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Valorization of spent mushroom substrate in combination with agro-residues to improve the nutrient and phytohormone contents of vermicompost

Chuleemas Boonthai Iwai Balasubramani Ravindran Babett Greff Supawadee Ruangjanda Soon Woong Chang

Publication Name: Environmental Research

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 214

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

In recent years, enormous amounts of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) have been generated because of the rapid development of mushroom production. Since the conventional disposal methods of these residues can cause serious environmental problems, alternative waste management techniques are required to ensure sustainable agriculture. However, SMS might be not suitable for vermicomposting when used alone. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Azolla microphylla (Azolla) biomass, eggshells, fruit peels, and cassava pulp on the biodegradation process of SMS. The results showed the treatments supplemented with cassava pulp and fruit peel waste improved the growth of earthworms, while the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of these vermicomposts decreased significantly (p < 0.05) due to the improved total nitrogen contents (7.64 g kg−1 and 6.71 g kg−1). Concerning the degradation process and the vermicompost quality, the addition of these agro-residues facilitated the enzyme activities (cellulase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase) and increased the total macronutrient (P, K, Mg, and Ca) and phytohormone (fruit peel waste: AA, GA3, and cytokinin; cassava pulp: cytokinin) contents of the final products compared to the control treatment. On the other hand, Azolla had no additional effect on the fecundity and growth of Eudrilus eugenia. Meanwhile, the treatment supplemented with eggshells was high in Mg (7.15 g kg−1) and Ca (305.6 g kg−1). Overall, the combined decomposition of SMS-based bedding material with Azolla, eggshells, fruit peel waste, and cassava pulp resulted in mature organic fertilizers with improved chemical properties.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113771

European Green Transition Implications on Africa’s Livestock Sector Development and Resilience to Climate Change

Kennedy Ndue Goda Pál

Publication Name: Sustainability Switzerland

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 21

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Green growth and the transition towards green growth are gaining scientific and public interest across Africa at an unprecedented rate. The Paris Agreement ratification by all 54 member states and the African Union (AU) goals in its Agenda 2063 on green economies are sufficient evidence of this. This is in line with the European Green Deal (EGD) aspirations, which envisages making Europe a carbon neutral economy by 2050. One of the EGD’s four main pillars is sustainable food systems. The success of EGD is premised on its ability to inspire and support green transition and effective climate action globally. The borderless nature of climate change necessitates a holistic approach to ensure the EU’s green transition does not come at the cost of development elsewhere. The main challenge is finding Africa’s space and position within the desired holistic approach, as Africa’s economy is agriculturally driven. One key African agricultural sub-sector significantly impacting livelihoods is livestock, which supports up to 80% of the rural livelihoods and which grapples with challenges in satisfying the needs of a fast-growing population. What could the EU green transition mean to this sector? We established that between 2010–2019, the African livestock population grew exponentially, and feed production followed the same path, with the share of land under forests, grasslands and meadows declining drastically. Over the same period, the percentage of land under arable farming increased while the animal-based protein and meat imports curve grew exponentially. This situation puts the continent in a dilemma about finding a sustainable solution for the food–feed and environmental nexus. Against this backdrop, a myriad of questions arises on how the green transition can be established to promote mitigating any loss that might occur in the process. We conducted a detailed sectoral trend analysis based on Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) statistics to find plausible solutions and pathways to achieve a greener transition. We coupled it with intensive policy mapping to develop science-policy-driven solutions that could promote the green transition sustainably. To sustainably accelerate the sectoral growth trajectory while addressing climate change, we recommend adopting and implementing raft measures geared towards increased sectoral efficiency, effectiveness, innovativeness and a holistic approach to the problem. Adopting transformative policies can promote the sector’s competitiveness through incentivisation, technological adoption, financial support, market support and increased awareness of its importance in sustainable development. However, exercising caution in implementing these practices is crucial to ensure there is no leakage effect in implementing the EGD across Africa and beyond.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/su142114401

Optical Rail Surface Crack Detection Method Based on Semantic Segmentation Replacement for Magnetic Particle Inspection

Szabolcs Fischer Mykola Sysyn Olga Nabochenko Jianxing Liu Lei Kou

Publication Name: Sensors

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 22

Issue: 21

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Railway damage detection is of great significance in ensuring railway safety. The cracks on the rail surface play a key role in studying the formation and development process of rail damage, predicting the occurrence of rail defects, and then improving the service life of the rail. However, due to the small shape of the cracks, the typical detection method is relatively complicated, and the speed is quite slow. Although traditional magnetic particle inspection technology is fairly accurate at detection, it is costly and inconvenient to carry and install, while also limiting the detection speed and affecting the system’s operation. In this paper, a semantic segmentation detection method is developed by using various collected rail surface crack data and deep learning through a neural network. By comparing the inspection of the same rail surface with magnetic particle inspection technology, only inexpensive cameras are used and the inspection speed is increased while maintaining relatively high accuracy. In addition, the method can achieve fast detection speeds if it is extended to be combined with high-frequency cameras. It is an economical, efficient, and environmentally friendly method for future rail surface detection.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/s22218214

Fabrication of Europium-Doped Barium Titanate/Polystyrene Polymer Nanocomposites Using Ultrasonication-Assisted Method: Structural and Optical Properties

Diwakar Padalia László Lendvai Prabhakar Bhandari Pawan Kumar Lalit Ranakoti Tej Singh Umesh Kumar

Publication Name: Polymers

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 14

Issue: 21

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

In the current work, europium-doped barium titanate particles were used as filler material and polystyrene was used as a matrix to fabricate Ba1−3x/2EuxTiO3/PS polymer nanocomposites with x = 0, 0.005, 0.015 and 0.025. A solid-state reaction was used to synthesize filler particles and the solvent evaporation method was used to form polymer nanocomposites. The effects of ultrasonic treatment were also studied in the formation of nanocomposite materials. The quantitative and qualitative studies were conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) characterization techniques. The XRD data and FTIR data confirm the incorporation of filler particles in the polymer matrix. FE-SEM data confirms that the particles are in the nanophase. The optical band gap was directly affected by the filler particles and it started to reduce as Eu concentration started to increase.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/polym14214664

TIME-SPACE ASYMMETRY VERSUS TIME-SPACE SYMMETRY

Dusek Tamás Lívia Ablonczy-Mihályka Petra Kecskés Zsuzsanna Pálffy

Publication Name: Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 4

Page Range: 68-81

Description:

The interpretation and the analysis of physical spaces is generated from the symmetry axiom which is valid in geographical spaces but might not be valid in other forms of spaces, the so called non-geographical ones. In the case of such spaces which can be expressed by time, network and cost, the opposite of symmetry can be found: distance asymmetry which means that the distance from one object to another and back are not equal. This research is motivated by the fact that while distance symmetry has been widely studied distance asymmetry has been not investigated in suburban areas of Győr. The purpose of the study is to give a typology of the sources of distance asymmetry, especially with regard to time-spaces, to demonstrate some real life practices and finally, to present.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: DOI not available

First Report of Coniella granati Causing Leaf Spot of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Hungary

M. Petróczy László Palkovics A. Tóth L. Szendrei P. Salamon

Publication Name: Plant Disease

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 106

Issue: 11

Page Range: 2995

Description:

No description provided

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1094/PDIS-10-21-2230-PDN

A Combined Approach of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps and Fuzzy Rule-Based Inference Supporting Freeway Traffic Control Strategies †

Miklós F. Hatwágner Mehran Amini Ĺaszĺo T. Ḱoczy

Publication Name: Mathematics

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 10

Issue: 21

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Freeway networks, despite being built to handle the transportation needs of large traffic volumes, have suffered in recent years from an increase in demand that is rarely resolvable through infrastructure improvements. Therefore, the implementation of particular control methods constitutes, in many instances, the only viable solution for enhancing the performance of freeway traffic systems. The topic is fraught with ambiguity, and there is no tool for understanding the entire system mathematically; hence, a fuzzy suggested algorithm seems not just appropriate but essential. In this study, a fuzzy cognitive map-based model and a fuzzy rule-based system are proposed as tools to analyze freeway traffic data with the objective of traffic flow modeling at a macroscopic level in order to address congestion-related issues as the primary goal of the traffic control strategies. In addition to presenting a framework of fuzzy system-based controllers in freeway traffic, the results of this study demonstrated that a fuzzy inference system and fuzzy cognitive maps are capable of congestion level prediction, traffic flow simulation, and scenario analysis, thereby enhancing the performance of the traffic control strategies involving the implementation of ramp management policies, controlling vehicle movement within the freeway by mainstream control, and routing control.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/math10214139

The Quality of Reserve Risk Calculation Models under Solvency II and IFRS 17

László Martinek N. Miklós Arató

Publication Name: Risks

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 10

Issue: 11

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

We analyse four stochastic claims reserving methods in terms of their capability to estimate reserve risk and how successful they are at predicting distributions and VaRs of claim developments in particular. Both actual data and hypothetical claim triangles support our results. The appropriateness of the Solvency II risk margin on a one-year horizon and of the IFRS 17 risk adjustment in the long run largely vary by the chosen risk model. Despite the fact that IFRS 17 does not uniquely prescribe the metric for risk adjustment, we expect that VaR will be widely applied by insurance firms. Overall, actual data suggest that VaRs are predominantly underestimated by the models. Nevertheless, the (Formula presented.) -VaRs under Solvency II are mostly sufficient on a 10-year-horizon to cover liabilities.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/risks10110204

Effect of Sleeper-Ballast Particle Contact on Lateral Resistance of Concrete Sleepers in Ballasted Railway Tracks

Majid Movahedi Rad Jafar Chalabii Ebrahim Hadizadeh Raisi Reza Esfandiari Mehni

Publication Name: Materials

Publication Date: 2022-11-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 21

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Although a sleeper makes a great contribution to the lateral resistance of ballasted tracks, in this regard, limited studies have been carried out on the effect of its contact surface with ballast aggregates. The current paper is dedicated to evaluating the effect of sleeper shape on the lateral resistance of ballasted track through discrete element modelling (DEM). For this purpose, firstly, a DEM model was validated based on the experimental results. Then, a sensitivity analysis was undertaken on the effect of the different contact areas that a standard concrete sleeper faces with the crib, shoulder and underlying ballast aggregates on lateral resistance of a single sleeper. As the main result of the current study, a high accurate regression equation for constant weight 319.2 kg and constant density 2500 kg/m3 of the sleepers was fitted between different sleeper contact areas and the maximum lateral resistance of a concrete sleeper for 3.5 mm lateral displacement in ballasted railway tracks. The obtained results showed that the effect of the sleeper’s head area compared to the underlying area of the sleeper and the head area of the sleeper compared to the sleeper’s side area in terms of lateral resistance are 8.2 times and 14.5 times more, respectively.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/ma15217508