This study investigated theoretical methane potential (TMP)and biochemical methane potential (BMP) of Longkong (Lk) waste (peel and seed) and fruit pulp, and Napier grass (NG). TMP values were calculated using modified Buswell stoichiometric equation, while BMP assays were conducted to determine methane (CH4 ) production. TMP results showed that Lk waste had higher theoretical CH4 yield (0.5 L/g) of volatile solids (VS) than that from Lk pulp (0.39 L/g VS) and NG (0.46 L/g VS). BMP results showed that measured CH4 yield was 0.21, 0.3 and 0.33 L/g VS for Lk waste, Lk pulp and NG, respectively. Lk peel is a more suitable substrate for biogas production compared to its pulp, due to high moisture content, low alkalinity and high volatile fatty acid of the latter. CH4 potential of the three substrates compared favorably with those of others such as grapes and banana peels. The study recommends Lk peels and its leftover pulp for biogas production in regions with high cultivation.
Probiotic Bacillus species are being investigated as sustainable interventions to enhance health and disease resilience in aquaculture. However, the functional basis, biosafety profile, and genomic determinants of probiotic suitability in shrimp gut-associated Bacillus strains remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, a Bacillus strain (KNSH39) isolated from the intestine of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was evaluated using integrated phenotypic, functional, and genome-resolved approaches. Classical assays assessed morphology, sporulation, antibiotic susceptibility, gastrointestinal tolerance, storage stability, and antibacterial activity of cell-free supernatant under thermal and pH stress. Hybrid whole-genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina platforms enabled high-quality assembly, followed by comprehensive functional annotation, mobilome analysis, biosynthetic gene cluster prediction, and comparative genomics. KNSH39 exhibited strong sporulation capacity (98.04
Purpose This study examines how perceived crowding influences tourists' revisit intention through perceived destination sustainability in a coastal tourism destination experiencing overtourism. Specifically, it investigates the mediating role of sustainability perception as a psychological mechanism shaping tourists' behavioral responses. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approach was employed using survey data collected from 412 international tourists across twelve beach locations in Phuket, Thailand. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test both direct and mediating relationships within the stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) framework. Findings The results indicate that perceived destination sustainability has a strong positive effect on revisit intention. Among the sustainability dimensions, technological innovation, environmental responsibility and socio-cultural integrity contribute most strongly to overall sustainability perception. Perceived crowding, primarily driven by human crowding, shows a statistically significant but substantively negligible negative effect on sustainability perceptions and does not directly reduce revisit intention. Instead, perceived destination sustainability fully mediates the relationship between perceived crowding and revisit intention. Practical implications Destination managers should prioritize visible sustainability initiatives and effective visitor flow management to mitigate crowding-related perceptions and sustain tourist loyalty in high-density destinations. Social implications Originality/value This study contributes to overtourism and tourism behavior research by empirically demonstrating the mediating role of perceived destination sustainability and refining the conceptualization of crowding within the S–O–R framework.
Flood events represent a major natural threat, and identifying the key factors contributing to flood occurrence has gained considerable attention in 2010 and 2022 in the Swat River, Pakistan. In this study, Google Earth Engine was utilized to extract flood-related indices for the Mohmand Dam catchment, Pakistan. Different types of datasets were used to calculate fourteen influencing parameters. These indices were processed and normalized in ArcMap 10.8 and Python to enhance their visual and analytical representation. Two multi-criteria analyses with AHP, FAHP, and five machine learning models, including logistic regression, K-nearest neighbors, random forest, support vector machine, and multi-layer perception, were applied to determine the relative importance of each parameter and produce a flood susceptibility map. The results indicate that rainfall, LULC, and soil texture are the most influential factors, each contributing 11.11% to flood susceptibility. The random forest approach demonstrated stronger predictive performance than the AHP and FAHP techniques. The flood susceptibility map reveals that approximately 31.67% (4320.40 km2) of the study area falls under high flood risk. This methodology provides valuable support for planners, policymakers, hydrologists, and disaster management authorities in developing effective flood mitigation, watershed management, and resilience strategies.
Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites incorporating the imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIM][Cl]) were prepared to investigate the effects of ionic liquids on curing behavior, electrical and dielectric properties, and stress-relaxation behavior. The novelty of this work lies in correlating ionic-liquid-assisted CNT dispersion and ionic charge transport with temperature-dependent viscoelastic relaxation in a polar, bio-based rubber nanocomposite. Rheometric analysis showed that [EMIM][Cl] significantly accelerated sulfur vulcanization, reducing scorch time from 1.21 to 0.35 min and cure time from 4.43 to 3.29 min at 3 phr loading. Morphological observations revealed that low [EMIM][Cl] content suppressed MWCNT re-agglomeration, whereas higher loadings (>= 5 phr) induced micro-phase separation of IL-rich domains. Consequently, DC electrical conductivity increased from approximately 2.22 x 10(-5) S m(-1) in IL-free composites to similar to 1.19 x 10(-4) S m(-1) at [EMIM][Cl] contents above 3 phr, accompanied by increased dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss. Temperature scanning stress relaxation (TSSR) showed that the pronounced low-temperature relaxation peak (similar to 50 degrees C), associated with MWCNT agglomerate breakdown and bound-rubber desorption, was suppressed by [EMIM][Cl]. However, excessive [EMIM][Cl] loadings accelerated stress relaxation and reduced thermal network stability due to plasticization and phase separation. Overall, [EMIM][Cl] primarily acts as a dispersion modifier and mobility enhancer in ENR/MWCNT nanocomposites.
