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Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) significantly reduces yield and quality in wheat (Triticum aestivum). One effective way to address this issue is to identify and deploy quantitative trait loci (QTL) for PHS resistance. In this study, we developed a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between the PHS-resistant red wheat line ‘Shannong 0316’ (SN0316), which has strong seed dormancy, and the PHS-susceptible white wheat line ‘Gaoyou 9409’ (GY9409), which has weak seed dormancy, to map QTL for PHS resistance. We also mapped grain color, an important quality trait that is related to PHS. In five experiments, we identified thirteen QTL for PHS resistance, nine of which were detected in at least two experiments. QTL mapping identified seven QTL for grain color, three of which were also associated with PHS resistance. A comparison with previously reported QTL suggested that QPhs.sdau-1A, QPhs.sdau-5A, QPhs.sdau-6D, QPhs.sdau-7A, and QPhs.sdau-7B.1 are newly discovered QTL for PHS resistance, and that QGc.sdau-5A.1, QGc.sdau-5A.2, QGc.sdau-7A, and QGc.sdau-7B are newly discovered QTL for grain color. The three major QTL (QPhs.sdau-3A.1, QPhs.sdau-3D.1, and QPhs.sdau-1A) showed additive effects on PHS. We identified six elite lines with high PHS resistance, with three white wheat lines. We converted the single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked to the nine QTL into Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers and used them to genotype the RIL population and 192 elite breeding lines. QPhs.sdau-1A was associated with PHS resistance in the breeding lines, whereas the other QTL require further validation due to the low frequency of one genotype. Therefore, we dissected the genetic basis of the strong seed dormancy and PHS resistance of wheat line SN0316, identified QTL, obtained germplasm lines, and developed molecular markers for marker-assisted selection of PHS resistance, which should be valuable for breeding.

• In cereal crops, ABA deficiency during seed maturation phase causes pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), and molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) is required for ABA biosynthesis. • Here, two rice PHS mutants F254 and F5-1 were characterized. In addition to the PHS, these mutants showed pleiotropic phenotypes such as twisting and slender leaves, and then died when the seedling developed to four or five leaves. Map-based cloning showed that OsCNX6 and OsCNX1 encoding homologs of MoaE and MoeA were responsible for F254 and F5-1 mutants, respectively. Genetic complementation indicated that OsCNX6 not only rescued the PHS and seedling lethal phenotype of the cnx6 mutant, but also recovered the MoCo-dependent enzyme activities such as xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), aldehyde oxidase (AO), nitrate reductase (NR) and sulfite oxidase (SO). • Expression pattern showed that OsCNX6 was richly expressed in seed during embryo maturation by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR and RNA in situ hybridization. Furthermore, the OsCNX6 overexpression plants can significantly enhance the MoCo-dependent enzyme activities, and improved the osmotic and salt stress tolerance without unfavorable phenotypes. • Collectively, these data indicated that OsCNX6 participated in MoCo biosynthesis, and is essential for rice development, especially for seed dormancy and germination, and OsCNX6 could be an effective target for improving abiotic stress tolerance in rice.

Interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and phosphorus heterocycles (PHs) was studied using multispectroscopictechniques. The results indicated the high binding affinity of PHs to BSA as it quenches theintrinsic fluorescence of BSA. The experimental data suggested the fluorescence quenching mechanism betweenPHs and BSA as a dynamic quenching. From the UV-vis studies, the apparent association constant (Kapp) wasfound to be 9.25×102, 1.27×104 and 9.01×102 L/mol for the interaction of BSA with PH-1, PH-2 and PH-3,respectively. According to the F?rster's non-radiation energy transfer (FRET) theory, the binding distancesbetween BSA and PHs were calculated. The binding distances (r) of PH-1, PH-2 and PH-3 were found to be2.86, 3.03, and 5.12 nm, respectively, indicating energy transfer occurs between BSA and PHs. The bindingconstants of the PHs obtained from the fluorescence quenching data were found to be decreased with increase oftemperature. The negative values of the thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔS and ΔG at different temperaturesrevealed that the binding process is spontaneous; hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interaction were the mainforce to stabilize the complex. The microenvironment of the protein-binding site was studied by synchronousfluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) techniques and data indicated that the conformation of BSA changedin the presence of PHs. Finally, we studied the BSA-PHs docking using AutoDock and results suggest that PHs islocated in the cleft between the domains of BSA.

Access to inexpensive, clean energy is a key factor in a country’s ability to grow sustainably The production of electricity using fossil fuels contributes significantly to global warming and is becoming less and less profitable nowadays. This work therefore proposes to study the different possible scenarios for the replacement of light fuel oil (LFO) thermal power plants connected to the electrical network in northern Cameroon by renewable energy plants. Several scenarios such as the combination of solar photovoltaic (PV) with a pumped hydro storage system (PHSS), Wind and PHSS and PV-Wind-PHSS have been studied. The selected scenarios are evaluated based on two factors such as the system’s total cost (TC) and the loss of load probability (LOLP). To achieve the results, metaheuristics such the non-dominated sorting whale optimization algorithm (NSWOA) and non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) have been applied under MATLAB software. The optimal sizing of the components was done using hourly meteorological data and the hourly power generated by the thermal power plants connected to the electrical grid. Both algorithms provided satisfactory results. However, the total cost in the PV-PHSS, Wind-PHSS, and PV-Wind-PHSS scenarios with NSWOA is, respectively, 1%, 6%, and 0.2% lower than with NSGA-II. According to NSWOA results, the total cost for the PV-Wind-PHSS scenario at LOLP 0% is 4.6% and 17% less than the Wind-PHS and PV-PHSS scenarios, respectively. The profitability study of all three scenarios showed that the project is profitable regardless of the scenario considered.

Currently, the electrical supply in stand-alone systems is usually composed of renewable sources with fossil-fuel generators and battery storage. This study shows a novel model for the metaheuristic–stochastic optimization (minimization of the net present cost, and NPC) of sizing and energy management for stand-alone photovoltaic (PV)–wind–diesel systems with hybrid pumped hydro storage (PHS)–battery storage systems. The model is implemented in C++ programming language. To optimize operations—thus reducing PHS losses and increasing battery lifetimes—optimal energy management can optimize the power limits of using the PHS or battery to supply or store energy. The probabilistic approach considers the variability of wind speed, irradiation, temperature, load, and diesel fuel price inflation. The variable efficiencies of the components and losses and advanced models for battery degradation are considered. This methodology was applied to Graciosa Island (Portugal), showing that, compared with the current system, the optimal system (with a much higher renewable power and a hybrid PHS–battery storage) can reduce the NPC by half, reduce life cycle emissions to 14%, expand renewable penetration to 96%, and reduce the reserve capacity shortage to zero.

Access to reliable electricity remains a challenge for millions in remote African villages, including Lake Ziway's islands in Ethiopia. This study introduces an integrated electricity system for Tulu Gudo Island, combining floating photovoltaics (FPV), pumped-hydro storage (PHS) and diesel generators (DGEs) to overcome energy constraints, land scarcity and sustainability issues. The study assesses electricity demand and solar-PHS potential using LiDAR-based digital elevation model (DEM) data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). PVsyst and HOMER Pro optimize the system based on net present cost (NPC), cost of energy (COE) and its ability to support a water-energy-food (W-E-F) nexus approach. An optimized configuration with 32.2 KWp FPV and two PHS units (PH: 245 KWh (508 KWh)) meets Tulu Gudo Island's energy needs through a cycle charging strategy (CCs). This configuration offers economic and environmental sustainability, with an NPC of $154,265 and a COE of $0.140/KWh, while conserving 8760 m 3 of water. It integrates successfully with the W-E-F nexus approach, achieving a 7% increase in electricity generation and a 2.4% higher capacity factor compared to conventional setups. The study validates results through comparisons with other simulation tools, ensuring accuracy. This hybrid electricity system has potential applicability in regions with similar conditions worldwide.

This study presents a technique based on a multi-criteria evaluation, for a sustainable technical solution based on renewable sources integration. It explores the combined production of hydro, solar and wind, for the best challenge of energy storage flexibility, reliability and sustainability. Mathematical simulations of hybrid solutions are developed together with different operating principles and restrictions. An electrical generating system composed primarily by wind and solar technologies, with pumped-storage hydropower schemes, is defined, predicting how much renewable power and storage capacity should be installed to satisfy renewables-only generation solutions. The three sources were combined considering different pump/turbine (P/T) capacities of 2, 4 and 6 MW, wind and PV solar powers of 4–5 MW and 0.54–1.60 MW, respectively and different reservoir volume capacities. The chosen hybrid hydro-wind and PV solar power solution, with installed capacities of 4, 5 and 0.54 MW, respectively, of integrated pumped storage and a reservoir volume of 378,000 m3, ensures 72% annual consumption satisfaction offering the best technical alternative at the lowest cost, with less return on the investment. The results demonstrate that technically the pumped hydro storage with wind and PV is an ideal solution to achieve energy autonomy and to increase its flexibility and reliability.

Negative environmental consequences of fossil fuels and concerns about petroleum supplies have spurred the search for renewable transportation biofuels. To be a viable alternative, a biofuel should provide a net energy gain, have environmental benefits, be economically competitive, and be producible in large quantities without reducing food supplies. We use these criteria to evaluate, through life-cycle accounting, ethanol from corn grain and biodiesel from soybeans. Ethanol yields 25% more energy than the energy invested in its production, whereas biodiesel yields 93% more. Compared with ethanol, biodiesel releases just 1.0%, 8.3%, and 13% of the agricultural nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticide pollutants, respectively, per net energy gain. Relative to the fossil fuels they displace, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced 12% by the production and combustion of ethanol and 41% by biodiesel. Biodiesel also releases less air pollutants per net energy gain than ethanol. These advantages of biodiesel over ethanol come from lower agricultural inputs and more efficient conversion of feedstocks to fuel. Neither biofuel can replace much petroleum without impacting food supplies. Even dedicating all U.S. corn and soybean production to biofuels would meet only 12% of gasoline demand and 6% of diesel demand. Until recent increases in petroleum prices, high production costs made biofuels unprofitable without subsidies. Biodiesel provides sufficient environmental advantages to merit subsidy. Transportation biofuels such as synfuel hydrocarbons or cellulosic ethanol, if produced from low-input biomass grown on agriculturally marginal land or from waste biomass, could provide much greater supplies and environmental benefits than food-based biofuels.

Nowadays, the measurement of heat stress indices is of principal importance due to the escalating impact of global warming. As temperatures continue to rise, the well-being and health of individuals are increasingly at risk, which can lead to a detrimental effect on human performance and behavior. Hence, monitoring and assessing heat stress indices have become necessary for ensuring the safety and comfort of individuals. Thermal comfort indices, such as wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), Tropical Summer Index (TSI), and Predicted Heat Strain (PHS), as well as parameters like mean radiant temperature (MRT), are typically used for assessing and controlling heat stress conditions in working and urban environments. Therefore, measurement and monitoring of these parameters should be obtained for any environment in which people are constantly exposed. Modern cities collect and publish this relevant information following the Smart City concept. To monitor large cities, cost-effective solutions must be developed. This work presents the results of a Heat Stress Monitoring (HSM) system prototype network tested in the Benicalap-Ciutat Fallera district in Valencia, Spain. The scope of this work is to design, commission, and test a low-cost prototype that is able to measure heat stress indices. The Heat Stress Monitoring system comprises a central unit or receiver and several transmitters communicating via radiofrequency. The transmitter accurately measures wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, solar irradiation, and black globe temperature. The receiver has a 4G modem that sends the data to an SQL database in the cloud. The devices were tested over one year, showing that radio data transmission is reliable up to 700 m from the receiver. The system’s power supply, composed of a Photovoltaic panel and Lithium-ion batteries, provided off-grid capabilities to the transmitter, with a tested backup autonomy of up to 36 days per charge. Then, indicators such as WBGT, TSI, and MRT were successfully estimated using the data collected by the devices. The material cost of a 12-point network is around EUR 2430 with a competitive price of EUR 190 per device.