Search Results (40,916)

Sorghum is a resilient crop important for sustainable intensification in semi-arid regions, yet the impact of variable seeding rates on its early development remains under-researched. This research investigated the early establishment of hybrid sorghum under three seeding strategies, ”Uniformise” (medium density across all zones), “Optimise” (increased density in low-soil apparent Electrical Conductivity (ECa)), and “Maximise” (increased density in high-soil ECa), at the Herdade da Comenda (Innovation Center—Elvas, Portugal). Crop performance was monitored over 33 days, the established window for safe direct grazing, using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) multispectral imagery to derive the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Canopy Cover (Cveg), alongside physical sampling of plant height and biomass. Statistical analysis revealed that both the seeding strategy and soil variability significantly affected early growth. The “Uniformise” strategy recorded the highest plant height, NDVI, and Cveg values, whereas the “Optimise” strategy performed the poorest. Additionally, an accumulation of 407.5 Growing Degree-Days (GDDs; °C) accelerated the phenological cycle by five days relative to the climatological normal. Despite differences in vegetative vigour, no statistically significant variations were observed in final biomass across the strategies. These results indicate that while the “Uniformise” approach provided a more balanced environment for early establishment under these specific Mediterranean conditions, the lack of biomass differentiation highlights the potential for resource optimisation. The study demonstrates that UAV-based remote sensing is a useful diagnostic tool to identify these spatial limitations, providing the data to refine variable-rate seeding (VRS) algorithms and improve the economic efficiency of precision sowing. Full article

The aim of this study was to model the inactivation of Bacillus coagulans vegetative cells subjected to thermal processing (60–90 °C, 1–30 min) and pulsed electric fields (PEF) (11, 15, and 20 kV/cm, up to 0.12 s, 20 Hz, 15 μs pulse width) at different pH environments (4.0 to 7.0) and in real food matrices (peach puree and carrot juice). Microbial survival data were successfully described using the Gompertz model. Thermal experiments confirmed the high heat resistance of B. coagulans, with maximum survival observed at pH 5.0–6.0. PEF treatments were effective in inactivating vegetative cells, with more intense PEF conditions leading to faster inactivation. Complete inactivation was achieved in less than 15 ms at low pH (4.5), while more than 120 ms was required at pH 6.0. Preheating samples to 50–60 °C prior to PEF significantly reduced the PEF processing time needed for full inactivation, by approximately 88%. In food matrices, the inactivation rate in peach puree was twice as high as in carrot juice, but up to 8 times lower than in buffer solutions. Cells were inactivated twice as fast in peach puree as in carrot juice. This study provides quantitative technical parameter references for optimizing non-thermal processing technologies for acidic/weakly acidic fruit and vegetable products. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the effects of multi-sensory stimulation on brain functional connectivity in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). DOC patients experience prolonged loss of consciousness due to brain injury, posing significant challenges for rehabilitation. Methods: In the study, visual, olfactory, and visual–olfactory (V-O) combined stimulation were applied to DOC patients while their EEG signals were recorded. A brain functional network was constructed based on the conditional Granger causality (CGC) method to analyze its topological characteristics. Results: The results revealed that the strength of brain functional connectivity in Minimally Conscious State (MCS) patients was significantly higher than that in Vegetative State (VS) patients, indicating a strong correlation between the intensity of synergistic activity in brain functional connectivity and the level of consciousness. Furthermore, V-O combined stimulation significantly enhanced brain functional connectivity compared to single-modality stimulation. The selection of different stimulation also differentially affected brain functional connectivity, with olfactory stimulation exhibiting high pleasure, arousal, and dominance (Self-Assessment Manikin) values demonstrating unique advantages in reducing individual variability and improving global efficiency. Conclusions: The study provides a theoretical foundation for the application of multi-sensory stimulation in the rehabilitation of DOC patients. V-O stimulation not only enhances information transmission in brain regions corresponding to visual and olfactory processing under single-modality stimulation but also increases the intensity of information transfer to other brain regions; this may serve as a reference for understanding the effects of multi-sensory stimulation on brain networks. Full article

The intensive use of chemical fertilizers in medicinal plant production raises significant environmental and quality concerns, particularly under arid and high-temperature conditions. This study investigated the effectiveness of indigenous endophytic bacteria consortium as a sustainable approach to reduce mineral fertilizer inputs while improving the growth, yield, and phytochemical quality of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) under Upper Egypt conditions. A field experiment was conducted during the summer of 2024 in Aswan, Egypt, using a factorial randomized complete block design. Treatments included a ten-strain endophytic consortium applied alone or combined with 25%, 50%, and 75% of the recommended NPK dose, alongside an unfertilized control and 100% NPK alone. Results highlighted clear percentage-based improvements with integrated treatments. The combination of 75% NPK with endophytic inoculation increased dry calyx yield by 16% relative to the conventional 100% NPK treatment. Significant increases were also observed in vegetative growth, fruit number, biomass accumulation, and photosynthetic pigments relative to full chemical fertilization. Moreover, antioxidant activity and concentrations of anthocyanins, phenolics, and flavonoids were maintained or enhanced under reduced fertilizer regimes, indicating qualitative gains without yield penalties. In contrast, complete fertilizer omission caused marked reduction in growth and yield parameters. Overall, substituting 25% of mineral fertilizers with indigenous endophytic inoculation not only sustained productivity but generated measurable yield gains, improved nutrient use efficiency, and strengthened crop resilience, demonstrating a practical and environmentally sound strategy for sustainable roselle cultivation in arid regions. Full article

Climate change induces cotton phenological changes, but the impact of these changes on yield and the regulatory role of altitude in the phenology–yield relationship remains unclear. Major Chinese cotton-growing regions (e.g., Xinjiang) are in arid and semi-arid areas with fragile ecosystems, making it crucial to clarify the phenology–yield correlation for ensuring regional cotton production security. Using long-term data (1981–2023) from 35 cotton monitoring stations in Xinjiang’s arid oases, we analyzed key phenological variations, quantified phenology’s impact on yield, and examined altitude’s effects on phenology. The results showed that the dates of four key cotton phenology—sowing (Sow), emergence (Eme), squaring (Squ), and flowering (Flo)—exhibited an advancing trend at a rate of 0.037–0.050 days year⁻¹. In contrast, the dates of boll opening (Bol) and maturity (Mat) showed a delaying trend, with the delay rate ranging from 0.015 to 0.037 days year⁻¹. Most phenological stage durations changed slightly: Sow–Eme, Squ–Flo, Bol–Mat, and vegetative growth period (VGP) shortened, while Eme–Squ, Flo–Bol, reproductive growth period (RGP), and whole growth period (WGP) lengthened. Lint yield increased by 24.061 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. A one-day delay in the occurrence dates of any of the five cotton phenological stages—Sow, Eme, Squ, Flo, or Bol—was associated with a yield reduction ranging from 0.895 to 9.780 kg ha⁻¹. In contrast, a one-day delay in the Mat led to a yield increase of 0.7876 kg ha⁻¹. Additionally, the extension of three growth periods (Sow–Eme, Squ–Flo, and VGP) resulted in a yield decline, while the prolongation of four other periods (Eme–Squ, Bol–Mat, RGP, and WGP) contributed to a yield increase. The most critical finding is that altitude has a significant association with cotton phenology and its yield response: every 100 m increase in elevation, cotton phenological dates were delayed, the durations of different growth stages were altered, yield was reduced by 0.250 kg ha⁻¹, and low-altitude areas exhibited more pronounced spatial heterogeneity in phenology and yield. However, this regulatory effect did not reach a significant level (p > 0.05), and the correlation between altitude and yield variability tended to be stronger in high-altitude areas than in low-altitude areas. This elevation-induced phenological shift is a key mediator of yield changes—elevational temperature variations are significantly associated with the duration of critical growth stages (e.g., the lengthening of reproductive growth period in low-altitude areas and shortening in high-altitude areas), which may indirectly affect dry matter accumulation and final yield formation. Corresponding policies for different altitudes should be formulated to offset the negative effects of phenological changes, providing scientific support for securing cotton production in arid oases. Full article

Abiotic stresses severely constrain the growth, yield, and quality of horticultural plants, collectively posing major challenges to sustainable production under changing climatic conditions. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule that modulates plant responses to abiotic stress by integrating with redox regulation systems, hormonal crosstalk pathways, ion homeostasis mechanisms, and transcriptional control networks. Rather than functioning as an isolated regulator, NO participates in dynamic signaling frameworks whose outcomes depend on concentration, timing, cellular redox status, and interaction with other signaling molecules. This review synthesizes current knowledge on NO-mediated mechanisms contributing to abiotic stress tolerance and examines their relevance to sustainable horticultural crop management. After outlining the historical recognition of NO as a plant signaling molecule, we discuss stress-responsive NO-dependent processes, including S-nitrosylation-based post-translational modification, NO–reactive oxygen species (ROS) interactions, and the modulation of stress-responsive transcriptional programs. The roles of NO in tolerance to drought, salinity, extreme temperature, and heavy metal stress are analyzed with emphasis on experimentally supported physiological and molecular responses. We further evaluate evidence from fruit, vegetable, ornamental, and medicinal crops, highlighting how NO-associated signaling correlates with yield stability, quality-related traits, and post-harvest performance under stress conditions. Finally, NO-based strategies such as priming, donor application, and integration with biostimulants are critically assessed in the context of climate-resilient and sustainable horticulture, with attention to translational constraints and field-level feasibility. By connecting mechanistic insights with applied considerations, this review provides a structured framework for evaluating the potential and limitations of NO-based approaches in abiotic stress management of horticultural crops. Full article

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a significant vegetable crop, and its fruits tend to accumulate cadmium (Cd). The background value of soil Cd in the main pepper-producing area (southwest China) is relatively high, which results in a high risk of Cd contamination in pepper and its products in this area. Therefore, the cultivation of pepper varieties with low Cd accumulation is vital for ensuring food safety and the development of the pepper industry. A prior genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified the heavy-metal-transporting ATPase gene (CaHMA1) as a crucial gene that facilitates Cd accumulation in pepper fruits. Herein, three semi-thermal asymmetric reverse PCR (STARP) molecular markers (STARP1, STARP2, and STARP3) were designed according to three single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci (Chr02_154361710, Chr02_154362005, and Chr02_154367255) identified in the intronic region of CaHMA1. Subsequently, these STARP molecular markers were validated using 70 pepper core germplasms with known genotypes. The results indicated that the STARP markers exhibited an identity of over 95% with the corresponding SNP markers. By utilizing the aforementioned STARP markers, the pepper population was divided into two haplotypes (Hap) (Hap1 and Hap2). Under Cd stress, the average Cd content in the fruits of Hap2 pepper was 27.01% lower than that of Hap1. Collectively, these three STARP markers can rapidly and accurately identify the Cd accumulation capacity of pepper varieties with different haplotypes. Furthermore, 24 SNPs were additionally screened from 150 core SNPs according to the criteria of minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.40, polymorphism information content (PIC) > 0.35, observed heterozygosity (OH) < 0.6, and uniform distribution across 12 chromosomes. These 24 SNPs were combined with the 3 SNPs from the STARP marker developed in the intron region of CaHMA1, and a pepper DNA fingerprinting map was successfully constructed. This DNA fingerprinting map achieved a 100% identification efficiency for 216 pepper germplasm accessions and was able to distinguish the Cd accumulation capacities among different pepper germplasm accessions. In conclusion, this study provides reliable STARP markers for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding of pepper varieties with low Cd accumulation. Moreover, the constructed DNA fingerprinting map possesses dual functions, identifying varieties and evaluating Cd accumulation traits that have high practical value in pepper breeding. Full article

Hyperspectral imagery provides detailed insights for vineyard vegetation assessment, enabling improved pesticide management within precision agriculture. For this reason, the dataset presented here includes hyperspectral images acquired from grapevine leaves treated with two copper-based formulations: ZZ Cuprocol (containing 70% w/v copper oxychloride) and Cuprantol Duo (composed of 14% w/w copper oxychloride and 14% w/w copper hydroxide). In addition, a commonly used contact pesticide in both intensive and traditional viticulture, Folpet—free of copper but containing sulfur and chlorine—was also evaluated in its commercial formulation Vitipec Azul (Cimoxanil 6% w/w, Folpet 37.5% w/w, Ascenza, Portugal). For each product, six different dilution levels were prepared along with a distilled water control. Leaf samples were collected and analyzed during the 2023 growing season from three shoot locations (basal, middle, and apical) and from both orientations of the vine canopy: east and west. Following pesticide treatment, leaf hyperspectral images were captured using a 300-band Pika L camera (Resonon, Bozeman, MT, USA), mounted on a mechanical scanning platform synchronized with the imaging system. Full article

Background: Low estrogen levels during menopause reduce nitric oxide (NO) production, contributing to decline in skeletal muscle quality and function. Although acute and short-term dietary nitrate supplementation has demonstrated promising effects, long-term benefits, particularly on muscle quality in postmenopausal women, are not well established. Objectives: The objective was to investigate the effects of long-term (12-week) nitrate-rich beetroot extract supplementation on morphological and functional muscle quality, rate of force development (RFD), maximal strength, and circulating nitrate/nitrite concentrations in postmenopausal women. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 20 postmenopausal women (21 years ± 7 since menopause) consumed 20 g/day of a nitrate-rich beetroot extract (BET; 548 mg nitrate/day) or a nitrate-depleted beetroot extract (PLA; 43 mg nitrate/day) for 12 weeks. Outcome measures, including muscle quality (functional via muscle strength/thickness ratio; morphological via ultrasound echo intensity), RFD, maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and serum nitrate/nitrite levels, were evaluated at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results: BET significantly increased serum nitrate (0.005) and nitrite (0.022) levels compared to PLA at both week 8 and week 12. Morphological muscle quality also improved significantly in the BET group (interaction effect, p = 0.014). Early-phase rate of force development (RFD) increased between 30 and 100 ms, whereas late-phase RFD increased between 100 and 200 ms. RFD_peak also improved by week 8, and these gains were maintained through week 12 (interaction effect, p < 0.05). Although there was no significant difference between groups for functional muscle quality, MVIC increased at week 12 in the BET group, but no significant Time × Group interaction was observed. Conclusions: Twelve weeks of nitrate-rich beetroot extract supplementation improved morphological muscle quality and RFD, suggesting potential clinical relevance for preventing structural and neuromuscular function decline in postmenopausal women. This study was registered with ReBEC (RBR-87qh649) and approved on 8 October 2024. Full article

With the escalating demand for forest-derived ecological products, quantifying forest ecological product production capacity (EPC) has become essential for precise ecological governance. Addressing the methodological gaps and complexity in current assessments, this study develops a transferable Forest EPC theoretical framework integrated across four dimensions: environmental background, vegetation status, human pressure, and human investment. Using Henan Province as a case study, we established a multi-criteria evaluation model to characterize the spatial drivers and supply potential of Forest EPC. Our findings reveal that the provincial forest EPC stands at a moderate level (0.341). The spatial distribution is highly heterogeneous: the “medium” EPC grade dominates the landscape (36.69%), whereas “high-level” areas are critically scarce (3.76%). Notably, forest EPC exhibits a strong spatial gradient, with high-performance clusters in the southern and western highlands contrasting with lower values in the northern plains. The identification of significant spatial autocorrelation (Global Moran’s I = 0.71) highlights the necessity of regional collaborative management. This study provides a methodological reference that is adaptable to diverse regional contexts through the recalibration of local indicators and weights, offering a scientific benchmark for optimizing the spatial layout of ecological product supply. Full article

Environmental stress and suboptimal planting schedules are among the most significant factors limiting cauliflower production by disrupting developmental timing, reducing photosynthetic efficiency, and compromising curd quality. This study investigated the effects of growing environment (high tunnel vs. open field), planting date (10 July, 25 July, and 10 August), and cultivar selection (Amazing, Cheddar, Clementine, Flame Star, Snow Crown, and Vitaverde) on yield components, root morphology, vegetative growth, and physiological performance in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) across two growing seasons. Field environment, planting date, cultivar, and their interactions were found to be significant for all parameters (p < 0.05). In general, open-field production achieved higher yields than high tunnels and shortened maturity, and early transplanting (10 July) maximized performance, producing a higher yield and larger curd size, while delaying to August 10 reduced the yield by ~49% and curd diameter by ~24%. Among cultivars, Flame Star, Snow Crown, and Cheddar were the highest-yielding cultivars overall, whereas Vitaverde performed the poorest. Under early planting, Flame Star showed exceptional productivity (1528 g), curd diameter (19.4 cm), and root development. Late planting decreased root biomass by ~38%. Physiological responses varied across environments and planting dates, with high tunnels showing greater stomatal conductance and transpiration, open-field plants exhibiting higher water-use efficiency, and early July plantings maintaining superior photosynthetic performance compared to later schedules. Correlation and hierarchical clustering analyses demonstrated strong integrated relationships among yield, curd diameter (r = 0.94), fresh root weight (r = 0.62), and root dimensions. Overall, it was concluded that open-field cultivation combined with early July planting using high-performing cultivars such as Flame Star, Snow Crown, and Cheddar significantly optimized cauliflower production by maximizing vegetative growth, enhancing resource acquisition, and ensuring optimal curd development. Early planting strategies emerged as the most effective approach, demonstrating up to 108% yield advantage over delayed schedules. These findings suggest that environment-adapted cultivar selection and strategic temporal management offer a viable approach to enhancing cauliflower productivity under variable climatic conditions. Full article

Soil heavy metal pollution caused by mineral resource extraction activities poses a serious threat to the ecological environment within and surrounding mining areas. As a highly concealed toxic heavy metal, arsenic (As) urgently requires the establishment of efficient pollution monitoring methods to achieve pollution prevention and control, as well as environmental remediation in mining areas. This study investigated the feasibility of hyperspectral remote sensing inversion for soil heavy metal arsenic based on ZY-1 02E hyperspectral satellite imagery, focusing on a mining area and its surrounding soils in Sanlisha’an, Wuxuan County, Guangxi. Full Constrained Least Squares (FCLS) was employed to separate mixed pixels and enhance soil spectral contributions in ZY-1 02E imagery, thereby mitigating vegetation interference. Six mathematical transformations, including RT, AT, FD, RTFD, ATFD, and SD, were applied to both the original and enhanced spectra to enhance spectral features. The correlations between the transformed spectra, as well as the original image spectra (S), and soil As concentration were analyzed; then the spectra strongly correlated with soil As concentration were selected to construct Ratio Spectral Index (RSI) and Normalized Difference Spectral Index (NDSI). Correlation matrices were calculated between RSI/NDSI indices and As concentration. Sensitive features were screened using an improved Successive Projection Algorithm (SPA). As concentration inversion was also performed with four models: traditional regression models, PLSR and MLR, and ensemble learning models (RF and XGBoost). In the soil contribution-enhanced spectral modeling results, the optimal transformation–index combination is ATFD-NDSI. The performance indicators of each model are as follows: MLR test set R² = 0.65, PLSR test set R² = 0.62, RF test set R² = 0.7, and XGBoost test set R² = 0.64. The results indicate that the ATFD-NDSI-RF ensemble model provides the best performance. By integrating multiple decision trees, RF effectively handles complex nonlinear relationships, thus enhancing the accuracy and generalization ability of predication. The analysis of NDSI–ATFD–RF inversion results based on sampling points indicates that model error correlates with the pollution intensity gradient, showing greater errors, especially in high-concentration areas, but still maintaining strong correlations (tailings reservoir: r = 0.92, forested areas: r = 0.96, and cropland: r = 0.83). The spatial distribution reveals that the inversion results are closely similar to the spatial distribution of IDW interpolation. Areas with high As concentrations are concentrated in the tailings reservoir and in the southeastern part of the study area. The correlation coefficient between the inversion results and IDW interpolation is 0.6, which further verifies that the inversion results effectively reproduce the spatial distribution trend of highly polluted areas. Full article

Biogas slurry is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and bioactive substances, making it an effective material for restoring degraded grasslands. Against this background, we conducted a field experiment in Zhenglan Banner, Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, from 2024 to 2025, to study the short-term effects of biogas slurry fertilizer on vegetation characteristics and above- and belowground plant traits. The experiment comprised three treatments: a water control (CK), 50% diluted biogas slurry (BS_50%), and full-strength biogas slurry (BS_100%). All treatments were applied at a rate of 300 m³·ha⁻¹, with CK receiving an equivalent volume of water. The biogas slurry contained 0.11% nitrogen (N), 0.07% phosphorus (P₂O₅), and 0.09% potassium (K₂O). Results showed that, compared with the control, biogas slurry application increased plant height, coverage, and biomass by 8.04–54.00%, 5.48–17.76%, and 18.40–96.01% in the first year, respectively. Plant crude protein and crude fat also increased by 7.33–31.17% and 21.54–30.00%. In the second year, the increases were 26.41–50.22%, 6.16–20.55%, and 13.91–52.42% for plant height, coverage, and biomass and 4.46–28.27% and 14.24–19.89% for crude protein and crude fat, respectively. The carbon, nitrogen and isotope indices of leaves and roots also increased simultaneously. Biogas slurry application altered plant community composition, BS_50% transiently increased plant family richness, BS_100% exerted persistent inhibitory effects, and species diversity across all fertilization treatments showed a recovery trend in the second year. Principal component analysis and redundancy analysis showed that treatment groups were clearly separated in 2024 but overlapped substantially in 2025. Root δ¹³C and root δ¹⁵N were key indicators distinguishing vegetation community characteristics. The results of this study confirmed that the application of biogas slurry fertilizer could actively improve the vegetation recovery of degraded grasslands. It provided reference support for the resource utilization of biogas slurry fertilizer and the sustainable management of grassland ecosystems. Full article

Planform evolution and terrestrial habitat health of two representative mid-channel bars (Baishazhou bar and Tianxingzhou bar) in the urban reach of the Middle Yangtze River in Wuhan City have not been understood under the combined influences of natural forcing and human activities. Using dry-season Landsat imagery (1989–2020), hydrological records from the Hankou gauging station (1990–2019), and field surveys, we quantified bar-morphology changes and examined the mechanisms underlying their differentiated scouring. We also developed an indicator system to evaluate terrestrial habitat health on mid-channel bars. Indicator weights were determined using a combined weighting approach integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the entropy weight method. Since the Three Gorges Dam began operation, the runoff in the Wuhan reach has decreased only slightly (6.72%), whereas sediment load decreased sharply (69.88%), causing net scouring of both bars. Baishazhou bar, in a straight anabranching reach, lost 43.83% of its area (1989–2020), with erosion concentrated at the head and main channel margin and caving. Tianxingzhou bar, in a mildly curved reach, had moderate shrinkage (26.33%, 1992–2022) as revetments curbed head/right margin retreat. Both bars were “very healthy” in natural attributes, with the Baishazhou bar showing longer water–land ecotone exposure (217 d) and higher vegetation cover (92%). Socially, Baishazhou bar was “sub-healthy” due to unprotected shrinkage, and Tianxingzhou bar was “unhealthy” due to area loss and low permeability of hard works. Overall, both bars were “healthy”. These findings provide a basis for ecological conservation and habitat restoration of bar wetlands. Full article

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is an efficient technique for biodiesel production. The main contribution of this study is the development of a modular reactor with a universal stainless steel joint, whose design facilitates the installation, replacement, and maintenance of the orifice plate by eliminating flanges and bolts during assembly. Using this reactor, the study evaluated the synergistic interaction between feed pressure and methanol:oil molar ratio in the transesterification of soybean oil, employing a 3² factorial design. The orifice plate was 3 mm thick and had 19 holes with a diameter of 1.0 mm, installed downstream of the pump. The process was carried out for 45 min, using NaOH at 1 wt% relative to the oil and at 60 ± 5 °C. Feed pressures of 1.72, 2.41, and 3.10 bar and methanol:oil molar ratios of 6:1, 8:1, and 10:1 were evaluated, reaching a maximum yield of 92.98% at 3.10 bar and 8:1. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed a significant interaction (p < 0.0001) and allowed a second-order polynomial model to be fitted (R² = 0.9981). In contrast, conventional mechanical agitation required 90 min to achieve 95% yield. The biodiesel produced met most American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D6751 requirements, confirming the potential of HC as a viable alternative for intensifying biodiesel production. Full article