Search Results (867)

As water scarcity and pollution increase in rural communities in some parts of developing countries, there is a need to find simple ways to improve the quality of contaminated water. In this research, bagasse-based cellulose membranes were prepared and evaluated in a simple filtration system and compared with polycaprolactone membranes (PCL) and bagasse-based cellulose/PCL membranes for the removal of total coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and other physical and chemical contaminants from contaminated water. Cellulose offers many opportunities in filtration technology due to its physical and chemical characteristics that allow its use in the design of membranes with flexible capabilities and specific applications. The membranes were characterized physically, chemically and mechanically, finding similarity in mechanical properties and differences in porosity. The membranes were tested in a filtration system and PCL membranes were more effective in removing turbidity (94.5%), color removal (70%) and phosphorus removal (50%), while cellulose membranes were better at retaining fecal coliforms (84.5%) and E. coli (90.8%). Statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05) confirmed significant differences among the three membrane types for turbidity, apparent color, and nitrate, while no significant differences were observed for pH, conductivity, and phosphorus. These results suggest that the use of the membranes could help to improve the quality of polluted water and more studies are needed in order to improve their efficiencies. Full article

Skin color is a crucial phenotypic trait in poultry that influences consumer preference, market value, and breed identification. However, the mechanisms underlying skin color variation in Lingshan chickens remain poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological, metabolic, and microbial characteristics associated with skin color differences in male Lingshan chickens. A total of 210 castrated male Lingshan chickens were categorized into white-shanked (WS), yellow-shanked (YS), and red-shanked (RS) groups based on the Roche color fan scores. The results showed that chickens in the YS and RS groups exhibited significantly higher body weights and pigmentation levels in the shank, breast, and abdominal skin compared to those in the WS group (p < 0.05). Serum concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) were markedly elevated in RS chickens. Additionally, carotenoid profiles revealed higher deposition of lutein and β-carotene in the skin and adipose tissues of YS and RS birds. Gene expression analysis indicated differential regulation of carotenoid transport and metabolism-related genes among groups. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal microbiota revealed significant compositional shifts in microbial communities associated with shank pigmentation. Collectively, these findings suggest that differences in shank color in Lingshan chickens are closely linked to lipid metabolism, carotenoid transport, and gut microbiota composition. This study provides novel insights into the biological mechanisms driving skin pigmentation, offering valuable implications for breeding and functional trait selection in indigenous chicken populations. Full article

(1) Background: Alpacas play a crucial role in the livelihood and cultural heritage of Andean communities, yet limited scientific information exists regarding their morphometric growth patterns under high-altitude conditions. Understanding how environmental and biological factors influence their body development is essential for optimizing management and genetic improvement programs. (2) Methods: This study aimed to characterize the morphometric profile and allometric growth patterns of young Huacaya alpacas, evaluating the influence of sex, birth month, and fiber color on 18 linear body measurements and 6 morphometric indices from 146 animals. (3) Results: General linear models revealed that birth month had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the compactness index, body side index, and body index while sex, fiber color, and their interaction did not significantly affect most indices. Allometric analysis showed that head traits exhibited low allometric coefficients (0.08–0.23), whereas torso-related measures such as dorsal length and abdominal perimeter showed higher coefficients (0.33 and 0.36, respectively). The compactness index showed marked sexual dimorphism in the allometric coefficient (0.83 in females, 0.95 in males). Thoracic perimeter exhibited a strong relationship with body weight and low variability, highlighting this measure as a key predictor of body size. (4) Morphometric and allometric analyses provide the first growth coefficients for young Huacaya alpacas at high altitude, offering a scientific basis for phenotypic selection of animals with superior meat potential and adaptability, thereby directly improving breeding efficiency and management in Andean production systems. Full article

Driven by the concept of sustainable aquaculture, natural feed additives with growth-promoting, antioxidant, and immune-enhancing properties have become a key research focus. This study assessed the effects of dietary red pepper powder (Capsicum annuum) supplementation at 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% over 50 days on the growth, digestive function, immune and antioxidant capacities, intestinal microbiota, and gene expression in Strongylocentrotus intermedius (S. intermedius). The results indicated that red pepper powder significantly promoted growth and decreased the feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p < 0.05), with the 1.0% group showing the highest growth rate. Additionally, supplementation improved gonadal coloration and increased crude protein and lipid contents in the gonads, particularly in the 1.0% and 2.0% groups (p < 0.05). Supplementation with 1.0% and 2.0% red pepper powder enhanced digestive, immune, and antioxidant enzyme activities, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating lower lipid peroxidation. α-diversity analysis revealed the highest ACE, Chao, and Shannon indices and the lowest Simpson index in the 1.0% group, indicating greater microbial diversity. Community analysis revealed that in the red pepper powder treatment groups, beneficial bacteria, such as Firmicutes and Unclassified_f__Rhodobacteraceae, increased in relative abundance, while potential pathogens like Arcobacter, and Epsilonbacteraeota were less abundant. Red pepper powder supplementation upregulated key immune- and antioxidant-related genes while downregulating pro-inflammatory and stress-associated genes. Overall, optimal dietary supplementation of red pepper powder, particularly at 1.0%, enhanced antioxidant and immune functions, optimized intestinal microbiota, mitigated oxidative stress, and consequently promoted growth, improved gonadal quality, and strengthened overall health in S. intermedius. Full article

Sustainable waste management is essential for environmental protection and climate change mitigation. In mainland Portugal, 59% of municipal waste was sent to landfills in 2023, while only 8% underwent organic valorization. Domestic composting offers low-cost, local solutions to reduce landfill dependency and promote a circular economy. When produced with quality, compost can be used in parks and gardens, improving soil structure, supplying nutrients for plants, and promoting water retention. This study describes the implementation of a composting program at a Higher Education Institution in Lisbon, focusing on community engagement, awareness-raising actions, process monitoring, and challenges faced. The training sessions increased the participants’ knowledge, who reported personal constraints in urban areas, such as limited space and slow composting rates. The results from the composting assays showed that the temperature and the pH followed the expected patterns, with the pH ranging from 4 to 9. Although the composting process progressed satisfactorily, the maximum temperature reached was approximately 45 °C, a value that can occur in home composting systems. The compost analysis showed a mature compost with pH values around 8, a dark color, and an earthy smell, proper for use. Nonetheless, challenges remain, including contaminants found in some composters and the need for increased community participation and awareness to fully engage all stakeholders. Full article

Digital platforms have become primary channels for cultural heritage transmission, yet how individuals visually represent their personal heritage online remains unexplored. This study investigates the visual patterns in personal heritage representation across digital platforms, examining whether platform affordances or demographics influence these patterns. Through the LAVIS multimodal AI system, we analyzed 588 heritage images from Instagram and “Personas y Patrimonios”, combining automated content, composition, color, and saturation analyses with human validation. Our findings revealed that intimate, portable objects—particularly jewelry (22.79%)—dominate personal heritage representations, with no content differences between platforms or genders. Small but statistically significant platform differences emerged in color patterns (Cohen’s d = −0.215) and compositional attention (Cohen’s d = 0.147), while gender showed no significant differences in any visual dimension. These findings may indicate that personal heritage representation follows universal visual patterns, emphasizing personal bonds that transcend both platform affordances and demographic differences. These results advance understanding of personal digital heritage communication by identifying the universal patterns in its visualization. Beyond establishing a methodological framework for AI-assisted heritage image analysis, this research provides practical insights for heritage educators and digital platform designers while illuminating how biographical objects function in digital environments, ultimately underscoring the pivotal role of imagery in contemporary cultural transmission. Full article

Sichuan Paocai is a representative traditional fermented vegetable in China, which is deeply embedded in local geographical and cultural heritage. However, regional differences in product characteristics remain poorly understood. In this study, the physicochemical properties, volatile compounds, and microbial communities of Paocai from seven production regions in Sichuan (named FB, AB, BZ, CD, DZ, MY, and YS) were systematically investigated. Parameters including pH, salinity, nitrite, organic acids, and color were determined, while volatile profiles were analyzed using an electronic nose and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A total of 294 volatile compounds were identified, with alcohols, esters, and isothiocyanates emerging as the major contributors to flavor differentiation. UMAP and OPLS-DA analyses revealed distinct regional clustering, which was consistent with electronic nose profiling, and 111 volatile compounds were identified as key aroma markers. Microbial diversity was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, demonstrating that Lactobacillus, Lentilactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Weissella were the dominant taxa, although the richness varied significantly across regions. An LEfSe analysis further identified region-specific biomarkers, including Pediococcus, Lactococcus, and Leuconostoc in FB; Lactobacillus in AB; Pediococcus ethanolidurans in BZ; Levilactobacillus in DZ; Lentilactobacillus in MY; and a more diverse microbiota in MS. A correlation analysis highlighted the pivotal roles of distinct microbial groups in shaping and transforming flavor compounds across different regions. Overall, these findings provide scientific guidance for the development of high-quality, region-specific products and contribute to the protection, branding, and market competitiveness of geographically indicated foods. Full article

Aiming at the real-time object detection requirements of the intelligent control system for laboratory item transportation in mobile embedded unmanned vehicles, this paper proposes a lightweight hybrid detection system based on the OpenMV vision module. The system adopts a two-stage detection mechanism: in long-distance scenarios (>32 cm), fast target positioning is achieved through red threshold segmentation based on the HSV(Hue, Saturation, Value) color space; when in close range (≤32 cm), it switches to a lightweight deep learning model for fine-grained recognition to reduce invalid computations. By integrating the MobileNetV2 backbone network with the FOMO (Fast Object Matching and Occlusion) object detection algorithm, the FOMO MobileNetV2 model is constructed, achieving an average classification accuracy of 94.1% on a self-built multi-dimensional dataset (including two variables of light intensity and object distance, with 820 samples), which is a 26.5% improvement over the baseline MobileNetV2. In terms of hardware, multiple functional components are integrated: OLED display, Bluetooth communication unit, ultrasonic sensor, OpenMV H7 Plus camera, and servo pan-tilt. Target tracking is realized through the PID control algorithm, and finally, the embedded terminal achieves a real-time processing performance of 55 fps. Experimental results show that the system can effectively and in real-time identify and track the detection targets set in the laboratory. The designed unmanned vehicle system provides a practical solution for the automated and low-power transportation of small items in the laboratory environment. Full article

Rapid digitalization has resulted in an increase in the number of older adults playing electronic sports (eSports). Therefore, it must be investigated whether eSports have a positive effect on cognitive function in older adults. We explored the traits of facial color modification in Japanese older individuals while playing eSports by employing the facial color analysis technique proposed in this study. With the aging population, eSports have garnered interest as a means of extending healthy life expectancy. The quantitative detection of emotions obtained from eSports can function as an indicator for evaluating the degree to which individuals enjoy the games and can aid in the assessment of eSports to extend healthy life expectancy. Thus, in this study, we aimed to develop an indicator for quantitatively assessing the emotions experienced while playing eSports. The investigation revealed that information on color saturation in the cheek region exhibited a distinct relationship with the emotions generated while playing eSports. The identified characteristics can also be utilized in techniques to estimate the emotions generated during eSports activities. This can contribute to the evaluation of eSports in extending the healthy life expectancy of older adults. Furthermore, it can aid in the development of technologies that support remote communication. Full article

This study investigates how the packaging image of agricultural products in livestreaming commerce influences consumers’ repurchase intentions and, on this basis, formulates effective packaging improvement strategies to enhance repurchase intention. Focusing on agricultural product packaging, we conducted an online survey of 392 consumers with livestream shopping experience and employed a combined approach of structural equation modeling (SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to analyze the effects of packaging image on repurchase intention. Starting from elements of packaging design—such as external appearance, cultural cues, imagery, and materials—we examined color schemes, typography, and illustration styles and further explored how these factors shape repurchase intention by elevating consumers’ perceived value. The findings indicate that the information-conveying functions of packaging—namely the communication of product culture, quality, and distinctive attributes—have a significant impact on repurchase intention. SEM results reveal that perceived value plays a pivotal mediating role between packaging image and repurchase intention. Complementarily, ANN analysis identifies visual appearance as the strongest predictor of repurchase intention among all packaging elements. Building on these insights, the study proposes concrete packaging design strategies, including optimizing visual appearance to highlight brand distinctiveness; distilling design symbols to narrate brand stories; and mining cultural connotations to strengthen cultural expression. This research not only verifies the importance of packaging design in boosting consumers’ repurchase intentions but also offers a practical strategic framework that can be extended to packaging design practices for other agricultural products. It provides new theoretical support and practical guidance for the field, offering a valuable reference for future research and practice. Full article

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are a key enabling technology for modern e-Health applications. However, their deployment in clinical environments faces critical challenges due to dynamic network topologies, signal interference, and stringent energy constraints. Static resource allocation schemes often prove inadequate in these mission-critical settings, leading to communication failures that can compromise data integrity and patient safety. This paper proposes a novel hybrid framework for intelligent, dynamic resource allocation that addresses these challenges. The framework combines classical graph-coloring heuristics—Greedy and Recursive Largest First (RLF) for efficient initial channel assignment with the adaptive power of metaheuristics, specifically Simulated Annealing and Genetic Algorithms, for localized refinement. Unlike conventional approaches that require costly, network-wide reconfigurations, our method performs targeted adaptations only in interference-affected regions, thereby optimizing the trade-off between network reliability and energy efficiency. Comprehensive simulations modeled on dynamic, hospital-scale WSNs demonstrate the effectiveness of various hybrid strategies. Notably, our results demonstrate that a hybrid strategy using a Genetic Algorithm can most effectively minimize interference and ensure high data reliability, validating the framework as a scalable and resilient solution. These results validate the proposed framework as a scalable, energy-aware solution for resilient, real-time healthcare telecommunication infrastructures. Full article

The growing number of connected devices has strained traditional radio frequency wireless networks, driving interest in alternative technologies such as optical wireless communications (OWC). Among OWC solutions, optical camera communication (OCC) stands out as a cost-effective option because it leverages existing devices equipped with cameras, such as smartphones and security systems, without requiring specialized hardware. This paper proposes a novel deep learning-based detection and classification model designed to optimize the receiver’s performance in an OCC system utilizing color-shift keying (CSK) modulation. The receiver was experimentally validated using an $8\times 8$ LED matrix transmitter and a CMOS camera receiver, achieving reliable communication over distances ranging from 30 cm to 3 m under varying ambient conditions. The system employed CSK modulation to encode data into eight distinct color-based symbols transmitted at fixed frequencies. Captured image sequences of these transmissions were processed through a YOLOv8-based detection and classification framework, which achieved $98.4$% accuracy in symbol recognition. This high precision minimizes transmission errors, validating the robustness of the approach in real-world environments. The results highlight OCC’s potential for low-cost applications, where high-speed data transfer and long-range are unnecessary, such as Internet of Things connectivity and vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Future work will explore adaptive modulation and coding schemes as well as the integration of more advanced deep learning architectures to improve data rates and system scalability. Full article

The article explores how the design of informational and promotional messages from financial institutions influences their reception by young people. The study combined eye tracking, individual in-depth interviews (IDIs), and text mining analysis to examine both visual attention and participants’ conscious reactions. The aim was to identify young users’ preferences, determine factors influencing content perception, and assess the effectiveness of visual and audiovisual communication strategies. The main hypothesis proposed that minimalistic and visually attractive messages, enhanced with dynamic graphics, more effectively shape attitudes and elicit positive emotions. Specific aspects examined included the role of infographics, color schemes, message dynamics, and references to financial institutions in attracting attention and engagement. The results indicate that young people operate primarily in virtual space and express limited interest in traditional media such as television or print. They favor short, clear, and visually structured messages. Excessive textual content and lack of clarity provoked negative reactions and discouraged further engagement. Elements like infographics, colors, and logos were found to be strongly associated with brand recognition and memorability. Full article

Reliable and fast communication between unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) is essential for effective coordination in agricultural settings, particularly when human involvement is part of the system. This study systematically compares two communication architectures representing centralized and decentralized communication frameworks: (a) MAVLink (decentralized) and (b) Farm Management Information System (FMIS) (centralized). Field experiments were conducted in both empty field and orchard environments, using a rotary UAV for worker detection and a UGV responding to intent signaled through color-coded hats. Across 120 trials, the system performance was assessed in terms of communication reliability, latency, energy consumption, and responsiveness. FMIS consistently demonstrated higher message delivery success rates (97% in both environments) than MAVLink (83% in the empty field and 70% in the orchard). However, it resulted in higher UGV resource usage. Conversely, MAVLink achieved reduced UGV power draw and lower latency, but it was more affected by obstructed settings and also resulted in increased UAV battery consumption. In conclusion, MAVLink is suitable for time-sensitive operations that require rapid feedback, while FMIS is better suited for tasks that demand reliable communication in complex agricultural environments. Consequently, the selection between MAVLink and FMIS should be guided by the specific mission goals and environmental conditions. Full article

This study examines the impacts of industrial wastewater from the Uttara Export Processing Zone (UEPZ) on natural resources, agriculture, and the health of nearby communities in Nilphamari, Bangladesh. Using a quantitative, self-report approach, data were collected from 162 households across four villages in Nilphamari Sadar Upazila, selected based on proximity to the UEPZ. Findings reveal significant environmental degradation: almost all (96%) respondents reported that water in nearby rivers and ponds has changed color and is odorous, unpleasant to taste, and contaminated, harming aquatic biodiversity. Agricultural productivity has declined, with 67 percent of respondents experiencing reduced crop yields, increased crop diseases, and rising cultivation costs due to greater dependence on fertilizers and pesticides. Also, 96 percent of respondents reported that the fish population diminished, reducing alternative income sources. Health impacts were pronounced; 69 percent of the respondents experienced water pollution-related complications, including skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and eye problems. Perceptions of wastewater health risks were strongly aligned with reported illnesses. Binary logistic regression further indicated a positive association between degraded crop health and human health problems. The study concludes that UEPZ’s wastewater disposal negatively affects natural resources, agriculture, and public health, underscoring the need for improved waste management and mitigation to protect affected communities. Full article