Humic substances are used in agriculture as promoters of plant growth, especially of the root system. The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of the application of different doses of fulvic acid on the growth and productivity of American lettuce, Raider Plus cultivar. The experimental design used was entirely randomized, with five treatments of fulvic acid 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 mL·L^-1 and four repetitions, applied at the time of transplanting. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously: one in the greenhouse, where fresh and dry mass of the aboveground and root parts, length and volume of the roots were evaluated; and the other in the field, where, at the end of the cycle, fresh and dry mass of the aboveground parts, number of leaves, stem length and average head circumference were evaluated. The application of different doses of fulvic acid promoted the growth of lettuce plants, especially the root system. The emission of roots, with predominance, of those of smaller diameter, was found in the higher concentrations of fulvic acid. The number of leaves and the average circumference of the head expressed responses in the concentrations of fulvic acid.

The properties of the beta batteries are compared, which are made on the basis of the different β-isotopes with beta decay. Tritium and Ni-63 make it possible to make β-sources of high activity, without harmful associated emissions, with low self-absorption, emitting high-energy β-electrons that penetrate deep into the semiconductor and generate a large number of electron-hole pairs. The efficiency of beta batteries needs to be analyzed based on the real energy distribution of β-electrons. It makes possible to obtain the real value of the energy absorbed inside the β-source, correctly estimate the amount of self-absorption of the β-electrons and part of the β-electronsthere is a penetrate into the semiconductor, the number of electrons and holes that are generated in the semiconductor, and the magnitude of the idling voltage. Formulas for these quantities are calculated in this paper.

Alginate-silver nanocomposites in the form of spherical beads and films were prepared using a green approach by using the aqueous extract of Ajwa date seeds. The nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ reduction and gelation by ionotropic crosslinking using calcium ions in solution. The rich phytochemicals of the date seed extract played a dual role as a reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was studied using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 421 nm characteristic of silver nanoparticles confirmed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the nanocomposite beads and film was compact, with an even distribution of silver nanoclusters. The catalytic property of the nanocomposite beads was evaluated for the degradation of 2-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.40 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ at 23 ℃ and an activation energy of 18.45 kJ mol⁻¹. The thermodynamic parameters, such as changes in enthalpy and entropy, were evaluated to be 15.22 kJ mol⁻¹ and −197.50 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. The nanocomposite exhibited properties against three clinically important pathogens (gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria).

This study examines the impact of state highway construction contracts on state spending efficiency controlling for production structure, service demands, and situational factors. The theoretical argument is that because highway construction projects are relatively large in scale, complex, and can be monitored through objective performance measurement, state highway construction programs may save government production costs through contracts. Contracting helps highway producers achieve efficiency by optimizing production size based on workload and task complexity. The unit of analysis is 48 state governments’ highway construction contracts from 1998 to 2008. Through a two-stage analysis method including a Total Function Productivity (TFP) index and system dynamic panel data analysis, the results suggest that highway construction contracts enhance state highway spending efficiency, especially for large-scale construction projects.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of measures aimed at reducing traffic violations, specifically focusing on wrong-way driving, at intersections in Loja, Ecuador. The high incidence of accidents at these intersections, often resulting from wrong-way driving and non-compliance with traffic regulations, underscores the critical need for effective strategies to enhance road safety. To address this issue, we adopted a multidisciplinary approach to assess the impact of two specific interventions: the implementation of official warnings and the presence of traffic officers at a selected intersection. Data collection involved recording instances of traffic violations, administering road safety surveys, and monitoring the implementation of these interventions. The post-implementation analysis sought to determine the effect of these measures on driver behavior and overall traffic safety. Our findings indicate that while the interventions succeeded in increasing awareness about traffic violations, they did not produce a significant reduction in undesirable driving behaviors. This suggests that, although the presence of warnings and traffic officers is beneficial in raising awareness, these measures alone may not be sufficient to effect substantial behavioral changes. The research provides valuable insights for the development of more comprehensive road safety strategies and emphasizes the need for further studies to explore and address the underlying causes of traffic violations.

In a rapidly evolving digital economy, cyberpreneurship has emerged as a pivotal force driving innovation and economic growth. The study applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour in predicting entrepreneurial intention in the context of Malaysia, where the government has actively championed digital entrepreneurship. Drawing from a sample of 473 final-year university students in the Klang Valley region of Malaysia, the study investigates the impact of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation (IEO) dimensions, namely innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness, on the intention to engage in cyberpreneurship within the context of Digital Free Trade Zones (DFTZ). The study further examines the moderation effect of psychological characteristics incorporating visionary thinking, self-efficacy, opportunism, and creativity to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing cyberpreneurial intentions. With the moderating variable, the paper presents a comprehensive model to investigate the IEO and psychological characteristics contributing to cyberpreneurship intentions and its impact on engagement in DFTZ. An empirical examination of data and hypotheses found that risk-taking (RISK) and proactiveness (PRO) are significantly related to cyberpreneurial intention. Psychological characteristics significantly proved its moderating role in its interaction with innovatiness (INNO), risk-taking (RISK), and proactivness (PRO) in influencing cyberpreneurial intentions (CYBER_PI). Innovativeness (INNO) without the influence of the moderating variable is not significantly related to cyberpreneurial intentions. Engagement with the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ) through the mediating role of cyberpreneurial intentions (CYBER_PI), the innovativeness (INNO) did not succeed. On the other hand, risk-taking (RISK) and proactiveness (PRO) are found to be significant. The paper contributes to the landscape of e-commerce and digital trade literature by advancing our understanding of the factors driving individuals’ intentions to participate in cyberpreneurship and engage in DFTZ. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and entrepreneurs alike.