Search Results (33)

In the pursuit of low-impact and renewable construction materials, various by-products from agriculture, forestry, and the wood processing industry are being explored as potential bio-based infill materials for wall assemblies. This study presents an experimental assessment of the fire performance of timber wall systems composed of block units filled with different lignocellulosic materials, subjected to radiative heat exposure. These assemblies are representative of external walls in contemporary timber-framed buildings. Two configurations were examined: one with sawdust infill and the other with wood pellet infill. Both samples were exposed to radiant heat from the interior side for 60 min, simulating conditions of a fully developed compartment fire. The applied heat flux was 20 kW·m⁻², delivered by a calibrated radiant panel. The results indicate that even minor design variations—particularly the choice of infill material—can significantly influence the thermal response, degradation kinetics of wood-based components, and the overall fire resistance of the wall assembly. The sawdust-filled system exhibited superior performance, achieving an estimated fire resistance rating of 60 min (60 REI). It showed reduced internal thermal degradation compared to the pellet-filled variant, which experienced greater charring depth due to internal voids between pellets, although it maintained structural integrity. Full article

Given the importance of potatoes in Brazilian agribusiness and the need to establish sustainable production systems, interest has increased in the implementation of more efficient fertilization methods for the cultivation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the response of the cultivars Ágata and Atlantic to fertilization with a pelleted organomineral source in comparison to conventional fertilization performed with a mineral source. A causal block design was used with five treatments [100% of the recommendation for fertilization with mineral sources 03-35-06; and 100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% of the recommended dose with organomineral fertilizer (02-20-05)] in four replications, totaling 20 plots. The application of the organomineral in plant fertilization can be an interesting source of fertilizer for the cultivation of Ágata and Atlantic potatoes and can be applied with dose adjustments. For the cultivar Ágata, the doses of 100% and 80% organomineral fertilizer together with mineral fertilization resulted in the highest total yields. The lower doses (60% and 40%) made it possible to obtain a higher percentage of special potatoes, considered to be of the highest commercial value, than 80% of the organomineral fertilizers and 100% mineral standard. For the Atlantic cultivar, the total yield responses to organomineral were like those obtained with exclusively mineral fertilization. These findings indicate that organomineral fertilizers can be used efficiently with adjusted doses, maintaining productivity and tuber quality while potentially reducing fertilizer input costs and environmental impacts, contributing to more sustainable potato cropping systems. Full article

Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assays have emerged as among the most effective approaches for detecting endotoxins and fungi in vitro since they were first tested 50 years ago. Although detailed protocols are publicly available, conventional LAL collection methods (3% sodium chloride) waste as much as 80% of the total LAL during blood accumulation, confirming the incompatibility of these methods with the lasting survival of the American horseshoe crab. For this reason, new implementations of blood collection–suspension buffer combinations are critical. Here, we evaluated the ability of different blood collection solutions to inhibit exocytosis and subsequently treated the cells with CaCl₂ to stimulate exocytosis and improve the yield of LAL. Two test methods, chromogenic and turbidimetric tests for LAL activity, were evaluated. Crabs were bled during the bleeding season. The crab blood samples were collected with the following blood collection solutions: citric acid buffer, malic acid buffer, PBS buffer, and PBS–caffeine buffer. The cell pellets were washed with 3% NaCl and subsequently resuspended in LRW or CaCl₂ to facilitate degranulation. Both the chromogenic test and the turbidimetric assay were used to evaluate the LAL enzyme activity. Citric acid buffer, malic acid buffer, PBS buffer, and PBS–caffeine buffer blocked exocytosis, resulting in the high yields of LAL. There was no observable effect on the activity output of crab size via a chromogenic test with PBS–caffeine buffer during the bleeding season. This protocol substantially benefited prior processes, as the PBS–caffeine collection mixture decreased amoebocyte aggregation/clot formation during processing. Furthermore, we evaluated the specific biochemical parameters of PBS–caffeine-derived LAL. We developed an accessible, promising phosphate–caffeine-based blood collection buffer that prevents amoebocyte degranulation during blood collection, maximizing the LAL yield. Moreover, our analysis revealed that phosphate–caffeine-derived LAL is uniquely adaptable to compatibility with chromogenic and turbidimetric assay techniques. By employing this method for LAL blood extraction, our same-cost approach fostered significantly greater LAL yields, simultaneously ensuring a healthy limulus polyphemus population. Full article

The geological containment of high-level radioactive waste has become widely accepted among international organizations, and it has been adopted by many countries as part of their national nuclear waste disposal plan. The multi-barrier system, including the compacted bentonite blocks or pellets serving as human-made containment or buffer media, is the key component of high-level radioactive waste disposal, which contains a waste canister that isolates the nuclear waste from a human being geosphere for one million years. The bentonite clay surrounding the nuclear waste capsule is subjected to prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures because of the continuous decay of radioactivity. Long-term heating at high temperatures could change the buffers’ microstructural characteristics and physicochemical and hydromechanical properties, which can influence their self-sealing ability. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of thermal effects on bentonite-based buffer systems. The thermal impact on the microstructure, Atterberg limits, and swelling pressure of bentonite clay are intensely reviewed, and the findings are summarized. This review paper highlights new insights into the design of multi-layered containment approaches for high-level radioactive waste isolation. Full article

The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is a pathogenic organism that causes pine wilt disease (PWD). To date, several molecular diagnostic methods have been developed; however, rapid, convenient, and inexpensive field diagnostic tools for detecting PWN are still limited. In this study, an enzyme-mediated duplex exponential amplification (EmDEA) method for detecting PWN from extracted nematodes or pinewood sawdust was developed and tested. This method comprised an EmDEA molecular test kit, which consisted of freeze-dried enzyme pellets that can be stored at room temperature (approximately 20–25 °C) for one year, a dry block heater, and a portable isothermal fluorescence amplification instrument. The whole procedure was completed within 30 min. The EmDEA assay could detect a single PWN at all life stages from a mixture of other nematode species or from pinewood sawdust. The detection limit was 10 copies (plasmid weight 32.66 ag) or 1/500 of that of a single adult PWN per reaction. Therefore, the EmDEA assay has potential applications in PWN detection in the field, as well as quarantine inspection in international trade. Moreover, modification of primers and probes will allow the rapid identification of other nematode species. Full article

Lettuce is among the 10 most valued vegetables for fresh consumption in Brazil. The use of rock powder in lettuce crops for soil acidity correction or fertilization is an option for reducing production costs. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rock powder rates mica schist and irrigation water depths on the development and production characteristics of lettuce crops. The study was conducted in the experimental area of the State University of Goiás, using pelletized seeds of the lettuce cultivar Crespa Vanda. A randomized block experimental design with four replications was used, in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement composed of four irrigation water depths: 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and four rock powder rates: 6, 8, 10, and 12 tons per hectare (t ha⁻¹), associated with mineral soil fertilizer application, totaling 16 treatments and 64 experimental plots. The variables evaluated were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, head diameter, total fresh weight, commercial fresh weight, leaf area index, useful leaf area, estimated yield, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and water use efficiency. The data were subjected to regression analysis and principal component analysis. The variables studied exhibited predominantly low to medium coefficients of variation in all treatments, confirming the homogeneous conditions and precision of the study. The treatment with the highest rock powder rate (12 t ha⁻¹) provided the best results regarding agronomic effects for all lettuce crop variables evaluated. This rate provided better plant growth and development, resulting in improved response for production variables that are agronomically and economically relevant. The highest water use efficiency was found for the water depth of 50% ETc; however, the best lettuce production results were found for the irrigation water depth of 100% ETc. This water depth highlighted the strong correlation of commercial and total fresh weights with commercial and total production, as they are production components of the crop. Full article

The various forms of anthropogenic pollution are regarded as a serious threat to marine coastal areas. The overproduction and mismanagement of petroleum derivatives, such as tar and plastics, have resulted in a significant correlation between these two pollutants. The aggregation of tar, microplastics (MPs), and natural materials can create plastitar blocks, which are common in coastal areas. These raise concern about the undeniable negative impact on the marine ecosystem and the associated biota, and serve as a recognizable and understandable indication of environmental decline. Here, the composition of the 11 plastitar blocks collected on the Ionian side of the Apulia region (Italy) was characterized both in tar and plastics using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. Of the 250 particles extracted from the tar, 208 were identified as plastics, predominantly Polyethylene. The majority of these were in the form of pellets (90%), with fragments accounting for 5% and films and filaments representing the remaining 5%. This study provides new data that can be used to enhance the understanding of the distribution and baseline information about this novel form of pollution in Italian waters. Full article

This study shows the results of the combustion of raw and torrefied municipal solid waste. The pellets made of waste were torrefied using a rotary kiln reactor. The average solid yield was 551 g/h. The ratio of solid product mass to the raw material mass (i.e., percentage solid yield, wt%) was 78%. The combustion of the waste/coal mixtures and the torrefied waste was stable, without major problems. The unstable combustion was observed during the combustion of single waste. It was probably caused by the blocking of the portion of raw pellets in the screw feeder. A significantly lower emission of SO₂ (i.e., 43–114 mg/m³ STP ref. to 6 v.% O₂) was observed during the single combustion of torrefied and raw waste. Significantly higher emissions of CO and H-C were observed during the combustion of single raw and torrefied waste. This higher emission should be reduced by the optimization of air distribution. Full article

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain malignancy in the U.S. with a 5-year overall survival < 5% despite an aggressive standard of care. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a surgical approach to treating GBM that has gained traction, providing a safe option for reducing intracranial tumor burden. LITT is believed to potentially modulate GBM immune responses; however, the biochemical mechanisms underlying the modulation of immune checkpoints in GBM cells have been poorly characterized. The present study aimed to preliminarily evaluate the effects of thermal therapy and radiation on PD-L1 modulation in vitro, as a function of IDH mutational status. U87 cells and their IDH-mutant counterpart (U87^R132H), which was generated using a crispr-cas9 knock-in approach, were utilized for this preliminary evaluation. Cell heating was achieved by harvesting with trypsin centrifugation where the cell pellets were treated on a heat block for the associated time and temperature. Following thermal therapy, cells were resuspended and irradiated using a 37-Cesium irradiator at 0.6 Gy min⁻¹. Immediately following treatment, cells were either plated as single cells to allow colonies to form, and stained with Coomassie blue to be counted approximately 10–14 days later or harvested for Western blot analysis. Cell lysates were analyzed for PD-L1 expression with respect to various iron metabolic parameters (mortalin (HSPA9), transferrin receptor, and ferritin heavy chain) using a Western blotting approach. In both U87 and U87^R132H cell lines, thermal therapy showed a temperature-dependent cell-killing effect, but U87^R132H cells appeared more sensitive to thermal treatment when treated at 43 °C for 10 min. Moreover, thermal therapy had minimal effects on cell responses to 2 Gy irradiation. Treatment with thermal therapy downregulated PD-L1 expression in U87^R132H cells, which was associated with increased expression of the mitochondrial iron metabolic enzyme, HSPA9. Thermal therapy reversed the radiation-induced overexpression of PD-L1, transferrin receptor, and ferritin heavy chain in U87^R132H cells. No effects were observed in wild-type U87 cells. Moreover, Ga(NO₃)₃ depleted mitochondrial iron content which, in turn, significantly enhanced the sensitivity of U87^R132H cells to thermal therapy and 2 Gy irradiation and caused a significant increase in PD-L1 expression. These results suggest that thermal therapy alone can modulate the immune checkpoint PD-L1. This effect was more pronounced when thermal therapy was combined with radiation. Mechanistically, mitochondrial iron trafficking through HSPA9 may coordinate the regulation of PD-L1 in the context of thermal therapy and ionizing radiation, which can be targeted with gallium-based therapy. These novel, preliminary findings warrant further mechanistic investigations in pre-clinical models of LITT. Full article

Automated milking systems (AMS) are increasingly adopted for dairy cow production, promoting individualized cow management dependent on factors like lactation stage, age, and productivity. The study objective was to investigate the effects of early lactation milking frequency on cows milked via AMS. Multiparous Holstein cows blocked by parity and due date were randomly assigned to treatments (n = 8 per treatment): three (3X) or six (6X) milkings per day (MPD). The experimental phase (EXP) was defined as 4 to 29 days in milk (DIM). The AMS settings were programed so 3X cows were limited to three MPD while 6X cows were allowed six MPD. Afterwards was the carry over phase (CO) ranging from 30 to 90 DIM; all cows were allowed up to six MPD. Measurements by the AMS included bodyweight, milk yield (MY), and pellet intake. Weekly composite milk samples were analyzed for macronutrient composition and fatty acid (FA) profile. Coccygeal blood was sampled at 3, 8 ± 1, and 13 ± 1 DIM; concentrations of blood plasma analytes were quantified. Greater MPD was achieved for 6X cows versus 3X cows during EXP, but similar during the CO. Daily MY was non-separable during the EXP while 6X cows in their third or greater lactation group (3 + LG) had greater MY than 3X cows of the same LG during the CO. Milk fat content and 4% fat-corrected MY were both greater for 6X, 3 + LG cows during the EXP compared to 3X, 3 + LG cows. Milk FA methyl esters (FAME) proportions were different between MPD groups, with 6X, 3 + LG cows having the lowest short, even-chain FA from de novo or post-absorptive origin. Differences in analytes indicated that 6X, 3 + LG cows experienced metabolic stress and incorporated greater FA from adipose tissue. Greater early lactation MPD in AMS may shift cow nutrient partitioning to support greater production in 3+ parity cows. Full article

Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is primarily recycled as livestock feed due to its high fiber content, undegradable protein, and water-soluble vitamins. However, BSG composting represents a possible alternative to organic waste management. Adding a microbial consortium further enhances the agronomical properties of the compost intended for fertilizing applications. Microbial-based fertilizers (plant growth-promoting microorganisms, PGPM) are a means to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of excessive or improper chemical fertilizer use, enhance the direct or indirect uptake of nutrients by plants, and add value to food waste. In a short-term pot experiment on iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), this study assessed the effects of compost and pelletized compost from brewers’ spent grain, both enriched with a microbial consortium. In a randomized block experiment, this study compared four organic BSG fertilizers to chemical fertilizer (NPK) and an unfertilized control treatment. The investigation indicates that BSG compost and BSG pelleted compost, with and without bio-inoculum, in general, are comparable to mineral fertilizer treatment; lettuce fresh weight was higher in pots amended with bioprocessed BSG, associated with more significant growth of soil LAB, fungi, and actinomycetes. The investigation outcomes support composting as an alternative recycling process for producing PGM for agricultural applications. Full article

Fuel types are essential for the control systems of briquette biofuel boilers, as the optimal combustion condition varies with fuel type. Moreover, the use of coal in biomass boilers is illegal in China, and the detection of coals will, in time, provide effective information for environmental supervision. This study established a briquette biofuel identification method based on the object detection of fuel images, including straw pellets, straw blocks, wood pellets, wood blocks, and coal. The YoloX-S model was used as the baseline network, and the proposed model in this study improved the detection performance by adding the self-attention mechanism module. The improved YoloX-S model showed better accuracy than the Yolo-L, YoloX-S, Yolov5, Yolov7, and Yolov8 models. The experimental results regarding fuel identification show that the improved model can effectively distinguish biomass fuel from coal and overcome false and missed detections found in the recognition of straw pellets and wood pellets by the original YoloX model. However, the interference of the complex background can greatly reduce the confidence of the object detection method using the improved YoloX-S model. Full article

The objective of this research was to determine the influence of implanting heavy wether lambs with 12 mg of zeranol (1 pellet Ralgro, Merck Animal Health. Madison, NJ, USA) 59 d before harvest. Average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency, and carcass merit were evaluated. Polypay and crossbred wethers (n = 32) were equally divided into two treatment groups: non-implanted; (CON) or implanted with 12 mg of zeranol (IMP) in a randomized complete block design. Sixteen pens were used, resulting in eight replicate pens per treatment. Wethers were fed a finishing diet consisting of cracked corn, soybean meal, and soybean hulls ad libitum for 59 d. Lambs had access to clean water at all times from water fountains. Lambs were weighed on d -1, 1, 14, and 59. On d 59, 16 lambs (8 lambs/treatment) were harvested in the South Dakota State University Meat Lab. Hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percent (DP), rib fat, body wall thickness, loin eye area, boneless closely trimmed retail cut percentages, and yield grades were recorded. Final body weight (BW), cumulative ADG, and gain efficiency were greater (p ≤ 0.01) for implanted lambs by 2.9%, 25.0%, and 35.2%, respectively, while dry matter intake (DMI) was unaffected by implant treatment (p = 0.18); thus, the efficiency of dietary net energy utilization was increased for IMP (p ≤ 0.01). No appreciable differences were noted (p ≥ 0.17) between treatments for any carcass traits measured. These results indicate that zeranol improves growth performance in heavy finishing lambs without detriment to carcass quality, which implies that producers can improve profitability due to increased gains and efficiency. Full article

Brodifacoum is the most common rodenticide used for the eradication of invasive rodents from islands. It blocks the vitamin K cycle, resulting in hemorrhages in target mammals. Non-target species may be incidentally exposed to brodifacoum, including marine species. A case study conducted on the Italian Marine Protected Area of Tavolara Island was reported after a rodent eradication using the aerial broadcast of a brodifacoum pellet. Brodifacoum presence and effects on non-target marine organisms were investigated. Different fish species were sampled, and a set of analyses was conducted to determine vitamin K and vitamin K epoxide reductase concentrations, prothrombin time, and erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENA) assay. In all the examined organisms, brodifacoum was not detected. The results obtained showed differences in vitamin K and vitamin K epoxide concentrations among the samples studied, with a positive correlation for three species between vitamin K, vitamin K epoxide, and fish weight. The prothrombin time assay showed a good blood clotting capacity in the fish. Higher abnormality values were recorded for four species. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to hypothesize that the sampled fish were not likely to have been exposed to brodifacoum and that consequently there are no negative issues concerning human consumption. Full article

Gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility in diabetics exhibits fecal incontinence or constipation which affects patients’ quality of life. In this study, we aimed to understand the pattern of GI transit in type 1 diabetic (T1D) mice and whether inhibiting endocannabinoid degradation would exhibit therapeutic effect. Whole gut-transit time and fecal-pellet output were measured at 16 week post-diabetes. T1D mice treated with fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597 showed reduced fecal output as well as improved gut transit time. Cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist, AM251 blocked the effects of URB597, which may demonstrate that FAAH inhibitor is a potential remedial strategy for GI dysmotility. Full article