Does the Incorporation of Biochar into Biodegradable Mulch Films Provide Agricultural Soil Benefits?

The pollution caused by plastic mulch film in agriculture has garnered significant attention. To safeguard the ecosystem from the detrimental effects of plastic pollution, it is imperative to investigate the use of biodegradable materials for manufacturing agricultural plastic film. Biochar has emerged as a feasible substance for the production of biodegradable mulch film (BDM), providing significant agricultural soil benefits.

Iodine Status in Pregnant Women Having Urinary Fluoride in Contaminated Areas: A Case Study of Phayao Province.

Fluoride naturally occurs in the Earth's crust and is widely dispersed in groundwater. The high consumption of fluoride can inhibit iodine metabolism in the human body, especially in the thyroid gland. This study assessed iodine knowledge, iodine consumption behavior, urinary iodine (UI), thyroid stimulating hormone (serum TSH), and free triiodothyronine3 (serum FT3) and examined the connection between fluoride exposure and UI and thyroid function as serum concentrations of TSH and FT3 in pregnant women dwelling in an area of endemic fluorosis.

Landscape variation influences trophic cascades in dengue vector food webs.

The epidemiology of vector-borne diseases is governed by a structured array of correlative and causative factors, including landscape (for example, rural versus urban), abiotic (for example, weather), and biotic (for example, food web) factors. Studies of mosquito-borne diseases rarely address these multiple factors at large spatial scales, which limits insights into how human alterations of landscapes and food webs alter mosquito abundance. We used structural equation modeling to identify the relative magnitude and direction of landscape, abiotic, and food web factors on larvae and adults across 70 sites in northern Thailand.

Indirect prediction of surface ozone concentration by plant growth responses in East Asia using mini-open top chambers.

We developed small and mobile open top chambers (mini-OTC) measuring 0.6 m (W) × 0.6 m (D) × 1.