Production Chain Research Articles

The Role of Defects on SiC Device Performance and Ways to Mitigate them

Several defects were analyzed through the manufacturing chain along with their impact on devices. High kill rate of micropipes were seen on both Diodes and MOSFETs as expected. The purity of micropipe detection was found to be affected by the presence of inclusions. Inclusions were successfully sub-classified and separated out from micropipes, based on their location depth from the wafer surface. The effect on devices was found to relate to how deep the inclusion was located, with the ones at the surface having the biggest impact. Various sources of Stacking Faults (SFs) were reported, with Basal Plane Dislocations (BPDs) in the crystal being a major contributor. Higher local densities of BPDs were found to have a more detrimental effect. SFs were sub-classified using the wavelength of each peak. The effect of both overall SFs and each SF sub-type on devices was determined, each sub-type having different effect on the device. Various ways of mitigating the effects of defects and dislocations are demonstrated. Reducing killer defects, SF nucleation probability, and BPDs propagation by epitaxial process optimizations are shown. Resilience up to 3500A/cm2 against bipolar degradation is demonstrated by using an engineered buffer layer. Process and device design optimizations show high resiliency against crystal and epi defects and dislocations, with improved yield and lower leakage.

O PLANEJAMENTO TRIBUTÁRIO DO PRODUTOR RURAL PESSOA FÍSICA: UMA ANÁLISE SOBRE A EVASÃO FISCAL

The agribusiness is one of the most relevant sectors in the economy. In 2022, it represented 24.3% of the Brazilian GDP. Due to its complex production chain, the stage within the gate is essential, as it represents rural activities focused on agriculture and livestock farming. In these activities, rural producers make crucial decisions related to plant and animal production and the allocation of resources for these activities. The general objective of this study is to present tax planning for individual rural producers within the gate as a strategy to avoid the hypothesis of tax evasion. To achieve this, the specific objectives are to conceptualize tax planning applied to individual rural producers, present the strategic use of tax planning for individual rural producers within the gate, and analyze tax evasion by individual rural producers. The methodological approach is based on logical-semantic constructivism, being a qualitative study with bibliographic, legal, and documentary research as instruments. As results, tax planning, or fiscal avoidance, was conceptualized as a strategic tool that uses legal means to reduce the tax burden. As a tool for individual rural producers, it requires continuous effort for its full implementation, as it is embedded in the complex scenario of sector management and taxation. The study also presents tax evasion considering the incidence of Income Tax (IR), Rural Territorial Property Tax (ITR), Circulation of Goods and Services Tax (ICMS), Social Integration Program (PIS), Contribution to Social Security Financing (COFINS), and Rural Worker Assistance Fund (FUNRURAL) on individual rural producers and their ancillary obligations, highlighting the Digital Cash Book of the Rural Producer (LCDPR), eSocial, and EFD-Reinf.

Agroprospecting of Biowastes: Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L. Cultivar Tema, Asteraceae) as Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds.

Artichokes (Cynara scolymus L.) are valuable foods, thanks to their health benefits, but they generate significant waste during their production, harvesting, and processing, which poses sustainability issues. This study applied an agroprospecting approach to convert Tema artichoke biowaste (TB) into valuable resources, starting from a global perspective of the production chain to the targeted applications based on chemical and biological analysis. The major TB was identified in the outer bracts of the immature flower heads, which were collected throughout the harvesting season, extracted, and analyzed. The most abundant compounds were phenolic acids including chlorogenic acid and caffeoylquinic derivatives. Among flavonoids, cynaroside was the most abundant compound. Multivariate analysis distinguished batches by collection period, explaining 77.7% of the variance, with most compounds increasing in concentration later in the harvest season. Subsequently, TB extracts were analyzed for their potential in wound healing and anti-aging properties. Fibroblasts were used to assess the effect of selected extracts on cell migration through a scratch wound assay and on cellular senescence induced by etoposide. The results show a significant decrease in senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, γH2AX nuclear accumulation, and both p53 and p21 protein levels. Overall, this study ascribes relevant anti-skin aging effects to TB, thus increasing its industrial value in cosmeceutical and nutraceutical applications.

Addressing residue and resistance in food animals: a policy imperative in Southeast Asia

SummaryResidue and resistance in food animals pose significant challenges to Southeast Asia's public health, animal welfare, agricultural productivity, and sustainability. This article emphasises the need for policy interventions to address these issues effectively. Residue, the presence of harmful substances in animal products, is a concern due to the misuse of veterinary drugs and pesticides. Robust surveillance programs, risk assessment, and enforcement of maximum residue limits are crucial to ensure food safety. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is another critical challenge in the region, driven by intensive animal production systems and disproportionate antimicrobial use. Responsible antimicrobial use, surveillance systems, and alternative production practices like vaccination, enhanced animal husbandry, and improved biosecurity a re essential to combat the menace. Addressing residue and resistance requires a comprehensive mindset and policy approach, including strengthening regulatory frameworks and inter‐agency collaboration, including a One Health approach. Governments, farms, veterinarians, and other stakeholders must work together to develop and enforce effective policies. Education and awareness campaigns can promote responsible practices throughout the food‐animal production chain. By prioritising the reduction of residue and resistance, Southeast Asian countries can safeguard public health, ensure sustainable agriculture, and contribute to global efforts in tackling AMR. Policymakers supported by academia, industry, and other stakeholders play a crucial role in effectively shaping and implementing policies to address these challenges.

The One Health approach in food safety: Challenges and opportunities

AbstractAccording to the World Health Organization, contaminated food causes approximately 600 million cases of illness and 420,000 associated deaths worldwide each year. In this scenario, food safety is a crucial task, which is based in the application of correct hygiene practices throughout the entire food production chain: from farm to table. Ensuring food safety requires the implementation of practical, comprehensive, affordable, and effective approaches such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, use of low cost technologies for traceability, regular inspection and auditing, as well as education and training, among other factors. In addition, it is essential to establish more comprehensive strategies based on the One Health approach. Since human health and animal health are interdependent and linked to the health of the ecosystems in which they coexist, collaboration between multiple disciplines is necessary to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and the environment. Within the food system, the One Health approach can be useful, for example, in the fight against zoonoses or antibiotic resistance. This paper describes various aspects related to the main biotic food‐borne diseases, the problem of biofilms and the impact of different antimicrobials (whether biocides or antibiotics) on antibiotic resistance, listing a range of alternatives to the use of classic sanitizing compounds. All of this has the aim of giving an overview of the different factors, including those connected to the environment or animal health, which can influence food safety and thus public health.

Does artificial ecosystem recharge make sense? based on the coupled water orbit research framework

By formulating an innovative Coupled Water Orbit Research Framework (CWORF) in cohesion with the modified Hypothesis Extraction Method (HEM), this study undertakes a comprehensive examination and assessment of the Autonomous Water Orbit (AWO) linkages within each sector. Building upon this foundation, the CWROF also integrates Structure Path Analysis (SPA) to scrutinize the critical paths of the AWO in each sector. Additionally, the framework quantifies specific water consumption at different layers of the production chain, enabling a more precise assessment of water consumption and inter-sectoral water usage linkages compared to existing studies. By applying this framework, existing water conservation policies can be refined, thereby achieving enhanced environmental sustainability. The study utilizes six Input-Output (IO) tables and water resource bulletins spanning from 2002 to 2020, as published by the China Bureau of Statistics. It is instrumental in dissecting the current interplay between water resource utilization and economic development. This research aims to analyze the structural nuances of water consumption and the dependency characteristics across diverse sectors within the production chain. It strategically identifies pivotal paths and sectors in the production chain where water consumption is most pronounced, and highlights critical chains contributing to water stress. The results indicate that sectors such as “Farming, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Fishery, and Water Conservancy” exhibit high water consumption. Furthermore, light industries, represented by “Food and Tobacco” and “Textile Product” sectors, significantly impact indirect water usage across sectors. The study also reveals that the strength of the water feedback loop in the economic system diminishes as the number of layers increases, with the aforementioned sectors frequently appearing in transmission paths and serving as key interface nodes. This research underscores the critical interconnections between water usage and economic activities providing a foundational framework for refining water conservation policies and enhancing water allocation and management capabilities. The introduced CWORF extends beyond conventional methods, offering a more precise and nuanced approach to measuring inter-sectoral water utilization.

Performance and yield estimation of sugarcane varieties for pot still cachaça production

Cachaça is an alcoholic beverage obtained through the distillation of fermented sugarcane juice. It is the sugarcane distillate most consumed in Brazil. Despite the traditional nature and economic importance of cachaça, the production chain in Brazil is not technologically homogeneous; low-yielding varieties of sugarcane with susceptibility to various diseases are common. The pot still cachaças undergo delicate distillation processes in copper pot stills using wild yeast strains for fermentation, and the most exceptional and expensive cachaças can be found on the market in Brazil. The objective of this study was to assess modern sugarcane varieties for the production of pot still cachaça and to propose a new methodology to obtain the expected yield in liters of cachaça per hectare. A randomized block experimental design was used in a 4 (sugarcane varieties) × 3 (harvest times) factorial arrangement, with five replications. At the end of three crop seasons after harvest, the yield components, soluble solids content, and expected cachaça yield were evaluated. The highest levels of soluble solids (ºBrix) were for CTC4 and RB966928. Based on data from three crop seasons, the CTC9002 variety showed the highest stalk yield per hectare (SYH). The estimated yield methodology allowed for comprehensive assessment of the main sugarcane production characteristics, providing reliability and practicality in estimating cachaça yield. Based on analysis of yield components and mean cachaça yield (liters/ha) over three crop seasons, CTC9002 is recommended for inclusion in the panel of varieties for cachaça production.

The fate of Alternaria toxin tenuazonic acid (TeA) during the processing chain of wheat flour products and risk control strategies for mycotoxins

The fate of Alternaria toxin tenuazonic acid (TeA) during the processing chain of wheat flour products was systemically evaluated. TeA was analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in wheat grains and the corresponding wheat flour products produced throughout the whole chain. The results indicated that TeA contamination in wheat grains largely determines the level of TeA toxin present in byproducts, semi-finished products, and finished products of the processing of four types of simulated processed wheat flour products (e.g., dry noodles, steamed breads, baked breads, and biscuits). The different food processing techniques had different effects on the fate of TeA. Wheat flour processing can reduce the TeA content in wheat grains by 58.7–83.2 %, indicating that wheat flour processing is a key step in reducing the TeA content in the food chain. Among the four types of wheat flour products, the decreases in TeA content in biscuits (69.8–76.7 %) were greater than those in dry noodles (15.5–22.3 %) and steamed breads (24.9–43.6 %). In addition, the decreasing effect of TeA was especially obvious in the wheat flour product chain with a high level of contamination. The processing factors (PFs) for TeA were as low as 0.20 for the four wheat processing methods and as high as 1.24 for the dry noodle processing method. At the average and 95th percentiles, dietary exposure to TeA in Chinese consumers including infants and young children did not exceed the relevant threshold value of toxicological concern (TTC) of TeA (1.5 µg/kg body weight per day), indicating an acceptable health risk for Chinese consumers via wheat flour products. These findings provide new insight into the fate of TeA in the food chain and mycotoxin control on the safety of wheat flour products and public health.

Micropore effects on coal pyrolysis process investigated by using reactive molecular dynamics

The micropore structure can serve as the diffusion channels for intermediates and light tar products during coal pyrolysis, which is very important for modulating the desired tar or char products. In this work, the micropore effects on product distribution and the reaction mechanisms during Hailaer coal pyrolysis was explored for the first time from the atomistic simulation point of view by using large-scale ReaxFF MD simulation and the reasonable model with the artificially adding micropore strategy. The results suggest that the micropore structure indeed has a significant impact on the major tar product distribution and competitive reactions during coal pyrolysis process at high temperature. The micropore can promote decomposition reactions through accelerating C–C bond breaking significantly and inhibit the recombination reactions accompanied with the char formation with more carbon in sp2 structure. Based on the oxygen-containing bond behaviors in char products obtained from coal pyrolysis process, it is unraveled that the more micropore exits in coal structure, the more Csp3-O bonds and less Csp2-O bonds in char precursors. Particularly, the light tar products with ring groups are more influenced by micorpore structures than those chain products. Considering that the limitation of current experimental techniques in micropore detection, the strategy sheds new light on the depth investigation of micropore effects on reactions, which can provide complement for experimental observations and tar product modulation.

Toward the production of bioblends for the automotive sector: Reuse of recycled polyamide 6,6 to prepare super‐tough biopolyethylene

AbstractPlastics reuse is essential for promoting a sustainable future, especially by mitigating environmental impacts. Recycled polyamide 66 (PA66r) was reused for the produce biopolyethylene (BioPE)‐based blends, aiming to obtain a super‐tough material. Initially, a premix of PA66r with maleic anhydride‐grafted ethylene–propylene–diene (EPDM‐MA) was obtained in an internal mixer. Subsequently, the BioPE/PA66r and BioPE/(PA66r/EPDM‐MA) blends were processed in a twin‐screw extruder and injection molded. The rheological, mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, structural, and morphological properties were investigated. Torque rheometry indicated an increase in the viscosity of the BioPE/(PA66r/EPDM‐MA) blends compared to BioPE/PA66r, which was confirmed by a reduction in the melt flow index (MFI). EPDM‐MA promoted greater stability in BioPE/(PA66r/EPDM‐MA) blends during processing, reducing the degradation rate and molecular weight loss. The BioPE/(PA66r/EPDM‐MA) blend with the 70/(15/15)% composition exhibited super‐tough behavior, with 822.4 J/m impact strength and 233% elongation at break. Scanning electron microscopy indicated a fracture with high plastic deformation, elongated fibrils, and refined particles (0.64 μm), confirming the high toughness. Apparently, a core‐shell morphology was formed, which favored maintaining tensile strength, Shore D hardness, and heat deflection temperature comparable to pure BioPE. The results indicate potential for application in the automotive industry, contributing to reintroducing recycled material into the production chain.

TRAINING HALAL SLAUGHTERERS IN SAMARINDA ON KNIFE SHARPENING WITH WHETSTONE AND SHARPENING STEEL

Slaughtering animals is a crucial stage in the food production chain, especially for Halal meat products that adhere to animal welfare standards. Proper knife sharpening techniques are essential in minimizing pain and stress for animals during the slaughtering process. This study reports on a training program in knife sharpening techniques using a combination of whetstones and sharpening steel conducted in Samarinda. The training involved Halal slaughterers from various mosques and markets in the Sambutan District of Samarinda. The method aimed to enhance the participants' skills in optimal knife sharpening, forming a blade edge that meets the animal welfare-based meat-cutting industry standards. The training results indicated that 75% of participants successfully applied the sharpening techniques that were taught, producing convex-shaped blade edges that were more efficient in the slaughtering process. This success positively impacted the implementation of animal welfare standards and the quality of the resulting meat. In conclusion, the training effectively improved Halal slaughterers' skills and significantly impacted the implementation of animal welfare standards in Samarinda. Support from the Samarinda City Food Security and Agriculture Office, the Animal Husbandry Department of Mulawarman University, and the Halal Slaughtering Da'wah Organization of Samarinda City played a crucial role in the success of this training.

Effect of COVID-19 on the mutual trade between Germany and the Visegrad Four

This research employs the ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) model to examine the impact of COVID-19 on mutual trade between Germany and the Visegrad Four (V4). We focus on trade with Germany due to its status as the strongest and geographically closest trade partner of these four post-communist countries. Additionally, the extensive value chains of industrial production create robust economic connections between Germany, as an industrial leader, and the adjacent states, which is evident in the frequent mutual trade. The pandemic caused a sudden disruption of these value chains, particularly in the manufacturing sector, which dominates the region. In our analysis, we estimated the ARDL model for each country, considering both export and import data. Initially, we estimated long-run models, revealing that the coefficients of import and export models for the countries yielded different long-term results. In the short-run models, the dummy variables for both export and import models across all countries were significant, indicating that COVID-19 affected international trade between the V4 and Germany. Moreover, in all models, the coefficient of the dummy variable was negative, suggesting that COVID-19 had a detrimental effect on international trade. An important finding is that, depending on the nature of the dummy variable used, the effect of COVID-19 was observed during the pandemic period, with international trade returning to its previous trend post-pandemic. This experience highlights that while predicting the next pandemic and its negative impacts remains challenging, countries and their production chains are now better prepared. They have adapted to operate with greater flexibility, enabling them to effectively face similar unexpected challenges in the future.

Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) Harbors the Corn Stunt Complex Pathogens.

The African planthopper Leptodelphax maculigera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) has been recently reported in many places in Brazil in association with maize. Its occurrence in maize production fields in Brazil has brought concerns to the corn production chain regarding the possibility of this planthopper to be a vector for maize bushy stunt phytoplasma (MBSP), corn stunt spiroplasma (Spiroplasma kunkelii), maize rayado fino virus (MRFV), and maize striate mosaic virus (MSMV). The phytoplasma and spiroplasma, which are bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes, and the two viruses are associated with the corn stunt disease complex. Given the presence of the African planthopper species and the corn stunt complex in Brazil, we further investigated the abundance of this planthopper species in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and whether the planthopper can carry the four pathogens. We inspected 12 maize production fields in different municipalities in the state for 20 weeks, using two yellow sticky traps for each maize field. The sticky traps were replaced weekly. A total of 130 specimens of L. maculigera were captured, with a great discrepancy in quantity among locations and weeks. We detected the mollicute MBSP and the viruses MRFV and MSMV in L. maculigera, whereas S. kunkelii was absent in the assessed African planthopper samples. The molecular detection of the phytoplasma and the viruses in field-collected African planthoppers is strong evidence that this insect species has the ability to acquire those pathogens through feeding from the phloem of diseased maize plants. Nonetheless, transmission capacity needs to be experimentally proven to assert L. maculigera as a vector for the corn-stunting pathogens.

Understanding the Abandonment of Aquaculturists: A Case in the Amazon (North of Brazil)

Despite the huge potential of aquaculture in the Amazon, several producers have abandoned the activity due to a lack of assistance, technology, and innovation. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify factors that have contributed to the withdrawal of aquaculturists from the municipality of ‘Vigia de Nazaré’, state of Pará (Northern Region of Brazil). This case study took place in 2022 through a quanti-qualitative survey, applying structured questionnaires to former aquaculturists. A total of 30 fish farms were investigated, with 11 of them being abandoned. They are distributed across 10 rural communities that have developed fish farming, with ‘Vila de Itapuá’ (18.2%) being the most representative. When active, fish farming was practiced by men (100%) aged between 51 to 60 years (54.5%) with an incomplete primary education (100%), who carried out the activity for an average of 5 years (81.8%), quitting fish farming between the years 2019 and 2020 (72.7%). All former aquaculturists owned small properties, with excavated ponds in an extensive system and used family labor. The absence of technical assistance and the high cost of feed were pointed out as the main problems in the production chain. It is worth noting that the monoculture of Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) accounted for 63.6% of the species produced in rural communities. In conclusion, former aquaculturists express the desire to return to fish farming due to its socio-economic importance. For this, government actions supporting technical assistance and advanced studies in fish nutrition by educational, research, and extension institutions are necessary.

A Design Flow Based on Docker and Kubernetes for ROS-based Robotic Software Applications

Human-centered robotic applications are becoming pervasive in the context of robotics and smart manufacturing, and such a pervasiveness is even more expected with the shift to Industry 5.0. The always increasing level of autonomy of modern robotic platforms requires the integration of software applications from different domains to implement artificial intelligence, cognition, and human-robot/robot-robot interaction. Developing and (re)configuring such a multi-domain software to meet functional constraints is a challenging task. Even more challenging is customizing the software to satisfy non-functional requirements such as real-time, reliability, and energy efficiency. In this context, the concept of Edge-Cloud continuum is gaining consensus as a solution to address functional and non-functional constraints in a seamless way. Containerization and orchestration are becoming a standard practice, as they allow for better information flow among different network levels as well as increased modularity in the use of multi-domain software components. Nevertheless, the adoption of such a practice along the design flow, from simulation to the deployment of complex robotic applications by addressing the de facto development standards (e.g., ROS - Robotic Operating System) is still an open problem. We present a design methodology based on Docker and Kubernetes that enables containerization and orchestration of ROS-based robotic SW applications for heterogeneous and hierarchical HW architectures. The methodology aims at (i) integrating and verifying multi-domain components since early in the design flow, (ii) mapping software tasks to containers to minimize the performance and memory footprint overhead, (iii) clustering containers to efficiently distribute load across the edge-cloud architecture by minimizing resource utilization, and (iv) enabling multi-domain verification of functional and non-functional constraints before deployment. The article presents the results obtained with a real case of study, in which the design methodology has been applied to program the mission of a Robotnik RB-Kairos mobile robot in an industrial agile production chain. We have obtained reduced load on the robot’s HW with minimal performance and network overhead, thanks to the optimized distributed system.

Genomic diversity of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolated from chicken processing facilities in New South Wales, Australia.

Contamination of poultry products by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) is a major cause of foodborne infections and outbreaks. This study aimed to assess the diversity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) carriage of STm in three chicken processing plants using genomic sequencing. It also aimed to investigate whether any particular strain types were associated with cases of human illness. Multilevel genome typing (MGT) was used to analyze 379 STm isolates from processed chicken carcasses. The diversity of chicken STm sequence types (STs) increased from MGT1 (2 STs) to MGT9 (257 STs). STs at MGT5 to MGT9 levels that were unique to one processing plant and shared among the processing plants were identified, likely reflecting the diversity of STm at their farm source. Fifteen medium resolution MGT5 STs matched those from human infections in Australia and globally. However, no STs matched between the chicken and human isolates at high resolution levels (MGT8 or MGT9), indicating the two STm populations were phylogenetically related but were unlikely to be directly epidemiologically linked. AMR genes were rare, with only a bla TEM-1 gene carried by a 95 kb IncI1 Alpha plasmid being identified in 20 isolates. In conclusion, subpopulations that were widespread in processing plants and had caused human infections were described using MGT5 STs. In this STM population, AMR was rare with only sporadic resistance to a single drug class observed. The genomic analysis of STm from chicken processing plants in this study provided insights into STm that contaminate meat chickens early in the food production chain.

Sustainable Engineered Designs and Manufacturing of Waste Derived Graphenes Reinforced Polypropylene Composite for Automotive Interior Parts.

The automotive sector is actively pursuing a lightweighting strategy as a means to urgently decrease greenhouse gas emissions, which are a significant driver of climate change. The development of lightweight composite structures has been identified as crucial for enhancing part performance while mitigating negative environmental impacts and adopting energy-efficient manufacturing methods. This comprehensive study aimed to decrease the main reinforcement content of talc in commercial compounds while integrating graphene derived from waste polypropylene (PP) grown on talc and graphene nanoplatelet obtained from waste tires by upcycling processes into the PP compound. The entire value chain of interior automotive part production, from compound development and scaling up with a high-shear mixer, to injection molding of the part and performance tests, was investigated with a focus on sustainability considerations. The successful integration of 4 wt % micron talc, together with 1 wt % graphene nanoparticles and 1 wt % hybrid additive into the blended HomoPP/CopoPP matrix resulted in a 10% weight reduction compared to the conventional part. Moreover, significant improvements in flexural and tensile strength were observed, with enhancements of 52 and 38%, respectively. The uniform dispersion of additives and improved interfacial adhesion between the PP matrix and additives facilitated efficient stress transfer, contributing to enhanced mechanical properties. Furthermore, a systematic life cycle assessment study demonstrated the positive impact of waste PP incorporation on CO2 reduction, achieving a remarkable 95% reduction compared to virgin PP. The developed compound also demonstrated favorable processability and flow properties, supporting its potential for mass production. Overall, this study presents a sustainable and effective approach for lightweight automotive interior part production using a synergistically designed PP compound meeting the requirements of the automotive industry.

A Comprehensive Integration and Synthesis of Methane Emissions from Canada's Oil and Gas Value Chain.

Methane emissions from the global oil and gas value chain are a major contributor to climate change, and their mitigation could avoid 0.1 °C of warming by 2050. Here, we synthesize nearly a decade of research encompassing thousands of multiscale methane measurements along the oil and gas value chain (production to end use) to better constrain estimates of methane emissions from Canada's energy sector and to identify research gaps contributing to uncertainty in current estimates. We find that total value chain methane emissions are 2,600 (2,100-3,700) kt, which broadly agrees with Canada's latest official inventory that now includes atmospheric measurement data in some of their oil and gas methane estimates. Accurate understanding of emission magnitudes is critical because Canada committed to a 75% reduction of oil and gas methane emissions by 2030. We also identify and discuss information gaps in both emissions and activity data, namely, from the midstream, downstream, and end-use sectors. While they make up a smaller portion of the total inventory, accurate quantification of these emissions is still important and could point to more cost-effective mitigation solutions. This work emphasizes the need for frequent, comprehensive measurements to better constrain the climate impacts of the oil and gas sector and to validate reductions and commitments pledged by industry and governments.

Evaluation of the antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of Prosopis juliflora fruit extract as a novel multifunctional bioactive ingredient and its potential applicability in pro-ageing and skin colour harmonization cosmetic products.

Prosopis juliflora, commonly known as algaroba or mesquite, was introduced and has since proliferated throughout the semi-arid region of the Caatinga biome. Various studies have documented its properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor activities, attributed to the presence of diverse secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, and flavonoids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of P. juliflora fruit extract as a multifunctional active ingredient, and to develop cosmetic formulations containing this vegetal extract for potential applications in skincare products targeting pro-ageing and skin colour homogenization properties. The extraction process followed established protocols. Chemical characterization of the extract involved quantification of total flavonoids and phenolic compounds, along with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis. Invitro antioxidant activity was assessed using different methods. Antityrosinase activity was determined by employing enzymatic assays. Cosmetic formulations containing Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Distilled Water, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer Lecithin, Polyacrylamide (and) C13-14 Isoparaffin (and) Laureth-7, and 3.0% of the investigated plant extract were subjected to preliminary and accelerated stability tests. The extract demonstrated a concentration of total flavonoids (1.71 ± 0.26 μg EQ/mg) and exhibited concentrations of phenolic compounds at 0.21 ± 0.01 mg EAG/g. Metabolites such as flavonoids and saponins were annotated, as well as some of their respective glycosidic derivatives. The extract showed antioxidant potential and the ability to inhibit the oxidation cascade in both the initiation and propagation phases. Moreover, the extract exhibited noteworthy inhibition of antityrosinase activity, presenting 62.48 ± 2.09 at a concentration of 30.00 mg/mL. The formulations were stable in accelerated stability tests over a 60-day period. This research not only demonstrates scientifically by demonstrating the potential of a plant from the Caatinga biome with antioxidant and antityrosinase properties in the development of cosmetic products aimed at pro-ageing effects and skin colour harmonization, but also adds value to the P. juliflora production chain. This valorization encompasses various aspects which include environmental, social, and biodiversity responsibilities.

Prefacing the challenge – Assessment of the environmental efficiency of Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) production based on hatchery-produced and wild seed

In 2021, Italy produced 23 thousand tons of Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum, Adam & Reeve 1850) from aquaculture, worth € 212 million, ranking as the world's second-largest producer. Production volumes of Manila clam have started to decline over the past 10 years due to, among other reasons, a decrease in the availability of wild seed on which clam farmers rely. This has led Italian clam farmers to buy seed from both national and foreign hatcheries. The Manila clam supply chain based on hatchery seed brings benefits to farmers, ensuring the continuity of production, but, on the other hand, production and environmental costs increase. As wild seed supply is expected to further decline due to climate change effects and habitat degradation, it is important to assess the environmental impacts of the actual production chains (conventional-wild seed and hatchery-based) to identify the hotspots and possible mitigation strategies. To this aim, this work applies the Life Cycle Assessment methodology to two case studies: a production chain based on wild seed, and, for the first time, a production chain based exclusively on seed produced in hatcheries. The results confirmed the general good environmental performance of mollusk aquaculture. For example, the Global Warming potential ranged from 0.85 to 1.05 kg CO2 eq kg−1 of clams, where the worst results refer to the production chain based on seed from the hatchery, as expected. Some production chain hotspots were highlighted: especially regarding the Global Warming potential, electricity consumption for the hatchery and depuration phases, and the use of fuels during the growth-out phase. Finally, scenario analysis has been applied to the worst-performing case study to understand the magnitude of the environmental benefits deriving from the adoption of some improvement strategies.