High Production Research Articles

Oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues- phosphogypsum foamed ceramics: Basic properties, microsintering mechanism and heavy metals solidification

Oil-based drilling cutting pyrolysis residues(ODPR) and phosphogypsum(PG) are typical types of industrial solid waste in China, characterized by low utilization rate and high output. The large amount of untreated accumulation will release heavy metals(HMs) and other pollutants, posing risks to the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a high value-added building material product that can reduce environmental hazards while improving utilization rate. Based on this background, this study uses ODPR and PG as raw materials to explore their potential applications in the field of foamed ceramics. Research has shown that different sintering processes have a significant impact on the appearance and performance of products. By adjusting the preparation process, foamed ceramic products with excellent performance can be prepared. When the sintering temperature is 925℃, the foaming agent dosage is 3 %, and the raw material ratio ODPR:PG:Borax=35:45:20, a foamed ceramic product with a porosity of 60.95 %, water absorption rate of 3.4 %, compressive strength of 4.8 MPa, thermal conductivity of 0.8016 W/(m·k), and acid and alkali resistance of 98.57 % and 99.44 % can be prepared. The product meets the relevant requirements of “Fired heat preservation brick and block (GB/T 26538)” and “ General Specification for porous ceramic products (GB/T 16533)”. The HMs content test showed that the Ni and Pb contents in the pre-sintered blanks were the highest, at 0.6308 mg/kg and 0.3182 mg/kg, respectively. However, after high-temperature calcination, the solidification rate of HMs could reach up to 98.93 %, and the leaching amount was significantly reduced. The three further evaluation methods indicate that HMs in the pre-sintered blanks and foamed ceramic products do not pose significant ecological risks. The research results provide a green inorganic insulation material in the field of solid waste control and building materials.

Pressure-Induced Piezoelectric Response for Mitigating Membrane Fouling in Surface Water Treatment: Insights from Continuous Operation and Biofouling Characterization

Organic fouling and biofouling represents a critical challenge encountered by the membrane-based water treatment process. Herein, a piezoelectric PVDF membrane (PEM), capable of generating electrical responses to hydraulic pressure stimuli, was synthesized and employed for mitigating the fouling in surface water treatment. The surface-hydrophobilized PEM demonstrated sensitive and enhanced underwater output performance in response to increasing transmembrane pressure (TMP) during constant-flux filtration, with signals reaching up to ∼800 mV at a TMP of ∼80 kPa. This in-situ piezoelectric response significantly reduced TMP growth in both short-term (1 hour) and long-term (15 days) filtration trials, demonstrating a strong capability to mitigate membrane fouling. Moreover, continuous piezoelectric stimulation effectively inhibited microbial activity and the accumulation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on PEM surface, surpassing the dominant electrokinetic repulsion mechanisms observed in short-term trials. Microbial community analysis suggests that this evolution is primarily due to the targeted impact of piezoelectric stimulation on microbial metabolic behavior. The piezoelectric-induced electrical microenvironment inhibited the growth of microbes associated with high EPS production while promoting the proliferation of electrically active microbes involved in biopolymer digestion. In addition, the PEM demonstrated enhanced permeate quality throughout the filtration process, with DOC and UV254 removal rates increasing from 11.7% and 15.6% initially to 28.6% and 19.5% by the 15th day, respectively. Given the performance and self-powered capability of PEM compared to current electrified antifouling methods that require an external power supply, these attributes are anticipated to hold practical significance in developing innovative and energy-efficient strategies for mitigating both organic fouling and biofouling.

Разноуровневые стратегии развития: арктический нефтегазовый вектор

The balanced development of the hydrocarbon potential in the Arctic is currently a strategic priority for Russia. Given the present conditions of the global energy sector, alongside new geopolitical challenges and trends towards low-carbon and ecologically balanced development, there is a need for a system of coordinated strategies across the industry, regional, and corporate levels. To effectively develop Arctic oil and gas resources, it is necessary to ensure technological sovereignty, which involves equipping oil and gas companies with domestically produced equipment and software. Strategies should also focus on the development of industries that produce high value-added products, particularly in the petrochemical sector. Public administrators and corporate managers responsible for key decisions must have a clear, long-term vision for the development of the Arctic oil and gas sector and employ established methodological approaches in strategy design. The goal of this study is to substantiate the specific characteristics of multilevel strategies and assess the feasibility of using a matrix approach when designing strategic alternatives relevant to the current economic environment. The research methodology is based on the approaches, methods, and tools of strategic management and planning, with a particular focus on methods for designing strategic alternatives. The novelty of the research lies in the development of a system of criteria for comparing strategies and their target priorities at the industry, regional, and corporate levels. The study identifies current trends and challenges arising from the energy transition, stringent sanctions policies, and growing technological capabilities. It proposes an approach to designing alternative strategies of related and unrelated diversification for oil and gas companies. Developing a holistic concept of coordinated industry and corporate strategies is identified as a promising area for further research.

Effect of chitosan oligosaccharides with different molecular weight in alleviating textural deterioration of chicken myofibrillar protein gel with high-temperature treatment

The molecular weight (MW) of oligosaccharides on gel properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) at high temperature remains unclear. In this study, it was found that chitosan oligosaccharides (CO) with different MW all significantly alleviated the textural deterioration of MP gel with high-temperature treatment. Moreover, MP-CO gel with the largest MW had the highest breaking force and the lowest cooking loss. Low-field NMR results further indicated that MP-CO gel with larger MW of CO had gradually increased relaxation rate, thus binding water more tightly. Rheological and microrheological tests suggested the addition of CO with larger MW resulted in much tighter gel network. These results indicated that CO with larger MW improved the quality of MP gel more effectively, which was because CO with larger MW inhibited aggregation of MP to a larger extent, resulting in smaller MP aggregates. Then MP-CO gel with much denser and more homogeneous structure was formed. Besides, MP-CO gel with larger MW of CO had higher content of β-sheet, resulting in MP gel with more ordered structure and better gel quality. Therefore, this study provided theoretical guidance for choosing the appropriate CO in improving texture of high temperature meat products.

CoMo/g-C3N4 as a highly effective, reusable, non-noble metal-based catalyst for H2 production via NaBH4 hydrolysis focused on stationary application under mild conditions: A kinetic study

Among hydrogen storage chemicals for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), sodium borohydride stands out for yielding exceptionally pure hydrogen. This study synthesized cobalt-molybdenum catalysts supported on g-C3N4 using an ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method. Various CoMo/g-C3N4 catalysts with different CoMo mass ratios were created, all showing high hydrogen production and complete NaBH4 conversion under mild conditions. Catalytic activity depends on the cobalt-molybdenum mass ratio, with optimal performance at a 1:1 ratio (w/w), maintaining up to 83% activity over 5 cycles. The effect of operating conditions on hydrogen release was explored, resulting in the rate law: rH2 = 1.708 × 10-3 [NaBH4]1.25 [Catalyst dosage]1.39 [NaOH]0.44 at 298 K, with a low activation energy of 22.9 kJ mol−1. Molybdenum's promoting effect prevented significant deactivation of the cobalt catalyst, ensuring complete NaBH4 conversion to H2 and good stability over multiple cycles.

Study on the hydrothermal gradient extraction of hemicellulose by a flow-through reactor

The hydrothermal gradient extraction process based on the hemicellulose constituent units is important for obtaining high quality hemicellulose products. The hydrothermal extraction of sawdust hemicellulose was performed under both non-isothermal and isothermal operations using a flow-through reactor for investigating the extraction patterns. The results show that there were significant differences in the major forms of hemicellulose units at different extraction stages. For glucose, xylose, and galactose units, the selectivity of oligomeric form decreased gradually with increasing temperature, whereas it decreased and then increased under thermostatic operation. The selectivity of the mannose oligomeric form decreased and then increased in both operation modes, reaching a trough at 170 °C (96.81%) and 60 min (55.21%), respectively. The molecular weight of extracted hemicelluloses were mainly distributed below 70000 Da, and gradually decreased with temperature, but increased with time. The results contribute to the quantitative and qualitative understanding of the hemicellulose gradient extraction process.

Specialty Melons Grown under High Tunnel Conditions Yield Good to Excellent Internal Quality

Interest in local foods, especially locally grown fruit, is increasing. High tunnel vegetable growers are strategically poised to meet this demand by growing specialty melons (Cucumis melo). Although specialty melons are commonly grown in high tunnels in other parts of the world, it is an uncommon practice in the midwestern United States. The objectives of this study were to evaluate 10 specialty melon cultivars for high tunnel production and measure fruit yield and internal quality. Fruit of the cultivar Eden’s Gem yielded the greatest number of marketable fruits per plant; however, these melons are small and have a loose cavity. Fruit of the cultivars Honey Orange and Divergent yielded the largest marketable fruit per plant with tighter cavities; however, the cavities were large. All cultivars had good to excellent internal quality in terms of sugar content. The production of specialty melons in the high tunnel was successful, resulting in the production of melons with good to excellent internal quality, and several yielded three to four marketable fruit per plant. Implementing a strong pest management plan for cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) and powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum, Sphaerotheca fuliginea) is recommended to prevent yield loss, especially in locations such as the Midwest, where cucumber beetles often vector bacterial wilt (Erwinia tracheiphila).

Food web structure across basins in Lake Erie, a large freshwater ecosystem

Understanding spatial variation of aquatic food web structure and how ecosystem boundaries should be delineated is important. Here, we investigated the spatial variation in food web structure within Lake Erie across its three basins using δ13C and δ15N. Fish and lower trophic level composition were similar but differences in food web structure were observed between basins. The food web in the central basin had the smallest δ13C and δ15N range and total area based on stable isotope values by the aquatic community, likely due to chronic epibenthic hypoxia in the summer that affects fish habitat and resources. The largest δ15N range was in the east, driven by the high trophic position of lake trout present in this deepest basin. The western basin had the largest mean distance to the centroid (CD) of all three basins, indicating a large trophic diversity, probably due to high nutrient loadings and productivity. This research revealed spatial variability of food web structure in large lake ecosystems and the importance of considering smaller sub-units, such as basin, in large lakes.

Evaluation of Entropy-Coupled Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Methods for Enhancing Machinability

Optimizing machining parameters is crucial, enhancing machinability while maintaining high product quality standards. This study bridges a critical research gap by evaluating and comparing five Taguchi-based Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques—Combined Compromised Solution (CoCoSo), Grey Relational Analysis (GRA), Multi-Objective Optimization Ratio Analysis (MOORA), Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), and Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS)—coupled with the Entropy method to optimize machining parameters for enhancing machinability in turning medium carbon steel. The focus is on feed rate and cutting speed under dry and Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) environments considering six critical machining responses: material removal rate, surface roughness, main cutting force, cutting temperature, cutting ratio, and tool life.The results reveal that MQL consistently improves machining performance, with COPRAS, TOPSIS, MOORA, and GRA converging on an optimal setting favoring an MQL environment, a 0.14 mm/rev feed rate, and a cutting speed of 137 m/min, whereas CoCoSo suggests a different optimal parameter setting. CoCoSo and GRA demonstrate the highest reliability, evidenced by minimal discrepancies between predicted and experimental results, with absolute percentage errors of 0.647% and 0.659%, respectively. The COPRAS method also shows strong predictive accuracy with a 5.573% error, outperforming MOORA and TOPSIS. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis reveals a high agreement between COPRAS, MOORA, and TOPSIS, with COPRAS emerging as a potential replacement for the latter in similar decision-making scenarios. SEM and EDX analyses confirm that MQL conditions reduce tool wear, enhance surface quality, and extend tool life compared to dry machining. This research provides insights into effective parameter optimization strategies for improving machinability and underscores the benefits of adopting MQL for sustainable manufacturing processes.

Sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (rGO-SO3H): a green, sustainable and efficient heterogeneous catalyst for synthesis of pyrazole containing 1,4 dihydropyridine derivatives

A simple mild, efficient, expeditious and straightforward synthetic methodology has been established toward furnishing of therapeutically important structurally diverse multi-heterocyclic pyrazole containing substituted 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP's) derivatives which might be valuable heterocyclic compound because of the existence of pharmaceutically and medicinally important 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) and pyrazole entities. In this reported synthetic strategy, sulfonated reduce graphene oxide was firstly reported as a highly efficient heterogenous carbo-catalyst for one-pot 4-C synthesis of pyrazole based 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP's) derivatives. The reported sulfonated reduce graphene oxide (rGO-SO3H) offered mild reaction conditions, structural diversity, high atom economy, operational simplicity, high product conversion, high yield (96%) with wide range of substrates within 15–20 minutes in ethanol at refluxing temperature. Additionally, experiment results revealed that synthesized carbo-catalyst can be recycled and reused efficiently for at least five reaction cycles. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, HRMS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR, spectroscopic techniques.

Electromyographic analysis of bilateral upper trapezius muscles at different levels of work-pace among sewing machine operators

Workers are driven to work faster in the industrial work environment to meet high productivity targets. An increased work pace leads to increased muscle activation. However, the effect of work pace on bilateral upper trapezius muscles during sewing machine operation in an industrial work environment has not been thoroughly investigated in experimental studies. Therefore, this research aims to conduct an experimental study to analyze the bilateral upper trapezius muscle activity of industrial sewing machine operators at different levels of work pace. Thirty subjects (15 males, and 15 females) continuously performed the sewing operation for two hours in an industrial work environment. Experiments were conducted for two levels of work pace i.e. low pace (100% of standard cycle time) and high pace (120% of standard cycle time). Electromyographic signals were recorded from the bilateral upper trapezius muscles. The EMG amplitude (RMS) among the muscles was computed. A statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in muscle activity was observed with an increased work pace. In this study, right upper trapezius muscle activity increased by 30.4% during high work pace tasks compared to low pace, while the left upper trapezius showed a 24.12% increase. The right upper trapezius showed a mean difference of 0.696 (%MVC), and the left upper trapezius showed 0.399 (%MVC), both indicating greater activity during high-pace tasks. The increase in muscle activity with time indicated the presence of muscle fatigue among sewing machine operators. Furthermore, higher muscular activity was observed among females than males. This research highlights the critical need to balance productivity goals with the health and safety of workers, reducing the risk of muscle fatigue and associated work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Adaptation Practices of Dairy Farmers to Climate Change in Coastal Tamil Nadu, India

An investigation was conducted to evaluate the adaptation strategies of dairy farmers in light of climate change in Tamil Nadu. For this research, four out of the 13 coastal districts—Villupuram, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram, and Thoothukudi—were chosen at random. Two blocks were randomly picked from each district for analysis. From each selected block, two villages were randomly identified from the existing villages. Consequently, 16 villages were included in this study. Fifteen dairy farmers were randomly selected from each village, yielding a total of 240 respondents for the research. Data were gathered using a predesigned interview schedule. The information collected was analyzed with suitable statistical tools to interpret the results of this research. It can be concluded that the area studied was primarily populated by crossbred cattle due to their high productivity, and “no distinct alterations of forage in the diet” were observed by fewer than half (48.33%) of the dairy farmers during periods of heat or cold stress. A notable 62.92 percent of dairy farmers did not employ feed additives during these distressing times, opting instead for a feeding strategy that involved “crop residues + unconventional materials” in drought conditions. It emerged that they were compelled to source water from open areas as adequate drinking water was not consistently available during drought periods. The majority of dairy farmers (70.42%) opted for a combination of “consult veterinarian + ethno veterinary practices” for addressing reproductive issues amid extreme weather events.

Enhancement of Mycelial Biomass Production and Bioactive Properties Related to Cosmeceuticals of Calocybe indica (Milky Mushroom) by Optimization of Submerged Culture Conditions

Calocybe indica or milky mushroom grown in submerged culture was investigated as a new source of antioxidants and anti-collagenase substances, and for its ability to inhibit three bacteria that trigger inflammatory acne, Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and S. aureus. To facilitate C. indica submerged cultivation and achieve high productivity, a three-level four-factor Box-Behnken design was utilized to find the optimal culture conditions for its mycelial biomass production. The model estimated the optimal conditions as 30 °C, a medium pH of 5.9, and incubation for 14 days under static culture, with results verifi ed by validation experiments. The optimal conditions gave mycelial biomass of 7.12 g/L, which is 5-fold higher than the original condition. This statistical method facilitated rapid identification and integration of key factors for C. indica high mycelial biomass production with significantly improved cosmeceutical properties in terms of antioxidant and antibacterial activities against acne-causing bacteria, especially C. acnes at 19-fold and 18-fold, respectively, compared to the original condition. An ethanolic extract derived from C. indica mycelia was nontoxic to human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT). These diverse functionalities indicate that the mycelial extract of C. indica may represent a promising source of bioactive substances for cosmeceutical applications.

Productivity and energetics of basmati rice-wheat cropping systems under different farming conditions in northwest India

ABSTRACT Basmati rice-wheat cropping systems have the potential to upscale organic agriculture in India because of the lower nutritional requirements and the geographical indication status of basmati rice. The energetics of organic production of basmati rice-wheat needs to be assessed to delineate its efficiency as compared with conventional production. An experiment with different management systems was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, Punjab, India during 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons to assess the productivity, economics and energetics of this cropping system in different organic and conventional management systems. The experiment was conducted in a randomised complete block design, replicated thrice, with nine treatments, including organic, chemical, natural farming, integrated nutrient management (INM) and integrated crop management (ICM). The highest basmati rice grain yield (3390 kg ha−1) was obtained with chemical management, which was statistically at par with ICM, INM and FYM treatments, but was significantly higher than that in the organic and natural farming treatments. The highest wheat grain yield (4450 kg ha−1) was recorded with ICM, which was statistically at par with INM and chemical management. Higher productivity in basmati rice was achieved with chemical and integrated management, but the highest net returns and benefit-to-cost ratio (2.89) were recorded under organic farming due to the price premium obtained for the produce. In wheat, despite higher cultivation costs, organic farming had lower returns, while chemical management had the highest net returns and benefit-to-cost ratio (2.9). Natural farming treatments were more energy efficient than the other systems because of low energy inputs.

Heavea brasilienis (Rubber seed oil) as cost effective non edible feedstock for sustainable high quality biofuel production.

Biodiesel is renewable fuel acquired from biomass which has short chain alkyl esters derived from vegetable oil or animal fats. It has greater advantages over traditional diesel oil. In first level esterification, H2SO4 is used because the acid catalyst to decrease the FFA from 4. 5% to 0. 85 %. In 2nd stage, transesterification chemical process was carried with methanol and NaOH, the elevated temperature 600c and response time is 45 min to 75min. Only a few experiments have been carried out for evaluating the results of equation using a Scientific tool.

Production and logistics 4.0 in the food industry in the Czech Republic

The food industry is the most important sector of the national economy of the Czech Republic, which significantly contributes to the fulfillment of fundamental macroeconomic aggregates such as gross domestic product, employment, exports and others. The food industry is currently facing pressure from customers for higher quality and safety while maintaining low prices. At the same time, however, they must ensure high safety and productivity of their production and logistics flows when there is a shortage of manpower. Another aspect is the sustainability of logistics and supply chains, i.e. the requirement for new materials, packaging and technologies enabling maximum processing and use of inputs. From this point of view, the application of Industry 4.0 elements to the food industry appears to be a necessary step for the company's competitiveness. The article summarizes the results of a questionnaire survey that took place in the period April-May 2023 through the Internet tool Survio. A structured questionnaire was sent to 206 food businesses in the Czech Republic. The enterprises were selected according to the database of the Ministry of Agriculture. 69 enterprises returned correctly completed questionnaires, which makes the return rate 33%. Questions were directed to the area of process stability as a result of two crises, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Further to the field of automation, digitization and robotization to evaluate the current state of involvement of food production in Industry 4.0.

Economic Assessment of Small-Scale Mountain Dairy Farms by Using Accounting Data: Evidence from an Italian Case Study

Dairy mountain farms are economically disadvantaged due to small farm sizes and high production costs. This situation was exacerbated firstly by the opening of the market linked to the abolition of milk quotas; secondly by the rising prices due to the energy crisis due to covid 19 and the war in Ukraine. However, these farms are important for the preservation of traditional landscapes, the economy of these areas and the offered ecosystem services, especially when they are managed extensively. The objective of this research is to understand if mountain dairy farms are economically sustainable and competitive through the analysis of a case study. The economic analysis takes into account the production cost of milk, profitability, and some economic indicators using accounting data. The results show that the farm profitability is decreasing, and the costs are unsustainable. As a consequence, more efficient policy support is needed to overcome this crisis.

Importance of melatonin and its supplementation in the treatment of obesity, inflammatory processes, non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review

Introduction: There are more than 2.3 billion overweight and obese people in the world. One of the important neurohormones responsible for adipose tissue metabolism is melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) (MEL), which can modulate inflammatory processes by eliminating nitric oxide, reducing synthesis or inhibiting other pro-inflammatory mediators, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 8 (IL-8). Objective: It was to highlight the main considerations and clinical evidence of the importance of melatonin and its supplementation in the treatment of obesity, inflammatory processes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: The systematic review rules of the PRISMA Platform were followed. The search was carried out from May to July 2024 in the Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. Results and Conclusion: A total of 115 articles were found. A total of 28 articles were evaluated and 25 were included in this systematic review. Considering the Cochrane tool for risk of bias, the overall assessment resulted in 18 studies with a high risk of bias and 25 studies that did not meet the GRADE. Most studies presented homogeneity in their results, with X2=85.7%&gt;50%. It was concluded that obesity-related inflammation is related to a state of oxidative stress with high production of reactive oxygen species. Melatonin has been highlighted for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The high prevalence of obesity in the world population also confers an increased risk for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as well as other liver diseases including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies involving drug and molecular therapies are proposed to control the progression of these diseases. It is necessary to perform a molecular analysis involving epigenetic, biochemical, and inflammatory aspects related to melatonin supplementation, clarifying the effect of melatonin supplementation on obesity and liver diseases, including NAFLD and HCC. Thus, it is highlighted that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin is essential as a synergistic agent in weight loss and as prophylaxis and/or treatment of liver diseases.

Soil Nutrient Analysis and Automatic Monitoring in Precision Agriculture

ABSTRACT The higher productivity from soil can be achieved through Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) technology; for this reason, the implementation of WSNs in precision agriculture is increasing day by day. Among the different technologies for crop monitoring, WSNs are recognized as a powerful option for collecting and processing data in the agricultural domain, with low cost and low energy consumption. The ultimate aim of this paper is to predict the precise values of soil nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) using a machine learning (ML)-based mathematical model formulation. The proposed system will use Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology to automatically monitor soil parameters. It transfers soil data over the mobile network using a GSM modem. In the hardware part, sensor node units were developed to fetch and load data through the energy-efficient GSM, utilizing a bi-directional multi-level text messaging option to improve the alarm system’s efficiency. The system contains sensors such as potential of hydrogen and humidity (PH), which are used to monitor soil data collected from the sensors by the microcontroller. Additionally, as a novel contribution, machine learning based on regression models is applied to the NPK data. A novel data interpolation approach is proposed for data oversampling. The R2 values are compared, achieving nearly 99.5% accuracy in all cases. This paper focuses on various challenges and scalability issues encountered in research and discusses different results obtained by monitoring various soil parameters in a real-time agricultural environment.

The Role of Liquid Crystal Elastomers in Pioneering Biological Applications

Liquid crystal elastomers have shown an attractive potential for various biological applications due to their unique combination of mechanical flexibility and responsiveness to external stimuli. In this review, we will focus on a few examples of LCEs used with specific applications for biological/biomedical/environmental systems. So far, areas of innovation have been concentrating on the integration of LCEs to enhance stability under physiological conditions, ensure precise integration with biological systems, and address challenges related to optical properties and spatial control of deformation. However, several challenges and limitations must still be addressed to fully realize their potential in biomedical and environmental fields, and future research should focus on continuing to improve biocompatibility, response to the environment and chemical cues, mechanical properties, ensuring long-term stability, and establishing cost-effective production processes. So far, 3D/4D printing appears as a great promise to develop materials of high complexity, almost any shape, and high production output. However, researchers need to find ways to reduce synthesis costs to ensure that LCEs are developed using cost-effective production methods at a scale necessary for their specific applications’ needs.