Let q be a prime power and m > 1 be any integer. Let F-q(m) be the finite field of order q(m) and theta is an element of F-q(m) be such that F-q(m) = F-q(theta). We obtain a nontrivial bound for the mixed character sum Sigma(x is an element of Fq)chi(theta + x) psi(x), where chi and psi are multiplicative and additive characters of F-q(m) and F-q, respectively, using function field methods. As an application of our main result, we prove that for fixed m and sufficiently large prime powers q, that satisfy certain conditions, F-q(m) /F-q possesses the weak line property for primitive normal elements. In particular, our result is a strengthening of existing results. (c) 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) is found in peri-urban environments and transmits pathogenetic arboviruses such as Zika, chikungunya and dengue. It is anthropophilic and feeds during the day. The blood is necessary for egg production. The purpose of the present paper was to study the effect of mating on the lifespan of adults (males and females) of Ae. albopictus as well as the effect of blood meal frequency (zero, one and two meals) on the biodemographic characteristics: lifespan, egg production, number of pupae, pupation percentage, number of male offsprings, number of female offsprings, ratio of male/female offsprings. The population was collected at the vicinity of Volos and Larissa, Thessaly, Greece and the experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. Lifespan did not differ between unmated and mated males and females. The number of blood meals (one and two) significantly reduced adult lifespan compared with those with no blood meal. The second blood meal doubled egg production. The knowledge of the biology of mosquitoes and especially the effect of blood meal provides valuable information for the development of mosquito population models and effective mosquito control programmes.
Brackish aquaponics is expected to be a promising approach to sustainable food production, integrating saline water resources with simultaneous co-cultivation of fish and halophytes. The present study investigated the effects of three feeding ratios (FR1.5: 1.5%, FR3: 3%, and FR6: 6% b.w/d) on the growth performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and glasswort (Salicornia europaea) co-cultured in three autonomous one-loop recirculation aquaponic systems (180 L each) at 20 ppt salinity over 78 days. Each system comprised three fish-rearing tanks connected to a two-stage sump filter and a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic subsystem. Sea bass fed at FR3 achieved significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion efficiency than FR1.5. At FR6, feed consumption nearly doubled compared to FR3 (3.79 vs. 1.91 g), yet the feed conversion ratio increased from 0.79 to 1.65, and protein efficiency ratio declined from 3.80 to 1.91, indicating overfeeding effects. Regarding glasswort, FR6 produced significantly higher chlorophyll a content and plant biomass, whereas FR1.5 showed superior ammonia removal efficiency. Overall, FR3 provided the best balance between fish growth, plant yield, and water quality maintenance. These findings highlight the critical role of feeding management in brackish aquaponics in order to optimize nutrient coupling between fish and halophyte production.
Soil tillage significantly affects yield, grain quality, and the environmental footprint of cereals under Mediterranean rainfed conditions. This two-year field study evaluated five contrasting tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), disc harrow (DH), chisel plough (CP), and two no-tillage systems, including long-term (NT1, 30 years) and recently established (NT2, 3-4 years), for their effects on yield and quality traits, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of malting barley grown in Central Greece. Conventional tillage achieved the highest aboveground biomass (up to 12.1 t ha-1) and yield (up to 6.3 t ha-1), but resulted in lower thousand-grain weight (TGW) and reduced grain plumpness. In contrast, no-tillage systems produced slightly lower yields (4.3-5.2 t ha-1), significantly higher TGW (up to 58.3 g), and improved grain-size distribution, while maintaining grain protein concentration within acceptable malting thresholds (10.4-11.0%). Environmental assessment indicated substantially lower GHG emissions under no-tillage, with NT2 achieving the lowest carbon footprint (0.19-0.22 kg CO2 eq kg-1). Carbon footprint estimates revealed that carbon accounting tools prioritize short-term management transitions over long-term no-tillage systems. Year effects reflected differences in rainfall distribution and temperature during critical growth stages. Overall, no-tillage systems provided the most balanced agronomic, qualitative, and environmental performance for malting barley under Mediterranean conditions.
This paper investigates the intricate relationship between EU integration, regional growth, and discontent, with a specific focus on Greece. While EU integration is often associated with growth through market expansion and resource optimization, its uneven impacts across regions can produce adverse outcomes. In Greece, persistent regional disparities, trade deficits, and the long-term effects of a severe economic crisis have been accompanied by a visible rise in discontent. This discontent, increasingly expressed through anti-EU sentiment, appears strongly linked to low and uneven returns from integration, especially in regions more vulnerable to trade shocks. By utilizing newly available regional trade data, we analyze how different types of trade integration influence regional growth patterns, contributing to either convergence or divergence. The conclusions underscore that discontent in Greece is not a peripheral issue but a central consequence of integration processes that fail to deliver balanced benefits. As such, the interdependence between integration, discontent, and cohesion policy emerges as a critical dimension for the EU’s democratic and economic stability.
