Short Cycle Research Articles

Trapping Sets Search Using the Method of Mixed Integer Linear Programming with a Priori List of Variable Nodes

Purpose of research is to develop a new high-speed method for searching trappin sets in graph codes, ensuring the completeness of the search.Methods. There are two approaches to finding trappin sets. The first, based on the Monte Carlo method with a biased probability estimation using Importance Sampling, involves the use of a decoder. The advantage of this approach is its high performance. The disadvantages are the dependence on decoder parameters and channel characteristics and the finite probability of missing trappin sets. The second approach is based on the use of linear programming methods. The advantage of this approach is the completeness of the resulting list of trappin sets, due to its independence from the decoder parameters and channel characteristics. The disadvantage of this approach is its high computational complexity. In the article, within the framework of the second approach, a new method for searching trappin sets with less computational complexity is proposed. The method involves solving a mixed integer linear programming problem using an a priori list of code vertices participating in the shortest cycles in the code graph. Results. Using the proposed method, a search for trappin sets was performed for several low-density codes. For this purpose, the mathematical linear programming package IBM CPLEX version 12.8 was used, which was run on 32 threads of a 16-core AMD Ryzen 3950X processor with 32GB of RAM (DDR4). In the Margulis code (2640, 1320), using the proposed method, the trappin set TS(6,6) was found in a time of 0.53 s. The speedup provided by the method proposed in the paper compared to the Velazquez-Subramani method is 8252.415 times. Thanks to the high speed and completeness of the search, trappin sets were found for the first time TS(62,16) and TS(52,14) in the Margulis code (4896, 2474 ).Conclusion. The paper proposes a new method for searching trapping sets by solving a mixed integer linear programming problem with an a priori list of code. The method is fast and provides completeness of the search.

Far-red Light and Nitrogen Concentration Elicit Crop-specific Responses in Baby Greens under Superelevated CO2 and Continuous Light

Baby greens are becoming increasingly popular in the consumer market because of their desired flavor and leaf size. The short life cycles and fast response times to environmental stimuli make baby greens ideal for testing environmental conditions for space crop production. Additionally, far-red (FR) light has been used for microgreen and baby green research to enhance stem elongation, leaf expansion, and biomass; however, how it interacts with nutrient solution nitrogen (N) concentrations remains unclear. During this ground-based study, we characterized how FR light and N concentrations influenced the growth and morphology of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis cv. Tokyo Bekana) and kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica cv. Red Russian) baby greens under similar superelevated CO2 and low relative humidity to levels observed in spaceflight. Plants were subject to combinations of four sole-source light spectra and three N concentrations (75, 125, and 175 mg⋅L−1). At the same total photon flux density (PFD) of 200 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1, we maintained the same blue and green PFDs at 25 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 each; the remaining 150 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 comprised four red (R) and FR PFD combinations (FR: 0, 25, 50, and 75 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1). Increasing the FR PFD enhanced the typical shade-avoidance morphology of Chinese cabbage ‘Tokyo Bekana’ and kale ‘Red Russian’, exhibiting leaf length increases of 20% to 26% and 31% to 61%, respectively. Edible biomass did not increase with increasing FR PFDs for either species, regardless of the N concentration. Increasing the N concentration increased the Chinese cabbage ‘Tokyo Bekana’ fresh mass and dry mass by 32% to 59% and 37% to 74%, respectively, except under 25 μmol⋅m−2⋅s−1 of FR light, with which shoot fresh mass increased by 55% with an increasing N concentration from 75 to 125 mg⋅L−1; however, the shoot dry mass was unaffected. Increasing the N concentration did not affect kale ‘Red Russian’ growth under various FR PFDs. We conclude that partially substituting incremental FR light for R light elicits the shade-avoidance response, with little influence on the growth, of Chinese cabbage ‘Tokyo Bekana’ and kale ‘Red Russian’ baby greens under superelevated CO2 and continuous light, and that the former, but not the latter, crop can benefit from increased N fertilization.

Forming Technology of a High-Frequency Conical Spiral Antenna

This paper introduces the integrated stereo forming technology of high-frequency conical spiral antenna, focusing on the material selection and processing of the supporting substrate, the surface metallization technology of the substrate, the establishment of spiral CNC machining models, and the control of CNC machining difficulties. The technology has been successfully applied in engineering, ensuring the continuity and consistency of three-dimensional microstrip in space. It also resolves the offset address problems of docking ends and ports asymmetry caused by microstrip splicing technology. The advantages of this technology include high processing accuracy, good consistency, high stability, and short processing cycle. The high-frequency conical spiral antenna produced has been verified by antenna testing, adaptability tests of mechanical environment and temperature environment, and its performance is stable, which can meet the requirement of the design and application. It has been successfully applied to electronic countermeasures equipment. The test results indicate that the high-frequency conical spiral antenna has good electrical performance and consistency. So the integrated stereo forming technology for high-frequency conical spiral antenna is feasible and reliable. This provides a useful reference for the research on the similar products processability.

Signaling pathways and regulatory networks in quail skeletal muscle development: insights from whole transcriptome sequencing

Quail, as an advantageous avian model organism due to its compact size and short reproductive cycle, holds substantial potential for enhancing our understanding of skeletal muscle development. The quantity of skeletal muscle represents a vital economic trait in poultry production. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing quail skeletal muscle development is of paramount importance for optimizing meat and egg yield through selective breeding programs. However, a comprehensive characterization of the regulatory dynamics and molecular control underpinning quail skeletal muscle development remains elusive. In this study, through the application of HE staining on quail leg muscle sections, coupled with preceding fluorescence quantification PCR of markers indicative of skeletal muscle differentiation, we have delineated embryonic day 9 (E9) and embryonic day 14 (E14) as the start and ending points, respectively, of quail skeletal muscle differentiation. Then, we employed whole transcriptome sequencing to investigate the temporal expression profiles of leg muscles in quail embryos at the initiation of differentiation (E9) and upon completion of differentiation (E14). Our analysis revealed the expression patterns of 12,012 genes, 625 lncRNAs, 14,457 circRNAs, and 969 miRNAs in quail skeletal muscle samples. Differential expression analysis between the E14 and E9 groups uncovered 3,479 differentially expressed mRNAs, 124 lncRNAs, 292 circRNAs, and 154 miRNAs. Furthermore, enrichment analysis highlighted the heightened activity of signaling pathways related to skeletal muscle metabolism and intermuscular fat formation, such as the ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, and PPAR signaling pathway during E14 skeletal muscle development. Conversely, the E9 stage exhibited a prevalence of pathways associated with myoblast proliferation, exemplified by cell cycle processes. Additionally, we constructed regulatory networks encompassing lncRNA‒mRNA, miRNA‒mRNA, lncRNA‒miRNA-mRNA, and circRNA-miRNA‒mRNA interactions, thus shedding light on their putative roles within quail skeletal muscle. Collectively, our findings illuminate the gene and non-coding RNA expression characteristics during quail skeletal muscle development, serving as a foundation for future investigations into the regulatory mechanisms governing non-coding RNA and quail skeletal muscle development in poultry production.

Anisotropy of V3O7 nanobelts enables ultralong cycling life of magnesium ion battery

Magnesium ion batteries (MIBs) are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which suffer from the short cycling life and sluggish Mg2+ diffusion kinetics of cathodes. Nano morphologies are used to shorten Mg2+ diffusion path for diffusion kinetics acceleration, but the cycling life is still unsatisfactory. Herein, the anisotropy of layered V3O7⋅1.9H2O nanobelts is utilized to stabilize their structure during discharging/charging. The V3O7⋅1.9H2O nanobelts grow along the preponderant migration direction of Mg2+, and the resulted axial migration of Mg2+ enables the stress caused by Mg2+ insertion to be decentralized in large zone, thus improving the cycling stability of V3O7⋅1.9H2O nanobelts. The inserted Mg2+ cations bond with O atoms in adjacent V3O8 layers of V3O7⋅1.9H2O, further stablizing the layered structure. Meanwhile, the axial migration of Mg2+ significantly reduces the charge transfer resistance at electrode/electrolyte interface, which accelerates the Mg2+ diffusion kinetics. Thus, the symmetric RMB assembled from V3O7⋅1.9H2O nanobelts exhibits an ultralong cycling life of 11,000 cycles at 4 A g−1, alongside a high specific capacity of 137 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1. According to our knowledge, this ultralong cycling life surpasses those of reported full RMBs. This strategy provides insight into the design of cathode materials with improved cycling lives.

Ascomycota and Basidiomycota fungal phyla as indicators of land use efficiency for soil organic carbon accrual with woody plantations

As soil fungi are major players in the carbon accumulation process, the two main fungal degraders in topsoil, Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes, were investigated as indicators of land use effectiveness in increasing soil carbon accumulation and soil function. The study focused on the soil organic carbon content increase in a 20-year short rotation forest cycle with broadleaf woody plantations compared to a nearby arable cropping system. Total fungi, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota, were quantified in terms of DNA copy number, with specific probes using SYBR® Green I dye on the QuantStudio™ 3D digital PCR system (dPCR). Previously, next generation sequencing analysis using a general primer confirmed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the most represented phyla and that fungal community composition significantly differed between treatments. A range of key soil enzyme activities for the C-cycle were also assessed. Total organic carbon content (TOC), microbial biomass in term of dsDNA and enzyme activities significantly increased in woody plantations compared to arable soil. The TOC increase differed significantly also between wood species, Salix and Robina gave the greatest increase (+30 and 20 % respectively), followed by Populus (+12), microbial biomass highly correlated with TOC showing the same trend. Total fungi, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota increased significantly in three woody plantations compared to the arable soil system. Ascomycota in the woody plantations increased two to four times (average 3144 n copies µl−1 of DNA) compared to the arable soil (1419 n copies µl−1); Basidiomycota were almost absent in arable soil (av. 94n copies µl−1) and increased five to six times in woody plantations (av. 490 n copies µl−1). Total fungi and ascomycetes correlated strongly with microbial biomass and TOC, whereas basidiomycetes did not. These findings showed that Ascomycota represent the largest portion of fungi in agricultural soils even after a 20-years short rotation forest cycle and they can be taken as indicators of carbon accumulation processes. Therefore, this study suggests that joining the Ascomycetes quantity in the topsoil to the Ascomycota:Basidiomycota ratio seems a good option when setting regional strategies for improving C accrual in farmland with the short-term afforestation.

Sustainability Through Collaborative Consumption Practices

"Online fashion renting" is how the sharing economy concept has emerged in the fashion sector. Online fashion rentals are now acceptable and accessible thanks to the growth of collaborative consumption in the clothes sector and technological advancements, accelerating consumer demand for more reasonably priced and environmentally friendly fashion items. The current study determines how the expectancy-value plays a vital role in developing behavioral beliefs that may cause favorable attitudes and intentions toward online renting. The research applies a quantitative approach; a conceptual framework is proposed based on the theory of planned behavior and expectancy value theory. Data was gathered from 320 fashion users renting items from social media and rental outlets via survey. The results revealed that growing awareness of online fashion rental in Pakistan has not only made it convenient for the customer, but these rental services also support giving a second life to fashion items that have been disposed of after the low frequency of use due to short life cycles and frequent updates of fashion. This study provides guidelines for renters and rentals as the success of fashion renting depends on consumer awareness, and its acceptance in the Pakistani market for customer communication can play a vital role in creating trust regarding online fashion renting.

Role of microstructure in the exploitation of self-healing potential in form-stable composite phase change materials based on immiscible alloys

Metallic Phase Change Materials (PCMs), based on solid-liquid transitions, represents one of the most promising technologies for efficient Thermal Energy Storage (TES), due to their superior thermal conductivity and energy storability per unit volume, but suffer of limited solutions for their handling at the molten state. The use of Miscibility Gap Alloys (MGAs) allows to manage PCM volume expansion and keep it confined when molten, preventing interaction with the environment. A relevant example is provided by the Al-Sn system, where Al covers the role of the high-temperature stable and highly thermal-conductive passive matrix and Sn the active PCM. The alloy can thus be considered a Composite PCM (C-PCM). The response fastness of these systems depends on their thermal diffusivity, subjected to abrupt variations under the presence of discontinuities and damages. In this sense, the authors investigated the possibility to employ molten Sn mobility in a potentially damaged C-PCM for self-healing purposes, aimed to restore, at least partially, the material continuity and thus its thermal diffusivity. Exudation heat treatments above the melting temperature of Sn were performed on sets of Al-40%wt. Sn metallic composites, produced either with powder metallurgy or liquid metal routes, in order to quantify and assess the mobility of the Sn under simulated operating conditions. Exudation tests assess Simple Mixed powders and liquid metal routes sample as the ones with the highest healing potential. Al dissolution and re-deposition was established by EDS analyses as one of the principal Sn mobility mechanisms. Laser Flash Analysis tests, as well as microstructural investigations, were performed on the samples before and after both healing-focused and simulated service heat treatments to evaluate the changes of thermal diffusivity. Healing-focused treatment at 250°C for 1 hour generally displayed a moderate thermal diffusivity recovery and simulated service by shorter cycles between 170°C and 270°C slightly reduce it. The beneficial role of healing focused heat treatments at 250°C for 1 hour suggests that the presence of fully molten Sn phase during service for relatively long time could be beneficial for functional healing. The requirements of suitable Al-Sn microstructures for self-healing purposes, granting at the same time the C-PCM functionalities, i.e., thermal energy storage and form-stability, were set.

Experience in managing the process of continuing medical education of medical workers in public health and health care

Introduction. The problem of continuous professional development of medical specialists with higher and secondary medical education is especially relevant at the present stage, when medical knowledge, technologies, and drugs are being improved every day. 
 Purpose. Analysis of the forms of conducting cycles of continuous medical education in the field of health care management and public health at the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for the development of the most popular and perfect form of its implementation.
 Materials and methods. An analysis of the main directions of the mnagement of the process of continuous medical education of medical workers in general and in public health and health care in the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education of the Russian National Research Medical University named after N.I. Pirogov of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. 
 Results. Since 1977 a continuous medical education was started in the USSR. A course for advanced training of doctors in social hygiene was opened at the Department of Social Hygiene and Health Organization of the 2nd Medical Institute. Within the framework of the specialty “Organization of Health Care and Public Health”, the department conducted cycles of professional retraining (PP-504 hours), advanced training: 144 hours (PC-144), 72 hours and 36 hours. Continuing medical education is aimed at obtaining the competencies necessary to perform a new type of professional activity. The plans for further improvement of continuing medical education by the department provide for the renewal of work programs, the creation of distance and new relevant cycles.
 Limitations of the study. An analysis of professional retraining cycles of students of various durations for the acquisition of new qualifications, qualitative expansion of the field of knowledge, skills and abilities in the period 2017–2022 was carried out. 
 Conclusion. The presented data indicate the expediency of managing advanced training within the framework of the specialty “Organization of Health Care and Public Health” using short cycles of advanced training of full-time and distant forms of training of students.

Progress on application of covalent organic frameworks for advanced lithium metal batteries

Since Li metal batteries (LMBs) theoretically possess high energy density, they are the most concerned rechargeable batteries at present. Whereas, poor safety and short cycling lives of the LMBs originate from various problems of LMBs components including cathode/anode materials, electrolytes, and separators have impeded their practical application. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), which feature diverse structures, flexible frameworks, and versatile functions, have been extensively investigated as potential alternatives for above mentioned key components of LMBs. With the rational design and pre-/postsynthesis functionalization, COFs can be precisely customized for targeted functionalities, which can tackle the issues of LMBs. The current status of the application of COFs in LMBs, which covers working principles and strategies for improving electrochemical performance, will be discussed in this review. What's more, the challenges and potential directions for further developments of COFs in LMBs are presented in the final section.

Enhancing Building Energy Efficiency through Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Building Energy Modeling (BEM) Integration: A Systematic Review

With the ever-increasing population and historic highest energy demand, the energy efficiency of buildings is becoming crucial. Architectural firms are moving from traditional Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to BIM. However, nearly 40% of the energy consumption is due to buildings. Therefore, there is a need to integrate BIM with Building Energy Modeling (BEM), which presents an innovative opportunity to demonstrate the potential of BIM to minimize energy consumption by integrating building information software with data from existing energy-efficient building automation systems (EBAS). BEM is a form of computational analysis that can be used in conjunction with BIM or Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) systems. In this paper, an attempt has been made to explore the existing literature on BIM and BEM and identify the effect of the integration of BEM in BIM in the design phase of the project. A recent survey from the last ten years (2012 to 2023) was carried out on Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus databases. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, and papers were scrutinized. From the results, it can be observed that the convergence of BIM and BEM is found to be useful in practical applications; however, projects with short life cycles might not be suitable for this solution. Challenges exist in the interoperability tools which have restrictions on data exchange. Binary translation is found to be the most suitable candidate for data exchange. The analysis further showed that the most used program for integrating BIM/BEM is Green Building Studio developed by Autodesk to improve construction and operational efficiencies.

Cone allometry and seed protection from fire are similar in serotinous and nonserotinous conifers.

Serotiny is an adaptive trait that allows certain woody plants to persist in stand-replacing fire regimes. However, the mechanisms by which serotinous cones avoid seed necrosis and nonserotinous species persist in landscapes with short fire cycles and serotinous competitors remain poorly understood. To investigate whether ovulate cone traits that enhance seed survival differ between serotinous and nonserotinous species, we examined cone traits in 24 species within Pinaceae and Cupressaceae based on physical measurements and cone heating simulations using a computational fluid dynamics model. Fire-relevant cone traits were largely similar between cone types; those that differed (e.g. density and moisture) conferred little seed survival advantage under simulated fire. The most important traits influencing seed survival were cone size and seed depth within the cone, which was found to be an allometric function of cone mass for both cone types. Thus, nonserotinous cones should not suffer significantly greater seed necrosis than serotinous cones of equal size. Closed nonserotinous cones containing mature seeds may achieve substantial regeneration after fire if they are sufficiently large relative to fire duration and temperature. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study of the effects of fire-relevant cone traits on conifer regeneration supported by physics-based fire simulation.

Multifunctional Cu2Se/F127 Hydrogel with SOD-Like Enzyme Activity for Efficient Wound Healing.

Free radicals are secreted following skin damage and cause oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions that increase the difficulty of wound healing. In this study, copper-based nanozyme Cu2Se nanosheets (NSs) are synthesized by an anion-exchange strategy and apply to wounds with F127 hydrogels to investigate the healing effect of this nanozyme composite hydrogels on wounds. Cu2Se NSs have a large number of catalytically active centers, are simple to synthesize, require few reaction conditions and have a short synthesis cycle. In vitro experiments have shown that Cu2Se NSs possess superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity and nitrogen radical scavenging activity and promote angiogenesis and fibroblast migration. The doping of Cu2Se NSs into the F127 hydrogel does not have a significantlyaffect on the properties of the hydrogel. This hybridized hydrogel not only adapts to the irregular and complex morphology of acute wounds but also prolongs the duration of nanozyme action on the wound, thus promoting wound healing. Transcriptomic analysis further reveals the potential therapeutic mechanism of the Cu2Se/F127 hydrogel in promoting acute wound healing. Animal experiments have shown that the Cu2Se/F127 hydrogel has good biosafety. The Cu2Se/F127 hydrogel provides an innovative idea for the development of hydrogel dressings for the treatment of acute wounds.

Modeling Climate Change Effects on Genetic Diversity of an Endangered Horse Breed Using Canonical Correlations.

The historical increase in the occurrence of extreme weather events in Spain during the last thirty years makes it a perfect location for the evaluation of climate change. Modeling the effects of climate change on domestic animals' genetic diversity may help to anticipate challenging situations. However, animal populations' short life cycle and patent lack of historical information during extended periods of time drastically compromise the evaluation of climate change effects. Locally adapted breeds' gene pool is the base for their improved resilience and plasticity in response to climate change's extreme climatic conditions. The preservation of these domestic resources offers selection alternatives to breeders who seek such improved adaptability. The Spanish endangered autochthonous Hispano-Arabian horse breed is perfectly adapted to the conditions of the territory where it was created, developed, and widespread worldwide. The possibility to trace genetic diversity in the Hispano-Arabian breed back around seven decades and its global ubiquity make this breed an idoneous reference subject to act as a model for other international populations. Climate change's shaping effects on the genetic diversity of the Hispano-Arabian horse breed's historical population were monitored from 1950 to 2019 and evaluated. Wind speed, gust speed, or barometric pressure have greater repercussions than extreme temperatures on genetic diversity. Extreme climate conditions, rather than average modifications of climate, may push breeders/owners to implement effective strategies in the short to medium term, but the effect will be plausible in the long term due to breed sustainability and enhanced capacity of response to extreme climate events. When extreme climatic conditions occur, breeders opt for mating highly diverse unrelated individuals, avoiding the production of a large number of offspring. People in charge of domestic population conservation act as catalyzers of the regulatory changes occurring during breeds' climate change adaptive process and may identify genes conferring their animals with greater adaptability but still maintaining enhanced performance. This model assists in determining how owners of endangered domestic populations should plan their breeding strategies, seeking the obtention of animals more resilient and adapted to climate-extreme conditions. This efficient alternative is focused on the obtention of increased profitability from this population and in turn ensuring their sustainability.

3D-Printed Magnesium Peroxide-Incorporated Scaffolds with Sustained Oxygen Release and Enhanced Photothermal Performance for Osteosarcoma Multimodal Treatments.

The hypoxic microenvironment in osteosarcoma inevitably compromises the antitumor effect and local bone defect repair, suggesting an urgent need for sustained oxygenation in the tumor. The currently reported oxygen-releasing materials have short oxygen-releasing cycles, harmful products, and limited antitumor effects simply by improving hypoxia. Therefore, the PCL/nHA/MgO2/PDA-integrated oxygen-releasing scaffold with a good photothermal therapy effect was innovatively constructed in this work to achieve tumor cell killing and bone regeneration functions simultaneously. The material distributes MgO2 powder evenly on the scaffold material through 3D printing technology and achieves the effect of continuous oxygen release (more than 3 weeks) through its slow reaction with water. The in vitro and in vivo results also indicate that the scaffold has good biocompatibility and sustained-release oxygen properties, which can effectively induce the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells, achieving excellent bone defect repair. At the same time, in vitro cell experiments and subcutaneous tumorigenesis experiments also confirmed that local oxygen supply can promote osteosarcoma cell apoptosis, inhibit proliferation, and reduce the expression of heat shock protein 60, thereby enhancing the photothermal therapy effect of polydopamine and efficiently eliminating osteosarcoma. Taken together, this integrated functional scaffold provides a unique and efficient approach for antitumor and tumor-based bone defect repair for osteosarcoma treatment.

Culture-based Innovation: A Localized Approach for Designing

Egypt’s craft industry encompasses many dependent businesses, while crafts are slowly dissipating in the flourishing digital age, designers are emerging and becoming more substantial. Handicrafts are actually in their majority environmentally friendly, offer a quick and short monetary cycle, and most of all are a reflection of the local culture and identity. Globally, cultural inspired designs can easily be trendy and fashionable. This paper argues that designers play a major role in solving this matter. Culture integration into the new designs is rather challenging as there is no solid theoretical framework linking design and culture. Designers have the ability to address how core components of culture can be embedded in innovative functional objects. The paper analyses the role of design from the outcome of local startup project and based on a design intervention conducted in collaboration with the International Labor Office (ILO) in Egypt.

The Influence of Sugar Beet Cultivation Technologies on the Intensity and Species Biodiversity of Weeds

Sugar beet production is highly affected by weeds. The structure of crop rotation, the use of intercrops and different tillage techniques bring several benefits to sugar beet cultivation and create different living conditions for weeds. The response of weed communities in sugar beet stands has not been studied. The experimental plot is in the cadastral area of Ivanovice na Hané (Czech Republic). During an eight-year monitoring period (2013–2020), 46 weed species were identified. The dominant species was Chenopodium album. There were also summer and winter weeds. A more varied crop rotation increased the intensity of weed infestation, with winter weeds being the most common. On the contrary, a higher proportion of cereals in the crop structure favors the presence of summer weeds. The tillage technology and the inclusion of catch crops did not significantly affect the intensity of weed infestation in sugar beet stands or the spectrum of weed species. Current cropping technologies have driven the evolution of weeds. Due to their short life cycles and relatively simple genomes, weeds can respond very quickly to technological measures and, thus, change their harmfulness.

Demography and life cycle of Daphnia Magna, subjected to the toxicity of andiroba oil used as a natural repelente

Daphnia magna is a common model organism used in toxicological testing because it is widely distributed in aquatic environments, has a short life cycle and is easy to rear in the laboratory. For the cultivation of cladocerans and for experiments, natural water and algae of the species Chlorella sorokiniana was used as diet. For Daphnia culture, modified EPA medium was used. And the general experimental conditions were: 50 mL transparent bottles, in a 1:1 ratio, of medium water and test substance, in treatments and control with medium water, where each test bottle received 10 neonates (<24 h) from the test organism, Daphnia magna. Calculations related to demographic analysis were determined, such as average lifespan, life expectancy, gross reproduction rate, net reproduction rate, generation time and intrinsic population growth rate. In general, the toxicity of andiroba oil promoted mortality in Daphnia magna compared to the control, regardless of any concentration tested. The fertility patterns of D. magna showed a decrease in the production of neonates with increasing andiroba oil concentration. The results of the experiment indicated that andiroba oil had toxic effects on Daphnia magna, being important to evaluate the safety of this chemical product, contributing significantly to the understanding of the risks associated with its use.

Polyphenolic Platform Ameliorated Sanshool for Skin Photoprotection.

Natural evolution has nurtured a series of active molecules that play vital roles in physiological systems, but their further applications have been severely limited by rapid deactivation, short cycle time, and potential toxicity after isolation. For instance, the instability of structures and properties has greatly descended when sanshool is derived from Zanthoxylum xanthoxylum. Herein, natural polyphenols are employed to boost the key properties of sanshool by fabricating a series of nanoparticles (NPs). The intracellular evaluation and in vivo animal model are conducted to demonstrate the decreased photodamage score and skin-fold thickness of prepared NPs, which can be attributed to the better biocompatibility, improved free radical scavenging, down-regulated apoptosis ratios, and reduced DNA double-strand breaks compared to naked sanshool. This work proposes a novel strategy to boost the key properties of naturally occurring active molecules with the assistance of natural polyphenol-based platforms.

Constraints militating against the use of adaptation strategies to climate change effects by small-scale rice farmers in Northeastern, Nigeria

This study ascertained the constraints militating against the use of adaptation strategies to climate change effects amongst rice farmers in Northeastern Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 rice farmers. The analytical tools used to analyze the data obtained were descriptive and inferential statistics. The result shows the used and unused adaptation strategies for drought resistant rice variety were 33.0% and 67.0%, heat resistant rice variety were 30.7% and 69.3%, short rice cycle seeds were 2.3% and 97.7%, early maturing rice variety were 32.7% and 67.3%, early planting were 32.0% and 68.0%, late planting were 33.0% and 67.0%, early harvesting were 32.7% and 67.3%, late harvesting were 31.7% and 68.3. The result on constraints militating against the use of adaptation strategies shows that the constraints with higher loading factors were low level of income (λ=0.799), low literacy level (λ=0.727), inadequate knowledge on how to cope with climate change related issues (λ=0.761), poor response to climate related issues (λ=0.782), poor financial support from NGOs (0.648), inadequate agricultural loans (0.655) and high administrative charges on loan (λ=0.555). Other constraints included inadequate extension workers (λ=0.583), inadequate extension contacts (λ=0.550), long bureaucracy in getting formal credit (λ=0.588), lack of reliable sources of information on climate change (λ=0.708), loans not readily available during farming season (λ=0.752), and inadequate financial support from government (0.428). Based on the findings of the study, it is concluded that low users of adaptation strategies were evident in the zone. Therefore, it is recommended that the government should encourage the use of adaptation strategies in the zone.