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This research study on leakage and flashover currents in silicone rubber treated with coal dust (fly ash) pollutants with variations in the duration of impurity conditioning within 1, 2, 3 days, and no conditioning. This research prepares for testing the RTV 497 silicone rubber test sample which is formed into a sheet with a thickness of 1 mm while the length and width are 50 x 25 mm which is attached with a leaf-like sample electrode system which is designed using the sketch up application with the number of samples of each 5 pieces each for each variation of conditioning carried out, then tested using an Aluminum Tape electrode system with a gap between the Aluminum Tape electrodes of 5 mm. To determine the value of the leakage current that passes through the surface of the Silicone Rubber, voltages of 220 V, 500 V, and 1000 V are applied, left for 1 minute for each voltage application variation to read the value of the current flowing on the sample surface, then the voltage is increased slowly until flashover occurs. The test results showed a leakage current value of 1, 2, and 3 days without conditioning when applying a voltage of 220 V is 34.53; 34.69; 34.81; and 35.09 mA, the same for application at a voltage of 500; and 1000 V that is the leakage current value increases. This is for any current flowing from the conductor to the ground to pass through the outer surface of the insulator. If the surface of the insulator has a layer of contaminants, it can affect the leakage current that flows on the surface. Meanwhile, the flashover test results with the same sample obtained a value of 4112.8; 3819.4; 3676.4; and 3511 V, the data obtained is that the voltage decreases with the longer the conditioning time is carried out since dust contaminants tend to settle and stick to the insulator, which is one of the biggest causes of flashover and failure.

This study concerns with the production and partial characterization of alkaline cellulase from alkaliphilic cellulolytic (AC) fungi isolated fromsoil in Perlis, Malaysia. The best fungi strain was selected on the basis of producing the highest cellulase at high pH conditions. Cellulase from the selected fungi strain was further characterized under saccharification but varies in operating parameters. Finally, the kinetic model describing the growth of the AC fungi strain was studied by employing the logistic model. Among the tested fungi strains, Basidiomycetes strain (BK1) showed high potentiality for the production of maximum alkaline cellulase production at pH 9 after 72 h of incubation at 30°C containing 6 g·L−1 carboxyl methyl cellulose. The saccharification process showed that the enzyme favour high alkaline condition and proves thermotolerant properties, while 15% (v/v) enzyme loading and 1% substrate concentration recorded the highest glucose production at about 1.2–1.3 mg·mL−1. The novelty of the study is to identify and optimize a unique indigenous fungi that emit alkaliphilic cellulase as alternative usage in biotechnology industries due to its capacity to adapt to the extreme conditions of specific industrial processes. There are revolutionary options for use in biotechnological businesses that involve high pH and therefore have substantial biotechnological promise.

Numerous modifications have been made to bitumen to improve its durability and performance. This study aims to enhance bitumen by evaluating the physical and rheological properties of bitumen modified with coconut waste. The study develops bitumen samples modified with varying lengths and fiber content of coconut waste as a sustainable material. The samples were evaluated for rheological behavior using modern testing methods like the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) and Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO). F indings shows the penetration value decrease and the softening point increase with higher coconut waste content, suggesting the modified bitumen is more prone to deformation. The complex modulus G* increase significantly to 3872Pa for the 1% coconut fiber modified bitumen and 9771Pa for 1% coconut powder modified bitumen as compared to the control sample (3431Pa), indicating prospective higher resistance to rutting. In conclusion, modified with coconut waste, bitumen exhibits enhanced flexibility and reduced susceptibility to temperature-related issues. Unlike conventional bitumen, which often suffers from rutting and thermal cracking, this modified version shows improved resistance against shear stresses at elevated temperatures and retains greater flexibility in colder conditions.

As primary producers, plants play a central role in mediating interactions across trophic levels. Although plants are the primary food source for herbivorous insects, they can protect themselves from herbivore damage. Many plants produce toxic compounds that directly reduce herbivore feeding, but plants also protect themselves indirectly by attracting natural enemies of the attacking herbivore through volatile signaling. These so-called tri-trophic interactions have historically been documented aboveground in aerial plant parts but are also known to occur belowground in root systems. In addition to herbivores, plants directly interact with other organisms, which can influence the outcomes of tri-trophic interactions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are symbiotic soil microbes that colonize the roots of plants and facilitate nutrient uptake. These microbes can alter plant chemistry and subsequent resistance to herbivores. Few studies, however, have shown how AMF affect tri-trophic interactions above- or belowground. This study examines how AMF colonization affects the emission of root volatiles when plants are under attack by western corn rootworm, a problematic pest of corn, and subsequent attraction of entomopathogenic nematodes, a natural enemy of western corn rootworm. Mycorrhizal fungi increased rootworm survival but decreased larval weight. Differences were detected across root volatile profiles, but there was not a clear link between volatile signaling and nematode behavior. Nematodes were more attracted to non-mycorrhizal plants without rootworms and AMF alone in soil, suggesting that AMF may interfere with cues that are used in combination with volatiles which nematodes use to locate prey., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Attracting and sustaining investment in Veterinary Services and animal health programmes from national government budgets, development aid and grants, and philanthropic donors requires economic rationale using relevant, reliable and validated analytical approaches. The complex interwoven relationships between animal health, livestock husbandry systems, national food security, global health security and environmental sustainability emphasise the importance of improving data governance and stewardship and applying economic analysis to understand animal disease burdens. These efforts should enable prioritised investment of limited resources and effective monitoring of the impact of programmes over time. Data governance and stewardship capacities are fundamental to development, implementation and performance monitoring of evidence-based policies in animal health. There are challenges in data availability for national and subnational livestock populations in different sectors, for disease incidence and prevalence, and for animal health expenditure in support of optimised allocation of scarce resources, be they finance, land, labour, or management attention and policy focus. Animal health data systems governance and stewardship and economic analysis are core skills for Veterinary Services in developing and applying evidence-based policy, but capability probably varies among World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Members. The WOAH Performance of Veterinary Services programme has several critical competencies that are relevant to economics of animal health and to data governance and stewardship, but these have not yet been targeted for coordinated capacity development. Implementation of publicâ€"private partnership approaches for animal health programmes creates increasing expectations of robust data and methods for prioritisation, options analysis, and assessing impacts and costs. Experience and examples from national systems in New Zealand, Australia, Ethiopia and Indonesia illustrate current challenges associated with prioritisation of animal health programmes using economic analysis. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme intends to support WOAH Members and partners to develop capacities for and standardise approaches to economic analysis and prioritisation in animal health programmes.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses were isolated from domestic ducks in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, during April 2022. The viruses were genetically similar to those detected in East Asia during 2021-2022. Molecular surveillance of wild birds is needed to detect potential pandemic threats from avian influenza virus.