This research focuses on modifying discarded feathers by grafting glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto their surface through thiolation, followed by an epoxy ring-opening reaction with N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) to synthesize feather-based boron adsorbents. Optimization of the adsorbent preparation conditions was achieved through single-factor experiments, varying temperature, time, GMA concentration, and initiator dosage. The synthesized adsorbent (F-g-GMA-NMDG) underwent characterization using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption behavior of the adsorbent was studied, and its boron adsorption capacity at different temperatures was determined through static adsorption kinetic curves. Analysis of adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics was conducted. Results indicate that the boron adsorption process by F-g-GMA-NMDG follows a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption process is endothermic, with higher temperatures promoting adsorption efficiency. Gibbs free energy (ΔG) confirms the spontaneity of the adsorption process. Enhanced adsorption efficacy was observed under neutral and acidic pH conditions. After four cycles, the adsorbent maintained its adsorption efficiency, demonstrating its stability and potential for reuse. This study provides novel insights into both the treatment of discarded feathers and the development of boron adsorbents. Full article

The Plateau Hongliu (Myricaria elegans Royle.) is a woody shrub halophyte that thrives in arid areas of western Tibet, in the Himalayan Mountains. It is acclaimed as superior in saline stress acclimation and as a critical pharmaceutical resource of the Tibetan traditional herb. Nevertheless, the mitogenome in the genus Myricaria remains unknown. Here, using the Illumina and PacBio sequencing assays, the first complete mitogenome of the M. elegans revealed a multi-branched skeleton with a total length of 416,354 bp and GC content of 44.33%, comprising two circular molecules (M1 and 2). The complete mitogenome annotates 31 unique protein-encoding genes (PEGs), fifteen tRNAs, and three rRNA genes. The UAA exhibits the most prominent codon usage preference as a termination, followed by UUA codons for leucine. The mitogenome contains 99 simple sequence repeats and 353 pairs of dispersed repeats, displaying the most frequent in palindromic repeats. Gene transfer analyses identified 8438 bp of 18 homologous fragments from the plastome, accounting for 2.03% of the total length. Using the PREP suite, 350 C-U RNA editing sites were predicted, of which nad4 and ccmB were on the top frequency. Syntenic and phylogenetic analyses suggested weakly conserved patterns of M. elegans in Caryophyllales owing to the genome rearrangement. In summary, the deciphered unique features and complexities of the mitogenome in M. elegans provide novel insights into understanding the evolution and biological conservation underlying climate resilience in halophytes. Full article

Hydrochar as a carbon-based fertiliser is hypothesised to permanently improve soils by modifying soil carbon quality through the regulation of soil organic carbon dynamics, aggregation properties and microbial diversity. However, the interactions between soil organic carbon (SOC) molecular structure, soil aggregates and soil microbial communities as a result of hydrochar application have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the use of hydrochar derived from duck farm biomass waste for a maize cultivation experiment verified that hydrochar had a promoting effect on maize growth, effectively increasing the nutrient supply to the soil. The application of hydrochar increased the soil organic carbon content by 78 to 253 per cent, which was dominated by CHON-type lignin, carbohydrates and condensed aromatic structural compounds. Meanwhile, hydrochar had a significant effect on both soil aromatic structures and oxygenated functional groups, forming more soil macroaggregates. In addition, hydrochar had a positive effect on soil bacterial abundance. This study suggests that the key mechanism by which hydrochar regulates soil carbon dynamics is mainly through the stabilising effect of hydrochar on macroaggregates while increasing the abundance of carbon-related microscopic bacteria. These results will help to elucidate the potential effects of aqueous carbon on the biogeochemical cycling of carbon in soils. Full article

Photosynthesis is a process where solar energy is utilized to convert atmospheric CO₂ into carbohydrates, which forms the basis for plant productivity. The increasing demand for food has created a global urge to enhance yield. Earlier, the plant breeding program was targeting the yield and yield-associated traits to enhance the crop yield. However, the yield cannot be further improved without improving the leaf photosynthetic rate. Hence, in this review, various strategies to enhance leaf photosynthesis were presented. The most promising strategies were the optimization of Rubisco carboxylation efficiency, the introduction of a CO₂ concentrating mechanism in C₃ plants, and the manipulation of photorespiratory bypasses in C₃ plants, which are discussed in detail. Improving Rubisco’s carboxylation efficiency is possible by engineering targets such as Rubisco subunits, chaperones, and Rubisco activase enzyme activity. Carbon-concentrating mechanisms can be introduced in C₃ plants by the adoption of pyrenoid and carboxysomes, which can increase the CO₂ concentration around the Rubisco enzyme. Photorespiration is the process by which the fixed carbon is lost through an oxidative process. Different approaches to reduce carbon and nitrogen loss were discussed. Overall, the potential approaches to improve the photosynthetic process and the way forward were discussed in detail. Full article

Glass-to-metal seals are a very important element in the construction of vacuum tubes, electric discharge tubes, pressure-tight glass windows in metal cases, and metal or ceramic packages of electronic components. This paper presents the influence of different pretreatment methods on the high-temperature wettability of 304 stainless steel by high-alumina glass sealing. The pretreatment of the steel included laser surface melting and pre-oxidizing. The bonding characteristics of glass and stainless steel directly depend on the wettability in terms of the measured wetting angle, the type of oxide formed at the stainless steel surface, and the microstructural changes during the manufacturing process. The oxide film thickness on the stainless steel surface was evaluated to determine the optimal parameters. The film was wetted with high-alumina glass powder at different temperatures. The results showed that pre-oxidation decreased the wetting angle from 56.2° to 33.6°, while for the laser-melted surface, the wetting angle decreased from 49.8° to 31.5°. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the oxide film on the laser-melted surface was thicker and denser than that formed on the pre-oxidized surface. The present work shows that laser surface melting has a greater beneficial influence on the wetting and diffusion characteristics of 304 stainless steel sealed by high-alumina glass. Full article

In recent years, nanotechnology has achieved a remarkable status in shaping the future of biological applications, especially in combating fungal diseases. Owing to excellence in nanotechnology, iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) have gained enormous attention in recent years. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive overview of Fe NPs covering key synthesis approaches and underlying working principles, the factors that influence their properties, essential characterization techniques, and the optimization of their antifungal potential. In addition, the diverse kinds of Fe NP delivery platforms that command highly effective release, with fewer toxic effects on patients, are of great significance in the medical field. The issues of biocompatibility, toxicity profiles, and applications of optimized Fe NPs in the field of biomedicine have also been described because these are the most significant factors determining their inclusion in clinical use. Besides this, the difficulties and regulations that exist in the transition from laboratory to experimental clinical studies (toxicity, specific standards, and safety concerns) of Fe NPs-based antifungal agents have been also summarized. Full article

Over the last decades, the survival of multiple myeloma (MM) patients has considerably improved. However, despite the availability of new treatments, most patients still relapse and become therapy-resistant at some point in the disease evolution. The mutation profile has an impact on MM patients’ outcome, while typically evolving over time. Because of the patchy bone marrow (BM) infiltration pattern, the analysis of a single bone marrow sample can lead to an underestimation of the known genetic heterogeneity in MM. As a result, interest is shifting towards blood-derived liquid biopsies, which allow for a more comprehensive and non-invasive genetic interrogation without the discomfort of repeated BM aspirations. In this review, we compare the application potential for mutation profiling in MM of circulating-tumor-cell-derived DNA, cell-free DNA and extracellular-vesicle-derived DNA, while also addressing the challenges associated with their use.  Full article

Soil amendments have been proposed as an effective way to enhance soil carbon stocks on degraded soils, particularly in dryland farming areas. Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an important role in improving soil quality, and soil aggregates are known to be crucial in sequestering and protecting SOC. However, how aggregation and protection of SOC by aggregates respond to a single application of bentonite combined with maize straw remains unknown, especially in the sandy soil of a semi-arid region. A three-year field experiment with four treatments [no amendment (CK), maize straw amendment addition only (T1, 6 Mg ha^–1), bentonite amendment addition only (T2, 18 Mg ha^–1), and maize straw combined with bentonite amendment (T3, 6 Mg ha^–1 maize straw plus 18 Mg ha^–1 bentonite)] was conducted in the Loess Plateau of China to assess the effects of bentonite and maize straw on aggregation and SOC. The results indicated that soil bulk density decreased by 2.72–5.42%, and soil porosity increased by 3.38–8.77% with three years of T3 application, especially in the 20–40 cm layer, compared with CK. T3 increased the amount of C input, SOC stock, and SOC stock sequestration rate by 1.04 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, 0.84–1.08 Mg ha⁻¹, and 0.49 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, respectively, and it increased the mass proportions and aggregate-associated C stock of >0.25 mm aggregates by 1.15–2.51- and 1.59–2.96-fold compared with CK. Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation of total SOC stock with the C concentration of >2 mm, 0.25–2 mm, and 0.053–0.25 mm aggregates. Aggregates of various sizes in sandy soils have the potential for greater SOC stock. Our findings suggest that the application of maize straw (6 Mg ha^–1) combined with bentonite (18 Mg ha^–1) would be an effective management strategy to enhance the bulk soil C pools by improving the soil structure and thereby improving soil fertility. Full article

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs, EC 2.5.1.18) constitute a versatile enzyme family with pivotal roles in plant stress responses and detoxification processes. Recent discoveries attributed the additional function of facilitating anthocyanin intracellular transportation in plants to GSTs. Our study identified 178 VcGST genes from 12 distinct subfamilies in the blueberry genome. An uneven distribution was observed among these genes across blueberry’s chromosomes. Members within the same subfamily displayed homogeneity in gene structure and conserved protein motifs, whereas marked divergence was noted among subfamilies. Functional annotations revealed that VcGSTs were significantly enriched in several gene ontology and KEGG pathway categories. Promoter regions of VcGST genes predominantly contain light-responsive, MYB-binding, and stress-responsive elements. The majority of VcGST genes are subject to purifying selection, with whole-genome duplication or segmental duplication serving as key processes that drive the expansion of the VcGST gene family. Notably, during the ripening of the blueberry fruit, 100 VcGST genes were highly expressed, and the expression patterns of 24 of these genes demonstrated a strong correlation with the dynamic content of fruit anthocyanins. Further analysis identified VcGSTF8, VcGSTF20, and VcGSTF22 as prime candidates of VcGST genes involved in the anthocyanin intracellular transport. This study provides a reference for the exploration of anthocyanin intracellular transport mechanisms and paves the way for investigating the spectrum of GST functions in blueberries. Full article

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) serves as a widely employed framework for assigning diagnosis codes to electronic health records of patients. These codes facilitate the encapsulation of diagnoses and procedures conducted during a patient’s hospitalisation. This study aims to devise a predictive model for ICD codes based on the MIMIC-III clinical text dataset. Leveraging natural language processing techniques and deep learning architectures, we constructed a pipeline to distill pertinent information from the MIMIC-III dataset: the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III), a sizable, de-identified, and publicly accessible repository of medical records. Our method entails predicting diagnosis codes from unstructured data, such as discharge summaries and notes encompassing symptoms. We used state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms, such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) and BERT models after tokenizing the clinical test with Bio-ClinicalBERT, a pre-trained model from Hugging Face. To evaluate the efficacy of our approach, we conducted experiments utilizing the discharge dataset within MIMIC-III. Employing the BERT model, our methodology exhibited commendable accuracy in predicting the top 10 and top 50 diagnosis codes within the MIMIC-III dataset, achieving average accuracies of 88% and 80%, respectively. In comparison to recent studies by Biseda and Kerang, as well as Gangavarapu, which reported F1 scores of 0.72 in predicting the top 10 ICD-10 codes, our model demonstrated better performance, with an F1 score of 0.87. Similarly, in predicting the top 50 ICD-10 codes, previous research achieved an F1 score of 0.75, whereas our method attained an F1 score of 0.81. These results underscore the better performance of deep learning models over conventional machine learning approaches in this domain, thus validating our findings. The ability to predict diagnoses early from clinical notes holds promise in assisting doctors or physicians in determining effective treatments, thereby reshaping the conventional paradigm of diagnosis-then-treatment care. Our code is available online. Full article

This review thoroughly investigates the mechanical recycling of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composites (CFRPCs), a critical area for sustainable material management. With CFRPC widely used in high-performance areas like aerospace, transportation, and energy, developing effective recycling methods is essential for tackling environmental and economic issues. Mechanical recycling stands out for its low energy consumption and minimal environmental impact. This paper reviews current mechanical recycling techniques, highlighting their benefits in terms of energy efficiency and material recovery, but also points out their challenges, such as the degradation of mechanical properties due to fiber damage and difficulties in achieving strong interfacial adhesion in recycled composites. A novel part of this review is the use of finite element analysis (FEA) to predict the behavior of recycled CFRPCs, showing the potential of recycled fibers to preserve structural integrity and performance. This review also emphasizes the need for more research to develop standardized mechanical recycling protocols for CFRPCs that enhance material properties, optimize recycling processes, and assess environmental impacts thoroughly. By combining experimental and numerical studies, this review identifies knowledge gaps and suggests future research directions. It aims to advance the development of sustainable, efficient, and economically viable CFRPC recycling methods. The insights from this review could significantly benefit the circular economy by reducing waste and enabling the reuse of valuable carbon fibers in new composite materials. Full article

Dye/salt separation has gained increasing attention in recent years, prompting the quest to find cost-effective and environmentally friendly raw materials for synthesizing high performance nanofiltration (NF) membrane for effective dye/salt separation. Herein, a high-performance loose-structured NF membrane was fabricated via a simple vacuum filtration method using a green nanomaterial, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxide radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCNF), by sequentially filtrating larger-sized and finer-sized TOCNFs on a microporous substrate, followed by crosslinking with trimesoyl chloride. The resulting TCM membrane possessed a separating layer composed entirely of pure TOCNF, eliminating the need for other polymer or nanomaterial additives. TCM membranes exhibit high performance and effective dye/salt selectivity. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis shows that the TCM membrane with the Fine-TOCNF layer has a tight layered structure. Further characterizations via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of functional groups and chemical bonds of the crosslinked membrane. Notably, the optimized TCM-5 membrane exhibits a rejection rate of over 99% for various dyes (Congo red and orange yellow) and 14.2% for NaCl, showcasing a potential candidate for efficient dye wastewater treatment. Full article

Soil salinity is an emerging phenomenon threatening arid and semiarid areas due to changing climatic events. Salinity, in combination with other elemental contaminants, can often harm crop performance and productivity. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the mitigating effect of Claroideoglomus etunicatum, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), on combined boron (B) toxicity and salt stress symptoms in maize plants. After the stress and AMF treatments, plants were subjected to a wide range of analyses, such as AMF colonization rates, ion leakage, plant biomass, and concentration of B, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese in root and shoot tissues. The results showed that the combined stress did not affect the AMF colonization rate. AMF inoculation significantly increased plant biomass, the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio, and shoot B, sodium, and copper concentrations, but reduced root B concentrations and ion leakage. AMF inoculation slightly increased root dry weight and the sodium, potassium, zinc, copper and Mn contents in shoots under combined B and salinity stress, while AMF reduced the electrolyte leakage in leaves. It is inferred that AMF can ameliorate B toxicity in maize by improving biomass and reducing B concentration in plant tissues. Our research implies that C. etunicatum could be a valuable candidate for assisting in the remediation of boron-contaminated and saline soils. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the energy-saving potential of passive solar heating systems in diverse global climates and introduce a new indicator, the passive solar heating indicator (PSHI), to enhance the efficiency of building designs. By collecting climate data from 600 cities worldwide through a simulation model, the present study employs polynomial regression to analyze the impact of outdoor temperature and solar radiation intensity on building energy savings. It also uses K-means cluster analysis to scientifically categorize cities based on their energy-saving potential. The findings underscore the benefits of both direct and indirect solar heating strategies in different climates. Significantly, the PSHI shows superior predictive accuracy and applicability over traditional indices, such as the irradiation temperature difference ratio (ITR) and the irradiation degree hour ratio (C-IDHR), especially when outdoor temperatures are close to indoor design temperatures. Moreover, the application of a cluster analysis provides hierarchical guidance on passive heating designs globally, paving the way for more accurate and customized energy-efficient building strategies. Full article

Vitamin A, an essential micronutrient, is integral to various biological processes crucial for organismal development and maintenance. Dietary sources of vitamin A encompass preformed retinol, retinyl esters, and provitamin A carotenoids. Retinoic acid (RA), a key component, plays pivotal roles in vision, cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune function, and gene regulation. Drug repurposing, an effective strategy for identifying new therapeutic applications for existing drugs, has gained prominence in recent years. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape surrounding retinoids and drug repurposing. The scope of this review encompasses a comprehensive examination of retinoids and their potential for repurposing in various therapeutic contexts. Despite their efficacy in treating dermatological conditions, concerns about toxicity persist, driving the search for safer and more potent retinoids. The molecular mechanisms underlying retinoid activity involve binding to retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), leading to transcriptional regulation of target genes. This review seeks to shed light on the possibilities for repurposing retinoids to cover a wider spectrum of therapeutic uses by exploring recent scientific progress. It also aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic prospects of retinoids and the broader impact of drug repositioning in contemporary medicine. Full article

Modern supply chain systems face significant challenges, including lack of transparency, inefficient inventory management, and vulnerability to disruptions and security threats. Traditional optimization methods often struggle to adapt to the complex and dynamic nature of these systems. This paper presents a novel blockchain-based zero-trust supply chain security framework integrated with deep reinforcement learning (SAC-rainbow) to address these challenges. The SAC-rainbow framework leverages the Soft Actor–Critic (SAC) algorithm with prioritized experience replay for inventory optimization and a blockchain-based zero-trust mechanism for secure supply chain management. The SAC-rainbow algorithm learns adaptive policies under demand uncertainty, while the blockchain architecture ensures secure, transparent, and traceable record-keeping and automated execution of supply chain transactions. An experiment using real-world supply chain data demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed framework in terms of reward maximization, inventory stability, and security metrics. The SAC-rainbow framework offers a promising solution for addressing the challenges of modern supply chains by leveraging blockchain, deep reinforcement learning, and zero-trust security principles. This research paves the way for developing secure, transparent, and efficient supply chain management systems in the face of growing complexity and security risks. Full article

Clostridium perfringens is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens as it can cause food poisoning in humans and necrotic enteritis in both animals and humans. Meat, especially pork and chicken meat, is considered the main vehicle for the transmission of C. perfringens from animals to humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, toxinotype, and antimicrobial resistance profile of C. perfringens isolated from pork and chicken meat sold in Vietnam. The isolation results showed that 15/50 (30%) of pork samples and 8/50 (16%) of chicken meat samples were contaminated with C. perfringens. The isolates exhibited their highest resistance rate to tetracycline (21/23; 91.30%) and clindamycin (10/23; 43.48%). On the contrary, their lowest resistance rates were observed in response to imipenem (2/23; 8.70%) and cefoxitin (1/23; 4.35%). In particular, 34.78% (8/23) of C. perfringens isolates were identified to be multidrug-resistant strains. The results of toxin genotyping indicated that all isolates were positive for the cpa gene and belonged to type A. Full article

Understanding the relationships between seed traits and germination responses is crucial for assessing natural regeneration, particularly in threatened ecosystems like the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF). This study explored links between seed traits (mass, volume, moisture content, and dispersal type), germination responses (germinability, germination speed ($\overline{v}$), time to 50% of germination (T50), synchrony, and photoblastism), and physical dormancy (PY) in 65 SDTF species under experimental laboratory conditions. We found that species with smaller seeds (low mass and volume) had higher $\overline{v}$ and reached T50 faster than species with larger seeds. For moisture content, species with lower moisture content had higher germinability and reached the T50 faster than seeds with high moisture content. Abiotic dispersed species germinated faster and reached the T50 in fewer days. Most of the SDTF species (60%) did not present PY, and the presence of PY was associated with seeds with lower moisture content. As for photoblastism (germination sensitivity to light), we classified the species into three ecological categories: generalists (42 species, non-photoblastic), heliophytes (18 species, positive photoblastic, germination inhibited by darkness), and sciadophytes (5 species, negative photoblastic, light inhibited germination). This study intends to be a baseline for the study of seed ecophysiology in the SDTF. Full article

Winter supplemental feeding (SF) is commonly used to improve the survival of captive wildlife. To investigate the impact of winter supplementation on the gut microbiota of wildlife, we assessed changes in the gut microbiota of red deer (Cervus elaphus) during the supplementary and non-supplementary feeding (NSF) groups using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. We found no significant differences in the diversity of the gut microbiota between SF and NSF except for the Simpson’s index. However, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Lentisphaerae, and Proteobacteria in the gut microbiota was significantly higher during SF. Further, genera such as Intestinimonas, Rikenella, Lawsonibacter, Muribaculum, and Papillibacter were more abundant during SF. Beta diversity analysis showed significant differences between SF and NSF. The microbes detected during SF were primarily associated with lipid metabolism, whereas those detected during NSF were linked to fiber catabolism. High-energy feed affects the gut microbial composition and function in red deer. During SF, the gut microbes in red deer were enriched in microorganisms associated with butyrate and lipid metabolism, such as R. microfusus, M. intestinale, and Papillibacter cinnamivorans. These gut microbes may be involved in ameliorating obesity associated with high-energy diets. In summary, SF is a reasonable and effective management strategy. Full article

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum (f.sp. albedinis) causes Bayoud disease. It is one of the epiphytotic diseases that affects a wide range of palm species and has no known cure at present. However, preventive measures can be taken to reduce the effects of the disease. Bayoud disease has caused enormous economic losses due to decreased crop yield and quality. Therefore, it is essential to develop a mathematical model for the dynamics of the disease to propose some affordable methods for disease management. In this study, we propose a novel mathematical model that describes the transmission dynamics of the disease in date palm trees. The model incorporates various factors such as the contact rate of the fungi with date palm trees, the utilization of fungicides, and the introduction of a quarantine compartment to prevent disease dissemination. We first prove a few key properties of the proposed model to ensure that the model is well-posed and suitable for numerical investigations. We establish that the model has a unique positive solution that is bounded and stable over time. We use sensitivity analysis to identify the parameters that have the greatest effect on the reproduction number ${\mathcal{R}}_0$ and illustrate this effect graphically. We then formulate an optimal control problem to identify the most suitable and cost-effective disease control approaches. As a first approach, we solely focus on the application of fungicide to susceptible trees and determine the best spray rates for a greater decrease in exposed and infected trees. Secondly, we emphasize quarantining exposed and infected trees at optimal quarantine rates. Finally, we explore the combined effect of fungicide spraying and isolating infected trees on disease control. The findings of the last approach turn out to be the most rewarding and cost-effective for minimizing infections in date palm trees. Full article

The main goal of this study is to provide a more interactive experience with AR technology and wearable devices compared to traditional preservation methods in order to protect, promote, and transfer cultural heritage to future generations. It aims to evaluate the usability of the developed AR application with SUS and WARUS analyses. During the research process, similar studies were conducted, street texture and historical buildings were examined, 3D models were created with terrestrial laser scanning, and an AR application was developed with the Unity3D program and presented for user evaluation. The findings of this research show that users can access historical and cultural information interactively, and that presenting historical places interactively contributes to conservation efforts by allowing users to gain more in-depth information. In the discussion section of this paper, the opportunities and limitations offered by AR technology and the wearable device through the ARKON application are discussed in a sustainable way in terms of usability. According to the research results, while usability analyses showed that user satisfaction was high, no significant difference was observed according to gender in the similar age group. Full article

The increasing integration of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) inverters and inverter-based resource (IBR) systems into the power grid emphasizes the critical need for standardized procedures to ensure their reliability and effective grid support functions. This research is driven by the gap in standardized testing methodologies for smart inverters, which are pivotal for the stability and quality of power in distributed energy systems. We used a Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) laboratory setup to conduct a comprehensive analysis of smart inverters within a simulated real-world grid environment. Our approach integrates a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) with PHIL testing to evaluate the smart inverter’s performance across various operational modes. The detailed test protocols mimic real-world grid conditions, enabling the examination of the inverter’s dynamic response to grid disturbances, control strategies, and communication protocols. The primary aim of this study is to rigorously test and validate the primary functions of smart inverters, focusing on their impact on overall grid stability and power quality management. This includes advanced features like Volt–VAR, Volt–Watt, dynamic power factor control, and the seamless integration of smart inverters into DERMSs and Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMSs). Furthermore, we aim to bridge the current gap in standardized testing procedures, contributing to the establishment of robust standards and operating protocols for smart inverter integration into the grid. Full article