efficiency, and rice yield in soda saline-alkali paddy fields. In this study, a 3-year field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the combined effects of optimal agronomic measures and biochar application on rice physiological properties, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield under five agronomic treatments: zero-fertilizer control (CK), farmers’ practice (FP), high-yield and high-efficiency management (OPT1), super-high-yield management (OPT2), high-yield and high-efficiency management combined with biochar (OPT1+B), and super-high-yield management combined with biochar (OPT2+B). The results demonstrate that treatments of optimal agronomic practices combined with biochar application (OPT2+B and OPT1+B) effectively reduced leaf Na+ concentration, Na+/K+ ratio, abscisic acid (ABA) concentration, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, while enhancing leaf K+ concentration, improving leaf water status, and reducing relative electrical leakage over three years. Furthermore, these combined treatments positively influenced the enzyme activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), and leaf nitrogen content (LN), as well as SPAD values. Additionally, the average nitrogen agronomic use efficiency (AEn) increased by 154.71 %, 109.81 %, 50.67 %, and 32.60 % in OPT1+B, OPT2+B, OPT1, and OPT2, respectively, compared to FP, while nitrogen physiological use efficiency (PEn) decreased by 64.03 %, 58.56 %, 29.46 %, and 21.81 %. The average grain yield (GY) increased by 311.42 %, 302.86 %, 196.57 %, 178.86 %, and 133.72 % in OPT2+B, OPT1+B, OPT2, and OPT1, respectively, compared to FP. AEn exhibited positive correlations with K+, leaf water status (LWS), NR, GS, GOGAT, LN, SPAD, and GY. These findings will offer new insights into the sustainable development and utilization of soda saline-alkali lands.

Image Analysis Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Plant Phenotyping: Current State of the Art

Modern agriculture is characterized by the use of smart technology and precision agriculture to monitor crops in real time. The technologies enhance total yields by identifying requirements based on environmental conditions. Plant phenotyping is used in solving problems of basic science and allows scientists to characterize crops and select the best genotypes for breeding, hence eliminating manual and laborious methods. Additionally, plant phenotyping is useful in solving problems such as identifying subtle differences or complex quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping which are impossible to solve using conventional methods. This review article examines the latest developments in image analysis for plant phenotyping using AI, 2D, and 3D image reconstruction techniques by limiting literature from 2020. The article collects data from 84 current studies and showcases novel applications of plant phenotyping in image analysis using various technologies. AI algorithms are showcased in predicting issues expected during the growth cycles of lettuce plants, predicting yields of soybeans in different climates and growth conditions, and identifying high-yielding genotypes to improve yields. The use of high throughput analysis techniques also facilitates monitoring crop canopies for different genotypes, root phenotyping, and late-time harvesting of crops and weeds. The high throughput image analysis methods are also combined with AI to guide phenotyping applications, leading to higher accuracy than cases that consider either method. Finally, 3D reconstruction and a combination with AI are showcased to undertake different operations in applications involving automated robotic harvesting. Future research directions are showcased where the uptake of smartphone-based AI phenotyping and the use of time series and ML methods are recommended.

In situ-grown nitrogen-sulfur co-doped carbon nanotubes encapsulated with FeS particles as cathode materials for zinc-air batteries

Transition metal sulfides as ideal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts have great potential to regulate multiple reaction pathways and understand their corresponding internal reaction mechanisms at cathode in zinc-air batteries (ZABS), effectively. This work adopted a facile one-pot synthesis method based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD), which utilizes the synergistic effect of zeolite imidazolium ester skeleton (ZIF-8) and polypyrrole (PPY) to grow nitrogen-sulfur co-doped carbon nanotubes (NS-CNT) in the shape of colonic with a relatively uniform size and encapsulated with FeS nanoparticles as the main active sites. The synthesized purpose catalyst noted as FeS-NS-CNT-900, in which that the FeS nanoparticles were tightly encapsulated in carbon nanotubes, and this special structure ensures that the FeS particles do not detach during the reaction, thus greatly enhancing their electrochemical activity and stability. As expected, the FeS-NS-CNT-900 catalyst exhibited a half-wave potential of 0.877 V which is higher than that of commercial platinum charcoal (0.847 V), at 0.1 mol KOH. More importantly, the formation of abundant FeS catalytic active sites, the optimal conditions for NS-CNT growth, and the covered mechanisms of the enhanced ORR reaction activity of FeS-NS-CNT-900 were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, whileFeS-NS-CNT-900 was used as an air cathode material for the assembly of a zinc-air battery, it exhibited a peak power density and specific capacity of 123 mW cm−2 and 785.81 mA h g−1, respectively, which were significantly better than that of platinum-carbon cathode (92.8 mW cm−2 and 740.4 mA h g−1). And surprisingly, the battery with FeS-NS-CNT-900 cathode exhibited (delivered/showed) a high cycle stability of 260 h at 5 mA cm−2. Conclusively, present work provides a feasible method for in situ growth of sulfur and nitrogen co-doped carbon nanotube encapsulated transition metal sulfide nanoparticle catalysts, which may pave a new avenue for the preparation of high ORR performance air cathode material for ZABS.

Selective incorporation of antimony into gallium nitride

Dilute concentrations of antimony (Sb) incorporation into GaN induce strong bandgap bowing and tunable room-temperature photoluminescence from the UV to the green spectral regions. However, the atomistic details of the incorporation of Sb into the GaN host remain unclear. In this work, we use first-principles calculations to understand the thermodynamics of Sb substitution into GaN and its effect on the optical and Raman spectra. Although it is empirically considered that Sb is preferentially incorporated as an anion (Sb3−) into the N sublattice, we demonstrate that Sb can also be incorporated as a cation (Sb3+, Sb5+) into the metal sublattice. Our thermodynamic analysis demonstrates that SbN0, SbGa2+, and SbGa0 can co-exist under Ga-rich conditions in n-type samples. We further confirm the dual incorporation of Sb by calculating the vibrational frequencies of different anionic and cationic substitutions to explain the origins of experimentally observed additional Raman peaks of Sb-doped GaN. Moreover, the calculated band structures of different Sb substitutions into GaN explain the experimental photoluminescence and optical absorption spectra. Overall, our analysis suggests that the coexistence of Sb3−, Sb3+, and Sb5+ substitutions into GaN explains the totality of experimental measurements. Our results demonstrate that the selective incorporation of Sb into GaN (and potentially other group-V elements such as As, P, or Bi) by tuning the growth conditions can drastically modify the electronic properties, for applications in visible light emitters and photocatalysis.

Automated vs. Semi-Automated Hydroponics

The issue of hydroponic farming is the ongoing requirement to maintain and control the artificial growing environment to enable optimal plant growth. The quality of the plants growing on the farm can be significantly impacted by changes in the climate, natural light, and fertilizer solution at any time during the plant's growth cycle. According to studies, every 3°C increase in ambient temperature from the optimal range reduces crop productivity by 10 to 40%. Therefore, by automatically supplying ideal growth conditions throughout the growing cycle, IoT-based automation is crucial to achieving optimal plant growth. In this work, lettuce is grown simultaneously in two distinct hydroponic Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) systems, one of which is fully automated and the other semi-automated. In terms of plant growth metrics, such as plant elevation, maximum plant length, maximum plant breadth, and weight of both fresh and dry-farmed lettuce, this paper compared a fully automated farm and a semi-automated NFT farm for growing lettuce. The outcomes demonstrate that the ariel weight of fresh and dry lettuce and root weight of fresh and dry lettuce had average improvements of 10.4 gm, 0.7 gm, 0.11 gm, 0.7 gm, and 3, respectively in the fully automated setup. Findings also demonstrated that IoT-based automation enhances the growth of lettuce plants on farms when comparing a completely automatic hydroponic farm to a semi-automatic hydroponic farm, in terms of plant height, width, and total leaf count.

Unraveling the complexities of antifungal susceptibility testing in Candida spp.: Insights from design of experiments

Our study delved into the intricate dynamics of antifungal susceptibility testing for Candida spp., employing a Design of Experiments approach. We systematically investigated the influence of pH, temperature, inoculum size, and glucose concentration on both growth patterns and inhibitory concentrations of Candida spp. Our findings underscore the nuanced interplay between these factors, revealing significant impacts on susceptibility outcomes. Notably, even minor adjustments in these parameters yielded substantial variations in growth and inhibitory concentrations, underscoring the critical importance of meticulous control over growth conditions in antifungal susceptibility testing protocols. Each Candida isolates exhibited unique susceptibility profiles, necessitating tailored culture conditions for accurate testing. Our study sheds light on the variability inherent in Candida spp. growth patterns and emphasizes the need for standardized protocols to ensure consistency across laboratories. By leveraging the design of experiments, our research provides a systematic framework for unraveling the complexities of antifungal susceptibility testing, offering valuable insights for optimizing testing protocols and informing clinical decision-making in antifungal treatment. These findings represent a significant step towards enhancing the efficacy and reliability of antifungal susceptibility testing in clinical practice.

Phenylalanine, Cysteine, and Sodium Selenate Alleviate Chilling Injury in Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) Seedlings by Enhancing Antioxidant Activities and Membrane Stability

Low temperature is a major environmental factor that negatively affects the growth and productivity of plants, such as the tropical fruit Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), which is susceptible to cold stress. Therefore, to investigate the effect of the amino acid L-phenylalanine (Phe), L-cysteine (Cys), or sodium selenite (Se) on enhancing antioxidant activities, experiments were conducted on the phenolic compounds, proline content, and membrane stability of Cape gooseberry seedlings under low-temperature stress. The seedlings were exposed for 48 h to a low temperature (4 °C) followed by 24 h of optimal growth conditions. In seedlings treated with Se, we found a high relative water content, good membrane integrity, low ion leakage, and hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, this treatment led to the improvement of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant activity. The analysis of seedlings under cold stress showed that the Phe enhanced the stomatal conductance and phenol content. Furthermore, low concentrations of Cys resulted in the production of proline and flavonoids, which reduced the negative effects of environmental stress on seedlings and maintained cell membrane integrity. Overall, in this experiment, the use of Se and low concentrations of Cys had a positive effect on the amount of antioxidant compounds, which improved seedling growth under stress conditions.

Apert syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea: Timing for midface surgery

ABSTRACT Objective This study aims to determine the optimal timing for midface surgery in patients with Apert syndrome and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Methods We reviewed relevant articles from Web of Science and PubMed and conducted a bibliometric analysis. Results A review of 74 documents published between 1981 and 2023 revealed that determining the optimal timing for surgery in cases of airway obstruction necessitates consideration of various factors, including the location and severity of airway abnormalities, craniofacial development, potential impact of treatment on future growth, psychological considerations, and overall physiological conditions. Although midface advancement surgery performed around ages 6 to 7 typically yields symptom relief and favorable long-term outcomes, the ideal surgical timing young children with severe OSA remains a contentious issue. Conclusion While midface surgery is frequently advocated at ages 6 to 7, there is an urgent need for enhanced cooperation and high-quality research to deepen our understanding.

Decoupled transcript and protein concentrations ensure histone homeostasis in different nutrients.

To maintain protein homeostasis in changing nutrient environments, cells must precisely control the amount of their proteins, despite the accompanying changes in cell growth and biosynthetic capacity. As nutrients are major regulators of cell cycle length and progression, a particular challenge arises for the nutrient-dependent regulation of 'cell cycle genes', which are periodically expressed during the cell cycle. One important example are histones, which are needed at a constant histone-to-DNA stoichiometry. Here we show that budding yeast achieves histone homeostasis in different nutrients through a decoupling of transcript and protein abundance. We find that cells downregulate histone transcripts in poor nutrients to avoid toxic histone overexpression, but produce constant amounts of histone proteins through nutrient-specific regulation of translation efficiency. Our findings suggest that this allows cells to balance the need for rapid histone production under fast growth conditions with the tight regulation required to avoid toxic overexpression in poor nutrients.

Reconstruction of a robust bacterial replication module.

Chromosomal DNA replication is a fundamental process of life, involving the assembly of complex machinery and dynamic regulation. In this study, we reconstructed a bacterial replication module (pRC) by artificially clustering 23 genes involved in DNA replication and sequentially deleting these genes from their naturally scattered loci on the chromosome of Escherichia coli. The integration of pRC into the chromosome, moving from positions farther away to close to the replication origin, leads to an enhanced efficiency in DNA synthesis, varying from lower to higher. Strains containing replication modules exhibited increased DNA replication by accelerating the replication fork movement and initiating chromosomal replication earlier in the replication cycle. The minimized module pRC16, containing only replisome and elongation encoding genes, exhibited chromosomal DNA replication efficiency comparable to that of pRC. The replication module demonstrated robust and rapid DNA replication, regardless of growth conditions. Moreover, the replication module is plug-and-play, and integrating it into Mb-sized extrachromosomal plasmids improves their genetic stability. Our findings indicate that DNA replication, being a fundamental life process, can be artificially reconstructed into replication functional modules. This suggests potential applications in DNA replication and the construction of synthetic modular genomes.

The anti-biofilm efficacy of copper and zinc doped borate bioactive glasses.

Aim: Healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs) pose significant challenges in medical settings due to their resistance to conventional treatment methods. The role of bacterial biofilms in exacerbating these infections is well-documented, making HAIs particularly difficult to eradicate. Despite numerous research efforts, an effective solution to combat these infections remains elusive. This study aims to explore the potential of metal-ion (copper and zinc) doped borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) as a novel treatment modality to inhibit bacterial species commonly implicated in HAIs: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Methods: The study analyzed the efficacy of both direct and indirect applications of BBGs on severe biofilms pre-formed under static and dynamic growth conditions; a comprehensive predictive modeling was developed, simulating diverse clinically relevant conditions.Results: Results demonstrate more than 4 log reduction in bacterial growth within 2days for direct application and 3days for indirect application of copper and zinc-doped BBGs. These findings were consistent across the three bacterial species, in both static and dynamic conditions.Conclusion: Copper and zinc-doped BBGs can be an effective approach in combating HAIs complicated by biofilms.