The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen fertilizer levels on seed production of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in mountainous regions of Gangwon Province. The 'Green Call' variety of Italian ryegrass was sown in Pyeongchang, Gangwon in September 2021. The experiment consisted of three nitrogen application levels (100, 120, and 140 N kg/ha) and was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Harvest was carried out on June 28. The plant height was tallest in the 140 N kg/ha treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. Lodging resistance, disease resistance and winter hardiness showed no significant differences among treatments, although severe lodging occurred in all plots. The average spike length was 54.77 cm, with no significant difference among treatments, while the number of seeds per spike was highest in the 100 N kg/ha treatment. Seed yield increased with higher nitrogen levels, with an average of 2,820 kg/ha (based on air-dry weight). The average dry matter content of seeds and straw was 56.70% and 38.80%, respectively, with no significant differences among treatments. The average dry matter yield of residual straw after seed harvest was 4,144 kg/ha, with the highest yield observed in the 120 N kg/ha treatment. Meanwhile, the feed value of the harvested straw did not differ significantly among treatments. The average contents of ADF, NDF, CP, IVDMD, and TDN were 43.04%, 70.63%, 8.65%, 52.77%, and 54.88%, respectively. In conclusion, the optimal nitrogen fertilization level for Italian ryegrass seed production through autumn sowing in the mountainous areas of Gangwon Province was found to be 120 N kg/ha.

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in seed productivity of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) according to harvest time after heading in a mountainous area of Gangwon Province. The Italian ryegrass variety ‘Greencall’ was sown in the fall of 2021 in the Pyeongchang region of Gangwon and harvesting was performed every 10 days from 30 to 60 days after heading.. The treatments consisted of four seed harvest times (30, 40, 50, and 60 days after heading), arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plant height reached its maximum (93.0 cm) at 30 days after heading and subsequently declined with delayed harvest. Lodging resistance, disease resistance, and winter hardiness did not differ significantly among treatments, but lodging became more severe with time (rated 8∼9). Diseases were also more prevalent in the plots harvested 50 and 60 days after heading. The length of the spike was longest at 40 days after heading (54.33 cm), while the number of seeds per spike was lowest in the 60-day harvest plot (76 seeds/spike). The 1,000-seed weight was highest at 50 days after heading but decreased at 60 days. Seed dry matter content increased with delayed harvest, and dry seed yield increased up to 50 days after heading (3,742 kg/ha) but decreased at 60 days (2,442 kg/ha). The dry matter content of seed straw peaked at 50 days after heading, followed by a slight decline at 60 days, which was attributed to rainfall during the harvest period. Dry matter productivity was highest in the 50-day harvest plot. The feed value of seed straw decreased with delayed harvest, with an average Relative Feed Value (RFV) of 83. In conclusion, the optimal harvest time for fall-sown Italian ryegrass for seed production in the mountainous areas of Gangwon is 50 days after heading.

In this study, we developed electrochemical sensors based on the composite of hydroxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-OH) and graphene for paraoxon-ethyl detection as pesticide residues in agricultural products. Chemical treatment was employed to produce MWCNT-OH from pristine MWCNT and its composite with graphene was subsequently characterized using FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, FESEM-EDX, TEM, and XPS techniques. The MWCNT-OH/graphene composite was employed as an electrode modifier on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface, and its electroanalytical performances were studied using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. It was revealed the optimum composition ratio between MWCNT-OH and graphene was 2:8, for paraoxon-ethyl detection at pH 7. This could be attributed to the enhanced electrocatalytic activity in the MWCNT-OH/graphene composite which displayed a linear range of paraoxon-ethyl concentration as 0.1–100 μM with a lower detection limit of 10 nM and a good sensitivity of 1.60 μA μM cm− 2. In addition, the proposed sensor shows good reproducibility, stability, and selectivity in the presence of 10 different interfering compounds including other pesticides. Ultimately, this proposed sensor was tested to determine the paraoxon-ethyl concentrations in green apples and cabbage as samples of agricultural products. The obtained concentrations of paraoxon-ethyl from this proposed sensor show no significant difference with standard spectrophotometric techniques suggesting this sensing platform might be further developed as a rapid detection of pesticide residue in agricultural products.

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of elapsed time after air flow cutoff on the germination rate of Italian ryegrass seed with different moisture contents during natural drying on reclaimed land, Jangheung and Kimje of Korea from 2023 to 2024, respectively. Seeds with moisture contents of 15.3, 22.3 and 28.0% were placed in vinyl bag (30 × 40 cm) at storage thicknesses of 10, 15, and 20 cm, and air flow was cutoff for 48 h. Seed moisture content, seed temperature (℃) and germination rate were investigated at 12-h intervals. After 48 h of airflow cutoff during natural drying, seed moisture content did not significantly differ among storage thickness treatment (p>0.05). When Italian ryegrass seeds with moisture contents of 27~28% were stored under conditions with air flow cutoff at 15~20cm thickness for 48 h, the seed temperature reached up to 30℃ and the germination rate was excellent at around 70~80%.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of natural drying methods on the moisture content and germination of Italian ryegrass seed in Jicheon reclaimed land, Jangheung, Korea, from 2023 to 2024. The natural drying methods tested included seed spread thicknesses of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm; seed reversal frequencies of 1, 2 and 3 times per day; and two reversal methods: seed-only reversal and complete mixing of seed with a dry mat. The thinner seed spread thickness significantly accelerated moisture content reduction(p<0.001). However, the reduction in moisture contents due to the number and method of seed reversal was minimal, approximately 1%. Seeds initially having around 48.9% moisture content required 2, 4 and 5 days to reach a moisture content of 14% when dried at spread thickness of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 cm, respectively. Seeds with an initial moisture content of 23-26% required 1 to 2 days to reach 14% moisture content while maintaining approximately 80% germination rate under the tested natural drying methods. When seeds with an initial moisture content of 48.9% were dried at a spread thickness of 2.5 cm, the germination rate was 74.6%, which was significantly lower than the 83.8 and 81.6% germination rates observed for seeds dried at 5.0 and 7.5 cm thickness, respectively(p<0.002). These results suggest that for faster drying and higher-quality Italian ryegrass seed, harvesting at 30% seed moisture content, utilizing the cultivation field as a seed drying place, and applying a seed spread thickness of 2.5 to 5.0 cm are optimal practices.

This study investigated the process of reclaiming Mo from calcined waste hydrotreating (CWHT) catalysts using tributyl phosphate (TBP) as an extractant with electron-withdrawing properties. Using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) technology, the optimal operating conditions for Mo recovery were determined based on the metal ion content in different processes. Considering the pH impact on metal species in solution, an acid leaching solution with 6 M sulfuric acid was employed. After 3 h of reaction, 94 wt% of the Mo was transferred from the WHT catalyst to the acid leaching solution. Adjusting the filtrate to a pH of 1.5 allowed the TBP to selectively extract over 98.8 wt% of Mo from the aqueous filter solution into the organic phase. MC-Cabe-Thiele theory predicts that a three-stage countercurrent extraction can reduce Mo to less than 0.2 wt%. Stripping moved approximately 98 wt% of the Mo from the organic to the inorganic phases. The recovered colorless organic tributyl phosphate can be used in the recycled extraction process.

This study was conducted to investigate changes in the productivity of Italian ryegrass seeds according to the timing of harvest after heading in the southern region. The Italian ryegrass variety ‘Greencall’ was sown in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, in the fall of 2022. Four harvest timings were tested (30, 40, 50, and 60 days after heading), with a randomized complete block design and three replicates. Sowing in the test plots took place on October 10, 2022, and harvesting was carried out from 30 days after heading on May 18 to 60 days. The plant height was the longest (99.1 cm) in the plot harvested 30 days after heading and decreased as the harvest was delayed. No significant differences were observed among treatments in terms of lodging resistance, disease resistance, and cold resistance. However, lodging severity increased over time after heading (7∼9). Disease incidence was also higher in plots harvested 50 and 60 days after heading. The length of the spike was shortest (38.76 cm) in the plot harvested 50 days after heading, and the number of seeds per spike was the lowest (42 seeds/spike) in the plot harvested 60 days after heading. The dry matter content of seeds increased with the delay in harvest, while dry matter yield decreased, with the lowest yield observed in the plot harvested 40 days after heading (3,031 kg/ha, p<0.05). The dry matter content of seed straw was highest at 75.73% in the plot harvested 50 days after heading and dropped to 34.99% 60 days after heading due to rainfall. The dry matter productivity of the seed straw was the lowest in the plot harvested 40 days after heading. The feed value of the seed straw also decreased with delayed harvest, with an average RFV (Relative Feed Value) of 91. In conclusion, the optimal harvest timing for fall-sown Italian ryegrass intended for seed production in the southern region appears to be 30 days after heading.

Silage inoculants, which include beneficial microorganisms like lactic acid bacteria (LAB), play a vital role in modern silage production by enhancing fermentation quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of various commercial inoculants on the fermentation dynamics of Italian ryegrass silage over 45 days. The treatments included a control group and five inoculant formulations: T1 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum), T2 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus), T3 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactiplantibacillus buchneri), T4 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactiplantibacillus acidophilus and Lactiplantibacillus bulgaricus), and T5 (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enterococcus faecium). After 45 days, all treatment groups exhibited significantly higher crude protein (CP) content compared to the control group (80.64 g/kg dry matter (DM), p<0.05). Treatments T2 and T5, which incorporated combinations of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enterococcus faecium, showed higher CP contents at 105.53 and 107.05 g/kg DM, respectively. The inoculated silages also demonstrated a rapid pH reduction within the early days, with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in T1 reducing the pH to 4.0 within four days. Additionally, inoculated treatments had significantly higher lactic acid levels than the control (67.96 g/kg DM, p<0.05), and T3 (Lactiplantibacillus buchneri) produced higher acetic acid levels (16.07 g/kg DM, p<0.05) than other inoculants. The control group also had a notably higher ammonia nitrogen content. In conclusion, while single-strain inoculants like Lactiplantibacillus plantarum are effective for rapid acidification, the use of combined bacterial strains can further enhance silage quality by improving lactic acid fermentation and nutrient preservation, particularly in treatments like Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactiplantibacillus buchneri and Enterococcus faecium.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonly produced in the combustion of fossil fuels and in chemical industries such as detergents and paints. VOCs in atmosphere cause different degrees of harm to human bodies and environments. Adsorption has become one of the most concerned methods to remove VOCs in atmosphere due to its high efficiency, simple operation and low energy consumption. Biomass-based porous carbon (BPC) has been considered as the most promising adsorption material because of the low cost and high absorption rate. In this paper, the key characteristic (e.g., specific surface area, pore structure, surface functional groups and basic composition) of BPC affecting the adsorption of VOCs in atmosphere were analyzed. The improvement of adsorption capacity of BPC by common modification methods, such as surface oxidation, surface reduction, surface loading and other modification methods, were discussed. Examples of BPC adsorption on different types of VOCs including aldehydes, ketones, aromatic VOCs, and halogenated hydrocarbons, were also reviewed. The specific adsorption mechanism was discussed. Finally, some unsolved problems and future research directions about BPC for adsorbing VOCs were propounded. This review can serve as a valuable reference for future developing effective biomass-based porous carbon VOCs adsorption technology.

Scabies, caused by an infestation of the skin with the itch mite (Sarcoptes scabiei), is highly contagious and classified as a prevalent neglected tropical diseases. The current diagnostic approach relies solely on clinical judgment based on symptoms, history, and microscopic observation by an experienced dermatologist. To enhance sensitivity and specificity, we developed an alternative method based on mite-derived DNA. Our method involves a quick DNA release from skin scraping samples and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) targeting the scabies mite-specific DNA sequences, enabling diagnosis within 30 minutes. Importantly, no cross-reactivity was observed when the sample was contaminated by two house dust mite species, and false positives were barely detected. Currently, we are in the process of developing a Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) kit for a scabies survey targeting school-age children in Timor-Leste as a global health project.

Silage inoculants, crucial in modern silage production, comprise beneficial microorganisms, primarily lactic acid bacteria (LAB), strategically applied to forage material during ensiling. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of various inoculants produced by different companies. Five treatments were evaluated, including a control group: T1 (Lactobacillus plantarum), T2 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus pentosaceus), T3 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus pentosaceus + Lactobacillus buchneri), T4 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Lactobacillus acidophilus + Lactobacillus bulgaricus), and T5 (Lactobacillus plantarum + Pediococcus pentosaceus + Enterococcus faecium). Italian ryegrass was harvested at the heading stage and treated with these silage inoculants. Samples were collected over a 60-day ensiling period. Co-inoculation with L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus (T2) resulted in significantly higher CP compared to the control group co-inoculation exhibited with resulted in Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus in the T2 treatment exhibited higher CP content of 106.35 g/kg dry matter (DM). The T3 treatment, which included heterofermentative bacterial strains such as Lactobacillus buchneri, exhibited an increase in acetic acid concentration (11.15 g/kg DM). In the T4 treatment group, which utilized a mixed culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus, the NH3-N/TN content was observed to be the lowest (20.52 g/kg DM). The T5 containing Enterococcus faecium had the highest RFV (123) after 60 days. Expanding upon these findings, the study underscores not only the beneficial effects of particular inoculant treatments on silage quality but also underscores the potential of customized inoculation strategies in maximizing nutrient retention and overall silage preservation.

This research investigated the preparation of activated carbon derived from Krabok (Irvingia malayana) seed shells to improve the quality of crude glycerol obtained during biodiesel production. The activated carbon was prepared using a dry chemical activation method with NaOH, utilizing an innovative biomass incinerator. The results revealed that the resulting KC/AC-two-step exhibited favorable physicochemical adsorption properties, with a high surface area of 758.72 m2/g and an iodine number of 611.10 mg/g. These values meet the criteria of the industrial product standard for activated carbon No. TIS 900-2004, as specified by the Ministry of Industry in Thailand. Additionally, the adsorption efficiency for methylene blue reached an impressive 99.35 %. This developed activated carbon was then used to improve the quality of crude glycerol obtained from biodiesel production. The experimental results showed that the KC/AC-two-step increased the purity of crude glycerol to 73.61 %. In comparison, commercially available activated carbon (C/AC) resulted in a higher crude glycerol purity of 81.19 %, as analyzed by the GC technique. Additionally, the metal content (Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Cd, and Na) in purified glycerol using KC/AC-two-step was below the standards for heavy metals permitted in food and cosmeceuticals by the Food and Drug Administration of Thailand and the European Committee for Food Contact Materials and Articles. As a result, it can be inferred that Krabok seed shells have favorable properties for producing activated carbon suitable as an adsorbent to enhance crude glycerol purity. Furthermore, the improved crude glycerol from this research has potential for various industrial applications.

In this work, the trend in the performance of carbon fiber (CF) and its composite during self-polymerization of polydopamine (PDA) at carbon fiber surface was investigated by varying the self-polymerization time of dopamine in an aqueous solution. Research has shown that the PDA coating elevated the surface roughness and polarity of the inert fiber. The tensile strength of single carbon fiber was significantly improved, especially after 9 h of polydopamine self-polymerization, increasing by 18.64% compared with that of desized carbon fiber. Moreover, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of CF-PDA9-based composites was 35.06% higher than that of desized CF-based composites. This research will provide a deep insight into the thickness and activated ingredients of dopamine oxidation and self-polymerization on interfacial compatibility of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composites.

Marine industry generates tons of waste, which is usually discarded or used for production of fish feed and low-value silage. However, marine residual raw materials (e.g., skins, heads, liver, and roe after fish gutting and processing) contain lipids rich in omega-3 fatty acid, which has several beneficial physiological effects such as maintenance of normal cardiac function, normal brain function, and normal vision. Food fortification with omega-3 fatty acid derived from marine residual raw materials can therefore provide health benefits and contribute to a circular food system. The current research explores consumer acceptance of the food fortified with microencapsulated fish oil derived from marine residual raw materials. Consumers may be hesitant to try these products due to food neophobia associated with tendency to eat foods with familiar ingredients. The idea of ingredients from normally discarded food parts may seem disturbing. However, there is a growing concern about low utilization of bioresources. Thus, conflicting goals may be in place and there is a need for research on motivations and barriers for consumption of this type of food. To address this, focus group interviews were conducted with 42 Norwegian consumers (7 groups, 4-7 participants each). The sample represented different age groups (20-55 years), genders, educational backgrounds, and income levels. Each participant received a compensation of ca. USD 30. The focus groups discussed food habits, attitude towards the fortified food and utilizing residual raw materials, and reasons for intake/no intake of such food. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the constant comparative method. The results indicate that the informants have limited experience with fortified food. However, they demonstrate positive attitude towards the foods fortified with microencapsulated fish oil and appreciate the utilization of residual raw materials. Health benefits are one of the important motivations. Still, the informants are concerned about the fishy taste, as the flavor is also quite crucial. Another barrier is an expected high price for such food. Adding fish oil may also be a problem for vegetarians and consumers with allergies. Thus, transparent information about the food ingredients is essential. The results also highlight the importance of food’s sensory characteristics. The current study advances understanding of the consumer acceptance of the food with residual raw materials (so far under investigated in the literature), and thus provides a basis for finding an efficient strategy for communicating its benefits to consumers. It also provides societal health benefits and positive environmental effects due to the increased intake of omega-3 and better utilization of unused bioresources.

It is difficult to optimize the process parameters of directly preparing carbonaceous mesophase (CMs) by solvothermal method using coal tar as raw material. To solve this problem, a Decision Tree model for CMs preparation (DTC) was established based on the relationship between the process parameters and the yields of CMs. Then, the importance of variables in the preparation process for CMs was predicted, the relationship between experimental conditions and yields was revealed, and the preparation process conditions were also optimized by the DTC. The prediction results showed that the importance of the variables was raw material type, solvothermal temperature, solvothermal time, solvent amount, and additive type in order. And the optimized reaction conditions were as follows: coal tar was pretreated by decompress distillation and centrifugation, the solvent amount was 50.0 ml, the solvothermal temperature was 230 °C, and the reaction time was 5 h. These prediction results were consistent with the actual experimental results, and the error between the predicted yields and the actual yields was about − 1.1%. Furthermore, the prediction error of DTC method was within the acceptable range when the data sample sets were reduced to 100 sets. These results proved that the established DTC for chemical process optimization can effectively lessen the experimental workload and has high application value.

Herein, a facile bottom–up approach for producing nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) was carried out by the hydrothermal treatment of microcrystalline cellulose, in the presence of different nitrogen sources (blank/urea/ammonia water/ethanediamine(EDA)/Hexamethylenetetramine). The result showed that the fluorescence intensity and quantum yields (QYs) of N-CQDs with different nitrogen sources are all higher than that without nitrogen source. Compared with the other three nitrogen sources, N-CQDs prepared by EDA not only have the highest fluorescence intensity but also the largest QYs of 51.39%. Therefore, EDA was chosen as the nitrogen source to prepare N-CQDs. The obtained N-CQDs are uniform spherical particles with a diameter of 2.76 nm. The N-CQDs also exhibit excitation-dependent and long-wave emission properties. The emission range of N-CQDs is 470–540 nm. Moreover, N-CQDs as fluorescent agents successfully acted on purple LEDs (λem = 365 nm) to achieve white LEDs light emission. At the same time, a fluorescent thin layer chromatography plate was successfully prepared using N-CQDs, silica gel G and Sodium carboxymethylcellulose as raw materials. The separation trajectory of mixed sample of Sudan red III and kerosene on the fluorescent TLC plate is obviously clearer than that of the TLC plate.