Supply Function Research Articles

Analysing the Influence of Augmented Reality on Organization Performance via Supply and Logistics Value Chain Functions: A Hybrid ANN-PLS Model Assessment in the Gulf Cooperation Council Region

Background: Despite the resurgence of interest in augmented reality (AR) due to Industry 4.0 and its ability to resolve several challenges faced by current business models, comprehensive research examining the capabilities of AR in supply chain management (SCM) and logistics remains limited. This article aims to investigate the potential effects of AR technology on organizational performance through the mediation role of SCM and logistics value chain functions to address the existing knowledge gap. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design and an explanatory survey as a deductive approach for hypothesis development. The primary data collection method involved the self-administration of a questionnaire to furniture suppliers located in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including six countries. Of the 656 questionnaires submitted to suppliers, 483 were considered usable, yielding a response rate of 73.6%. The research utilized partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and artificial neural network (ANN) techniques to evaluate the gathered data. Results: The current paper’s statistical evidence demonstrates that AR implementation has a positive impact on the supply and logistics value chain activities and organizational performance of furniture suppliers in the GCC region. Moreover, it illustrates that the design and planning variable of supply chain value dominates as the primary predictor of organization performance. The results indicated that the ANN strategy provided a more comprehensive explanation of internally generated constructs compared to the PLS-SEM technique. Conclusions: This study demonstrates its usefulness by advising furniture industry decision-makers on what to avoid and what aspects to consider when creating plans and regulations. The report also suggests operations managers apply machine learning (ANN) for prediction and decision-making in supply and operations value chains. This essay looks at how the AR and resource-based supply value chain view may affect company performance across countries, firm sizes, and ages.

Rapid remote volcanic ashfall impact assessment for the 2022 eruption of Hunga volcano, Tonga: a bespoke approach and lessons identified

When disasters occur, rapid impact assessments are required to prioritise response actions, support in-country efforts and inform the mobilisation of aid. The 15 January 2022 eruption of Hunga volcano, Tonga, and the resulting atmospheric shockwave, ashfall, underwater mass disturbance and tsunami, caused substantial impacts across the Kingdom of Tonga. Volcanic impacts on the scale observed after the eruption are rare, necessitating a reliance on international advice and assistance. The situation was complicated by the loss of Tonga’s international submarine fibreoptic cable (causing a complete loss of communications for approximately 20 days) along with border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A need emerged for a rapid remote volcanic impact assessment and provision of specialist advice to help inform the response of international partners. Here we present a novel methodology for conducting rapid remote volcanic ashfall impact assessments, conducted over a 10-day period following the eruption. We used three different hazard models for ashfall thickness across the main island of Tongatapu and available asset information and vulnerability functions for buildings, agriculture, electricity networks, water supply and roads, to provide initial estimates of losses due to ashfall from the 15 January eruption. For buildings, we estimated losses both as total losses and as percentages of the total replacement cost of buildings on Tongatapu. For agriculture, we made probabilistic estimates of production losses for three different crop classes. For ashfall clean-up, we estimated ranges of ashfall volumes requiring clean-up from road surfaces and roofs. For water supply, electricity networks and roads, our analysis was limited to assessing the exposure of important assets to ashfall, as we had insufficient information on system configurations to take the analysis further. Key constraints on our analysis were the limited nature of critical infrastructure asset inventories and the lack of volcanic vulnerability models for tropical regions including Pacific Island nations. Key steps towards iteratively improving rapid remote impact assessments will include developing vulnerability functions for tropical environments as well as ground-truthing estimated losses from remote approaches against in-person impact assessment campaigns.

Rethinking the classification of non-digestible carbohydrates: Perspectives from the gut microbiome.

Clarification is required when the term "carbohydrate" is used interchangeably with "saccharide" and "glycan." Carbohydrate classification based on human digestive enzyme activities brings clarity to the energy supply function of digestible sugars and starch. However, categorizing structurally diverse non-digestible carbohydrates (NDCs) to make dietary intake recommendations for health promotion remains elusive. In this review, we present a summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional dichotomic classifications of carbohydrates, which were introduced by food chemists, nutritionists, and microbiologists. In parallel, we discuss the current consensus on commonly used terms for NDCs such as "dietary fiber," "prebiotics," and "fermentable glycans" and highlight their inherent differences from the perspectives of gut microbiome. Moreover, we provide a historical perspective on the development of novel concepts such as microbiota-accessible carbohydrates, microbiota-directed fiber, targeted prebiotics, and glycobiome. Crucially, these novel concepts proposed by multidisciplinary scholars help to distinguish the interactions between diverse NDCs and the gut microbiome. In summary, the term NDCs created based on the inability of human digestive enzymes fails to denote their interactions with gut microbiome. Considering that the gut microbiome possesses sophisticated enzyme systems to harvest diverse NDCs, the subclassification of NDCs should be realigned to their metabolism by various gut microbes, particularly health-promoting microbes. Such rigorous categorizations facilitate the development of microbiome-targeted therapeutic strategies by incorporating specific types of NDCs.

Inhibition of selenium supply function of selenoprotein p through adduct formation by sulforaphane

Selenium is a potent nucleophile essential for selenoenzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase (also known as GSH-Px; GPX; GPx) and selenoprotein P (also known as SelP; SEPP1; SELENOP; SeP). SeP is predominantly secreted from the liver and functions as a selenium carrier in plasma. We previously found that sulforaphane (SFN), an electrophilic phytochemical, reduces SeP production in cultured hepatocytes and mouse liver, however, the effect of electrophilic modification of SeP by SFN on selenium transport and metabolism remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrate that sulforaphane covalently modifies selenocysteine/cysteine residues of SeP using an acidic biotin PAEC5 maleimide labeling assay, which allows for focused-labeling of selenocysteine residues. Although the SFN-SeP adduct can be taken up by HepG2 cells and degraded by the lysosome, it was less effective in inducing GPx expression. Our findings indicate that SFN disrupts the selenium supply pathway through the formation of the SeP-SFN adduct.

Hybrid Wind‐Solar Self‐Powered Detector System Using a Triboelectric‐Photovoltaic Generator for Smart Agriculture

The growth of crops is affected by factors such as temperature, humidity, and salinity, so it is critical to monitor these indicators through detectors in smart agriculture. Collecting renewable energy in the farmland environment to power the detector will provide a feasible approach. Therefore, a triboelectric‐photovoltaic hybrid generator (WS‐TPHG) is proposed to collect solar and wind energy efficiently. The generator structure includes a photovoltaic panel (PV) and a wind‐driven triboelectric nanogenerator (W‐TENG). The switching function of the power supply can be realized through the power management circuit. In the case of sufficient light, the detector is powered by PV steadily, and in the case of insufficient light, the detector is powered by W‐TENG via the switching function. The PV can supply a stable voltage of 8.1 V, and the open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of W‐TENG can reach 478.6 V at 180 rpm. The results verify that the detection of temperature, humidity, and salinity can be successfully achieved through the detector which is powered by WS‐TPHG. In this article, the potential application of WS‐TPHG is demonstrated in farmland to provide a solution for the sustainable development of agriculture.

Evaluation of water supply function in the Economic Belt of the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains based on the InVEST model

The Economic Belt of the Northern Slope of the Tianshan Mountains (EBNSTM) is a composite ecosystem with mountains, oases, and desert areas; it also serves as an active area for anthropogenic activities. Frequent changes in soil and water resources have significant impacts on regional ecosystems. However, research on the ecosystem water yield function of EBNSTM is relatively limited; additionally, the spatiotemporal variations in the water supply function based on land use changes have not been sufficiently elucidated. This study aimed to explore the land use changes and the spatial variability of water supply service functions in the region at the macro level and uses the land transfer matrix as an important tool to study the changes in land use in the different years of 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Using the InVEST model, we conducted a quantitative assessment and comprehensive study on the water supply function of EBNSTM across the aforementioned years. Additionally, the study delved into the structure of ecosystem service functions, alongside investigating the spatial and temporal variability of ecosystem services under the multi-scale units of administrative divisions, ecological zones, and land classes. We found that during the 20-year period, the area of construction land of EBNSTM increased by 1089 km2, with the highest dynamic change rate of 4.09 %; 2015–2020 period was the most drastic period of change for each land use type. The average multi-year depth of water production was 87.49 mm, totaling 71.59 × 108 m3. The spatial distribution pattern of the water supply function in the study area during the last 20 years consistently exhibited a distinct pattern: mountainous areas displayed the highest water supply capacity, followed by oases, and deserts ranked the lowest. Further, the water supply service function within the study area is currently experiencing a modest rate of increase. The rate of change in water supply depth was 2.76 mm/a, while the rate of change in water supply volume was 0.47 × 108 m3/a. Areas with enhanced water supply capacity are mostly distributed in the southeast of EBNSTM, whereas the northwest, encompassing the mountainous areas, exhibited a declined water supply capacity. Between 2000 and 2020, the water supply capacity in the study area was ranked as follows: woodland > grassland > unutilized land > cultivated land > urban construction land, with woodland displaying the strongest water supply capacity. When woodlands, grasslands, and croplands were converted to other land use types, their water supply functions generally decreased, and vice versa. Our findings provide a scientific basis for the sustainable management of water and soil resources in EBNSTM.

Discovery and synthesis of novel glyrrhizin-analogs containing furanoylpiperazine and the activity against myocardial injury in sepsis

The signaling pathway mediated by high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1) plays a key role in myocardial injury during sepsis. Glyrrhizin (GL) is a natural product that inhibits HMGB1 biological activities through forming GL-HMGB1 complex; the research shows its aglycone (GA) is the main pharmacophore binding to HMGB1, while the glycosyl mainly altering its pharmacokinetic properties and enhances the stability of the complex. GL is often metabolized to GA in the gastrointestinal tract, which has a lower efficacy in the treatment of HMGB1-mediated diseases. To obtain the GL analogs with higher activity and better pharmacokinetic properties, 24 GL analogs were synthesized by simplification the glycosyl of GL. Among all the compounds, compound 11 with furanoylpiperazine was screened. The pharmacokinetics experiments showed that compound 11 is converted to 11a in vivo, and 11 serves as its prodrug. Compound 11a displayed a lower cytotoxicity to RAW264.7 cells and three types of cardiomyocyte lines, with IC50 > 800 µM. In the anti-inflammatory assay, 11a not only strongly inhibited NO production (IC50 5.73 µM), but also down-regulated the levels of HMGB1, IL-1β and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner; in the anti-oxidative stress assay, compound 11a reduced the level of ROS and increased the MMP in H9c2 cells. More importantly, in the myocardial injury model of septic mice, compound 11a not only alleviated the symptom of myocardial injury by reducing inflammatory infiltration and oxidative stress, but also improved the myocardial blood supply by shrinking the inner diameter of the left ventricle and increasing the ejection fraction (EF) more dramatically (155.8 %); meanwhile, compound 11a adjusted myocardial enzymes in serum of septic mice. In addition, in molecular docking experiments, compound 11a showed stronger HMGB1 binding ability than GL. In summary, compound 11 is a prodrug, which can be converted to 11a in vivo. And compound 11a has a good activity against septic myocardial injury, as well as improving the myocardial blood supply function. This suggests compound 11 is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of septic myocardial injury and deserves further investigate.

Rainwater harvesting through roofs and stormwater harvesting through pervious pavements: A Life Cycle Assessment and decision-making comparison

Water consumption and the building sector are among the top contributors to environmental impacts worldwide. Also, sustainable practices have been constantly encouraged in both sectors to mitigate water scarcity and provide resilience to cities. Thus, studies that provide an environmental assessment and discuss the decision-making process are essential for enabling the augmentation of sustainable practices. This research aims to contribute to the discussion on sustainability by conducting a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) examples. LCA is the main methodology applied to perform environmental comparisons. First, a thorough inventory was obtained from previous works with different alternatives for water management within a university building, including drainage, paving and water supply functions. The inventory contemplates alternatives using rainwater and stormwater harvesting for non-potable water supply, including pervious pavements. Such alternatives were compared with Brazil's usual water supply systems, aiming at diminishing the total environmental burden. The methodology aspects of LCA were also regarded, such as an uncertainty assessment and a quality matrix of the processes used. Midpoint and endpoint categories were also regarded with their decision-making and uncertainty analysis. The main result is the understanding of the trade-offs between the proposed systems, with a significant reduction in water stress obtained in the alternative scenarios. However, such a decrease is accompanied by a slight increase in some impact categories. Rainwater harvesting through roofs is the most environmentally friendly alternative, although the Cultural Theory parameter definition impacts on the sustainability ranking. Alternative sustainable systems for water management still need validation in terms of LCA, while decision-making for sustainable and resilient cities also requires a robust scientific basis. Thus, in conclusion, alternative systems such as SUDS were obtained to be more sustainable than conventional paving, drainage and water supply in the case study, and the understanding of different benefits found in the LCA is important to the decision-making process.

Environmental Valuation of Wastewater Used in Agricultural Production

In recent years, problems related to the adequacy of existing water resources have arisen due to issues such as population growth, rapid urbanization, industrialization, and climate change. Especially in agricultural production where water is used the most, the use of wastewater has become widespread as a solution to this problem. Considering that wastewater may harm the environment due to the substances it contains, it is aimed to make an environmental valuation in this study. In this context, by using the travel cost method used in the valuation of goods without a market, a different approach was brought to this method, as agricultural production is concerned, and an evaluation was made based on producer surplus. In the study, by comparing the agricultural productions with wastewater and well water, 2 hypotheses have been developed about the environmental valuation of wastewater; First, if the producer surplus of agricultural production with wastewater is lower than that of production with well water, there is environmental pollution, and its value is the difference between the two rents. The second hypothesis is that if the producer's surplus with wastewater is high, positive externality will occur as a hypothesis against the negative effects of environmental pollution. By conducting a survey with 125 producers in the research area, the data of 314 parcels in total were included in the analysis, and the producer surplus was calculated by creating the supply function with the regression analysis. As a result of the research, the producer surplus (584.40$) obtained from the agricultural production made by irrigating with wastewater was found to be higher than the producer surplus (553.44$) of the production made by irrigating with well water. In this case, it was concluded that the wastewater irrigated did not affect the environmental pollution, but the positive externality. Although the use of wastewater in agricultural production has made a positive contribution to the economy, it will be beneficial to use it after the necessary treatment processes, considering its harmful effects on human health.

Implementation of Demand and Supply Functions Related to The Application of Mathematical Science to MSME Products in Pelawi Utara Village, Babalan, Langkat Regency

Implementation of Demand and Supply Functions Related to The Application of Mathematical Science to MSME Products in Pelawi Utara Village, Babalan, Langkat Regency

Measuring ecological effects and policy mechanisms of urban land use transition – a case study of Xi'an, China

ABSTRACT Measuring ecological effects and policy mechanisms of urban Land Use Transition (LUT) is the key to understanding regional environmental changes and achieving sustainable urban developments. This paper illustrates and demonstrates a formal method for measuring the ecological effect of LUT characterized by Ecological Security Index (ESI) and Ecosystem Value (ESV), and enhanced with a correlational analysis between the ecological effect model and urban policy mechanism. Using Xi'an, a major capital city of western China as a case study, based on multi-temporal Thematic Mapper (TM) remote sensing images, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and relevant statistical data, the results show that the method using ESI and ESV, together with the Land Use Transition Probability Matrix (LUTPM) can comprehensively measure the ecological effects of LUT process in Xi'an from 2000 to 2020. The results show that due to the impact of urban expansion, regional construction land increased significantly (by 67.07%), while farmland decreased considerably (by 13.12%). The farmland and forestland around the main urban area of Xi'an were centrally converted into construction land, yet the mutual transition of other types of land was relatively scattered. The total amount of ESV has slightly increased from 40.1 billion yuan to 42.8 billion yuan, and the proportion of ecological service function value presents a decreasing trend in regulation function (65%), support function (22%), supply function (9%), and cultural function (4%). The ESI value slightly decreased from 0.517 to 0.512, and overall it is still in a state of ecological security. The trend of ESV and ESI decreasing from mountainous areas to plains indicates that high-intensity human activities in plain areas have had a significant impact on the ecological environment. The correlation analysis between policy mechanisms and ecological effects indicates that ecological protection policies have improved the ecological environment and maintain ecological security (high ESV-high ESI mode), and may also have limited economic activities and been detrimental to the security of urban composite ecosystems (high ESV-low ESI mode). Spatial expansion policies have driven the rapid growth of construction land and threatened ecological security (low ESV-low ESI mode). Zoning adjustment policies have led to the transformation of ecological land to construction land, threatening ecological security and reducing ESV (low ESV-low ESI mode), and may also have promoted industrial upgrading and economic development, providing economic assurance for improving ecological security (low ESV-high ESI mode). These comprehensive findings provide valuable insights for understanding the ecological effects and policy mechanisms of LUT in Xi'an for achieving sustainable urban development, and demonstrate and explore a novel method to more appropriately and effectively measure LUT by combining ESV and ESI.

The Effect of Using Modern Varieties Technology on The Transfer of The Supply Function of The Rice Crop in The Egypt

The Effect of Using Modern Varieties Technology on The Transfer of The Supply Function of The Rice Crop in The Egypt

Iodine supply and thyroid function in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a cohort study.

Maternal urinary iodine concentration and blood neonatal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentration reflect iodine status in pregnancy and serve as markers of iodine deficiency. As dietary measures in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) could affect iodine intake, our study aimed to investigate iodine supply in women with GDM compared to healthy pregnant women and to evaluate its relationship to maternal and neonatal thyroid function. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and serum TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), and autoantibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAb) were analyzed in 195 women with GDM and 88 healthy pregnant women in the second trimester. Subsequently, neonatal TSH concentrations measured 72 h after delivery in a subgroup of 154 newborns (115 of mothers with GDM and 39 controls) from the national register were analyzed. Median UIC was significantly lower in women with GDM compared to controls (89.50 µg/L vs. 150.05 µg/L; P < 0.001). Optimal iodine intake was found only in nine women with GDM (4.6%) and 33 healthy pregnant women (37.5%) (P < 0.001). Most pregnant women with GDM (88.7%) compared to one half of controls (50%) had iodine deficiency (P < 0.001). Although serum TSH and the prevalence of hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.0 mIU/L) were not different in both groups, hypothyroxinaemia was more prevalent in GDM compared to controls (12.3% vs 3.4%, P = 0.032). Consistently, neonatal TSH > 5.0 mIU/L indicating iodine deficiency, was found in 6 (5.2%) newborns of women with GDM as compared to none in controls. In women with GDM, the prevalence of perinatal complications was significantly lower in those who were taking dietary iodine supplements compared to those who were not (3/39 (7.69%) vs 46/156 (28.85%), P <0.001). In the multiple logistic and linear regression models in women with GDM, hypothyroxinaemia was associated with preterm births, and a negative association of serum FT4 and HbA1c was found. Iodine deficiency in pregnancy was more prevalent among women with GDM compared to healthy pregnant controls. Serum FT4 negatively correlated with HbA1c, and hypothyroxinaemia was associated with preterm births in women with GDM. Conversely, women with GDM who used dietary iodine supplements had a lower risk of perinatal complications.

Reshaping perspectives of deep-sea benthic function

Bioturbation is a key ecosystem function with a fundamental role in mediating major biogeochemical cycles. The intensity and depth of bioturbation is influenced by the taxa present, which is often a function of food supply. The deep sea is generally oligotrophic with sediments composed predominantly of small, shallow burrowing macrofauna (&amp;lt;10 cm). Human activity is increasingly introducing POC to the deep-sea, however, organic enrichment of the deep-sea, and the subsequent response of bioturbators is poorly understood. Here we present data on benthic function in deep-sea systems that have experienced organic enrichment. We show that organic enrichment enhances deep-sea bioturbation through larger, advanced successional taxa, and deeper bioturbation depths. Enhanced bioturbation in the deep-sea should confer positive ecosystem functions (nutrient recycling, microbiological activity, remineralization), but adherence to approaches and interpretations guided by the paradigm of small, shallow-burrowing infauna could significantly underestimate deep-sea benthic processes at a global scale.

Functional partitioning synergistically enhances multi-scenario nitrate reduction

The promising electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNitRR) for distributed ammonia synthesis requires the fine design of functionally compartmentalised and synergistically complementary integrated catalysts to meet the needs of low-cost and efficient ammonia synthesis. Herein, the partitionable CoP3 and Cu3P modules were built on the copper foam substrate, and the functional differentiation promoted the catalytic performance of the surface accordion-like CoP3/Cu3P@CF for eNitRR in complex water environment. Where the ammonia yield rate is as high as 23988.2 μg h−1 cm−2, and the Faradaic efficiency is close to 100 %. With CoP3/Cu3P@CF as the core, the assembled high-performance Zn-nitrate flow battery can realize the dual function of ammonia production and power supply, and can also realize the continuous production of ammonia with high selectivity driven by solar energy. The ammonia recovery reaches 753.9 mg L-1, which shows the superiority of CoP3/Cu3P@CF in multiple application scenarios and provides important experience for the vigorous development of eNitRR. Density functional theory calculation reveal that CoP3 and Cu3P sites play a relay synergistic role in eNitRR catalyzed by CoP3/Cu3P@CF. CoP3 first promotes the activation of NO3– to *NO3H, and then continuously provides proton hydrogen for the eNitRR on the surface of Cu3P, which relays the synergistic catalytic effect to promote the efficient conversion of NO3– to NH3. This study not only develops a catalyst that can promote the efficient reduction of NO3– to ammonia through an easy-to-obtain innovative strategy, but also provides an alternative strategy for the development of eNitRR that is suitable for multiple scenarios and meets the production conditions.

Evolution and Driving Forces of Ecological Service Value in Response to Land Use Change in Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The main objective of protecting ecosystems and enhancing the supply of ecosystem services (ESs) is to quantify the value of ecological services. This article calculates the ecological service value (ESV) of the Tarim Basin over the past 40 years using the improved benefits transfer method of satellite remote sensing data, such as Landsat, analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ESV, and studies the driving mechanism of ESV changes using GeoDetector. Finally, the FLUS model was selected to predict the ecosystem service value until 2030, setting up three scenarios: the Baseline Scenario (BLS), the Cultivated Land Protection Scenario (CPS), and the Ecological Protection Scenario (EPS). The results indicate that (1) the ESV in the Tarim Basin decreased by USD 1248.21 million (−2.29%) from 1980 to 2020. The top three contributors are water bodies, wetlands, and grassland. (2) Waste treatment and water supply functions had the highest service value, accounting for 44.53% of the total contribution. The rank order of ecosystem functions in terms of their contribution to the total value of ESV was as follows, refining from high to low importance: water supply, waste treatment, biodiversity protection, climate regulation, soil formation, recreation and culture, gas regulation, food production, raw material. (3) The spatial differentiation driving factors of ESV were detected, with the following Q-values in descending order: net primary productivity (NPP) &gt; normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) &gt; precipitation &gt; aspect &gt; temperature &gt; slope &gt; soil erosion &gt; GDP &gt; land use intensity &gt; per capita GDP &gt; population &gt; human activity index. (4) The ESVs simulated under the three scenarios (BLS, CPS, and EPS) for 2030 were USD 51,133.9 million, USD 53,624.99 million, and USD 54,561.26 million, respectively. Compared with 2020, the ESVs of the three scenarios decreased as follows: BLS (USD 4209.33 million), CPS (USD 1718.24 million), and EPS USD (−781.97 million). These findings are significant for maintaining the integrity and sustainability of the large-scale ecosystem, where socioeconomic development and the fragile features of the natural ecosystem interact. Additionally, the study results provide a crucial foundation for governmental decision-makers, local residents, and environmental researchers in northwest China to promote sustainable development.

Dual effects of additional food supply and threshold control on the dynamics of a Leslie–Gower model with pest herd behavior

Bemisia tabaci is a major agricultural pest and recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as the second largest pest in the world. This paper aims to study the management of Bemisia tabaci from theoretical aspects. Firstly, considering the omnivorous nature of natural enemy species and pest herd behavior, a Leslie–Gower type pest-natural enemy model with additional food supply and non-differentiable rational uptake function is put forward, and the effects of additional food supply and aggregation efficiency on the dynamical behavior of the system are analyzed. Secondly, for the slowness of pest control by natural enemy species, a threshold control strategy is adopted to prevent the spread of Bemisia tabaci by spraying a certain intensity of insecticides and releasing a certain number of natural enemies. The complex dynamics of the system induced by the threshold control are discussed such as the existence of predator-extinction periodic solution, the existence and stability of coexisting order-1 periodic solution. Thirdly, from the perspective of cost control, an optimization problem is constructed based on the existence of the order-1 periodic solution, and the optimal control threshold, control strength and control frequency are determined. At last, to illustrate the theoretical results more intuitively, the numerical simulations in MATLAB program are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and practical significance of the control measures. The results of this study provide a reference for the scientific and reasonable management of Bemisia tabaci and is helpful to realize the sustainable development of agricultural production.

Multi-faceted effects of NaCl on salt-tolerant microalgae Golenkinia sp. SDEC-16

The salt-tolerant microalgae are extremely few and salt-tolerance mechanism is unclear, requiring urgent exploration of salt-tolerance mechanism of known microalgae. This study was first to reveal the salt-tolerance mechanism of Golenkinia sp. SDEC-16 by investigating the growth and metabolism under different salinities and high salinity long-term cultivation. SDEC-16 can survive under high salinity and resume normal growth after NaCl removal. Under long-term stress, SDEC-16 had higher lipid content and productivity than BG11. However, the suppressed Fv/Fm (58.4%) and Fv/F0 (84.0%) along with the increased reactive oxygen species (×6.6), and superoxide dismutase (×1.7) during the treatment revealed NaCl-induced photosynthetic inhibition and oxidative stress. RNA sequencing results showed inhibition of the photosynthetic system, and the enhancement of pathways such as nitrogen metabolism, energy metabolism, and lipid synthesis contributed to the good function of chloroplast, energy supply, and metabolic activity of SDEC-16. This study provides theoretical support for large-scale microalgal cultivation in seawater.

A WSe2 based hydrogel evaporator for water purification and solar desalination

To solve the dilemma of water pollution and clean water shortage, an optimized interface evaporator was proposed, whose structure included a CeO2 floating layer (CCF) and a WSe2 hydrogel (WAH). The CCF loaded by superhydrophobic CeO2 achieved a non-wetting state with a contact angle of 160.6°, and the selective adsorption of the floating oil was realized. In order to synchronously solve the dye-containing sewage discharged by textile factories, synthetic bismuth oxychloride/bismuth tungstate was deposited on the surface of CCF, and a Z-type heterostructure was determined by calculating the band structure. The WAH grown with a polyurethane sponge as the backbone had excellent hydrophilic properties, with water droplets spreading on the surface for less than 20 ms with a plastic deformation of less than 5 % after 10 cycles at a strain of 30 %. The WAH plays the function of photothermal conversion and water supply. The interface evaporator is designed for its versatility, which is suitable for desalination that requires salt suppression capacity, and is also applied to inland sewage to produce clean steam.

Forest disturbance thresholds on summer low flows in the interior of British Columbia, Canada

Summer low flows are critically important for community water supply and various aquatic functions in the interior of British Columbia (BC), Canada. There is a critical need to determine forest disturbance thresholds on summer low flows, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing forest disturbance. The forest disturbance threshold is defined as the disturbance level above which significant changes in flow variables are detected. In this study, we developed a seasonal hydrological response curve to determine forest disturbance thresholds for significant hydrological impacts on summer low flows in 20 forested watersheds in the BC interior. Based on the proposed method, the results suggest that forest disturbance thresholds varied from 8 to 52 % of CECA (cumulative equivalent clear-cut area) with an average of 18 %, which were not significantly different from thresholds on annual streamflow. Watersheds characterized by more distinct dry summers, lower annual energy availability, higher snow contributions, larger sizes, and greater topographic gradients (represented by greater slope, elevation difference, and downslope distance gradient, and lower water retention index) had lower disturbance thresholds on summer low flows. Both positive (increasing) and negative (decreasing) impacts of forest disturbance on summer low flows were detected. These results can greatly support practical watershed management for sustaining water supply in the local communities. Our methodology can potentially be applied in any individual watershed to assess forest disturbance thresholds on summer low flows where long-term data on forest disturbance, climate, and hydrology are available.