Maximum Yield Research Articles

A thermodynamic approach to evaluating the ecological health and sustainability of integrated production systems in Goharkuh Taftan agro-industrial complex and sensitivity analysis of the results

In recent times, the increasing influx of energy inputs into farming systems has led to a significant enhancement in their overall efficiency. However, this has happened at the expense of endangering the sustainability of these systems and degrading the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a methodology to evaluate the resilience of agricultural systems. This study utilised the Steinborn and Svirezhev methodology to assess five different production systems (wheat, barley, alfalfa, cotton, and Pistachio) within the Goharkuh Taftan agro-industrial complex. The approach measures the excessive production of entropy, which acts as an indicator of the system's departure from sustainability. The study focuses on four components: overproduction of entropy, limit energy load, maximum crop yield for sustainable agriculture, and deviation from sustainable agriculture. The results indicated that the production systems analysed in this study produce surplus entropy, thus rendering them in an unstable condition. Among all the products, alfalfa had the lowest entropy overproduction, while pistachio had the highest. The three agricultural commodities, namely wheat, barley, and cotton, are situated at a point equidistant from the two opposite ends. Alfalfa has shown greater energy use efficiency compared to pistachios. It surpasses the maximum crop yield for sustainable agriculture and has less deviation from sustainable agriculture than other integrated production systems. The differences in the intensity of energy flow and the structural characteristics of the integrated production systems were responsible for the variations in the values of the examined components. Nevertheless, none of these solutions are sustainable in the long term. An analysis of the energy inputs and components of the harvest index revealed the importance of implementing management techniques that decrease the intensity of energy flows into these systems and enhance the harvest index to attain a sustainable state. Integrating supplementary renewable energy sources will bolster the long-term sustainability of production systems.

Techno-economic investigation of an entirely solar-powered hybrid HDH/RO desalination plant for moderate water demand under various operating conditions

The study presented a scalable, entirely solar-powered hybrid desalination system suitable for moderate demand and valid for various water salinities. The system merged two desalination techniques: HDH (humidification-dehumidification) and RO (reverse osmosis) units. The required power for all components was obtained from a photovoltaic system. The experiments were conducted to evaluate the separate units and hybrid system performances under different conditions, including various sprayed hot water (to the HDH) temperatures, RO feed water temperatures, air velocities, and water salinities. Based on the recorded data, the techno-economic analyses were conducted to assess the gain output ratio (GOR), recovery ratio (RR), specific energy consumption (SEC), the total amount of dissolved solids (TDS), and product cost. As a result, the RO unit's productivity increased almost linearly with feed temperature, showing a maximum hourly yield of 60 L/m2. In contrast, HDH productivity showed exponential growth with feed temperature, achieving a maximum hourly yield of 18 L/m2. The SEC of the RO unit decreased from 1.1 kWh/m³ to 0.63 kWh/m³ when using the rejected HDH's hot brine. The hybrid system's accumulated productivity reached 535 L/m2, significantly higher than the standalone HDH (58.5 L/m2) and standalone RO (368 L/m2). Additionally, the hybrid system demonstrated substantial improvements in GOR and RR, with daily values of 11.15 and 55.73%, respectively. Economically, the distillate water cost was significantly lower, at 0.63 $/m³ for the HDH/RO system compared to 3.51 $/m³ for the standalone HDH.

The effects of voltage, particle size, and temperature on bio-oil yield produced via pyrolysis of Sargassum sp

Abstract The energy demand is increasing due to population growth and economic activities. Currently, global energy production, including in Indonesia, heavily relies on fossil fuels like petroleum, which are depleting day by day. One renewable energy form for the future is bio-oil, produced through pyrolysis using biomass as raw material. Macroalgae biomass, particularly Sargassum sp., is a sustainable and net-zero emission source for renewable energy. Pyrolysis is a promising technique to convert Sargassum sp. into high-value charcoal, gas, and bio-oil with less than 20% moisture content. Experimental research was conducted using a simple slow pyrolysis setup, using Sargassum sp. from Pantai Trenggole, Gunung Kidul. Proximate analysis showed Sargassum sp. contains ash, water, volatile matter (Vm), fixed carbon (FC), and calorific value of 15.428%, 6.032%, 40.222%, 38.318%, and 2161.758 cal/g respectively. Regarding the experiment results, the maximum bio-oil yield was obtained at 200 V with a yield of 27.289%. For the particle size variable, the maximum bio-oil yield was achieved with particles of 10-40 mesh, resulting in 27.289% yield. Regarding the temperature variable, the highest bio-oil yield was obtained at 600 °C with a yield of 29.362%.

Optimization of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) production by Stenotrophomonas rhizophila JC1 and its protective effect on alfalfa under Pb2+ stress

Stenotrophomonas rhizophila JC1 and its extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) have been shown to effectively adsorb heavy metals in previous studies. The fermentation conditions of EPS by S. rhizophila JC1 were optimized using the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The composition, structural characteristics, and heavy metal adsorption capacity of EPS were systematically evaluated. The alleviation mechanism of Pb2+ stress on alfalfa was investigated through EPS inoculation. The maximum EPS yield reached 0.313 %. EPS consisted of glucose, glucosamine, galactose, and mannose in a molar ratio of 12.20:1:22.29:1.68. EPS also contained four distinct polymers with molecular weights of 623,683.71 Da, 144,072.27 Da, 105,892.21 Da, and 51,094.79 Da. The adsorption processes conformed to the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. High Pb2+ concentrations significantly reduced germination percentage, germinative force, root length, fresh weight, and soluble protein, inhibited photosynthesis, exacerbated oxidative stress, and caused damage to the antioxidant system, thereby inhibiting seedling growth. EPS at low concentrations can promote alfalfa seed germination and mitigate Pb2+ stress by reducing the aforementioned damage. This study highlights the potential of EPS in soil remediation and enhancing plant resistance to heavy metal stress.

Can Rice Farming through the National Strategy Food Estate Increase Regional Production?

Food estate is a large-scale food development program that is carried out in an integrated manner. This includes agriculture, plantations and livestock within an area. This research aims to (1) analyze the production factors of lowland rice farming as an effort to increase rice production in the national food estate strategy program in Central Kalimantan; (2) analyze the technical efficiency of lowland rice farming in an effort to increase rice production in the national food estate strategy program in Central Kalimantan. This research was carried out at the Siam Village Food Estate (COE). The sampling method used a random sampling method with a total sample of 89 people. The analysis method uses Cobb-Douglas production function analysis and Frontier Stochastic technical efficiency analysis. Research results: (1) land (X1), seeds (X2), lime (X3), and fertilizer (X4) have a significant effect (α<0.05) on lowland rice production results in the Balanti Siam village food estate, while pesticides (X5), labor (X6), machinery (X7), planting system dummy (D1), and planting pattern dummy (D2) do not have a significant effect on lowland rice production results on food aesthetic land in Balanti Siam village; (2) Farmers in Balanti Siam village are classified as technically efficient with an average technical efficiency of 96.5% (cut-off > 0.70), while individually there are 88 farmers who are classified as technically efficient. The production factors used in rice farming play an important role in production results. By using production factors efficiently, this can increase maximum rice production yields.

Synergising hydrothermal pre-treatment and biological processes for enhancing biohydrogen production from palm oil mill effluent

The high quantity of nutrient-rich palm oil mill effluent (POME) waste in the industry will have a severe negative environmental impact and a high cost of treatment. However, POME waste could be converted into bioenergy via environmentally sustainable processes. Several studies have explored using hydrothermal carbonisation for solid biomass products in biofuel production, but the potential of the liquid phase produced during these processes has received less attention. Therefore, this study aims to assess the potential of biohydrogen production from treated POME as a substrate by hydrothermal process. This study is presented in two phases: the first phase involves substrate pre-treatment using a hydrothermal process to improve biomass properties at different temperatures, and the second phase explores the potential for biohydrogen production from treated POME through dark fermentation. Substrate pre-treatment was conducted at 180, 210, and 240 °C using 100% raw POME. Next, the treated POME was incubated for biohydrogen production at 50 °C for 24hours. A microbial analysis was conducted to determine the most dominant species present in the sample. Our findings show that at 180 °C, the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was 80%, and acetic acid concentration was 28%. Compared to raw POME, treated POME generated a maximum hydrogen yield and rate (HPR) of 52.19mL H2 g-1 CODrem and 0.59mL H2 mL POME-1 day-1 with a 2.32-fold and 1.59-fold increase, respectively. Meanwhile, Clostridium was a dominant bacterial species identified in the treated POME. These findings demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a hydrothermal process to treat POME and improve its biohydrogen production efficiency. The treated POME from the hydrothermal process is more homogenous and readily consumable by microorganisms used in dark fermentation. Hydrothermal pre-treatment could potentially increase the rate and efficiency of microbial digestion, leading to enhanced hydrogen production. The high COD removal efficiency during the process significantly reduces the environmental impact of POME discharge, and converting POME into a valuable resource through the hydrothermal and dark fermentation process aligns with sustainable waste management practices.

Estimating Fishing Exploitation Rates to Simulate Global Catches and Biomass Changes of Pelagic and Demersal Fish

AbstractRobust projections of future trends in global fish biomass, production and catches are needed for informed fisheries policy in a changing climate. Trust in future projections, however, relies on establishing that models can accurately simulate past relationships between exploitation rates and ecosystem states. In addition, historical simulations are important to describe how the oceans have changed due to fishing. Here we use fisheries catch, catch‐only assessment models and effort data to estimate regional fishing exploitation levels, defined as the fishing mortality relative to fishing mortality at maximum sustainable yield (F/FMSY). These estimates are given for large pelagic, forage and demersal fish types across all large marine ecosystems and the high seas between 1961 and 2004; and with a ‘ramp‐up’ between 1841 and 1960. We find that global exploitation rates for large pelagic and demersal fish consistently exceed those for forage fish and peak in the late 1980s. We use the rates to globally simulate historical fishing patterns in a mechanistic fish community model. The modeled catch aligns with the reconstructed catch, both for total catch and catch distribution by functional type. Simulations show a clear deviation from an unfished model state, with a 25% reduction in biomass in large pelagic and demersal fish in shelf regions in recent years and a 50% increase in forage fish, primarily due to reduced predation. The simulations can set a baseline for assessing the effect of climate change relative to fishing. The results highlight the influential role of fishing as a primary driver of global fish community dynamics.

Biomechanical comparison of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene sutures of different thicknesses of the tensile strength for pullout repair of medial meniscal posterior root tear.

Medial meniscus posterior root tears (MMPRT) are a risk factor for knee osteoarthritis. The predominant treatment for MMPRT is transtibial pullout repair, and loop suture remains the gold standard procedure. This study aimed to investigate the structural properties of the meniscus-suture-tibia (MST) complex after loop stitch using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) suture tape of different thicknesses. This study used 20 fresh porcine MMPRT model knees. All specimens were randomised into two treatment groups: (1) pullout repair using 1.3 mm suture tape (thin group, n = 10; 1.3 mm PERMATAPE, Mitek Sports Medicine) fixation and (2) pullout repair using 2.5 mm suture tape (thick group, n = 10; 2.5 mm PERMATAPE, Mitek Sports Medicine) fixation. The single-loop stitch MS technique was utilised. The MST complex specimens were placed on a tensile tester. The structural properties of the MST complex (yield load, maximum load, liner stiffness, and elongation at failure) were identified. No significant differences were found between the thin and thick groups in terms of maximum load (108.8 ± 49.6 vs. 90.1 ± 33.6 N; p = 0.34), yield load (43.8 ± 15.2 vs. 39.4 ± 15.5 N; p = 0.53), liner stiffness (12.6 ± 8.4 vs. 11.2 ± 5.5 N/mm; p = 0.45), and elongation at failure (27.1 ± 19.4 vs. 19.9 ± 10.0 mm; p = 0.32). The structural properties of the thickness of the different UHMWPE were comparable in MMPRT repair. Additionally, 1.3 mm PERMATAPE may demonstrate similar repair potential as 2.5 mm PERMATAPE. Level Ⅳ.

Optimized irrigation practices with fertilizer utilization strategies to improve photo-fluorescence efficiency, vascular bundles and maize production in semi-arid regions

The mechanism of irrigation models combined with fertilizer utilization strategies under the biodegradable film mulching could greatly promote crop photosynthesis, vascular bundles structure; resource utilization and maize production are unclear in semi-arid areas. Unfortunately, this mechanism provides a scientific basis for improving irrigation and fertilizer utilization. A field study was carried out during 2021–2022 years. Seven treatments were established: two nitrogen levels: low-N (150 kg N ha−1) and high-N (300 kg N ha−1) combined with three different irrigation models: drip irrigation (DI), ridge irrigation (RI) and border irrigation (BI) under the biodegradable film mulching with (CK) treatment have no irrigation, fertilizer and mulching. Our results revealed that DIH treatment considerably increased soil water storage, enhanced photosynthesis rate (Pn) of maize by mainly to facilitate stomatal opening compared to the rest of all treatments. In addition, it also enhances the differentiation of the vascular bundle system and maintains its post silk function under better environmental conditions, greatly improving nitrogen storage in soil and plants, and enhancing maize productivity. DIH and RIH treatments significantly increased net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm), and effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching (qP), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), and yield were observed, but evapotranspiration (ET) decreased at different growth stages. The results showed that DIH treatment was an effective tillage strategy, which increased biomass yield by 32.6 %, grain yield by 46.0 %, water use efficiency (WUE) by 46.2 %, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 86.4 % compared to other treatments. Given these results, thus we recommend the drip irrigation combined with a high-N level under a biodegradable film mulching increase photo-fluorescence efficiency, maize production and resource utilization efficiency in semi-arid regions.

WITHDRAWN: rGO@CaO/NiO as a bifunctional heterogeneous nanocatalyst for high-quality biodiesel production from degraded waste oil by microwave-assisted: Diesel engine parameters assessment

In this research, a highly effective rGO@CaO/NiO bifunctional nanocatalyst was synthesized and utilized for the generation of biodiesel from degraded waste oil (DWO) through microwave assistance. A comprehensive analysis was conducted to assess the catalyst structure, revealing a notable specific surface area with significant surface characteristics for the rGO@CaO/NiO bifunctional nanocatalyst. The maximum biodiesel yield was achieved 97.46% under optimum conditions including methanol to oil ratio of 11.1 mol/mol, catalyst content of 3 wt.%, microwave time of 7.5 min, and stirring speed of 700 rpm. The catalyst's reusability was demonstrated through multiple cycles, maintaining high stability and consistent biodiesel yield over seven iterations. The activation energy and exponential factor for the conversion of DWO to biodiesel were determined as 30.91 kJ/mol and 2.3×104 min-1, respectively. The physical attributes of DWO-derived biodiesel revealed that they fall within the ASTM D6751 standard range. The impact of adding biodiesel to petrodiesel/biodiesel blends at various torques on the emission of key pollutants (CO, NOx, CO2, and UHC) and engine performance (BP, EGT, BTE, and BSFC) was investigated, yielding promising results. The rGO@CaO/NiO appears as a superior choice for biodiesel production, offering exceptional reusability, and significant biodiesel efficiency achieved within a short reaction time.

Thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of automotive plastic wastes to diesel range fuel

This study investigated the pyrolysis of automotive plastic wastes (APW) for the production of diesel-grade oil products using a modified calcium bentonite clay catalyst. The research aimed to optimize the process for maximum oil yield and diesel range organics yield. The APW was characterized by its chemical composition and physical properties and the optimal temperature and catalyst amount were determined for maximum oil yield and diesel range hydrocarbons. The results showed that the APW contained mixed Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), High/Low Density Polyethylene (H/LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystrene (PS) and fiberglass, with a large quantity of volatiles and ash. The average oil yield was higher in the catalytic process compared to that in the thermal process. Generally, higher temperature above 450 °C produced waxy oil, thus lower temperature favoured more Diesel Range Organics (DRO). Both processes yield similar yields of C8–C24 DRO, and in both cases, lower temperature favoured high yield of C8-C24 hydrocarbons. The catalyst significantly increased the yield of oil, but did not significantly increase C8–C24 DRO yield. The optimal conditions for a maximum oil yield of 78.6 % and DRO yield of 79.5 % was a temperature of 416 °C and 24.3 wt% clay. Thus, the modified calcium bentonite clay can be used to improve oil yield from pyrolysis of APW. The oil produced had properties such as calorific value (49.85 MJ/kg), flash point (113 °C) and total aromatics 3.55 area%, similar to those of commercial diesel, and comprised mostly of 2,4-Dimethyl-1-heptene (25.37 ± 2.01 %) of thermal and 2, 4 – Dimethyl – 1 – heptane (23.44 ± 2.42) in the catalytic process. The study suggests further research to explore different catalysts, maximization of both DRO and gasoline range organics, recover energy from residues, and conduct techno-economic assessments for plant-scale operations. Additionally, policies on the management of end-of-life vehicles should include provisions for stripping and segregation of plastic components by accredited providers for the purpose of plastics recycling.

Influence of moisture supply during the growing period on productivity and fodder value of soybean

Abstract The paper presents the results of research on comparative study of seed yield formation and aboveground biomass yield of soybean in years with different moisture availability, under the conditions of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia. It has been found that the maximum accumulation of both raw and dry aboveground biomass, crude protein and fodder units in soybean agrocenosis is observed at the stage of full seed (R6). The average values for maximum yields in the experiment were the following: of aboveground raw biomass – 24.8 t/ha, aboveground dry biomass – 6.82 t/ha, protein yield in aboveground dry biomass – 1 278 kg/ha, yield in fodder units – 3.68 t/ha, the contribution of leaves to the yield of aboveground dry biomass being 23.0%, leaves accumulated 20.0% of protein where its content being 20.9%; the contribution of stems to the yield of aboveground dry biomass was 36.0%, stems provided 11.0% of protein accumulated where its content being 5.8%; the contribution of beans reached 41.0%, beans ensured 69.0% of crude protein where its content being 30.1%. Increased moisture availability contributed to a significant growth of the yield of aboveground raw biomass – 1.09-1.19-fold, aboveground dry biomass – 1.08-1.15-fold, protein yield in aboveground dry biomass – 1.10-1.21-fold, yield in fodder units in aboveground dry biomass – 1.07-1.14-fold. On average in the experiment seed yield reached 2.54 t/ha, yield of protein accumulated in seeds was 1 008 kg/ha, of fodder units – 3.40 t/ha. Increased level of available moisture contributed to increase in seed yield – by 1.14-1.21 times, collection of crude protein per unit area – by 1.19-1.31 times, yield of fodder units – by 1.13-1.21 times. It was found that the yield of aboveground biomass harvested at the stage of full seed (R6) significantly exceeded the seed yield: in terms of dry matter yield – by 2.69 times, protein yield – by 1.27 times, fodder units yield – by 1.08 times.

Influences of hydrogen-bond promoting hydroxyl group on photophysical and catalytic properties of lanthanide pyridine dicarboxylate frameworks

To study the influences of hydrogen bonding interactions on photophysical properties and catalytic activities with insignificant interference from structural disparity, two new isostructural [LnIII2(OH-pda)(ox)2(H2O)4]∙4H2O coordination polymers (LnIII = EuIII (I) and NdIII (IIa), OH–H2pda = 4-hydroxypyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, H2ox = oxalic acid) were synthesized and characterized. They are also isostructural to [NdIII2(pda)(ox)2(H2O)4]∙4H2O (IIb), H2pda = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) containing pda2− instead of OH-pda2-. The identical framework structure of IIa and IIb with additional hydrogen bonding interactions in IIa due to –OH group of OH-pda2- has been presented. Based on IIa and IIb, the effects of the –OH group on photophysical properties and catalytic activities were then investigated without structural bias. With reference to the UV–vis absorption and phosphorescent emission spectroscopy, the singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) state energies of OH–H2pda (41,600 and 19,200 cm−1), H2pda (48,200 and 23,300 cm−1), OH-pda2- (IIa, 41,400 and 22,500 cm−1) and pda2− (IIb, 47,100 and 23,300 cm−1) were determined from which the influences of the –OH group have been revealed. Important roles of the –OH group as electron-donating group as well as hydrogen bond promoter have been proposed. Catalytic activities of IIa and IIb were comparatively examined using the solvent-free CO2 cycloaddition reaction at atmospheric pressure with epichlorohydrin in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide. The inferior performance of IIa (maximum yield of 62(±2)%) to IIb (maximum yield of 68(±2)%) was unexpectedly disclosed and the drawback of the substantial involvement of the catalytic sites in hydrogen bonding interactions has been demonstrated. Their reusability was additionally explored.

Feasibility Study of Rubber Seeds from North Sumatra, Indonesia as Biodiesel Feedstock; Production and Characterization

Abstract There are 5.5 million tons of rubber seeds produced annually on the 3.6 million hectares of rubber plantations that are located in Indonesia. Based on current estimates, 2.4 million tons of biodiesel may be produced if the rubber seeds are utilized as the primary raw material. Rubber seeds are a product of rubber plantations that have not been exploited; to obtain them, there is no need for new land or planting new trees. Rubber seeds are also non-edible, so their use does not conflict with foodstuffs. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of rubber seed as a raw material for biodiesel and to produce and characterise biodiesel from rubber seed. The rubber seeds that have been collected from smallholder plantations in the northern Sumatra region of Indonesia are peeled to separate them from the kernels. Rubber seed kernels are boiled for 4 hours to separate the sap. Kernels that have been boiled are drained and then dried in the sun for 2 days in sunny weather. Kernels that had been dried in the sun were pressed using a screw press, and crude rubber seed oil was obtained. This crude oil is produced into biodiesel through degumming, esterification, and trans-esterification stages. Biodiesel production was carried out with variations in the catalyst ratios of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1, variations in the ratio of oil/methanol (w/v) of 1:1.25, 1:1.5, 1:1.75 (g/ml), and 1:2, variations in temperature of 50 °C, 60 °C, 70 °C, and 80 °C, and reaction times of 70 minutes, 80 minutes, 90 minutes, and 100 minutes. For each of these variables, the yield of biodiesel produced was calculated. Then the resulting biodiesel is characterised by testing its psychochemical properties against ASTM standards, which include calorific value, oxidation stability, viscosity, density, acid content, cetane number, and flash point. In the experiment on the effect of the amount of catalyst, the largest yield of 85% was obtained when the catalyst ratio (%v/v) was 0.75; in the investigation of the effect of the molar ratio of oil and methanol, the largest yield of 88% was obtained at a ratio of 1.75; the maximum yield of 85% was also obtained at a reaction temperature of 60 °C and 89% at a reaction time of 100 minutes. Almost all of the properties meet ASTM standards, except for the acid value of 0.53 mg KOH/g, which is 0.03 mg KOH/g higher, whereas according to the ASTM D6751-D 664 standard, the maximum acid value is 0.5 mg KOH/g.

An analytical approach to optimization of isotope production by bremsstrahlung radiation

Based on analytical description of isotope production by bremsstrahlung (X-ray) radiation, an algorithm is proposed for calculating the optimal dimensions of a cylindrical target of given mass positioned at a given distance from a bremsstrahlung converter to ensure the maximum yield of the isotope product. The expressions are derived for the total activity and its distribution along the target axis. A technique of γ-spectrometric measuring the activity of a thick production target is proposed. The novel approach is validated by the 100Mo(γ,n)99Mo reaction induced in a natural molybdenum target by mass in the range 10-100g with the X-ray photons at an end-point energy of 40 MeV. The analytical predictions are in good agreement with the results of Monte-Carlo simulations and experiment.

Subcritical water extraction on phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant activity from Orthosiphon Stamineus leaves: Experimental and optimization

Orthosiphon stamineus is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, contributing to its antioxidant properties. This study focuses optimizes the extraction of bioactive compounds from Orthosiphon stamineus leaves using subcritical water (SCW) extraction. Response surface methodology was employed, with temperature (120–180 °C), flow rate (2–8 mL min−1), and extraction time (5–15 min) as independent variables. Dependent variables included extract yield, total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoid compounds (TFC), and antioxidant activity (AA). Optimal conditions were found at 148 °C, 5.1 mL min−1, and 10.5 min, resulting in a maximum yield of 317.6 mg g−1, TPC of 12.71 mg 100 g−1, TFC of 74.09 mg 100 g−1, and AA of 87.48 %. The research highlights the significant influence of temperature as the most crucial parameter, followed by flow rate and extraction time, in achieving the highest yield and bioactive compound content. This investigation holds potential implications for the food processing industry, showcasing the relevance of optimizing extraction conditions to enhance the nutritional and functional properties of natural ingredients like Orthosiphon stamineus in food products.

Multidimensional Engineering to Construct Ru/TiO2 Catalysts Enriched with Pores and Ti3+ Defects for Highly Efficient Selective Hydrogenation of Benzene

AbstractStructural engineering, coupled with crystalline phase engineering and surface engineering, serves as a practical and effective strategy for enhancing catalytic performance through the fine design of catalysts in terms of their structure, physical phases and surface defects. In this work, a set of strategies were employed for structural transformation and crystalline phase transition of Ru/TiO2 catalysts, utilizing multidimensional regulation. Ru nanoparticles loaded on a unique TiO2 nanosheet flowers (Ru/TSFs) enriched with pores and Ti3+ defects were prepared by solvothermal and impregnation‐chemical reduction methods. The Ru/TSFs exhibited an outstanding catalytic performance in the reaction of selective hydrogenation of benzene for the preparation of cyclohexene, with a selectivity of 79 % and a maximum yield of 52.8 % along with a benzene conversion of 45.9 % and a good stability. The excellent catalytic performance attributes to the distinctive structure of three‐dimensional nanosheet flowers, which offers a high specific surface area and improvs the effective contact between the catalyst and the reaction substrate. Meanwhile, the porous Ru/TSFs exhibit exceptional hydrophilicity and abundant Ti3+ defects on their surface, which is quite favorable for the desorption of cyclohexene from the reaction system, thus improving the selectivity of cyclohexene. The multidimensional engineering may provide an efficient approach for constructing high‐performance loaded catalysts for potential industrial applications.

Enhancing Agricultural Supply Chain Efficiency through Blockchain for Maximum Yield and Profitability

Enhancing Agricultural Supply Chain Efficiency through Blockchain for Maximum Yield and Profitability

Stock assessment of the mud crab (Scylla olivacea) collected from the terrestrial edge of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh

We estimated mud crab (Scylla olivacea) population parameters to determine recruitment patterns, asymptotic carapace width (CW∞), growth coefficient (k), mortality rate (Z, M, and F), exploitation rate (E) and relationship between body weight and carapace width (BW - CW) in the terrestrial edge of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Baited long lines and traps were used to collect crab samples from the terrestrial edge of the mangroves (up to 10 km inside of the Sundarbans mangroves) monthly for a year (Jan 2021–Dec 2021). These CW frequency data were utilized to determine population characteristics. Based on the BW × CW relationship, male S. olivacea crabs increased their BW faster (b = 2.89, R2 = 0.86) than females (b = 2.29, R2 = 0.82). Crabs displayed negative growth allometry, b significantly differed from the isometric growth (b = 3). Both male and female CW∞ was estimated to be 126.00 mm and 113.40 mm, with k values of 0.50 yr−1 and 0.48 yr−1, respectively. The total mortality (Z), natural mortality (M), and fishing mortality (F) of male and female crabs were 1.89 yr−1 and 1.84 yr−1, 0.79 yr−1 and 0.80 yr−1 and 1.10 yr−1 and 1.04 yr−1 respectively. Both sexes were recruited using a bimodal recruitment strategy, with a significant peak from March to June. However, young crabs were present year-round. The virtual population analysis (VPA) shows that males and females are caught at smaller sizes (60–90 mm). The estimated exploitation rate (E) exceeds (0.58 for males and 0.57 for females) the optimum exploitation level (E = 0.50) and E values were close to the projected maximum yield per exploitation rate (Emax = 0.655 for males and 0.647 for females) which indicated over-exploitation of the mud crabs from the territorial edge of the Sundarbans mangrove forest of Bangladesh and hence suggested for proper management.

Optimizing inorganic blended fertilizer application for the maximum grain yield and profitability of bread wheat and food barley in Dawuro Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract In a specific area, fertilizer application for a crop depends on the soil type and profitability. Optimizing chemical fertilizer utilization in crop production is crucial from an environmental and economic point of view. However, there is limited information available on the optimum NPSB fertilizer rate for the production of wheat and barley in the study area. Thus, the study aimed to establish area-specific NPSB (18.9% N, 16.44% P, 6.95% S, and 0.1% B) blended fertilizer rate recommendations for the optimal grain yield and profitability of wheat and barley. The field experiment was conducted in two locations in the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The nine treatments included 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 kg ha−1 NPSB fertilizer rates. Growth, yield, and yield component data in wheat and barley were collected from randomly selected individual plants and the net plot area. An economic analysis was conducted for grain yield using the procedure established by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. The analysis of variance results showed that blended fertilizer significantly (p < 0.01) affected plant height, number of productive tillers, spike length, number of kernels, thousand seed weight, biomass yield, grain yield, and harvest index traits. The application of a 150 kg ha−1 NPSB rate produced the highest grain yield (5419.0 kg ha−1) in wheat, whereas the application of a 125 kg ha−1 NPSB rate gave the maximum grain yield (4708.0 kg ha−1) in food barley. The economic analysis revealed that the application of a 150 kg ha−1 NPSB fertilizer rate for wheat gave the highest net benefits (309711.50 ETB ha−1) and marginal rate of return (MRR) (4096.96%), while the application of a 125 kg ha−1 NPSB fertilizer rate for barley obtained the highest net benefits (184424.00 ETB ha−1) and MRR (2195.39%). Therefore, to optimize the productivity and profitability of wheat and barley in the study area and similar agroecologies, farmers are recommended to use 150 kg ha⁻¹ NPSB for wheat and 125 kg ha⁻¹ NPSB for barley.