Search Results (224)

In response to the problems of loose soil structure and insufficient water and nutrient retention capacity of sandy bank slopes in arid regions, which constrain vegetation establishment and long-term slope stability, this study focuses on typical sandy soils in arid northwestern China. The desert plant Alhagi sparsifolia, characterized by clonal root sucker reproduction, was selected as the study species to construct and optimize a composite-amended sandy substrate suitable for ecological restoration of bank slopes. Based on an orthogonal experimental design, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC), straw fibers (SF), and fly ash (FA) were combined at different proportions to assess (i) the vertical distribution of soil water and nutrients in the A. sparsifolia growth habitat, (ii) aggregate structure, (iii) plant trait responses to environmental regulation, and (iv) the shear strength of root–soil composites. The results indicate that when the contents of CMC, SF, and FA were 0.5%, 1.0%, and 5.0%, respectively, the substrate environment promoted a vertically oriented root system with pronounced lateral root development in A. sparsifolia, and the plants adopted an adaptive strategy that balances resource acquisition efficiency and environmental constraints by regulating aboveground growth allocation. This growth pattern reduced the risk of disturbances to slope stability caused by excessive aboveground biomass while maintaining the sand-fixing function of root morphological traits. This study provides a plant functional trait-based regulation strategy for ecological restoration of typical sandy slopes in arid regions, and the proposed composite substrate optimization scheme offers a feasible reference for improving vegetation establishment and substrate performance in sandy habitats. Full article

In Brazil, the olive tree (Olea europaea) is propagated by cuttings using indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for rooting and sand as the substrate. Auxin-producing microorganisms may enhance this process when applied together with IBA. This study evaluated the rooting capacity of cuttings from four olive cultivars—Arbequina, Maria da Fé, Ascolano 315, and Koroneiki—treated with commercial products based on microorganisms, plus IBA. The biostimulants used were Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum, and the commercial product Bioraiz^® (a mixed mineral fertilizer) in liquid formulation. Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus spp. improved the quality of rooted cuttings, promoting the formation of more roots per cutting (about 10) and longer roots, on average of 8.1 cm in the cultivars Maria da Fé, Ascolano 315, and Arbequina. Cuttings treated with Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis produced higher percentages of rooted cuttings, over 50%, and more developed root systems. Conversely, the control and Bioraiz^® showed weaker rooting performance, producing fewer than seven roots per cutting. Overall, the results highlight the potential of biostimulant applications, such as Trichoderma and Bacillus subtilis, as promising tools to optimize the rooting of olive tree cuttings, whereas the fertilizer showed limited effectiveness in promoting rooting. Full article

Due to the increasing demand for greater safety and ease of scale bioprocessing, fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) is becoming an effective method to avoid breakdowns and disasters. Therefore, this work focuses on developing a dedicated observer-based fault diagnosis for nonlinear systems. To solve this, the FDD scheme is needed to make it perform satisfactorily even in a faulty situation. A case study on bioethanol production is proposed to illustrate and demonstrate the proposed techniques in real time. Single faults and different sensor faults are considered. The effectiveness of the proposed model is proved by comparing its performance obtained by simulation with the experimental data. In order to supervise the change of the possible faulty parameter, robust adaptive full-order observers that focus not only on the state estimation but also on the parameter change are applied to the considered bioreactor. In order to achieve the desired outcome of sensor fault detection, we propose a residual evaluation function, given by the root-mean-square (RMS) value of the residual and a practical threshold for the bioreactor. Experimental results show that sensor faults can be well diagnosed by the proposed observer-based FDD method. The precision, recall rate, and overall accuracy of three diagnostic metrics for abrupt failures were compared. The diagnostic approach was successful, achieving an overall accuracy rate of over $90\%$ for each of the three abrupt failure scenarios in every sensor. Finally, even if the biomass or $C{O}_2$ sensors fail, the FDD system can reconstruct the substrate and ethanol dynamics that are typically quantified offline in bioprocesses in real time. Full article

The cultivation of Physalis peruviana has emerged as a promising alternative for small- and medium-sized producers due to its high added value and low production cost. However, information on the cultivation of this vegetable crop under Brazilian edaphoclimatic conditions is still scarce. Seedling production is one of the most critical stages for crop development, as this species does not establish well from seeds under field conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate seed germination and seedling growth of P. peruviana under different container volumes and substrate compositions. The experiment was carried out from February to March 2020 in a screened greenhouse environment, using a completely randomized factorial design. The treatments consisted of different container volumes and substrate compositions, including commercial containers of varying sizes and soil-based substrates formulated with mineral components and organic manures. Four replications were used, each consisting of seven plants. Seed emergence was favored by substrates containing well-composted cattle manure, whereas smaller container volumes reduced the emergence of P. peruviana. The greatest seedling growth, including higher stem base diameter, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, and shoot and root dry mass, was obtained in larger-volume containers filled with soil-based substrates enriched with well-composted cattle manure. Therefore, for the production of high-quality P. peruviana seedlings, the use of 400 cm³ polyethylene containers filled with a mixture of soil, sand, commercial substrate, and well-composted cattle manure in a 1:1:1:2 ratio is recommended. Full article

Root restriction is an agronomic technique that influences plant morphology, physiology, and productivity. This study investigates the effects of root restriction on tomato growth, fruit quality, yield, and rhizosphere microbial communities using three distinct substrates: sand, soil, and peanut shell substrate (PSS), within a Simplified Automatic Soilless Culture System (SAS). Results demonstrated that root restriction at 8 cm height significantly enhanced fruit quality indicators: soluble sugar content increased by 69.01% (sand), 53.84% (soil), and 37.67% (PSS); soluble protein increased by 77.23%, 48.14%, and 66.51%; and lycopene increased by 100.03%, 62.33%, and 74.59%, respectively, compared to the 24 cm baseline. However, single-plant yield declined by 28.30% (sand), 64.28% (soil), and 22.06% (PSS). TOPSIS analysis (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) identified PSS at 8 cm as the optimal combination for balancing quality and yield (Cj = 0.631). Microbial amplicon sequencing revealed higher rhizosphere microbial diversity in tomatoes grown in soil and peanut shell substrate compared to sand. These three types of growing media (soil, sand, and peanut shell substrate) establish the rhizosphere of bacterial and fungal communities by selecting specific microbial taxa. Changes in container height drive the reduction–oxidation functional divergence of bacterial communities, affecting the connectivity and complexity of microbial networks. Full article

Graphene oxide (GO) is a carbon-based nanomaterial explored for agricultural and forestry uses, but plant responses are strongly subject to both the dose and the route of exposure. We summarized recent studies with defined graphene oxide (GO) exposures by seed priming, foliar delivery, and root or soil exposure, while comparing annual crops with woody forest plants. Mechanistic progress points to a shared physicochemical basis: surface oxygen groups and sheet geometry reshape water and ion microenvironments at the soil–seed and soil–rhizosphere interfaces, and many reported shifts in antioxidant enzymes and hormone pathways likely represent downstream stress responses. In crops, low-to-moderate doses most consistently improve germination, root architecture, and tolerance to salinity or drought stress, whereas high doses or prolonged root exposure can cause root surface coating, oxidative injury, and photosynthetic inhibition. In forest plants, evidence remains limited and often relies on seedlings or tissue culture. For forest plants with long life cycles, processes such as soil persistence, aging, and multi-seasonal carry-over become key factors, especially in nurseries and restoration substrates. The available data indicate predominant root retention with generally limited root-to-shoot translocation, so residues in edible and medicinal organs remain insufficiently quantified under realistic-use patterns. This review provides a scenario-based framework for crop- and forestry-specific safe-dose windows and proposes standardized endpoints for long-term fate and ecological risk assessment. Full article

Forests play a strategic role in global sustainability, and restoration is essential to meet ESG targets. Seedling quality strongly influences reforestation success, but standardized evaluation protocols are often lacking. This study aimed to identify and prioritize critical technical parameters of forest seedlings and determine the highest-priority factor affecting field performance. A total of 100 seedlings of Handroanthus impetiginosus and Sparattosperma leucanthum were evaluated using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), considering reforestation as the client to translate field performance requirements into nursery-level technical parameters. Seedling characteristics were compared to standards based on the literature and nursery best practices. QFD analysis revealed that stem thickness and integrity, absence of borers, well-developed and firm roots, and complete and healthy leaves were the most critical attributes. Hardiness, combining structural robustness, disease resistance, and vigor, emerged as the central factor. Observed non-conformities included disease (15%), stem bifurcations (10%), and substrate deficiencies (12%). These results demonstrate that QFD is an effective tool for systematically identifying and prioritizing seedling attributes. The study provides a structured approach for nursery evaluation and quality control, supporting informed decision-making to enhance the success of forest restoration projects. Full article

To accommodate the downward-pressing seedling-picking method, this study designed a combination-type plug tray composed of a bottomless plug tray paired with a seedling base plate. The effects of peat ratio, substrate filling ratio, and nutrient solution concentration on pepper plug-seedling performance were evaluated through cultivation experiments and physical–mechanical tests, using seedling vigor index, root biomass, compressive yield strength, and substrate fragmentation rate as assessment indicators. In addition, soil-block detachment force tests were conducted to examine the influence of substrate moisture content on seedling-picking resistance. The results showed that seedling vigor index, root biomass, and compressive yield strength first increased and then declined as the levels of the three factors increased. Higher peat ratios and greater nutrient solution concentrations significantly reduced substrate fragmentation rates. The detachment force of the soil block was highly sensitive to moisture content, with an average value of 6.8 N when the substrate moisture content ranged from 65% to 75%. Based on a comprehensive evaluation approach, the optimal cultivation parameters were determined to be a substrate ratio of 3:1:1, a compaction coefficient of 1.2, and a nutrient solution concentration of 4.0‰. These results provide technical support for optimizing combined plug-seedling cultivation and for the design and parameter determination of seedling-picking mechanisms. Full article

In arid regions, the ecological restoration of limestone tailings requires sustainable strategies, yet the synergistic effects of substrate optimization and native plant selection remain poorly understood. In this study, we systematically evaluated substrate amendments and native species for rehabilitating limestone tailings in Northern China’s arid zone using a controlled pot experiment. An orthogonal L9(3⁴) experimental design was employed to test three factors: the soil-to-tailings ratio (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1), moisture level (30%, 45%, and 60% of field capacity), and nitrogen addition (0, 5, and 10 g N m⁻²). Five native grass species (Pennisetum centrasiaticum, Setaria viridis, Leymus chinensis, Achnatherum splendens, and Eleusine indica) were grown under these treatment conditions, and plant biomass and key soil nutrient variables were measured. Stepwise regression, structural equation modeling, and principal component analysis were applied to assess plant growth responses and soil nutrient dynamics. The results indicated that a 2:1 soil-to-tailings substrate maintained at 60% moisture content maximized biomass production across all species. Soil total potassium consistently correlated positively with biomass (Standardized β: 0.397–0.603), whereas available potassium showed a negative relationship (Standardized β: −0.825–−0.391). Nutrient dynamics ultimately governed biomass accumulation, accounting for 57.8–84.2% of the biomass variation. P. centrasiaticum ranked as the most effective species, followed by S. viridis, L. chinensis, A. splendens, and E. indica. We concluded that successful restoration under these experimental conditions hinged on key factors: using a 2:1 soil-to-tailings substrate, maintaining 60% soil moisture, and strategically combining deep-rooted P. centrasiaticum with shallow-rooted S. viridis to exploit complementary resource use. This work provides fundamental data and a conceptual framework for rehabilitating arid limestone tailings in similar ecological settings, based on controlled experimental evidence. Full article

Biostimulants boost plant growth, productivity, and nutrient retention, and can be produced from agri-food waste via microbial fermentation. In this study, undersized and unsold kiwifruits were fermented with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum to produce a fermented kiwifruit-based biostimulant (FKB). FKB was applied to soilless tomato plants (cv. Solarino) at two concentrations (50 and 100 mL L⁻¹) at the root level, every two weeks throughout the crop cycle. Fruits were analyzed for technological and chemical parameters, including color, texture, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugar/acid ratio, pH, electrical conductivity, total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, and lycopene concentration. Additionally, metataxonomic analysis characterized the substrate microbial community at the beginning and the end of cultivation. Overall, the results indicate a dose-dependent effect of FKB on fruit quality parameters, with the highest concentration showing the most pronounced effects, specifically for the fruit firmness (8.02 N for FKB at 100 mL L⁻¹ vs. 7.25 N for the Control). Moreover, both tested concentrations were associated with increased antioxidant activity (on average +28%), and lycopene content (on average +57%) compared with the Control fruits. While overall microbial diversity remained largely unchanged, the relative abundance of bacterial taxa associated with nutrient cycling and plant–microbe interactions was modulated by the biostimulant, indicating subtle but potentially functionally relevant shifts in the rhizosphere microbiota. These findings suggest that fermented kiwifruit biomass can serve as an effective biostimulant, improving both fruit quality and the functional structure of the rhizosphere microbial community in soilless tomato cultivation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hydroxyapatite (HAp)-based implants and HAp–titanium (HApTi) composites are widely used in orthopedic and dental applications, but their long-term success is limited by peri-implant bone loss. Local delivery of osteoactive molecules from implant surfaces may enhance osseointegration and reduce periprosthetic osteolysis. This study combined in silico modeling and experimental assays to compare calcium fructoborate (CaFb), sodium alendronate, and calcium alendronate as functionalization agents for HAp and HApTi implants. Methods: Molecular docking (AutoDock 4.2.6) and 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (AMBER14 force field, SPC water model) were performed to characterize ligand–substrate interactions and to calculate binding free energies (ΔG_binding) and root mean square deviation (RMSD) values for ligand–HAp/HApTi complexes. HAp and HApTi discs obtained by powder metallurgy were subsequently functionalized by surface adsorption with CaFb or alendronate salts. The amount of adsorbed ligand was determined gravimetrically, and in vitro release profiles were quantified by HPTLC–MS for CaFb and by HPLC after FMOC derivatization for alendronates. Results: CaFb–HAp and CaFb–HApTi complexes showed the lowest binding free energies (−1.31 and −1.63 kcal/mol, respectively), indicating spontaneous and stable interactions. For HAp-based complexes, the mean ligand RMSD values over 100 ns were 0.27 ± 0.17 nm for sodium alendronate, 0.72 ± 0.28 nm for calcium alendronate (range 0.35–1.10 nm), and 0.21 ± 0.19 nm for CaFb (range 0.15–0.40 nm). For HApTi-based complexes, the corresponding RMSD values were 0.30 ± 0.15 nm for sodium alendronate, 0.72 ± 0.38 nm for calcium alendronate and 0.26 ± 0.14 nm for CaFb. These distributions indicate that CaFb and sodium alendronate maintain relatively stable binding poses, whereas calcium alendronate shows larger conformational fluctuations, consistent with its less favorable binding energies. Experimentally, CaFb exhibited the greatest chemisorbed amount and percentage on both HAp and HApTi, followed by sodium and calcium alendronate. HApTi supported higher loadings than HAp for all ligands. Release studies demonstrated a pronounced burst and rapid plateau for both alendronate salts, whereas CaFb displayed a slower initial release followed by a prolonged, quasi-linear liberation over 14 days. Conclusions: The convergence between in silico and adsorption–release data highlights CaFb as the most promising candidate among the tested ligands for long-term functionalization of HAp and HApTi surfaces. Its stronger and more stable binding, higher loading capacity and more sustained release profile suggest that CaFb-coated HApTi implants may provide a favorable basis for future in vitro and in vivo studies aimed at improving osseointegration and mitigating periprosthetic osteolysis, although direct evidence for osteolysis prevention was not obtained in the present work. Full article

The Lagunera Region, located in northern Mexico, is home to the country’s most important dairy basin, situated in a semi-arid environment. In this region, forage corn (Zea mays L.) is the main input in dairy cattle feed. In this context, optimizing water use and nitrogen nutrition is a priority to ensure the sustainability of this activity. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity and water use efficiency of forage corn under different humidity, nitrogen, and substrate type levels. A randomized block design with sub-subdivided plots was used. The larger plot contained two usable moisture levels (80 and 50%); the subplots were assigned according to three nitrogen levels: 13.6 (N1), 6.8 (N2), and control 0.35 (N3) NO₃ mmol·L⁻¹; the sub-subplots were assigned based on two substrates: sand and a mixture (MI) of sand, perlite, and peat moss. The results showed significant triple interactions (p < 0.05) in the root volume traits, where nitrogen played a determining role, as well as double interactions (Nutrition*Substrate) for all vegetative and radicle production variables and water use efficiency. Principal components analysis explained 91.4% of the total observed variation, where basal diameter had the vector with the highest load value. Cluster analysis identified that the main discriminant factor was nutrition. It is concluded that usable moisture levels up to 50% with 6.8 mmol·L⁻¹ of NO₃ show acceptable levels of vegetative production and root volume in forage corn. These results suggest the possibility of reducing water and nitrogen fertilizer consumption without compromising yield, with significant economic and environmental benefits for agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions. Full article

A special class of complex adaptive systems—biological and social—thrive not by passively accumulating patterns, but by engineering coherence, i.e., the deliberate alignment of prior knowledge, real-time updates, and teleonomic purposes. By contrast, today’s AI stacks—Large Language Models (LLMs) wrapped in agentic toolchains—remain rooted in a Turing-paradigm architecture: statistical world models (opaque weights) bolted onto brittle, imperative workflows. They excel at pattern completion, but they externalize governance, memory, and purpose, thereby accumulating coherence debt—a structural fragility manifested as hallucinations, shallow and siloed memory, ad hoc guardrails, and costly human oversight. The shortcoming of current AI relative to human-like intelligence is therefore less about raw performance or scaling, and more about an architectural limitation: knowledge is treated as an after-the-fact annotation on computation, rather than as an organizing substrate that shapes computation. This paper introduces Mindful Machines, a computational paradigm that operationalizes coherence as an architectural property rather than an emergent afterthought. A Mindful Machine is specified by a Digital Genome (encoding purposes, constraints, and knowledge structures) and orchestrated by an Autopoietic and Meta-Cognitive Operating System (AMOS) that runs a continuous Discover–Reflect–Apply–Share (D-R-A-S) loop. Instead of a static model embedded in a one-shot ML pipeline or deep learning neural network, the architecture separates (1) a structural knowledge layer (Digital Genome and knowledge graphs), (2) an autopoietic control plane (health checks, rollback, and self-repair), and (3) meta-cognitive governance (critique-then-commit gates, audit trails, and policy enforcement). We validate this approach on the classic Credit Default Prediction problem by comparing a traditional, static Logistic Regression pipeline (monolithic training, fixed features, external scripting for deployment) with a distributed Mindful Machine implementation whose components can reconfigure logic, update rules, and migrate workloads at runtime. The Mindful Machine not only matches the predictive task, but also achieves autopoiesis (self-healing services and live schema evolution), explainability (causal, event-driven audit trails), and dynamic adaptation (real-time logic and threshold switching driven by knowledge constraints), thereby reducing the coherence debt that characterizes contemporary ML- and LLM-centric AI architectures. The case study demonstrates “a hybrid, runtime-switchable combination of machine learning and rule-based simulation, orchestrated by AMOS under knowledge and policy constraints”. Full article

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) fabricated by Ag-assisted metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) exhibit excellent light-trapping performance, yet their fragile high-aspect-ratio morphology severely limits reliable metallization in photovoltaic devices. Conventional electrode deposition methods often fail on dense SiNW arrays due to poor mechanical stability of the nanowire tips, leading to delamination, inhomogeneous coverage, and high contact resistance. In this work, we introduce a maskless laser-based truncation technique that selectively shortens MACE-derived SiNWs to controlled residual heights of 300–500 nm exclusively within the regions intended for electrode formation, while preserving the full nanowire morphology in active areas. A detailed parametric study of laser power, scanning speed, and pulse repetition frequency allowed the identification of an optimal processing window enabling controlled tip melting without damaging the nanowire roots or the crystalline silicon substrate. High-resolution SEM imaging confirms uniform planarization, well-preserved structural integrity, and the absence of subsurface defects in the laser-processed tracks. Optical reflectance measurements further demonstrate that introducing 2% and 5% truncated surface fractions—corresponding to the minimum and maximum metallized front-grid coverage in industrial Si solar cells—results in only a minimal reflectance increase, preserving the advantageous the light-trapping behavior of the SiNW texture. The proposed laser truncation approach provides a clean, scalable, and industrially compatible route toward creating electrode-ready surfaces on nanostructured silicon, enabling reliable metallization while maintaining optical performance. This method offers strong potential for integration into silicon photovoltaics, photodetectors, and nanoscale electronic and sensing devices. Full article

Floating-tray hydroponics is expanding for microgreen production, yet evidence on substrate performance under natural-light greenhouses remains limited. This study compared perlite, coconut coir, and a 1:1 (v/v) perlite–coconut coir mixture for amaranth (Amaranthus cv. ‘Diablo Rojo’) grown at the end of summer in an unheated greenhouse (CRD; 4 replicates). Perlite significantly improved establishment and yield: emergence reached 72.6% versus 46.1% in coconut coir and 35.1% in the mixture, with fresh biomass of 297, 171, and 119 g m⁻², respectively. The proximate composition exhibited consistency across substrates (protein ≈ 32% DW; crude fiber ≈ 32% DW; crude fat ≈ 2.5% DW), whereas nitrate concentrations varied between 1300 and 2500 mg kg⁻¹ FW, irrespective of the substrate. Vitamin C and total phenolics showed no significant variation, and β-carotene exhibited only a slight, non-significant increase in coconut coir. In contrast, mineral composition was substrate-dependent: perlite increased Ca (3626 ppm DW) and Mg (1094 ppm DW), while P and Fe were unaffected; Na was higher in perlite. These results indicate that under natural-light, unheated greenhouses, bioactive compounds are mainly influenced by environmental variability, whereas root-zone aeration drives Ca/Mg enrichment and yield. Perlite-based floating-tray systems represent efficient, low-cost strategies with potentially lower environmental impact, suitable for scalable urban and smallholder microgreen production. These findings, derived from a single-season trial in one unheated greenhouse, should be regarded as preliminary yet consistent with previous studies on microgreens. Future multi-season and multi-species experiments will help to confirm and expand on these results. Full article