Ionotropic receptors mediate nitrogenous waste avoidance in Drosophila melanogaster

Ammonia and its amine-containing derivatives are widely found in natural decomposition byproducts. Here, we conducted biased chemoreceptor screening to investigate the mechanisms by which different concentrations of ammonium salt, urea, and putrescine in rotten fruits affect feeding and oviposition behavior. We identified three ionotropic receptors, including the two broadly required IR25a and IR76b receptors, as well as the narrowly tuned IR51b receptor. These three IRs were fundamental in eliciting avoidance against nitrogenous waste products, which is mediated by bitter-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs). The aversion of nitrogenous wastes was evaluated by the cellular requirement by expressing Kir2.1 and behavioral recoveries of the mutants in bitter-sensing GRNs. Furthermore, by conducting electrophysiology assays, we confirmed that ammonia compounds are aversive in taste as they directly activated bitter-sensing GRNs. Therefore, our findings provide insights into the ecological roles of IRs as a means to detect and avoid toxic nitrogenous waste products in nature.

Durability properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) incorporating cassava peel ash (CPA)

Self-compacting concrete (SCC) is a highly flowable concrete with enhanced strength and surface finish. The production of SCC requires high content of Portland cement (PC), which in turn consumes a lot of energy and emits greenhouse gases like CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere during its production. Also, environmental pollution arising from agricultural wastes such as cassava peels, groundnut shells, is a cause of concern. Cassava processing centres alone generate approximately 40 million tons of wastes per annum in Nigeria, while attempts to eliminate them through burning or natural decomposition is sometimes unsuccessful. It is important to reduce the CO2 emission during the production of PC and environmental pollution caused by cassava peels through partial replacement of cement in the SCC. This study assesses the durability properties of SCC produced with cassava peel ash (CPA) at 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 % and 25 % replacement level of cement. The effects of water absorption, acid (H2SO4) and salt (MgSO4) attack and elevated temperature were investigated on the CPA-SCC specimens. It was revealed that the CPA improves the resistance to H2SO4 and MgSO4 degradation while the performance is poor when subjected to elevated temperature compared to the control specimen. Also, an optimum of 5% cement replacement is recommended for grade 35 compressive strength of CPA-SCC. However, the rate of water absorption reduced to a minimum when CPA is used in SCC as a result of an improved pore structure of the CPA-SCC specimen.

Analysis of the Time Fractional-Order Coupled Burgers Equations with Non-Singular Kernel Operators

In this article, we have investigated the fractional-order Burgers equation via Natural decomposition method with nonsingular kernel derivatives. The two types of fractional derivatives are used in the article of Caputo–Fabrizio and Atangana–Baleanu derivative. We employed Natural transform on fractional-order Burgers equation followed by inverse Natural transform, to achieve the result of the equations. To validate the method, we have considered a two examples and compared with the exact results.

An efficient technique to solve coupled–time fractional Boussinesq–Burger equation using fractional decomposition method

For this work, a novel numerical approach is proposed to obtain solution for the class of coupled time-fractional Boussinesq–Burger equations which is a nonlinear system. This system under consideration is endowed with Caputo time-fractional derivative. By means of the natural decomposition approach, approximate solutions of the proposed nonlinear fractional system are obtained where the exact solutions are presented in the classical case of fractional order at [Formula: see text]. Some numerical examples are given to support the theoretical framework and to point out the role and the effectiveness of the intended method. Our results clearly show the approximate analytical solutions eventually will converge quickly to the already known exact solutions. AMS Classification: 35A22, 35C05, 35C10, 35R11, 44A30.

Performance Evaluation of a Banana Pseudostem Chopper

The method of returning banana (Musa nana) pseudostems to the field can effectively maintain and improve the level of organic matter in the soil. In this article, we show that a small vertical-type banana pseudostem chopper can be used in banana plantations that do not need to be replanted. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among the blade type, cutting force, and cutting power. The effects of the blade roll angles, pitch angles, and feeding angles on the crushing qualification rate and crushing efficiency were obtained by comparing the decomposition characteristics of a banana pseudostem before and after crushing. The results showed that the arc-shaped blade exhibited the smallest cutting force and cutting power consumption. The maximum crush qualification rate and crush efficiency were obtained when the roll angle was 12°, the pitch angle was −5°, and the feeding angle was 5°. The weight reduction rate and average decomposition rate of the crushed pseudostem were 2.73 and 3.61 times greater than those of natural decomposition, respectively. The results can be used as a reference for the design and optimization of banana pseudostem choppers.

Exact solutions of the Laplace fractional boundary value problems via natural decomposition method

In this article, exact solutions of some Laplace-type fractional boundary value problems (FBVPs) are investigated via natural decomposition method. The fractional derivatives are described within Caputo operator. The natural decomposition technique is applied for the first time to boundary value problems (BVPs) and found to be an excellent tool to solve the suggested problems. The graphical representation of the exact and derived results is presented to show the reliability of the suggested technique. The present study is mainly concerned with the approximate analytical solutions of some FBVPs. Moreover, the solution graphs have shown that the actual and approximate solutions are very closed to each other. The comparison of the proposed and variational iteration methods is done for integer-order problems. The comparison, support strong relationship between the results of the suggested techniques. The overall analysis and the results obtained have confirmed the effectiveness and the simple procedure of natural decomposition technique for obtaining the solution of BVPs.

Pemberdayaan ibu PKK dalam pembuatan biopori berbasis limbah rumah tangga

Various kinds of activities carried out by PKK mothers in filling their time working at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, one of which is farming around the yard. This farming activity certainly requires useful fertilizers to increase plant fertility. Biopores is an effort that can be made to improve soil health and trigger the natural decomposition of organic matter. The organic material used can come from kitchen waste. So far, biopores are known as an effort to overcome standing water and are still not widely used to increase soil fertility. This service aims to provide information on the manufacture and application of biopores in plants so that they can increase soil fertility in cultivated plants. The method used consists of lecturing methods, hands-on practice, and evaluating the achievement of activities using achievement measures. Based on the results of the posttest evaluation, there was an increase in the knowledge of PKK mothers about biopores, where initially only 40% increased to 100%. In addition, the direct practice of making and applying biopores carried out on one of the PKK mothers is an indicator of the high interest of PKK mothers in applying biopores. It can be concluded that community service activities are quite effective in increasing the ability and interest of PKK mothers in applying biopores to plants around their house yards.