Through Holes Research Articles

Growth, yield, and biochemical traits of tomato plants under mycorrhizal inoculation and licorice root extract applications

ABSTRACT Enhancing the nutritional values and quality of fruit crops is of utmost significance, necessitating the exploration and implementation of novel agricultural approaches. Therefore, the application of natural sources, such as biostimulants and the reduction of conventional fertilizers, are integral to sustainable agriculture, which aims to reduce environmental harm and maintain the long-term health of agricultural systems, meanwhile, maximizing productivity and profitability. The study’s objective was to assess the impact of applying arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and licorice root extract (LRE) on the growth and some biochemical traits of tomato fruit. For the AMF inoculation, 15 g/plant was applied to the soil, while the LRE was sprayed onto the canopy at varying doses of 0, 5, 10, and 15 g/L. A combination of AMF and LRE was also applied simultaneously. All treatment combinations had noticeable effects on plant growth and quality. The combination of AMF with LRE at a concentration of 15 g/L significantly influenced most of the growth, fruit, and physicochemical characteristics. AMF resulted in the lowest nitrate accumulation in the fruits. Furthermore, doses of 10 g/L LRE exhibited the highest levels of heavy metals, including zinc, manganese, and copper. This study suggests that the integrated use of AMF and LRE is a promising approach for the sustainable and economically viable production of tomato fruit under controlled or semi-controlled conditions.

Temporal Variations, Air Quality, Heavy Metal Concentrations, and Environmental and Health Impacts of Atmospheric PM2.5 and PM10 in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) samples were collected in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to assess air quality, quantify, heavy metal concentrations, and evaluate related ecological and health risks. This study’s uniqueness stems from its focused and detailed analysis of PM pollution in Riyadh, including an extensive assessment of heavy metal concentrations across different PM sizes by applying diverse pollution and health indices. This brings to light critical health and ecological issues and provides foundation for targeted pollution control efforts in the region. The study focused on two PM size fractions, PM2.5 and PM10 and analyzed the presence of heavy metals, including iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry. Results showed significantly higher levels of PM10 (223.12 ± 66.12 µg/m3) compared to PM2.5 (35.49 ± 9.63 µg/m3), suggesting that local dust is likely a primary source. Air quality varied from moderate to unhealthy, with PM10 posing substantial risks. Heavy metal concentrations in PM2.5 followed the order Fe (13.14 ± 11.66 ng/m3) > As (2.87 ± 2.08 ng/m3) > Cu (0.71 ± 0.51 ng/m3) > Zn (0.66 ± 0.46 ng/m3) > Cr 0.50 ± 0.23 ng/m3) > Pb (0.14 ± 0.10 ng/m3) > Ni (0.03 ± 0.04 ng/m3) > Cd (0.004 ± 0.002 ng/m3) > Ag (0.003 ± 0.003 ng/m3) > Co (0.002 ± 0.004 ng/m3). In PM10, they followed the order Fe (743.18 ± 593.91 ng/m3) > As (20.12 ± 13.03 ng/m3) > Cu (10.97 ± 4.66 ng/m3) > Zn (9.06 ± 5.50 ng/m3) > Cr (37.5 ± 2.70 ng/m3) > Ni (1.72 ± 01.54 ng/m3) > Pb (1.11 ± 0.64 ng/m3) > Co (0.25 ± 0.28 ng/m3) > Ag (0.10 ± 0.26 ng/m3) > Cd (0.04 ± 0.02 ng/m3). Enrichment factor analysis revealed elevated levels for the metals Cu, Zn, As, Ag, Cd, and Pb. Pollution indices indicated various contamination levels, with Ag and As showing particularly high contamination and ecological risks. The study highlighted significant health concerns, especially from As, which poses a substantial long-term carcinogenic threat. The findings emphasize the urgent need to reduce hazardous metal levels in Riyadh’s air, especially with high child exposure.

Synthesis and Characterization of Polyimide with High Blackness and Low Thermal Expansion by Introducing 3,6-bis(thiophen-2-yl)diketopyrrolopyrrole-Based Chromophores

The market demand for black polyimide (BPI) has grown hugely in the field of flexible copper-clad laminates (FCCLs) as a replacement for transparent yellow polyimide. The 3,6-bis(thiophen-2-yl)diketopyrrolopyrroles (TDPP) derivative is recognized for its high molar extinction coefficient. In this research, we have synthesized a diamine monomer named 3,6-bis[5-(4-amino-3-fluorophenyl)thiophen-2-yl]-2,5-bis(2-ethylhexyl)pyrrolo[4,3-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione (DPPTENFPDA), featuring a TDPP unit attached by fluorinated benzene rings. The subsequent reaction of DPPTENFPDA with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) yielded an inherent BPI (DPPTENFPPI). By introducing chromophores derived from TDPP, the light absorption spectrum of DPPTENFPPI was broadened and red-shifted, thereby achieving full absorption within the visible spectrum and producing a highly black color that has a cut-off wavelength (λcut) of 717 nm and a CIE-Lab coordinate L* of 0.86. Additionally, DPPTENFPPI exhibited a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and remarkable thermal and electrical performance. Density functional theory calculations were conducted to explore the electronic nature of DPPTENFPPI. The outcomes revealed that the excellent light absorption of DPPTENFPPI predominantly originates from the transition from HOMO to LUMO + 1 within the chromophore moiety. The FCCL made from DPPTENFPPI films has high solder heat resistance and peel strength. This research contributes valuable insights into the structure and design of high-performance intrinsically black PIs for microelectronics applications.

SAFETY OF BLACK SOLDIER FLY LARVAE: MICROBIAL AND HEAVY METAL RISKS

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are considered a sustainable protein source and an effective means of recycling organic waste. They are rich in nutrients, including proteins and lipids, making them suitable for animal feed and potentially for human consumption. In addition to their nutritional benefits, BSFL also have environmental benefits, i.e., reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions. However, concerns about their safety persist, particularly regarding contamination by pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and heavy metals. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of different feedstuffs on heavy metal accumulation and on the microcenosis (Enterobacteriaceae, aerobic bacterial endospores, microscopic filamentous fungi) of BSFL. BSFL were fed four feed treatments (I: egg pasta cooked in whole milk; II: cooked rice with peas; III: poultry feed; and IV: cooked couscous, boiled eggs, and raw carrot peels). The results of our study showed that feed variants significantly affect the microbial safety of BSFL. Using MALDI-TOF, we identified 13 species of family Enterobacteriaceae in BSFL, including facultative pathogenic species Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Morganella morganii, and Proteus mirabilis. Our research confirmed that BSFL fed different feed variants under experimental laboratory conditions contained heavy metals, including cadmium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, and zinc. Cadmium concentrations in BSFL ranged from 0.12 to 0.18 mg.kg-1, with the highest values measured in BSFL in variant IV.

Heavy metal contamination and potential health risks in upland rice-producing soils of rotational shifting cultivation in northern Thailand

Rotational shifting cultivation (RSC) is commonly practiced in northern Thailand for upland rice cultivation, primarily for household consumption. However, the potential health risks from heavy metal contamination in these soils have not been thoroughly explored. This study aimed to evaluate the contamination of six heavy metals (Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), and Chromium (Cr)) in upland rice across RSC fields with varying fallow periods and assess the associated health risks from rice consumption. Four RSC fields with 5, 6, 10, and 12-year fallow periods were examined. The RSC-6Y and RSC-12Y fields were used for upland rice cultivation in 2022, while the RSC-5Y and RSC-10Y fields were cultivated in 2023. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) was calculated, and translocation factors (TF) were assessed for the transfer of heavy metals from soil to straw (TFStraw/Soil), straw to grain (TFGrain/Straw), and soil to grain (TFGrain/Soil). The results indicated that after burning vegetation in the RSC fields, the highest concentrations of Pb, Cr, and Hg were found in the ash. In RSC soils, Cu, Cr, As, Pb, and Hg levels were below reference standards, with Cd undetected. In rice grains, the order of concentration was Pb > Cu > Cr > As, with Hg and Cd undetected. Pb levels in rice grains exceeded the safety threshold. Igeo values indicated no contamination to moderate contamination across sites, with negative Igeo values for Cr and Cu, and zero values for Cd. The TF results showed limited transfer of As, Hg, and Cd from soil to rice plants (TFStraw/Soil < 0.1), but notable transfer for Pb, Cr, and Cu. Pb was readily transferred from soil to grain (TFGrain/Soil), posing a potential health risk. The study highlights potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from heavy metal exposure, particularly Pb, and underscores the need for further research to determine contamination sources and mitigation strategies.

Methodology for Characterizing Degradation Locations of Planar and Trench Gate SiC Power Mosfets Under Repetitive Short-Circuit Stress

Methodology for Characterizing Degradation Locations of Planar and Trench Gate SiC Power Mosfets Under Repetitive Short-Circuit Stress

Calculation of Cable SGEMP Response for PCB Trace Based on Finite Element Method

Calculation of Cable SGEMP Response for PCB Trace Based on Finite Element Method

Geochemical study of heavy metals in samples from dumpsites at Onitsha, Anambra Basin, Southeastern Nigeria

Core (0-60cm) samples were collected from selected dumpsites at Onitsha and control site at Awka, Nigeria. Physiochemical parameters (particle size distribution, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, Organic Matter (OM in %)) and heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Aluminium (Al), Cobalt (Co), Molybdenium (Mo), Cadmium (Cd), Manganese (Mn) and Silicon (Si)) were analyzed using standard methods. The result of the physiochemical analysis shows that the samples were generally sandy with acidic pH values (4.89-6.24); OM ranged from 5.693-27.71%; CEC ranged from 0.072-0.62(Cmol/kg). Comparatively, DS 5 (Obosi) has the highest levels of these heavy metals followed by DS 2 (Woliwo). The order is Bida &lt; Okpoko &lt;Obosi 1 &lt; Woliwo &lt; Obosi 2. The levels of these heavy metals were above the control values. They were equally above national and international guidelines. Enrichment Factor (EF) values varied between no enrichment to extremely severe enrichment. Pollution load index (PLI) indicated that all the sampled sites were polluted while the ecological risk of heavy metals varied between low contamination to high contamination. The prevailing indiscriminate disposal of wastes occasioned by nonexistence of appropriate disposal facilities is the direct cause of the situation. Proactive measures and regular environmental monitoring must be taken to minimize further deterioration as the contaminants pose serious deleterious effects on human and soil organisms.

Living hinges for resilient and recyclable paper-based flexible printed electronics

Abstract The ability to fabricate electronics by printing has enabled an array of technologies that can create intelligent or smart packaging; however, this can come at the cost of recyclability. Selection of materials compatible with recycling streams is possible, such as paperboard and carbon inks, but there is a trade-off in terms of performance, flexibility and reliability. A major challenge for the use of paperboard is delamination and deformation when subject to small bend radii. The substrate has a tendency to crease when bent beyond a critical radius, which can fracture the surface and any traces printed onto it, causing device failure. We have demonstrated that the use of kerf cuts to form a living hinge, similar to that used in woodworking, can increase the flexibility of paperboard and allow reliable bending of conductive traces. We have identified the key design parameters of such a living hinge and evaluated their effect on the flexibility of a typical paperboard used in packaging. We then demonstrated that conductive traces of silver or carbon can withstand repeated bending with 100% reliability, compared to a worst case of 16% of control sample traces surviving the same test. Additionally, we demonstrated that the hinges improve the consistency of the trace resistance when subject to repeat bending. The behaviour of the resistance change as a function of bending was seen to be dependent upon the ink material, likely due to differing morphologies. We demonstrate the applicability of this technique in a smart device for medication adherence packaging.

FPGA implementation of sobel edge detection algorithm

Sobel Edge detection algorithm is used to extract the edges (region of maximum variation) from an image. It is based on the concept that the edges of an image contains maximum information whose computation depends on multipliers and square root. As multipliers consume more logic, a modified sobel edge detection algorithm which does not employ multipliers and square root function is proposed. A mathematical model of the proposed sobel edge algorithm was first developed and MATLAB was used to verify the model. On comparing with the original model, the proposed model has a SSIM of 96.43%. To analyse the hardware complexity, Verilog model of the modified sobel edge detection algorithm was developed using Quartus II. The chosen evaluation board is Cylone III FPGA EP3C120F780. The performance metrics such has Logic Elements utilization, Power dissipation and Maximum Operating Frequency were obtained. Open-Source toolchain (Yosys, OpenVPR, and Google Skywater 130nm PDK) was used to obtain the RTL Netlist and Synthesis reports. Verilog Modules for the Camera (CMOS OV7670) interface and FIFO Buffer were synthesized. The modified algorithm was integrated with them. An HSMC (HSMB) breakout board was connected to the FPGA Development board to increase the number of I/O ports. Thus in real time, the proposed modified Sobel Edge detection system can be used as a pre-processor to reduce the amount of computations and power consumption.

Preparation mechanism and characterization of PET/Cu composite foils

PET/Cu composite foils are expected to have widespread applications due to their lightweight, good bendability and excellent electrical conductivity. However, efficiently and stably preparing copper cladding layers on the surface of PET film with good bonding to the substrate remains a challenge. In this study, by optimizing the process route and adopting a synergistic method involving electroless plating and electroplating, PET/Cu composite foils with excellent conductivity and robust bonding can be successfully prepared. The experimental results indicate that the optimal performance of PET/Cu composite foils is achieved when the PET substrate is roughened with KMnO4/H+ solution, activated with salt-based colloidal palladium, subsequently treated with a weak alkaline electroless nickel plating solution for 5 min, and plated copper at a current density of 0.4 A·dm−2. The adhesion strength of the PET/Cu composite foils meets the ASTM 5B standard and the electrical conductivity reaches up to 4.17 × 107 S/m. The method proposed in this study offers an efficient and concise approach for preparing high-quality PET/Cu composite foils that hold great potential for diverse applications in flexible copper clad laminates.

Preparation and properties of a rigid hemp shiv insulation particle board using citric acid-glycerol mixture as an eco-friendly binder

Particle boards are commonly manufactured from wood-based material bound with a thermosetting adhesive based on the reaction of formaldehyde with phenol, urea, melamine, or co-condensates. The use of formaldehyde is a cause for concern due to its harmful emissions. This study investigates the use of an alternative binder combined with particles derived from a short-cycle crop as an alternative to timber derived particles. A low density particle board was developed using hemp shiv as an aggregate with a binder made with crude glycerol, derived from the waste stream of the bio-diesel industry, esterified with citric acid under heat activation. This board was characterized and found to have good mechanical properties, low thermal conductivity, and good moisture buffering. Dimensional stability was compromised by swelling when exposed to water, but it will be possible to address this shortcoming using hydrophobic additives. The acoustic properties of the board were also found to be excellent, showing potential for use as a thermally insulating acoustic separator for internal walls.

Drone SAR Imaging for Monitoring an Active Landslide Adjacent to the M25 at Flint Hall Farm

Flint Hall Farm in Godstone, Surrey, UK, is situated adjacent to the London Orbital Motorway, or M25, and contains several landslide systems which pose a significant geohazard risk to this critical infrastructure. The site has been routinely monitored by geotechnical engineers following a landslide that encroached onto the hard shoulder in December 2000; current in situ instrumentation includes inclinometers and piezoelectric sensors. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is an active remote sensing technique that can quantify millimetric rates of Earth surface and structural deformation, typically utilising satellite data, and is ideal for monitoring landslide movements. We have developed the hardware and software for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), or drone radar system, for improved operational flexibility and spatial–temporal resolutions in the InSAR data. The hardware payload includes an industrial-grade DJI drone, a high-performance Ettus Software Defined Radar (SDR), and custom Copper Clad Laminate (CCL) radar horn antennas. The software utilises Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar at 5.4 GHz for raw data collection and a Range Migration Algorithm (RMA) for focusing the data into a Single Look Complex (SLC) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image. We present the first SAR image acquired using the drone radar system at Flint Hall Farm, which provides an improved spatial resolution compared to satellite SAR. Discrete targets on the landslide slope, such as corner reflectors and the in situ instrumentation, are visible as bright pixels, with their size and positioning as expected; the surrounding grass and vegetation appear as natural speckles. Drone SAR imaging is an emerging field of research, given the necessary and recent technological advancements in drones and SDR processing power; as such, this is a novel achievement, with few authors demonstrating similar systems. Ongoing and future work includes repeat-pass SAR data collection and developing the InSAR processing chain for drone SAR data to provide meaningful deformation outputs for the landslides and other geotechnical hazards and infrastructure.

Biodegradable Substrates for Rigid and Flexible Circuit Boards: A Review

Biodegradable Substrates for Rigid and Flexible Circuit Boards: A Review

Microbial fuel cells: A potent and sustainable solution for heavy metal removal

The global water pollution problem is becoming increasingly crucial. One of the major contributors to water pollution is the presence of heavy metals. Heavy metals pose significant threat to both humans and all ecosystems. Various factors influence the removal of heavy metals from wastewater, including pH, temperature, natural organic matter (NOM), and ionic strength, which vary based on the chemical properties of the pollutants. More effective and modern approaches receive attention and extensively researched to substitute traditional methods such as adsorption, membrane filtration, and chemical-based separation. Among these methods, Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are particularly intriguing. This review article focuses on MFCs and their potential applications in various fields, including clean water production. MFCs represent an innovative technology that not only generates electricity, but also demonstrates significant potential for heavy metal removal from wastewater. Cathodic chamber of MFCs effectively reduces heavy metals, while organic substrates act as carbon and electron donors in the anodic chamber. Through various mechanisms, including direct and indirect metal reduction, biofilm formation (metal sequestering), electron shuttling, and synergistic interactions among microbial communities, microorganisms exhibit remarkable efficiency in removing metals. Studies showed that dual- and single-chamber MFCs could efficiently remove a range of heavy metals, including chromium, cobalt, copper, vanadium, mercury, gold, selenium, lead, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and sodium, while simultaneously generating electricity, achieving high removal efficiencies ranging from 25% to 99.95%. This range of efficiency varies depending on the specific contaminant being targeted, the concentration of the contaminant, as well as the operating conditions such as pH and temperature. Moreover, MFCs demonstrated a wide range of power outputs, typically ranging from 0.15 W/m² to 6.58 W/m², depending on the specific configuration and conditions. These findings underscore the potential of MFCs as a sustainable and efficient approach for both wastewater treatment and energy generation.

Heavy Metal Analysis Using Inductively Couple Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) on Hair of Breast Cancer Patients

Heavy metals can be found in everyday environments and can enter the human body through food, water, and air. Heavy metals are categorized into three groups by the World Health Organization (WHO): essential elements such as Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn); potentially essential elements like Manganese (Mn) and Nickel (Ni); and potentially toxic elements such as Cadmium (Cd) and Lead. (Pb). The heavy metal is a systemic poison that causes organ dysfunction in humans. The aim of this research is to analyze the levels of heavy metal elements Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) in the hair of breast cancer patients. The method used to measure heavy metal content is Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry. (ICP-OES). The levels of heavy metal elements Cu, Fe, and Zn in five hair samples from breast cancer patients differ from the standards GBW07601 and IAEA-086. The levels of Cu and Fe in breast cancer patients are lower than the standard, while the level of Zn is higher than the standard.

Enhanced geopolymerization of MSWI fly ash through combined activator pretreatment: A sustainable approach to heavy metal encapsulation and resource recovery

With the rapid pace of socioeconomic progress, there has been a continuous rise in the generation of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash. Enhancing the efficiency of MSWI fly ash utilization, minimizing expenses, and developing more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable cementitious materials represent critical scientific challenges that warrant immediate attention. The research commenced with the preliminary treatment of MSWI fly ash using a blend of chemical activators and a water rinsing method. Following this, quicklime and coal fly ash were incorporated to formulate a geopolymer derived from MSWI, aimed at stabilizing the MSWI fly ash. Throughout this investigation, a selection of five chemical activators—calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, dilute sulfuric acid, and citric acid—was employed in conjunction with a water-washing procedure to condition the MSWI fly ash. Three single factor experiments denoted A, B, and C, were designed, and the corresponding geopolymer samples were prepared. In this research, the analysis focused on the solidified MSWI fly ash-based geopolymer samples, examining their physical and chemical characteristics, compressive strength, levels of heavy metal release, and the structure at a microscopic level. The findings revealed that the B3 series exhibited the most substantial 28-day compressive strength, reaching 1.692 MPa. Concurrently, the concentrations of leached heavy metals, including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni), were all beneath the regulatory thresholds stipulated by the GB16889 and GB18598 criteria, signifying a notably effective solidification outcome. During the geopolymerization process, gel phases such as calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C-A-S-H) and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) are formed within the geopolymer matrix. This leads to the formation of a compact and cohesive cementitious material, which showcases superior mechanical strength and a robust capacity for heavy metal sequestration. This research contributes to the safe management of MSWI fly ash by not only facilitating its non-hazardous disposal but also enabling the efficient containment and elimination of heavy metals, chloride ions, and elemental aluminum.

MCMCF-Router: Multi-capacity Ordered Escape Routing Algorithms for Grid/Staggered Pin Array

Ordered escape routing (OER), which means that the pins need to be routed to the boundary of a pin array in a given order, is an important research topic in PCB design. Although OER has been widely investigated, most works assume that the routing capacity between two adjacent pins is just 1 and the structure of the pin array is a grid pin array. In this article, we focus on multi-capacity ordered escape routing (MC-OER) both in grid pin arrays and staggered pin arrays, which means that multiple wires are allowed to pass through between two adjacent pins. We first propose a multi-capacity multi-commodity flow (MC-MCF) model for the MC-OER problem. To accelerate the routing process, MCMCF-Router is proposed. In MCMCF-Router, a wiring resources driven partition strategy is proposed to reduce the problem size, followed by the approach based on routing conflicts. These approaches largely accelerate the MC-MCF model based method and increase the routability with minimal sacrifice on wire length. Experiments on various cases (with up to 525 pins) show that the proposed method achieves 100% routability within reasonable time (&lt;810 seconds). Compared to the state-of-the-art works for single-capacity OER problems, MCMCF-Router performs similarly well or better.

Development of a fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay for the quantitative and qualitative detection of antibodies against African swine fever virus p72.

African swine fever (ASF), caused by ASF virus (ASFV), is a highly infectious and severe hemorrhagic disease of pigs that causes major economic losses. Currently, no commercial vaccine is available and prevention and control of ASF relies mainly on early diagnosis. Here, a novel automated double antigen sandwich chemiluminescent immunoassay (DAgS-aCLIA) was developed to detect antibodies against ASFV p72 (p72-Ab). For this purpose, recombinant p72 trimer was produced, coupled to magnetic particles as carriers and labeled with acridinium ester as a signal trace. Finally, p72-Ab can be sensitively and rapidly measured on an automated chemiluminescent instrument. For quantitative analysis, a calibration curve was established with a laudable linearity range of 0.21 to 212.0 ng/mL (R2 = 0.9910) and a lower detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL. For qualitative analysis, a cut-off value was set at 1.50 ng/mL with a diagnostic sensitivity of 100.00% and specificity of 98.33%. Furthermore, antibody response to an ASF gene-deleted vaccine candidate can be accurately quantified using this DAgS-aCLIA, as evidenced by early seroconversion as early as 7 days post-immunization and high antibody levels. Compared with available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, this DAgS-aCLIA demonstrated a wider linearity range of 4 to 16-fold, and excellent analytical sensitivity and agreement of over 95.60%. In conclusion, our proposed DAgS-aCLIA would be an effective tool to support ASF epidemiological surveillance.IMPORTANCEAfrican swine fever virus (ASFV) is highly contagious in wild boar and domestic pigs. There is currently no vaccine available for ASF, so serological testing is an important diagnostic tool. Traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays provide only qualitative results and are time and resource consuming. This study will develop an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) that can quantitatively and qualitatively detect antibodies to ASFV p72, greatly reducing detection time and labour-intensive operation, and improving detection sensitivity and linearity range. This novel CLIA would serve as a reliable and convenient tool for ASF pandemic surveillance and vaccine development.

Prediction of soil heavy metal content around mine tailings using multiple methods combined with transformed hyperspectral reflectance data

The extensive accumulation of tailings can potentially cause heavy metal contamination in the surrounding farmland soil. Accurately predicting the spatial distribution of heavy metals in farmland soil is crucial for assessing the potential environmental hazards of tailings.This study focuses on the spatial distribution and the quantitative prediction of heavy metals (chromium (Cr), vanadium (V), and copper (Cu)) in soils surrounding mine tailings using advanced spectral data analysis and multiple prediction models. The original hyperspectral reflectance data were processed using first-order differential (FD), second-order differential (SD), reciprocal logarithmic (LR), and continuum removal (CR) transformations to highlight the positions of characteristic bands. Multiple linear regression (MLR), stepwise linear regression (SLR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), random forest (RF), and back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) models were used to establish inversion models for Cr, V, and Cu based on bands with high correlation coefficients. The performance of the inversion models was evaluated using the coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and residual predictive deviation (RPD). The results indicate that the raw hyperspectral data from the measured soil exhibit a weak response to heavy metal content in the study area. However, applying FD, SD, and CR transformations significantly enhances the sensitivity of soil spectral data to heavy metal concentrations, facilitating subsequent modeling. Among these, the SD transformation is particularly beneficial for modeling the Cr and Cu elements in the soil. For the V element, the FD transformation yields data that are more suitable for modeling. Regarding the inversion models based on the measured spectral data, the BP-ANN model exhibited the best predictive performance. Specifically, when combined with SD spectral data, the BP-ANN achieved the highest predictive accuracy for Cu content (R² = 0.85, RPD = 2.12). The RF model demonstrated the next best performance, with its optimal inversion model also utilizing SD spectral data for predicting Cu content (R² = 0.76, RPD = 1.90). On the other hand, the MLR model exhibited the poorest performance and is unsuitable for predicting heavy metal content in the region using the measured spectral data. This study highlights the potential of spectral data in environmental monitoring and provides a technical reference for the inversion assessment and regulation of heavy metals in farmlands surrounding tailing sites.