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Hydroponics offers a promising approach to help alleviate pressure on food security for urban residents. It requires minimal space and uses less resources, but management can be complex. Microscale Smart Hydroponics (MSH) systems leverage IoT systems to simplify hydroponics management for home users. Previous work in nutrient management has produced systems that use expensive sensing methods or utilized lower cost methods at the expense of accuracy. This study presents a novel inexpensive nutrient management system for MSH applications that utilises a novel waterproofed, IoT spectroscopy sensor (AS7265x) in a transflective application. The sensor is submerged in a hydroponic solution to monitor the nutrients and MSH system predicts the of nutrients in the hydroponic solution and recommends an adjustment quantity in mL. A three-phase model building process was carried out resulting in significant MLR models for predicting the mL, with an R 2 of 0.997. An experiment evaluated the system’s performance using the trained models with a 30-day grow of lettuce in a real-world setting, comparing the results of the management system to a control group. The sensor system successfully adjusted and maintained nutrient levels, resulting in plant growth that outperformed the control group. The results of the models in actual deployment showed a strong, significant correlation of 0.77 with the traditional method of measuring the electrical conductivity of nutrients. This novel nutrient management system has the potential to transform the way nutrients are monitored in hydroponics. By simplifying nutrient management, this system can encourage the adoption of hydroponics, contributing to food security and environmental sustainability.

Environmental changes and the reduction in arable land have led to food security concerns around the world, particularly in urban settings. Hydroponic soilless growing methods deliver plant nutrients using water, conserving resources and can be constructed nearly anywhere. Hydroponic systems have several complex attributes that need to be managed, and this can be daunting for the layperson. Micro Indoor Smart Hydroponics (MISH) leverage Internet of Things (IoT) technology to manage the complexities of hydroponic techniques, for growing food at home for everyday citizens. Two prohibitive costs in the advancement of MISH systems are power consumption and equipment expense. Reducing cost through harvesting ambient light can potentially reduce power consumption but must be done accurately to sustain sufficient plant yields. Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR) meters are commercially used to measure only the light spectrum that plants use, but are expensive. This study presents Adaptalight, a MISH system that harvests ambient light using an inexpensive AS7265x IoT sensor to measure PAR. The system is built on commonly found IoT technology and a well-established architecture for MISH systems. Adpatalight was deployed in a real-world application in the living space of an apartment and experiments were carried out accordingly. A two-phase experiment was conducted over three months, each phase lasting 21 days. Phase one measured the IoT sensor’s capability to accurately measure PAR. Phase two measured the ability of the system to harvest ambient PAR light and produce sufficient yields, using the calibrated IoT sensor from phase one. The results showed that the Adaptalight system was successful in saving a significant amount of power, harvesting ambient PAR light and producing yields with no significant differences from the control. The amount of power savings would be potentially greater in a location with more ambient light. Additionally, the findings show that, when calibrated, the AS7265x sensor is well suited to accurately measure PAR light in MISH systems.

Nutrient monitoring in Micro Indoor Smart Hydroponics (MISH) relies on measuring electrical conductivity or total dissolved solids to determine the amount of nutrients in a hydroponic solution. Neither method can distinguish concentrations of individual nutrients. This study presents the development and testing of a novel spectroscopic sensor system to monitor nitrogen changes in nutrient solutions for MISH systems. The design phase determined that using an inexpensive AS7265x Internet of Thing (IoT) sensor in a transflective spectroscopic application could effectively detect small fluctuations in nitrogen concentraation. Next, a novel transflective sensor apparatus was designed and constructed for use in a MISH system experiment, growing lettuce over 30 days. Two solution tanks of different sizes, 80 L and 40 L, were used in the deployment of the system. Samples from each tank were analyzed for nitrogen concentration in a laboratory, and multilinear regression was used to predict the nitrogen concentrations using the AS7265x 18 spectral channels recorded in the sensor system. Significant results were found for both tanks with an R2 of 0.904 and 0.911 for the 80 and 40 L tanks, respectively. However, while the use of all wavelengths produced an accurate model, none of the individual wavelengths were indicative on their own. These findings indicate that the novel system presented in this study successfully and accurately monitors changes in nitrogen concentrations for MISH systems, using low cost IoT sensors.

This study examined the chemoselectivity and diastereoselectivity of silyl nitronate alkenyn-nitroethers in Intramolecular Silyl Nitronate Cycloadditions (ISNCs) to produce isoxazole derivatives with interesting medicinal properties. These reactions resulted in the formation of either dihydrofuro[3,4-c]isoxazolines/isoxazolidines and/or alkynyl moieties attached to 2,5-dihydrofuryl carbonyls. This study also discerned the diastereoselectivities of the resulting cyclic adducts and compared them to previous findings. The reactions were also investigated with Spartan molecular modeling computations to aid in the understanding of any displayed chemo- and/or stereoselectivity. These [3+2]-cycloaddition reactions demonstrated excellent to complete chemospecificity. The cycloadditions also demonstrated remarkable diastereospecificity in that each diastereomer of the nitroethers resulted in the formation of only one of four possible diastereomeric outcomes. The stereochemistry of the major diastereomers did not agree with previously published findings.

BackgroundLignocellulosic biomass is a promising source of renewable biofuels. However, pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass generates fermentation inhibitors that adversely affect the growth of industrial microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and prevent economic production of lignocellulosic biofuels. A critical challenge on developing S. cerevisiae with improved inhibitor resistance lies in incomplete understanding of molecular basis for inhibitor stress response and limited information on effective genetic targets for increasing yeast resistance to mixed fermentation inhibitors. In this study, we applied comparative transcriptomic analysis to determine the molecular basis for acetic acid and/or furfural resistance in S. cerevisiae.ResultsWe recently developed a yeast strain YC1 with superior resistance to acetic acid, furfural, and their mixture through inverse metabolic engineering. In this study, we first determined transcriptional changes through RNA sequencing in YC1 versus the wild-type strain S-C1 under three different inhibitor conditions, including acetic acid alone, furfural alone, and mixture of acetic acid and furfural. The genes associated with stress responses of S. cerevisiae to single and mixed inhibitors were revealed. Specifically, we identified 184 consensus genes that were differentially regulated in response to the distinct inhibitor resistance between YC1 and S-C1. Bioinformatic analysis next revealed key transcription factors (TFs) that regulate these consensus genes. The top TFs identified, Sfp1p and Ace2p, were experimentally tested as overexpression targets for strain optimization. Overexpression of the SFP1 gene improved specific ethanol productivity by nearly four times, while overexpression of the ACE2 gene enhanced the rate by three times in the presence of acetic acid and furfural. Overexpression of SFP1 gene in the resistant strain YC1 further resulted in 42 % increase in ethanol productivity in the presence of acetic acid and furfural, suggesting the effect of Sfp1p in optimizing the yeast strain for improved tolerance to mixed fermentation inhibitor.ConclusionsTranscriptional regulation underlying yeast resistance to acetic acid and furfural was determined. Two transcription factors, Sfp1p and Ace2p, were uncovered for the first time for their functions in improving yeast resistance to mixed fermentation inhibitors. The study demonstrated an omics-guided metabolic engineering framework, which could be developed as a promising strategy to improve complex microbial phenotypes.

The multicopper oxidase enzyme laccase holds great potential to be used for biological lignin valorization alongside a biocompatible ionic liquid (IL). However, the IL concentrations required for biomass pretreatment severely inhibit laccase activity. Due to their ability to function in extreme conditions, many thermophilic enzymes have found use in industrial applications. The thermophilic fungal laccase from Myceliophthora thermophila was found to retain high levels of activity in the IL [C 2 C 1 Im][EtSO 4 ], making it a desirable biocatalyst to be used for lignin valorization. In contrast to [C 2 C 1 Im][EtSO 4 ], the biocompatibility of [C 2 C 1 Im][OAC] with the laccase was markedly lower. Severe inhibition of laccase activity was observed in 15% [C 2 C 1 Im][OAc]. In this study, the enzyme surface charges were modified via acetylation, succinylation, cationization, or neutralization. However, these modifications did not show significant improvement in laccase activity or stability in [C 2 C 1 Im][OAc]. Docking simulations show that the IL docks close to the T1 catalytic copper, likely interfering with substrate binding. Although additional docking locations for [OAc] - are observed after making enzyme modifications, it does not appear that these locations play a role in the inhibition of enzyme activity. The results of this study could guide future enzyme engineering efforts by showing that the inhibition mechanism of [C 2 C 1 Im][OAc] toward M. thermophila laccase is likely not dependent upon the IL interacting with the enzyme surface.

This study used a statewide longitudinal sample to examine mathematics achievement gaps and growth in students with and without disabilities and to examine the impact of different methods of determining disability group membership on achievement gaps and growth. When disability status was determined on the basis of special education placement each year, the achievement gap was larger across grades than when the subgroup of students with disabilities (SWDs) was defined more broadly, including students who had exited special education or who were in special education anytime between Grades 3 and 7. Regardless of the identification criteria, the SWD subgroup showed lower average achievement and slower growth than students without disabilities. The results suggest that the present way of identifying the SWD subgroup in reporting achievement outcomes may be biased and that even students who exit special education continue to be at risk for lower mathematics achievement.

A one-group repeated-treatment design was used to examine the academic year and summer oral reading fluency outcomes for students attending a district-sponsored summer literacy program (N = 250). Piecewise growth models applied to longitudinal data obtained during the first and second grade and over the course of the intervening summer revealed that oral reading fluency increased during each period of schooling, with the most rapid increase occurring during the intensive summer school intervention period. The gains in reading fluency observed during periods of schooling contrasted with periods of stagnation or loss when students were not in school during each of two summer breaks. The observed pattern of learning suggests that for the struggling readers we studied, schooling “mattered” regardless of when in the calendar year it was experienced. Challenges and opportunities associated with evaluating summer program performance are discussed.

Introduction Robotic-assisted total knee replacement (RA-TKR) was the most performed primary TKR in Australia in 2023 (AOA, 2024). Operative duration is clinically important, as longer procedures correlate with increased risk of readmission, reoperation, surgical site infection, wound complications, and transfusion (George et al., 2018). Instumented mechanically aligned TKRs have previously been shown to have shorter operative times than technology-assisted procedures (Tompkins et al., 2022), However, the use of technology assistance allows for individualised alignment techniques including objective soft tissue balancing, such as functional alignment. Comparative data on operative timing between RA-TKR and navigated (N-TKR) in functionally aligned knees is limited. The Stryker Triathlon system, the most utilised knee implant in Australia, supports both MAKO robotic and OrthoMap Precision navigation platforms, allowing direct comparison. Objectives: To compare overall and step-specific operative times for MAKO RA-TKR versus OrthoMap Precision N-TKR using functional alignment for both groups. Methods: A single health service retrospective study was conducted on consecutive patients undergoing unconstrained primary TKR for osteoarthritis between June 2024 and July 2025, assisted by Stryker MAKO or Precision navigation. Exclusion criteria included non-osteoarthritis indications, prior knee trauma or surgery, constrained prostheses, and revision procedures. Local ethics approval was obtained. Baseline demographics, surgeon seniority, and operative time points (surgical commencement, pin placement, skin incision, registration, balancing, bone cuts, trialling, implantation, wound closure) were recorded. Independent t-tests were used to assess differences. Results: 136 patients were studied (RA-TKR n=72; N-TKR n=64), with comparable age, sex, BMI, and ASA score. Mean total operative time was 11.2 minutes shorter for RA-TKR (74.2 ± 2.9 min [95% CI]) compared to N-TKR (85.5 ± 4.6 min; p < 0.00001). Excluding wound closure, RA-TKR was 8.3 minutes faster than N-TKR (54.2 ± 2.7 vs 62.5 ± 3.9] min; p < 0.0003). The greatest time difference was seen during bone cuts, with RA-TKR 6.3 minutes faster than N-TKR (10.0 ± 0.89 vs 16.3 ± 1.5 min; p < 0.00001). Subgroup analysis of consultant-led and uncemented tibio-femoral components showed similar significant reductions. Conclusions: In this single health service series using the Stryker Triathlon system, MAKO RA-TKR demonstrated significantly shorter operative times than OrthoMap Precision N-TKR, driven primarily by reduced bone cutting duration. These findings show a significant time efficiency advantage of robotic assistance over computer navigation in functionally aligned primary TKRs.

Melanocortin-3 receptors (MC3R) have a contextual role in appetite control that is amplified with hypocaloric conditioning. C57BL/6J (B6) mice subjected to hypocaloric feeding schedules (HFS) exhibit compulsive behavioral responses involving food anticipatory activity (FAA) and caloric loading following food access. These homeostatic responses to calorie-poor environs are attenuated in B6 mice in which Mc3r transcription is suppressed by a lox-stop-lox sequence in the 5’UTR ( Mc3r TB/TB ). Here, we report that optimization of caloric loading in B6 mice subject to HFS, characterized by increased meal size and duration, is not observed in Mc3r TB/TB mice. Analysis of hypothalamic and neuroendocrine responses to HFS throughout the light-dark cycle suggests uncoupling of hypothalamic responses involving appetite-stimulating fasting-responsive hypothalamic neurons expressing agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (Npy). Rescuing Mc3rs expression in Nkx2.1(+ve) neurons is sufficient to restore normal hypothalamic responses to negative energy balance. In addition, Mc3rs expressed in Nkx2.1(+ve) neurons are also sufficient to restore FAA and caloric loading of B6 mice subjected to HFS. In summary, MC3Rs expressed in Nkx2.1(+ve) neurons are sufficient to coordinate hypothalamic response and expression of compulsive behavioral responses involving meal anticipation and consumption of large meals during situations of prolonged negative energy balance.