S-Carvone Formulation Based on Granules of Organoclay to Modulate Its Losses and Phytotoxicity in Soil

Based on the effects that allelochemicals can exert over organisms, their use as alternatives to synthetic pesticides has been proposed. To this aim, it is important to understand their behavior in soils as allelochemicals can readily dissipate by different routes. In this work, novel granules based on the commercial organoclay Cloisite® 10A were prepared as a new strategy for the possible application of S-carvone as a bioherbicide, overcoming its rapid dissipation in the environment. Batch release, degradation, mobility, and phytotoxicity tests in soil were performed. Until now, the phytotoxicity of organoclay-based formulations of S-carvone in soil has not been studied. The release of S-carvone in water from the granules occurred slowly. There were no differences in the persistence of the allelochemical after its application to soil as a free compound (readily available form) or supported on granules. However, the granulated formulation reduced and delayed the leaching of S-carvone, thus controlling its downward movement in soil columns, as compared to the free S-carvone. Bioassays revealed that S-carvone supported on granules reduced the germination and aerial biomass of Lactuca sativa L. to a greater extent than the free compound. Our results demonstrated that the prepared formulation of S-carvone, based on granules of the commercial organoclay Cloisite® 10A, could be used to control transport losses, such as leaching or volatilization, increasing the bioefficacy of the allelochemical. These findings could inspire further investigations for the preparation of novel formulations of monoterpenes as potential bioherbicides.

Distribution planning problem of a supply chain of perishable products under disruptions and demand stochasticity

PurposeThe emergence of risk in today's business environment is affecting every managerial decision, majorly due to globalization, disruptions, poor infrastructure, forecasting errors and different uncertainties. The impact of such disruptive events is significantly high for perishable items due to their susceptibility toward economic loss. This paper aims to design and address an operational planning problem of a perishable food supply chain (SC).Design/methodology/approachThe proposed model considers the simultaneous effect of disruption, random demand and deterioration of food items on business objectives under constrained conditions. The study describes this situation using a mixed-integer nonlinear program with a piecewise approximation algorithm. The proposed algorithm is easy to implement and competitive to handle stationary as well as nonstationary random variables in place of scenario techniques. The mathematical model includes a real-life case study from a kiwi fruit distribution industry.FindingsThe study quantifies the performance of SC in terms of SC cost and fill rate. Additionally, it investigates the effects of disruption due to suppliers, transport losses, product perishability and demand stochasticity. The model incorporates an incentive-based strategy to provide cost-cutting in the existing business plan considering the effect of deterioration. The study performs sensitivity analysis to show various “what-if” situations and derives implications for managerial insights.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the scant literature of quantitative modeling of food SC. The research work is original as it integrates a stochastic (uncertain) nature of SC simultaneously coupled with the effect of disruption, transport losses and product perishability. It incorporates proactive planning strategies to minimize the disruption impact and the concept of incremental quantity discounts on lot sizes at a destination node.

Исследование массотранспортных потерь структурно-модифицированных электродов воздушно-водородных топливных элементов методом вольт-амперной характеристики

The article discusses platinum-carbon electrodes with mixed conductivity as part of membrane-electrode assemblies of fuel cells containing structural-modifying additives with structural elements of various types: carbon nanotubes with elongated structural elements and graphene-like materials with almost two-dimensional planes. Based on the data on the limiting current density obtained in potentiodynamic and potentiostatic modes, the mass transport losses of molecular oxygen transfer in these electrodes are investigated. Using different measurement conditions, the baric dependences of the current density were constructed, the limiting factors and mechanisms of oxygen transfer in the studied structures and the role of the introduced modifiers were clarified.

Thermodynamic Computing: An Intellectual and Technological Frontier

Concepts from thermodynamics are ubiquitous in computing systems today—e.g., in power supplies and cooling systems, in signal transport losses, in device fabrication, in state changes, and in the methods of machine learning. Here we propose that thermodynamics should be the central, unifying concept in future computing systems. In particular, we suppose that future computing technologies will thermodynamically evolve in response to electrical and information potential in their environment and, therefore, address the central challenges of energy efficiency and self-organization in technological systems. In this article, we summarize the motivation for a new computing paradigm grounded in thermodynamics and articulate a vision for such future systems.