Low biochar rates (5 Mg ha −1 ) increased bacterial richness and diversity in degraded soil. Biochar origin controlled microbial assembly and niche specialization patterns. Sewage-sludge biochar favored stress-tolerant and metal-adapted bacterial taxa. Cashew bagasse biochar enhanced nitrogen cycling and chemoheterotrophic functions. Network complexity peaked at intermediate biochar doses and declined at high rates. Biochar ha...

This study evaluated the effects of providing 3–15 kg of a soluble and biodegradable biopolymer-based enrichment material (blend of biodegradable polymers and natural fibers) to prepartum sows housed in farrowing crates. Fifteen sows were blocked by body weight and backfat thickness and assigned to three treatments: no enrichment material (CONT), 3 kg of enrichment material (BN3), or 15 kg of enrichment material with added nut...

Commercial LTA-type zeolite was evaluated for the adsorption of Mn 2+ and Zn 2+ from aqueous solutions, with emphasis on the relationship between framework properties and adsorption behavior. Despite its very low BET surface area, the zeolite showed rapid and highly efficient uptake of both metal ions, reaching near-equilibrium within the first minute. Kinetic modeling indicated site-controlled adsorption consistent with pseud...

Theobroma cacao L. genetic transformation still relies predominantly on somatic embryogenesis-based systems, which are often genotype-dependent, labor-intensive, and associated with prolonged culture periods. In this study, we developed an alternative regeneration platform based on mature seed-derived embryonic axes and evaluated its suitability for biolistic DNA delivery. Embryonic axes from the cacao cultivars ‘TSH1188’ and...

Mangroves are a vital ecosystem for coastal biodiversity and climate regulation but face increasing pressure from agriculture and aquaculture expansion. These threats promote high levels of degradation from direct land use change and hidden impacts from aquaculture effluents rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic compounds. We developed a soil health index to detect different stages of mangrove ecosystem degradation by inco...

Key message Although leaf turgor loss point reflects osmotic potential variation in Eucalyptus, the osmometer method alone does not reliably rank drought tolerance among genotypes in breeding-oriented common-garden trials. Abstract Increasing droughts driven by climate change highlight the need to identify traits associated with drought tolerance in tree breeding programs. However, finding operationalizable traits that effecti...

The definition of ore and waste blocks is typically made using run-of-mine cut-off grades, calculated with Lane’s formula. This approach implicitly considers metallurgical recovery and yield; however, it overlooks one important ore property: the quality of the product concentrate. This problem can be overcome by leveraging extensive geometallurgical knowledge and this paper presents an example of the gains that can be achieved...

Rationale Chronic stress, frequently associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and reduced neuroplasticity, is a major risk factor for psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression. Objective The present study aimed to validate a 21-day chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) model and to investigate the effects of the Mas receptor agonist AVE0991 on stress-induced behavioral and molecular...