Virtual sensing is crucial in order to provide feasible and economical alternatives when physical measuring instruments are not available. Developing model-based virtual sensors to calculate real-time information at each targeted location is a complex endeavor in terms of sensing technology. This paper proposes a new approach for model-based virtual sensor development using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and control. Its main objective is to develop a three-dimensional (3D) real-time simulator using virtual sensors to monitor the temperature in a greenhouse. To conduct this study, a small-scale greenhouse was designed, modeled, and fabricated. The controller was based on the convection heat transfer equation under specific assumptions and conditions. To determine the temperature distribution in the greenhouse, a CFD analysis was conducted. Only one well-calibrated and controlled physical sensor (temperature reference) was enough for the CFD analysis. After processing the result that was obtained from the real sensor output, each virtual sensor had learned the associative transfer function that estimated the output from given input data, resulting in a 3D real-time simulator. This study has demonstrated, for the first time, that CFD analysis and a control strategy can be combined to obtain system models for monitoring the temperature in greenhouses. These findings suggest that, generally, virtual sensing can be applied in large greenhouses for monitoring the temperature using a 3D real-time simulator.

Hydrothermally grown SnO₂ and SnO₂:Eu nanoparticles of 4–11 nm size range were analyzed by photoluminescence (PL) and therrmoluminescence (TL) spectroscopy to study the effect of Eu-doping on their emission behaviors. It has been observed that most of the incorporated Eu³⁺ ions remain at the interstitial sites of SnO₂ lattice. High Eu-contents in the nanoparticles generate lattice deformation, formation of Eu³⁺/Eu⁰ clusters at interstitial sites, or segregation to their surfaces. Formation of Eu clusters at interstitial sites enhances electronic defect density in the crystal lattice, reorganizes carrier trapping centers, and modifies their activation energies. Room temperature PL emission and beta-irradiated TL dose response of SnO₂ nanoparticles enhance significantly when doped with 0.5 and 1.0 mol. % nominal of Eu³⁺, respectively, opening up their possibilities of applications in bio-imaging and radiation therapy. Possible mechanisms of enhanced PL and TL responses of the samples have been discussed.

Trace elements in the environmental media contribute to toxicities of different types. Their presence in the arable pedosphere is a human-health risk factor. This study focused on Vicia faba represented by two Tunisian varieties of bean (Mamdouh) and faba bean (Badii). The objective was to analyze the effects of lead, copper and cadmium on their growth, chlorophyll-content and carotenoids-content, as well as the bioaccumulation and translocation factor, at different stages of growth. For each metal, the concentrations the plants were subjected to were 6, 0.3 and 0.03 mg/L of the metal in the compound for lead nitrate, copper nitrate and cadmium acetate, respectively. The analysis was carried out using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (ICP-MS), encompassing all the parts of the plant. The authors detected a perceptible decrease in the fresh weight of roots and shoots, as well as a drop in the chlorophyll and carotenoid, for all the three heavy metals. Cadmium turned out to be the most toxic of the three metals and copper (which is incidentally an essential micronutrient for plant growth) the least. As far as the bioaccumulation factor was concerned, bean and faba bean exhibited different behaviours, both with regard to the growth stages and the heavy metal absorbed. During the vegetative growth stage, both were accumulators of all the three heavy metals (a translocation factor less than unity). However, in the flowering stage, faba bean was a hyper-accumulator of copper (TF > 1); while the bean plants accumulated a lot of lead in the pods-stage (TF > 1). It is worthwhile to pose new research questions and try to answer them in this study, if legumes are accumulator or hyper accumulator plants in which stage and in where organ accumulate more HMs.

The automotive industry is increasingly focused on waste management, elimination, and reduction to achieve sustainability and cost reduction. This focus drives the industry towards resource-efficient operations that minimize environmental impact while exceeding customer expectations. Meeting these demands necessitates the adoption of more efficient production methodologies, such as the PDCA cycle. This work presents a case study that illustrates the application of the PDCA methodology to minimize scrap generation due to process variability in a multinational company that manufactures electric motors for the automotive industry. The aim was to demonstrate how the PDCA methodology can improve quality standards by minimizing scrap generated during the manufacture of electrical armatures. Notably, the organization in this case study set a waste target of 0.7%, which was significantly exceeded. Finally, the implementation of this methodology can deliver significant economic benefits, with a total annual cost reduction of approximately USD 135,000.