Yield Values Research Articles

Enzymatization of Nila Fish (Oreochromis Niloticus) Protein Hydolysate by Combination of Bromelin and Pepsin Enzymes

Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a freshwater fish with better nutritional content compared to other freshwater fish, making it suitable for use as a source for protein hydrolysate production. Protein hydrolysate is the result of the breakdown of protein into short-chain compounds through hydrolysis. This research aims to hydrolyze the minced Nile tilapia meat using a combination of bromelain and pepsin enzymes at a concentration of 5% and pH 7 conditions for 5-6 hours. The hydrolysis results using the combination of bromelain and pepsin enzymes (B100: P0) have a yield value of 12.68%, ash content of 2.94%, protein of 57.25%, water 2.65%, and fat 10.25% with a degree of hydrolysis of 61.46%. The hydrolysate has antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria with inhibition zones of approximately 8.3 mm and 8.5 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 1 (mg/µL), contains 15 types of amino acids with the highest composition being lysine 5.12% and the highest non-essential amino acid being aspartic acid 5.75%.

Optimization of pretreatment protocol for strontium-90 analysis in marine fish bone samples.

For systematic monitoring of radioactive nuclides in marine products, this study aimed at streamlining and simplifying the analysis method for the prominent radioisotope, strontium-90 (90Sr). The DGA chelate solid-phase extraction technique was employed for enhanced efficiency. The study focused on optimizing the necessary pretreatment procedures while minimizing the steps involving HNO3 leaching. This protocol enabled the quantitative recovery of strontium, and it facilitated a rapid analysis without the need for a time-consuming evaporation step and without waiting for secular equilibrium between 90Sr and its progeny to be reached. The method incorporating the optimized pretreatment protocol was applied to three diverse marine fish species and the accurate quantification of 90Sr at background levels in surface seawater was achieved. The method obtained concentrations in bone samples from these species that ranged from 0.036 to 0.120 mBq per kg-dry, and chemical yield values were notably high, ranging from 87.7% to 92.5%.

Genetic Analysis of Yield, Protein, and Oil Traits in Soybean Diallel Crosses for Enhanced Crop Quality and Productivity

The study was conducted at Sakha Research Station, ARC, Egypt, during three successive seasons from 2021 to 2023. A half diallel cross of fifteen F1 and F2 generations in addition to the six soybean parental genotypes namely, Japanese 13, Giza 111, Crawford, H18L54, Nc92-2231 and Linford were evaluated to determine the genetic behavior of yield and its components traits in both F1 and F2 generations, as well as seed protein and oil contents in F1. Results indicated that mean squares of General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) were significant and highly significant for all the studied characters of soybean genotypes in F1’s and F2’s, except SCA for 100-seed weight in F2’s only. The GCA/SCA ratios were less than unity in all traits, indicating that, the non-additive gene effects seemed to be responsible for the inheritance of these traits. The parental genotypes; H18L54, Nc 92-2231 and Linford seemed to be excellent combiners for days to flowering and maturity; however, Giza 111 and Japanese 13 were good combiners for seed yield. Meanwhile, Giza 111 was a good combiner for protein and oil content; also, H18L54 and Nc 92-2231 were good combiners for protein content. The crosses C7, C9, C10, C11 and C13 were earlier for maturity date, and also showed the most negative significant desirable Ŝij effects. The best (Ŝij) values in F2 were shown in the C1, C5, C8 and C15 crosses for seed yield/plant, these crosses also had the highest seed yield values in F2. The crosses; C5 and C8 showed significant to highly significant positive heterotic effects relative to the better parent for protein% and seed yield per plant. In addition three crosses; C13, C14, and C15 had highly significant positive heterotic effects relative to the better parent for oil % and seed yield per plant.

Utilizing Dairy Waste Processing for Organic Agricultural Production: A Sustainable Approach to Producing Organic Goods

Resources are limited. Thus, farmers worldwide are trying to use their waste to best extract value that can promote environmentally friendly farming. Recycling dairy waste for organic cultivation seems to be one of the alternative approaches to pursuing environmentally friendly agriculture. This study investigates whether or not dairy waste treatment could improve organic crop production and promote a circular economy. This endeavor examines the credible benefits, obstacles, and consequences of incorporating dairy waste into organic farming practices. Using System Dynamics and case study approaches, including field trials, agricultural evaluation of data, and discussions with stakeholders, the research strategy advocates investigating how dairy waste-derived fertilizers influence soil fertility, crop productivity, and product quality. Interaction with stakeholders helps evaluate the viewpoints of growers, dairy producers, legislators, and consumers regarding adopting dairy waste treatment for organic agricultural growth. This study demonstrates how dairy waste processing can serve as a significant source of biofertilizer for organic farming. The beneficial impact of organic fertilizer derived from farm waste improves the nutritional value of organic crops, crop yield, and soil health. The crop production information collected in the study demonstrates that dairy waste-derived fertilizers are nutrient-dense and could substitute for manufactured/chemical fertilizers economically and environmentally. This study emphasizes the need for creative ideas to improve agricultural sustainability. The present study advances the understanding of sustainable agriculture and offers practical advice to those looking to use greener methods of operation.

Site-specific effects of fertilizer on hay and grain yields of oats: evidence from large-scale field experiments.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is a valuable crop due to its strong adaptability to marginal environments, making it an important component of agricultural systems in regions where other cereals may not thrive. The application of chemical fertilizer can influence oat hay and grain yield significantly. However, large-scale meta-analytical studies of the size and variability of oat hay and grain yields in response to fertilizer addition are still lacking. Based on 83 studies worldwide, this meta-analysis quantifies the impact of the addition of fertilizer on oat hay and grain yields under varying environmental conditions (e.g., soil nutrient levels, texture, and climate). The results confirmed that the fertilizer application increased oat hay yield by 48.9% and grain yield by 36.2%. This study demonstrated that balanced fertilization with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium generally enhances oat hay and grain yield despite large temporal and spatial variations. Boosted regression tree (BRT) models suggest that changes in hay and grain yield were primarily dominated by soil pH and nitrogen fertilizer. The response ratio (the natural logarithm of the mean values of hay yield or grain yield with and without fertilization, respectively) of hay yield declined linearly with soil pH. Elevation was the second most important factor affecting the change in response ratio of hay yield and the third most important factor affecting the change in response ratio of grain yield but climatic conditions were not the dominant factors affecting changes in oat hay or grain yield. Overall, these results will benefit producers considering site-specific fertilization management of oat. They could increase yields and save investment in fertilizer, and help to facilitate the genetic breeding of oat varieties with high nutrient use efficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Secondary and Multi-micronutrient (S, B & Zn) Doses on Yield and Residual Effect on Rice-groundnut Cropping System in Alfisols of Odisha, India

Orissa is the fourth largest state in India covering an area of 15.57 m ha out of which the net sown area is 6.13 m ha. Out of 8 broad soil groups found in the state, red and laterite groups of soil occupy more than 75% of total cultivable area. Low productivity of crops in red and laterite soils are associated with deficiency of Ca, Mg, S, B and Mo (Mitra and Sahu, 1988). The DTPA extractable Zn also indicates that red and laterite soils of Orissa is deficient in available Zn and respondent to Zn application to rice crop (Anonymous, 2002; Mandal et al., 2009). Next to Zn, the deficiency of B is wide spread in many districts of the state as well as contrary (Sharma et al., 2006). Rice-Groundnut is the most prevailing cropping pattern in red and Lateritic soils of Orissa. In spite of recommended dose of NPK fertilizer, the farmers get low yield. A field experiments were carried out with rice-groundnut cropping systems in two successive cropping seasons each, to study the effect of S, B and Zn on grain yield, nutrient uptake and their accumulation. The experimental design included ten treatments, T1: control, T2 : S 40 kg/ha, T3 : B 1 kg/ha, T4 : Zn 5 kg/ha, T5 : FYM 5 t/ha, T6 : S+B, T7 : S+Zn, T8 : B+Zn, T9 : S+B+Zn and T10 : S+B+Zn+FYM replicated thrice in randomized block design. Integrated use of S + B + Zn with FYM was the ideal combination for rice-groundnut cropping system as it was more sustainable, recorded the highest yield and SYI value along with higher accumulation and uptake of nutrients. The results revealed that red and lateritic soils are poor in S and B need integrated use of S, B and Zn along with recommended dose of NPK for getting synergistic and best effect in rice-groundnut cropping system.

The Effect of Variety and Fungicide Application on Yellow Rust (<i>Pucciniastriiformis</i>f.sp<i>tritici</i>) Disease of Bread Wheat (<i>Triticumaestivum</i>L.) in East <i>Gojjam</i>, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to evaluate effects of bread wheat variety and fungicide application on yellow rust epidemics under natural field conditions at Debre Markos University research site, East Gojjam Zone in the main cropping season of 2021/2022 year. Three different fungicides (Tilt (25EC), Natura (250 EW), and Takeoff (293 SC) including fungicide unsprayed combined with five improved wheat varieties (Honkolo, Wane, Liben, Lemu and Kakaba) were used in the experiment and the experiment was laid out in RCBD design with factorial arrangement and replicated three time. Disease data’s (severity, AUDPC, incidence and grain yield were recorded. The maximum disease incidence (100 %), initial and final disease severity (39.75 at 57 DAP and 66.66% at 78 DAP) and AUDPC (1770.71 %-day) recorded from fungicide unsprayed plot on Honkolo variety. But the lowest disease incidence (1.50 %), initial and final severity (1.89 % at 57 DAP and 2.36 % at 78 DAP) and AUDPC (78.93 % - day) were recorded from the combination of Liben variety with Natura (250% EW) fungicide treatment. Moreover, the maximum grain yield (6.00 t/ha) was obtained from combination of Kakaba variety and Natura (250 EW) fungicide treatment plot. While the minimum yield (3.00 t/ha) was recorded from fungicide unsprayed Honkolo variety. Natura (250 EW) fungicide sprayed varieties were effective to against yellow rust and gave the highest values of yield over unsprayed plots and other fungicides application. However, Combination of Kakaba variety and Natura (250 EW) fungicide application was more feasible than other treatments.

Optimizing sunflower yield: Understanding pollinator contribution to inform agri-environmental strategies

ContextThe agricultural intensification due to global increased food demand has harmed pollinator communities worldwide. However, some of the economically most important oilseed crops, such as the sunflower, depend on pollinators to produce seeds. While self-fertile varieties have undergone genetic selection to guarantee productivity, the pollinator-dependence levels and the economic contribution of pollinators have not been fully estimated. ObjectiveHere, we aimed to explore floral and pollinator constraints limiting the agricultural yield of sunflower varieties most frequently used in the Iberian Peninsula. MethodsPollination experiments were undertaken to analyse the pollinator-dependence level of 12 varieties under controlled conditions and also under natural conditions in 23 fields of two Spanish agricultural regions. The selfing ability and economic contribution of pollinators were estimated by comparing bagged and open-pollination treatments. ResultsOur results showed that the degree of pollinator-dependence is highly dependent on sunflower variety, with impacts on production and productivity outcomes, e.g. individual plant yield values varied between 0.188 and 0.692. Several varieties could self-fertilize and produce seeds regardless of pollinators. However, outcrossing significantly increased seed set in most varieties with increments up to 0.341. Overall, a trade-off between the number and weight of seeds was observed. Under natural field conditions, pollinators significantly increased overall sunflower production, although differences were observed among regions (increment of 275 kg/ha in Burgos and 382 kg/ha in Cuenca), with an associated economic outcome. ConclusionsThe self-fertilization ability and the level of pollinator-dependence vary according to the intrinsic reproductive traits of the variety analysed. Although some varieties are able to produce seeds despite the absence of pollinators, the sunflower clearly benefits from insect pollination. The landscape context and the availability of pollinator communities influenced the final crop yield and the economic outcome. SignificanceCombining landscape-restoring interventions with the cultivation of self-compatible varieties during at least the first years of implementation may be a solid additional agri-environmental strategy to maintain production levels and economic outcomes, which may particularly mitigate effects of pollinator and biodiversity losses mainly in highly simplified agroecosystems.

Salicylic acid altered the fatty acids compositions and nutrient status of shallot (Allium hirtifolium) grown under drought stress

In arid and semi-arid regions, water shortage is a persistent challenge, significantly affecting plant growth and productivity. To mitigate the detrimental effects of drought, the use of plant growth regulators, such as salicylic acid (SA), has proven to be an effective strategy for enhancing plant resilience, as well as improving yield and quality. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SA on the nutrient composition, yield, and overall quality of shallot plants over three cropping seasons (2020, 2021, and 2022) under drought stress conditions. A split-plot design with four replicates was employed, where irrigation levels (0 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 % of the plant's water requirements) were the main factor, and varying concentrations of SA (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mM) were the secondary factor. The results revealed that drought stress increased the concentrations of key micronutrients—iron, copper, sodium, potassium, manganese, and zinc—while reducing magnesium content, ash content, and overall yield. However, the application of SA counteracted these effects by significantly enhancing magnesium content, ash content, and yield in shallot plants. In addition, drought stress increased the levels of palmitic, palmitoleic, and oleic acids while reducing the levels of stearic, linoleic, and linolenic acids. The highest concentrations of linoleic acid (ω6, 110.1 mg) and linolenic acid (ω3, 24.242 mg) were recorded under full irrigation and 75 % water requirement treatments, respectively. SA application further enhanced the levels of stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids, improving the overall nutritional quality of shallot plants. In conclusion, the application of optimal concentrations of SA significantly improves the yield, quality, and nutritional value of shallot plants under drought stress, making it a valuable approach for managing water stress in agriculture.

The Gas Generation Process and Modeling of the Source Rock from the Yacheng Formation in the Yanan Depression, South China Sea

The research on deepwater oil and gas exploration areas is relatively limited, and sample collection is difficult. A drilled coal sample from Yanan Depression was used to investigate the hydrocarbon generation process, and the potential, by a gold tube thermal simulation experiment. The results show that the total gas yield was much higher than the oil yield. According to an analysis of the gas pyrolysis data, as represented by ln(C1/C2) and ln(C2/C3), the gas generation process consisted of two forms, namely, primary gas with ~1.33% Ro and secondary gas that occurred at levels greater than 1.33% Ro. The primary gas from kerogen was generated at ~1.33% Ro, which coincided with the %Ro value of the maximum oil yield. The activation energy distribution of the C1–C5 generation processes ranged from 54 to 72 kcal/mol, with a frequency factor of 6.686 × 1014 s−1 for the coal sample. We constructed the history of gas generation on the basis of the process and kinetic parameters, combined with data on the sedimentary burial and thermal history. The extrapolation of the gas history revealed that the gas has been generated from 5 Ma to the present, with a maximum yield of 178.5 mg/gTOC. This history suggests that the coal has good primary gas generation potential and provides favorable gas source conditions for the formation of gas fields. This study provides a favorable basis for expanding the effective source rock areas.

Investigation of biomass gasification and fluidization behaviour for pilot double tapered bubbling fluidized bed reactor.

The present investigation discusses syngas production through gasification from six different bamboo biomass species available in India's northeast region (Mizoram). The thermochemical conversion of biomass to syngas is accomplished in a novel double-tapered reactor. The pre-processing stage of biomasses includes various shredding, drying, and sieving methods. In the processing stage, the biomass (20g) is fed to the reactor regularly. The heating element in the interior of the reactor supplies the heat required (600-1000°C) for the combustion and gasification of biomass samples. The influence of various particle sizes on bed voidage, pressure drop, bed height, suspension density, gas yield, heat transfer, and carbon conversion efficiency is studied. The tapered reactor enhanced the bed hydrodynamics. It is observed that the H2 and CO2 composition increases with the temperature (> 900°C), whereas the CO composition is reduced as a result of the shift reaction. However, the CH4 yield is enhanced at a temperature (< 800°C) but lessened at higher temperatures due to a reduction in moisture content. The carbon conversion efficiency (CCE) and the dry gas yield (YG) values obtained are better for the particle size of 1.18mm than the other particle sizes. The energy from biomass resources is promising regarding sustainability, availability, and efficacy. The current approach discusses the syngas generation from bamboo biomass through gasification under varied temperature ranges (600-1000°C), equivalence ratio (0.2), particle sizes (380µm, 600µm, and 1.18mm), superficial velocity (0-2m/s) in a pilot 5kg/h DTBFBR of height 1.2m and maximum inner diameter of 16.5cm.

Assessment of dew harvesting as a sustainable water source and air quality indicator: a case study of Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

ABSTRACT Dew formation takes place when atmospheric water vapor condenses on the surface which cools down due to radiation deficit. As it is a local phenomenon, its study gives information about the pollutants present in the atmosphere. Also, since dew formation is a natural phenomenon, and involves passive cooling, this can be a potential method for atmospheric water harvesting. The main intention of this present research work was the collection of dew samples and their analysis for yield and chemical composition. Dew samples were collected on a self-fabricated dew collection set up during the winter season. In total 30 dew samples were collected and analyzed for ionic constituents. The results were then compared to those of rain samples. The pH of dew was found to be in the range of 7-8.7, showing the neutral to alkaline nature of dew. Ionic compositions were higher in dew than in rain. While sulfate largely contributed to the ion composition of dew, nitrate was the least contributing ion. The average concentration for sulfate and nitrate in dew were found to be 0.55 and 0.03 meq/L, respectively. The average yield of dew was found to be 0.13L/m2. This yield value from the simplest of collection set-up ensures that dew can be considered as the potential water source with advanced condensing material and passive/active cooling in arid and semi-arid regions.

Environment, Soil, and Digestate Interaction of Maize Silage and Biogas Production

In this study are presented the possibilities of using maize silage for biogas production. An experiment with maize silage took place over three years (2016–2018) in two localities, Ilandža, Alibunar municipality (L1—Locality 1) and Dolovo (L2—Locality 2), Serbia, and using two variants: a control with no digestate (C) and a variant with digestate, which was organic manure from biogas facilities (AD). In the AD variant, 50 t ha−1 of digestate was introduced into the soil just before sowing the maize. The following traits were examined: plant height (PH), biomass yield (BMY), biogas yield (BGY), and methane yield (MY). The effects of the studied factors (year, fertilization, and locality) on the biogas yield were significant (p &lt; 0.5). The most favorable year for biogas production was 2016 (207.95 m3 ha−1), while the highest values of maize plant height, biomass, and methane yield were recorded in 2018 (2.48 m, 51.15 t ha−1 dry matter, and 258.25 m3 ha−1). The digestate exerted a significant influence (p &lt; 0.5) on the values of all the tested maize parameters in all three experimental years. The biomass yield was positively associated with the plant height, biogas, and methane yield (r = 0.62 *; r = 0.70 *; r = 0.81 **) and positively but nonsignificantly associated with temperature (r = 0.42) and precipitation (r = 0.12). The application of the digestate before sowing improves the anaerobic digestion of maize silage and biogas production.

New experimental methodology for determining the second crossover energy in insulators under stationary e-irradiation in a SEM

A new experimental methodology is proposed which uses the electrostatic influence method (EIM) in scanning electron microscope (SEM) in order to estimate the second crossover energy EC2 for uncharged insulators. This experimental methodology based on simultaneous time measurement of the displacement and leakage currents, is approached to the short pulse irradiation technique but under stationary e-irradiation and allows determining the intrinsic secondary electron emission yield, σ0 (σ0 is the value of the total secondary electron yield just at the beginning of the irradiation before significant charge accumulation or before the formation of a surface potential). The obtained value of EC2 for soda-lime glass is confirmed by two additional experiments based on secondary electron imaging. This value is in good agreement with those previously obtained by other studies based on the surface potential measurement or the pulsed irradiation technique.

P270 Real-world experience of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer at a university center: Role of nodal yield and prognostic value of pathological response and nutritional index

P270 Real-world experience of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in muscle invasive bladder cancer at a university center: Role of nodal yield and prognostic value of pathological response and nutritional index

Fabrication of core–shell nanostructure via novel ligand-defect reassembly strategy for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and NO removal

The core–shell structure often exhibits unique properties, resulting in superior physical and chemical performance distinct from individual component in the field of photocatalysis. However, traditional prepared methods such as template synthesis and layer-by-layer self-assembly are relatively complex. Therefore, it is necessary to explore an efficient and expedient approach. Here, we have proposed a convenient method to gradually destroy the terephthalic acid (BDC) of MIL-125 from the outer to inner layers through hydrothermal stirring, followed by reassembling with photosensitive 2-amino-terephthalic acid (BDC-NH2) into the exposed Ti-oxo clusters left by the BDC to create photocatalysts featuring a core–shell configuration. The special core–shell sample with the analogous mixture of MIL-125 and MIL-125-NH2 function as a high-performance dual-functional photocatalyst for hydrogen generation and NO elimination. The optimal core–shell material (M-125-45-N) exhibits an outstanding photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 3.74 mmol·g−1·h−1 and an excellent photocatalytic NO removal rate of 70.15 %. The apparent quantum yield (AQY) value and solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency (STH) at specific wavelengths are also investigated. The Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, In-situ Fourier transform infrared (In-situ FT-IR) and Electron spin resonance (ESR) have suggested that the enhanced photocatalytic activity of optimal core–shell material arised from its stronger adsorption capacity towards reactants, promoting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) conducive to photocatalytic reactions. This study represents the first investigation of a dual functional core–shell MOFs formed via ligand-defect reassembly, showcasing the excellent efficacy in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and NO removal, which contributes to the feasible development of novel dual-functional photocatalysts with core–shell structures.

Multi-trait selection for mean performance and stability in purple-fleshed sweet potato

Few purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) cultivars are available for Brazilian growers, urging for the development of new and adapted cultivars. PFSP breeding programs should include multiple traits during the selection process to increase the chances of developing an adequate genotype, specially yield-related and quality-related traits. The objective was to select promising PFSP genotypes based on yield and tuberous-roots-related traits exploring genotype x environment interaction (GEI). Four experiments were carried out, in which 23 pre-selected PFSP genotypes were evaluated based on yield and quality traits, after screening among 2500 experimental genotypes. The first experiment adopted an augmented block design, with ‘Luiza’ interspersed as a control. From this first experiment, the 19 experimental genotypes with the best performance were selected for the following three experiments, which were conducted in a randomized block experimental design, with three replications each, including ‘Luiza’ as control. The best genotypes were selected in the first experiment using the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI). For the following experiments, the performance of the genotypes was assessed using deviance analysis, genotypic stability through weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB) index, and the multi-trait stability index (MTSI). In the first experiment, three factors were retained, being associated to commercial production of tuberous roots (‘K-104′, ‘K-25′ and ‘U1–29′), total production of tuberous roots (‘K-110′, ‘C-42′, ‘F-16′, and ‘U1–29′), and quality of tuberous roots (‘F-22′), respectively. Desired gains were observed for all traits. For the experiments II, III, and IV five factors were retained, being four related to quality of tuberous roots and one to yield components. The GEI was significant for yield-related traits and desired gains were observed for most traits. Due to high commercial tuberous root yield and low WAASB values, the genotypes ‘U1–29′, ‘K-98′, ‘F-22′, ‘K-57′, ‘C-36′, ‘U1–15′, ‘K-25′, and ‘U2–12′ were highly productive and stable. The genotypes selected by the MTSI index were ‘U1–15′, ‘U2–10′, ‘U1–29′, ‘K-98′, and ‘K-78′. The multi-trait selection enabled the identification of promising genotypes highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.

Techno-economics of High Ash Coal Gasification: A Machine Learning Approach using CatBoost Model

This work explores the techno-economics of high ash coal gasification using circulating fluidized bed (CFB) gasifier technology at the Talaipalli Coal Mining Project, India being developed by NTPC Limited. The research employs the categorical boosting machine learning algorithm to predict syngas composition, yield, and lower heating value offering an innovative approach to optimize the gasification process. The work compares CFB gasification with conventional coal combustion and establishes it as the most suitable gasification technology due to its feedstock flexibility, technological maturity, and cost-effectiveness. A comprehensive financial analysis reveals a favorable net present value (NPV) of ₹ 20150 Million, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 9.54%, and a payback period of 8.3 years for a 65 MWth CFB gasifier. Sensitivity analysis highlights the influence of key factors such as syngas yield, capital costs, and selling price on financial viability. The environmental benefits, including reduced emissions and waste management, further underscore the value of coal gasification for sustainable energy production. This work aligns with government initiatives like the National Coal Gasification Mission, advocating future research in co-gasification and techno-economic assessments for similar projects.

Micromechanical characteristics of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) made by laser powder bed fusion using an in-situ SEM micropillar compression technique

While titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) made by laser powder bed fusion (L–PBF) exhibits complex deformation behaviors, its important micromechanical properties in relation to loading directions are not fully understood. This research aims to investigate the micromechanical behaviors of printed L–PBF Ti-6Al-4V alloys under vertical (i.e., the loading direction perpendicular to printed layers) and horizontal (i.e., the loading direction parallel to printed layers) compressions using in-situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micropillar techniques. Ti-6Al-4V alloys were L-PBF-printed using a 45° rotate scanning strategy with vertical and horizontal build directions. The microstructures of the two alloys were analyzed using the SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The titanium alloy micropillars were produced using focused ion beam (FIB) milling in the SEM. In-situ SEM micropillar compressions were conducted using a flat diamond indenter. Vertical alloy had smaller cross-patterned finer α′ martensite than horizontal one. While both vertical and horizontal micropillars showed elastic-plastic behaviors, the former had significantly higher yield, fracture, and compression strength values, as well as resilience and toughness, than the latter, leading to the formation of favorable shear bands. Both micropillars exhibited ductile fractures but had distinct failure mechanisms. The ductile fracture in the vertical micropillars was due to strain hardening, large plastic deformation, and shear band formation, while the ductile fracture in the horizontal ones was attributed to compression-induced bending and plastic buckling. The micromechanical characteristics of L–PBF Ti-6Al-4V materials provides an important insight into the small-scale deformation and failure mechanisms of the alloys influenced by loading directions.

Boosting Stevia's sweetness: Growth regulators mitigate salt stress and enhance steviol glycosides

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant species with sweet-tasting leaves that can be used as a natural, low-calorie sweetener with potential health benefits. Salt stress can reduce plant growth and productivity, but the application of growth regulators like salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJ), and spermidine (Spd) can manage various plant abiotic stresses and improve plant growth and productivity. In this work, we investigated the role of exogenous SA, MeJ, and Spd in conferring salt stress tolerance in Stevia by analyzing plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl), total phenolic, total carotenoid content, antioxidant defense system and steviol glycosides. The aim of a recent study was to assess the effects of these regulators on Stevia plants under both individual and combined salt stress conditions. Foliar application of these regulators improved plant growth under salt stress, with moderate salinity stress increasing glycoside compounds. SA was most effective in increasing rebaudioside A (Reb A), while MeJ + Spd combination was best for increasing stevioside (Stv) content. Individual applications of Spd, MeJ, and SA significantly impacted plant growth and antioxidant content, although their combined use was less effective. Spd application under salt stress yielded the highest increases in total carotenoid and Chl a content, while MeJ and Spd together significantly boosted Chl b content. The study found that SA enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reduced catalase (CAT) activity under salt stress, whereas MeJ alone increased both CAT and SOD activity. The distinct responses to Spd, SA, and MeJ suggest varied mechanisms in oxidative stress-induced antioxidant production. Overall, the use of these growth regulators can improve the growth, yield, and nutritional value of Stevia under salt stress, offering significant implications for agriculture and food security.