Optimal Environment Research Articles

Genotype-by-Trait (GT) biplot analysis and ranking of rice genotypes in salinity stress conditions

Estimation of plant tolerance values for agronomic traits, in addition to being genetically influenced, can also be influenced by the plant’s growing environment. Effective screening at the generative stage can only be carried out on land directly affected by salinity. However, the challenge lies in the fact that salinity levels vary widely on farmers’ land and are difficult to predict. The GT biplot analysis is a statistical method used in plant breeding to evaluate the performance of different genotypes based on various supporting traits. e three groups of biplots used are genotype by trait evaluation, genotype ranking analysis, and mega-environment analysis. There were differences in genotype responses based on yield component variables in each experimental environment. IRRI-IL12 and IRRI-IL09 are stable salinity-tolerant rice genotypes. IRRI-IL07 and IRRI-IL16 are adaptive in the optimum environment (L1), IRRI-IL07 and IRRI-IL10 are adaptive in the greenhouse salinity environment (L2), and IRRI-IL13 is adaptive in the salinated intrusion (L3).

Ergonomic Considerations for Practicing Massage Therapists.

The physical demands and repetitive movements performed by massage therapists during a treatment increase the risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. While massage therapy meets the level of heavy physical demand, the ergonomic risk of performing a massage was previously unknown. The Massage Therapy Foundation undertook a job task analysis to be used by educators, employers, and clinicians to create an optimal work environment. Data collected via survey were used to create the protocol for an onsite data collection where massage therapists were evaluated on the ergonomic risk factors by trained ergonomists. The results of the job task analysis found the highest variability in movement when the massage therapist was treating the neck prone, neck supine, and leg prone. When the massage therapists did not change positions during a stroke, there was increased forward flexion of the trunk which increased postural stress on the extensors of the back and neck. Strokes such as effleurage which can span the entire length of the body part had the highest cumulative load, requiring postures that put mild biomechanical stress on the shoulders (90% of the time), neck (70% of the time), and trunk (60% of the time). The forward-bending posture of the massage therapist increases the eccentric demands of the therapist's neck and back musculature, thereby increasing fatigue and leading to an increase in the chance of overuse injury. The job task analysis recommends the massage therapist monitor the duration of application in an unsupported position, take more time between sessions, work in an optimum environment, including correct table height, and have a healthy, active lifestyle to maintain career longevity.

Stability of fruit ripening traits of banana (Musa species) across postharvest environments

Banana (Musa species) is the fourth most important export crop worldwide after cereals, oil crops and sugar. In spite of this socio-economic significance, the crop suffers massive postharvest losses caused by mechanical fruit damage, limited infrastructure for fruit ripening, postharvest diseases and physiological disorders. Although use of optimum postharvest environments such as packaging and storage temperatures can reduce fruit loss and improve ripening quality; information regarding the interaction between varieties and postharvest environments and stability of fruit ripening traits across postharvest environments is limited. The objectives of this study were to determine the magnitude of interaction of varieties with postharvest environments on fruit ripening traits and to identify stable banana variety for ripening across postharvest environments. Seven commonly grown banana varieties (Dwarf Cavendish, William I, Grand Naine, Poyu, Giant Cavendish, Butazu and Local variety) were laid out in a completely randomized design with five replications in ten varied postharvest environments. The result indicated that pulp and peel ratio had negative high principal component one (PCA1) score whereas the PCA1 score for postharvest period, peel weight and fruit weight were positive and high. Cluster analysis grouped Dwarf Cavendish and Grand Naine; Poyu and Butazu varieties together for postharvest traits whereas the local variety was clustered separately. This study has demonstrated that hybridization of local with the introduced varieties can be done to improve postharvest traits. AMMI depicted significant variation for genotype, postharvest environments and their interactions for all traits. The magnitude of environmental effect was higher than the genotype and interaction effects. AMMI and GGE biplot analyses identified Gran Naine, Poyu and William I as consistent for ripening traits across postharvest environments.

Global public health policy analysis: During the COVID-19 pandemic

The emergence of Covid 19 at the start of 2020 set the alarm for a new pandemic around the world following the turning century. Global efforts to fight against infectious diseases focus on protecting citizens from the virus, preventing the spread of the virus within and through a country, and promoting the idea of the dangers of the virus and ways of self-preservation. On a neurophysiological scale, ideal and effective strategies such as initiating quarantine around the world, in which a limit to the outside world is set, gradually stagnate the spread of the virus and maintain the optimum environment for the sick to recover. The mandatory policy and consensus around the world of wearing a mask and maintaining a six-foot distance substantially curbed the spread of the virus in public. On a microbiological scale, the technological advancement the world experienced in recent years resulted in the rapid development of public preventative treatment, such as vaccines, marking the turning point regarding the gradual decrease in the spread and, subsequently, the rate of death throughout the world. The methods of preventing the spread of disease, as well as protecting the citizens from further damage, have led to an exponential decay of cases regarding the coronavirus.

Exploring the relevance of an attachment theory perspective to the behaviour management of challenging students: perceptions of education professionals advocate an attachment theory perspective

ABSTRACT Studies conducted on student profiles in academic settings reveal that a significant proportion of students, ranging from 10% to 20% , encounter various forms of stressors that include poverty, trauma, abuse, neglect, and domestic violence . Such stressors will likely manifest as disruptive behaviours within the school environment. This paper focuses on identifying the perceptions of professionals regarding effective behaviour management by considering the relevance of an Attachment Theory perspective (ATP) for students with social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties. This research is a qualitative study, and the data were collected by conducting key informant interviews with 13 participants who advocate an ATP in understanding and supporting students with challenging behaviours, who were selected purposefully. The participants are professionals who hold various positions related to research, policy, and practice, and the data gathered from them were analysed thematically. The professionals highlighted the need for a greater understanding of the relevance of an ATP in managing challenging behaviour in schools. The main finding to emerge from the interviews is that awareness of an ATP potentially leads to a better understanding of underlying reasons for challenging behaviours in the classrooms, and this awareness helps educators look for the best ways to support students in providing not only an optimum and sustainable classroom environment but also an enjoyable school experience. Moreover, with the help of extra targeted support for students, the school behaviour management system will be more inclusion-oriented rather than exclusion-oriented.

Catalytic Activity of CuO-bentonite Bead for the Removal of Methylene Blue by Fenton like Process

Non-biodegradable dyes, potentially contaminate the water and poses serious risk to the environment. So their removal requires alarming attention. The formation of CuO-bentonite bead and their dye removal application is the main focus of the current investigation. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis were implemented to evaluate the crystalline structure and morphology of the prepared sample. The catalytic activity of the CuO-bentonite bead was studied against the dye methylene blue (MB) by an advanced oxidation process like Fenton. The experimental data shows a maximum 94.08 % of the dye removal capacity of the beads in just 20 minutes. Further, for the detail dye removal study optimum environments such as initial MB concentration, pH range, and oxidant dosage were altered during the reaction. Additionally, the CuO-bentonite bead showed 89.03 % dye removal even after five reuse cycles; which exhibits the heightened stability and robustness of the CuO-bentonite bead as a catalyst. Therefore, this simply prepared CuO-bentonite bead revealed a new approach to wastewater treatment.

The relationship between the living environment and remote working: an analysis using the SHEL model.

This study investigates the relationship of living environment factors with satisfaction, work engagement, perceived productivity, and stress among teleworkers. Given the increase in telecommuting since the onset of the pandemic, the study aims to identify how to create an optimum environment for telecommuting workers. By examining the relationships among these factors via multiple regression analysis, a comprehensive investigation of the telecommuting working environment is conducted, encompassing physical aspects and facilities as well as lifestyle rhythms and relationships with housemates. In doing so, the author identifies measures to create a more favorable living environment. The work environment of remote workers is examined from various perspectives using the framework of the SHEL model: Software (work content, lifestyle, etc.), Hardware (furniture, equipment, etc.), Environment (indoor environment), and Liveware (relationships with family members who reside with the worker). The results suggest that positive factors, such as satisfaction and work engagement, are strongly influenced by the degree of job autonomy and the availability of a workspace dedicated to personal use. Negative aspects, such as stress, are significantly impacted by environmental noise, interruptions due to household tasks, and the use of ergonomic furniture.

Enhanced supercapacitive performance of lead vanadate hybrid architect on nickel foam with machine learning-driven capacitance prediction

The structural and chemical architecture of the active electrode material must provide an optimum environment for charge storage as well as stability to provide crucial supercapacitance properties. In this study, we developed a binder-free protocol to obtain an optimized polymorph of lead vanadate (PbV) with a unique hybrid architecture on nickel foam for hybrid supercapacitor applications. Furthermore, a detailed capacitance power prediction model is proposed based on several machine learning and recurrent neural network methods to improve the reliability of the fabricated hybrid supercapacitor. Specifically, recursive feature elimination is implemented to alleviate the problems of overfitting and the curse of dimensionality by identifying and eliminating extraneous characteristics while determining the appropriate features of the capacitance power. The experimental observations are validated by DFT analysis concerning the role of oxygen vacancies for the improvement of electrical characteristics. Ultimately, the fabricated energy storage device exhibits impressive energy and power densities of 26.18 Whkg−1 and 6−1, respectively. Importantly, the predicted results confirm that the long-short-term memory network provides excellent results for capacitance prediction of hybrid supercapacitors with R2 = 0.83 in the test set and synthesized sample prediction with a mean absolute error of 20.37.

Single-cell profiling reveals transcriptome dynamics during bovine oocyte growth

BackgroundMammalian follicle development is characterized by extensive changes in morphology, endocrine responsiveness, and function, providing the optimum environment for oocyte growth, development, and resumption of meiosis. In cattle, the first signs of transcription activation in the oocyte are observed in the secondary follicle, later than during mouse and human oogenesis. While many studies have generated extensive datasets characterizing gene expression in bovine oocytes, they are mostly limited to the analysis of fully grown and matured oocytes. The aim of the present study was to apply single-cell RNA sequencing to interrogate the transcriptome of the growing bovine oocyte from the secondary follicle stage through to the mid-antral follicle stage.ResultsSingle-cell RNA-seq libraries were generated from oocytes of known diameters (< 60 to > 120 μm), and datasets were binned into non-overlapping size groups for downstream analysis. Combining the results of weighted gene co-expression network and Trendy analyses, and differently expressed genes (DEGs) between size groups, we identified a decrease in oxidative phosphorylation and an increase in maternal -genes and transcription regulators across the bovine oocyte growth phase. In addition, around 5,000 genes did not change in expression, revealing a cohort of stable genes. An interesting switch in gene expression profile was noted in oocytes greater than 100 μm in diameter, when the expression of genes related to cytoplasmic activities was replaced by genes related to nuclear activities (e.g., chromosome segregation). The highest number of DEGs were detected in the comparison of oocytes 100–109 versus 110–119 μm in diameter, revealing a profound change in the molecular profile of oocytes at the end of their growth phase.ConclusionsThe current study provides a unique dataset of the key genes and pathways characteristic of each stage of oocyte development, contributing an important resource for a greater understanding of bovine oogenesis.

Modulating poly(lactic acid) degradation rate for environmentally sustainable applications

The huge amount of plastics generated by the massive use of packaging makes it difficult to manage waste safely. Introducing biodegradable polymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA), can at least partially reduce the environmental pollution from plastic waste. Biodegradable polymers must have a degradation rate appropriate for the intended use to replace durable plastics. This work aims to introduce PLA fillers that can modulate the degradation rate during hydrolysis and composting. For this purpose, fumaric acid and magnesium hydroxide have been proposed. The experimental findings demonstrated that magnesium oxide makes hydrolysis faster than fumaric acid. A model describing the hydrolysis reaction, which also considers the effect of crystallinity, is proposed. The model can capture the filler effect on the kinetic constants related to the autocatalytic part of the hydrolysis reaction.Degradation of the PLA and compounds was also conducted in a composting medium. The compound with fumaric acid shows faster degradation than the compound with magnesium oxide; this behavior is opposite to what is observed during hydrolysis. Degradation in a composting medium is favored in a narrow pH window corresponding to the optimum environment for microorganism growth. Magnesium oxide leads to a pH increase above the optimum level, making the environment less favorable to microorganism growth. Vice-versa, fumaric acid maintains the pH level in the optimum range: it represents an additional carbon source for microorganism growth.

OPTIMALISASI DAN UJI EFEKTIVITAS ACTINOMYCETES PADA Brassica chinensis DI BAWAH CEKAMAN KEKERINGAN DAN pH MASAM ULTISOL

Drought stress and acid soil pH are a form of abiotic stress on acid-dry land. Actinomycetes are a group of transitional microbes that have benefits as bioprotectants, biostimulators, and biofertilizers. This study aimed to determine the optimum growth environment for Actinomycetes at various incubation temperatures (25, 30, 35, and 40 ℃) and media pH (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9) and prove its effectiveness on mustard plants when given drought stress, and increase in acid soil pH. The research was conducted in the LOB greenhouse of PT Great Giant Pineapple using two factors, namely Actinomycetes (F22, F26, F34, F39, and F47) and irrigation (watered and not watered). Observations included Actinomycetes population (CFU mL-1), plant response (percentage of stress, death, survival, recovery), plant growth (plant length, number of leaves, root length), plant production (fresh weight), soil pH, and soil organic matter. Results of this study showed that Actinomycetes F22 gave the highest total population (107 CFU mL-1), and the P4K1, P4K2, and P2K2 treatment combination gave the best results on the observed parameters.

Ovarian sex steroid and epithelial control of immune responses in the uterus and oviduct: human and animal models†.

The female reproductive tract (FRT), including the uterus and oviduct (Fallopian tube), is responsible for maintaining an optimal microenvironment for reproductive processes, such as gamete activation and transportation, sperm capacitation, fertilization, and early embryonic and fetal development. The mucosal surface of the FRT may be exposed to pathogens and sexually transmitted microorganisms due to the opening of the cervix during mating. Pathogens and endotoxins may also reach the oviduct through the peritoneal fluid. To maintain an optimum reproductive environment while recognizing and killing pathogenic bacterial and viral agents, the oviduct and uterus should be equipped with an efficient and rigorously controlled immune system. Ovarian sex steroids can affect epithelial cells and underlying stromal cells, which have been shown to mediate innate and adaptive immune responses. This, in turn, protects against potential infections while maintaining an optimal milieu for reproductive events, highlighting the homeostatic involvement of ovarian sex steroids and reproductive epithelial cells. This article will discuss how ovarian sex steroids affect the immune reactions elicited by the epithelial cells of the non-pregnant uterus and oviduct in the bovine, murine, and human species. Finally, we propose that there are regional and species-specific differences in the immune responses in FRT.

Growth kinetic model of Bacillus pasteurii under different pH and temperature conditions in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solid-free drilling fluid

Increasing the bonding force between broken blocks to form a complete borehole wall is essential to solving borehole wall destabilization in broken strata, and introducing microbial-induced calcite deposition (MICP) technology into the field of drilling fluids establishes a novel research idea for manifesting this technical method. However, during drilling, the pH value and temperature of the drilling fluid constantly change, affecting the activities of microorganisms and the effect of MICP. Therefore, exploring the growth law of microorganisms in drilling fluid environments under different temperatures or pH conditions is necessary. This study used experimental research and theoretical analysis to compare the growth of Bacillus pasteurii in sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solid-free and xanthan gum biopolymer solid-free drilling fluid. The growth of B. pasteurii in CMC solid-free drilling fluid in pH = 7.0–9.8 and temperatures from 30 to 50 °C was studied, and the growth kinetic model of B. pasteurii was constructed. The mean square error, decision coefficient (R2), accuracy factor (Af), and deviation factor (Bf) were used to verify the accuracy of the model. CMC solid-free drilling fluid is more suitable for B. pasteurii survival than XG solid-free drilling fluid. The optimum growth temperature of B. pasteurii in CMC solid-free drilling fluid was 32 °C, and the OD600 reached 2.146 at 24 h pH = 8.2 was the optimum pH environment for B. pasteurii in CMC solid-free drilling fluids; the OD600 reached 2.065 at 24 h. As a first-order growth kinetic model, the modified Gompertz model accurately described B. pasteurii growth in CMC solid-free drilling fluid under different temperature strips or pH values. As a secondary growth kinetic model, the square root model accurately described the pattern of pH (7.0–8.2) and temperature effects on the maximum specific growth rate (μmax), with R2 = 0.961, Af = 1.084, Bf = 0.9979, and an error of less than ±0.05. The Arrhenius model accurately described the pattern of pH effects on B. pasteurii (μmax) at pH = 8.6–9.8, with R2 = 0.9996, Af = 1.0036, Bf = 0.999, and an error of less than ±0.02. The effect of temperature was inversely proportional to the growth of B. pasteurii; the higher the temperature, the lesser the B. pasteurii growth. In the pH range of 7.0–8.2, the higher the pH value, the better the B. pasteurii growth; however, at an increased pH range of 8.6–9.8, the higher pH value decreased the B. pasteurii growth. This study is the first to investigate the effect of temperature or pH on B. pasteurii growth in CMC solid-free drilling fluid. Our study provides a scientific basis and theoretical reference for the subsequent research on the induced domestication of B. pasteurii in high-temperature and strong alkaline environments and its engineering application.

1212 Actinomycosis of the Middle Ear Mimicking Cholesteatoma – a Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract Introduction Actinomycosis, a rare infection of the middle ear, has less than 50 documented cases worldwide. Actinomyces are an anaerobic, filamentous bacterium causing granuloma formation and suppurative infection. Case We present a young male with a nine-month history of unilateral, yellow coloured otorrhoea and hearing loss. Swabs showed no growth, with infection not responding to oral or topical antibiotics. CT temporal bones was consistent with cholesteatoma and ossicular disruption. Surgical exploration revealed a yellow, cystic mass within the middle ear. Cortical mastoidectomy and washout were performed. Histological diagnosis confirmed actinomyces clusters with positive Gram stain. Discussion Actinomyces typically presents as chronic otitis media. It likely reaches the middle ear via the Eustachian tube. It is often misdiagnosed due to culture insensitivity; however clinical suspicion can aid labs in providing an optimum culture environment. Tympanomastoidectomy allows for histopathological diagnosis. Surgical resection should be followed by a prolonged course of antibiotics.

Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride‐functionalized wound dressings: Physical, mechanical and biological evaluations

AbstractThe objective of the present study is fabrication of wound dressing membranes with effective antibacterial activity, good biocompatibility with fibroblast cells, appropriate mechanical properties in both dry and wet states to potentially provide physical protection to wounds at different stages of healing, and the ability to maintain an optimum moist environment over the wounded area. To achieve this, a new silane functional polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride was synthesized and utilized as a crosslinker for a polymeric matrix consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) and gelatin. Thin monolayer films of the resulting polymeric networks were characterized and subjected to different physical and biological assays. The tensile test results indicated that the prepared dressing membranes exhibit good tensile strength in both dry (44 MPa) and hydrated (700 KPa) states. The fluid handling capacity of the dressings was found to be in the range of 2.23 to 2.29 g 10−1 m−2 day−1, which is appropriate for treating wounds with “light” to “moderate” exudate levels. The MTT assay showed excellent biocompatibility, evidenced by high fibroblast cells viability cultured directly over dressings (over 70%) or cultured in media containing the leachates extracted from the dressings (over 90%). Moreover, the dressings exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (87% killing) and Escherichia coli (99% killing) bacterial strains.

Cultivation of Microalgae Spirulina platensis Biomass Using Palm Oil Mill Effluent for Phycocyanin Productivity and Future Biomass Refinery Attributes

Palm oil mill effluent is a type of wastewater which contains a high concentration of organic nitrogen, phosphorus, and different supplement substances. These substances support and enhance the growth of microalgae. Cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis is a blue-green microalga with two phycobiliproteins as its primary constituents. Phycocyanin is a natural blue colourant used in biomedicines, cosmetics, diagnostics, treatments, and environmental protection. Chlorophyll pigment plays a significant role in photosynthesis where the photosynthetic process uses atmospheric carbon to produce starch and lipid which can eventually be converted into desirable products such as biodiesel. Therefore, in this study, Spirulina platensis was cultivated in different concentrations of diluted POME (10-50%, v / v ) at 26 ± 1 °C room temperature, 90 μmol photon m-2 s-1, and aerated for 24 h continuously. The growth of Spirulina platensis was monitored through optical density at 680 nm for 15 days. The highest biomass yield obtained in the control medium and 30% POME medium were 1.27 ± 0.02 and 1.16 ± 0.01 g/L, respectively. The highest phycocyanin yield obtained from the biomass harvested from 30% nutrient media was 175.12 ± 22.32 mg and followed by 163.55 ± 20.15 mg from control media with purified phycocyanin of 87.11 ± 5.20 mg and 85.31 ± 4.33 mg, respectively. The peak properties of phycocyanin such as the amide group at 1655.17 cm-1 (C=O stretching), FT-IR analysis revealed well-formed Spirulina platensis with all characteristic peaks and distinct fingerprints of phycocyanin. The ultrasound method produces the highest lipid yield ( 28.6 ± 0.7 %) which consists of stearic (38.45%), palmitoleic ( 25.72 ± 0.02 ), and palmitic ( 17.71 ± 0.04 ) fatty acid methyl esters. The FAME produced from the extracted lipid has the potential to be used in biodiesel applications. Since POME contains the essential nutrients which can support the growth of Spirulina platensis in the optimum environment for biomass and lipid productivity, it revealed the potential for biodiesel production.

Evaluation of the effect of the indoor environment on the physiological responses of early-gestation sows in a commercial house in China.

The environment influences the sow's health and physiology during gestation. This study was conducted to evaluate indoor environmental parameters and physiological responses of early-gestation sows and investigate the possible methods for assessing the thermal environment in commercial houses. A total of 20 early-gestation sows (commercial purebred Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 193.20 ± 3.62 kg were used for this study in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The indoor environment parameters comprising dry-bulb temperature (Tdb), relative humidity (RH), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were recorded in 30-min intervals. Physiological parameters including heart rate (HR) and respiration rate (RR) of sows were also measured every 30 min. Wet-bulb temperature (Twb) was calculated using Tdb, RH and atmospheric pressure was recorded at a nearby weather station. The average indoor Tdb and RH were 12.98 ± 2.03°C and 80.4 ± 6.4% in winter, 18.98 ± 2.68°C and 74.4 ± 9.0% in spring, 27.49 ± 2.05°C and 90.6 ± 6.4% in summer, and 17.10 ± 2.72°C and 64.5 ± 10.9% in autumn. A higher average concentration of CO2 was observed in winter (1,493 ± 578 mg/m3) than in spring (1,299 ± 489 mg/m3), autumn (1,269 ± 229 mg/m3), and summer (702 ± 128 mg/m3). Compared with the HR and RR in the optimum environment, high RH in the house led to a significant decrease in both HR and RR (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant decline in HR was also obtained at high temperatures (P < 0.05). A temperature humidity index (THI), THI = 0.82 × Tdb + 0.18 × Twb, was determined for early-gestation sows, and the THI thresholds were 25.6 for HR. The variation in THI in summer showed that heat stress still occurred under the pad-fan cooling system. This study demonstrated the critical significance of considering physiological responses of early-gestation sows in commercial houses and THI thresholds. We recommend that much more cooling measures should be taken for early-gestation sows in summer.

PtCu Nanoparticle Catalyst for Electrocatalytic Glycerol Oxidation: How Does the PtCu Affect to Glycerol Oxidation Reaction Performance by Changing pH Conditions?

In this work, we show that finding and controlling optimum pH environments with Pt-based alloy catalysts can create high catalytic performances for electrocatalytic glycerol oxidation reaction (EGOR). Compared to a Pt/C catalyst, the PtCu/C alloy catalyst has higher reaction rate and turnover frequency (TOF) values by increasing the pH. Specifically, the reaction rate and TOF of the PtCu/C catalyst at pH 13 were 2.93 and 6.65 times higher than those of Pt/C, respectively. The PtCu/C catalyst also showed lower onset potential value and higher mass and specific activities than the Pt/C by increasing the pH. This indicates that the Cu in the PtCu alloy improves the catalytic activity for the EGOR in an OH− group-rich environment. In the case of the PtCu/C catalyst at a high pH condition, the selectivities of tartronic acid and oxalic acid tended to increase as the selectivity of lactic acid decreased. This result means that the PtCu alloy follows primary alcohol oxidation pathways, which are more favorable in an OH− group-rich environment than with only Pt. This study proposes that it is critical to optimize and control the reaction conditions for developing efficient EGOR catalysts.

Capturing agro-morphological variability for tolerance to terminal heat and combined heat-drought stress in landraces and elite cultivar collection of wheat.

Climate change has resulted in extreme temperature and drought around the globe, which poses serious threat to food security. Both heat and drought stress affects the production and productivity of wheat crop. The present study was undertaken to evaluate 34 landraces and elite cultivars of Triticum spp. for phenological and yield-related traits under optimum, heat, and combined heat-drought stress environments during 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. The pooled analysis of variance showed significant genotype × environment interaction, suggesting an influence of stress on trait expression. The trait performance of genotypes exhibited significant reduction under combined heat-drought stress as compared to optimum and heat stress environments. The maximum seed yield penalty was observed under combined heat-drought stress environment as compared to heat stress alone. Regression analysis indicated significant contribution of number of grains per spike towards stress tolerance. Based on Stress Tolerance Index (STI), genotypes Local-17, PDW 274, HI-8802, and HI-8713 were identified to be tolerant to both heat and combined heat and drought stress at Banda, whereas genotypes DBW 187, HI-8777, Raj 4120, and PDW 274 were tolerant at Jhansi location. The genotype PDW 274 showed stress tolerance under all treatments at both the locations. The genotypes PDW 233 and PDW 291 showed highest stress susceptibility index (SSI) across the environments. The number of grains per spike and test kernel weight were positively associated with seed yield across the environments and locations. The selected genotypes Local-17, HI 8802, and PDW 274 were identified to be the potential sources of heat and combined heat-drought tolerance, which may be utilized in hybridization to develop tolerant wheat genotypes and also for mapping of underlying genes/quantitative trait loci (QTLs).

Performance analysis of a temperature adaptive anti-condensation device in open-plan control cabinets

A temperature adaptive anti-condensation device was presented to adapt the anti-condensation requirements of shipborne open-plan control cabinets in non-operating state under high temperature, high relative humidity and harsh environment. By analyzing working principle of the anti-condensation device and influence factors of the ambient temperature, the dew point temperature was determined. According to the energy transfer theory, the heat transfer coefficient of heating units, the effective heat dissipation area of radiators, and the Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM) parameters of axial flow fans were deduced and calculated. Then dual-redundant temperature control strategy was adopted to control the internal temperature adaptively in the open-plan control cabinet between 33 °C and 40 °C. Furthermore, to quantify the numerical model, temperature distribution of the finite-element analysis (FEA) and experiments were carried out, of which the results were compared with the analytic solutions. The results indicated that surface temperatures of the internal electronic devices in the open-plan control cabinet can be controlled no less than the dew point temperature of 33 °C with no condensations. In summary, an optimum temperature, dry and reliable working environment for electronic devices was built to prevent corrosion and damage effectively, as well as the stable performance of the open-plan control cabinet was consequently enhanced.