Storage Of Products Research Articles

Enhancing analytical merits of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of hydrogen isotopes using an orthogonal double-pulsing scheme

Accurate detection and quantification of hydrogen isotopes in solid materials are vital for diverse applications, including fusion energy, hydrogen storage, and tritium production. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a well-established, rapid, standoff method for this purpose, but it faces challenges related to the analytical merits required for isotopic analyses. In this study, we enhance the analytical and detection capabilities of traditional single-pulse LIBS by implementing an orthogonal double pulsing approach, focusing on the analysis of a range of 2H concentrations in Zircaloy-4 substrates (acting as a proxy for 3H). The double-pulse experiments employed an orthogonal re-heating configuration with two nanosecond Nd:YAG lasers. We systematically evaluated critical parameters affecting the signal intensity in double-pulse LIBS, including interpulse delay, ambient gas pressure, and heating laser energy. Our results demonstrate that employing an orthogonal double-pulse scheme significantly enhances 2Hα emission while minimizing line broadening and self-absorption, ultimately improving the technique's analytical capabilities.

Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table of an Alarming Quarantine Pest Trogoderma granarium on Stored Products

Trogoderma granarium (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) is a polyphagous pest of stored products and an alarming threat to food security around the globe. The current study is designed to construct the life table of T. granarium on four stored products, i.e., wheat, barley, rice, and maize at controlled conditions (33±1°C, 65% RH, and a photoperiod of 14 : 10 (L:D) h). The incubation period of T. granarium was longer (5.13 d) on maize and shorter (4.30 d) on wheat. The developmental period of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th larval instars of T. granarium was longer on maize than the other three hosts were significant. Statistical difference between the longevity of females and males was recorded, while no statistically significant difference was found in the preoviposition period. The mean fecundity values observed on wheat, barley, rice, and maize were 31.33±1.62, 26.21±1.49, 28.00±1.35, and 25.58±1.13, respectively. The highest fertility was observed in wheat and the lowest in maize. The net reproductive rate (R0) of T. granarium ranged from 8.66±2.86, 13.16±2.65, 12.53±2.27, and 10.23±2.32 offsprings on wheat, barley, rice, and maize, respectively. The highest gross reproductive value (GRR) was for T. granarium reared on barley (18.31±4.10/d), and the lowest was for maize (15.35±2.95/d). To complete the development, T. granarium took 48.97±0.68 d on maize, significantly higher than on other treatments (p<0.05). The mean generation time (T) of T. granarium was considerably affected by tested products. Based on the results of the present study, maize is a less favorable diet for the development and reproduction of T. granarium and may be considered for the management of this detrimental pest.

Influence of cellulolytic preparation on the productive qualities of snails of the Helix Aspersa Maxima species

Heliciculture is a branch of animal husbandry that deals with cultivation and using edible terrestrial snails for food and cosmetic purposes. This type of animal husbandry has an advantage over others in terms of simplicity of technology, as snails do not require complex technical equipment and care. In addition, they are unpretentious in feeding and resistant to diseases. Heliceculture has signifcant potential for development in Ukraine, as there is already considerable demand for snails in the food and cosmetics market. This industry is also developing rapidly and becoming increasingly popular among farmers and businessmen worldwide. At the same time, achieving success in snail farming requires specifc knowledge and skills. For example, it is essential to choose a suitable cultivation method, ensure optimal keeping and feeding conditions, and adhere to the standards of product storage and processing. It is also worth considering the specifcs of the legislation regulating the breeding and circulation of snails and the possible risks associated with pollution and animal diseases. An essential aspect of the development of helicopter culture is research and development to improve the quality and quantity of products, as well as the technology for reproduction and keeping snails. Such research should help improve efciency and make the industry more competitive. Exploring opportunities to improve the efciency of nutrient use in snail feed can signifcantly increase the proftability of production. Enzyme preparations are widely used in heliceculture to enhance the digestion of complex compounds, reduce the negative impact of anti-nutrients, and improve feed conversion. The use of such products in heliculture is reasonable and can have a positive impact on production efciency. The direction of complex feeding in heliceculture has not been studied much, and the influence of this cellulolytic drug on the productive qualities of Helix Aspersa Maxima species snails has yet to be clarifed. The results obtained during the study can substantiate the positive aspects of using special preparations to increase snail cultivation efciency and the use of nutrients in the diet. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of cellulosolytic enzyme preparation «AGROCELL» on the productivity of snails of the species Helix Aspersa Maxima. The results of the work showed that the addition of the enzyme preparation «AGROCELL» to the diet increases the absolute increase in live weight of snails by 1.2 g and the chain weight by 0.1-1.1 g. Key words: snails, industry, enzyme preparation, productivity, feeding, technology, cultivation.

Graph network surrogate model for subsurface flow optimization

The optimization of well locations and controls is an important step in the design of subsurface flow operations such as oil production or geological CO2 storage. These optimization problems can be computationally expensive, however, as many potential candidate solutions must be evaluated. In this study, we propose a graph network surrogate model (GNSM) for optimizing well placement and controls. The GNSM transforms the flow model into a computational graph that involves an encoding-processing-decoding architecture. Separate networks are constructed to provide global predictions for the pressure and saturation state variables. Model performance is enhanced through the inclusion of the single-phase steady-state pressure solution as a feature. A multistage multistep strategy is used for training. The trained GNSM is applied to predict flow responses in a 2D unstructured model of a channelized reservoir. Results are presented for a large set of test cases, in which five injection wells and five production wells are placed randomly throughout the model, with a random control variable (bottom-hole pressure) assigned to each well. Median relative error in pressure and saturation for 300 such test cases is 1-2%. The ability of the trained GNSM to provide accurate predictions for new (geologically similar) permeability realizations is demonstrated. Finally, the trained GNSM is used to optimize well locations and controls with a differential evolution algorithm. GNSM-based optimization results are comparable to those from simulation-based optimization, with a runtime speedup factor of 36. Much larger speedups are expected if the method is used for robust optimization, in which each candidate solution is evaluated on multiple geological models.

Evaluation of the shelf life of guava (psidium guajava) stored in a modified scoria evaporative cooler with organic treatments

Guava (Psidium guajava) is a tropical fruit that is highly nutritious but highly perishable. The high perishability rate of the fruit is a clear indication that this fruit requires good post-harvest handling and preservation techniques to prolonging its shelf life. Evaporative cooling technology has been widely adopted for proper storage of perishable products, especially fruits and vegetables. This research was conducted with an objective of evaluating the shelf life of guavas stored in a scoria evaporative cooler in combination with neem extract treatment and beeswax treatment. A portion of the guavas was treated and stored in both ambient and evaporative cooler conditions while the other portion was untreated and stored in both ambient and evaporative cooler conditions. The changes in quality of the guavas over time were evaluated based on the physical, chemical and organoleptic properties of the fruit. The microclimate of the evaporative cooler i.e the temperature and relative humidity, were recorded using a data logger. The shelf life of neem extract treated guavas stored in the evaporative cooler increased by an average of 2 days compared with ambient conditions. For the beeswax treated guava the shelf-life increase by an average of six days compared to the ambient. For untreated guavas the increase in shelf life was 6 days relative to the ambient. The beeswax coated gauvas stored in the evaporative cooler retained the recommended firmness for 5 days more than the ambient. These results show that evaporative cooling combined with beeswax treatment have enormous potential to prolong the shelf-life of guavas significantly. Thus scoria evaporative cooler could be a game changer in post-harvest handing of guavas in rural areas.

Enhancing Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) E-Commerce through Blockchain: A Model-Driven Approach

The rapid progress of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), especially the Internet, has changed lifestyles in profound ways, including sharing ideas, virtual interactions, digital entertainment, and online transactions. It has resulted in businesses globally turning to electronic commerce (e-commerce) to market products. E-commerce has revolutionized operations with features such as centralized storage and detailed product information in the marketing process. However, the inefficiency and lack of transparency in these centralized systems lead to high costs and limited user control, posing a significant challenge. Challenges include commission fees from E-Commerce providers, which hinder business growth. The research aimed to propose a more efficient and transparent model for Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C) e-commerce using blockchain technology. The C2C model enhanced user transactions and minimized third-party dependence, but centralization increased costs and limited seller access. Thus, a decentralized blockchain approach was proposed for greater transparency in e-commerce. The research innovatively applied blockchain to C2C e-commerce, enhancing market efficiency and transparency. The research method applied was a combination of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis and practical application. The result shows that the approach succeeds in reducing high costs, transparency of data storage, and dependence on third parties. Blockchain reduces third-party involvement and promotes a fairer business environment because it uses a tamper-proof database for transparency, security, and efficiency in the ever-growing e-commerce ecosystem. Blockchain ensures automated transactions, real-time data tracking, and data security.

Financial dynamics, green transition and hydrogen economy in Europe

The introduction of the Next Generation funding scheme provides an opportunity for the EU-25 to make significant financial progress towards a radical and fully sustainable Green economy. This study examines the financial implications of a complete transition to hydrogen energy. In this paper, we propose the Hydrogen Production Safe Supply and Storage energy model by analyzing the conversion of electricity from offshore wind farms to hydrogen, which serves as both an energy storage and fuel for a variety of sectors, including transportation, households, industries, and governments. We analyze the financial impact of the Green transition across the EU-25 economies, based on a panel auto-regressive distributed lag model and the simulation procedure proposed by Jordan and Philips (2018). In addition to electricity production and consumption, the variables used include greenhouse gas emissions, real output per capita, and total environmental tax revenue. According to the study's financial insights, increased renewable electricity production results in a significant reduction in household energy consumption, as well as an increase in consumption in the transportation, industrial, and public sectors. These findings underscore the economic implications of transitioning to renewable energy and highlight the financial imperatives, such as targeted state aid, the immediate expansion of the hydrogen supply network, further research on safe mobile hydrogen containment, and an extensive upgrade of the regional hydrogen supply network within the EU-25.

Investigation on critical erosion of gas production channel for sand carrying during injection and production process in gas storage

Gas wells on underground gas storage typically are operated in high-load mode, with a large working displacement injection and high-strength production. Erosion-corrosion caused by solid particles could cause serious damage to the gas well, leading to tubing column failure and security risks. The influence factors on the tubing column geometry, the fluid properties and particle properties were investigated by the indoor erosion experiments and numerical simulation respectively. Five different erosion models were applied to predict the erosion rate. The Generic model was selected to calculate the influencing value by a range of parameters after comparing the predicted results with the experimental data. The results indicated that the sand production rate, the gas production rate and the production pressure played a crucial role on the tubing column erosion. The error of Generic model is less than 20%. The product of the quadratic power of daily gas production, the negative quadratic power of production pressure and the first power of sand production rate was directly proportional to the erosion rate of tubing column. The sequence of the maximum erosion rate on different sites from high to low was obtained: No-Go Landing Nipple, Safety Valve, integral Y-type wellhead. The erosion effect on Y-type wellhead should be considered emphatically considering the long-term operation. The chart of Critical Erosion Coefficient (C value) was established according to the design criterion of API RP 14E, which is suitable for gas storage production channel. The reasonable C value should be set as 180.0 to ensure the gas storage to meet the service life. Meanwhile, the recommendatory C value range was set between 175.0 and 200.0 for considering the maximum productivity of gas storage. The research results provided a key guidance for judging the service safety of injection-production channel in gas storage.

Design and numerical simulation of the elastomeric support for the topside modules of an FPSO

Elastomeric support utilizing steel-reinforced elastomeric bearing pads (SREBPs) has been applied to offshore structures gradually. This study presented a process for designing the offshore elastomeric support. And a specific numerical method was introduced to synchronously simulate the hydrodynamic responses and structural interactions between hull and topside modules of a spread-moored floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) unit with elastomeric-supporting topside modules. Furthermore, a model test of the target FPSO was conducted in a deepwater offshore basin to validate the numerical simulation, and the numerical results were consistent with the experimental outcomes overall. The numerical results demonstrated that both bearing force and stress of the SREBPs fell within the design scope, and the maximum bearing force on vertical SREBPs was found to be around 1.3 times the weight of a corresponding topside module, considering the dynamic effects resulted from motion responses of the FPSO. Additionally, the maximum bearing force acting on anti-uplift SREBPs can refer to the peak value of a vertical SREBP's dynamic force correspondingly. The horizontal interactions between hull and topsides mainly depend on inclination of the hull, so the bearing forces of horizontal SREBPs are closely related to the severity of rolling and pitching.

Concrete vs. abstract

Purpose: Posting content on social media by companies, especially smaller ones, is a reality; however, entrepreneurs still need to discover commercial returns from this content. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the prediction of visual content manipulation in social media posts on a small company's commercial business results. Design/Methodology/Approach: Our research was conducted via a quasi-experiment in a natural environment over 144 days in a business social media profile that sells its products in a physical store and via an app. Two types of publication content were manipulated: concrete and abstract. Findings: The content of social media posts affected sales differently, depending on whether they were concrete or abstract. Concrete posts increased sales (in-store and via app) on the same day, while abstract posts increased sales the day after the post, especially considering the period. Originality/value: Our study contributes to the discussion of how the typology of the posts can influence a company's commercial result, going beyond the metrics assessment of social media platforms to the company's cash flow.

Effect of the storage process on quality characteristics of hemp-enriched "tsoureki" a rich-dough baked Greek product.

The effects of the storage process on the quality characteristics of a hemp-enriched "tsoureki" (a rich-dough baked Greek product, rich-dough baked product [RDBP]) were investigated. The wheat flour was substituted with defatted hemp flour at selected ratios (0%-50% hemp:wheat flour). The baked products were stored at 25°C and at specific time intervals (0, 1, 4, 7, 10, and 14 days), and their properties were determined, including moisture content, water activity, structure, texture, color, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. Moreover, analyses of phenolic compounds were performed using quadrupole time of flight liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, identifying 14 compounds. Both the first-order kinetic model and modified Avrami equation, including the hemp-to-wheat ratio effect in the rate constant, well described the changes in the quality characteristics. The results showed that storage time and hemp incorporation significantly affected the quality of the product. Water activity decreased from 0.901 to 0.859, whereas moisture content decreased from 30.52%-32.33% (0 days) to 26.97%-27.02% w.b. (14 days) with storage time for all hemp additions. Hardness was greatly affected by hemp flour addition and approached 14.72 and 17.85 N after 14 days of storage for 30% and 50% substitutions, respectively. Springiness and cohesiveness decreased with hemp addition and storage time. The color difference of the hemp-enriched products compared to the control sample increased during storage. TPC increased due to the addition of hemp flour, whereas 14 compounds were identified. Based on property correlation, the hemp-enriched RDBP-tsoureki held its high-quality characteristics for 7 days of storage and contained a significant amount of bioactive compounds. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Industrially produced, defatted hemp is a promising byproduct that can be used to nutritionally enhance baked goods. Modeling results can be used for the prediction of the properties that define product storage ability and also that the hemp-enriched, rich dough-baked Greek "tsoureki" could be produced while maintaining total phenolic content and antioxidant activity during 7 days of storage. These findings are expected to be used in the future in baked goods industry applications to produce goods with an improved nutritional profile.

An Example of Remote Monitoring for A Refrigerated Display Cabinet: Effects on Energy Performance

The quality of food products can start to deteriorate over time before reaching the consumer. Fast-moving food products and frozen products are involved in cold chain logistics. To ensure food safety, these products must be kept refrigerated or frozen throughout the supply. A cold chain is required in the display and storage processes for the products to reach from the field to the table. Refrigerated display cabinets, which are widely used in supermarkets, are one of the parts of the cold chain. These refrigerators are used for both cold storage and frozen storage of products at specific temperature ranges by standards. In refrigerated display cabinets, the air refrigerated by the heat drawn by the evaporator is blown to the food products. Due to negative interactions with hot ambient air, open-type refrigerated display cabinets consume large amounts of electrical energy. Therefore, the refrigerated display cabinet must have high energy efficiency. On March 1, 2021, energy labeling became mandatory for refrigerated display cabinets placed on the market in the European Union, and energy labeling started to be classified from A to G. With this energy label application, refrigerators are classified according to their efficiency. This study presents a remote monitoring model for a refrigerated display cabinet and aims to determine whether it operates in its energy class value. As a result of the study, the effect of the remote monitoring method on energy efficiency was revealed, and it was concluded that it could contribute to operational efficiency by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.

Value implications of followers in social marketplaces: insights into ego network structures

PurposeIn social marketplaces, follower ego networks are integral social capital assets for online sellers. While previous research has underscored the positive impact of the follower number on seller performance, little attention has been given to the structure of follower networks and their value implications. This research investigates two structural properties of follower networks—network centralization and density—and examines their main and contingent effects on sellers’ sales performance.Design/methodology/approachA 13-month panel dataset of 1,150 sellers in Etsy, a social marketplace for handmade and vintage products, was collected and analyzed. A fixed effects model was adopted to validate the hypotheses on the main effect of centralization and density, as well as the moderating effects of two store attributes: store age and product diversification.FindingsWe find that both network centralization and density negatively impact sellers’ sales performance, and these effects vary across store age and product diversification levels. Specifically, the negative effect of network centralization is less pronounced for older stores than young ones, whereas the negative effect of density is more severe for stores with high product diversification.Originality/valueThis research contributes to social commerce research by highlighting the significance of network structure, alongside network size, in assessing the value of followers and offers practical guidance for sellers in social marketplaces seeking to optimize their follower networks.

Impact of sugar reduction on the glass transition temperature and sorption isotherm of freeze-dried tomato powder

The objective of this work was to improve the drying of tomato juices after identifying the main parameters that are responsible for sticking during drying. Glass transition temperature (Tg) which is one of the key parameter, depends on the juice composition, mainly sugar. In order to reduce sugar, centrifugation was applied to the juices. Tg was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) for freeze-dried tomato juice and tomato pellet conditioned at various water activity (aw) (0.1–0.5). The glass transition curve showed that Tg decreased with increasing of the moisture. Comparison of powders obtained by juice and pellet from centrifugation shows that the Tg of freeze-dried pellets is higher than that of juice at equal aw values. Adsorption isotherms of freeze-dried tomato juice and pellet were determined at 25 °C and a relative humidity (RH) of 0–98% using a dynamic technique. The data obtained were fitted to GAB model that best fitted the experimental data. The equilibrium moisture content (X) value of the freeze-dried pellets are lower and had the same value of 8% dry mass. X is lower because the pellet powders are less hygroscopic than tomato juice powders because of the reduction of soluble compounds by centrifugation, notably sugars. Reducing the product sugar content by centrifugation enables to raise Tg without using carriers and obtain less hygroscopic powders, which is advantageous for product storage.

Effects of steel bolts on retrofitting the buckling performance of storage rack system uprights

Storage rack systems, essential for product storage, encounter design challenges, particularly for uprights under axial loading. Despite being produced from thin-walled steel sheets, these systems are required to support excessive loads. Extensive research has focused on maximizing the load-bearing capacity of rack uprights in recent years. This study aims to enhance the axial load capacity of upright profiles through a retrofitting method of installing steel bolts and spacers. Experimental, numerical, and analytical evaluations were conducted to assess the effectiveness of bolt installation in enhancing axial strength of the uprights. Bolt installation altered buckling modes, suppressing distortional buckling. Results consistently showed an increase in axial load capacity with bolt installation, particularly notable in taller uprights. Comparison of experimental, numerical, and analytical results revealed good alignment, highlighting the positive impact of bolt installation on structural stability. Numerical analysis slightly underestimated experimental outcomes, especially for longer lengths, while the analytical approach showed a combination of overestimation and underestimation, with significant overestimation for longer lengths. The study concludes that bolt installation effectively increases the axial load capacity, especially for taller uprights. These findings offer remarkable insights on the positive effect of bolt installation for optimizing storage rack systems by enhancing structural stability and eliminating distortional buckling.

Dynamic Imaging of Lipid Droplets in Cells and Tissues by Using Dioxaborine Barbiturate-Based Fluorogenic Probes.

Lipids are essential for various cellular functions, including energy storage, membrane flexibility, and signaling molecule production. Maintaining proper lipid levels is important to prevent health problems such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Monitoring cellular lipid droplets (LDs) in real-time with high resolution can provide insights into LD-related pathways and diseases owing to the dynamic nature of LDs. Fluorescence-based imaging is widely used for tracking LDs in live cells and animal models. However, the current fluorophores have limitations such as poor photostability and high background staining. Herein, we developed a novel fluorogenic probe based on a push-pull interaction combined with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) for dynamic imaging of LDs. Probe 1 exhibits favorable membrane permeability and spectroscopic characteristics, allowing specific imaging of cellular LDs and time-lapse imaging of LD accumulation. This probe can also be used to examine LDs in fruit fly tissues in various metabolic states, serving as a highly versatile and specific tool for dynamic LD imaging in cellular and tissue environments.

Pilot testing of water utilization for integrated solar energy storage and power production using linear Fresnel collector and organic Rankine cycle

This work presents a new method of utilizing water as thermal energy storage to improve the capacity factor of integrated linear Fresnel collector – organic Rankine cycle (LFC-ORC). A new process flow diagram has been proposed to manage overnight operation of the ORC relying on thermal energy storage in water. Pilot testing of 10 kW capacity of LFC-ORC process under arid and desert conditions of Arabian Gulf operating conditions (Qatar) is also reported. A thermodynamic analysis has been performed based experimental evaluation and process simulation of the LFC-ORC production and efficiency. The LFC-ORC operations at storage temperatures of 170 °C showed peak electricity production of 6.76 kW (38 W/m2 aperture area of LFC) whereas 1st law, and 2nd law efficiencies were 6 % and 19 %, respectively. An operational strategy is proposed to generate 5 kW over a period of about 12 h using 10 m3 storage capacity. The developed process simulation program showed that two LFC systems, each 176 m2 aperture area, equipped with three storage tanks each 10 m3, must be installed to generate 5 kW electricity for 24 h. The proposed system can be upscaled to any size as per end-user needs. The new system design would be subjected to further optimization and feasibility to cope with the development of the ORC and LFC efficiency in the future.

The hydrates of chlorogenic acid in its aqueous solution and in stored food products

Chlorogenic acids (CQAs), a large family of naturally occurring esters of quinic acid with one, two or even three cinnamic acids moieties and/or moieties of cinnamic acids derivatives, supplied to human organisms mainly with coffee, tea, fruit and vegetables, have been among the most frequently studied polyphenols. Of these, caffeic acid esters predominate, and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA) is their main and most widespread representative. Recently performed studies have shown that after removing water from the aqueous solution of 5-CQA, its dry residue contains two hydrates of this compound, each consisting of two 5-CQA molecules and two molecules of H2O (2 × 5-CQA*2xH2O). The results presented in the paper not only define the characteristic features of 5-CQA but, more importantly, offer solid evidence that 5-CQA hydrates begin to form already in the aqueous solution of 5-CQA immediately after the dissolution of this compound and that the analogous process can occur in food products containing 5-CQA during their storage. Moreover, the performed experiments indicate the validity of the hypothesis that 5-CQA hydrates are formed by active collisions of 5-CQA molecules with monomeric/dimeric water molecules existing in trace amount in strongly associated aqueous systems. The presence of 5-CQA hydrates in liquid food products may have a significant impact on the assessment of some of their physicochemical properties as well as their biochemical activity.

Influence of molecular descriptors of plant volatilomics on fumigant action against the three major stored product beetle pests.

Plant volatilomics such as essential oils (EOs) and volatile phytochemicals (PCs) are known as potential natural sources for the development of biofumigants as an alternative to conventional fumigant pesticides. This present work was aimed to evaluate the fumigant toxic effect of five selected EOs (cinnamon, garlic, lemon, orange, andpeppermint) and PCs (citronellol, limonene, linalool, piperitone, andterpineol) against the Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus oryzae, and Tribolium castaneum adults. Furthermore, for the estimation of the relationship between molecular descriptors and fumigant toxicity of plant volatiles, quantitative structural activity relationship (QSAR) models were developed using principal component analysis and multiple linear regression. Amongst the tested EOs, garlic EO was found to be the most toxic fumigant. The PCs toxicity analysis revealed that terpineol, limonene, linalool, and piperitone as potential fumigants to C. maculatus (< 20 µL/L air of LC50), limonene and piperitone as potential fumigants to T. castaneum (14.35 and 154.11 µL/L air of LC50, respectively), and linalool and piperitone as potential fumigants to S. oryzae (192.27 and 69.10 µL/L air of LC50, respectively). QSAR analysis demonstrated the role of various molecular descriptors of EOs and PCs on the fumigant toxicity in insect pest species. In specific, dipole and Randic index influence the toxicity in C. maculatus, molecular weight and maximal projection area influence the toxicity in S. oryzae, and boiling point and Dreiding energy influence the toxicity in T. castaneum. The present findings may provide insight of a new strategy to select effective EOs and/or PCs against stored product insect pests.

The adaptive prowess of the lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): Insights from mouthpart morphology and mitogenomic analysis

The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer, 1797), is a pervasive pest known to infest stored products and poultry facilities worldwide, posing significant challenges for pest management. Understanding its adaptability to diverse environments is crucial for devising effective control strategies. This study investigated adult mouthparts and analyzed the mitogenome of A. diaperinus using specimens obtained from a cat litter box. The examination of mouthparts revealed notable intraspecific variations, suggesting potential adaptations to different ecological conditions. Analysis of the mitogenomes unveiled nucleotide variations in protein-coding genes (PCGs), ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and the control region, with all mutations in PCGs being nonsynonymous, primarily occurring at the second codon positions. Evaluation of Ka/Ks ratios indicated purifying selection acting on the PCGs of A. diaperinus. Phylogenetic analyses consistently placed the newly sequenced sample within the same clade as previously sequenced A. diaperinus samples. The presence of A. diaperinus in cat litter highlights its remarkable adaptability to diverse habitats. Furthermore, intraspecific variation in mouthpart morphology and the mitogenome suggests ongoing adaptations to various food sources and environmental niches. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of A. diaperinus adaptations and emphasize the importance of continued research for effective pest management strategies.