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Found 6273 publications

Outcome of Microalgae Biomass Application on Seed Germination and Hormonal Activity in Winter Wheat Leaves

Éva Darkó Zoltán Molnár Kamirán Áron Hamow Tibor Janda Lamnganbi Mutum Gabriella Szalai

Publication Name: Agronomy

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The present work aimed to test selected microalgae strains from the Mosonmagyaróvár Algae Culture Collection (MACC) on germination ability and certain physiological processes in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. Germination tests showed substantial differences between the strains, meaning that certain strains (such as MACC-430, MACC-612, MACC-922) improved the germination processes while others performed worse (MACC-438, MACC-755) than the control in a concentration-dependent manner. The germination index of seeds treated with MACC-430 @ 1 g L−1 concentrations was 87, while that of the control was 45. The mungbean rooting bioassay proves that microalgae biomass may exhibit auxin-like activity, especially in strain MACC-612 (Nostoc sp.), which was characterized by the highest endogenous level of plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic-acid among the selected strains. Foliar spray on the leaves of developed plants did not significantly alter the photosynthetic processes, but it influenced the secondary metabolite composition. After the application of microalgae biomass, there were also changes in plant hormones, including salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid-leucine/isoleucine conjugate compositions, which play a role in plant stress signaling in plants. A decrease in indole-3-acetic acid was also observed in the Mv Nádor cultivar. These results suggest that the application of certain microalgae strains can be used effectively to improve the germination of wheat seeds, and as a foliar spray, they may also modify the acclimation processes in a genotype-dependent way.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/agronomy13041088

Acceptance of self-driving cars among the university community: Effects of gender, previous experience, technology adoption propensity, and attitudes toward autonomous vehicles

Győző Kurucz Gabor Kovacs Ágnes Hőgye-Nagy

Publication Name: Transportation Research Part F Traffic Psychology and Behaviour

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 94

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 353-361

Description:

This article investigates the acceptance of autonomous cars based on the role of attitudes toward autonomous vehicles, acceptance of technology, previous experiences, and gender. Using an online survey, which includes the Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicles (AVAS) and Technology Adoption Propensity scale (TAP), a sample of 1273 members of a university community was collected. Acceptance of using autonomous cars in a test drive and ordinary, real traffic scenarios, as well as the intention to buy one were measured via self-administered items. We used conditional process modeling to get a more detailed insight into the connections among these factors. The findings revealed that all four factors of attitudes towards autonomous vehicles (benefits in usefulness, benefits in situations, commonalities concerns, system concerns) but only the optimism factor of technology adaption propensity affected the acceptance. Dependency seemed to affect benefits in usefulness and the two concern variables. Gender differences are almost entirely explained away by the effects of attitudes. Previous experience had no significant effect in the model.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.trf.2023.03.005

Analysis of Road Users’ Risk Behaviors in Different Travel Modes: The Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Pawinee Iamtrakul Emese Mako Sararad Chayphong Souvathone Phetoudom

Publication Name: Infrastructures

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study explores road users’ behaviors and accident analyses on different travel modes in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). The questionnaire survey was adopted and designed based on contributing factors related to risk behavior perceptions in different travel modes. A total of 3000 participants submitted questionnaires that provided data for a multiple regression model analysis. The results indicated that different travel modes have different risk behavior perceptions. Road users of vulnerable modes of travel, such as walking and cycling, were more aware of risky behaviors than users of others. Risky, violent behavior may occur due to fatigue, driving while taking drugs, or aggressive tactics where the driver may lose control and cause an accident. However, driver negligence, especially violating traffic rules, may sometimes cause risky behavior. The results show that age, gender, education level, income level, marital status, driving experience, accident experience, and attitude toward road safety affect risk behavior perception. In conclusion, the differentiation of vehicles plays a vital role as a critical issue that should be understood for effectively mitigating risks in different travel patterns.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures8040079

Bifurcations of the limit directions in extended Filippov systems

Mate Antali

Publication Name: Physica D Nonlinear Phenomena

Publication Date: 2023-03-01

Volume: 445

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This paper explores special bifurcations that appear in dynamical systems possessing codimension-2 discontinuity sets in the state space. In these systems, the vector field has continuously many directional limits at the discontinuity set. It is shown that the trajectories can reach the discontinuity set along specific limit directions. The number and type of these organising objects characterise the behaviour of the dynamics in the vicinity of the discontinuity set. Thus, bifurcations of limit directions have a remarkable effect on the system. In the paper, two special bifurcations are explored; the tangency bifurcation and the saddle–node bifurcation of limit direction are followed through different formulations of the dynamical system. It is demonstrated that these bifurcations appear in rigid body dynamics in the presence of dry friction.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.physd.2022.133622

Compressive Strength of Corrugated Paperboard Packages with Low and High Cutout Rates: Numerical Modelling and Experimental Validation

Péter Böröcz Renáta Pidl Damian Mrówczyński Lajos Fehér

Publication Name: Materials

Publication Date: 2023-03-01

Volume: 16

Issue: 6

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The finite element method is a widely used numerical method to analyze structures in virtual space. This method can be used in the packaging industry to determine the mechanical properties of corrugated boxes. This study aims to create and validate a numerical model to predict the compression force of corrugated cardboard boxes by considering the influence of different cutout configurations of sidewalls. The types of investigated boxes are the following: the width and height of the boxes are 300 mm in each case and the length dimension of the boxes varied from 200 mm to 600 mm with a 100 mm increment. The cutout rates were 0%, 4%, 16%, 36%, and 64% with respect to the total surface area of sidewalls of the boxes. For the finite element analysis, a homogenized linear elastic orthotropic material model with Hill plasticity was used. The results of linear regressions show very good estimations to the numerical and experimental box compression test (BCT) values in each tested box group. Therefore, the numerical model can give a good prediction for the BCT force values from 0% cutout to 64% cutout rates. The accuracy of the numerical model decreases a little when the cutout rates are high. Based on the results, this paper presents a numerical model that can be used in the packaging design to estimate the compression strength of corrugated cardboard boxes.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/ma16062360

Investigation of the Effects of Biodegradable and Compostable Polymers as Sources of Microplastics on the Water-Soil Continuum: A Review

Gergely Zoltán Macher Dalma Bódizs Kornélia Horváth Anett Bedő

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 307-312

Description:

The amount of research and publications related to microplastic pollution has been steadily increasing in recent years, but at the same time, our current knowledge on the topic is still based on occasional point measurements. As a result of these point measurements, it becomes obvious that new research areas and disciplines are also connected to the topic of microplastics. Various biotic and abiotic processes can cause microplastics to enter the environment and spread within it. All of these mechanisms can arise from the moisture conditions of the tested medium, temperature differences, or even from the decomposing and transforming activities of microorganisms. The rise of biodegradable and compostable plastic bags can also be considered a source of this kind since polymer products labelled as environmentally friendly can be identified as secondary sources during their decomposition processes. Therefore, both industrial and household compost can contain microscopic polymer residues, the application of which involves a potential risk of environmental pollution. In recent years, several international studies have dealt with various aspects of the degradation of these products, including the use of problems caused by residual microplastics and their environmental effects. The focus of our paper is not on the development of a new scientific methodology but a summary of the current situation formed through research results dealing with the current environmental safety and environmental health risks of microplastic pollution caused by biodegradable polymers.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107052

Historical review of lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) Cultivation based on Hungarian bota nical, apicultural and agronomical studies

Gyula Pinke Éva Dunai

Publication Name: Botanikai Kozlemenyek

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 110

Issue: 1

Page Range: 43-60

Description:

Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.), a plant of North American origin, has been cultivated in the Carpathian Basin since the end of the 19th century. It was sown for ornamental purposes, but at the same time its potential for beekeeping was also recognized. It was prophesied to save the future of the Hungarian apiculture, but in the period following the Second World War with the collapse of the large estate system, it was cultivated as a bee pasture only on a small scale. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Hungarian researchers have been studied its forage potential in several experiments. Despite the fi rst contradictory conclusions, it has been respected as a valuable forage crop for several livestock species since the 1970s. Its excellent potential for green manuring and soil disinfection has been also confi rmed in many experiments carried out in the Carpathian Basin for more than a century. Since the end of the 1970s, its exportoriented seed production has boomed both in small and large farms in the Little Hungarian Plain (in NW Hungary). Th is practice has been strongly linked to migratory beekeeping, which has elevated lacy phacelia to the most important melliferous plants producing monofl oral honey in Hungary. Its annual production area has fl uctuated between 1500 and 11,000 ha in the last 20 years.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.17716/BotKozlem.2023.110.1.43

Sustainability in Folk Culture: Transmission of a Traditional Blue Dyeing Technique in Győr

Zsuzsanna Lanczendorfer Balázs Varga

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 235-240

Description:

Based on blue-dyer masters’ experience, we can say that people are still interested in the technology of traditional blue dyeing. There are many people participating in trade shows. Moreover, people tend to buy and use the products produced this way. Based on the proposal of the Intellectual Cultural Heritage Professional Committee of the Hungarian National Committee of UNESCO, the tradition of blue dyeing became part of the National Register of Intellectual Cultural Heritage in 2015. Then, in 2018, to the proposal of five countries, including Hungary, the traditional trade of blue-dyeing was recognised, which thus became part of the list of intellectual cultural heritage of UNESCO. In the elaboration of the petition of nomination, a master of Győr, Ildikó Tóth and her family participated. In our study, we are giving an overview of the history of blue-dyeing, which can be dated from the end of the 17th century, of the spreading of the main techniques, and also of the state of the number of blue-dyers. Beyond the above-mentioned issues, we are dealing with the history of blue-dyeing in Győr, mentioning the more important masters, as well as the mark of the trade, which can be seen until now. In the main part of our study, we are introducing a blue-dyeing workshop in Győr, where they manufacture textiles using original devices and technology until the present day. Apart from this, we are pointing out the family story of the blue-dyer family Éhring, which embraces five generations. Moreover, we are presenting their work done in the survival of our cultural heritage, in popular education and community development, with the help of the interviews made with Ildikó Tóth and her family – who has recently received the title ‘Master of Folk Culture’. In the study, we are also publishing true stories about blue-dyer masters, about the trade and the above-mentioned family.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107040

Cooperation and Sustainability in Last-Mile Logistics Sector: Behavioural Aspects of Courier Express Parcel Service Providers

Edit Süle Csilla Bartucz

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 565-570

Description:

The decisions of company managers are often not guided by the regulations governing the environment but by subjective factors that exert their effects in a hidden way in the decision-making manager's behavior. Market behavior is objectively controlled by regulators, but subjective factors lead to poor decision-making in some cases. On the one hand, the principal-agent problem is revealed behind the subjective factors, and on the other, cognitive biases affect the decision-making leader as a person. Cooperation with competitors from the same sector and sustainability issues are two similar areas where there is an opportunity to examine these concerns and where the nature of companies' decision-making shows similar or identical patterns on the basis of which decision-making behavior can be explored, characterized, and understood. This thesis examines the attitude of the managers of two existing Courier, Express, and Parcel market players regarding possible market cooperation. In-depth interviews and the completion of a unique questionnaire that revealed the presence of cognitive bias were the basis for the research. During the investigation, the cognitive bias influencing the decision of the two company managers was identified, and it was also examined whether the parent company or the owner's opinion affected their decision. The two case studies demonstrate how managers' decisions to develop collaborations are influenced by their prior experiences and prejudices.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107095