Khaoula Nefzi, Ikram BenSouf, Mariem Saidani
et al.
Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses, significantly impacts livestock health, welfare, and productivity. Green synthesis has emerged as a sustainable approach for enhancing the stability and bioavailability of natural antioxidants in animal feed. Unlike conventional extraction methods, green-synthesized antioxidants derived from plant extracts, essential oils, and agro-industrial by-products offer improved oxidative stability, reduced toxicity, and enhanced bioactivity. These bioengineered antioxidants not only mitigate oxidative stress but also support immune function, improve feed efficiency, and enhance meat quality by reducing lipid peroxidation and increasing vitamin E content. Furthermore, the incorporation of green-synthesized antioxidants in livestock nutrition contributes to environmentally friendly production practices, aligning with sustainable agriculture and consumer demand for natural animal products. This review examines the potential of green-synthesized antioxidants, their role in improving oxidative stability, and their impact on animal welfare, performance, and product quality.
Wheat grain protein possess multifunctional properties that make them valuable for industrial applications. Nitrogen is an important factor affecting the accumulation of protein in wheat grains. Root-associated microbiota plays a critical role in plant nutrition and productivity, which is susceptible to the influence of environmental factor nitrogen. However, how microbial communities assemble in wheat rhizosphere under elevated nitrogen input to affect grain protein quality is not well understood. This study investigated the effects of nitrogen application on bacterial communities, agronomic traits, nitrogen accumulation, and grain protein quality in wheat. Nitrogen application significantly decreased richness, diversity, and evenness of the rhizospheric bacterial community, whereas it increased richness of root endophytes. 34 and 10 differential bacterial taxa were identified in the rhizosphere soil and root endosphere under nitrogen treatment, respectively. The genera Bosea, Alysiosphaera, Sphingopyxis, Devosia, Nitrosospira, and Taibaiella were markedly enriched in the rhizosphere under nitrogen treatment. Nitrogen-induced shifts in root-associated bacterial communities subsequently caused changes in wheat growth traits, with enhanced nitrogen remobilization from stems to grains under nitrogen application. Meanwhile, the grain total protein content with 26.30 % of enhancement at N150 level and 49.29 % of enhancement at N300 level was primarily reflected in the increase of gliadin and glutenin accumulation. Mantel test results showed that nitrogen-enriched bacterial taxa, mainly within the phyla Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota, were significantly correlated with grain protein content with correlation coefficient of 0.77 in the rhizosphere soil and 0.71 in the root endosphere respectively. In conclusion, nitrogen-driven enrichment of bacterial taxa in wheat rhizosphere could improve grain protein quality by promoting root growth and enhancing nitrogen utilization and remobilization. The results provided new insights into the role of root-associated microbiota in grain quality formation under nitrogen regulation, which is of great importance for wheat sustainable production and the industrial application of wheat protein.
Abstract The accumulation of lipids by algae makes them attractive for carbon-neutral fuel production; however, the industrial-scale production of algal lipids has yet to be achieved. Currently, researchers are trying to improve the lipid productivity of algal strains using genome editing for molecular breeding with CRISPR-Cas9, which allows the efficient alteration of genomic information. However, CRISPR-based gene modification via double-strand breaks sometimes induces unintended large deletions that are toxic to host cells. Here, we applied the cytidine base editor combined with an episomal vector backbone containing a centromere and autonomous replication sequence to the microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica. The cytosine base editor introduces cytidine-to-thymidine base substitutions using deaminase without double-strand breaks, and an episomal vector enables plasmid removal after base substitution. We succeeded in inducing cytidine-to-thymidine substitution at the six target sites of five endogenous genes. The base substitution activity ranged from 29.2% to 47.6% on cytidine bases at the 16th to 19th positions from the protospacer adjacent motifs. The removal of base editor plasmids was also detected, which is essential for constructing transgene-free strains. Our results provide insights into the applicability of further technologies in the genetic modification of microalgae.
Scientists frequently disregard the potential benefits of thermal stratification, particularly quadratic stratification and melting heat mechanisms in high-temperature processes, while attempting to create homogenous liquid solutions for biomedical and industrial purposes. Ignoring this results in higher expenses and lost energy. This study looks into how improving thermal stratification in the food, medical, and electronics industries might improve productivity, cut down on energy use, and reduce the impact on the environment. Thus, we need to examine the melting heat processes in a linearly stretched sheet and stagnation point-influenced quadratic stratified Maxwell nanofluid flow. The Riga plate-driven electromagnetic effects generate Lorentz force that runs parallel to the surface, which affects the velocity profile of the nanofluid substantially and provides important information about flow behavior. Further heat and mass transference research uses boundary layer approximations, thermophoresis, radiative heat flux, and Brownian movement. The foundational equations are transmuted as ODEs via similarity conversions and MATHEMATICA's ND Solve tool is used to accomplish a numerical solution. The investigation assesses the impacts of numerous factors on thermal, velocity, and concentration outlines. The outcomes are shown in tables as well as in plots illustrating the drag force coefficient, Nusselt, and Sherwood numbers. Important outcomes show that melting heat transfer and thermal stratification lowers temperature while increasing radiation boosts it. Improved heat efficiency is anticipated in the fields of electronics, manufacturing, energy, medicine, aerospace, and automobiles thanks to this research.
This study examines the reformulation of Indonesia’s minimum wage policy under Government Regulation (GR) No. 51 of 2023, which was introduced following Constitutional Court decisions that mandated revisions to the Job Creation Law. The policy reform aims to balance worker protection, business certainty, and economic equity within the broader framework of social welfare. Using a qualitative research approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews with government officials, labor unions, employer associations, and members of the National Wage Council, complemented by document analysis of regulatory texts and consultation records. The findings reveal that the reformulation was driven by four structural issues: mistargeted application of the minimum wage, industrial burden, recurring labor conflicts, and weak implementation of wage structure and scale. The formulation process combined rational, political, and incremental decision-making models, reflecting bounded political rationality. Empirical results indicate that the policy’s implementation has led to informal compromises between employers and workers, weak enforcement mechanisms, and persistent wage inequality. Although the regulation introduces a shift toward a productivity-driven wage system, its effectiveness remains limited by institutional and administrative constraints. The study concludes that aligning policy intentions with social welfare values requires strengthening institutional enforcement, expanding the application of structured wage systems, and promoting inclusive social dialogue to ensure that the minimum wage functions effectively as both a social safety net and an economic stabilizer in Indonesia’s evolving labor market.
Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) has emerged as a critical component in contemporary manufacturing systems, particularly within the domain of collaborative robotics, where intuitive interfaces play a vital role in improving productivity, efficiency, and safety. This study seeks to meet the major challenges of human-robot cooperation (e.g. scalability, economical, integration with legacy systems, task flexibility, and usability). The proposed solution will address the development of a modular and scalable solution to rapidly scale cobots in broad manufacturing environments, from small to large global supply chains. The research ensures small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can use collaborative robotics without prohibitive costs; by presenting cost effective solutions such as cloud-based interfaces and low-cost sensor integration. Furthermore, the framework enhances collaboration by enabling robots to adapt dynamically, switch seamlessly between tasks, and learn from real-time feedback. The challenge therefore is still to overcome the integration bottleneck, ensuring that collaborative robots can be easily integrated into existing legacy systems, to enable minimal downtime and implementation costs. Finally, the intuitive, easy-to-use user interface requires minimal training, allowing workers to work safely alongside robots to maximize productivity and provide a safer workplace overall. By enhancing human-robot collaboration in modern manufacturing, this research contributes to developing efficient, flexible, and sustainable industrial practices by offering a new capability that is both scalable and cost-effective.
Pichia pastoris, a methylotrophic yeast, is an established system for the production of heterologous proteins, particularly biopharmaceuticals and industrial enzymes. To maximise and optimise the production of recombinant products, recent molecular research has focused on numerous issues including the design of expression vectors, optimisation of gene copy number, co-expression of secretory proteins such as chaperones, engineering of glycosylation and secretory pathways, etc. However, the physiological effects of different cultivation strategies are often difficult to separate from the molecular effects of the gene construct (e.g., cellular stress through over-expression or incorrect post-translational processing). Hence, overall system optimisation is difficult, even though it is urgently required in order to describe and understand the behaviour of new molecular constructs. This review focuses on particular aspects of recombinant protein production related to variations in biomass growth and their implications for strain design and screening, as well as on the concept of rational comparisons between cultivation systems for the development of specific production processes in bioreactors. The relationship between specific formation rates of secreted recombinant proteins, qp, and specific growth rates, μ, has been analysed in a conceptual attempt to compare different systems, particularly those based on AOX1/methanol and GAP/glucose, and this has now evolved into a pivotal concept for bioprocess engineering of P. pastoris.
With the advancement of Industry 4.0, the manufacturing industry is working to create a new smart industrial world through computerization, digitization and intelligence enhancement. Gen AI is primarily characterized by its ability to generate novel data patterns and solutions rather than merely analyzing predefined data inputs. This paper explores the transformative impact of Gen AI on supply chain efficiency in industrial engineering and logistics. Key applications include inventory optimization, predictive maintenance, fraud detection, risk management, logistics optimization, and demand forecasting. The study shows that Gen AI significantly improves operational efficiency and reduces stress for industrial workers by providing dynamic data-driven solutions. Through real-world case studies, including companies, this study demonstrates how Gen AI can revolutionize supply chain management and increase productivity. Despite its significant benefits, Gen AI still faces several challenges due to its cutting-edge nature. Further, in-depth research is needed in the future as the number of relevant cases and literature increases.
Abstract Microbial electrochemical technology (MET) has proven to be a promising solution to overcome the redox and energy metabolic constraints, enabling high yields of biosynthesis beyond stoichiometric limits. While there is room for improvement in extracellular electron transfer rates and productivity of the target compounds, it is crucial to think in advance about which bioprocess could be electrified and what would face major challenges. In this opinion paper, I presented and addressed interfacial electron transfer capacity of MET, whether built on biofilm or planktonic cells, and also discussed the upper limits of the MET system for biosynthesis of chemicals accordingly. Potential future application scenarios of different MET were also briefly addressed. This opinion paper aims to encourage the community to rethink the design and development of microbial electrochemical technologies for potential future applications in industrial biotechnology.
Considerable debate has arisen around the potential effects of increasing the minimum wage on employment. This study aims to analyze the impact of changes in China's minimum wage standard on employment. The research utilises the canonical model method and constructs a regression model based on standard labor economics theory. The analysis is conducted using sample data from Chinese industrial enterprises between 2000 and 2007. Regression analysis is performed by categorizing enterprises based on their level of human capital investment. The findings indicate that minimum wage increases have a non-linear impact on employment, when seen from the standpoint of human capital investment. When the level of human capital investment is low, an increase in the minimum wage standard leads to a decrease in employment; when the level of human capital investment is high, an increase in the minimum wage standard leads to an increase in employment. According to the findings, the reason for this is that, investments in human capital can improve business profitability, increase worker marginal productivity, and increase labor demand. Similarly, the employment effect of a change in the minimum wage is positive in regions with high levels of human capital investment due to the externality effect of human capital. Adjustments to the minimum wage have a negative impact on employment in areas of the country with low levels of human capital investment. This demonstrates that changing the minimum wage does not result in a simple increase or decrease in total employment. The level of investment in human capital within the organization and the region is an important factor in determining the type and magnitude of the impact.
Giulio Sandini, Alessandra Sciutti, Pietro Morasso
The robots that entered the manufacturing sector in the second and third Industrial Revolutions (IR2 and IR3) were designed for carrying out predefined routines without physical interaction with humans. In contrast, IR4* robots (i.e., robots since IR4 and beyond) are supposed to interact with humans in a cooperative way for enhancing flexibility, autonomy, and adaptability, thus dramatically improving productivity. However, human–robot cooperation implies cognitive capabilities that the cooperative robots (CoBots) in the market do not have. The common wisdom is that such a cognitive lack can be filled in a straightforward way by integrating well-established ICT technologies with new AI technologies. This short paper expresses the view that this approach is not promising and suggests a different one based on artificial cognition rather than artificial intelligence, founded on concepts of embodied cognition, developmental robotics, and social robotics. We suggest giving these IR4* robots designed according to such principles the name CoCoBots. The paper also addresses the ethical problems that can be raised in cases of critical emergencies. In normal operating conditions, CoCoBots and human partners, starting from individual evaluations, will routinely develop joint decisions on the course of action to be taken through mutual understanding and explanation. In case a joint decision cannot be reached and/or in the limited case that an emergency is detected and declared by top security levels, we suggest that the ultimate decision-making power, with the associated responsibility, should rest on the human side, at the different levels of the organized structure.
Ana Cristina Pinheiro, Anselmo Azevedo dos Santos, Dror Avisar
et al.
Eucalyptus comprises the largest planted area of cultivated production forest in Brazil. Genetic modification of eucalyptus can provide additional characteristics for increasing productivity, protecting plant yield, and potentially altering fiber for various industrial uses. With this objective, a transgenic eucalyptus variety, event H421, received regulatory approval for commercial release after 6 years of approved risk assessment studies by the Brazilian National Technical Biosafety Commission (CTNBio) in 2015, becoming the first approved genetically modified (GM) eucalyptus in the world. GM event H421 enables increased plant biomass accumulation through overexpression of the Arabidopsis 1,4-β-endoglucanase Cel1, which remodels the xyloglucan–cellulose matrix of the cell wall during development to promote cell expansion and growth. As required, in that time, by the current normative from CTNBio, a post-commercial release monitoring plan for H421 was submitted, incorporating general surveillance for five consecutive years with the submission of annual reports. The monitoring plan was conducted on fields of H421 progenies, with conventional clones as comparators, cultivated in representative regions where eucalyptus is cultivated in the states of São Paulo, Bahia, and Maranhão, representing Southeast, Northeast, and Northern Brazil. Over the course of the five-year general surveillance monitoring plan for the approved GM eucalyptus H421, no adverse effect that could impact the biosafety of the commercially approved event was identified. Additionally, the GM eucalyptus exhibited behavior highly consistent with that of conventional commercial clones. Therefore, there was no need for an extra risk assessment study of a case-specific monitoring plan. The results show the importance of continuously updating the regulation norms of governmental agencies to align with scientific advances.
Building on my previous editorial
notes on sustainable development themes, I would like to expand our
discussion on how the concept of cross-sectoral coordination can be a booster
for the sustainable development agenda. The Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) established actions to end poverty, improve health and education, and
promote prosperity and well-being by considering environmental sustainability, which
requires value changes, institutional changes, and cultural adjustment. Managing cross-sectoral interests with coordinated
aims, strategies, and instruments is essential to overcome complex problems and
develop more comprehensive solutions in accelerating SDG programs. Creating
a more integrative manner to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public
policies are key concepts for optimizing the benefits and impact of development
outcomes. This policy integration and coordination is crucial to enhancing
sustainable development programs, which balance economic advancement,
sustainable ecosystem management, and environmental protection; therefore, it
requires an inter-sector approach and coordinating mechanisms for all programs
and projects. In fact, many complex
development agendas often require the coordination and integration of cross-sectoral
policies to produce better program outcomes. Policies that cross sectors can be
challenging to implement since they require coordination and may create
conflict because of the different interests of sectoral actors. Yet, the
collaboration of actors in different sectors may stimulate processes of policy
and organizational learning, leading to better policy design and more efficient
implementation. In terms of producing optimum benefits of
project or program development, interrelationships among sectors is important.
The quality of a project or program outcome is a result of the quality of the
sectoral internal properties that will be used to evaluate value for money
(i.e., worth perceived by stakeholders). For example, the difference between a
sustainable and a traditional highway project is to be found through the
relationship between the co-creation of the economic benefits output and the
quality of secondary properties such as urban, industrial, or tourism
development, connections to other transportation infrastructure modes (e.g.,
airport, seaport), and so on. Each sector’s policy is also the result of
various influences such as productivity, job creation, profits, and the environment.
These influential factors are affected by relationships to other moderating
variables such
as financial constraints, poor project management, and a lack of commitment. As
such, we can set about searching for advantages and better direct our new
project or product development process if we can anticipate which aspects of
design are more attractive to stakeholders—their perceived worth. Integrating benefits
resulting from cross-sector coordination will boost project or program
performance. Therefore, comprehensive planning for infrastructure development
requires cross-sectoral coordination, which means that all sector-specific
actor (from the ministries of transportation, public works, tourism,
agriculture, industry, and the environment, to the private sector) preferences
and interests must be coordinated and integrated. This coordination and
integration will then be evaluated based on the project’s success in optimizing
it’s benefits
and usage. Furthermore,
an underground infrastructure tunnel that will be used to overcome congestion,
reduce flooding, and increase transportation accessibility in one public railway
and stormwater infrastructure (PRASTI)
tunnel will arguably create more benefits in terms of project efficiency and
effectiveness, have greater economic impacts, and enhance the feasibility of
social infrastructure projects such as flood control, compared to separate development
of each project. Science and technology
development plays a significant role in achieving sustainable development by
improving the efficiency and effectiveness of new and more sustainable approaches
to development. Investments in green technology, efficient and effective
processes, safer materials, and improved performances and outcomes are some
results of such development.
Technological development in utilizing renewable energy resources, building
urban water systems and sustainable public infrastructure, increasing food
production, and producing environmentally friendly materials and products are among
the pathways by which technology will significantly contribute to achieving
sustainable development targets.
After 30 years of reform, thanks to a number of factors, especially to the industrial sector, the growth of labor productivity in Vietnam has been increased significantly. By using the shift-share analysis method to intra-industry between 1996 and 2015, which focused on internal industry, the result showed that both intra effect and static shift effect made a great contribution to the labor productivity growth of the economy, and the contribution of static effect tends to increase. This means that the movement of labor from inefficient sectors to more efficient sectors has had a positive impact on the overall productivity growth rate. Therefore, in order to promote productivity growth in the economy, Vietnam has to implement solutions in terms of resource reallocation, economic structure transformation, technology application, and human resource training.
Siti Zaharah Jamaluddin, Mohammad Abu Taher, Ng Seng Yi
Industrial relations is one of the most delicate and complex issues in a modern industrial society. Industrial progress is well-nigh impossible without the cooperation of the labour force and the harmonious relationship between employers and employees. Therefore, it is in the interest of all to create and maintain the good relationship between employers and employees. Malaysia, as one of the South East Asian countries, hopes to be a high-income nation by 2024. In order to achieve the status of high income nation, the government of Malaysia has introduced the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). ETP will help Malaysia to triple its Gross National Income (GNI) from RM 660 billion in 2009 to RM 1.7 trillion in 2020. The status of high income nation is said to be achieved, among others, via innovation, creativity, higher productivity, new technology and the development of a multi-skilled and highly skilled workforce as well as healthy industrial relations. As such, in underlining industrial relations in a high-income nation, this article is an attempt to examine the role of the Malaysian industrial relations of today. It will also portray whether changes are required in Malaysian industrial relations in order to be relevant in a high-income nation.
Relevance. Unfortunately, there are no intensive pear plantations in the central regions of Russia due to the absence of intensive dwarf rootstocks. Therefore, the research aimed at obtaining winter-hardy rootstocks that provides early industrial fruiting of gardens, limits plant growth and gives a quick return on investment, is very important and can be applied in many different ways.Materials and methods. The research was carried out in the laboratory of selection and variety study of pears and non-traditional pome crops of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (FSBSI VNIISPK). The object of the research was the common quince selected by FSBSI VNIISPK. In 2008-2010 and 2012-2014 we studied the economic and biological characteristics of the common quince as clonal pear rootstocks when propagated by green cuttings.Results. The research results show high winter hardiness of the common quince plants in Oryol region, as well as their high regenerative capacity in case of damage caused by adverse winter conditions. It was determined that some types of common quince can be reproduced by green cuttings and provide a high yield of uniform planting material. The common quince has a high seed productivity that allows to get seedling rootstocks of high quality. Some pear cultivars demonstrate a good compatibility with the common quince, moderate growth and high early maturity in comparison with the pear rootstock; there are also preliminary data on compatibility of 11 pear cultivars in a nursery, and 4 cultivars that are incompatible with the common quince.