Percentage Growth Research Articles

Bee honey improved the performance of indole-3-butyric acid on promoting adventitious roots formation of Cupressus macrocarpa L. var. Goldcrest: Morpho-biochemical and histoanatomical investigation

The effective role of different auxins on adventitious roots (Ars) formation of stem cuttings relies on several factors including type of auxins, concentrations and the intermixing materials. In this study, bee honey (BH) was evaluated as a cofactor for maximizing the promoting effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for better survival of propagated hard-to-root ornamental plants. To improve Ars morphogenesis of Cupressus macrocarpa L. var. Goldcrest, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of exogenous application of IBA intermixed with BH in comparison with talcum powder (TP) on morphological, biochemical, histoanatomical, and ultrastructural responses. Results indicated that 500 mg kg-1 IBA intermixed with BH (T5) was the superior treatment for improving rooting percentage and root growth measurements. Exogenous application of T5 led to maximize activities of polyphenol oxidase and catalase enzymes as well as total phenols content; however, it caused a sharp decline in peroxidase enzyme activity as compared with untreated cuttings. Additionally, this treatment decreased amounts of gibberellin, benzyl adenine, kinetin and abscisic acid, while the endogenous content of indole-3-acetic acid increased. Histoanatomical observations of stem cuttings treated with T5 showed four prominent phases for adventitious root formation including: induction, initiation of meristemoids, root primordial formation and Ar elongation at 0–6th, 6-12th, 12-18th and 18-30th day after planting (dap). The Ar primordia evolved via two different developmental pathways: (i) indirect genesis (i.e., callus tissues) and (ii) direct genesis (e.g., cells in the inner bark, medullary rays and surrounding tissues). The time-course histoanatomical data of this study provide insights regarding the potential utilization of IBA intermixed with BH to improve Ar formation of several hard-to-root ornamentals.

Uji Potensi Mikrob Rizosfer sebagai Pengendali Hayati Penyebab Penyakit Tanaman

Biological control is an alternative to reducing the use of pesticides because it can suppress the growth of plant pathogens and has no negative impact on the environment. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of rhizosphere microbes as biological controllers that cause plant diseases. This study contains three rhizosphere microbes (Trichoderma sp., Gliocladium sp., Bacillus sp.) and three pathogenic test fungi (Rhizoctonia sp., Sclerotium sp., Botryodiplodia sp.) were used. This study was divided into three experiments, namely (1) an in vitro antagonist test, (2) a secondary metabolite test, and (3) a growth test on sengon seeds (in vivo). The parameters measured were percentage inhibition, germination rate, growth rate, disease incidence, and disease intensity. The fungus Trichoderma sp. and Gliocladium sp. can inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi Sclerotium sp., Rhizoctonia sp., and Botryodiplodia sp. ranging from 61.82% to 80.00%. Secondary metabolites of the fungus Gliocladium sp. are more able to inhibit the mycelia growth of pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia sp., Sclerotium sp., and Botryodiplodia sp. compared to the fungus Trichoderma sp. with inhibition values were 71.13%, 33.83%, 23.58%, respectively. Gliocladium sp., Trichoderma sp., and Bacillus sp. can suppress disease incidence (14.29%, 12.38%, and 15.24%) and intensity of damping-off attacks caused by Rhizoctonia sp. (8.91%, 8.57%, and 9.43%). This shows that biological agents have the potential to control plant diseases
 Keywords: Bacillus aereus, damping-off, secondary metabolites, Trichoderma

Antifungal Activity of Citrus Limon Leaf Extracts against Fungal Pathogens Isolated from Decaying Potato Tubers in Supermarkets of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Globally, fungal pathogens pose severe threats to stored cereal and tuber crops, resulting in substantial losses in economic crops. This study investigated the inhibitory activities of aqueous, ethanol, and acetone leaf extracts of Citrus limon L. Osbeck against the mycelial growth of Curvularia mebaldsii, Fusarium oxysporum, and Penicillium species isolated from spoilt potato tubers retailed within supermarkets in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Various concentrations (100 g/L, 50 g/L, and 25 g/L) of the C. limon leaf extracts (aqueous, acetone and ethanol) were prepared and (5 mL) amended with potato dextrose agar (oxoid, UK) previously inoculated with the 7-day old culture of each fungal isolates before incubation at 28 oC. The percentage growth inhibition was determined to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of each extract. Aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts at 50g/L and 100 g/L displayed 100 % inhibition against all three pathogens except Penicillium sp. with 91.0 - 90.97 % inhibition. The ethanol and acetone extracts had the most inhibitory effects against F. oxysporum C. mebaldsii. In contrast, the aqueous extracts displayed the least effects, though not significantly different (p0.05) across the concentrations. The notable antifungal effects against F. oxysporum, a prominent pathogen of post-harvest spoilage of potatoes, suggest the potential use of C. limon extracts to enhance the shelf-life of potatoes in supermarkets, specifically, and for post-harvest storage in general.

An Efficient Synthesis of 1-(1,3-Dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl Urea Analogs as Anticancer and Antioxidant Agents: An Insight into Experimental and In Silico Studies.

The present investigation reports the efficient multistep synthesis of 1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl urea analogs (7a-f) in good yields. All the 1-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-aryl urea analogs (7a-f) were characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Five among the six compounds were tested against 56 cancer cell lines at 10 µM as per the standard protocol. 1-(4-Bromophenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7c) exhibited moderate but significant anticancer activity against EKVX, CAKI-1, UACC-62, MCF7, LOX IMVI, and ACHN with percentage growth inhibitions (PGIs) of 75.46, 78.52, 80.81, 83.48, 84.52, and 89.61, respectively. Compound 7c was found to exhibit better anticancer activity than thalidomide against non-small cell lung, CNS, melanoma, renal, prostate, and breast cancer cell lines. It was also found to exhibit superior anticancer activity against melanoma cancer compared to imatinib. Among the tested compounds, the 4-bromosubstitution (7c) on the phenyl ring demonstrated good anticancer activity. Docking scores ranging from -6.363 to -7.565 kcal/mol were observed in the docking studies against the molecular target EGFR. The ligand 7c displayed an efficient binding against the EGFR with a docking score of -7.558 kcal/mol and displayed an H-bond interaction with Lys745 and the carbonyl functional group. Compound 7c demonstrated a moderate inhibition of EGFR with an IC50 of 42.91 ± 0.80 nM, in comparison to erlotinib (IC50 = 26.85 ± 0.72 nM), the standard drug. The antioxidant potential was also calculated for the compounds (7a-f), which exhibited good to low activity. 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7f) and 1-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)urea (7d) demonstrated significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 15.99 ± 0.10 and 16.05 ± 0.15 µM, respectively. The 2- and 4-methoxysubstitutions on the N-phenyl ring showed good antioxidant activity among the series of compounds (7a-f). An in silico ADMET prediction studies showed the compounds' adherence to Lipinski's rule of five: they were free from toxicities, including mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, and immunotoxicity, but not for hepatotoxicity. The toxicity prediction demonstrated LD50 values between 1000 and 5000 mg/Kg, putting the compounds either in class IV or class V toxicity classes. Our findings might create opportunities for more advancements in cancer therapeutics.

The integrated disease management of early blight in organically grown tomato under hill condition of Sikkim, India

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is the most widely cultivated vegetable crop in the world and early blight caused by Alternaria spp. is one of the major production constraints. Survey was conducted during kharif seasons of 2018-19 &2019-20 in four districts of Sikkim. Maximum early blight disease severity was recorded in south district of Sikkim. Pathogenicity test of isolates collected from different location were established. Morphological, cultural, and molecular identification of the pathogen reveal pathogen as Alternaria spp. Five different bio-control agents i.e., Trichoderma harzianum, T. Viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus were evaluated against the test pathogens. Among the bio-control agents tested, Trichoderma harzianum (74.89%) and Trichoderma viride (69.41%) showed maximum percent growth inhibition. Open field experiment was conducted with eleven treatments formulated by integrating the different organic inputs, biocontrol agents and copper-based fungicide as chemical check. Organic treatment T9 {Susceptible Variety + Soil treatment with Trichoderma harzianum @1:25(1kg Trichoderma + 25 Kg of FYM) + cow dung slurry 10% + Nimbicidine 0.3% + Panchagavya 10% + Cow Urine 10%} consistently showed the best result among the bioresources tested. Keywords: Tomato, Organic, Bio agent and Integrated disease management

Growth Performance of Critically Endangered Hypselobarbus pulchellus in Biofloc Systems with Various C/N Ratios

Background: Biofloc technology relies on adding a carbon source to maintain optimal carbon to nitrogen ratio for transforming the waste into microbial biomass that aquatic animals can use. In the present study, the growth performance of the critically endangered Hypselobarbus pulchellus in biofloc-based seed rearing with different Carbon to Nitrogen ratio was studied. Methods: Healthy early fry (0.01 g) was randomly stocked into 15 circular FRP tanks (1000 L) at a density of 100 individuals/m3 and reared for 90 days. The carbon to nitrogen ratios of 5:1(CN5), 10:1(CN10), 15:1(CN15) and 20:1(CN20) were maintained using jaggery without considering carbon content derived from the feed and the control group received no additional source of carbon. Result: The results indicated that H. pulchellus had better growth performance in biofloc systems having higher C/N ratios. The highest weight gain (0.48±0.01 g) and weight gain percentage (3931.15±120.68%) and specific growth rate (4.11±0.03% per day) were found in the CN10 group (P less than 0.05), followed by CN15 and CN20, while the control group values were lowest. In terms of survival, all treatments had high survival rates ranging from 92% to 94.67%, with no significant variations (P greater than 0.05). The CN10, CN15 and CN20 treatments had significantly higher amylase, protease and lipase activities than control (P less than 0.05). Moreover, the immunological and antioxidant activity increased with CN ratios. The CN10, CN15 and CN20 groups had significantly lower total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite and nitrate levels than control group (P less than 0.05). Overall, this study suggests that C/N ratios of 10:1 to 20:1 are optimal for rearing H. pulchellus fingerlings from early fry, with 10:1 presenting the best growth results.

Impact of eco-physiological factors on the weed seed germination and emergence: A review on its role in weed management

Dormancy is a typical feature of many weed seed populations, which makes forecasting the time and magnitude of weed emergence difficult. The mean minimum temperatures required for undergoing germination of different weed seeds varies considerably depending on the place of their origin as well as the season on which the plants grow. For instance, the temperature requirement for the germination of summer weeds was observed to be 40% higher than for the winter weeds. Decreasing the water potential from 0 Mpa (mega pascal) to -1.0 Mpa tends to reduce the germination capacity of many weed seeds with some seeds totally failing to germinate at -1.0 Mpa (Chloris truncate, Retama raetam). The effects of planting depth on seed germination and seedling growth of Aframomum citratum on varied soil types indicated that sowing depth greatly influenced the plant's cumulative germination percentage and early growth. The seeds of Sysimbrium officinale (L.), a summer annual species, displayed greater sensitivity to nitrates and lost dormancy throughout the winter. The germination of Thlaspi arvense was also discovered to be stimulated by nitrate only in the presence of light. Tilling the surface of soil has a positive impact in the weed seed germination, however if the tillage depth increases more than 9cm, it tends to lower down the germination of several weed species. However, weed seeds of Bernard grass are among the exceptions in which they germinate better at a shallow depth (2cm). The nature and the thickness of the mulching component influence the germination of weed seeds. Thicker mulches and mulching materials like pearl millet resulted in a greater suppression of the weed seed germination due to an increased allelopathic effects.

Effect of Cultivars, some Plant Growth Regulators and Full Green Fertilizer on Budding Success Percentage and Vegetative Growth of Apple Transplants (Malus domestica Borkh.)

Effect of Cultivars, some Plant Growth Regulators and Full Green Fertilizer on Budding Success Percentage and Vegetative Growth of Apple Transplants (Malus domestica Borkh.)

Phytotoxicity Study of Biogenic Mono-Metallic and Bi- Metallic (Au-Ag) Alloy Nps

Our findings of this study report the phytotoxicity assessment of biogenic bimetallic alloy (Au-Ag) NPs with monometallic counterparts (AgNPs and AuNPs) on Rice seed germination in respect of seedling growth and germination percentage. The phytotoxicity study of all three NPs on Rice seed indicates that seed germination percentage, root and shoot growth is not affected (upto 60 μg/ml) with biogenic (Au-Ag) NPs and AuNPs while, AgNPs had little phytotoxicity responses at higher concentration (40 μg/ml) level. So, ecological safe and sustainable biogenic alloy (Au-Ag) NPs promise potential nanocatalyst- based application for remediation of the hazardous dye from wastewater and other relevant areas.

HPB P35 A snapshot analysis to identify ideal interval between liver imaging and resection

Abstract Background An increase in waiting times has been seen across all NHS service provisions in the last few years due to post-pandemic backlog, staffing issues, bed and theatre pressures. This has led to increasing intervals between cancer diagnosis and surgery, which may negatively impact patient outcomes. The ideal interval between final cross-sectional imaging and liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is not well established.The aim of the study was to explore the most appropriate interval between scan and operation and its effect on outcomes; Tumour growth, resectability, R0 rates, disease free survival and overall survival. Methods A retrospective analysis of our prospective maintained liver resectional database was performed. Patients undergoing resection for HCC or CRLM between January 2020 and December 2021 were included. Patients were followed up until June 2023. Groups were split into a <6-week interval and ≥6-week interval group. Scans and radiology reports and post-op histology were reviewed to identify interval changes of individual tumours. We analysed outcomes of gross and percentage increase in tumour size, recurrence rates, median disease-free survival and overall survival. Patient demographics including age (≥18), gender, BMI, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, type of scan, initial size and number of lesions were analysed. Results 53 patients were included in the analysis (19 female). Disease free survival was 27.4 months in <6 week group vs. 24.9 months in ≥6 week group. Average tumour growth was 5.9mm higher (range 3.7-9.6mm) when interval time was >6 weeks. Tumour percentage growth was 11.5% in <6 week group vs 32% in ≥6 week group. Recurrence rate in <6 week group was 23.5% VS 30.5% in ≥6 week group. There was no difference in percentage overall survival, non-resectability rate or R1 rates. Conclusions In this snapshot study of liver resections over a two-year period we did find an expected bigger increase in tumour size in patients where the interval between last cross-sectional imaging and actual resection was longer. The ≥6week interval group seems to have more tumour recurrence but this did not impact overall survival. This pilot cohort was not powered to firmly establish guidance for maximum interval between last scan and surgery, but it prompts further investigation to get clarity to guide clinical practice. A larger cohort would ideally look at HCC and CRLM separately.

Recombinant Human Thrombopoietin Combined with Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonists Can Facilitate the Recovery of Platelet after Allogeneic HSCT

Introduction:Thrombocytopenia is a common complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and is strongly associated with transplant-related morbidity and mortality. According to the statistics, the incidence of post-HSCT thrombocytopenia is about 5%-37%. So far, there is no standard treatment regimen for thrombocytopenia after HSCT. Recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) can act on megakaryocytes alone and has been wildly used in clinical practice. Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), another type of drugs that can increase platelet count, has been available since 2008. It can bind to the TPO receptor and cause the conformational change of the receptor, and then activate the JAK2/STATE5 pathway to increase the proliferation of megakaryocyte progenitors and platelet production. There have been many prospective or retrospective studies discussing the efficacy and safety of rhTPO and TPO-RAs monotherapy in patients with thrombocytopenia. In clinical practice, it is very meaningful to clarify whether the combination of two types of drugs has a synergistic effect when one type of drug has poor efficacy. M ethods This study is a retrospective study in total 12 patients from 2022 to 2023. We selected a total of 6 patients who underwent HSCT in our center during the past year, and used rhTPO combined with avatrombopag to help platelet recovery as observation group. Then, 6 patients treated with rhTPO alone with no statistical difference at baseline were selected as the control group. The basic characteristics of these patients are shown in the table1. All the patients were informed and consented to use rhTPO+TPO-RA (avatrombopag) or rhTPO alone. If platelet count <20×10 9/L during treatment，which will be treated with platelet infusion. All the patients were treated with a modified BUCY regimen as the conditioning regimen and ATG+MMF+cyclosporine+short-range MTX were used to prevent graft vs host disease (GVHD). In observation group, the patients were treated with rhTPO 15000U qd i.m and avatrombopag 40mg qd po, while in control group the patients were treated with rhTPO 15000U qd i.m alone. We recorded the platelet counts of the two groups at day0,7,14,21. Based on this data, the percentage increase and growth rate of platelets were calculated. (the percentage increase: difference in platelet count before and after medication/platelet count before medication ×100%; the growth rate: difference in platelet count before and after medication/duration of medication.) The above two values were used to evaluated the efficacy of two treatment protocols. Adverse events occurred during treatment including fever, weakness, liver damage, joint pain, bleeding and thrombosis would be recorded to evaluate the safety. Results In observation group, patients' platelet counts increased by an average was 54×10 9/L (range 40 to 69). In control group, the average and median increase in their platelet counts was 22 (range -2 to 49). P=0.025 (P<0.05). In terms of the percentage increase in platelet count, the average increase was 452% in observation group VS. 110% in control group. p=0.022(P<0.05). Refer to Figure1a. The average growth rates of platelet counts in observation group were 2.03×10 9/L per day. The averagerate of increase in control group were 1.07×109/L per day. P=0.041(P<0.05). The mean platelet count of the two groups at various time points were shown in Figure1b. None of the patients had any adverse events occurred. No patient developed clinical meaningful abnormality of liver function and discontinued avatrombopag or TPO treatment due to intolerability and adverse effects. Conclusion Our data shows that the treatment protocol of avatrombopag combined with rhTPO may have a greater effect on platelet growth and boost a faster platelet growth rate. Importantly, no additional adverse effects occurred when the addition of avatrombopag.

Temporal trends in sociodemographic composition and land development within U.S. fenceline communities surrounding hazardous industrial facilities: 2001–2019

Unintended releases from industrial facilities can expose fenceline communities to hazardous substances, and distance between facilities and nearby residential development can play a role in preventing exposures. Here, we assess trends in fenceline community sociodemographic characteristics, land development, and the association between the two using sociodemographic data for census tracts (n = 34 068) surrounding 2457 petroleum refining and chemical manufacturing facilities between 2001 and 2019. We find a higher median growth in percentage of Latinx populations among fenceline communities compared to neighboring communities with no industrial facilities. The increase in the median percentage of Latinx populations within fenceline communities was six times higher than for White populations overall (+6 and +1 percentage points, respectively). Though the percentage of the Black populations did not change within fenceline communities over this period, we find a minor sustained higher percentage of Black residents within fenceline communities relative to neighboring communities (20% versus 19%, respectively). Employing a spatial autoregressive model with autoregressive disturbances, we find that an increase in community percentage Latinx population is associated with a decrease in the rate of land development. Comparing fenceline and neighboring communities, we conclude that Black and Latinx populations are disproportionately located near industrial facilities, potentially contributing to inequitable exposure to unintended chemical releases. Our work lends support to the value of considering of sociodemographic composition of fenceline communities when evaluating industrial facility hazards.

Synthesis, Anticancer Activity, and In Silico Studies of 5-(3-Bromophenyl)-N-aryl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine Analogs.

In the current study, we described the synthesis of ten new 5-(3-Bromophenyl)-N-aryl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine analogs (4a-j), as well as their characterization, anticancer activity, molecular docking studies, ADME, and toxicity prediction. The title compounds (4a-j) were prepared in three steps, starting from substituted anilines in a satisfactory yield, followed by their characterization via spectroscopic techniques. The National Cancer Institute (NCI US) protocol was followed to test the compounds' (4a-j) anticancer activity against nine panels of 58 cancer cell lines at a concentration of 10-5 M, and growth percent (GP) as well as percent growth inhibition (PGI) were calculated. Some of the compounds demonstrated significant anticancer activity against a few cancer cell lines. The CNS cancer cell line SNB-75, which showed a PGI of 41.25 percent, was discovered to be the most sensitive cancer cell line to the tested compound 4e. The mean GP of compound 4i was found to be the most promising among the series of compounds. The five cancer cell lines that were found to be the most susceptible to compound 4i were SNB-75, UO-31, CCRF-CEM, EKVX, and OVCAR-5; these five cell lines showed PGIs of 38.94, 30.14, 26.92, 26.61, and 23.12 percent, respectively, at 10-5 M. The inhibition of tubulin is one of the primary molecular targets of many anticancer agents; hence, the compounds (4a-j) were further subjected to molecular docking studies looking at the tubulin-combretastatin A-4 binding site (PDB ID: 5LYJ) of tubulin. The binding affinities were found to be efficient, ranging from -6.502 to -8.341 kcal/mol, with two major electrostatic interactions observed: H-bond and halogen bond. Ligand 4i had a binding affinity of -8.149 kcal/mol with the tubulin-combretastatin A-4 binding site and displayed a H-bond interaction with the residue Asn258. The ADME and toxicity prediction studies for each compound were carried out using SwissADME and ProTox-II software. None of the compounds' ADME predictions showed that they violated Lipinski's rule of five. All of the compounds were also predicted to have LD50 values between 440 and 500 mg/kg, putting them all in class IV toxicity, according to the toxicity prediction. The current discovery could potentially open up the opportunity for further developments in cancer.

Combination Effect of Temperature and Salinity Stress on Germination of Different Maize (Zea mays L.) Varieties

Temperature and salinity stress are currently spreading widely across the globe and have been proven to have a negative impact on maize (Zea mays L.) crops as early as the germination stage. However, more research must be conducted on the interactive or combined effects of salinity and temperature stress on maize germination. This study aims to determine the impact of combined temperature and salinity stress on 16 different maize varieties. The maize seeds were incubated at three different temperatures (15 °C, 20 °C, and 35 °C) and two sodium chloride (NaCl) levels (0 mM and 100 mM) simultaneously. Germination percentage, root and shoot growth, root:shoot length ratio, and seed vigor index (SVI) were recorded and analyzed. The presence of salinity reduced maize germination qualities at all three temperatures tested. However, at high 35 °C temperatures, significant reductions in germination performances were observed compared to lower temperatures with salt stress. Three varieties (V1, V10, and V16) had the best overall germination performance in all three temperatures under saline stress, while V4, V5, V12, and V14 showed higher salt tolerance at 35 °C than at lower temperatures. In conclusion, increased temperature amplifies the salt stress in maize germination, and the varietal effect influences the seed tolerance towards a combination of salt and temperature stress.

Evaluation of Bioagents against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi Causing Wilt Disease in Pea

In this study, in vitro potential of six selected species of Trichoderma, including Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Trichoderma ressei and Trichoderma asperellum as well as the of two bacterial isolates Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi causing wilt of pea. Trichoderma virens recorded maximum percent growth inhibition (81.97%). In volatile compounds percent growth inhibition 86.80 % was recorded highest in Trichoderma harzianum and percent growth inhibition in non-volatile compound will increase as concentration of bioagents increases and 100% growth inhibition was recorded in Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma harzianum and in Trichoderma ressei at 15% concentration.

The Comparison Of Leading Sector Analysis Of Medan City And Nias Regency (Case Study 2017-2021)

The specific skills discussed in the research are the leading sectors in the economic system. Medan City and Nias Regency are two areas within the jurisdiction of North Sumatra Province. The two regions have differences in geographical location, making them both have differences in the economy's structure. In terms of economic growth, the two regions showed differences where Medan City is superior in percentage growth. A significant difference between the two regions is the significant difference in the status of the Regional Fiscal Capacity Index. This study aims to identify the leading sectors owned by Medan City and Nias Regency in the 2017-2021 observation period. The method used is descriptive quantitative by using analytical tools in the form of LQ and DLQ analysis, Klasen Typology, Shift-Share Analysis, and Overlay Analysis. The results showed that Medan City does not have a leading sector at all and Nias Regency has one leading sector in the form of the mining and quarrying sector. This study provides recommendations for the Medan City Government and Nias Regency Government to re-evaluate economic policies, especially related to sectors experiencing a slowdown, progressive sectors, and leading sectors in their respective regions.

Life Cycle Assessment Research Trends and Implications: A Bibliometric Analysis

Acknowledging the importance of sustainability and implementing measures to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 represent a holistic approach to promoting peace and prosperity for the planet and its inhabitants. LCA is a valuable tool for organisations to enhance sustainability and reduce environmental impact. There has been a notable increase in LCA research subjects, indicating a recognition of its significance in promoting sustainability. The field has experienced a significant expansion in the past decade, with a 30% annual percent growth rate in LCA publications since 2010. In the most recent 4 years alone, 47% of all LCA publications since 1991 were produced. This paper presents a comprehensive review of LCA research from 1991 to 2022, with a specific focus on the period from 2019 to 2022. The study identifies research avenues and trends in LCA research using diverse bibliometric analysis techniques alongside content examination and the SciVal topic clusters prominence indicator. This comprehensive approach reveals evolving trends, such as an increased emphasis on practical applications for global sustainability goals, LCA’s expansion into bio-based materials due to plastic pollution concerns, and quantification of circular economy benefits in solid waste management. Moreover, deeper exploration of energy-related sustainability aspects and the integration of LCA into early product development for eco-conscious design are observed. These trends signify widespread LCA adoption across industries to address energy and design-related sustainability challenges. The study acknowledges interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers, industry, and governments, shaping a robust LCA research landscape. China’s heightened contributions as a leading contributor to the field have reshaped the global LCA landscape mirrored in the evolving prominence of journals, institutes, and funding organisations.

Examining Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) Performance in the Palm Oil Industry with the Triple Bottom Line Approach

The palm oil industry has emerged as one of the leading producers and exporters, as supported by data from the Central Bureau of Statistics in 2021, which indicates that Indonesian palm oil exports reached an impressive value of USD 18.44 billion, or IDR 258 trillion, in 2020, marking 18.43 percent growth compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the domestic markets for palm oil and palm kernel oil remain substantial despite improvements in export quantities. Various industries, including cooking oil refineries, specialty fats, shortening, margarine, bath soaps, and oleochemicals, present potential markets for palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel oil (PKO). The palm oil industry encompasses four related subsectors, namely growers, millers, refiners, and oleochemicals, forming an integrated value chain from upstream to downstream. The current focus on environmental, economic, and social sustainability drives companies to adopt internal green activities and expand their efforts toward sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). Implementing SSCM practices is often seen as economically beneficial, as research has demonstrated their positive impact on corporate performance from a resource perspective. Many green management applications are utilized in the palm oil industry. This study examines and highlights existing sustainable management practices across the entire palm oil supply chain, focusing on producing high-quality palm oil. This study utilized a systematic review methodology. A total of 62 articles were analyzed, which involved an extensive review of the relevant literature to identify research trends, gaps, and issues. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by expanding the theory of organizational readiness to prepare globally competitive palm oil products. The research findings hold practical significance for practitioners and academics by providing a comprehensive road map for implementing green management applications at the organizational level in the palm oil industry’s upstream-to-downstream chain.

Acute Toxicity Induced by Inhalation Exposure to Lead Oxide Nanoparticles in Rats

Introduction: Lead oxide nanoparticles are generated during high-temperature processes at metallurgical plants and emitted in the atmosphere, thus posing high risks of human inhalation exposures. Despite a well-known toxic effect of lead and its nano-sized compounds on the nervous, hematopoietic, urinary, and reproductive systems, data on specific features of an acute inhalation exposure to its nanoparticles are still scarce. Objective: To conduct an experimental study of acute toxicity induced by inhalation exposure to lead oxide nanoparticles in rats. Materials and methods: The experiment was carried out on outbred female rats with the body weight of 247.9 ± 10.5 g divided into two (exposure and control) groups of 10 animals each. A single inhalation exposure to lead oxide nanoparticles (PbO NPs) at the concentration of 0.215 mg/m3 lasted four hours. The nanoparticle shape was spherical with a mean diameter of 18.2 ± 4.2 nm. Blood was taken from the tail vein of the rats to assess its hematologic parameters while the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained to establish its cytological and biochemical characteristics 24 hours after the exposure. Results: After the single inhalation exposure to PbO NPs, the results of the complete blood count showed an increased granulocyte count and a compensatory increase in erythropoiesis manifested by a significant growth of the reticulocyte percentage. The BALF analysis demonstrated that the exposure induced a pronounced cellular reaction in the lower airways accompanied by an increase in the neutrophil count and the neutrophil to alveolar macrophage ratio, which is an indicator of the cytotoxic effect of PbO NPs. Conclusion: Inhalation exposure to PbO NPs at the experimental dose causes both general toxic and cytotoxic effects. The foregoing justifies the necessity of further studies aimed at establishing a no-effect concentration for lead oxide nanoparticles.

Environmental impact assessment of an air-to-water heat pump through the expanded total equivalent warming impact index based on experimental data

The Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) index is conventionally used to evaluate emissions from heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems. However, a more comprehensive indicator, the Expanded Total Equivalent Warming Impact (ETEWI), has been proposed to overcome the limits of TEWI index and to consider additional environmental impacts such as the effects of urban heat island and the natural gas losses along high-pressure pipelines supplying gaseous fuel to natural gas-fired power plants. In this study, TEWI and ETEWI metrics are applied to an air-to-water electric heat pump (EHP) serving a university building in Benevento (Southern Italy). Real data on EHP electricity consumption have been derived from the entire building's electric load and compared to measured data. ETEWI index has been estimated in two scenarios, one considering the impact of refrigerant charge variation on the performance of the EHP and its environmental impact and the other disregarding it. Additionally, carbon dioxide emission factors for electricity production have been forecasted from 2021 to 2033 to determine the indirect term of ETEWI index. Over the lifetime of the EHP, ETEWI increases by 4.8% compared to TEWI when the variation of refrigerant charge level is not considered. However, this percentage growth is equal to 6.5% when the impact of refrigerant charge change is accounted too. In the latter scenario, the indirect term of ETEWI decreases from 22.7 tCO2 in 2015 to 12.0 tCO2 in 2033 when the forecast of the carbon dioxide emission factors for electricity production is taken into account.