Afforestation is a main tool for preventing desertification and soil erosion in arid and semiarid regions of Iran. Large-scale afforestation, however, has poorly understood consequences for the future ecosystems in the term of ecosystems protection. The objective of the present study is to identify changes in soil properties following different intervals of planting of Ailanthus altissima (tree of heaven) in semiarid afforestation of Iran (Chitgar Forest Park, Tehran). For this purpose, sand, silt and clay ratios, bulk density, soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, total soil N, and total carbon was measured. Our study highlighted the potential of the invasive trees by A. altissima, to alter soil properties along chronosequence. Almost all soil quality attributes showed a declining trend with stand age. A continuous decline in soil quality indicated that the present land management may not be sustainable. Therefore, an improved management practice is imperative to sustain soil quality and maintain long-term productivity of plantation forests. Thinning activity will be required to reduce the number of trees competing for the same nutrients especially in a older stand to protect forest soils.
This research aims to identify the development of research theme trends that were carried out from 1999 to 2024. Thus, the study’s results can provide recommendations regarding research themes that can be developed to meet theoretical and practical needs. Researchers use bibliometric analysis to obtain the appropriate analysis. This analysis method can be developed to support the dynamic development of public health science with settings and researchers from developing countries, both through quantitative and qualitative interpretation. The analysis results show that over 25 years, public health science, from the perspective of researchers and developing countries, has experienced dynamic development. This change was driven by the emergence of various issues in society itself. For example, the 1999–2009 shows that lifestyle changes have resulted in multiple diseases. In the following period, the concept of sustainability emerged, which encouraged awareness of sustainable development and resource scarcity that would affect public health quality. As for the 2020–2024 period, the emergence of Covid 19 changed the previous research paradigm.
This review comprehensively summarizes various preparatory methods of polymeric bone scaffolds using conventional and modern advanced methods. Compilations of the various fabrication techniques, specific composition, and the corresponding properties obtained under clearly identified conditions are presented in the commercial formulations of bone scaffolds in current orthopedic use. The gaps and unresolved questions in the existing database, efforts that should be made to address these issues, and research directions are also covered. Polymers are unique synthetic materials primarily used for bone and scaffold applications. Bone scaffolds based on acrylic polymers have been widely used in orthopedic surgery for years. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is especially known for its widespread applications in bone repair and dental fields. In addition, the PMMA polymers are suitable for carrying antibiotics and for their sustainable release at the site of infection.
The co-hydrothermal carbonization of biomasses has shown many advantages on charcoal yield, carbonization degree, thermal-stability of hydrocar and energy recovered. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of co-combustion of cattle manure and sawdust on energy recovered. The results show that ash content ranged between 10.38%–20.00%, indicating that the proportion of each variable influences energy recovered. The optimum is obtained at 51% cattle manure and 49% sawdust revealing 37% thermal efficiency and 3.9 kW fire power. These values are higher compared to cattle manure individually which gives values of 30% and 2.3 kW respectively for thermal efficiency and fire power. Thus, the mixture of biomasses enhances energy recovered both in combustion and hydrothermal carbonization. Volatile matter is lower in mixture predicting that the flue gas releases is lower during combustion. Fixed carbon is higher in mixture predicting that energy recovered increases during the combustion of mixture than cattle manure individually. Higher Carbon content was noticed in mixture than cattle manure indicating that the incorporation of sawdust enhances heating value. The incorporation of sawdust in cattle manure can also enhance energy recovered and is more suitable for domestic and industrial application.
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