Variation In Capacity Research Articles

Unveiling Resilience: Exploring the Adaptive Capacities of Ghana’s Forest Fringe Communities in the Face of Climate Change

This study employed a comprehensive two-stage sampling method to investigate climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in Ghana, focusing on three distinct ecological zones: Dry Semi Deciduous (DSD), Moist Semi-deciduous (North West) MSDNW, and Savannah (SAV). 600 households from randomly selected communities within each ecozone participated in interviews and questionnaire administration over a two-year data collection period. Data was gathered through questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods for analysis. Descriptive statistical methods were applied to determine socio-economic factors and social vulnerability levels across the ecological zones. The study revealed significant variations in adaptive capacity among the ecological zones. The Savannah (SAV) zone exhibited higher scores in non-farm income-generating activities, adaptive capacity for changing cropping patterns, and adoption of irrigation in response to climate change. Conversely, the Dry Semi-Deciduous (DSD) zone excelled in forest plantation modules, relocation of farming activities due to climatic factors, and modification in agrochemical use. Access to information on climate change varied significantly among ecological zones, emphasizing the necessity for tailored and context-specific strategies. The study's conclusion underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing diverse challenges and opportunities faced by communities in different ecological zones. To enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change in Ghana, the study recommends targeted information dissemination for improved access, support for economic diversification, and promotion of climate-resilient agricultural practices. Emphasizing the role of economic diversification, adaptive agricultural practices, and forest-related measures, the study highlights their critical contribution to building resilience and adaptive capacity in the face of climate change.

Reproductive Ability Disparity in the Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei): Insights from Ovarian Cellular and Molecular Levels.

The Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) is a highly significant species in shrimp aquaculture. In the production of shrimp larvae, noticeable variations in the reproductive capacity among female individuals have been observed. Some females experience slow gonadal development, resulting in the inability to spawn, while others undergo multiple maturations and contribute to the majority of larval supply. Despite numerous studies that have been conducted on the regulatory mechanisms of ovarian development in shrimp, the factors contributing to the differences in reproductive capacity among females remain unclear. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, this study examined the differences in the ovarian characteristics between high and low reproductive bulks at different maturity stages, focusing on the cellular and molecular levels. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the abundance of the endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, mitochondria, and mitochondrial cristae in oocytes of high reproductive bulk was significantly higher than that of the low reproductive bulk in the early stages of ovarian maturation (stages I and II). As the ovaries progressed to late-stage maturation (stages III and IV), differences in the internal structures of oocytes between females with different reproductive capacities gradually diminished. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the mitochondria between two groups, suggesting that energy production processes might play a crucial role in the observed variations in ovary development. The expression levels of the ETS homology factor (EHF) and PRDI-BF1 and RIZ homology domain containing 9 (PRDM9), which were significantly different between the two groups, were compared using qRT-PCR in individuals at different stages of ovarian maturation. The results showed a significantly higher expression of the EHF gene in the ovaries of high reproductive bulk at the II and IV maturity stages compared to the low reproductive bulk, while almost no expression was detected in the eyestalk tissue of the high reproductive bulk. The PRDM9 gene was exclusively expressed in ovarian tissue, with significantly higher expression in the ovaries of the high reproductive bulk at the four maturity stages compared to the low reproductive bulk. Fluorescence in situ hybridization further compared the expression patterns of EHF and PRDM9 in the ovaries of individuals with different fertility levels, with both genes showing stronger positive signals in the high reproductive bulk at the four ovarian stages. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms involved in shrimp ovarian development, but also provide valuable insights for the cultivation of new varieties aimed at improving shrimp fecundity.

Monitoring and influencing factors of grassland livestock overload in Xinjiang from 1982 to 2020.

It is crucial to estimate the theoretical carrying capacity of grasslands in Xinjiang to attain a harmonious balance between grassland and livestock, thereby fostering sustainable development in the livestock industry. However, there has been a lack of quantitative assessments that consider long-term, multi-scale grass-livestock balance and its impacts in the region. This study utilized remote sensing and empirical models to assess the theoretical livestock carrying capacity of grasslands. The multi-scale spatiotemporal variations of the theoretical carrying capacity in Xinjiang from 1982 to 2020 were analyzed using the Sen and Mann-Kendall tests, as well as the Hurst index. The study also examined the county-level grass-livestock balance and inter-annual trends. Additionally, the study employed the geographic detector method to explore the influencing factors. The results showed that: (1) The overall theoretical livestock carrying capacity showed an upward trend from 1982 to 2020; The spatial distribution gradually decreased from north to south and from east to west. In seasonal scale from large to small is: growing season > summer > spring > autumn > winter; at the monthly scale, the strongest livestock carrying capacity is in July. The different grassland types from largest to smallest are: meadow > alpine subalpine meadow > plain steppe > desert steppe > alpine subalpine steppe. In the future, the theoretical livestock carrying capacity of grassland will decrease. (2) From 1988 to 2020, the average grass-livestock balance index in Xinjiang was 2.61%, showing an overall increase. At the county level, the number of overloaded counties showed an overall increasing trend, rising from 46 in 1988 to 58 in 2020. (3) Both single and interaction factors of geographic detectors showed that annual precipitation, altitude and soil organic matter were the main drivers of spatiotemporal dynamics of grassland load in Xinjiang. The results of this study can provide scientific guidance and decision-making basis for achieving coordinated and sustainable development of grassland resources and animal husbandry in the region.

A Study on the Dust Retention Effect of the Vegetation Community in Typical Urban Road Green Spaces—In the Case of Ying Tian Street in Nanjing City

This study aimed to investigate the association between the plant community structure, leaf surface microstructure, nutrient element content, and the dust-retention capacity of garden plants in urban road green spaces. The plant community located along Ying Tian Street in Nanjing City was selected as the focal point of the investigation. Random sampling was performed on the urban road green spaces, determining the amount of dust trapped in plant leaves. Subsequently, the microstructure of the leaf surface was observed, and the content of nutrient elements in the plant leaves was determined. The study also entailed an analysis of the interrelationships between the leaf surface microstructure, plant nutrient element content, and the dust-retention ability of the plants. The findings of this study revealed notable variations in the dust-retention capacity of garden plants and the community structure observed along Ying Tian Street. Among the tree species, Cedrus deodara and Ginkgo biloba exhibited a remarkable dust-retention ability per unit leaf area. Among the shrub species, Abelia × grandiflora and Loropetalum chinense displayed a strong dust-retention capacity per unit leaf area. Similarly, Ophiopogon japonicus and Cynodon dactylon exhibited a robust dust-retention ability per unit leaf area among the herbaceous plants. Furthermore, the dust-retention ability of the plants exhibited a strong positive correlation with the dimensions of leaf stomata, specifically the length and width, while displaying a moderate positive correlation with the width of grooves on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. Conversely, the thickness of the leaves did not exhibit a significant correlation. Additionally, the nitrogen content of the leaves exerted a significant influence on the dust-retention ability of the plants (p < 0.05), although the phosphorus and potassium content factors did not exhibit a significant influence (p > 0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended to prioritize the utilization of plants with robust dust-retention abilities, such as C. deodara, A. grandiflora, O. japonicus, and C. dactylon, and implement a mixed planting approach encompassing a combination of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants within urban road green spaces.

Impact of Recycled Concrete and Brick Aggregates on the Flexural and Bond Performance of Reinforced Concrete

The construction industry strongly relies on concrete and clay bricks for various applications. The escalating demand for these materials, driven by rapid population growth, has led to resource depletion and increased construction and demolition waste (CDW). Recycling CDW into construction materials, particularly in the form of recycled concrete aggregates (RCAs) and recycled brick aggregates (RBAs), has emerged as a promising solution. This study deals with the structural performance of concrete incorporating RCAs and RBAs. The experimental program encompasses material characterization, concrete mix design, and several tests to assess density, compressive strength, bond behavior, and flexural properties. The results indicate that the replacement of fine natural aggregate (NA) with fine RCAs or RBAs has a negligible impact on density, while the partial replacement of coarse NAs with RAs yields modest reductions in compressive strength. Notably, the bond strength between steel rebar and concrete is influenced by the type and content of RA, with specimens containing RCAs exhibiting a higher bond strength than those with RBAs. Empirical models used to predict bond strength generally align with experimental results, with conservative predictions by some models, such as ACI 318, and overestimation by others, such as models proposed by AS-3600 and CEB-FIB. The flexural tests of beams highlight the variation in stiffness and load-bearing capacity with the proportion of NAs replaced by RAs. While beams with 50% NA replacement demonstrate comparable performance to control beams, those with 100% RA replacement exhibit lower cracking and yielding stiffness. Cracking patterns in beams with RAs differ from control beams, with RA-containing beams showing more cracks and an altered crack distribution. The findings underscore the feasibility of using recycled aggregates in construction, with partial NA replacement offering a balance between sustainable material usage and desired structural properties.

Genome-Wide Analysis of the GLK Gene Family and Its Expression at Different Leaf Ages in the Citrus Cultivar Kanpei.

The GLK gene family plays a crucial role in the regulation of chloroplast development and participates in chlorophyll synthesis. However, the precise mechanism by which GLK contributes to citrus's chlorophyll synthesis remains elusive. The GLK gene family causes variations in the photosynthetic capacity and chlorophyll synthesis of different citrus varieties. In this study, we identified tissue-specific members and the key CcGLKs involved in chlorophyll synthesis. A total of thirty CcGLK transcription factors (TFs) were discovered in the citrus genome, distributed across all nine chromosomes. The low occurrence of gene tandem duplication events and intronic variability suggests that intronic variation may be the primary mode of evolution for CcGLK TFs. Tissue-specific expression patterns were observed for various GLK family members; for instance, CcGLK12 and CcGLK15 were specifically expressed in the skin, while CcGLK30 was specific to the ovary, and CcGLK10, CcGLK6, CcGLK21, CcGLK2, CcGLK18, CcGLK9, CcGLK28, and CcGLK8 were specifically expressed in the leaves. CcGLK4, CcGLK5, CcGLK11, CcGLK23, CcGLKl7, CcGLK26, and CcGLK20 may participate in the regulation of the ALA, prochlorophylate, protoporphyrin IX, Mg-protoporphyrin IX, Chl b, T-Chl, MG-ProtoIX ME, and POR contents in citrus.

Dynamic Reserve Calculation Method of Fractured-Vuggy Reservoir Based on Modified Comprehensive Compression Coefficient

The low comprehensive compressibility coefficient characteristic of fracture-vuggy reservoirs often leads to imprecise dynamic reserve calculations. This study introduces a novel method for estimating dynamic reserves, which incorporates a modified comprehensive compressibility coefficient to enhance accuracy. This methodology has been applied to 23 wells in the Tahe Oilfield, resulting in error rates substantially lower than those associated with traditional techniques, thereby markedly enhancing the accuracy of dynamic reserve estimations. Specifically, for karst cave and fracture-vuggy reservoirs, the error rate in dynamic reserve calculations is reduced to under 10%, surpassing conventional methods by more than fivefold. In the case of fractured reservoirs, despite minor fluctuations in error rates due to stress sensitivity, diversion capacity, and channel variations, the proposed method still demonstrates a significant reduction in error rates compared to standard practices.

Variation in Nutritional Components and Antioxidant Capacity of Different Cultivars and Organs of Basella alba

Basella alba is a frequently consumed leafy vegetable. However, research on its nutritional components is limited. This study aimed to explore the variation in the nutritional components and antioxidant capacity of different cultivars and organs of Basella alba. Here, we primarily chose classical spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to characterize the variation in nutritional components and antioxidant capacity among different organs (inflorescences, green fruits, black fruits, leaves, and stems) of eight typical cultivars of Basella alba. The determination indices (and methods) included the total soluble sugar (anthrone colorimetry), total soluble protein (the Bradford method), total chlorophyll (the ethanol-extracting method), total carotenoids (the ethanol-extracting method), total ascorbic acid (the HPLC method), total proanthocyanidins (the p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde method), total flavonoids (AlCl3 colorimetry), total phenolics (the Folin method), and antioxidant capacity (the FRAP and ABTS methods). The results indicated that M5 and M6 exhibited advantages in their nutrient contents and antioxidant capacities. Additionally, the inflorescences demonstrated the highest total ascorbic acid and total phenolic contents, while the green and black fruits exhibited relatively high levels of total proanthocyanidins and antioxidant capacity. In a comparison between the green and black fruits, the green fruits showed higher levels of total chlorophyll (0.77–1.85 mg g−1 DW), total proanthocyanidins (0.62–2.34 mg g−1 DW), total phenolics (15.28–27.35 mg g−1 DW), and ABTS (43.39–59.16%), while the black fruits exhibited higher levels of total soluble protein (65.45–89.48 mg g−1 DW) and total soluble sugar (56.40–207.62 mg g−1 DW) in most cultivars. Chlorophyll, carotenoids, and flavonoids were predominantly found in the leaves of most cultivars, whereas the total soluble sugar contents were highest in the stems of most cultivars. Overall, our findings underscore the significant influence of the cultivars on the nutritional composition of Basella alba. Moreover, we observed notable variations in the nutrient contents among the different organs of the eight cultivars, and proanthocyanidins may contribute significantly to the antioxidant activity of the fruits. On the whole, this study provides a theoretical basis for the genetic breeding of Basella alba and dietary nutrition and serves as a reference for the comprehensive utilization of this vegetable.

Differential Analysis of Various Moisture Phases on N2 Displacement of CH4 in Coal.

The aim of the study was to elucidate the impact of different moisture phases during gas injection on coalbed methane displacement. The coal samples were treated with two methods: water vapor adsorption and liquid water stirring. The differences in the coal samples treated with various moisture phases during gas injection for coalbed methane displacement were investigated by using the isothermal adsorption curves of CH4, N2, and H2O in coal and N2 displacement of CH4 in coal. The results indicate that variations in the gas adsorption capacity of coal are treated with different moisture phases. The gas adsorption capacities and displacement capacities of the coal samples treated with the water vapor adsorption methods are better than those treated with the stirring methods. In the isothermal adsorption experiment, for the coal samples treated with different moisture phases, at a moisture content of 2.75%, the saturated adsorption capacities of CH4/N2 are 0.204/0.189 (cm3/g), and at a moisture content of 5.63%, the saturated adsorption capacities of CH4/N2 are 0.151/0.139 (cm3/g). In addition, in the displacement experiment, for the coal samples treated with different moisture phases, at a moisture content of 2.75%, the difference in the total gas adsorption capacities is 0.62 cm3/g and the difference in the CH4 adsorption capacities is 0.473 cm3/g, and at a moisture content of 5.63%, the difference in the total gas adsorption capacities is 0.3 cm3/g and the difference in CH4 adsorption capacities is 0.22 cm3/g. For the coal samples treated with various moisture phases, the differences in the CH4/N2 adsorption and displacement capacities are greater at a moisture content of 2.75% than at 5.63%. Notably, the moisture phase has only a marginal influence on the CH4 desorption capacity and desorption rate. The study is important to understand the interactions between coal and moisture.

Investigation of lead-acid battery water loss by in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Understanding the chemical reactions that occur during lead-acid battery aging is useful for predicting battery life and repairing batteries for reuse. Current research on lead-acid battery degradation primarily focuses on their capacity and lifespan while disregarding the chemical changes that take place during battery aging. Motivated by this, this paper aims to utilize in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (in-situ EIS) to develop a clear indicator of water loss, which is a key battery aging process and could be repaired, through unique water loss experiments. These experiments were designed to ensure that the percentage of water in the electrolyte or the volume of electrolyte was the only factor that affected in-situ EIS in each experiment, and these values were regularly changed to simulate water loss in a specially designed transparent lead-acid battery. Through an improved equivalent circuit model (ECM) and grey relation analysis (GRA), this work shows that the variation of double-layer capacity and internal resistance can indicate added water content and electrolyte volume. The developed method is simple and can be applied to identify and respond to battery water loss effectively.

Interspecies variation in plant surface water storage capacity in alpine meadows: Prediction based on plant ecological strategies

Rainfall interception by vegetation is essential in precipitation redistribution within ecosystems and greatly affects water services. However, the patterns of interspecies variation in plant surface water storage (PWS) remain unclear, which greatly limits our understanding of the relationship between species composition and vegetation rainfall interception. Thus, we aimed to examine whether the plant ecological strategy, which is an internal driving force and comprehensive characteristic of plant traits, can serve as a PWS predictor. The PWS of thirty-nine common plant species in natural, degraded, and restored alpine meadows within the Ruoergai wetland was compared, and the variability in PWS between these species was examined from both plant trait and ecological strategy perspectives. The results showed that PWS per plant (IWSC) ranged from 0.12 to 9.32 mL plant−1, and PWS based on projected area (PSCI) and fresh weight (PMS) ranged from 0.01 to 0.94 mm and 0.11 to 1.29 g g−1, respectively. The PSCI was comparatively lower in Cyperaceae, whereas the PMS was relatively lower in Polygonaceae, and Poaceae. The correlations between PWS and multidimensional plant traits are complex for predicting PWS but can be clarified by considering plant ecological strategies. Further regression analysis revealed that as an evolutionary representation of the crucially related plant traits, plant competition significantly positively affected both IWSC and PSCI, and stress tolerance obviously negatively affected these two parameters (P < 0.05). The correlation between plant strategy and PSCI implied that the increased dominance of competitive species in alpine meadows may intensify interception loss, thereby hindering rainfall allocation to soil and exacerbating water scarcity.

How Does Carbon Trading Impact China’s Forest Carbon Sequestration Potential and Carbon Leakage?

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the impact of forest carbon sink trading in China, examining its effects from 2018 to 2030 under various carbon pricing scenarios. Using the Global Timber Market Model (GFPM) along with the IPCC Carbon Sink Model, we simulate the potential shifts in China’s forest resources and the global timber market. The study finds that forest carbon trading markedly boosts China’s forest stock and carbon sequestration, aligning with its dual carbon objectives. China’s implementation of forest carbon trading is likely to result in a degree of carbon leakage on a global scale. During the forecast period, our study reveals that the carbon leakage rates under three different forest carbon trading price scenarios, which at estimated at 81.5% (USD 9.8/ton), 64.0% (USD 25/ton), and 57.8% (USD 54/ton), respectively. Notably, the leakage rate diminishes as the forest carbon sink price increases. Furthermore, analysis also suggests that regional variations in the average carbon sequestration capacity of forests, alongside the structure of China’s timber imports, emerge as significant factors influencing the extent of carbon leakage.

Nationalism and Conflict: How Do Variations of Nationalism Affect Variations in Domestic and International Conflict?

Abstract This article advances a novel theoretical framework for explaining the emergence of international and domestic conflicts, especially in the twenty-first century. I argue that nationalism plays a major role in the rise of these conflicts. Yet, nationalism is not monolithic. I distinguish among five types of nationalism (satisfied; stateless; consolidating; irredentist; populist). The variations in the type of nationalism explain variations in peace and conflict in different parts of the world. The explanation of the variations of types of nationalism, in turn, is based on the combined effect of variations in state capacity (i.e., the functioning of state institutions) and national congruence (i.e., the congruence between national identities and state borders). Variations in these two independent variables account for both civil and international wars as well as for peaceful states and for domestic polarization. Thus, national congruence and high capacity produce satisfied nationalism and a peaceful state. In contrast, national incongruence and low capacity lead to stateless nationalism and, thus, to civil wars in failed states. High capacity and national incongruence, especially external incongruence, produce irredentist nationalism of revisionist states, leading to war-prone interstate conflicts. High capacity and declining congruence generate nationalist populism and societal polarization. Thus, the theory developed here explains the recent rise of nationalist populism (and the related domestic polarization) in quite a few democracies in comparison with other types of nationalism and the conflicts they generate.

Community adaptive capacity in facing landslide disaster

Tawangmangu District is located on the slopes of Mount Lawu, with most of its area being at an altitude of +- 1200m above sea level. Tawangmangu District has an uneven slope, and the eastern region has a +- 40% slope. This resulted in the area in Tawangmangu District frequently experiencing landslides. Data from the Karanganyar Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) for 2022 shows more than 11 landslides. The resulting impacts are different but certainly result in morphological changes in the Tawangmangu District according to the type of landslide that occurred. Living in areas with a high risk of landslides is challenging for the community, so people must adapt to a vulnerable environment. This study aims to analyze the adaptive capacity of the community against landslides. The study area covers ten villages in the Tawangmangu District. The study area covers seven villages. The evaluation uses a quantitative descriptive method based on human, social, natural, physical, and financial factors. The results obtained show that there are variations in the adaptive capacity of the community, which depend on the intensity of exposure.

Kinetic study of hydrate formation in CO2 + fruit Juice systems with application of Juice concentration

The utilization of gas hydrates technology for concentrating liquid foods has garnered significant interest in recent years. In this experimental study, we aimed to investigate the influence of various fruit juices, including cherry, pineapple, pomegranate, mango, grape, tomato, grapefruit, peach, lemon, orange, apple, and apricot juices, on the kinetic parameters of carbon dioxide hydrate formation. These investigations provide valuable insights into the industrialization potential of hydrate-based juice concentration processes. The kinetic experiments were conducted in a 460 cm3 reactor under an initial pressure of 3 MPa and a temperature of 275.65 K. Our findings reveal that the addition of fruit juices prolongs the induction time by up to 377 min compared to pure water, while reducing the CO2 uptake by 25.3%. Moreover, our results demonstrate variations in storage capacity (SC) among different fruit juices, with apple juice exhibiting the highest SC (31.74 v/v) and pineapple displaying the lowest (21.92 v/v). Furthermore, the apparent rate constant (kapp) values obtained during carbon dioxide hydrate growth indicate a slight increase in kapp for apple juice, while other juices exhibit a decrease in kapp, suggesting varying effects on hydrate growth kinetics. Our analysis suggests that concentration via CO2 hydrate may be particularly suitable for apple juice due to its promotional effect, whereas pineapple, apricot, and mango juices exhibit high inhibition influences on kinetic parameters, making them less recommended for concentration via CO2 hydrate formation.

Investigation on the bearing capacity evolution of building pile foundation during permafrost degradation

The warming and melting of permafrost due to climate warming pose a considerable threat to the integrity of the Pan Arctic building, thus jeopardizing sustainable development. The increase in ambient temperature in permafrost areas will cause deterioration in the bearing capacity of building pile foundations. Considering the continuous deepening of the active layer (za), the present paper used small-scale physical modeling to investigate the potential variation of bearing capacity and load transfer mechanism of pile foundations under the scenario of continuous degradation of permafrost. The ultimate bearing capacity of a single pile and the undrained shear strength of the ground under different za are estimated by cone penetration tests. In the static load test of single piles, the axial load-settlement, axial force of pile shaft, and earth pressure at the pile tip are measured. The results show that the rise in ground temperature and the deepening of the za shorten the elastic and elastic-plastic stages of the load-displacement curve, resulting in a gradual decline in the bearing capacity of a single pile. The pile-soil interface temperature is always higher than the adjacent ground temperature at the same depth. Adfreezing force of the pile-soil interface decreases due to the increase in ground temperature and water content. With the deepening of za, the peak point of the shaft resistance decreases from −30 cm to −60 cm under the ultimate state. Meanwhile, with more axial load transfer along the pile shaft to the pile tip, the share ratio of pile tip resistance to ultimate stress gradually increases. In addition, the temperature rise of frozen soil at the pile tip accelerates the settling rate of the pile, which eventually causes the pile foundation failure.

Blood parameters as a possible indicator of feed efficiency in Nellore bulls

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between energy, protein, enzymatic metabolism, and residual feed intake (RFI) in purebred Nellore bulls. A total of 120 Nellore bulls, individually housed, underwent performance trials while being fed a high-concentrate diet. The study utilized data from the 10 most efficient, least efficient, and moderately efficient animals. Blood samples were collected via venipuncture for a complete blood count, and serum was analyzed for albumin, total protein, urea, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, gamma GT, AST, and alkaline phosphatase. The data were subjected to a completely randomized design with three treatments and 10 replicates, and treatment means were compared using the Tukey test. Pearson's linear correlation analysis was performed. The most efficient animals demonstrated a 27.62% reduction in feed intake compared to the least efficient ones. No significant differences were observed in the serum biochemistry between different RFI classes. Inefficient animals exhibited elevated mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), a red blood cell index, which correlated with RFI, gain-to-feed ratio, and dry matter intake (r = 0.46, 0.42, and -0.42, respectively). Hemoglobin concentration showed correlations with RFI and gain-to-feed ratio (r = 0.36, -0.41, respectively). These findings suggest potential variations in oxygen-carrying capacity. Red blood cell parameters could serve as biomarkers for identifying inefficient animals.

A mason-inspired pattern generator for historic masonry structures using quality indexes

A considerable amount of historic masonry structures (HMS) are composed of irregular stone. However, few studies have systematically investigated the influence of masonry patterns (or masonry unit arrangements) on structural behaviour. The main difficulty stems from the pattern acquisition and the definition of adequate parameters that correlate the pattern with the structural behaviour. To this aim, this paper presents a stochastic 2D coursed-rectangular masonry pattern generator that incorporates geometric quality indexes (QI) to generate patterns with consistent masonry quality and structural behaviour. The generator's input parameters separately consider the available stone units and the "virtual mason"'s skill level to cover the range of possible pattern qualities. Finally, micro limit analysis simulations show how deviation from the "rules of art" reduces strength capacity by up to 30%. Furthermore, it has been discussed how masonry patterns generated with selected QI-s show consistent structural behaviour, e.g. reducing the coefficient of variation of the strength capacities by 15%.

Melt adsorption of poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) on silica studied with chip nanocalorimetry

Irreversible adsorption of polymer chains from a melt on a substrate surface can be strongly affected by interfacial interactions. In this study, we examined the adsorption of two polymers, poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PtBMA) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA), on a silica surface at temperatures above their glass transition temperatures. The degree of adsorption γ(t) over time was evaluated with variations of storage heat capacity determined with alternating current chip nanocalorimetry (in-situ measurement of a buried interface). γ(t) revealed two-step profiles for both polymers. At the second stage of adsorption (regime II), the slope of a plot of γ(t) vs. log t increased as adsorption proceeded; this trend has not been reported for other polymers and may be characteristic of the present polymers. The trend observed in regime II suggested that the unadsorbed free chains near the interface became less mobile and were incorporated into the adsorbed layer via interactions with the tails of the chains directly attached to the substrate surface. The increasing slope in regime II was more prominent for PtBMA than for PEMA. In addition, a difference was observed for PtBMA and PEMA in the atomic force microscopy images of the exposed adsorption layer surfaces.

Effect of carbon sequestration methods on uptake potential and characteristics of ordinary portland cement-based concrete

Cementitious concrete is considered potentially the largest avenue to utilize the captured carbon dioxide (CO2). Its capacity is significantly influenced by various parameters, including the CO2 introduction method for sequestration. This paper attempted to study the variation in carbon sequestration potential of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) based concrete and paste when the CO2 is introduced to the samples during mixing, curing and both. The carbonated samples obtained using the abovementioned methods have been compared in terms of CO2 uptake capacity, microstructural densification, porosity reduction, and strength variations. A maximum CO2 Uptake Capacity of about 25% was achieved under Standard Ambient Temperature and Pressure (SATP) conditions, with a maximum CO2 Conversion of 70.35% and 93.80% obtained at the surface for CO2 Mixing and CO2 Curing, respectively. Further, carbon-sequestered concrete (CSC) resulted in enhanced compressive strength, and reduced the size of pores in addition to making them uniform in size.