We study a class of Stochastic Differential Equations (SDEs) with jumps modeling multistage Michaelis–Menten enzyme kinetics, in which a substrate is sequentially transformed into a product via a cascade of intermediate complexes. These networks are typically high-dimensional and exhibit multiscale behavior with a strong coupling between different components, posing substantial analytical and computational challenges. In particular, the problem of statistical inference of reaction rates is significantly difficult and becomes even more intricate when direct observations of system states are unavailable and only a random sample of product formation times is observed. We address this problem in two stages. First, in a suitable scaling regime consistent with the Quasi-Steady State Approximation (QSSA), we rigorously establish a stochastic averaging principle yielding a reduced model for the product-substrate dynamics. Guided by the reduced-order dynamics, we next construct a novel Interacting Particle System (IPS) that approximates the product-substrate process at the particle level. This IPS plays a pivotal role in the inference methodology, and we prove several non-asymptotic bounds and limiting results for this system. These results facilitate the construction of an estimator based on a product-form approximate likelihood requiring only a random sample of product formation times. This approach does not need access to the system states, and we rigorously prove consistency of the estimator.
Mouldboard ploughing has been associated with a loss in soil quality, while reduced tillage is often reported to result in crop yield declines. Occasional ploughing every few years could be an attractive compromise, but it remains unclear whether such a system results in a combined benefit of improved crop yield and soil quality. Here, we present data from a 43-year old field experiment on a clay soil in central Sweden. We analysed how three different tillage systems - annual mouldboard ploughing, continuous shallow tillage, and shallow tillage with occasional mouldboard ploughing - affect crop yields and soil properties with the objective of assessing joint response patterns between crop production and soil quality indicators reflecting soil structure, soil organic carbon storage, and habitat for soil biota. Crop yields were not affected by the tillage systems. Characteristics of the soil pore system and soil biota were similar in the occasional ploughing and annually mouldboard ploughed systems. Shallow tillage significantly altered microbial community composition relative to ploughed treatments, increasing bacterial and fungal abundances and reducing diversity in the upper topsoil layer, likely due to stratified soil carbon stocks. There was also a higher proportion of biopores in shallow tillage, which could be advantageous during dry spells that are expected to become more frequent and severe with climate change. Nevertheless, there were only small effects on water retention, biomass of nematodes and earthworms, and most of the abiotic soil properties. We conclude that occasional ploughing did not offer advantages at our site, and our results show that no system improved yield and all soil quality indicators simultaneously.
Biochar were synthesised from wood biomass via slow pyrolysis at temperatures of 400, 500, and 600 degrees C, denoted B400, B500, and B600, and evaluated for their capacity to remove Pb, Cu, and Zn from aqueous solutions. The investigation assessed the influence of pyrolysis temperature on biochar yield, physicochemical and chemical properties, pore development, and adsorption performance for these metals. Analytical techniques included proximate and ultimate analyses, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and batch adsorption experiments. Increasing pyrolysis temperature enhanced pore development and adsorption capacity while reducing biochar yield. The BET surface area increased from 50.7 m(2)/g in the feedstock to 265.2 m(2)/g for B600, with a corresponding rise in micropore volume from 0.03 to 0.13 cm(3)/g. SEM analysis revealed that higher temperatures promoted greater pore volume and induced structural modifications in the biochar. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 180-240 min, with biochar produced at 600 degrees C (B600) demonstrating the highest performance. At pH 8, maximum removal efficiencies were approximately 90-95% for Pb, 85-90% for Cu, and 90-95% for Zn, corresponding to adsorption capacities of 4-5 mg/g for Pb and 3-4 mg/g for Cu and Zn. The adsorption efficiency order was Pb > Cu > Zn. Adsorption data closely fit the Langmuir isotherm model (R-2 approximate to 0.99), indicating monolayer adsorption on a uniform surface. Comparisons between pilot-scale Woodtek biochar (WTB) and laboratory-scale biochar (LSB) produced at 600 degrees C showed comparable adsorption efficiencies and capacities. These findings suggest that scaling up biochar production does not compromise its effectiveness in removing heavy metals from water. Overall, the results highlight the potential of wood-derived biochar for large-scale remediation of heavy metals in contaminated water systems.
Effective monitoring of morphological changes in coasts is essential for understanding multiscale evolution, managing hazards and supporting sustainable development. Optical satellite imagery has long supported coastal monitoring, but its dependence on daylight and cloud-free conditions limits temporal and spatial coverage. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) overcomes many of these constraints through all-weather, day–night acquisitions and sensitivity to surface roughness, moisture and dielectric properties, making it a promising yet still underexploited resource for coastal monitoring. Given this potential, and the still limited understanding of SAR applications for coastal morphology monitoring, this paper presents a review on the current knowledge on SAR-based morphology mapping, focusing on shoreline detection and intertidal topography retrieval. We examine the main preprocessing and extraction methodologies, including speckle filtering, segmentation, shoreline extraction and post-processing, and discuss different approaches for intertidal topography mapping across diverse coastal environments. The influence of sensor configuration, including frequency band, polarization and acquisition geometry, is reviewed alongside the role of environmental and morphodynamic conditions in shaping detection performance. Key sources of uncertainty are highlighted, emphasizing the scarcity of reliable and harmonized ground truth data, which continues to constrain validation and cross-parameter and cross-site comparisons. The review identifies recurring patterns, limitations and challenges that currently hinder broader operational use of SAR shoreline and intertidal topography mapping. Based on this synthesis, priority directions for future research are identified, including more systematic experiments across contrasting morphodynamic settings, improved reference datasets, higher levels of automation and closer integration with complementary data sources, to better exploit SAR for large-scale and long-term coastal monitoring and hazard assessment.
Can low-cost comparative information trigger firms to improve the performance of a digital asset they already own? Using two large-scale randomised controlled trials with approximately 7000 UK firms in the distilling and retail sectors, we study whether peer benchmarking of website performance prompts measurable improvement. Firms receiving benchmarked website metrics and targeted recommendations exhibit modest average improvements, with more favourable effects among initially underperforming firms, consistent with partial convergence towards the industry frontier. The catch-up dynamic is strongest on mobile metrics, including as a spillover in the first experiment, in which reports contained desktop metrics only, a pattern consistent with firms focusing improvement efforts where performance gaps are greatest. Treated firms also show suggestive report-aligned increases in the adoption of mobile-optimisation and content-delivery technologies. These patterns are consistent with comparative performance information helping firms identify and respond to performance shortfalls. The findings position peer benchmarking as a scalable, low-cost instrument for narrowing the digital divide among SMEs: informational aspiration cues generate more favourable responses among firms furthest behind than among firms nearer the frontier.
