Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
The effect of split application of mineral nitrogen on biomass yield and nitrogen content, uptake, use efficiency and harvest index in spring rye
Abstract The spring form of rye can be grown on soil with relatively low utility value and in areas where winter rye becomes damaged during the winter. Under conditions of soil with low sorption complexes, it is important to adopt the right nitrogen application strategy to achieve high fertilizer efficiency (high yield). This study determined the weight of the separated parts of spring rye, productivity of 1 kg of nitrogen introduced into the soil with mineral fertilizer (E), N content (Nc), N uptake (Nup), N uptake per day (Nup/day), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), nitrogen utilization efficiency for yield (NutEY), and the nitrogen harvest index (NHI) in six stages of development: BBCH 22, BBCH 33, BBCH 51, BBCH 65, BBCH 75 and BBCH 91. NutEY and NHI were calculated in two ways, with and without including the N accumulated in the roots, and were designated NutEY_1 and NutEY_2 and NHI_1 and NHI_2, respectively. Rye was fertilized once before sowing with 120 kg N ha −1 (N1) and with the same amount split into two portions, i.e. 60 + 60 kg N ha −1 (N2), and into three portions: 40 + 40 + 40 kg N ha −1 (N3). There was also a control treatment without nitrogen application (N0). The first portion was always applied before sowing, and the second and third as top dressing. In most cases, both the stage of development and the nitrogen treatments significantly influenced the values of the spring rye parameters. Split application of nitrogen in two or three portions increased the weight of the whole ears, including the grain, and the whole biomass of spring rye harvested at the fully ripe stage, without significantly altering the weight of the roots or straw. At this development stage, split application of nitrogen did not significantly affect the Nc value in any of the separated parts of the plant. Following the application of nitrogen in three portions, the NutEY_2 values were lower than after application in two portions, while values for NutEY_1, NHI_1, NHI_2, grain yield, whole biomass of spring rye, and Nc and NUE for the grain and whole plant were similar, and the Nup value was lower. On average for the entire growing period, the E value for the grain were not significantly altered by splitting nitrogen application into two or three portions, but the values for the whole spring rye biomass were higher following N application in two or three portions than after a single application. During the growth and development of spring rye, there was an increase in total biomass, total Nup, and NUE, and a decrease in average Nc in the whole plant and in Nup/day. In most cases, the inclusion of the roots in the calculation of NutEY and NHI did not result in statistical differences compared to their calculation without the roots.
Improvement of durum wheat growth under combined abiotic stresses by multitolerant strain of Pantoea agglomerans for sustainable agricultural approach
Flexible four-port MIMO antenna loaded with frequency selective surface for on-body applications
Abstract This work reports a dual-band four-port MIMO antenna loaded with a 5 x 5 frequency-selective-surface (FSS) of size 72.5 mm×75.0 mm for gain enhancement. The antenna uses a novel radiating-patch and a modified rectangular-ground printed on a 0.254 mm thickness Rogers substrate, generating bandwidths of 4.04–6.64 GHz and 7.44–16.60 GHz with overall dimensions of 30.0 mm×30.0 mm. The FSS, which is printed on FR4 1.60 mm substrate, is placed below the antenna at a distance of 15.0 mm, which records a maximum peak-gain of 10.77 dBi. The characteristics-mode-analysis DWA (CMA DWA ) is simulated by subjecting the antenna to 10 modes, with Mode-2, Mode-4, Mode-5, Mode-6, Mode-7, and Mode-9 being the significant modes with modal significance values more than 0.707 and generating six resonance values at 6.67 GHz, 7.20 GHz, 7.958 GHz, 8.76 GHz, 9.20 GHz, and 11.80 GHz. The four identical radiating patches are arranged in orthogonal sequence, achieving spatial-diversity performance with ECC DWA ≤ 0.07 (Band-A), 0.03 (Band-B), DG DWA ≥ 9.70dB (Band-A), 9.85dB (Band-B), TARC DWA ≤ -5.0dB (Band-A), -2.50dB (Band-B), CCL DWA ≤ 0.38 b/s/Hz (Band-A), 0.30 b/s/Hz (Band-B), and the difference between the MEG DWA of two-ports to be $$\cong$$ 0.0dB. The SAR DWA value corresponds to 0.158 W/Kg at 5.50 GHz, 0.076 W/Kg at 5.90 GHz, 0.0503 W/kg at 7.50 GHz, and 0.24 W/Kg at 10.0 GHz with conformal angles of 15 o , 30 o , and 45 0 , retaining the operational bandwidth.
Mental health issues among critical care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: the multinational PSYCOVID cross-sectional study
Abstract The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has presented a challenging situation for frontline healthcare workers. This study aimed to assess the frequency and severity of mental health issues among critical care providers (CCPs) during the early phase of the pandemic and to determine associated factors. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from May 2020 to August 2020. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect CCPs characteristics and psychological impact as evaluated by three validated inventory scales: the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Among 244 participants, fear was prevalent, involving risk of infection 79(32.4%), family exposure 201(82.4%), lack of PPEs 86(35.2%), increased workload and insufficient social support 101(41.4%), lack of sufficient communication 99(40.6%), and stigmatization 63(25.8%). High prevalence rates were observed for burnout (personal 54.1%, work-related 55.3%, patient-related 41.8%), depression (67.2%), anxiety (63.1%), and stress (58.6%). Additionally, 27% met criteria for probable PTSD. Multivariate analysis identified significant associations between female sex, nursing profession, and working in a low- and middle-income country with various mental health outcomes. Understanding the psychological challenges faced by these providers can inform the development of more effective preparedness and response strategies for future pandemics.
Serial cross-sectional school surveys identifies C469Y, P553L, R561H and A675V kelch 13 mutations associated with artemisinin resistance in Western Kenya
Abstract Recent reports from East African countries indicate the emergence and spread of artemisinin partial resistance (ART-R), posing a significant threat to malaria control efforts in the region. The presence of critical Plasmodium falciparum kelch13 (k13) resistance markers, including C469Y , P553L and A675V , have been detected in Kenya, although their clinical significance remains unclear. This highlights an urgent need to closely monitor the prevalence of these mutations. A total of 24,227 dried blood spot (DBS) samples were collected from 82 primary schools across eight counties in Western Kenya during repeated cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2019 ( n = 8,111), 2022 ( n = 8,086), and 2023 ( n = 8,200). Initial screening was performed using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and DNA extraction was conducted on RDT-positive samples. These samples were further analyzed using a Pf 18s qPCR assay to quantify the Plasmodium falciparum DNA. Amplicons from malaria-positive samples were sequenced using a previously established amplicon deep sequencing pipeline to analyze mutations in Pfk13 . A total of 500, 920 and 1058 samples from 2019, 2022, and 2023, respectively were successfully processed, enabling a temporal assessment of the changes in k13 mutations in the region. Four mutations that have previously been associated with artemisinin resistance were found. The A675V mutation was the most prevalent, being found in all 8 counties. It was absent in 2019 and increased from 0.9% in 2022 to 5% in 2023. In contrast, the C469Y mutation declined from 4% in 2022 to 1% in 2023, maintaining a presence in 3 counties. The P553L mutation was only detected in 2022 in 1.2% of the samples across 5 counties. The R561H mutation was not detected in 2019 and 2022 but emerged at a low frequency (0.5%) in 2023 in 2 counties. Siaya and Kisumu were the only counties with all 4 validated mutations between 2022 and 2023. The rising prevalence and geographical presence of the A675V mutation and the new detection of R561H in 2023 highlights the critical need for robust molecular surveillance systems to track the frequency and geographic spread of resistance markers. School-based sampling presents a practical and scalable approach for molecular surveillance, providing early warning signals for potential resistance hotspots. Additionally, the detection of the four WHO validated Pfk13 artemisinin resistance mutations in Western Kenya underscores the urgency of conducting regular Therapeutic Efficacy Studies (TES) to assess the continued efficacy of frontline antimalarial treatments. Integrating molecular surveillance with TES will generate important data to inform national treatment policies and support the long-term effectiveness of malaria control strategies in Kenya.
An effective approach to improving photovoltaic defect detection using the new DCD-YOLOv8s model
Comprehensive control strategy for standalone photovoltaic systems with integrated optimum power harvesting and voltage regulation through microcontroller in the loop experimentation
Starch-based biocomposites reinforced with cellulose nanofibers from potato peel byproducts
Deep‑learning based osteoporosis classification in knee X‑rays using transfer‑learning approach
The relation between clinical characteristics and mental health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Machine learning analysis and simulation of pharmaceutical drying process based on prediction of concentration distribution and mass transfer
Improving economic and emission indices of two different CHHP structures by considering different management approaches
Development of a VSS-EWMA chart for coefficient of variation with application to production process
The effect of enterprise digital transformation on supply chain efficiency and its transmission mechanism
Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using Kinnow peel extracts and their antioxidant properties
Abstract The green synthesis of nanomaterials has drawn researchers from all over the world over the past few decades in a huge surge of interest. The aim of this research was to use Kinnow peel extract to synthesize titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles (NPs) in an environmentally friendly and efficient manner. This method seeks to improve antioxidant qualities while using fewer hazardous chemicals in the production of NPs. Using ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, the formation of crystalline TiO 2 NPs was first verified by a distinctive absorbance peak at 235 nm. Further characterization was performed using X–ray diffraction (XRD), field emission–scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy–dispersive X–ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT–IR) spectroscopy. The antioxidant potentials of the green-synthesized TiO 2 NPs were evaluated using DPPH and FRAP assays. The results demonstrated potent free radical scavenging activity, comparable to ascorbic acid, a well-known standard antioxidant. These findings suggest that TiO 2 NPs possess effective antioxidant properties and highlighting Kinnow peel extract as an eco-friendly sustainable and alternative to conventional synthesis routes. Moreover, the study indicate that the green-synthesized TiO 2 NPs could serve a promising candidate to replace the conventional antioxidant drugs, such as ascorbic acid.