Search Results (96)

Today’s world is a pluralistic society. This is evident in the multiplicity of cultures and religions, which should ordinarily have practiced mutual respect through interfaith and ecumenical dialogues, compromises, communal and peaceful transformation, with recognition of basic rights of all communities. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, particularly in Nigeria, dominated by three major religions: African Traditional Religions (ATR), Christianity, and Islam. These three, we must acknowledge, sometimes not only misunderstood other faiths, but scandalously eyed them with hostile suspicions and tragic distinction that we are the children of light and everyone else the child of darkness, breeding conflicts and violence. This article, using literary and theological analysis, addresses those issues that promote interreligious and ecumenical dialogue as recipes for overcoming conflicts and reinforcing positive and integral human transformation and development in communities. Full article

Enhancing anthocyanin accumulation in red-leaf lettuce grown in plant factories often incurs yield penalties. Here we propose a two-stage screening-to-optimization framework integrated with mechanistic modeling to resolve this tradeoff. In Stage 1, comparative experiments confirmed that UV-A is more compatible with growth and pigmentation than UV-B, and identified ‘Lollo Rosso’ as a highly responsive cultivar. In Stage 2, optimization experiments showed that L6D6 (6 h day⁻¹ for 6 days) increased the total anthocyanin per plant by 19.9% while maintaining fresh weight. Motivated by observed nonlinear phenomena including biomass overcompensation, circadian disruption under night irradiation, and ontogeny-dependent vulnerability, we developed a six-state ordinary differential equation (ODE) model that integrates reactive oxygen species (ROS) dynamics with stress damage–repair processes. A key innovation is the explicit representation of carbon competition between growth and antioxidant defense, where AOX synthesis consumes carbon from the buffer pool, creating a physiologically meaningful growth–defense tradeoff supported by the Growth-Differentiation Balance Hypothesis. The model achieved high accuracy in an independent validation set that included extreme doses (errors ≤ 10.6%, with 11 of 12 metrics < 10%), supporting the physiological necessity of the introduced mechanisms. Global optimization based on the calibrated model predicted that 9 h day⁻¹ for 4 days is the theoretical optimum, potentially increasing total anthocyanin by 38.3% with minimal fresh-weight reduction (−2.4%), substantially outperforming the best experimental treatment. This quantitative mechanistic framework provides a scientific basis for designing precise stress-light recipes in controlled-environment agriculture. Full article

Heritage materials science techniques, including pXRF, FTIR-ATR, XRD, microphotography, and microsampling, have peeled back concealed layers of polychromy on a Roman Mithraic altar near Hadrian’s Wall. The results break new ground by exposing the interplay between light and dark and the transformative impact of colour cast onto cultic carved stone. A powerful pigment palette is revealed, including vibrant cinnabar/vermilion letters overlying an unprecedented purple inscription panel created from a compound of Egyptian blue, ultramarine, cinnabar/vermilion, red ochre, red lead, and realgar framed with purple, Egyptian blue, ultramarine, and orpiment. The panel was covered in a golden surface crafted from a previously unknown recipe of pyrite (fool’s gold) mixed with beeswax. Tantalising traces are also detected on some iconographic features, but conservator intervention and degradation processes combined to leach colour from the sculpted relief. These are paradigm-shifting results. They force a reinterpretation of the symbolism and performance of altars as personifications of dedicators, and we identify, for the first time, high-ranking Mithraic initiates by name and grade. Critically, we present a digital reconstruction of the altar with original polychromy that revolutionises our understanding of relief-sculpted Roman inscriptions—a category that has, until now, remained underexplored by the burgeoning polychromy research community. Full article

This paper details the development of innovative grading techniques for 3D-printed biopolymer composites that utilize locally sourced, cellulose-based fibre streams to produce architectural-scale components. It examines the design considerations, methodologies, and fabrication strategies that are necessitated by the utilisation of biopolymers for architectural applications, and which underlie key processes of designing for and with variable materials. The presented research interrogates the methodological challenges of formulating new approaches that actively engage architects and designers with the ecological implications of their design choices. It outlines new methods for material grading that enable targeted compositional variation through three interlinked contributions: a gradable recipe, a design-interfaced specification process for grading, and an infrastructure for large-scale 3D printing of biopolymer composites. The paper presents the Rhizaerial demonstrator as an implementation of these contributions. Rhizaerial is a full-scale interior ceiling vault system, whose curved components are printed as a 3D porous lattice structure that creates an interplay of light, visual transparency, and colour, while maintaining structural integrity. We detail the gradable biopolymer composite recipe, and the residual and regenerative material streams it combines. We outline the implicit modelling pipeline, which includes methods for locally specifying lattice structures for 3D printing, as well as assigning continuous grading specifications to print paths. Finally, we describe the fabrication infrastructure and tooling for robotic printing of large-scale graded biopolymer composites. Full article

Laying hens require lighting for proper development and reproduction. There is limited research on the effects that lighting types have on birds’ welfare quality. A novel lighting source, Pulsed Alternating Wavelength System (PAWS), is being evaluated in the industry that claims to improve birds’ growth rate, decrease age at first egg, and decrease aggressive and nervous behaviors. Understanding how PAWS effects hen’s welfare, both physically and physiologically, is critical if this technology is to be adopted by industry. The project evaluated the effects of two PAWS lighting recipes on neurotransmitter turnover and welfare quality of commercial, conventionally caged laying hens. Three flocks of White leghorn hens (control [fluorescent lights] and two PAWS flocks [PAWS1 and PAWS2]) were sampled from 22 to 70 weeks of age, depending on the flock. The physical welfare of 50 hens per flock and neurotransmitter turnover of 10 hens per flock were assessed at each timepoint. The majority of welfare quality parameters were influenced by age as opposed to lighting type. No differences in dopamine turnover were observed. The hens housed under PAWS1 had reduced serotonin turnover, thus increased serotonin activity, and PAWS2 hens had improved keel bone damage scores; both indicative of improved welfare compared to control hens. The novel lighting may be beneficial to layer welfare, which may lead to increased longevity and productivity. Implementation in cage-free housing should be explored to delve into potential behavioral differences that could further influence welfare outcomes. Full article

This study aimed to determine optimal light recipes for speed breeding of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in a plant factory. Two tomato cultivars, Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai, were investigated. In Experiment 1, conducted under a 12 h photoperiod, both cultivars showed accelerated development with increasing light intensity. The optimal light intensity range of 300–400 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ promoted development and seed maturation. Under these conditions, Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai achieved flower bud emergence in the shortest times, at 24.91 ± 0.13 and 24.91 ± 0.12 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. Furthermore, for the two cultivars, anthesis initiation occurred at 39.08 ± 0.62 and 35.78 ± 0.19 DAS, fruit setting at 41.31 ± 0.61 and 38.54 ± 0.24 DAS, and the breaker stage at 83.05 ± 1.05 and 69.78 ± 0.29 DAS, respectively, under these conditions. Critically, germinable seeds were harvested from each cultivar as early as 63 and 60 DAS, projecting a theoretical annual generational turnover of up to six cycles. Based on these results, a baseline irradiance of 350 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ was selected for Experiment 2, which independently assessed the impact of photoperiod. Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai both showed accelerated development with increases in photoperiod. The optimal photoperiod of 20 h promoted development and seed maturation. Under a 20 h photoperiod, Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai achieved flower bud emergence in the shortest times, at 25.12 ± 0.09 and 23.76 ± 0.13 DAS, respectively. Furthermore, anthesis initiation occurred at 41.21 ± 0.66 and 37.27 ± 0.34 DAS, fruit setting at 44.51 ± 0.15 and 40.25 ± 0.08 DAS, and the breaker stage at 91.19 ± 0.59 and 77.47 ± 0.36 DAS, respectively, under these conditions. The shortest times to harvest of germinable seeds from the two cultivars in this experiment were 76 and 72 DAS. Overall, this study demonstrates that tailored light environments, particularly the light intensity regime identified in Experiment 1, can dramatically accelerate tomato growth and development, enabling production of six generations per year in a controlled environment. Full article

The role of customized DLI maps in optimizing lighting strategies for controlled and open field crop production is gradually increasing, resulting in the creation of specialized DLI maps for more countries. Daily Light Integral (DLI) [mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹] is an accumulation or integration of quantum flux measurements per second over one day (24 h), its spatial distribution will be visualized on maps. Our research objectives are: (1) to create 1 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹ resolution Slovakia DLI map and explore the seasonal and regional characteristics, (2) to create 2 and 5 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹ resolution DLI maps to show how the spatial resolution capabilities change in a local (country) and regional (Europe) context, (3) to summarize and compare the seasonal patterns for mountainous and lowland areas with characteristic DLI values (minimum, maximum, average, range). The current study shows how much light was available at different times of the year using monthly DLI threshold maps for 1 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹, 2 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹, and 5 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹. The data present a clear seasonal and regional pattern. In the seasons, the monthly total DLI maximum and minimum differences reached: 21 DLI units (38–17 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) in spring, 17 DLI units (46–17 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) in summer, 20 DLI units (26–6 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) in autumn, 9 DLI units (13–4 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹) in winter. Slovakia is an East–West oriented country, which explains the use of the 1 mol·m⁻²·d⁻¹ DLI map. DLI maps are of particular importance for plant cultivation technologies that are sensitive to the amount of light and its temporal and spatial distribution, such as greenhouse vegetables or certain fruit species. Spatial DLI data support lighting strategy and design, supplemented by lighting, shading management, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) availability and efficient use. Full article

This paper presents a performance analysis of Direct Current-biased Optical OFDM (DCO-OFDM) under the IEEE 802.11bb standard for Visible Light Communication (VLC). The study covers all physical layer (PHY) modes (HT, VHT, and HE) through a complete simulation of the PHY processing chain, including scrambling, convolutional encoding, interleaving, and modulation. These results provide a standard-driven recipe to tune VLC transmitters while preserving IEEE 802.11bb interoperability. To the best of current knowledge, this is among the first IEEE 802.11bb-compliant evaluations of DCO-OFDM for VLC that jointly examine DC-biasing strategies and optical channel dispersion across HT/VHT/HE modes. The novelty lies in the presentation of practical and standard-oriented standard-based design guidelines for transmitter optimization under IEEE 802.11bb, rather than a new analytical model. This work provides one of the first IEEE 802.11bb-compliant evaluations of DCO-OFDM in VLC that jointly studies DC-biasing (static/dynamic/clipping) and optical dispersion ($L=1/3/5$) across HT/VHT/HE, reporting SNR@BER = 10⁻³ baselines, a mean $B_{CD}$ power proxy, and actionable bias–channel–mode design guidelines. Full article

The integration of LED lighting enables precise radiation control in plant factory cultivation systems. While LEDs offer energy efficiency and spectral tuning, achieving a uniform photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) remains a critical technical challenge. This study evaluated the impact of three spatial LED configurations on irradiance uniformity using commercial horticultural LEDs and a light recipe of 75% red and 25% blue. Optical simulations in TracePro^® 2017 were conducted to analyze radiant flux, optical efficiency, and uniformity, along with LED quantity, system cost, and electrical consumption under two environmental scenarios: open (without reflective walls) and closed (with reflective walls). Results show that distribution 3, which featured reduced central LED density, achieved 4–8% higher homogeneity in the open scenario, and 2.7–6.5% in the closed scenario, compared to symmetric layouts (distribution 1 and 2). Reflective walls increased average PPFD by up to 20% and optical efficiency by around 9%, with a minimal effect on uniformity. Lowering the lamp-to-canopy distance from 35 cm to 30 cm resulted in a 10% increase in PPFD. Despite a reduction in total photon flux, distribution 3 exhibited superior irradiance homogeneity. One-way ANOVA confirmed significant effects of environment, height, and LED model (p < 0.05), but not of spatial alone. This simulation-based methodology offers a robust framework for optimizing energy-efficient lighting systems. Future work will explore the integrating of non-visible wavelengths and experimental validations to extend practical applicability. Full article

Dyed wool samples and lake pigments prepared from the same dyestuffs were exposed to light over the course of 14 months. Brazilwood or sappanwood, cochineal, madder, and weld were used for both wools and pigments, with the addition of dyer’s broom, indigo, and tannin-containing black dyes for the wools and eosin for the pigments. The wools were dyed within the MODHT European project on historic tapestries (2002–2005), using recipes derived from fifteenth- to seventeenth-century sources. The pigments were prepared according to European recipes of the same period, or using late nineteenth-century French or English recipes. Colour measurements made throughout the experiment allowed for overall colour difference (ΔE₀₀) to be tracked and half-lives to be calculated for some of the colour changes. Alterations in the samples’ hue and chroma were also monitored, and spectral information was collected. The results showed that, for both textiles and pigments, madder is the most stable red dye, followed by cochineal, and then brazilwood. Eosin was the most fugitive sample examined. Comparisons of textile and lake samples derived from the same dyestuff, whether red or yellow, indicate that the colourants are more stable when used as textile dyes than in analogous lake pigments. Full article

This paper explores the evolution and contextual background of an 18th-century dyer’s manuscript originating in Antwerp, covering the period between 1778 and 1802. This manuscript offers a unique glimpse into the operational practices of a small enterprise specializing in red hues for a middle-class clientele. The manuscript includes dye recipes, accounting records, and business correspondence, along with dyed textile samples that provide a tangible connection between written instructions and their visual outcomes. Our study aims to go beyond content analysis to examine the manuscript as a dynamic document in which the dyer’s craft knowledge and experiential learning are visibly embedded. Unlike most available technical treatises, this manuscript appears to be an evolving draft marked by corrections and additions. This fluidity in structure sheds light on the process of knowledge formation and codification in the craft, aligning with devices of precise knowledge transmission and especially with the concept of “codification of error” (Codification of error refers to how early modern artisans and scholars began systematically recording mistakes in their work rather than hiding them. This shift recognized failure as a valuable part of the learning process, helping to refine techniques and support more empirical, experimental approaches to knowledge in the crafts and sciences)—an approach developed within the artisan community to refine practices over time and theorized by Professor Sven Duprè. Through a selection of annotated pages, we highlight the manuscript’s traces of iterative thought and method development. We propose that these elements illustrate the dialectic between transmitted knowledge and individual experimentation, where mistakes, followed by correction, reflection, and refinement, play a central role. Additionally, we discuss the manuscript as evidence of the thin boundaries between practical trade knowledge and the field of scientific inquiry. Through the abovementioned and the comparison with contemporary manuals, this research positions the manuscript as a valuable case study in understanding craft knowledge evolution and its transmission within the historical context of 18th-century European textile dyeing. Full article

The production of very-low-sulfur residual fuel oil is a great challenge for modern petroleum refining because of the instability issues caused by blending incompatible relatively high-sulfur residual oils and ultra-low-sulfur light distillates. Another obstacle in the production of very-low-sulfur residual fuel oil using hydroprocessing technology is the contradiction of hydrodesulfurization with hydrodemetallization, as well as the hydrodeasphaltization functions of the catalytic system used. Therefore, the production of very-low-sulfur residual fuel oil by employing hydroprocessing could be achieved by finding an appropriate residual oil to be hydroprocessed and optimal operating conditions and by controlling catalyst system condition management. In the current study, data on the characteristics of 120 samples of heavy fuel oils produced regularly over a period of 10 years from a high-complexity refinery utilizing H–oil vacuum residue hydrocrackers in its processing scheme, the crude oils refined during their production, the recipes of the heavy fuel oils, and the level of H–oil vacuum residue conversion have been analyzed by using intercriteria and regression analyses. Artificial neural network models were developed to predict the characteristics of hydrocracked vacuum residues, the main component for the production of heavy fuel oil. It was found that stable very-low-sulfur residual fuel oil can be manufactured from crude oils whose sulfur content is no higher than 0.9 wt.% by using ebullated bed hydrocracking technology. The diluents used to reduce residue viscosity were highly aromatic FCC gas oils, and the hydrodemetallization rate was higher than 93%. Full article

As climate change destabilizes food crop production, there is a growing interest in controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Although light-emitting diodes (LED) have made CEA economically viable for some high-value crops when coupled to agrivoltaics (solar photovoltaics + agriculture), it has generally not been used for root vegetables. This is the first study to demonstrate that radishes and turnips could be grown in a reasonable period of eight weeks in an agrivoltaic agrotunnel using both lighting and grow walls optimized for lettuce growth. As reduction in LED energy use is important to minimize capital costs for solar energy, this study investigated three lighting treatments (red, white, and full-spectrum as control). The normalized yields (adjusted for total energy provided by each treatment) showed that both cultivars preferred red light, and harvested green leaves provided higher masses than the roots, although turnips appeared to be far more adaptable to vertical growth than radishes (>450% for roots and >50% for leaves per pot compared to radishes for the control treatment). The results show promise for providing true net-zero carbon emission root vegetables year-round with similar agrivoltaics-powered CEAs. Future work is needed with light intensity trials to optimize light recipes. Full article

Ethnographic sources from Finland and Estonia in the 18th to early 20th centuries often mention alder bark as a dye source. The bark of grey alder (Alnus incana) and black alder (Alnus glutinosa) was used to dye wool and linen yarns reddish, paint leather red, and darken linen fishing nets. These recipes were simple folk craft and are not represented in dye books. Combining various sources, a selection of ethnographic and historical recipes was reconstructed through dyeing experiments to deepen the knowledge of alder bark dyeing practices and to recreate a colour palette based on past recipes. To understand the properties of the alder bark dye, the dyed textile samples were tested according to the ISO standards for washing, rubbing, and light fastness, and colour was recorded with the CIELab values. Our results show that it was possible to obtain different shades of brown, reddish brown, and dark brown. The colour fastness of dyed wool samples was moderate or good. Slight colour changes in the washed samples compared to the untreated ones were observed, which can be due to the standard’s heavily alkaline detergent. Full article

Palm and palm kernel oils are extensively utilised in food processing due to their unique properties, such as their semi-solid consistency at room temperature. However, growing environmental and social concerns regarding palm oil production have prompted the industry to seek sustainable alternatives to tropical or hydrogenated fats. This project investigated the use of plant oils and their emulsified and crystallised forms as potential substitutes for palm fat in light and dark chocolate fillings, with an emphasis on single-origin ingredients to align with clean-label trends. The emulsions were assessed for viscosity, firmness, colour, and key flavour and aroma profiles. Results demonstrated that palm fat alternatives performed effectively in dark chocolate fillings, with non-emulsified recipes achieving firmness comparable to palm fat. In contrast, light chocolate fillings exhibited reduced firmness at higher inclusion rates of alternatives, and emulsified products were prone to flocculation. Notably, pure oil formulations delivered promising outcomes at lower inclusion rates, as the firmness could be raised by 22.0%, likely due to vegetable oil and cocoa butter interactions influencing crystal morphology. Substituting palm oil with sunflower oil, either crystallised or emulsified, did not compromise the overall flavour. Future investigations should determine the maximum feasible level of palm fat substitution and investigate the potential of adding higher amounts of waxes and emulsifiers to enhance crystal formation and firmness. Full article