ZrO₂ thin film samples were produced by the sol-gel dip coating method. Four different absorbed dose levels (such as ~ 0.4, 0.7, 1.2 and 2.7 Gray-Gy) were applied to ZrO₂ thin films. Hence, the absorbed dose of ZrO₂ thin film was examined as physical dose quantity representing the mean energy imparted to the thin film per unit mass by gamma radiation. Modification of the grain size was performed sensitively by the application of the absorbed dose to the ZrO₂ thin film. Therefore the grain size reached from ~50 nm to 87 nm at the irradiated ZrO₂ thin film. The relationship of the grain size, the contact angle, and the refractive index of the irradiated ZrO₂ thin film was investigated as being an important technical concern. The irradiation process was performed in a hot cell by using a certified solid gamma ray source with 0.018021 Ci as an alternative technique to minimize the utilization of extra toxicological chemical solution. Antireflection and hydrophilic properties of the irradiated ZrO₂ thin film were slightly improved by the modification of the grain size. The details on the optical and structural properties of the ZrO₂ thin film were examined to obtain the optimum high refractive index, self-cleaning and anti-reflective properties.

Using a newly-developed data set for Portugal, we analyze the industry-level effects of infrastructure investment. Focusing on the divide between traded and non-traded industries, we find that infrastructure investments have a non-traded bias, as these shift the industry mix towards private and public services. We also find that the industries that benefit the most in relative terms are all non-traded: construction, trade, and real estate, among the private services, and education and health, among the public services. Similarly, emerging trading sectors, such as hospitality and professional services, stand to gain. The positive impacts on traded industries are too small to make a difference. These results highlight that infrastructure-based strategies are not neutral in terms of the industry mix. Moreover, with most of the benefits accruing to non-traded industries, such a development model that is heavily based on domestic demand may be unsustainable in light of Portugal’s current foreign account position. 

An alternative for sustainable management in the cultivation of Capsicum annuum L. has focused on the use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). This research selected PGPRPGPR and AMF based on their effect on Bell Pepper and Jalapeño bell pepper plants. Five bacterial strains isolated from different localities in the state of Mexico (P61 [Pseudomonas tolaasii], A46 [P. tolaasii], R44 [Bacillus pumilus], BSP1.1 [Paenibacillus sp.] and OLs-Sf5 [Pseudomonas sp.]) and 3 AMF treatments (H1 [consortium isolated from Chile rhizosphere in the state of Puebla], H2 [Rhizophagus intraradices] and H3 [consortium isolated from lemon rhizosphere from the state of Tabasco]). In addition, a fertilized treatment (Steiner solution 25%) and an absolute control were included. Jalapeño bell pepper “Caloro” and Bell Pepper “California Wonder” seedlings were inoculated with AMF at sowing and with CPB 15 days after emergence, and grown under controlled environment chamber conditions. In Jalapeño bell pepper, the best bacterial strain was P61 and the best AMF treatment was H1; in Bell Pepper the best strain was R44 and the best AMF were H3 and H1. These microorganisms increased the growth of jalapeño bell pepper and Bell Pepper seedlings compared to the unfertilized control. Likewise, P61 and R44 positively benefited the photosynthetic capacity of PSII.

Richard’s equation was approximated by finite-difference numerical scheme to model water infiltration profile in variably unsaturated soil^[1]. The published data of Philip’s semi-analytical solution was used to validate the simulated results from the numerical scheme. A discrepancy was found between the simulated and the published semi-analytical results. Morris method as a global sensitivity tool was used as an alternative to local sensitivity analysis to assess the results discrepancy. Morris method with different sampling strategies were tested, of which Manhattan distance method has resulted a better sensitivity measures and also a better scan of input space than Euclidean method. Moreover, Morris method at p = 2 , r = 2 and Manhattan distance sampling strategy, with only 2 extra simulation runs than local sensitivity analysis, was able to produce reliable sensitivity measures (μ^*, σ). The sensitivity analysis results were cross-validated by Sobol’ variance-based method with 150,000 simulation runs. The global sensitivity tool has identified three important parameters, of which spatial discretization size was the sole reason of the discrepancy observed. In addition, a high proportion of total output variance contributed by parameters β and θ_s is suggesting a greater significant digits to reduce its input uncertainty range.

In order to evaluate the temporal changes in tree diversity of forest vegetation in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, the study collected tree diversity data from four main forest vegetation in the region through a quadrat survey including tropical rainforest (TRF), tropical coniferous forest (COF), tropical lower mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest (TEBF), tropical seasonal moist forest (TSMF). We extracted the distribution of four forest vegetation in the region in four periods of 1992, 2000, 2009, and 2016 in combination with remote sensing images, using simp son Shannon Wiener and scaling species diversity indexes compare to the differences of tree evenness of four forest vegetation and use the scaling ecological diversity index and grey correlation evaluation model to evaluate the temporal changes of forest tree diversity in the region in four periods. The results show that: (1) The proportion of forest area has a trend of decreasing first and then increasing, which is shown by the reduction from 65.5% in 1992 to 53.42% in 2000, to 52.49% in 2009, and then to 54.73% in 2016. However, the tropical rainforest shows a continuous decreasing trend. (2) There are obvious differences in the contributions of the four kinds of forest vegetation to tree diversity. The order of evenness is tropical rainforest > tropical mountain (low mountain) evergreen broad-leaved forest > warm coniferous forest > tropical seasonal humid forest, and the order of richness is tropical rainforest > tropical mountain (low mountain) evergreen broad-leaved forest > tropical seasonal humid forest > warm coniferous forest, The order of contribution to tree diversity in tropical rainforest > tropical mountain (low mountain) evergreen broad-leaved forest > tropical seasonal humid forest > warm tropical coniferous forest. (3) The tree diversity of tropical rainforests and tropical seasonal humid forests showed a continuous decreasing trend. The tree diversity of forest vegetation in Xishuangbanna in four periods was 1992 > 2009 > 2016 > 2000. The above results show that economic activities are an important factor affecting the biodivesity of Xishuangbanna, and the protection of tropical rainforest is of great significance to maintain the biodiversity of the region.