Assessment of Cold Plasma Treatment Effects at Different Voltages and Exposure Times on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 Mortality (Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae) and Physicochemical Properties of Treated Wheat Flour

Assessment of Cold Plasma Treatment Effects at Different Voltages and Exposure Times on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 Mortality (Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae) and Physicochemical Properties of Treated Wheat Flour | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Assessment of Cold Plasma Treatment Effects at Different Voltages and Exposure Times on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 Mortality (Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae) and Physicochemical Properties of Treated Wheat Flour Mohamad sajad Nikouei Fard, Mahdiyeh Martami, Mohammad Hossein Mohajer, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7418183/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study investigated the effectiveness of cold dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment for controlling various developmental stages of Ephestia kuehniella,Zeller, 1879 a major stored-product pest, in wheat flour substrate. The experimental setup utilized a dual-power supply DBD system. Plasma treatment parameters were systematically varied across different life stages: Eggs received treatments ranging from 13 to 21 kV for 1 to 11 minutes, last-instar larvae were treated at 10 to 19 kV for 1 to 9 minutes, and pupae were subjected to higher voltages of 18 to 24 kV for durations between 5 and 13 minutes. Each treatment condition was replicated five times. Mortality assessment revealed significant stage-dependent susceptibility to plasma treatment. In eggs, optimal treatment conditions (19–21 kV, 9–11 minutes) achieved approximately 88% reduction in adult emergence compared to control groups. Larvae demonstrated the highest susceptibility, with 19 kV treatments inducing nearly 100% immediate mortality at exposure times of 5–9 minutes. Long-term monitoring showed sustained plasma effects, with mortality rates reaching maximum levels (nearly 100%) ten days post-treatment even at lower voltages. Pupae exhibited greater resistance, achieving maximum mortality of 65% at 24 kV for 13 minutes, compared to 33% natural mortality in controls. Analysis of plasma-treated wheat flour revealed minimal impact on quality parameters. Color analysis showed minor but perceptible changes with total color difference (ΔE) of 1.05 ± 0.83, slight reduction in chromaticity from 8.27 to 7.28, and marginal decrease in browning index from 32.69 to 32.52. SEM imaging demonstrated increased surface roughness and porosity in treated flour particles, indicating physiochemical etching effects. ATR FTIR spectroscopy showed structural modification in the treated flour, including increased carbonyl groups formation (1650 cm⁻¹), glycosidic bond breakdown (1000–1200 cm⁻¹), breakdown of hydrogen bonding networks (3400 cm⁻¹), and oxidation of aliphatic groups (2900 cm⁻¹). Biological sciences/Biochemistry Biological sciences/Plant sciences cold atmospheric Plasma pest control dielectric barrier discharge physical pest control method Ephestia kuehniella wheat flour Eco-friendly pest management Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 1. Introduction The global damages caused by storage pests on the stored crop produce are enormous, degrading both the quality and quantity of stored goods resulting in enormous economic losses and threatening food security. The economic loss is prohibitive, with the losses mounting to over 100 billion USD annually, affecting up to one-third of the world's food production. This damage is exacerbated by favorable climatic conditions for pest proliferation and inadequate pest control measures(Kim et al., 2012 ). Warehouse pests pose significant health risks to humans include contamination of food products with pest fragments, which can be allergenic or carcinogenic(Hubert et al., 2018 ) (Reichmuth et al., 2008 ). Also pests can alter storage environments, promoting the growth of harmful fungi and bacteria, some of which produce toxins like aflatoxins(Hubert et al., 2018 ). Additionally, pests can act as vectors for pathogens, spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other microorganisms(Hubert et al., 2018 ). These health risks are increased by the usage of pesticides, which can lead to poisonous residues in food products. Physical treatment of warehouse pests as an environmental friendly alternative to chemical methods is becoming increasingly accepted, a number of methods, including thermal, cooling, controlled atmosphere, vacuum, gamma irradiation, have been employed to this purpose. Thermal methods include techniques such as infrared heating, microwave heating, and radio frequency heating. While effective, they have several drawbacks. Thermal methods can lead to the degradation of heat-sensitive nutrients and a reduction in product quality (Chiozzi et al., 2022 ; Deng et al., 2024 ) on the other hand high energy requirements make these methods less environmentally friendly and more costly(Olaniran et al., 2024 ). Cooling methods are not as rapid as thermal methods and may require extended periods to achieve significant pest control(Verschoor et al., 2013 ) however maintaining low temperatures over long periods can be energy-intensive. Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) methods involve modifying the ratio of gases in the storage environment to present conditions that are inhibitory to pest growth. This is generally achieved through the decrease in oxygen level and an increase in carbon dioxide level. ACP methods require highly strict management of gas composition, which in certain cases can be technically challenging and expensive and it may also take quite long before very effective pest control is realized(Navarro et al., 2024; Verschoor et al., 2013 ). Vacuum treatments use the removal of air from the storage environment to create a hypoxic environment that is not conducive to pest growth but will physically damage some products with fragile structures and may fail against pests deeply embedded within the product(de Sousa et al., 2023; Srivastava & Mishra, 2022). Gamma irradiation is a treatment where ionizing radiation is applied to kill pests and microorganisms. It is a highly effective method used but is extremely costly since it requires special equipment and facilities, and there is some consumer resistance to adopt irradiated foods due to safety and quality concerns(Akhila et al., 2021). Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a recent technological advancement in storage pest management and preservation of foods. Because of its unique nature, ACP emerges as an improved choice over typical chemical, biological, and mechanical technology for managing storage pests. Unlike thermal processes, ACP is applied at room temperatures, which is a major plus for thermally sensitive foods. Besides that, ACP does not leave toxic residues on treated surfaces, which eliminates problems against chemical contamination(Jiang et al., 2022; Kaur et al., 2020), this makes it a sustainable alternative to chemical fumigation methods, which can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. The use of ACP conforms to global efforts towards reducing the environmental impact of food processing and storage activities(Jiang et al., 2022). As compared to conventional practices, ACP is an inexpensive and energy saving method of pest control. It eliminates the need for expensive chemical pesticides and reduces energy consumption associated with thermal treatments. The scalability of ACP systems further enhances its economic viability for industrial applications(Karkhanis & Singh, 2024 ). ACP can be tailored to suit various food commodities and storage conditions. By adjusting parameters such as voltage, treatment time, and gas composition, ACP can be optimized for specific pests and pathogens. Such flexibility renders it a suitable choice for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies(Esmaeili et al., 2021). ACP acts on a wide range of biological contaminants like bacteria, fungi, mycotoxins, and insects. It is effective through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which are harmful to microorganisms and insects. Studies have demonstrated that ACP can effectively reduce fungal and bacterial counts on grain surfaces and de-toxify mycotoxins to ensure a safe food supply(Kaur et al., 2020; Oliveira et al., 2025).ACP damages fungal cells, inhibiting spore germination and development, which is vital for the prevention of mycotoxin production(Oliveira et al., 2025), efficiently degrades a number of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol, by cleavage of chemical bonds and converting them into less harmful metabolites(Liu et al., 2024) (Murtaza et al., 2024). 2. Materials and Methods The three developmental stages of E. kuehniella insect, including the egg, the last instar larva and the pupa, were subjected to plasma treatment and their mortality and inactivation were investigated. 2.1. Insect rearing conditions and sample preparation The eggs of E. kuehniella insects were obtained from the Entomology Research Department of the Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute (PPDRI). They were spread on a prepared substrate consisting of a mixture of wheat flour, wheat bran, and yeast, which had been decontaminated beforehand. The substrate was then covered with black muslin fabric and placed inside a germinator under controlled conditions of 60% relative humidity, a temperature of 27°C, and complete darkness. 2.2. Cold Atmospheric pressure DBD plasma The Enhancedtech-151 dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma system (Fig. 1 ) was utilized to treat all developmental stages (egg, larva, pupa) of E. kuehniella and wheat flour substrate. The electrical structure of this device is based on a dual-power supply system designed to optimize plasma characteristics. The system consists of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor with two electrodes separated by a dielectric barrier) a Pyrex container with a diameter of 22 cm, a height of 10 cm, and a thickness of 4 mm and an electrode gap of 3 cm. The electrodes are connected to two distinct power sources: Low-Frequency High-Voltage Power Supply that operates at a frequency of approximately 50 Hz and applies a high-voltage sinusoidal signal (0–24 kV) to the lower electrode, and High-Frequency Modulated Power Supply that applies a high-frequency modulated voltage (typically in the kHz range like 6kHz) to the upper electrode. The low-frequency component primarily governs the macro-scale breakdown characteristics of the plasma and helps establish a baseline electric field required for initiating the discharge and the modulated high-frequency voltage enhances plasma uniformity by exciting more energetic electron populations, leading to improved ionization efficiency and denser plasma formation. the dielectric barrier prevents arc formation and ensures that the discharge remains in the non-thermal regime, making it ideal for treatment of heat-sensitive materials. Further technical details encompassing voltage-time and current-time characteristic curves, are accessible in (Hamid Reza Ghomi Marzdashty, 2017 ) 2.3. DBD plasma treatment of eggs For plasma treatment of E. kuehniella eggs and investigation of the effect of cold DBD plasma on their inactivation, eggs were obtained and mixed with decontaminated wheat flour. The mixture was then placed inside the Pyrex container of the DBD plasma system. Plasma processing of the eggs was conducted at voltages of 13, 16, 19 and 21kV and treatment durations of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 minutes, with five replications for each condition. After plasma treatment, the processed flour and eggs were transferred to ventilated microwave containers covered with muslin fabric and then placed in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27°C temperature and 60% relative humidity. 2.4. DBD plasma treatment of last-instar larvae For plasma treatment of the last-instar larvae of E. kuehniella and investigation of the effect of cold DBD plasma on larval mortality, ten last-instar larvae were extracted from the insect rearing colony and placed in the Pyrex container containing 100 grams of wheat flour. Before plasma exposure, it was ensured that none of the larvae were on the surface of the flour and directly exposed to the electrical discharge. The larvae were then subjected to DBD plasma treatment. Plasma treatment of the last-instar larvae was conducted at voltages of 10, 13, 16 and 19 kV and treatment durations of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes, with five replications for each condition. After plasma treatment, the treated contents were transferred to ventilated microwave containers covered with muslin fabric and placed in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27°C temperature and 60% relative humidity. 2.5. DBD plasma treatment of pupae Due to the delicate and fragile structure of the pupa, directly extracting an exact number of 10 pupae from the colony could potentially interfere with the experimental results by causing structural damage. Various parts of the pupal body, including the outer chitinous layer, the transforming abdominal region, and the developing wings, are highly vulnerable. Applying pressure to separate the pupae from the colony substrate could harm these sensitive structures and disrupt the metamorphosis process. Therefore, for the pupal stage of this insect, it was decided to carefully cut portions of the culture substrate that approximately contained ten pupae. During the determination of insect mortality, the total number of processed insects in each experiment was countable. The separated substrates, containing a mixture of flour and E. kuehniella pupae, were subjected to DBD plasma treatment. Plasma treatment was conducted at voltages of 18, 20, 22 and 24 kV and treatment durations of 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 minutes, with five replications for each condition. the treated substrate was transferred to ventilated microwave containers lined with muslin fabric and placed in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27°C temperature and 60% relative humidity. Table 1 presents a comprehensive summary of plasma exposure times and applied voltages across all developmental stages of (eggs, larvae, and pupae) of E. kuehniella. Table 1 . Applied voltage and exposure time parameters for plasma treatment of each stage. Stage Voltage(kV) Exposure time(min) Egg 13, 16, 19, 21 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 Larva 10, 13, 16, 19 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 Pupa 18, 20, 22, 24 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 2.6. Determination of adults emergence from eggs The flour substrate and treated eggs were maintained in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27°C temperature and 60% relative humidity until the emergence of the final adult insect, and the number of adult insects was counted. Each adult insect was removed from the substrate immediately upon emergence to prevent interference with the growth and development of other insects. 2.7. Determination of larvae mortality Mortality of treated larvae was assessed at 0 (immediately), 7 hours, and 1, 3, and 10 days after treatment. Larvae those did not respond to external stimuli were classified as dead . 2.8. Determination of pupae mortality Since mobility and responsiveness to physical stimuli are minimal during the pupal stage and applying external stimuli may cause damage to the pupae and interfere with experimental results. Therefore, the emergence of adult insects was monitored following plasma treatment of the pupae-containing substrates. Substrates containing E. kuehniella pupae were assessed for adult emergence for up to 25 days after treatment. The emerged adults were counted and subsequently removed from the environment to prevent reproduction in the substrate and avoid interference with the development of other insects. The Eq. 1 was used to calculate the pupal mortality rate of E. kuehniella : Equation 1 . calculation formula for mortality percentage of treated pupae. 2.9. Determination of physiochemical changes of treated flour wheat Color changes In order to determine the effect of plasma treatment on the color of treated flour, l*, a*, and b* values were measured in both plasma-treated and control samples according to the CIELAB color model. The l* refers to brightness and ranges from 0 (black) to 100 (white), The a* refers to red-green axis and ranges from − 60(green) to + 60(red), The b* refers to yellow-blue axis and ranges from − 60(blue) to + 60(yellow) (Markovic et al., 2013). Then, the chromaticity (C*), hue angle (h°), and browning index (BI) parameters were calculated using the formulas presented in Table 2 . Chromaticity describes a color’s pure hue. Hue angle represents the dominant color family and ranges from 0° to 360° (0°as red, 90°as yellow, 180°as green, 270°as blue). BI measures browning in wheat flour (0–30 represents minimal/no browning, 30–60 represents moderate browning and higher values represent sever browning. Table 2 Colorimetric parameters with corresponding formulas, where L (lightness), a* (red-green axis), and b* (yellow-blue axis) are CIE LAB color space coordinates. The total color difference (ΔE) was calculated using Eq. 2, where components with subscript 2 refer to plasma-treated samples, while subscript 1 denotes control samples(Pathare et al., 2013 ). Equation 2. The total color difference formula. ΔE describes the total color difference between treated and untreated wheat flour samples, 0–1 values represents visually indistinguishable changes, 1–3 values indicates perceptible but minor changes, 3–6 values denotes substantial difference, and higher values than 6 corresponds dramatic color transformation(Carmona et al., 2017 ). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) To characterize plasma-induced microstructural changes, flour samples were analyzed using SEM at 200 and 30 µm resolution. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) ATR-FTIR spectroscopy (700–4000 cm⁻¹) was employed to analyze plasma-induced modifications in surface molecular bonds of flour. 3. Results 3.1. Emerged adults from eggs Number of emerged adults from treated and control eggs are shown in Fig. 2 . In the control sample, 17 adult insects were observed, whereas all plasma treatments reduced this number. Increasing the voltage from 13 to 21 kV resulted in a gradual and consistent decline in the number of adult insects in most cases, with fewer than 2 adults emerging at the highest voltage (21 kV). In higher voltages treatment, duration also played a significant roll, as extending the exposure time from 1 to 11 minutes enhanced plasma efficacy. The optimal results were achieved with combinations of prolonged durations (9 and 11 minutes) and high voltages (19 and 21 kV), demonstrating nearly a 88% reduction in adult insect counts. The linear mixed effects model analysis revealed significant main effects of plasma voltage (F(3,100) = 253.19, p < 0.001) and exposure time (F(5,100) = 33.85, p < 0.001) on the number of adult emergence. The interaction between voltage and exposure time was significant (F(15,100) = 3.75, p < 0.001), indicating that the effect of voltage was a function of treatment duration. Post-hoc analysis showed that the higher voltage combinations (16–19 kV) at longer exposure times (5–9 minutes) provided almost total inactivation of eggs, while lower voltages (10–13 kV) required considerably longer exposure times to achieve the same effect. 3.2. Larvae mortality Immediately after treatment Immediate larvae mortality percentage is shown in Fig. 3 . In the control group, no larval mortality was observed, whereas all plasma treatments significantly increased mortality rates. Gradual rise in voltage (10 to 19 kV) and exposure time (1 to 9 minutes) brought about dose-dependent increases in mortality. The highest voltage (19 kV) invariably produced approximately 80% mortality at all exposure times, while lower voltages (10 and 13 kV) were significantly less effective (20–30% mortality). The optimum was achieved with 19 kV in combination with 5–9 minute exposures, which produced almost 100% immediate larval mortality. Linear mixed model analysis of the statistical data indicated highly significant main effects of plasma voltage (F(3,44) = 196.55, p < 0.001) and exposure time (F(4,44) = 16.27, p < 0.001). Although the interaction between voltage and exposure time was statistically non-significant (F(12,44) = 1.92, p = 0.058), post-hoc comparisons indicated that the higher voltages (16–19 kV) were consistently superior to the lower voltages (10–13 kV) at all exposure times (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). 7-hour post-treatment Larvae mortality by 7 hours post-treatment is shown in Fig. 4 , the highest voltage (19 kV) induced over 80% mortality across all exposure times. Lower voltages (10 and 13 kV) also showed increased efficacy compared to immediate assessments, though their impact remained significantly weaker than 19 kV. No mortality was observed in the untreated control group. Statistical tests confirmed these results, with plasma voltage (F(3,44) = 136.66, p < 0.001) and exposure time (F(4,44) = 13.51, p < 0.001) having overall main effects on larval mortality. However, the voltage × exposure time interaction was nonsignificant (F(12,44) = 1.01, p = 0.46), indicating that the effect of voltage was consistent regardless of treatment duration. 1-day post-treatment The lethal effects of plasma treatment persisted for 24 hours is shown in Fig. 5 , with mortality rates increasing significantly post-exposure. Notably, 90% of larvae treated with 19 kV plasma for just 1 minute exhibited mortality within 24 hours. Statistical analysis confirmed these results, with a significant effect of voltage (F(3,44) = 136.90, p < 0.001) and exposure time (F(4,44) = 12.78, p < 0.001). The effect of interaction between voltage and exposure time failed to reach the statistical significance criterion (p = 0.095), although its marginal value suggests delayed effects for some combinations. This pattern indicates that while high voltages (19 kV) elicited rapid mortality irrespective of duration, intermediate voltages (10–13 kV) required prolonged exposures (≥ 5 minutes) to elicit equivalent effects, potentially through cumulative oxidative or cellular damage processes. 3-day post-treatment The extended three-day evaluation revealed distinct patterns in plasma treatment efficacy in Fig. 6 . High-voltage applications (16–19 kV) maintained consistently strong lethal effects, demonstrating mortality rates exceeding 70% regardless of exposure duration. In contrast, only half of the larvae treated at 10 kV for the maximum 9-minute exposure period succumbed within this timeframe. Intermediate voltage treatment (13 kV) showed particularly interesting dynamics, where extending the exposure duration from 1 to 3 minutes produced a marked increase in mortality from 35–65%. Statistical analysis of the 72-hour data yielded important insights. While voltage remained the dominant influence (F(3,44) = 105.65, p < 0.001), a hitherto non-significant voltage × exposure time interaction emerged (F(12,44) = 2.08, p = 0.039) that was not observed in earlier assessments. This temporal evolution of treatment effects reflects the buildup of sublethal plasma-induced injury that becomes visible following extended periods. The findings particularly emphasize the rising effectiveness of medium voltages (13–16 kV) on long-term exposure when looking at three-day assessments, as opposed to their relatively narrow performance in acute mortality analysis. This scale-of-time efficacy trend acts to reinforce the need for consideration of both explicit and latent effects of treatment in the optimization of plasma parameters for pest management operations. 10-day post-treatment The 10-day post-treatment observation presented the long-term lethal effect of cold plasma against E. kuehniella larvae in Fig. 7 . Mortality rates peaked at this extended timepoint, demonstrating the treatment's prolonged efficacy. Treatments with high voltages (16–19 kV) caused nearly complete mortality regardless of exposure time, demonstrating their reliability for pest control. Lower voltages (10–13 kV) were also proved to be more efficient compared to the earlier assessments, causing mortality rates of 50–80% in most exposure times. These findings confirm that plasma treatment induces not only immediate lethality but also progressive physiological damage that culminates in complete mortality over time. Statistical comparison of the 10-day data showed voltage still maintained its position as the most important factor (F(3,44) = 90.686, p < 0.001), although effect size fell somewhat compared with earlier timepoints, suggesting possible recovery in some low-voltage treatment groups. Although exposure time remained statistically significant (F(4,44) = 6.103, p = 0.001), its relative importance was lower over the period of assessment. The voltage-time interaction was of marginal significance (p = 0.063), following a time pattern whereby synergistic effects were highest on day 3 (p = 0.039) before gradually falling. These results collectively demonstrate that cold plasma treatment produces lasting insecticidal effects, with voltage intensity being the primary determinant of long-term mortality. 3.3. Pupae mortality Figure 8 reveals pupae mortality percentage among treated and control cases. Control groups showed approximately 33% natural mortality among E. kuehniella pupae, while plasma-treated samples exhibited voltage- and duration-dependent responses, with mortality rates increasing progressively from 30–35% to over 60% as voltage increased from 18 to 24 kV and exposure time extended from 5 to 13 minutes. The most effective combination treatment (24 kV for 13 minutes) caused 65% mortality, an increase of 97% over control levels. The two main effects of voltage (F(3,84) = 141.34, p < 0.001) and exposure time (F(4,84) = 74.08, p < 0.001) were verified by statistical analysis, as was a voltage × exposure time interaction (F(12,84) = 3.02, p = 0.001), indicating that mortality patterns differed in response to specific treatment combinations. Notably, the pupae were more resistant to plasma treatment compared to the larvae, likely due to their physical protection structure and reduced metabolic activity in this life phase. Overall, the findings suggest the necessity of optimizing voltage and exposure time for effective pest control applications across different insect life stages. 3.4. Color changes The results for measured L*, a* , b* components and calculated chromaticity, hue angle, and BI parameters of both plasma-treated and control wheat flour samples are presented in Table 3 . Table 3 color parameters of control and plasma-treated samples. all the data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Sample L* a* b* C* h° BI Treated 84.41 ± 0.75 0.18 ± 0.06 7.28 ± 0.43 7.28 ± 0.43 88.58 ± 0.48 32.52 ± 0.09 control 84.37 ± 0.42 -0.15 ± 0.12 8.27 ± 0.17 8.27 ± 0.17 91.04 ± 0.83 32.69 ± 0.04 Plasma treatment resulted in a slight reduction in chromaticity from 8.27 to 7.28 which indicates a less intense coloration of flour. The hue angle lost some value from 91.04 to 88.58 which reflects yellow-green shift to yellow red. The BI showed a slight reduction of 32.69 to 32.52. The total color difference (ΔE), as a result of plasma treatment, was 1.05 ± 0.83 (mean ± SD), which indicates visible albeit minor changes. 3.5. SEM analysis SEM images presented in Fig. 9 demonstrate that plasma-treated flour particles exhibit rougher surfaces with increased porosity compared to the control, indicating physiochemical etching effects from the plasma treatment. Additionally, particle size reduction and improved particles density were observed. In comparison, the control samples displayed particles as smooth surfaced with uneven distribution. These specific morphological changes may considerably affect the functional properties of the flour, such as the ability to absorb water and the degree of solubility. 3.6. ATR-FTIR spectroscopic characterization The ATR-FTIR spectra of both plasma-treated and control samples are presented in Fig. 10 . ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed significant structural alterations in wheat flour components following DBD air plasma treatment. The significant increase in peak intensity at 1650 cm⁻¹ confirms the new carbonyl groups formation which most likely resulted from amino acid side chain oxidation. In the 1000–1200 cm⁻¹ region, the spectral shifts were associated with the cleavage of glycosidic bonds in starch molecules which resulted in a lower degree of polymerization. The change in peak intensity at 3400 cm⁻¹ which reduced suggested the destruction of the water and macromolecule hydrogen bonds networks, with a further drop in the peaks at 2900 cm⁻¹ suggesting aliphatic groups (CH₂/CH₃) oxidation in lipids and proteins. 4. Discussion The comparative analysis of plasma treatment efficacy across different life stages of E. kuehniella reveals distinct vulnerability patterns and mechanistic responses. Eggs and larvae exhibited the highest sensitivity to plasma exposure, with near-complete inactivation achievable at moderate voltage-time combinations (19 kV, 5–9 min), suggesting that their less developed protective structures and higher metabolic activity facilitate plasma-induced damage. This finding is consistent with (Ziuzina et al., 2021 ) study's results on Tribolium castaneum, where eggs and larvae required shorter treatment times (0.16-1 min) for complete inactivation compared to adults, and aligns with (Los et al., 2020 ) study's observation that larvae of Lasioderma serricorne were the most susceptible stage to plasma treatment. The immediate mortality observed in larvae, particularly at high voltages (19–21 kV), points to rapid physical disruption of cellular membranes by reactive species, while the progressive mortality over 10 days indicates additional cumulative oxidative stress mechanisms. Pupae demonstrated remarkable resistance compared to other stages, requiring substantially higher energy inputs (24 kV, 13 min) for comparable mortality effects. This resilience likely stems from their protective chitinous casing and reduced metabolic activity during diapause, which may limit both direct plasma penetration and subsequent oxidative damage accumulation. These results are in agreement with (Los et al., 2020 ) study where pupae of cigarette beetles showed no mortality after 20 seconds of treatment, and partially consistent with the (Ziuzina et al., 2021 ) study where pupae of T. castaneum required 5 minutes of direct treatment, though our required treatment duration was considerably longer. However, our findings contrast with the (Abd El-Aziz et al., 2014 ) study's results on Plodia interpunctella pupae, which showed mortality with just 20 pulses at short exposure times, possibly due to differences in plasma type and treatment methodology. The significant voltage-time interaction (p = 0.001) for pupae suggests their thicker exoskeleton necessitates combined physical and chemical plasma effects for effective control. The emergence of significant voltage-time interactions at 3 days post-treatment (p = 0.039) of larvae, followed by weakening at 10 days (p = 0.063), indicates that intermediate developmental stages experience complex damage accumulation processes. This delayed mortality pattern in treated larvae aligns with the (Abd El-Aziz et al., 2014 ) study's observation of morphological abnormalities and failed metamorphosis in treated Plodia larvae and pupae, though our study focused on direct mortality rather than developmental disruption. High voltages (16–19 kV) maintained consistent larvae lethality across all timepoints, confirming their reliability for pest control, whereas lower voltages (10–13 kV) showed time-dependent efficacy improvements, suggesting their potential for preventive applications where immediate kill is not required. This voltage-dependent efficacy is consistent with the (Abd El-Aziz et al., 2014 ) study's findings where increased pulse numbers (analogous to higher energy input) resulted in higher mortality rates. These findings collectively underscore that plasma pest control strategies must be life-stage-adapted. Eggs and larvae can be effectively managed with moderate parameters, while pupae require more aggressive treatment. This stage-specific sensitivity pattern is broadly consistent across studies, as demonstrated in (Los et al., 2020 ) and (Ziuzina et al., 2021 ) studies, though the specific energy requirements vary with plasma type and insect species. The dominant role of voltage across all stages suggests it should be prioritized in system design, with exposure time serving as a secondary optimization parameter. The analysis of plasma-treated wheat flour reveals a consistent pattern of structural and functional modifications mediated by synergistic physical and chemical mechanisms of cold plasma. The observed color changes, including reduced chromaticity and hue angle shift toward yellow-red tones, correlate directly with the ATR-FTRIR identified oxidative modifications. The formation of new carbonyl groups (1650 cm⁻¹) and oxidation of aliphatic chains (2900 cm⁻¹) explain the subtle but perceptible color alterations, as these chemical changes affect light absorption and scattering properties of flour components. This oxidative modification mechanism aligns with the (Sheikhi et al., 2021 )study's findings of decreased C-H groups and increased carbonyl formation in plasma-treated materials. The marginal decrease in browning index contrasts with thermal processing outcomes, confirming plasma's unique, non-thermal modification pathway, which is in agreement with the (Sutar et al., 2021 ) study's observation of minimal color profile changes in RF plasma-treated flour. SEM micrographs provide visual evidence supporting the spectroscopic findings. The increased surface roughness and porosity correspond to the ATR-FTIR detected breakdown of starch glycosidic bonds (1000–1200 cm⁻¹) and protein oxidation, demonstrating how plasma-induced etching physically manifests at the microstructural level. These spectral changes are consistent with the (Sheikhi et al., 2021 ) study's report of increased C-O and C-O-C interactions in the same wavenumber region. Simultaneously, the improved particle density observed in SEM aligns with the disruption of hydrogen bonding networks (3400 cm⁻¹), as modified surface chemistry enhances interparticle interactions. This finding corroborates the (Sheikhi et al., 2021 ) study's observation of modified O-H groups following plasma treatment. These interconnected modifications collectively explain the enhanced functional properties - the created micro- and nano-scale surface features from plasma treatment increase accessible hydroxyl groups, while the chemical oxidation introduces more polar moieties, both contributing to improved water absorption capacity. Comprehensive multi-modal analysis demonstrates that cold plasma treatment induces modifications in wheat flour through two distinct mechanistic pathways. First, energetic particles cause surface etching, leading to characteristic micro-roughness on flour particles. Second, Plasma mediates oxidation processes, particularly affecting protein and lipid components through the generation of new functional groups. These synergistic mechanisms collectively contribute to the observed modifications in flour properties following plasma exposure. Unlike conventional processing methods that typically target either physical or chemical properties, plasma treatment simultaneously modifies both aspects, explaining its unique ability to enhance functionality while maintaining minimal visual changes. The minor but measurable color differences (ΔE = 1.05) suggest plasma treatment could be particularly valuable for applications where maintaining natural flour appearance is crucial, while still achieving desired functional improvements. This subtle color modification contrasts with (Zhang et al., 2024 )study's more pronounced color changes in black wheat flour (L* increase from 87.64 to 88.73 and b* increase from 9.77 to 10.29 after 6 minutes of DBD treatment) and (Menkovska et al., 2014 ) study's report of "brightly creamy color" after 30–45 minutes of treatment. However, our results are more aligned with (Chaple et al., 2020 ) study's findings of increased L* values and decreased a* and b* values following DBD plasma treatment of wheat flour and grains, suggesting that treatment parameters and substrate type significantly influence the extent of color modifications. These findings establish cold plasma as a versatile tool for precision modification of flour properties, with the extent of changes finely tunable through process parameter adjustment. 5. Conclusion This study demonstrates that cold plasma treatment is a dual purpose technology not only appropriate for the management of Ephestia kuehniella pests but also for the modification of wheat flour properties. As a pest control agent, its activity was stage-dependent; susceptible eggs and larvae were almost inactivated at 19 kV for 5–9 minutes, while more resistant pupae required a higher treatment of 24 kV for 13 minutes. The mechanism of insect mortality involves both immediate physical damage and cumulative progressive damage. At the same time, the plasma treatment modified the characteristics of the flour by surface etching and chemical oxidation. The findings position cold plasma as a green, residue-free method of integrated pest management and emerging food processing technology. The study concludes that future research should focus on scaling up the technology for industrial use, conducting comprehensive nutritional assessments of the treated flour, and investigating the cellular and molecular pathways of plasma's insecticidal action to optimize its application. Declarations Funding Declaration This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Author Contribution Mohamad sajad Nikouei Fard :Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Supervision, Project administration, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationMahdiyeh Martami: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationMohammad Hossein Mohajer: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationMotahare Monfaredi: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationNajmeh Ebrahimi: Resources, InvestigationHamid Ghomi: Resources, Investigation Data Availability The data sets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. References Abd El-Aziz, M. F., Mahmoud, E. A., & Elaragi, G. M. (2014). Non thermal plasma for control of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of Stored Products Research , 59 , 215-221. Carmona, J., Fabry, A., & Sáenz, C. (2017). Coloring foods from yellow-orange cactus pear. 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GENERATION OF DELECTRIC BARRIER DSCHARGE PLASMLAUSINGA MODULATED VOLTAGE (United States Patent No. US 20170127506A1). U. States. Hubert, J., Stejskal, V., Athanassiou, C. G., & Throne, J. E. (2018). Health hazards associated with arthropod infestation of stored products. Annual review of entomology , 63 (1), 553-573. Karkhanis, R., & Singh, S. (2024). A review: Application of cold plasma in food processing industry. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports , 30 (3), 243-258. Kim, S.-I., Ahn, Y.-J., & Kwon, H.-W. (2012). Toxicity of aromatic plants and their constituents against coleopteran stored products insect pests. New Perspectives in Plant Protection, ed. AR Bandani (London: InTech) , 93-120. Los, A., Ziuzina, D., Van Cleynenbreugel, R., Boehm, D., & Bourke, P. (2020). Assessing the biological safety of atmospheric cold plasma treated wheat using cell and insect models. Foods , 9 (7), 898. Menkovska, M., Mangova, M., & Dimitrov, K. (2014). Effect of cold plasma on wheat flour and bread making quality. Olaniran, A. F., Alike-Peter, M. E., Erinle, O. C., Agaja, F. O., & Faloye, O. R. (2024). Innovative Technologies for Decontamination of Foods. 2024 International Conference on Science, Engineering and Business for Driving Sustainable Development Goals (SEB4SDG), Pathare, P. B., Opara, U. L., & Al-Said, F. A.-J. (2013). Colour measurement and analysis in fresh and processed foods: A review. Food and Bioprocess Technology , 6 (1), 36-60. Reichmuth, C., Hansen, L., Wildey, K., Hamel, D., Pelz, H., Camon, T., Kroos, G., & Pérez, G. (2008). Health risks and safety hazards related to insects and mites in stored products. Guidelines for risk assessment, prevention and management. Council of Europe Public Health Committee. Council of Europe Publishing. Strasbourg Cedex, France . Sheikhi, Z., Hosseini, S. M., Khani, M. R., Farhoodi, M., Abdolmaleki, K., Shokri, B., Shojaee-Aliabadi, S., & Mirmoghtadaie, L. (2021). Treatment of starch films with a glow discharge plasma in air and O2 at low pressure. Food Science and Technology International , 27 (3), 276-285. Sutar, S. A., Thirumdas, R., Chaudhari, B. B., Deshmukh, R. R., & Annapure, U. S. (2021). Effect of cold plasma on insect infestation and keeping quality of stored wheat flour. Journal of Stored Products Research , 92 , 101774. Verschoor, J., Otma, E., Qiu, Y., Van Kruistum, G., & Hoek, J. (2013). Controlled atmosphere temperature treatment: non-chemical (quarantine) pest control in fresh plant products. XI International Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research Conference 1071, Zhang, T., He, L., Zhang, M., & Jiang, H. (2024). Physicochemical characterization and sensory enhancement of cold plasma treated black whole wheat flour. Scientific reports , 14 (1), 24366. Ziuzina, D., Van Cleynenbreugel, R., Tersaruolo, C., & Bourke, P. (2021). Cold plasma for insect pest control: Tribolium castaneum mortality and defense mechanisms in response to treatment. Plasma Processes and Polymers , 18 (10), 2000178. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":122661,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eEnhancedtech-151 DBD plasma system. a) upper electrode. b) lower electrode. c) setup view with dielectric material on the lower electrode. d) discharge zone\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/36124bcc7a345666273d5af4.jpg"},{"id":91990757,"identity":"b4aeb5e5-ca3b-4a75-b0e7-c77a92c096d2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:40:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":74229,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003enumber of emerged adults from treated and control eggs.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"2.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/cb68c3e80d47c32eb74496b4.jpg"},{"id":91989235,"identity":"a6509af1-4cce-46f5-8b96-324f74c8610c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:24:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":57462,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eImmediate larvae mortality percentage.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"3.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/7dc32aa2094752ee65f58509.jpg"},{"id":91989734,"identity":"b4b6eca6-5276-446c-815c-0827876d7aa8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:32:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":62794,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003elarvae mortality percentage after 7 hours.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"4.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/d9d08f29cc40a053de3d6745.jpg"},{"id":91989237,"identity":"d453767b-65fb-45de-8b5b-49099d7dec46","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:24:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":62897,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003elarvae mortality percentage after 1 day.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/e2d3620e80a29698b8cd0bbf.jpg"},{"id":91990758,"identity":"a54980a4-f555-4667-9f45-876bf75f852f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:40:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":74438,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003elarvae mortality percentage after 3 days\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/9d5c054e11a7529a54d9cfb5.jpg"},{"id":91989252,"identity":"e9a876d3-3c48-4c4e-8bd5-e68c292cd143","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:24:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":80433,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003elarvae mortality percentage after 10 days\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"7.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/06c4be5fd49b0ee78173dfe7.jpg"},{"id":91990996,"identity":"45054abb-5e17-4783-a00a-f8f3ab373e68","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:48:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":68056,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003epupae mortality percentage\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"8.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/b5732ac6cda1599683befd48.jpg"},{"id":91989740,"identity":"88bf23af-d3fb-4e9e-9dc6-cd4d175102b9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:32:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":9,"title":"Figure 9","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":226948,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSEM images of treated and control samples. a) and c): control samples. b) and d): treated samples.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"9.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/6c16a252d9dca6b68f4044cc.jpg"},{"id":91989736,"identity":"f1c0e2d5-d507-43c7-b4e6-e1326c896284","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-09-23 12:32:10","extension":"jpg","order_by":10,"title":"Figure 10","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":102552,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eATR-FTIR spectrum of treated and control samples\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"10.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/6461ef57a6f4f00a47f50a1a.jpg"},{"id":100356062,"identity":"2e616e8a-7e50-4fbd-aea4-9f7f90ccef0c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-16 06:46:26","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1943236,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7418183/v1/084edc9e-1a41-4f8b-bead-c8ae1aa7c976.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Assessment of Cold Plasma Treatment Effects at Different Voltages and Exposure Times on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 Mortality (Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae) and Physicochemical Properties of Treated Wheat Flour","fulltext":[{"header":"1. Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe global damages caused by storage pests on the stored crop produce are enormous, degrading both the quality and quantity of stored goods resulting in enormous economic losses and threatening food security. The economic loss is prohibitive, with the losses mounting to over 100\u0026nbsp;billion USD annually, affecting up to one-third of the world's food production. This damage is exacerbated by favorable climatic conditions for pest proliferation and inadequate pest control measures(Kim et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWarehouse pests pose significant health risks to humans include contamination of food products with pest fragments, which can be allergenic or carcinogenic(Hubert et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e) (Reichmuth et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2008\u003c/span\u003e). Also pests can alter storage environments, promoting the growth of harmful fungi and bacteria, some of which produce toxins like aflatoxins(Hubert et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Additionally, pests can act as vectors for pathogens, spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other microorganisms(Hubert et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). These health risks are increased by the usage of pesticides, which can lead to poisonous residues in food products.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePhysical treatment of warehouse pests as an environmental friendly alternative to chemical methods is becoming increasingly accepted, a number of methods, including thermal, cooling, controlled atmosphere, vacuum, gamma irradiation, have been employed to this purpose. Thermal methods include techniques such as infrared heating, microwave heating, and radio frequency heating. While effective, they have several drawbacks. Thermal methods can lead to the degradation of heat-sensitive nutrients and a reduction in product quality (Chiozzi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e; Deng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e) on the other hand high energy requirements make these methods less environmentally friendly and more costly(Olaniran et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCooling methods are not as rapid as thermal methods and may require extended periods to achieve significant pest control(Verschoor et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e) however maintaining low temperatures over long periods can be energy-intensive.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAtmospheric cold plasma (ACP) methods involve modifying the ratio of gases in the storage environment to present conditions that are inhibitory to pest growth. This is generally achieved through the decrease in oxygen level and an increase in carbon dioxide level. ACP methods require highly strict management of gas composition, which in certain cases can be technically challenging and expensive and it may also take quite long before very effective pest control is realized(Navarro et al., 2024; Verschoor et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVacuum treatments use the removal of air from the storage environment to create a hypoxic environment that is not conducive to pest growth but will physically damage some products with fragile structures and may fail against pests deeply embedded within the product(de Sousa et al., 2023; Srivastava \u0026amp; Mishra, 2022).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGamma irradiation is a treatment where ionizing radiation is applied to kill pests and microorganisms. It is a highly effective method used but is extremely costly since it requires special equipment and facilities, and there is some consumer resistance to adopt irradiated foods due to safety and quality concerns(Akhila et al., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAtmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a recent technological advancement in storage pest management and preservation of foods. Because of its unique nature, ACP emerges as an improved choice over typical chemical, biological, and mechanical technology for managing storage pests. Unlike thermal processes, ACP is applied at room temperatures, which is a major plus for thermally sensitive foods. Besides that, ACP does not leave toxic residues on treated surfaces, which eliminates problems against chemical contamination(Jiang et al., 2022; Kaur et al., 2020), this makes it a sustainable alternative to chemical fumigation methods, which can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. The use of ACP conforms to global efforts towards reducing the environmental impact of food processing and storage activities(Jiang et al., 2022). As compared to conventional practices, ACP is an inexpensive and energy saving method of pest control. It eliminates the need for expensive chemical pesticides and reduces energy consumption associated with thermal treatments. The scalability of ACP systems further enhances its economic viability for industrial applications(Karkhanis \u0026amp; Singh, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eACP can be tailored to suit various food commodities and storage conditions. By adjusting parameters such as voltage, treatment time, and gas composition, ACP can be optimized for specific pests and pathogens. Such flexibility renders it a suitable choice for integrated pest management (IPM) strategies(Esmaeili et al., 2021).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eACP acts on a wide range of biological contaminants like bacteria, fungi, mycotoxins, and insects. It is effective through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which are harmful to microorganisms and insects. Studies have demonstrated that ACP can effectively reduce fungal and bacterial counts on grain surfaces and de-toxify mycotoxins to ensure a safe food supply(Kaur et al., 2020; Oliveira et al., 2025).ACP damages fungal cells, inhibiting spore germination and development, which is vital for the prevention of mycotoxin production(Oliveira et al., 2025), efficiently degrades a number of mycotoxins, including aflatoxins and deoxynivalenol, by cleavage of chemical bonds and converting them into less harmful metabolites(Liu et al., 2024) (Murtaza et al., 2024).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. Materials and Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe three developmental stages of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e insect, including the egg, the last instar larva and the pupa, were subjected to plasma treatment and their mortality and inactivation were investigated.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.1. Insect rearing conditions and sample preparation\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe eggs of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e insects were obtained from the Entomology Research Department of the Plant Pests and Diseases Research Institute (PPDRI). They were spread on a prepared substrate consisting of a mixture of wheat flour, wheat bran, and yeast, which had been decontaminated beforehand. The substrate was then covered with black muslin fabric and placed inside a germinator under controlled conditions of 60% relative humidity, a temperature of 27\u0026deg;C, and complete darkness.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.2. Cold Atmospheric pressure DBD plasma\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Enhancedtech-151 dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma system (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e) was utilized to treat all developmental stages (egg, larva, pupa) of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e and wheat flour substrate. The electrical structure of this device is based on a dual-power supply system designed to optimize plasma characteristics. The system consists of a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor with two electrodes separated by a dielectric barrier) a Pyrex container with a diameter of 22 cm, a height of 10 cm, and a thickness of 4 mm and an electrode gap of 3 cm. The electrodes are connected to two distinct power sources:\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLow-Frequency High-Voltage Power Supply that operates at a frequency of approximately 50 Hz and applies a high-voltage sinusoidal signal (0\u0026ndash;24 kV) to the lower electrode, and High-Frequency Modulated Power Supply that applies a high-frequency modulated voltage (typically in the kHz range like 6kHz) to the upper electrode.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe low-frequency component primarily governs the macro-scale breakdown characteristics of the plasma and helps establish a baseline electric field required for initiating the discharge and the modulated high-frequency voltage enhances plasma uniformity by exciting more energetic electron populations, leading to improved ionization efficiency and denser plasma formation. the dielectric barrier prevents arc formation and ensures that the discharge remains in the non-thermal regime, making it ideal for treatment of heat-sensitive materials. Further technical details encompassing voltage-time and current-time characteristic curves, are accessible in (Hamid Reza Ghomi Marzdashty, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.3. DBD plasma treatment of eggs\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor plasma treatment of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e eggs and investigation of the effect of cold DBD plasma on their inactivation, eggs were obtained and mixed with decontaminated wheat flour. The mixture was then placed inside the Pyrex container of the DBD plasma system. Plasma processing of the eggs was conducted at voltages of 13, 16, 19 and 21kV and treatment durations of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 minutes, with five replications for each condition. After plasma treatment, the processed flour and eggs were transferred to ventilated microwave containers covered with muslin fabric and then placed in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27\u0026deg;C temperature and 60% relative humidity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.4. \u003cb\u003eDBD plasma treatment of last-instar larvae\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor plasma treatment of the last-instar larvae of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e and investigation of the effect of cold DBD plasma on larval mortality, ten last-instar larvae were extracted from the insect rearing colony and placed in the Pyrex container containing 100 grams of wheat flour. Before plasma exposure, it was ensured that none of the larvae were on the surface of the flour and directly exposed to the electrical discharge. The larvae were then subjected to DBD plasma treatment. Plasma treatment of the last-instar larvae was conducted at voltages of 10, 13, 16 and 19 kV and treatment durations of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes, with five replications for each condition. After plasma treatment, the treated contents were transferred to ventilated microwave containers covered with muslin fabric and placed in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27\u0026deg;C temperature and 60% relative humidity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.5. DBD plasma treatment of pupae\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDue to the delicate and fragile structure of the pupa, directly extracting an exact number of 10 pupae from the colony could potentially interfere with the experimental results by causing structural damage. Various parts of the pupal body, including the outer chitinous layer, the transforming abdominal region, and the developing wings, are highly vulnerable. Applying pressure to separate the pupae from the colony substrate could harm these sensitive structures and disrupt the metamorphosis process.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTherefore, for the pupal stage of this insect, it was decided to carefully cut portions of the culture substrate that approximately contained ten pupae. During the determination of insect mortality, the total number of processed insects in each experiment was countable. The separated substrates, containing a mixture of flour and \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e pupae, were subjected to DBD plasma treatment. Plasma treatment was conducted at voltages of 18, 20, 22 and 24 kV and treatment durations of 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 minutes, with five replications for each condition. the treated substrate was transferred to ventilated microwave containers lined with muslin fabric and placed in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27\u0026deg;C temperature and 60% relative humidity.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTable 1 presents a comprehensive summary of plasma exposure times and applied voltages across all developmental stages of (eggs, larvae, and pupae) of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cspan dir=\"RTL\"\u003e Applied voltage and exposure time parameters for plasma treatment of each stage.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ctable border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\"\u003e\n \u003ctbody\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStage\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVoltage(kV)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExposure time(min)\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEgg\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e13, 16, 19, 21\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLarva\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e10, 13, 16, 19\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e1, 3, 5, 7, 9\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003ctr\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePupa\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e18, 20, 22, 24\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003ctd valign=\"top\" style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e5, 7, 9, 11, 13\u003c/p\u003e\n \u003c/td\u003e\n \u003c/tr\u003e\n \u003c/tbody\u003e\n\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.6. Determination of adults emergence from eggs\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe flour substrate and treated eggs were maintained in a germinator under controlled conditions of 27\u0026deg;C temperature and 60% relative humidity until the emergence of the final adult insect, and the number of adult insects was counted. Each adult insect was removed from the substrate immediately upon emergence to prevent interference with the growth and development of other insects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.7. Determination of larvae mortality\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMortality of treated larvae was assessed at 0 (immediately), 7 hours, and 1, 3, and 10 days after treatment. Larvae those did not respond to external stimuli were classified as dead .\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.8. Determination of pupae mortality\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince mobility and responsiveness to physical stimuli are minimal during the pupal stage and applying external stimuli may cause damage to the pupae and interfere with experimental results. Therefore, the emergence of adult insects was monitored following plasma treatment of the pupae-containing substrates. Substrates containing \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e pupae were assessed for adult emergence for up to 25 days after treatment. The emerged adults were counted and subsequently removed from the environment to prevent reproduction in the substrate and avoid interference with the development of other insects. The Eq.\u0026nbsp;1 was used to calculate the pupal mortality rate of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e :\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg 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\" style=\"width: 510px; height: 69.7978px;\" width=\"510\" height=\"69.7978\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEquation 1\u003c/b\u003e. calculation formula for mortality percentage of treated pupae.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e2.9. Determination of physiochemical changes of treated flour wheat\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eColor changes\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn order to determine the effect of plasma treatment on the color of treated flour, l*, a*, and b* values were measured in both plasma-treated and control samples according to the CIELAB color model. The l* refers to brightness and ranges from 0 (black) to 100 (white), The a* refers to red-green axis and ranges from \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;60(green) to +\u0026thinsp;60(red), The b* refers to yellow-blue axis and ranges from \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;60(blue) to +\u0026thinsp;60(yellow) (Markovic et al., 2013). Then, the chromaticity (C*), hue angle (h\u0026deg;), and browning index (BI) parameters were calculated using the formulas presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChromaticity describes a color\u0026rsquo;s pure hue. Hue angle represents the dominant color family and ranges from 0\u0026deg; to 360\u0026deg; (0\u0026deg;as red, 90\u0026deg;as yellow, 180\u0026deg;as green, 270\u0026deg;as blue). BI measures browning in wheat flour (0\u0026ndash;30 represents minimal/no browning, 30\u0026ndash;60 represents moderate browning and higher values represent sever browning.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTable 2 Colorimetric parameters with corresponding formulas, where L (lightness), a* (red-green axis), and b* (yellow-blue axis) are CIE LAB color space coordinates.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg 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rYCo39gK2ZpEYGwhUEqp91ORI+QHueCzt1YycJBRDDXIsXjkETlTSvGzlju+OBmNvDIPsF6TJWQF9xsyRBzB91J60vrdGuS7wgorBJdUJ9YwLHB3UaZgblF3aciuUkrtrlpKT37mNXOXerCAk9sIsbmLBV7+pZQwRzDWmA/lBQPB99ZQSnlq/4K45hmymTLCWIO0qwfiTb6Tl6WUegWYTKfkOAWPEUX9yd4dd9wxyOWo/lyHbdMm9asuP1Wm76WUp9xvo+1PnZXPIGPusAGZkY2CQJ43+bUly5+JwJAjkMR/yCEdmgxXXXXVsCmIgGLFJlDbc0Y2WR4QdwK6EUi+I5TIcZPGNVZ0ZNK11rgEjkmllFITdoKW0BPHd8KK0JJO8F3wnfBsvU/guie4LxBq6kMQm5AIUMSZ5VnZrXHFbwKBO3HixKCIIM2ui1tKqY8UVWd5a5fNZiYNk0cpPROL+K1B3Uop9dsA5cmqRcAjz+eff34IrDwwJ4ylVZ4gb8qCPGDivqVyyofJxSSmH3yKL20pPRM37P2Gkos2KgAAEABJREFUp/Sl9OBcSqndtPQjHChkiD0rl6P3TMKuSytPwSTpmpUFE60Jbdtttw11c11Z+g4OMDP5TpkypV5y1/eWn1nOYCbfDIlAIjAyEfAsW9FjOFBD8oaBwHeBPPDJB548Isso+F/84hfr1VP3XCcjS5lZJjayT35kMzlL3pBP5JS0Qikzp3OtCcoXl5HCqrNPhij1IAvVXxzxS+nJx2/BNeWqRyk9CoFrpZRaOWnq1Vwjc31v0vreMfzvYimlPvmNzDM/qUsppSbpzbwoL0HecNZ230sp4U8a85vvgra2/nZNMJeI67tQSk963zsFfWLFmVsQeQ8vfWTu6BQ/ryUCQ41AEv+hRnSI8kPe+BuyClhK5SJDQMiewLQUyrUGubN0SmgQTM19woh7RymlFqTuEWqIIAHX5CUdocXf0CfB1nyWUmpFQFrCU97SItmC303c5n4T1/VSSk3aTSriI/qOJmVV4UKj7oRgKT1LoDY8WSItpcg6lKU+9Y/qP21q8tVm2BDiJhwTBSFvCdj3Kvoz/pmMSinhUxz4qDdXGRYl1pzJkyfXk4OyZaD8pk2+uwZ/CgzXGmWz6jtlyCQiriBfcaURXCulZ4Jzr/mtT0w64lhSt6TtnGuWJvjoJ21WH3sI9J+0lrG5bIlLiVK+fMWVVyk9GOpfqwHchkw0yjLpwE39MiQCicDIRYDxY9999w3uhlYjPcOtSjtLvZVdsseqLdcRzzZ/d60iK8gF8sMn+SDY60M2kGPkofQMCa65Ly2ZzdBABpVSwm/5CaWUWj4zVpBZVhCstlrtlV5ceTZpGTfIdp/qIX/zgRVI8tQ80MR3z+qsPOTlt++llFo2S+93tPxJKzB+uKxcxhqGEW3Sfnkh2PYhaIM8XGu+SyeI61oppS5PvKj+mrjKr37W7SdryfBSSh3XPcpMVH++N6GUHrxKKWHFwX4485k9DNIrT15VsvyXCAw7AuOGvYQ5W8CoLZ0Q40vvOE8bn2wEtRxpOVZg2SmlBLcVJNomIf6cfPMtlfIr52fOv57vIQFNWSBoEFW+53wMfdqMxK3GBlF+4yYWS7As6urBuswyQSBaopQPwktQWarkE29Sct9Ewr+0mUxMRlYv+HrytXz/+98fZ5xxRn3smnKsaiC49iaIy3plhaOUUu9HUA+dyJLEP95EZJWDZZ6PqgmCrz3i/tnPfjbUpxH+0jWB0LbZS5sFFnKuL9oAG5ODuiPJhDUrvpUA5dvABQsTrNUA+StfncSXr3LEN3ly3dFWwpwfqKDOyoA3vEzOJkH9ow3cb+TjZS+f+tSn6rbrNwS/lBLSyFef8sMV154DljZuU9ogL5MO5Ud56kTBcZ9yAz8rAfxQWffcz5AIJAIjFwEylXug/UD83z3vH/rQh8IcwG+e7HNWvHhkFZlBNpFVCCV5SGaTDeQ44wgZxSXTqiJZO3Xq1Hr/FJlHTlph4NpIHnMdkieZ5zcZ5Px+clA+8iZzkOMmLtn/7W9/uwaVG6Z75itzhqAOrk2fPr3eD2VO4uuvTepgH5XTi8hWcoxSYE6xh8CcQdbZF2Vuqgup/iulhDK0V3347JPj//d//1efGgQz1xg+vPiM3IeR/MyXvlfZ1CfWyds8RElQX3JTfc0BVoW12W/YmbfsWWO0odjY7wVr/aEu0osjL3OkNJQ1ePpNVmuHPlOuOmRIBIYbgST+w43wIPMvpcfaTjizpthwREghlwjjpptuWp+SI3s+3azofBndZ4km3AhxAghBtOGIsGJhsVmJxUdcAvbwww8PFvRSSrB6S2tjFpJNKAnIps1QlBCElrWcdUl8Fhubc92Xzm/WH79ZolldWKCQfkRfufxRkW/5uUcxYMG3qYqrCwJsoiulBweCUj7quu2229anRkiLJFNkCHlpnQzBkgSX1qDOrGeIMH9Sfv0mVJMmP30YUUDk7QQd5NgE5T48xUHctc2koW5whB8/V1joI6sb4jg/WvtZwFybMmVKiENRMyGz4tm3oEzk3mbed7/73bXLjvSUPqs+TopQV/loJzcpE7WNaPAwGelL/UeBgCVFrmm7CdweDJM5xc5YcepSJ4yaNGPvM1uUCIxeBMhx8vKTn/xkkKvkMbdJe30QeEEcp8uQSWQXOYPskh9kI+s333KkmtJPVpIr5IXv8rQXCDEm79wjTxB3BhIyUT4MB2Qb+cygQ1aTY+SmfBBtsgkRZtFWPjlInqkTkqwNrpGDVjCVxfCEOJtPlEVWm3/sL1OWuU1+6sLQRW6Sk629ysrP4GV/E7lNTjMOabN48mRp106/yVdyHW7Kcs08Y84iy80JcJNOneCnTG1Wf7ibV+yTsPqqHPFhQda7b74x52kD3Mx58pUfPCZXK8zwgrn6q0OGRGC4EUjiP9wIz0L+pZTaTQcxJIhY/wlJftqIN2HfZO/UHZs5CXublAheQongJYScGoCcl1LqF7kQjvJCpOUvLoGGnBNiBCgy6boJgMBUromFkCbICC/1Up40hCHySnFQpt8mAkKawkFoq4fAcq3uSLENvPKzUZjAJhiVxcplWbaUUhNi+SmHoNR+6d3Xbm1RZ0La9dZQSqktOcpUr2nTptXHkWobYowoy9s9Z2IrW3u1m4sMTFwz+Zr45I2Ia4ey1Z9bllUHQr9RCqSBhwlD/vCCO3x8l1b+Jhp9IL1gIkXUS+npK0qCuCaNUkq97C+OuPCw2qOvYK1tyuS6pZ6wRwSQfcqhOPrCvQyJQCIwehBArMlf80ATrBQ2LWDQILfIHUSSbCYPyDeyi7wg48hvcwcjDVlkziBTuRPJi+whJ6Qls5UpTzKEEUEe5BF569hK8k1cSoRr7suX7CFDfRfki9jLizwkN8k0yoU6aBMizqChHgwa0pGVjB3mGXmTuwxFFBHxmmDeEI9MJB/JVPKd26S5ZFol9xFtxjBpyFX1kD9S7hrjGMVCPuZGBhv1FcxR2tjgIZ2N0dJRHvwWjwKgDmS99sIEXu4pn+IhL4Exx6d6WPmQV4ZEYLgRGDLiz2Iw3JXN/BOBgSJgKdUSNIuOycXy+EDzyPiJQCKQCCQCiUAikAiMVgRaOfqQEf9SStCQLWuxMI6CUL90I+u5xpjFgTWKJYYPp0HPVYrVi4U8+33s9nv2bfZtjoEcAzkGcgzkGFgjeCfYC1RKeUpnGTLiL0ebcLhCcKHIME99nm/iMOdwsBTM55LbC7IvcHMppWTfzDPn+mVkPROJQ/ZHjoEcAzkGcgyMzTHA5a59/8i4GMI//niOmPSGvgxnx9lnn50hMcgxkGMgx0COgRwDI3kMZN1yfI7RMYCT25vTSvWHlPg7ccQGSqezZHhpJAaJQY6BHAM5BnIM5BjIMZBjIMfAnBgDNv3bRD9sxL8141H+PaufCCQCiUAikAgkAsOIABcEL270kkrn42f4UXSDgXcBOPt/GLsmsx7DCAypxX8M45RNSwQSgbkOgWxwIpAIDCcCXo7oxVqnnnpqnHfeeRm6xODcc8+Nn/3sZ8PZNZn3GEZgrif+TnzxVlPnFjsH2NtxvWXP9euvvz68IMqZwN6c6vpoGAtekPXxj388vMXXC0f6qjMBIq4XwvQVr797yvJWWi9AaY3rjb9Oe4Kvc5i9gRGurBVeQHPiiSfGd7/73fBSMpvDr7jiinDfKTxCa16+e3PkZz7zmXDusTOrnYFsb4n8/TaJaH+ntNK3htY46uNcZ3W1A96bKVvjjsbvMHWmv7OnvXVzoG3QH/rVGd/OqG5P37w92Nna3rDpvjRXXXVVSOO58WzpM+MQ3oK3Vzqz2/2LL744nLbkbZzOAm8fP/LMkAgkAmMPATKWLPCSK+8Y8RJDnyMuHH98jLQ6OZZ6s802G3uDIls0WxCYq4n/2WefHV4iwtLgLX6OIrX06G1/3pKIrNx1111x8sknx7e//e0YycT/tttuC+Qdcbrzzjvj9NNPD+RKe/oaSdr52c9+Nu65556noiFxv/3tbwNJe+piL18QvS996UtBMRLFi2F8/v3vfw9EnzKF/Hu74QorrBCXXXZZIO4PP/xwwJzVwgtVvJXRJ8wpW9///vdlM1MdkEREXzxvfLzxxhvDZHHrrbeGt0heeumlgUwiqZaP6wz6+K+UEiae++67rz7lp1FErqqIa3+49ZHtkN+Cif5QP/07kAIoNKecckpceeWVA0kW+hW2XkxmkkHg4ep9CDKi5CH8nglKsnswL6XU/apvjS2K2B133BFNvfU3ZcRL0T72sY/F1KlTa8uV08D+9Kc/hXy8wVMZGRKBRGDsIuA5v+GGG+q9cF7c6OVZ5ECGCdENBk6tG7ujI1s2nAjMlcQfCfne975Xkw6kpLFOetPhPvvsU78lFolGVl/5yleGIyE9ZKXU56AOZ38MOG/knHJCMfnLX/4SpZRQb5ZrJEq9+8pU28Vdaqml6mis5azDSFx9oZf/lCv85Cc/ibPOOiu8+XDdddetCd6vfvWr+p0OdpPL98Mf/nCwxnvjoTcZsvBSphBA+It34IEHBoK63nrrBQXMKgRiX0qp82wIo/7YcccdY8qUKbH++uvX96RBUBFVhJPF3oTSS9Xry+ru5V7f+MY3AqFeYoklwhsbEX736kgj4D91+fe//x0wNFEOpEom0s0337yeRBqFrNv0lCjlWVl561vfWudhdQZmxgbFkpWeIrbrrrvG5ZdfHrD0bL3sZS8LCp/nRv2bsln4KKivetWrQv9SBCk0lJKJEyeG8aCfzzjjjPjXv/7VbVUzXiIw6hEgd6zQsX6TjxRsxhFKv2fId89W01BxKNxkQ3NttH3OmDEjtHODDTao562hqj85QzZZPTaXmQtgO1T5DyQfddFX+pUxRV92m15cRqlrrrmmNjx+9atfDfOlPN3rNp+Mlwi0IzDXEX8PDIJ82mmnBcs2ErnpppuGs06BgziyZG6yySZBGLNoSlNKiX/+858hLVJCILvfXPvPf/5Tu6uwdDf3paVAsGSKJ428CAHXBYJPGuSTcGrS+E3Yq5M0BABSLojv4XcPCWNVRZ6UQciwnqu/pcCGdMlLWuEf//hH3TZ5Tp48ObbaaqvaSuv62WefXRM49/xG/tRTMPGoLwxMOD6VzfquPOcAa1uTx1prrRVemIXIl9KjNG288cbhVeYIvImLRfqWW26JJZdcMpZddtlQ95122im0j+VfW5XFegwHKzSLLrpoaA+sYABXdbNjXl1cU1+fcNRmQZvEE9/EwAWG4qK/5Kdt0oijHdLoV79dl649P9eNA1gpU131o3iuqbN6+m0cyNc16dqD6/JQrn70W93geeGFF9bjT/5NfZr08oeTdNJLI470A51smjxZ4Lx6/vDDD69XUfSPe/rlN7/5TdiMR1nSX4ssskjdbybaZuUIBuogTRPg69QvSh5FjeK20EILBdJv7EyaNCn0/be+9a3gRtSkG5mfWatEYNYR8Ix4dpG7L37xi+FZv+CCC4JhijLtefLMfwq6hBYAABAASURBVOUrX6mff3KKnCdLyC7y0/NONs16bWZfDtrNWEUekCNDVTJZyLhw1VVX1XLFaSZf/vKXw3wPx6Eqp9t8zDMMY9wYyUfys9u05qsf/OAH9ao3jMwJ9kKQjaX0zKfd5pXxEoFWBOY64k/gcA0RfEdOCYdWUJZbbrlgKV1sscVqguweIjN16tTgBoTMInLCcccdV1/jDsHiidDYJ4CQX3LJJcEauttuu8V73/ve4PKCJNLcvVFWIOTde8tb3lJbzj3oLKzK4fuubIKd4BBfXlYmrr322tpaws2G9RUR4+v+hS98IcSVXjzlyYPlQ12E/fffP1gOWF3lyep/0003BQF50kknhQnlfe97X221l4c46gQDExRfeD6PLPLqiNgjb8qBKzcdpFN9ll9+eZefCrBee+214/nPf36teImjDwhsCoiICCDXHRMDlxLCU3u32GKLWHjhhUWZKZgMEVwuRDDWf97YR3DCQZtZ85HYGZWVCTnWh/rnuuuuC24s8GtWR/Rdgw08KD/Gys033xy77757vTIgP25FJhOTM7zgxIVF/8KYggN/fWolyX35UQhmasD/fvCFl6/6IgAwNKasZKgDi3j7BKZe+kT+0grqIP7/sh3UB6u8fpVYn1k9WGaZZWLppZcO9YctpVIdBcRdPxmr0nQKSL48n/WsZ4W2wnzFFVcMK0UTJkyo3a30u/5Eekx0nfLJa4nAWEDAs2vFy0onAwqDxmte85rwwkHPifmH3LPPhtzg4mjFjQwgtxglyBbpzUWjBRPygoslww85Qy4Mtu4wlF+THg4MB4wgcHz1q18dZBfybY5r4g3ZZz8ZIezqaG7Vd+RkpyTimCuae9pkrpo+fXotc82ZVrbN2+eff34TLT8TgUEhMNcRfw8UawmrCcQIBQTG9yYggNwU3HONNQVBR7oRT77mNqASzBtuuGFtnUS2PJQeYASIu8nb3va2WH311YObBuv4AQccENxyLG0iuqz055xzTiCpLDeI3ZlnnlkTS4KRlceqhPJsikWMp0yZEo7y4ipTSomVVlqptpQjUA1ZNXmYUAg67VUXrjYIlk2wiCLCLi8EEdHXxtWrurLsIuvag9wTzMj0mmuuGSYeVvVtt902tttuuyDICCskvsGQVcMeAysoVgFKKSCcKYg7uVppQLyRY/WmfLguIuHIRUgfmRyU7/vKK68c+kacJsCb0oWQckUh6CkA8OCmAgdKyyqrrBJcSOCrHfrAhKPN3FUIVhjIl6sSNxQE1SRrqVg7KXWEMZLtnRX6zqTsu7NyWZooYfrL2KEosM7sscceQRkxQVNkxKGoKEvQR1xr9I+8YGKFQ11de9GLXhTjx48P7eNCgyBIJ+g/G7SNFwqC9Pas2EvR4CneQAOcpYcJDCl9fPKtBMC8Pb9SSq3IWdFov9f8lqe0X/va1+pVJis9Vg8oAZ4H8bRt4sSJ4XmgVLmWIREYiwiQD8cee2yYjxiQdthhhyBnySryi2zyDJIFk6rVMDKFYmyVmky0N4tclM5K9WjBiCylyGxYzZ3kfCnPnCO6aQvZZM4lA5v4DAjm5cYAAT+ymYw1lzbxuv0kryhY3cZvj6dfyDRyk2w2t7XH8ds8Zw5o5GApJaQhCxuZql3mJe3VdukyJAKDQWDcYBKN9jSllCAQovojhAiF6mvHf+6JS7iyTBMsXBYQ+VJK7eJQSglCbLfddquPI0OQkG4PLCLKhQU5Zp1hDSbAkSAFcitqBBMBwf2EcqFMdfOAc39Akvbcc09JajcYdfCDFZYwkR/LLMKtjq7JgwBEsF0zaWy99dbBKs+ST7kRRxvdtzdAOnmpC+LLYo6kf/rTn67dnNRJWygIJix1KOVpwe14NpZa1hZk1f1OAQbqK446a3NrPPXym5BDPFmBS3m6HPcE8bSFssFSz7JiwlR3lnzEG8mHo7ojsISpsqWnBHBVUQ84uPba1742GqVFW0yu7iPTlKYXv/jFdR/IU34w0x75U06sBLDgWW6mCKm7CcAkor6seMaPsgRWKqskykLy1UN5ruk/9RVPm+AkD78FkwGFgvImnklKvZTp/qwG1v3vfOc7NVF/3eteVysgpTyzH9TZJE6Z6qtMeCMuLPpIDhwoscZNk077uD8k8W8Qyc+xhgCFl9uiZ9YcwDBA7ra2k0z2jCCA21bGFnKGPOAGJD0ZS+6R78180Jp+JH4nIxnNGMC4oppnBlpPq43mBCutjGcMbYwH5DQ8zZPTpk2rs0Wk7RtCuhmt6osD+M/qsHlEWWTcAJLWUcliCh7ZTbbXF//3n3vynVGtQiP+5gVzGIOaeYU8ZRBr6k0Wu+63sfC/bPIjERgwAnMd8UcqWFRYiKHloSRIfG8CPzwEqnnQS+kh+NKK47rQ+t2SHqGD2IjngXYfgfPZPKiIjt9NQHp9l590DXHy23WBsCTYWHZZmdWXoEckm3zFK+WZhIzgIzB8sjKLTwiZVEqZOb7y5aPs5jvCysVGPVmlrDZYZZBeXqXMnAcCDAMEVV5NkCdMWMWba918Eo6llHrzVymlYxJ1Q+TVVbnqJSLcWNhZ7adPn+5SfVqNPOsf1X/qVUqp869+1v/0meBefaH6r5RSHzspP6Te5OU+bKvb9T/9YRxQJOADZ5MRQm/FhguYusGvwVdCfSOeellZ0s+URdYdeZZSRAvlCfWP//0nHyRZvRBoCoB8Wuv1v6gD/vAc6G915pevX41fk7U2NnUrpdSbrCmO2txfQcaIuPYtULK0v2lXKaXuC3kL/eU1Mu9nrRKBzggY554hq5H2x0yZMiWQ0s6xo1a0KQWMF55Dst+z48Q0coSLKCI4Wp4V8yr3Raug5HVv7e7rOvmGJHN5YTDgMmiVlRJE5pMv5gRyhfwiC62+w6mvfDvdgyv5PVgjBJcj9UL69WNrGaWU+jQ9ezsYBdWTkYXRkOwl280j+h3hdw9mjFKt+eT3RGCgCIwbaILRHt/DxPLNgk9AIFrIkgdN2xph4RoBg+yUUmr/46j+WGXkgRhWP2v3l1JKLaA9oK65xxJPyMtXfESdoFe2eIK4Pt0XSunJp5Qe8qMseSF1XHVY2N/4xjfWpwyJLz3BpJ7iWso0MbgnlFJqn3gCB7HkF6oeViJYXKRvLb+pr7wIVBOU9iNn3JG4tRBOVgqQP/kqWxvlJbAKU6ooVNw1XBMIP0vTFBi/+wuUFPVBMJFggpwV2zVp9R1sfG/a6nsTtFN50yrLj9UJG0ndE1cwQTR5wYYlTf+IAxMCFw5+l1KC4Kf4cLexQsMSB/smD3FL6ek/6aVzz+oIjKwWIf5WTuwT0C5xBG1j3fHdaoV4NjZbbaEISl9Kj/IJP20TV1B3rk32FCABre10X/+V0lMv9TWW7AuxksKaxQ2MUtSap3SCyVWfw8rkajXFCob+1X4Kh34yMUqPnGivtPCDcyk99fbd+DV5scDJ0yQmPn9m40k6bfUMwqTpD9czJAJjAQEEDtFDVLkgWj30bPTWNs+AgxA8J+KYVzxnXIEYBgTugM3zI86cCmQAyzU53akOnnmuOeaoTTfdtPa97xSPTCFvGFdY9s1XrOBNvmSiedRv+8zMLZQn7lDkXZOnuiDR3FKVR/4197r9LKVnLh5M2qgKUQe4UNLISavtP/rRj2ojTnW7dtNliNROwTxDSSD/3Bek55oLN/u/uOKSk+5lSAQGg8BcR/yBhDRyqREIGefd2y3Pmm5TJRcLpI2gQlK4Ytx88831SQv8v5Em15FgCgIrht+WHOXP8s/CQGCzSrAQW5pFzAghDz+BIC7XEdq+h1q+4vMpN0HIk4uP+74j9sg0QeATMVMWK7PfLCniE4bqxtpAYDpC08TB99sGZRMPn3DCRBzlErTIGqGDoCGE2lpKCSflcDcicC0vE0pItxMZtMHyJEEEM0oC5YSwtnGXnzryyK9d+m233VaSfgNSyopP4UAyfUd69clf//GPuPCSS+LH119fW5p/UvXNVZUwfeDBB5/K94GHH659+v/wxz/G7/7yl/jzX/9a37v9t7+N3/7+9/WRpzHvvPHL3/0urvzBD+KOX/4yLrrssjoOAfz188+PX9x1V71CcMevfhV/+ec/44zzzqv3aPy6yuO+qqwnq9i/ruLcceedcUsV7vvPf+LXv/lN/K4q8/Enn6yynzfWW3/9eMlqq8X3r7kmzj733PjeFVfEzb/4RTzyxBNV6p5/Jm2uYiYHJJw7mA1q+pISwYqu3fpPv7UqWvrPBGkMIuVwo8QYA+65ZiwZB6xf9lMYmyZL44rlzeZyil5PbXr+V47nwziwR0U8exxMXsiH38adVQY++xQbY8S4MFaNMePKuKZcW+lRBrcGe10oKxQJrkrypUwq2cRHmTHOKBiuZUgExgICyKM5guJNpm5akV+ytK+2ke+eq4bQ+jR/IbpveMMbwrNIOehLeWjyN9d5Hs0N3QTPofhkT5NHb59Wc62sMoyQO53ikR3k0eTJk2v/9VLKM6J5/q0Ekn+UBHiRH2QUYxUM1cu8STayfsOCfFHXJkPtI/PMfYxRjTtNc392fZqXtcl8SOYKNhpzGyXH4UYuUmTwBfMo2U1mqyPspcFBuP1oKxwoPe5nSAQGg8BcSfwBRYCy4CIgCBeyzx2DVZwP8kYbbRTIOTLsjHoCFsHygDrxh7D1UHugEV33CSSCifWXbz+rrQcZQV9vvfXCyS8IrIfYQ77LLrsE0kwoOeZSuUgTYo8gs+ogTwQ8f1DCAEESz6Zbwg45cuyizamIOMtxKSUIPBMLwckKbOOnMggR9VY+gksIayvCiJgfdNBB9SkryLa2qr9JRXvUl3XCbxiyVrFAqIc2lVICSUXubA6GA+KIBIpr8zJiKG1fAcGXJ4sYa5albRuW+bKyMv/5Jz+JH06dGs959rPjLdtuG+Ovuy6uOe64eKgi509UpP7Rb387FqjI+hFHHhkbL7ZYPFiR+NWXWCJ23mqrWPa22+L3FQF/5SqrxD4bbxxr3XtvLP33v8fzFl44/viNb8SbFl00lppnnvjxxRfHShVB3+Y5z4kn7rsv5r/77jigurfBkkvG/RWxf+24cbHtfPPFMlXcX0yfHk9WaXesylhthRXin1V9HqyUhMeq9Mr5WFXHtf72t/hRleeNl14aK1WKw8Q77oh45JEaBjjpBycy6ddrr7223tyKTBsDfFb1MSXTBm+KQp2w+k//G3+bbbZZsObrYxuA9aU+YT3feeedA0k3wRgXxg+/YdeMM2OZkldl99Q/dZC3Ppe/NOLqD8TD2PrQhz4UxpPJySoFS5TJjGJLgZHGxKxcljdL7fpU2Xz8PW+UEKdVwEBdKdjGuDHfzVh5qsL5JREY4Qh4Nhh1kD3PpHHeX5U9A8heI3PFL6XU7nCemVKKS10Fz6VnjmGhm+BwCcahVkLdqSDPLaOCk+Os6DEiPVkZPtrjIvKMSquvvvpTK+itcRgv1Avxt9q5++671weOkLyxAAAQAElEQVRfIMlOeCulp63mbnKQ+6FVQ98ZKRi3zL+MbOQRGcRYJj1FAu6t5XXzvWlHKT1ld5OmiYOca7M5HD8wh2255ZZhrmYUc92KjXaSd5Q8+9XIcH2LB+AlFAWymNLEWGIeMC6acvIzERgoAnMt8W+AQoRYowkGwoWFmiuH+xQCpy542FhpHAFpVYBApDQgz8ccc0wgtqwSfOFbBTRrtbQEIks7ouWBdTqQ69Kxpjq1gV+338ifzcGs5OokLiu6OCz6XH64sLD+EnwEBMWEwHRij82lFAz5ywNxo7wQjoS+FQV1J0icZqNMoXnZl7K0lWCCgbZalibAkDYk0XWBtRYpJeC0kWJSSqlf9oTQsQQj/gg74lpK/8KT8gQLAl15SK4yKQ3K+9wZZ9TE/JR1143z9twzzqgmh/Ne9rI4pLK2L1qtADz4sY/FAx/+cDzxkY/Ebi99aZyx/PJxYkXWj1xuuTh3xx3j1EmTYp2KWD9y0UVx7IQJce4aa8T2FZFfviLp36zyOevVr44Tqonpk2uuGeetvXacUX0/pspn4umnx7SVV46zqu8nV0rhwRXx/1Jlzf9wlf9m1QrE0VUZ51Sk//RKudisUhKe+Oxn44FDDolHKrL/qqq8MytF4+tbbx0nbbBBrHz55aGej1IYqpUJWAqULXjrd4oahcckRzGjoJoQ7WEQtwnwccqQPjR+Dz/88PpN08a0cWwcuMfFyHGilALjwoRDIeQrvM466/SsgDSZVp+ObFUPfSG+YOwbXyxtVZRA2PW761aKXFO/XXfdNfS9saxscfSlfjR+jUNtcV1+0lEeTGjGGkWDgun62AvZorkVAUYUSjCC65mjQM8uLBBYc8XEiRODHO02kMPmrL7qSaGxQscqLz5ZYS5oTaPtjGoMQORa673mO+OA+YmBgdHJ9VJ6VpzNpWSM+VUZkyo5XkoJxi6GBEoU90l1ceKRQx0oGWQQ4my1gWIgz06BwiAOJacJVk61Q93NS34LzX2flJ5O+bnWrDpoD9lrHnad66nVCCsj5Ddjmf4gTxlsyGafymwURXOytlCw5GNekFeGRGAwCMz1xH8woM0taVgcCBxv3CWo+GK3TwKsuJQG1gjHkZlgesOnlL6Jv6VoFiOKhEkEcZUXYU/oI7//rYjyBXfeGf+plskf/PjH48FPfCKe3G67KJtsEg9MmxZP/OY3sUC1ajGusvTfP2VKPF4R83F77x0PX3llPFDFjR12iHkq6/hDJ5wQ//3zn2PcoYfG45Xl/oHq92MVOR938MHx8Pe/Hw9961tR9t8/nnzd6+LBisQ/8a9/xfgq/aOPPRYPnnJKPLnaajFPtaLw8DXXxMOVEjHvfvvFkxWpf+Dkk+PxauVhwfe9L2LeeeOhSgkZVxHrUtXloWpV4KGvfCXmqxSW+XfaKR676aZ4sspXG+dEMNEi9nA2kc6JOjRlmqyNI4quSdLE19zLz0RgLCCAXFqxJOfIUkS8r3YhnMgh8tlXvG7ulVLCc24VbiCBJRox7asMzyqyKv/JkycHIxEre2safu1WtykIjAOt93xHohkuyHorAj5dv//+++tjo5HiUmaeP8xF8uM2Ja4AUwY5Log2UDPMTavmBQaP5au5QJxOgZIgDeMeY18TuEYi2wwn7gnNPS7C2mm+6pQn4k/JU0dKiTgMHObSqH743syXVuqtqjdGlep2UNIY7qyeaweDnu9WBNzPkAgMFoFxg02Y6cY+AlYoLJmyHiNkBG17q1keuKcQSj7b7w/kt/xtXHvPe94TL6us761pSylhQnjPYYfFxptvHgtXxH+h44+PhSrCPqGyMC9QEe+FP/OZWOjEE2O+yrK+YCXsF64I+oJHHRXzbbttLHzSSbFIReAn7LFHTHjb28K9havf873+9bHA0UdHnbZKM76auBaqyPvCp50W82+1VUyYMiXEk37elVaKhT70oXBvgQMOiPEbbBALf/rTdV7jN9kkFqgs/MpY8IMfjPGvfW0s/KlPxcKnnhoLvOMdMf/OO9fpFq7yVr/5t9km5n/LW6I8+9mtzZyt35F9q0SN69psLbytMEvhXIdsup9YWSVLmXmSb4uePxOBUYcAMotEs/Sz9PbXAG509towwPQXdzjvN+S0vzI8t1xZtBNRbo3PZYil3qpm6/XmO4WIi5CDHKxGu44Yc1W9u1pBfW0lT+Xrel8B8WdRt5LYhJe85CX1S7DMVb2l5YK7TSWT7cMz1wm+U5LkY2+ea+0BqTdvdcqXK49VBK5azX1tsvKB6GtnX22y/4Oyovwm8EKAY5NffiYCg0Egif9gUBv6NCMyRwKN0OQSQpiW0jsZE4+AK6X3OP01khBEAC3JltI5n8UXXzwmLbdcjF9ooZj35S+PeV/5yiiLLBLlWc+K8ZVlfZ4VV4wy//wxbqmlAvket8QSUSZMiHkqa34dd+GF67jzrr12zPPCF0aMHx/zvOAFMX6ttaJUqwTSzrvqqjEvxaPKR77zvuIVMQ9rUVWnccsuG/OuuWaMe+5zI+aZpyffqh7KKBVhVUYdt7L2zyNuVU55znOiLLBAT31XWy3KggtGVKsM457//CjVZ3+4DNd9y+NcahZUn+EqpMt8J1bYrV1hZQx0mSSjJQKjCgHWXEQO6WcV74tQsxRzV6EoeDaGoqHcCPeoDB/cMLsJ4nIH5SffTfmllNplEEm3QZWPvTbae8Sij/RzU+mUV7MB1p4mLoHicKPhr09R4u5opYT7i5UT94cykIFkIeNSE7gRuWY+8p27UXPPpxUOBF6/dqoLi7+6mzvdh4VVD33P9Vbfup4hEZjdCIyb3QVmeYlAIpAIJAKdEMhrYxkBFucNqlVCq5n84JHhTu1FblnIEWAuNL0Ry05p+7rGOs1ibQ9ON0HcravVU9bwvvJtvcftxp4z7klOs0N+ucpw1XRYQWvc1u+llHpvGLchyj+SzJ/eQQ/2BMCCiwzizAWqNe1wfqdkKI8Sok4DKUt/U9ooetLBxKEJCL99WZQN1zMkArMbgST+sxvxLC8RSAQSgURgrkOglBLefeLkFhZxJ7bwLecjjlgi/E5XQ5SRTRuArcoNFVCs6Y62HEjgd974p3dTD642rOObbrppcGk555xzwuqF08D6yofbC998m59Z/7k3OeFuxowZta87X3/HGyPRQ6UIddOeWYljpYBbjlP0bDq2p8oxpFZbbF7utR2zUmimTQS6QCCJfxcgZZREIBFIBBKBRGBWEeA+6Yhbp145Qe4Tn/hETZBZtp1y5cQryoG9LlxESimzWuRsT8/9xYZax2c6nWyxxRYLbj59VUQcKwz84h3w4CQ4lnEn1/GLnz59ep188cUXDysC9Y8R/p+VHe6L2oPwOw7cOxm0c7S0YYRDnNUbJAJJ/AcJ3GxMlkUlAolAIpAIjBEEkD7uK46u5EpjY+vdd98dG264YXhfC8JIQShl9JF+XVRKqV8s5hhLLj6s/f1Zt0spwRXo+OOPrz8pR1YbrE5wGbK51Wbb3vYIKHc4QikluOT0V/9OZXP1UWd9am8HJcZKiL7tFD+vJQKzC4Ek/rML6SwnEUgEEoFBI5AJxxoCSCx3HqfJeAcMdxdkcSy0s7HWe08IRaaU7pQYPv6UImS7wQHptteh+T07P7kWUUKsNJTSXRva6+ekIkE72u/l70RgTiCQxH9OoJ5lJgKJQCKQCMz1CLD+84sXShkcsRyJIGoXn30v46PgDKSOpZT6zcStaeTX+nt2faeAcNeZlb0WpZShc0+K/EsEZh2BJP6zjmHmkAgkAolAIpAIJAItCFBmHGdZSmm5Orq+llKCa04po7cNowvxrO3sQCCJ/+xAefjKyJwTgUQgEUgEEoFEIBFIBBKBrhBI4t8VTBkpEUgEEoGRikDWKxFIBBKBRCAR6A6BJP7d4ZSxEoFEIBFIBBKBRCARGJkIZK0SgS4RSOLfJVAZLRFIBBKBRCARSAQSgUQgERjNCCTxH82913fd824ikAgkAolAIpAIJAKJQCLwFAJJ/J+CIr8kAolAIjDWEMj2JAKJQCKQCCQCTyOQxP9pLPJbIpAIJAKJQCKQCCQCYwuBbE0i0IJAEv8WMPJrIpAIJAKJQCKQCCQCiUAiMFYRSOI/Vnu273bl3UQgEUgEEoFEIBFIBBKBuQyBJP5zWYdncxOBRCAR6EEg/08EEoFEIBGY2xBI4j+39Xi2NxFIBBKBRCARSAQSAQhkmOsQSOI/13V5NjgRSAQSgUQgEUgEEoFEYG5EIIn/3Njrfbc57yYCiUAikAgkAolAIpAIjEEEkviPwU7NJiUCiUAiMGsIZOpEIBFIBBKBsYhAEv+x2KvZpkQgEUgEEoFEIBFIBGYFgUw7JhFI4j8muzUblQgkAolAIpAIJAKJQCKQCMyMQBL/mfHIX30jkHcTgUQgEUgEEoFEIBFIBEYpAkn8R2nHZbUTgUQgEZgzCGSpiUAikAgkAqMVgST+o7Xnst6JQCKQCCQCiUAikAjMCQSyzFGLQBL/Udt1WfFEIBFIBBKBRCARSAQSgUSgewSS+HePVcbsG4G8mwgkAolAIpAIJAKJQCIwghFI4j+COyerlggkAonA6EIga5sIJAKJQCIwkhFI4j+SeyfrlggkAolAIpAIJAKJwGhCIOs6ohFI4j+iuycrlwgkAolAIpAIJAKJQCKQCAwNAkn8hwbHzKVvBPJuIpAIJAKJQCKQCCQCicAcRiCJ/xzugCw+EUgEEoG5A4FsZSKQCCQCicCcRiCJ/5zugSw/EUgEEoFEIBFIBBKBuQGBbOMcRyCJ/xzvgqxAIpAIJAKJQCKQCCQCiUAiMPwIDCnxv+WWW+Kyyy6L733vexkSg27HQMbLsZJjIMdAjoEcAzkGcgzkGBjiMXDppZfGH//4x5m0iSEl/h/84Adjk002ic022yxDYpBjIMdAjoEcA12OgZwzct7MMZBjIMfAUI+BTTfdNJD/VuY/pMT/LW95S5x44olxwgknZEgMcgzkGMgxkGNgTI0B89snP/nJOOWUU3KuaxnbDS4f//jHh72/P/GJT8Spp54agylLPU8++eTsv5a+G1F8Les15M+PMf+qV72qlffHkBH/J598MjbffPM4+OCD48ADD8yQGOQYyDGQYyDHwJgaAwcccECsscYasdhii4XvOdf1zPWwWGWVVWL77bcf9v5+9atfHfPNN19MmTJlwGWp5+qrrx4rrbRS9l/KpgGPn9H4vOPkL33pSwNHb9j/kBH/UkqUkqGUxKCUIcMgx1RimWMgx8CIGANPPPFE/OhHP4qvfvWr8fDDD9cTaSkp6x566KE4++yz48c//nH897//7dhX4vzjH/+Iv//97/HII490jFNKCRgjKKX0jutCCy0Uv/rVr2qr/Z/+9Keay5TSe/xSnr73+OOPx4QJE+L000+PCy+8MB588MFe61LK0+lKye+lJAaljE4MPCSlFB91GDLiX+eW/yUCiUAiLOPW2QAAEABJREFUkAgkAkOKwJzPDBm988474/zzzw8W42222SbGjcvp8/7774+vfe1rce2118ZGG20UyyyzTMfOuuqqq+K9731v7RHw85//vFaa2iPC+Le//W00ZL79fvObtX6vvfaK//znP/H5z38+/vnPfza3+v2cd9554xWveEXsueee8Z3vfCe+//3v10pcvwkzQiIwhhBIydVLZxJCrDoEW2tg0XjggQfCNYLHp9+PPfZYLznN2mX5qgdLyKzl9HRqVg91Vnft0dan7/b+jaVGEN+n9DDwvTWV+03+Pv1WzqOPPtoababv2sn6In6Tr88msBjNlKDLH3Br8oSjunSZdMRGg9WstAkmsIatfPxubaz+dO/f//53tPZZc9096dWjNV0zrowJWLsnju9jAXftyTD3IWDs/vWvf43jjz8+nve859WblRdZZJG5D4i2FpMNl1xySU2g99lnn1httdVi/PjxbbF6frq39NJLx6233vqUxb/nTtQy5l//+ldNwCkQt912W03qO8mmJs3yyy8fO++8c4h75ZVXBtnT3Ovmk5JiE6XVG6sH3aTJOHMYgSx+yBBI4t8LlAgL36iJEyfGc57znHjuc58bvh911FHxmte8pv7tusC3kfWgnUD1kvWALn/729+urROsJANK2EtkAvLqq6+OddZZp27P+973vjCp9RL9qcvadvTRR8dnP/vZ+Nvf/hannXZajQELj41u7jeRf/e739XWH3hNnjw5fv3rX8eHPvShekNWE6f1E8H80pe+VO8RWXnllWu84frsZz+7ruPiiy8eW2yxRT1htKbr5ruJhoVHXiYnk1U36UZynB/84AfB6qhNb3vb2+pJstv6IjH6Y7311qux5S/bPrZOOumkWHLJJWOJJZaol/DlbdzYFPeCF7ygTmf8sJa514SLLroo1lxzzTrtHnvsUV8W5x3veEe9xF9fyP8SgVGGACWXvGOJfvOb3xzk0ShrwrBU1/Hd5DYC7rnvjfQrHOkne571rGfV8t21Jpg7vvjFL9by/y9/+Ustz97znvfEEUccEVYAmnjtn+aK173udfWc9Oc//7n9dr+/X//619fKir7tN3JGSATGEAJJ/HvpTEuCTg8444wzYtlll61j3XTTTfH+978/kPFDDz209g1kyfDbMaZDvfSLpP7whz+Miy++uLZsIF91RWbhv3nmmadWXLbeeuu6/qy4BHJvWbrnDNjdd9+9Pgv2jW98Yz3xEZqCSdCO8VJ6/MdMjp/5zGfikEMOiXvuuSekO+uss2KrrbYKhBUJ5OsZ//uT9zHHHBPf/OY3g/UIUXzTm95U3502bVqtZOy///5xww031OX+5je/CXWKiDpO+3/umQS+8IUv1LcsC++9997BLxSe9cUR8p8JT7t/8YtfDMhiRfGEifQU1G6bA5s77rgjHLsr7VJLLRXcF6ZOnRq///3v6zpYtr/gggtC4Ldr/MNSWmXqoxe/+MW1L69rTdkXXnhhUAzmn3/+ELzPw8kb6667brzsZS+LfffdN66//vrah7dJk5+JwEhHwEolizLDDiJKIR7pdZ4d9bPqR0YwiDEClNIj/3sr2zxz11131ZtqGRRa49moa55497vfHeY7ysQGG2wQhx9+eLzwhS9sjTrTd+nMR6z/ZJX9AzNF6OeHVZs3vOENtUHJSU2t8qyfpHk7ERjVCIwb1bUfxsqXUuqTA1ieKQFIPYG1wAILxKKLLhqERimlJjksr8jOUFfnl7/8ZQgIKyFrEhqKMrRnwoQJdVal9C2wuW18+ctfDmT6Ax/4QL3ULeF9991XL9u+6EUvqoV5KT35WD0gQF/+8peHSZJlmQ8mkon8IZ4Eu4lAPojm7bffHv/3f/9XY2kiWXDBBWulhHVIeFOlCLA0Wxm47rrr6iVhaTuFZkKyqqEe2rrwwgvX+elDik+ndAO9Ju+BpmmPjwibcFi51K39fm+/TXja5H4pPbj73l9QZ4oZJQxRZ9mnuLGqmTQtt3/961+PidUq14orrhj6UFlIvP429vUNy14pT5erLylzxx13XO3vq79c068TqnHGIuiZMX5M/v3VM+8nAt0jMHwxKcfkLz/yLbfcMtZaa60gT4avxNGRM2OD+Ygs3mGHHYKc76/m3GnMIauuumo9f3L/a9KQS1Yhf/KTn9SnJa2wwgoxY8aMen6x2tLE6/RJJln1ZJwg07gHdYrX27WXvOQlsfbaa9ebfW+88cbeouX1RGBMITBuTLVmGBpD+DfZNqSR8Bea6wQXksNf8LzzzgsChFC0fPmNb3yjtnzLh8XedUuLVgmQoyaPTp+s246NQ3q/+93v1i4zyhIXgZO/wJLuBQ1nnnlmXHPNNYEgiyMg2U4wYHVXt3POOSfaXTvEExBAcaX5wx/+4FKteFhx4C6DvLuoHSzFrPWWeBFGaX7605/WG94oKAi4uEit+KWUoAQ4Co+A5g5EqVD/5z//+U8pD3Bq2ghjv++999769AX5IaoUia985SvBGq1d/EKVaTJRDys1SLV7ylG+tPJyKsfZZ59d95EJTFmw1Hef+9znAj5Op3DPvoLLL788zj333LjiiiuiaSci7J76w1Q6vqbK6BRMYvL49Kc/XZerHhQTR8vpC32r39rTqpcVAfkjH9OnT6+t8tIL7fH7+0250F9WpyZNmlS/bM/4mlCRc4qs9lnVasa5+KWUsCKhrU3+MGu++zSOt91223jlK19ZL+NTFvhCIwXysMz/2te+tl610lbYSpchERjJCHjGWfqthnHxGQ7jzkhuf291M0+Qvwg/V0HPeG9xm+tWbLmI+s1FyHzJuo/Yk2UIPLlk9RgRb4wF5Lo0fQUyzaoDGcu1s10+9ZWWrFp//fWDPDRvtM6dfaXLeyMMgazOgBBI4t8lXMgjkicgl6wTrjXJkTtnvHIrQSwRu7e//e21JZvQQ0q5SRx55JFBwBx22GHBJ5o1v8mj9bMhrJYyuUoQgEgyQSkeMmyzmZemvetd76pJMB921o+bb7653jClnnytWXadqLDbbruF5VQKRSlPW2xLKbUywOWGG8hHPvKR2h9f++QlPksNIq5sZJ4C0xB2Pv7azbXDColVAAoEHLj9UBpYfBFM95Dvu+++u36bHEuxPRKNBVv+TTAxsEB/9KMfra38TnLg5kJpsnrwsY99LOw74IJiMmGVpqSwHpmsTU7cjUwEpZTaikQZgNc73/nO+jQIgl799ZU6c1GSpzarh9WOKVOmBBwpVvpPuVY2uH0h7/rTd8qQNK3BZNfgz7rfxEOAYUtB4kpgPLWmMxnaT6HP9LM2TqnqwXJWSqlXMFrjd/vdCgqSLz6Cr4+5q7HyG2Ms/+7BzGcpJfS38et3p6Dv9DtFkOWNNZBrFSWvIQVcrowBfarPO+WT1xKBkYSA8cz10BnYZN1IqtucrAsDhJUQbjLkSTd1QcjJTMYM8pmxwNxgLiDryAcrKgi4Vd/llluu3odGrvSXv3nJ3juy/Hvf+1598EZ/aVrvc10k/81p2tbIvtY4+T0RGEsIJPHvsjcJJwTtW9/6ViDwCJhrkhMUTgjgl1hKqX3REXL+iaWUYM1gSbUvgMBj8WalsIFJPvJoDwQlgSZPQtF3RBbhV57Nnci8dMgVwurVzIgmJQSxJszsT7DqgMzKwwtWLFs3dZeWQEb2ETZkHSmm4BCiSB8Le0MWlWdCpMxol/vaUEoJKxNI4K677hrcn5BbpB5pFlfaxmrGumxlhCIjbyTU/dbAKsTibemXGwkizFqMrFKckHyEGIFmlbYaQFFaYYUVAm76iSVIG2GmLFboHXfcsT6Pm3KgP7ivUAa0172f/exn9Z4Cdea2wuUFWZWeEmJ/BExPOOGEeOtb31ofKUfxsFpg8mnaoK5wdN0mavUx8SHHlBgWM5hRJPSfOjZpKQTIs+vayWJuFQbu6tzEG+ynsownE61xYoItpdQrNtHyV0oJ7RC/5XLHr8aFlQ846Q/jyPiQFsZIgna1rh50zCgvJgIjAAFHdzImbLfddrUb4gio0hyvAldN8wRXQMS/mwqZP8wRlCfzz0477VSTevMa+Wj+kQ85zerPAl9KcalrAweD0uTJk2u5TebUiQfwH+MUA9tVV10VVnoGkDSjJgKjDoEk/l12Gb9mxJMFmOUXIXStNTlC6jeig5w15Bqpbcg4IWcTJGLEqtxYpKVrAvLIVYV7B8JLaVAWMs8qwfqqDBbaUkrti22DU/NbeU1eTbyGvInjeylPC1blIWyllLCqwKJOeBLWDUmTjzy1kZ92Q5q5cay88sr1MW6WaVl1kX6KBGJpBQHZL6WnPHkIyqSkqIu8Bddbg9ULqxbw9r2UUvuf77fffiFw8VFXadRTuwV5Cq63BpZt7ijwcx2ZZ12iQNljoH/lqe+alRjftdlEZ7OZScvkBQN5UBKsdJjc9BM/VtcF6VzTd1wGYKHNLF7qa6IzRpSl/aU8jRGSbHWGssjNSP+Io+7SyH+wQT4USwqoFQWrOaWU2n+ZEtaar7LsbdGHrdc7fbdE7/Xg06ZNC+ORkmycyEOZ0phUjUHfMyQCw4vA4HP3nHK/Y3RgvCjl6Wdz8LmO7pTkGXdOBgjGI+583bSIAYdcZDAhg0vpwZJhhXxgKOgmn/7icDekqHGf7C9u+31KCeOdedk8234/fycCYwmBJP4D6M2GTCIyQntShBfBEUopM1lPEdKo/lg+ES1kEzFiTa4uz/QPmWTttWqAqPq03FxKqd8aSbgpo0mkLkLz2z2WZCQecWVdpmw4YYWrCoErThMfAS2lhDqyACuPgkOQltIjpON/f4Q04YiYOuXCpIiU8t8n1P8Xrd8P5fMv52PZW2QTTfs9fWD53VGrrE8Ipjg2dcnT996C+604lVLq02lYsKwgwMpkhpgi2E0+0lnJUHZzzeqJ71xkbJZF/q2qNPsg3BOQfmVajYAntx9k3lhxXyildLRscXPi3oOEsMiLq53y810opXNa9zoFbaHUUagoO80xqfY16FNKXClP52lMWLkyHjvl136N4sc/FybKokg040tc1wTfMyQCIxUBe3so6FYO25/pkVrn4a6X1TqGEW44ZFm35VmRJVPNe63ynmGJHCUju82rr3jmLnLaauxAZQwZZQWCYa7d7bKvMvPeKEAgq/gMBJL4PwOSmS80xMVVPuo+Ca/mO8GFSJdSauJMgLjPossy4jdrKcu4M+9ZOFiZLR8TiIRpKSWaPy4wCK1lS+RJPBvLWJuRLxZ/whcJVa50ylNPdSml1NZ35Qp80FmyuczYU8ByjcwRtqWUegkbeeXnqM6UChZtgpPlg7BWXxZ611i2EW9prHrwCaeomAy4ytj4pU69BYRavVhYuOFog7wbkq9e8JKekuRTuT4FmPKTJ5wtCXNlcl0+PlnPfSLHNj2bXORZSqkt2vL0WxyY2UvBfQfx5baDuJbSg4s4880/f50OZk29kPCmXHWzwc0LYazqmDikE+my4g4AABAASURBVKQxmWif71yxKEgwhDVFQ11gaMlbmiawWnEBYpnn5qOP3TPu4Nf81ufGlDdRUsL40FtlcNRq+1K8usLZeOBfSwlUb6sY0uhnrk7ckeConix1LGGs/sovpTw1zuEHZ+5Hxox3NRjPytAmLkTGfCmlPptbfhQg+EX+JQIjGAHy0vPimfKMjuCqzraqkW3kpJNwuCl2W7CVbc+81ZPWNFYCzGmNXG29N5jvjCn2CZCdViYGmoc5mpwjQ60GDzR9xk8ERgsC40ZLRWd3PRFrp6mwarNWIKos4fy1XWMRZwlCjPiHI/H8y00ULLXcHVjdCTWkDlFEjPgi2qzJ1xwJJRCbtiGDLMJIGesxFw8kirBVHtKE4LovDxtV5UvQsYAjsay2fMIRXhue1NfqAsWBEiEe9xh5qh+yjjiyQm+++eb1hmPWHMLPfXsJKAXKQPL4cXPXQHYJbd/VycZWdYFJ0572T3FtCmNFM3kgwtqE3Gr73+69N/bffff4wTXXxPMXXzxOOe64OGHq1PjjPffEkw8+GI//9rcx/r//rV8L/+8//zlOP/74uPdPf4rlll46vn766XHHTTfFhhtuGKutuGLM+OlP49qrrorHHn00LvrqV+NZjzwSP7/55njXIYfEbT/4QSy7yCJx7Ac/GPf99a+x1Hzzxf3V56Hvelcs+MQT8dwqXHn55XFTlcf3L7gg/vmHP8Sf/vjH+MrnPx8P3313jK/yZNV+1377xc+qeLu++c1x8AEHxPOqfJZ61rMiHn+8bjqyj1Tb+ExZYl3Xr8g6RWmXXXapoj5er+JQsOpE//sPqTYJIR+OwUSg4atvBasU8oCn31yPKFWIN4u+icu+A/sKHq3qK1t5GZuCcWIiN371C4WwlBL6ntLAlcpmda5ASL2+d4qS+lt1sPJjj4pr8rrvvvvql7rBxb4EeRhzxoZyTfL62HWrKuqTIREYiQgweJBnVrrGylhlZEDAzUWeT8/iQLD3DFsBYcSwylrK08aqvvIhJ8gi1njEWlx5MRC5zsDF2OL6rAbWfvOS+dr+soHmZ76zws5ARq4ONH3GTwRGCwLjRktFZ3c9WVWdIIPAIzdINus5P2bkBonne+6IRtZWQk18Lh/82206dd9JMXvssUf9FlTET/xjjz02uN8gfq3En5LAD1J6RBzhLqUEoYmIqYc8kS9WWD7g6iU/L0D51Kc+FcpTNmGKzBGyLLj2EiB5/O655iBl8tIOm5psNqZMcAlyOhAXE+UK22yzTVBsKBPyPOmkk0IZpZT6CEf5qBMLvjZ06ivkE0FFRik98GK1hg1XlptvuSUWrAjqWytifcJhh8VZBx8cx1YEev1KCVjkrrviv1/7WjzwznfGot/9bhy9005x+uqrxz6//GW8c9VV46yDDoojH344Fj355Fjs73+Po9ZYIz5ekfBt/vGPmBQRh4wbF59bdtk4oSLou622WnygsuKfueaacfBee8ULr78+jnzooTi9Unr22XXXOLSKe8YKK8T+G2wQS1bl7lCR/9Ne/vL49PveF6tVisXDhx4aj3zjG/G8f/4zDrz//vjkUkvFIZWyMWXSpFj1rLPiyU9/Oh6v0kWlPJRSaiWFoqjfbXalPNpIRuk76KCD6tOYfOrrqqpP/TMJ6VfjST/bHKyv9Zu+omz6bYMxf1ufLPn2Wbj/4Q9/uN7gTPloMi2l1P3FD19aQd99/OMfD+nEMx733Xff4Ppk7Osf1zwPJlXuQcqRjmJpzFNArE44ptYzYj+GsU5xkadJ3qY5ZViFKKU70iBthkRgeBDoPVcEl/K8WiUrGHx6jzl67iD6SLsVZavGFIGB1J7ibw4gCxgpSunuGSbjyTrzQrNyQhkge8gpm3ndH0hdeotLRlmJMPc53trc11vcTtfV1VzI2MaI1ilOXksExgICSfx76UVChIBDsDesiB3LBAs1H2i+8htvvHG4xlWCKwbLNTcMpI5Vk1WbkiAtwsPy2dxHfuRLSJXytAAlGB2BKG95sPKqB6sTtxZ5CfJWjnLVwaf7Pt1XLqssko3AcWVB9lj+5Yt0I+niCvJHELVN2Sz/Vi5KKfWJRDvuuGO4x8XGBCIta5i6IXcwQACtAJTydHsaaAlgkw3yKy0LMqu3+5QK+Jx5xhnxQEX8X7vllrHu7bfHWjfcEBu//vXxsiWWiHLqqfFwRajnrfrhicp6v3RFvF+z0EKxbkXkV/jOd+JVVdz1q7gL/+pX8dgJJ8SKt94aG7zxjbHUt74V85x5Zqy54IKxXkX015w+PdasiPxrKsVg7SefjLVvvDHmv+iiWKWa4Nf5/e9jnereCpXiIO5Lr7suFqpWEVZZbrlYb+LEOu6SF14Y8y6zTDz85S/Hgx/6UCzy61/HhlW561VKyxpXXx0LV/k89re/xaOXXRZPVkqB9pVSAt4w0ufaz0LuHnKvL10zPlxrgrFgX4f+0if6Q/8ae7DnMtT0vb4xHsTlriMtZQp5QdYbrEspYbldPGkF9TJeTJZN2Yh8M0Yb4lNKCXWQVhrB8+AZMWGuXili7rlmTDVtVA9KgvFl/GlzU05+ji0ErJJadfLZV8sQP6uMyBWXMESrr/iz+x5FVTuM6dbnYnbXYyjL0w7PPtlhHhpo3og/90r7spZffvmOe5I65Un2kBHmAP1tRZIRwDGejAiTJk3qOq9O+bdf4+6jPKsbVhTa7/f3e8kllwyyi8VfXfuLP5bv63PPpufZqvBoaav68kww3vqVL6OlUUNczyT+QwzoSMmOWwg3E1Zm5JoFliWXFYvVudt6llLq40mRdkTU6TSsRt2mF8+Kg/ORrXCwRJuEXBcWX3zxOPLII2OnHXaIIyoyPb6yNj/6s5/F45UFf76pU2O+Aw6IJ+69N8ZXBHvByto+3847B5efeffcM+Y76qiIF70onhCXm85HPxqs7WX11WP+Kk9pH7niihi/994x37Rp8eT48fF4ldd8RxwRwsOnnVbnO391b56NNgq/pRt/+OF1vJgwIeavVmek/29F5uc/8MBY6JhjYt5XvrIuZ4GPfCTmq+qkfPWYcMghseC73x3jKmUhqtUK7ZvdgdC7rlJarP44ftbydylldlfjqfJYCY2Xk6pVIhvZKYtP3cwvYwYBE6xxxzceaUIYOjUOgeBeyI3Mqia3RQpqp7hz6poVUQRw0qRJQ0pK51R7lIuAI/wUcL8HGqzYepa5qrbK727ysUK+2GKLhbmD+yprPIs/f3z16iaPbuMwQiiL4ka5pHB0m1a8paoVXHMSo5kx7drcGhj57De8/PLLg3uouWUgWIjPAGmlySdFoq/0ZAb5QOEy3jrFlYe+VTdx/W6NJ51jwqdVc7qVcu/omTFjRmuU/F4hkMS/AmEs/mN9d3wk32sPneA7/87Btpc7zzve8Y76SM2B5EGYcgvhEiVdKU8T0VJKWOo1OZxeEfFxlUV90cpSv+gFF8S4F7wg5l1nnXhWRd4X+sAHopqFY4GKfD/rmmti/q22irLwwrFIZZVftLLEj1t22Ri/3nox8Yc/jIXe//4oz352LHDQQfHsyho/36abxjyVgiDPRasVgnlWWinm22STeM4998QClRIwrhL2Pp9zzz319XlXXjnEE1866eWjbPnKXznKQ/KVrx7jnvOckNd8W2wRpfoec+DPRGr53FGEc6D4ZxRptYLwZYl7xs28MGYQsJmSiyK3Npv9OxEukzJl1AZ9LmxOlkL+vNcCORgJYHCHRBQQf5bfbuuEiHCf6dTubvMYqfG0CYm2OX+RRRaJgSrviLi5iIy3ussIYDV7ONqrfiz+yKNDB9qJYV9lllLCaqcVWkosq3Ff8cf6Pdgh/dx67Q3s9hk1XowVc9BXqxV6pwtyD+XqS8l3vxU75RhflEJxKBn2xInrnrjSUMTsPbRvzclN3rOB5HvuxKE4WEmS3r44bs1WwsVl/RcnQw8CSfx7cMj/E4FEIBFIBAaJAAVP4MqFPHWyLJuYEWvujIg1JdWeIX7jVgUHWfSQJUMukP677rorrJgOhPgjJIiiPIasQn1khOxQsKywOKyhPTgq+rJqldLeroY89ZFdn7dslkWE+elzFdJvfSbo5SYDENfBgSoOvWTX8TKXSSepGWsOjRhofxi3LP5wQzw7FjKXXHRyn8MdnN4Hz26bzcUK4fc82H9mzyB30k9+8pOBkFMKmrwYJBF+ioHrXFh5BhjPNqIzVoprvCPyDAcOBhHH59lnnx28CawuUEwcWDF58uR6T6V0jGDGq5ULvzP0IJDEvweH/D8RSAQSgURgkAiUUsLkitzZ91PK06t6TZYIKLcvk3jrNZN/67Xm3pz4RD6QDe1gPe62Dqyb0g4nqW2vC8zsl+gtcIVAiNrTDfS3lRruT9xo7AdDpAaah/illGrRtvg6rIErkhVvLmeDaT9lVD9SRrV9WCs7wjPnHmYFZCDVdCKWF48i4ZR6WLK8c51jjaf8N/l5JxA3YmPKwSbGl3viULzgT3mz74YyYIWQ8mkfG+LPyECh8MxKJyjPpyBfq3GeBb8HFMZw5CT+Y7hzs2mJQCKQCMwOBBAsxN+kbLLvVKbJ2sZQ79dwvOu9994bLMl8dqXrlGZ2X1MXhJovu/0x3ZQvPqsl4t9ffCSmvzjd3EfCuc14xwsXmvbASmtvF2LUEKFSSv1OEr+l76YccVh7bZZl8bdSwyru+kgN2kb5pGQKA8Wc0rfgggsG8kmpGqntnF31Gih+sLNiRqFv6oiAW0FriLzrCLn9Hki70+MoGaWU0H82ftuLSJZ4vijW4nku5SU9eeJkKO4+VhcofMY7dx8yRv9xJ7RiZWO7NBl6EBjX85H/JwKJQD8I5O1EIBHoBQEnvph8TcyIoSMxbQZFhln6JTNRO5mKRVV8/sNIhROkTPrizOmAjCD/3Vj7KTuswo6xtceBewgMEA5kuWmL9nND8C4UbglcUPzW9iYOcoJcw8x7BNSBTzOrtevqJZ8m/kA/5cePmnLmpK2rr746uDUhYv3lpZ7Il/7j/kFx6C/NnLyPGKqntg3G0mv8ygPpl8fsbou+No6ssrCIa4M9C34bG+plLBgzxpwxI57r+qq1vn5LL51njnsYS3yndjVxKeTieYaNm9b8uvnO1YrrDnecZqwg7cbf6quv/tQeQb/JAMYAioJ6aoNP7jos+sac31dddVUg9vq1lJ5VI3lzHSM7kH11JVu4FVEGHCLA7ciLUJ1I103d55Y4Sfznlp7OdiYCiUAiMEwI8HFnqTNJI7bIxfXXXx9OlzLpN8Xa5M067ZhZk7Gjg500hmw1cXr7RD6RnYEEBAeh6S3P9usIu7ogHO33en4//T+SgnQh89IhGyyYSDU3hSamjYWuIdysoRQA709B2pq6IXZeHMVF4txzzw3x5Y0Eiu9IZvkgfE2+A/mUTl5cKaZMmRLqi1xSXvrLRx21FdFCiPuLP6fvqyOCqI36f6D1ofQZy/AaTPqBltfRRVeoAAAQAElEQVQen8Jnf8YxxxwT3GAoazYqI7HGl43xlDbv1UH4PRdcaGySN8aa/PSb31/72teCxdyYlvfnPve5QKQ9R01cn1ZH7A0R39g0ho1D46SUHrItXn/BypBnG5mHn7EjX/VnxbfZWx6MAsrwWxu58ihbOxwAII6gnpQe+zfk7ZpQSgmkX39bQSR7rCo4NhvZt8mbrKEIlNJ9/eU91kMS/7Hew9m+RCARSASGGQEWwmZp33K7o1stwyP/JnXEs6lCKSW8sM4mX4pAKf1Pykjc5z//+UB6ug2OCnU6CEtgU3Zfn4gSkoJIIbl9xXUPifemVy41CIj2epeFd6ognuLIE4mjFDgOmXuO91y45sV5iJl4rJk2QrJgIkB8mq2eIC/SIUQ2N3bbFnm2BqQJ5ptuumk41tlGbH3USqRa47d+hz3rLIVIPq33RuJ3RBD+DenUBwOpJxcvuCD+xsJA0g5FXMqZMeKZufbaa4Ol3hgwvljHHYvqZZvaRWlmRWcdP+ecc2qFsakzYu2FnEi0967obyTYOKN4UgaauBRAb4OnEIhjk628uchQMkrp/xltbzuFwYk+TgTyJmWn+nmHD2zVnXHA2PIMWJFoyvUMOoqT4itPcSgsnjG/20MpJSjO4rnn2fXs2FfA5auUgdddPn2GUX4zif8o78CsfiKQCCQCcxIBrgGs0jbeseA7qtHmStY35IM7DBIzq3WUH2LcbeCr7YV2SEY3ZSOKyAjLKItvf2kQTNZKp8CUUuqTRJxqpH4NQS6lBJcJp5yw0JbSE49V0r6AZjVEeUgdKylXIURu0qRJtUWTn7M87YdoiFp/dWu/X0oJhEu9ECifCC6S1B63/Tf8YFNKGdDmXOmGMrTXq6/f+oYFGGFUh77itt9rtfgPFu/2PAfyW/8YR8YClzDPlTFG0XTNfcq0erpu7HjuEF9uYfpKmymbN910U0hv/OhrzyVrPIWS8uDZVTeuat6t4EWcCDNFVFzliT+Y59fzZw+KF38ay54B9Vae/LTNKoBnwIspGQwQ9v322y8ovtyFyA7xtU39Syl+PiPIg/LyjBt5oSMC4zpezYuJQCIwEAQybiIwVyKAYHjZEaud5XVEARCum7SRL8S1lM4TtrjdBJM+cuPkj26DlxayWiK53ZShzgiJsrqJL440gu+9BS9RZPlEhO66667gRqEMrhXNKklrWqSPwtJcE5fSo279ldWkGcpPpIsygmCqSzd5I5/8rrmV2AMxK0EeXFnUo5uykX54wWowmGmj1Q2WZ+3opszhiKMdlGgEv8kf6dcPFE5kvrmuvr4bT3CyMvTjH/+4fueCPNxrgvZZldKnVnLE5zLkt7HnfhO3lBIU4eb3QD7lo75WMKZOnVofkevFfVYH5aN/xFG/1jZqnxUOG3Q9L+K4rz/0p7TtgRLbYNB+L38/E4Ek/s/EJK8kAolAIpAIdIGAyZv/rSV1lkFkRTKE38SNSHAxmdVJuZSnFYdSSm15LqX/T3UppfjoN5RSQj0RIe2KAf/1JEBOtL/nV9SnlPBl5krB5YE/MmKmDKGJ59NvJAb58bsJ6lVKd+1o0gzVpzrJS7t8dhNKKTVhRBpnNRhT2t9NueKIS9krpdTEt5SB4QZ7ZDOqv1IGlrZKMmT/SunBsJSZ61BKqccpXKLlTz8JLlmpoGCWUuqTnFxrDfAxRrnxGIv2j+gnRL01nu8D6Xfls+Rz85G2CcpD5ikXlDjxKGdWMaxaNPGaT65a3HcoMtpJefBcNvebT3WTF/mj/s31/OwbgST+feOTdxOBRCARSAR6QQDBcPIM14HWCZw12xs2X/aylwU/fuRiVqynJng+yTY3yrfbwN3B5sBeqj/TZWQP6WNZnJW68g3nOiFzLgheMmRfAneHnXbaKbg1sNaWUmoFBoaC+CMxwIXbB0w6ka9OdUa+9f0OO+wQO+644ywHJz/Js1NZ7de4fCCNiCDC2X6/v99N/2uzPPqLP5z3kdpO+bsudLrnmnp7HmEhuNYakP5SSrCki4uA61vPWWs830spProKnntv1D3xxBPrla3WOiLzyuJ+pBxywe9O9TPmSikhPRc1RgXPiHRNRdzzrLnuvjY09+bo5ygoPIn/KOikrGIikAgkAiMNARMvdx5+u1xqGvcU1/kaC1wK+Pl7qQ+yMdg2mPBZJ7kJ2PTns78gnnIRuW7KLaXUVmoECMntJo04yAui4ruAdDrlyHensdhkzG8aCUbGEBSEBU7KYW3lciH+SAwIN5KmD7pVokop9f4EvuJDEayCdIsNImnM6RdYl9I9cVWGcYpMqjfS6dpIDKXM3K5SSq1IqiuFZ+WVV643vcLCtdZAWWcltxpH2bW/RN9amWqN57t+99lNYNHn1maDuj0txniTTj5+K7eUEuQF9zdugk2c5pOln5WfsqAPnALmmtWEJo7n1LPj08ZlbW7u5WffCCTx7xufvJsIzCoCmT4RGJMImMRtwmPVZvFvJl5Em/uPid3GQptbbSJkXRwsEJb799577+ArPG3atPrT976CeLvvvnu94tBNuQgusocwIindpCmlBNLEOow0IYwCH2zpkSl159YAL4FigJxSFpBMxAehca+3ct0TV56zO5RSAgFDsLRtdpc/0PJgaAzqx8EQf+0UtBnpHGj5QxVfnxs/2tPk6bu6NZ/NdePJdZ/SlVLCCVL8550K1Iwd6TyPTu/ZbrvtwsqTPMTdYIMNgjWeUuqafCgNFPtSSrjumnu9Bc+8vT7yXmeddWpXK3HViyJuzNt741nz3DgRywZsz4B4gu8OC3DylBf7UUycciStU46aMejTypoNyeJJm6E7BJL4d4dTxkoEEoFEIBFoQQCJcFQgK7ZJvLllonY6x9JLLx0mauSBm0sppYkyYj/VHWFsiFJ/FS2lhNNIdt1113BWuTeF2tTKQiktdxcn+Nx+++3hGEauR8iVlxtZBXDcKCspK6g9ABQm7hK+2zRtP4CjP502RHn65je/GTY89kfAlD1UAeFi8UfekD/9PlR5D0c+sEGY9SOFbKBlSItES6/tA00/q/GtbHFp8+nUG99Zz/nNG0OeJ98dbyuOTbxf/vKXw+qRMcPaThl3FOc+++wTxpd3QzTuccapY2e5nTUrKfbiHHLIIUF5v/DCC8MxvJQDn/qcIsV9x/OsnN7aSBYg8xSKK6+8MjwLFAfPhbHtHH9lw5VSZqO+l2452lZcgVuco0s9U40Czfr/1re+NTw/FBlKtnZ7Tm2ep1j3Vqe8/kwExj3zUl5JBBKBRCARSAT6RoDVjrXt6KOPrk/saGIjTM7kPvzww8OE7ZzxVsWgiTcSPxFFVt6+yE17veHg3HHEBFHhPoF0icfiethhh4WVB+QeQaEEue8FTd5kTDlgXUaWkJ2jjjoquE4hZerjpCT5f+ADHwiWTeRM3rMraB8lDqEeCC6zq37t5SCD3MyMQ+SylIEpnJRZKzBWqCiC7fkP92/9i0C//e1vjw9+8INhU6x2qIuVtSOOOCLe85731CtN4hpTFG1xpaGIanspJZzH74Vtjoe1msUiz5J+0EEHhT5FwLWnlBLcZYw/b95Vlnxd83x/4hOfqPOiADZppOsUKBFenAU/yiriLz/HdFJEXG/SkQt77bVXWB1A5mHv3RjayFWpieeZtFdEvhQzyjMFlAItvjHaxB3RnyOkckn8R0hHZDUSgUQgERhNCJRSgrUOuUBQW+tuckdqWe4Q3dEyMSM2CJK9CwhGa5v6+o7wezGSI0e1GfESv5QSiJANvdwp4IXswAPh92IlpA1+4tjEylXCi7bEQ+KsHrgmcMdYcskln/LlVsZwB3XVPhu0WZpZ/oezTISOkjHYMljrWbwpTojxQPPR9yzcSPJg0g+0vPb4lGVjxUqRPvccGUP6YPLkyWGMsZS/7nWvqxVrBNl1LjSu21djPMkXSTfmjBtKOoWcIu70nlJmVohKKbUCzz1PHCtSlADfEXYrBDbRGg/y7i24T4k1nrnoKFdaY1sbSnm63FJKrYB4dsSllBj70qt7axkUEbhQEigk8qcgUwpa4+X3/hFI4t8/RhkjERguBDLfRCARGEEIIHuCc8251wy0aqWU2UrKB1q/wcS3R4GlmSKE+CPWg8mnrzSIPsVCuOiii4I7Bx9u1vuBlCcflmMbQSlU6t5XuZ3u8TFvyGujwHWKl9f6RgBxR9atdPWHYyklKNwUb+n6ytnqB8VgTihlfdVrNN1L4j+aeivrmggkAolAIjAsCJRS6s2OSIVTdvjaD0tBz8h0ZF/gpsG6ioDzFx8Oiz/Czgecjzc3HVZ3Gzz95mPeLULqRmFDHlmnu03XxJNe33ODceJMcz0/E4GxhEAS/7HUm9mWRCARSAQSgUEjwNrP1YKvcRL/HhiRaK4mrLFOcZoVP3/EmiW/J+en/y+lBEvu9OnTw6ZNhP8b3/hGWAEYiCsHS79Ta+TFRUXdny6l/28207L4c8PiltJ/ioyRCAwRArMxmyT+sxHsLCoRSAQSgURg5CLANYRPNKsv8j9yazp7a8b1ZY011gi+81x+Blo6i77TaGzK9I4DPvQUAIqAe6WUsBdkk002CeT7iiuuCL7q/L4HQvwdDSl/LiY2tJZSuq6qelBsuDMh/pTArhNnxERgFCGQxH8UdVZWda5CIBubCCQCcwABp6iwbnM5GQzJnQNVHvYiWc6XX375YA13hCSS3G2hrPDf+9734qMf/Wh9FClf7pNPPjmcduQYysaVh5XfEZAs9dOmTQvuPl/5yldqZaPbsigX0tlwrg+7TdfEs1rgRB8bUgeTvsknPxOBkYxAEv+R3DtZt0QgEUgEEoHZigBrL9cWRNSbQWdr4c8obGRcYPFHppFquAyE+F9++eVxyimn1EeUOnXGiSxOKvIOA9b9Unqs8k6TcXqMU2q02vGNTntxOo/f/QUrCHfeeWdYTbBS0F/89vvcimzq5ibEx7/9fv5OBMYKAkn8x0pPZjsSgUQgEUgEZhkBm3sdyYkEelnWLGc4BjIopYSTfex/8DIpR2520yyrA6z6yLzjJh0jSYmQ1mqK9xm45jeCz73GEaeOkrQy4Hd/J8JIK1hZsCHYaS+OunRtIIGbkLZRTByZOpC0GTcRGFYEhjjzJP5DDGhmlwgkAolAIjB6EeDW4qVHLL+IJEvy6G3N0NXcKTfOWLcK0u3+B/72v/zlL8M5897toDaUBtZ+fviTJk0K+ypcb4JrFIxSyoCORuUyRFmzWuNFZ01+3X7y7dc2dU3i3y1qGW80IpDEfzT2WtZ5bkcg258IJALDiICXBPE1v/HGG2tf82EsatRkzZLuBVAs49/85jf7rTfXmTvuuCMWX3zxsD+gSYD4/+AHPwiWdRb9gbgNNXl0+qSkOW7US6BKKZ2i9HqNcnfNNdeEzcZWGyh/vUbOG4nAKEcgif8o78CsfiKQCCQCicDQI+CNqffee2+9IXWoyOnQ1nL252bjs1OP9PjB0AAAEABJREFULrvssnBefl81sEn27rvvDtb3ZZZZpo4KR5jecsstwZ3KRVZ2130fbKBMfPWrX42FFlooBuPmow6XXHJJvPKVrwzuR4OtR6ZLBEYDAkn8R0MvZR0TgUQgEUgEZisCCKSjJJ0nzyI8WwsfoYXZ/2BjrpWQiy++uM9allJqVx2uPI1fP4s6y7pjQW2idgqPt/TOKvHnTkSZcBoPV58+K9Z2U524JFFS7EOwCtEWJX8mAiMXgUHULIn/IEDLJIlAIpAIJAJjGwF+5k6WQQq5kIzt1nbXOgR+m222iQ022CDOP//8YL3vLeXEiROD2wzLv9UBytPtt98eCDqFarnllgvXuAKVUnrLpt/rlIZPf/rTgbBvv/32odx+E7VEQPi1xWqGjcXp5tMCTn4dkwgk8R+T3ZqNmosRyKYnAonAECDgtJnNNtss+Psff/zxNUkdgmxHfRYs6lOmTAnW+u985zvBzaZTo5zGs8MOOwRC7WSfSy+9tH45l7Q77bRTTJ8+PWyoHeiLtlrLQvopEhdddFFst912wQ2p9X5/3+1DuPrqq8NpPrvssks4Wai/NHk/ERjtCCTxH+09mPVPBBKBRCARGBYEWP333nvvuO6662qi2hvJHZbCZynT4U08efLksBry05/+tM/Nz87D33333WOrrbaqN/NaAeBDP23atHrV4FWvelVtqR9sbW00Pu2004KlnpvOQIn7rbfeGnz7rWK8/vWvH2w1Ml0iMKoQGDeqapuVTQQSgUQgEUgEZhMCXFtWWWWVOPTQQ+OEE04Ib/NlZZ5NxY/YYhx1yprPP/7b3/52fRpOp8qWUoLy5Bz/ZZddNhzhyZWGm4/APQfGndL2d817ALwczNGiBx54YDQbiPtL19z38jArBTYEH3LIIeG9Ac29/EwExgQCvTQiiX8vwOTlRCARSAQSgURgvvnmize/+c3hbPeTTz6539Ns5hbE4OFc/y996Utx8803R18KUSml3ug7lNg4KpT70Bvf+MagnFEous1fXa+66qq47bbbYv/9948lllii26QZLxEY9Qgk8R/1XZgNSAS6RiAjJgKJwCAR+MAHPhD/+te/goX7wQcfHGQuYyeZ03rsgUC8P/vZzwa3n0cffXS2NNDxmxdeeGF9/CY3ooGsGqijDdus/dyQVl111dlS5ywkERgpCCTxHyk9kfVIBBKBRCARGLEI8Fffc88948c//nF87Wtf69W9ZcQ24KmKDd0XqyF77bVXvQGa5d+pPcO9D+LXv/51nHfeeeFo0Z133jkWWWSRrhuE9Os/iorNwI5snTBhQtfpM2IiMBYQSOI/Fnox25AIJAKJQCIwrAiwKq+77rphsy8loJQyrOWNlsyR/7e85S2xySabzBY/eeU5aWnbbbeNxRZbbEAwlVLCcZ8UuDe84Q1hr8KAMsjIicAYQKAm/mOgHdmERCARSAQSgURgWBHg3uLtrhtvvHFQBIa1sFGUOTLuVJzll18+BuJrP5gm2iQ8efLkQfnl6z/Hi0rvXQKDKT/TJAKjHYEk/qO9B7P+icDQIJC5JAKJQCKQCCQCicAYR2BIib839P3lL3+pTz3wpr4Mf00s/poY5HOQYyDHQI6B0TEGsp+yn3IMjKUxgJN7UV2rLjOkxH/q1Kmx4YYbhmW0DJMTh2o5dnKGHAc5BnIM5BjIMZBjIMdAjoHZPgZwcm/YHhDxb43c33cvxHDMVobfRWKQGOQYyDGQYyDHQI6BHAOzYwz8/ve/n628Q3mdQn9tlaa/OHl/aJ+ZBx54YCb6PqQWfy83cdSWtxtm+E39lsfEIXEYA2Mgx/JvchznOM4xMFrHAF5y66231i/s8n2ktkPdfvnLXw5Y3t555531MbOOU+22bdL86le/6lgWrPqqx09+8pP41re+9VQ4//zz6++XXXZZ/OxnP+uYp3ppn/c99JW3eBmGTtbAfMcddxw+4r/ooovG8573vHq3vTfhZVgisVgiMcjnIMdAjoEcA6N/DIzePsRLkFzh2c9+9oicl52MdPPNNwdS7d0CAxkvjjX96le/Gt6lMH369PjRj370jHDttdfGz3/+8/oIU3l7Cd3FF18criOHAsJ/1VVXxfXXXx9OQBKvU7jvvvvi6quvjuOPPz722WefYPT9/ve/X+fvXQmd0riGI37ve9+L+++/PxZffPER2Q/qOZaCsb/AAgsMH/GfKef8kQgkAolAIpAIJAKJwBxC4M9//nP84Ac/iIceeijuvffe+MMf/hBcks8999z6LcyDrdaTTz452KQzpbOJ9JJLLglvIf76178e3g79hS98IRDrmSL288NL0xD4Y489Nvbbb7/6XRPeN9EaXD/jjDNq0q3+d911V3z4wx+u4yLvwgEHHBCnnnpqjRflo7diV1999Xjb295WvxOBMrXbbrvFgQceGF6o5kjX9nQs+JQR2Ftp+M9//hPKV+f2jaftafP30CMwS64+Q1+dWc/RgPYQNGHWcxyeHIarfk37fQ605tI8/vjjoW6+DzR9N/HlK/+mnOZ76+8mn+aeT6GJI48mTvune+IKTXyfTXC9PU03v1vz9b2bNKMhDjyEwbZJ2ia0t1eecHff9+a+7641we/mnk+/2+8119zPkAgkAolANwj8/e9/DxsbzznnnLj77ruDr/N3v/vdQICdQthNHp3ilFJqJWLGjBn1fNkpTjfX/vnPf8YPf/jD2np+zz33BEL8yCOPdJN0pjjk43Of+9zwgrmNNtpopg2kNne+4hWviKWWWiq23nrr2tIu8fjx4+u3H7/whS8M35/znOfUb2B+//vfH7vvvnufL2PzDgQrBn/7299iySWXjNe+9rX1y9Se9axnhZUL+bcGbaPcfO1rXwsrAn/84x/jG9/4RlglSOLfitTs+T7miL9BZanq05/+dHzmM58ZsOY8O2Bnffj2t79dL8sNVLPvr34eMJYD2jXy1F/85r6Hj/ZN2/c6c0uChElzfyg+WTcIOQLgtNNOC32kvNZwwQUXxGOPPVb3Gx/CT33qUzPFO+uss8KSJELZqU6WKq+88so488wz63TKEJoylK0endJ2ugYDwZFYxpN6syDBq1P8OXVNHYWBlE9osy7pb8/MQNKK+69//SsuvvjiGufzzjsv5Oe6oA9vueWW+t7nP//5us9c12833XRTfO5zn6stS8pvnTy1wdg7/fTT67SWkz0vrHVf+cpX6olbPhkSgUQgEegPgVVWWSXe8Y531PKHjLroooviF7/4RXz5y1+OZZZZpr/kvd4np8wz5vH//ve/vcbr78aLX/zi2sr/sY99LKZMmRIveMEL+kvS8T4Z+oY3vKFWaMjJ1sD9hzWeRX+DDTaoXXhkwv3jTW96U5C1VkCkOeWUU0Ic9/sK2m8DrhUVL7TjFtRbfHHXW2+92HXXXWv//0svvTTOqRQx1/faa6+YOHFib0nz+jAhMOaIv8FEm+R7ZrAjea4NE34DzlZdECQP+kEHHRR2uA84kz4S2Dgzbdq08CAjWX1EfcYt1hDCUb2uuOKKUNdnRBrkhTvuuCPUi08hhcRy3xFHHFELPRhYgj3ssMNC2Sw0iKOixNeP8EIACRrKwPTp059RP8L84x//eL2EyHKCcB566KFB2CPqhPT//d//1cubFCT59xWksUTJagRL1on3vOc9wZeStaOvtLP7ng1V6jmQcvWDNr33ve+tldCBpLVkSwmDp7D//vvXijYFifJ93XXXxbve9a76lAl9ddxxx4UxoAxYUniPPvromDp1alDW1MU9cYwLeVp2hjefV2nkaRwYA+JmSAQSgZGCwMisx5/+9Kdg4efnvP7668eaa64ZrNIMQwOVl+0tJOfMSWRT+73B/GbpJwcHM++aj1ZfffWOJJq//o033hhrrLFGLL300k9VTTkIOwXopS99aW25nzBhwlP3+/oirbnRvG01gRLRW/xSSvz2t78NxqUXvehFsfLKK8cOO+wQ6oxn+OwtbV4fHgTGHPG3BEUD9aDPM888UUoZHuQGmWspJSzJUUyQ7OWWW26QOXVOttZaa9UEDBHT/s6xnnnVA//qV786VltttZCulKHDDRm0+YdPHzLnobfLfMEFF6yxYAlAEvfYY49AyBFrxH/bbbeN17zmNXV9CCwKgPTPf/7z44QTToibb775qYawDH/kIx8JQmiXXXap/Q8JM8uO2sXqc/jhh9ebzy3zEoaE11MZdPhiwrDqQDAZT5YzCcpShg6bDsUO+BISzYJuJWQgiY1D/a0fxo0bmCiAH0LfkH9Y6uPbbruttvzrH0oozLfccstgHaOMllLC88k/dJFFFqmfz1J68LThS59ut9129TKwvqcIWImyIc8YUe4nPvGJmJVl+oFglHETgURg5CLAVcZJMuQC4tzUlDzynVzjymIuMTdYAeDuYpMpWS7OWAgrrrhirLTSSmEeb20Pcs64Q+FZvVIMWu/5XkqP7PV9IAHWTuax2kGh6ov4yxenQPo32WSTmDRpUs0zfCfX3c8wexEY2Gw/gLrNyajNQ19Kz6CmlSNvNHQaNQ29uYZgGsR+u6/ePsVnAXdPftK4JrAEi+N+6295CO67Lsjfp+u+y4vAQUotfy288MKhjNY4zXdlii80cZoyxVGOe+osaJtlMw85IUDoiSd4QOUhve9NOmn8dl18+bQG8Zp04oivXtojX5/S+3QfLq3pxafVc/HZfvvta59C9+XrswnIJ6HsN2u9/HxvjScvZNGSprJtTHKN5cYqgJ34G2+8cX1qQWs6+QjLLrtsXT6CiSy7BkP1Fnx3TZ6syzZaIZ5w0eYmz1JK7acoDWykcU86ebiufr67J63vrosPI+2Dm3Tui9/cl6ZTaOKJKw9xfNd2x6mpp/zVw70mGHfKk7/44ijX/ebT926DthDilFf+pPvuu2896chbfqxsViD4jRrfCy20UL06g9RT7JQjns/WYHIwOb/lLW8JygJ/VW0ypuXFR5XSSMmjVLSmze+JQCIw9yBA/pF5ZBDZxuhhpZjbCmt+KT1zfzMnIMallCBzfd9zzz379GEfbUiSs8g3ednUHUbmsVajVXPPZyklyHLGGi6s5hHYWY03Z4jTW+B6yZBnTrViUEoP3r3FF2/TTTetrf1kufSvetWrwnyt3r2ly+vDg8CYJP4NVAjQN7/5zfCQsyLyX0N+kBI73DfbbLPaj9h1ZMOgZ50+6aSTwi71N77xjfHBD36wdh3xcOxRWaS32GKL4I5C6Oy00071ZhmuCY6ocp27CmHEiq1M7iZTpkwJcW1sIaRYnLfZZpt6ucuO+LPPPjtYwPnbsYq++c1vDoGmri3qxCXC/be+9a0hrXogpgSZOAKXGeWzaLC+umeTzuabbx5HHnlkeLil9Z1/njR33313qL/d+E4A8EC6XkrPg4yoKUd9tIdlhWBQjnzhpL1WGJAyVnLCRB4Cgs3ay8JCIXGtNSChlgvtSfjoRz8aq666amjbkksu2SPhZcwAABAASURBVBptpu+s/yzVlAn+4nzJb7jhhlh77bXrDUytkRFMvujqbIVFOZMnT66XPfmSw0ffUEr0GTcxlgwuQ/Lmj6it6lhKqS3UMGN1Nn7e9773PXU6hNMZ5AdL+cFT2eJPmzYtWDhgbUwYb67JF2Z+s4JbtZCmvQ0s3FyV9L/xZIKjwFx44YXBR59Lm3pqI8yb9AS4ehk7+tCYVmfkXJxSio8BBYrr8ssvHyussELAV9+acKw26Rv1N+lERH1fHKSee5Cx3FthrFWsc54RYwbBf9nLXlb3q8lCHsaH9vFb7S2fvJ4IJAJjFwHPv/1WNoeus846tU86YxAZb45jYGhaTy6V0iPjzCvIp1VghqZSeq43ccfaJ25BzjMwdiLX5l5YmeOtZiPhlCIGNf7+DDm9YTJjxoz6rH5zAMNOb/Ga62S3AHfcy/ztN7leytjuhwaDkfQ5biRVZqjrgvgjEciOhx1Z47rBvQYxueaaa2riT5AoGynhJ87VxPIVQoiAfPKTn6x3vSOuzYOCoBj0rNkIt9/O0kU+uSgge5QB5OXlL395vXOfsqA+4kojbw+Xpa/GYoFs2vCDrAms38gcgcYivu222wYBh6B7UD046i4of+LEifUGGn7TrnnAkHUbUj10du5TPFiy3eciwlKivcinpUFEjcCEkU2xCCeSz+Jqxz+FQtmI51VXXVWvWLzkJS+Jt7/97WE5sbVOSKC68Kt0bq8ym6AMmNt8e+KJJ9anIyCoNhdx2WritX8SNNx9LPNSyBB1xNfGKPda4xNuloI/9KEP1RtRkXVtUF+boBHv17/+9fVJBzYWu6aerCTygR/CDDe4wMQKg/vqL74x4Toc+Z+zVvttHHGHkVb7KR1IP4EsLSUUtpQMVhNKgzoYo+qtfMF3BJ/CRjCziutD4wnRZk2Bl3oae/pZOkEfUYqsFlDMLK0aS+rs/mAC4i9IW0oJY8k4JtC1w/iAlftNKKXUJ1aoT3Ot/RMmxg5/VJhQ0D1HrPvyFF//WvVx3bPkWoZEIBEYyQgMXd3IVTKSiyEXTiuOZJq5j7GITDBPdSrRdfMGOdPp/kCvIa7yEgaadrjjmzPITeWYH3y2hlJK7fb6ute9rj7Jh4eAwAoPR66aeENrmtbvOAgOwxBjbmu919d3mFktNieWkoS/L6yG896YJv7IybYVUd5qq62CgECWWVdpv5YAPbA0XVZUy1ys104ZkU78DTfcMBANggbZY9XmosNyicAgYYgucou4I/3SIO7SITHyZLVEzBA9FlhkzcPivjp40JA1Ptfq4mFyD+n3AMtbGawbCDrSSZEh8DxIzQBRJuFm2U8bSim1C4a4CCwrtPvqwSrPitzgwRrCMoBUyk96hNqqA7woK0gdYYLIExg2bBK0lAekW/7itNZJOci9drZeVwbFTNvf+c53BqKH+FI0rLjoK3E6hVJKfTKBvG2UFhBPdS5lZmGi7cg+KzcFivIHR/3B75+i5z4yiayyfsBVHykb1oSh+34rQ59TFmCpX1hVtI01XxnIt/yRbYoAS7a48qdwwIkyaVOtpVhC1FgiDI0ryoK+V54AYxZu8QhndVNPSod+MW7ga/OWsac86QT11k4rBFY61F+/q7f7pcyMl2sDCcaSVREYGhPwVpdSZs5X241P9ekvf3jb+GuFBH5W5GAsXSlP9z3Fz7UMiUAiMHcgYE4iY8llq+TmuqblZBoZw0DXXJuVT/LbPMSlhYW7NZBLjE14Qev15rs0Vo/N37NSh8GmNScyOjJy4hKd8mFwNBeZT5r75g4rt+StQzG0sbnXfJqjrLKXUuoV+tY+aOL4NL/D0PcMIwuBOUL8ZxcEyIaB3FpeQ0rcc502jDgRJB4QD24Tx8BF6AgUBIdQoSggTtxMkBjuLx4C1lcWeQ+RvIVSSq04KEcopdSuIvJ13zXBd0G5FIDmWik98ZFppJBrChcdhAfhozmL2xrk0/pbWX4jZB5Qv0spoSwKTGNJjerPPXiV0lMuoeYhZzHmBsMliTXcwyw9iwtSCSNEt8qibp/P1iBu6+/W74go8m+nP1cXwtJKiZNc2tvSms539wX5l1JcekYopacPCEB4qb/6ikj5QrC99ASxLqXUL3mRZyk9+fkuiN8E40S94eWa+6X0lGP1yIZWClMppd7oKp444jZjzXjzHcbaTGlgkTdR6KvWfoE35YnSaIOzk27kNbFa3VFek7d4rrcG9dTvJiJlUHTc1/c+ZyWoD8UR/upFYWKRUy8YteYNA2OYZa71eqfv+sXkY4K36gaTpo1NfL+F5nd+JgKJwNhGwPNuNfD222+PTTfdNMwbrS22Wm5ONje2Xh/sd7KVoYhBqj1YXbXqSp5yJW6/b/Wc8cJ8TfYNtg6DSQcnCpJVXS6Z5HNv+TDqtd/nyUCWW6E2N7WnZXSyag1/82opPXNlezxz25xof3s98vczERjTxN8Dh7ALNHSEirUWSW0GeynlKbKKrBjICJSHR0DAKAcNYeHyggxznWH1ZYFneUakOuXZXAN9KaUm3K6V0lNu6/dSSn2CTVR/pZQ6LpJqb8GUKVPqV3nzp+enzypOyEXbX2t+bknv0/XWz1J6lvqQQhZlyoy4hJ14AoVDuxFm7ifcKxBaqwOwYhUgOJBLPpeEjXStgSLD2g1TpLC519TH71J6NhldfvnlftbWfPn7oU4+Syk1HlH9yQsZ1J+UMcu32qGv9HkVpcaxlJkxdr0J0vOnZ/FwyoyVFv2tXqWU2u2oiaud+lhdSil1PXwXN6o/n8YEQm5/BdcyE1NrfqWUKmbUY62Up7+bpCgBTisiZK2mIOhwj//9wVcfKJO7D5ybeNqtnFJKfTwaS4+6/i9p6M9jjjkmtI9V3uqKe/L0qe6llLpNsKNwcV9j6RGsPphQYRstf8r88Y9/HMaF1R5Kqe/cnSZMmBBWufS3sWU1RnwubxTjUor+ieZPu0opAUNKn4ldH5dSghJhtUo7xVdH+RofynEtQyKQCIx9BBhpuBVarWdka22xOd75/ObvRla03h/Md4YK8pZ7Jtei1uAacm8/l9XU1nu+M5JNnTq1flcAGTuY8gebBhchh0spgSOU0jPfNPmRxfiQPYcwY8Bp7vk0p5tbyX8y2bXWYOXZ/ANrfdF6r/lOTjM2yd/35np+jgwExhzxN6gFll2aOBcSPt1cVDyoSDM/9mZAWg6jleoOWi7SxeJowySS7aHw4gsuFOJQAmjECAzBgNRaWkTMWHARSmVZIpSW61Djy69M5BaR4luOoFEgEC0Pq5UFAsNqAqJF4xaXHz1/Zxb2yZMnB01bmhkzZqjSU4FVWNnyQp74v/MNVw6yyELhaESkSp7qx1LhN9cTWImHWLHyE1hWNMTjg2+jM791lgTuFwcffHAoB6HTLptL1QvRayoFU+5DtH+WAmVpH1wIckSV4OSKw3VIv1lFgLENRvKVxjnA/PQJE+m0Hfb2GpgEYKJfCaq//PWvccYXvhA/ueGG+tSCK66+Or556aXx4MMPN9WKx594oj4y8t4q7k2/+EXcc++99b07Z8yIO3/3u3jhi14Uiy2xRNx8yy1x2fTp8evf/Ca+d+WV9Qukbrn11vjG+efHT6vPBx58MH56883x67vuimtvuqne6HvNtdfGvx96qFYebvzZz+ImobJSGZcsJbdW35VfSomttt46VnjJS+JLX/1qfOijH41PnnJK3FTl+9jjj9f18R9BbOxyE9KHNlvrL2MCMSZ89RG8TIzwkk4gvPUlzJB6Y5AgtoxLgLOg3XfffaFe+oWSQNE0jvSlcikLsFV/eRofxi1XpS9+8YthhYOyY1VIOdyWDjnkkHoDtX61Cc++DcqHPPSp+ivXWOWypCxjwQZ5z9u0adPqI1u1T/meLWXrX+PZM9dccz1DIpAIjEYEuq8zcs/4xChiHm5NyfBg/jRPT6gMD4ht6zzUGrfb76WUoEQguAw0rYGxw5xjfut0Hx8Qh5Gx2/KGKh6Z71ATdcdRSnkm8SeDyW17zMjT1rL9JuOllUfrPXOLuQK+5iPGwdb7zXdymieEORqPaK7n58hAYMwR/1J6LNkIBCJJEBi8No0iKpa+kA+WewoBi72H0zVaLkstQmvAEjBIB0JDc9ZlHgbKAXIivnjiWPpzuok4yrPRFXlx3wPCciAfQglRcwTiUUcdFb4ju15YxGJMkCA1rAU2iaqbhw3B1h5ESlBH5ImioUwBoWO9dg9h98Ahxcqxz0Gcpt1wEV+dlMt3nBVYW+TPz5pVFVnTDhZc8aUjALWDLzsLt7KQUZZZOCqnCXCzMoKYUrLclw/FieBh6YYzyz1FjRWeyw+cpaHoKB/e8pQeCSXot99++yBgtVEZNmvbcPTYn/8cD3/2s7HDllvG0YcfHq/++9/jkYpQP/6Xv8ST1feHTz01xl92WRx+5JFxYKVIrfid78Q2yy4b7z/22NiyKuSBk06KDVdbLU6o0m7y+9/Hq/7wh5i44IKxZjW2Dppnntj4ec+LReedN7aryPlBCy0Uq1YKwhKPPBLvqAj0vsstFys8//nx9pe/PA578slY99nPjsqUHS/56U/jiOr7zhtvHAv/85/x4HHHxaNVHdZfe+04ZqONYteqbg/9/Ofx3AUWiNWrfOe///6qJj3/jDP+7hRRKz+wN9noS8QYbgg7H3/jG5Y9KSNMTp4FyhRCvu2224ZxZIyVUuqNXc7HNz70tz0pxg/Fy5iwr0X5LPel9Ewg+sDYsidEv3uu9CXFz5igqDiKk6Kmb+198cx4DtRLemWJf+ihh9Z9aEyoq3y01SqA8ciixu1HecaDMUQxp5DIa6wHWI31Nmb7EoFuEDAPIv/mWXNmaxork+5b0SerGBPMjUPx/JRSnlqpLaXnu7JL6fleSu+f4g11IAcR897ydc/qMRlKzrbHg4k5wn5EcnpCpSi1xmEwZLg0x8C69R5jDeJPHpsfrOi33vedLOcZwMhkzhHX9QwzI6AfZr4y+36NOOI/FE1nCWQJRqIRbsQROeISUkoJ5BXRRlgQEr9LKXXRBjLyjywjNcglolHfrP5DamxiXGeddWr3CCQfmUK4q9v16T/uIzXyR2SQVp8UDXERG/5/Ah9m5Ft8v31SCtSb7zlBxqcfsUXutMUnK7pNla0PNuK01157BeKOzCHi6qAtCL16UChcc9SkdiGOlBTX1RHpFl9c2jwCrn7yFBybhlwikuJNmTIlWIjlqb7aDkNYCKWUoFxts802QRjbzOq39kkvaE8T5EVZ0IdIqPbKGzbqiIRaSkX4WZVL6bHK8DEnYM79whdinvnmi8MqQn30CivEe7fYIo6bNCl2qaz983zuc/HwOefEQ2eeGfdXFuXdXvzieN9znxtHvPCFscvf/hZHbb55vKsi6ytff30sWikDu1dpPrDiirHubbfF0pXl/+jKun9c1e/vfs5zYp/FFovjJk6MY9dYI95S1eG5n/987L300nFsVdZ1lIR3AAAQAElEQVR7qjQ7VasGH9pkkzjw0Udj7V//Ot42blx8sFIm3rvUUrEWi//FF8cDhx0W4y64INav8p/6ilfEtHnmiT0rBWTxq66KqMqCXxO027g0Xo0jOOm/Ukr9kjN9p08oVE0an7CkmMHPGPAcUPSmTp1ab/x2Eo9+hZ8xra8pCvC1kmO8UiiMA/kJ6oL062/9qH8EZRD04hiXngnXKHeUs+a6sSy+vhfk4ZnwbCH0rqmTetpMbwIzmViRYKGixKvfnBSc2jI7gknc6otVE8+P1TaEZnaUnWUkAiMJASTUXM0i3VjzyQWrwQ7gID/MgQ05Fb+UMmxNaORP8zmYgqTVBkoLQ0cpJcxjvrvmXrT8WdV3EInV98ZToeV2/VX7KUjkdDupF0H+5DduAU/y1XWBUvGjH/2ofhEYwxLO5Lp6qs+MGTOCEZJSQAa71gSyStlW8xmppNUn0md4JgLcq3lecLkyfnlbPDPW8FwZk8S/L6hKmTVBUMrT6Ut5+rsySym1ZcD3oQoeOA+UQOCxZlhGQ8qQp1LKLBVVyqyl76ZwisCUSkGwOsD3kPDoJl2nOJQdSgFLMcECH/EIIYT4kYqsX1VZ1/+z++7xn4q83//BD8ZDlfX9iar8R666qrayL7DPPjF+gw3i3+95T9z/73/HY9VvLjv/rqzPD1VEfp499oj/XnJJ/KtK/8iuu8YTr3pVPFCtGPy7ssQ/esgh8Z/KOv/vSol4cL314pEq7r8rEv/orbfGE9UKwoMrrxzu/bci8Y999KPx7z/9Ke7/ylfi0Te8If67557xr4suiv/ecEMsePTRMW9V1sNnnRWPLLxwPHbggfHvSll4oFqNiGrVoDzveZo1RwPLD9cuqwNWpma1MqV0PdZmKsrkZ5Jz7CvFYJdddgkTSimDy2+mzEf4D65TSL+lef0BB5Nze7URIRMJ2dAEv5vgGjLAhbB5ZtrzaH6LI76ypfHZ/O5UdpNuTn9ql9BNPZCVgbRFfKGbvDPO8CDAiGGfkk/PA9cevubcYbnBMvR5DpDjDSr5juAOT02GLlfPFpdNLrj2N3EB5oJ5cTWnIOBItuexKdHz7yAK5Nppf8315tMY5erjN+VB8L01lFICVvaWWUG1h81zLh0XUASU8dFePnJWnspleDH/qh+Fwjyu3lbaWfi9B4nRhsGUCydDVSljX0a3YjuQ7/oVrsYw4g/bgaSflbhzHfGfFbDmRFoPGP9pVlt+jSy6yy+/fHDNcH1O1GmgZZZS6k1OXEjUmfvSQPNo4rMcs/SzQpdSZlK0rPKwVr+0sqyPryzoC7z73THhrW+NCRWxn78iiwtWVu4FKuI+/847x4Lu7bVXLFiR9fm2267+nLD33rHgu94V87/pTSGe+NJN2HffWGD//WPhk06K+V7/+pDvApW1foEq7nxbbhkLHn54LHjssTHfhhvGAvvtF+4teMwxMe9LXxoLfeADsWClYMxfKSLz77BDLPS+99Vljd9oo1iwurfAwQeHMH6zzWKhE0+MBQ44oC6/zD9/0+Q59mk5mCWe5cf3OVWRUnpOTLIfxYqFVao5VZfZXS5yyoq2YTW2uN0hOJ2eHxMH1yrK79RqnFuN8SIewXWnk5iYTezcAEzmvbXFRH5SNdad5S29F+v5TfGyx6avtL3lOdzX1YmbH+LXV1nwpAwhN1wWEC9pe0vD4GLFldsCwiP/vuL3lk9eHwwCz0zDBZXyjyAby3zNGcGsDjreE4nSP+aCZ6YeniullEFnjPxpg70L6s04ZnXcuJtRWde1s3WFzxGcvBXMpStXRqb2gksp9TtpzJNcK0vpXDcKAWJOiYKjY7QF5N6qrxV/bpryZ3ihTHlmrA5wa1ZPRkh7yjxHlBAKhPsUBqu4XIFK6Vy+fOf2QPnSB3vssUfoS4rX7MIkif/sQnqQ5bBa2CeA+LOaC9xxNqqIo4dskNnOkWTIo+VF7RlsBRCfJZdccibC35qX/QerrrJKvVQ5b2Wpn2/77WPcUktFqazq873udTG+sryXRRetr83/5jfHvNVqQFlggfoT4a/jVvfFE1+6cUsvHfKZ5yUviRg/vrbUI/zjFl88ykILxXj5rrtuxLzzxrgXvCDm22KLqONWQo9Vf76K1I9bbLFQDsI/fv31o0yYEPMss0zMt802MU8lwMt888W8lbIy39Zbh3yrBrY2a458hyX/+okTJ86R8ptCSyn1ZEYBGW1jvmnDrHyapFnnLK8vXo25ThhwsTMh2/9ik7cVGi5RZAVXPnslEAHHD5q0bc5GNDrVi1KNXCEl3tHBPY97FrdEhgcyqVO6OXUNMdKuvSpFHvHrrR7aw5LKjYx1VVyKDaUJ0WpPh+RbhmfBZBnlZkWpkgcFoj1+/h5+BBBV7qYs0sg9H3X7kaz+UoyR5rXXXjtml8yihHd6HrtFAvnbYIMNwjPJtZUCgzR7/lzjkmPebPJDxj3LDCCd5lHPJhdLZJ67b191U/bkyZPrsj3b8Du0WvX2nfxoyiR/7PFznULgGeCSrI6uCVZhGd0YHgSyR7omj/x8JgLcYeHMoKsvSpl9StK4Z1Zn5F7JmiUCiUAiMLci0JcbC2WYYlBKCfsxkAOWUKSIG5y9FyZ55BhRphDYwNcJS+lZFpGsUkpsWK02UNhdW3DBBSuddPZNUJ3q5xrXBO4OVhCRICsaXCaQdffbA6slgu9ULPtW4ODTuzOQez7JrWnEd2IVJQoBY3Cx30sa75c4++yz61O7WtPk99mDAMKEAFOGkeJSesaj7xRjY3S4a1JKCQoI6/asEFzEXL3tR/C82TMo+O6a78h8a3u0nydA67XW79xzll9++YBR6/VO3+0DIDs824Lv8m+NW0qpDWmUKcHeMsH39uC6elOIWvPI770jQK4LvccY+jtJ/Ice08wxEUgEhg+BzLkXBCy1cw2gACAT7dEQFBv+bdrnssPlpz1O85t1nEW8lBJWChCE5t5I+ETuWHxtHrfRkXLTV724IyDy4lGIpNcmChELqWOPWxUh+ynEt7/FQQpNfKsh3Cic4869oa8y897YRoDFHcH2XI3tlmbrxhoCSfzHWo9mexKBRGCuRMB7Gmx45C+K1LaDwKpkvwC/dha5TspBk4bLEB9jVtUXvOAF9Ukjzb2R8FlKCdZJpz5ZKp8wYUKf1fKyOW1C+i2rN5FZVClDlCZEv7nOFciegVVXXTVYMJvrrKkUKyfJcJdqrvf1aWO095h04x6k/+wp0Fd95Zn35jwCLPEs9nO+JlmDRGBgCCTxHxheGTsRSAQSgRGJgJexsdSzUCP27ZXkx+4UDqTV4QCIc3uc5rfNrMgwaz/3ieb6SPsspcfNo696IdxOfoFNpzZzT0Dipk+fHg3h5jYEQyeItefNL1ee8G6/1+m3F9PZg2DTdKf7zTWbJa08OM2lqUdzLz8TgUQgERgqBMYM8R8qQDKfRCARSARGGwJ80p2wwYLNfaVxP0AgBRt5EVXvAuCiYMNqq+W7vb3icn1B/DuR3/b4I/m3U1NY+/kj27/QXlc+zVY/nKrBMs/S7wQTcaVpjw83ypB8WfPb77f/tvHUqS32IcBVX7XHoZR526qjW9vv5e9EIBFIBIYSgST+Q4lm5pUIJAJzEoG5tmz++Pz2Wa+RSKSUDz8/9Ouvvz68j+Hcc88NPu6O5fTint7ActzlLbfcEtyFxEeKe4vbfh2ptfHWOd4DDdyQWOXb85zV39rTEHRKUHt+lCQ+/DY9i8dC32wS1p72+E0e8qUotN9v/80Nadq0aeEFeZ/85CfDC9la81WmTcSCU1McoWsFoj2f/J0IJAKJwFAgkMR/KFDMPBKBRCARmIMIOHKTbzh/d8SVq45AIbjkkkvi9NNPD/7jjuzjCtQXsXRe/T333BN8+/mzl9K/O03TdGWcf/754d0BAwnHHXdcCE7MYXlvyHWT76x8IvHcaErpvR2llKAwiceNR+irzFJKUHCQ/77iNffsDXCSEOxPPPHE+u2n2ig9Kz9rvzdve0FV+o03qA32M9MlAolAXwgk8e8LnbyXCCQCicAoQMAZ8yzWjhhkWbYp1dnbr3nNa8KLz5wPzt3HCTgUgr6axNXFioEjPJH/vuK232PdVq4TdwYSvCfAuwhs1kWSS+mdpLeX2d9vhB6RL6XvPMWjJJRS+t3MXEoJeQrR5R8XIWe1O3veuxVuuOGGcJSoTcLOQIdXXwpZl8VktEQgEUgE+kRgriD+fSKQNxOBRCARGMUIcJFh2eeT7qhJ/uc2oApO5XHkIIUAseT2w6WEtbpTk1mh7RWwesC/v9Nm2E7pmmtIO4WBu8pggjez2qfQ5DcUn85El2ere02nfLn82NDLtYmbkzildFYW4GRvQBNP3P5CKaV+x4I3dXr/gJclXXbZZeFFSF5MOBjSz03I+wzs2Tj22GMjQ2KQY2BkjgHP6AknnBDegtyfrBju+0n8hxvhzD8RSARGAgJjsg4I6O233x7O70f6WZV7a6hNvXzZf/jDHwbC2CmeSYl/P1LrWFBEuFO8vq4h2FYXBhO0p6+8B3MPkddu9eqUv2vqqs3iUhKsXDz88MO1Vb9TmfISR/xO9/u6Jq3AzccegVI6Kxd95dHcK6UEhUVQ/wzjIzFIDEbiGGieUZ/N8zunPpP4zynks9xEIBFIBGYRAaQV8beR1ouo+npbJ6LJlYVy0GnykZeTfJzfT4mwUjDQ6nE3coKOlQVn5w8kcH353e9+1yvZHmhdmvgIupUIyk6nlQ4EH37O67dqYqXEaT6uc/9p8mk+XYejeFZXmuvdfHqHAp9+7j0f/vCHY9NNNw2brm347SZ9exwKjZUVb2L2duEMU2LKlCl9hLw3JfGZI+PDM7rLLruEAxjan+PZ/TuJ/+xGPMtLBBKBRGCIEGA5dnIPwr3OOuv0OqnYtIpcIp4UhN4s1Sz+zu/3htqB+vdrErcjR4baqDuQzb3iWgo/66yzYqg39yLo9g44MQj5V8/WABv3xDEpW+V44QtfWG+G1p7WuL7DCI7iWx1wrZugDButL7roonj/+98f9jXw9edSdfDBB4eVFspXN3k1cbgHUeS4dGV4XiQGicFIHgMMBSNh8/5cT/wbAZqfiUAikAiMJgSQRBb62267LZy+s8wyy3TclEop8AKpL33pS7H++uvHtttuGyzg7W3l7uL8enly8zFJtcfp7zeSfcQRR8S3v/3tAQeEeOrUqeHc+1IG5/4Ck/Y6mmhtctYeLlGtcShONjL75GdfSk+5G220UVg9cUpRe3zuOe5RjtrL6u23lYOLL744KEVI/stf/vJQr4kTJ8Z+++0XO+20Uzj1B/nXD73lk9cTgUQgEZhVBJL4zyqCmT4RSARGOwKjqv6IKDKPlHKp+dWvfhXcckopT1mpWaoRWqf9OLf/jDPOCMQWKV9hhRWeaq+8kFIWbCsH11xzTe0zjsCzjivnqcgj7Iu6IeGOHoWFdjiRyDW/Wwk0hee1w7vXDwAAEABJREFUr31t3HTTTeH9Bk1TuDVNnz49bHy2Abq5jvhzd7r88svr/RPNda5IXKvWW2+9sBG5ud7XJ2y9R8GRnTvvvHOdrpQeBUM67jrcAKZMmRLcf6zMUETcy5AIJAKJwFAjkMR/qBHN/BKBRCARGEYEuIw4kpOF/Pvf/35wTeFycuWVV8aFF15YB2fpsy775HPv/H7nx6+99tq1pbmpHoKJzMqLlR5pphhQJriltJLkJs1I+aSoaB+feX73kyZNip/85CfxrW99KxB2bWnqyrVp1113DTgh4RQcewq+853v1JtB3/ve99YW/iY+S/y+++5bv8TMKUjXXnttiP/d73433GO1pxw18fv6pIQ4JWmbbbYJPv2dTgJSLyf9bLDBBrViQiHrK8+59Z59Kt4zQWGj2BqflD3XfKf8DR6bTDlaEJgTz4dnmCHFvqWf/exnYV/QaMGrvZ5J/NsRyd+JQCKQCIxgBErpOcnFMZUs09OmTYs3v/nNtYuMazapIqde5rX99tvH0UcfXR8ZyRWIe0lr00rpycsGWOfvI7TO+l9rrbVqktyJpLamn5PfbVDmvrPiiivGAQccUB9lucUWW9R+3tpfSomGIPhcffXVa7ca90zi9hJw2eFis9JKK83UFPHXWWed2H///QOmVlD49ivPBr2+3nw8U0bVDwqCIzy33HLLji5WVZT6n43F3rlg5aG9n+oI/fz329/+tn4rsBe4qb/oVkV+/vOfh1UN110bSLAZGtE555xzgpJlUzIlq788lE85dYJU+7sOKJuOMXUELVz9lp+9JVdccUUg8n53CvpMHC+kO+aYY+qXvnFjo8DJr5u6dco3rw0tApSy6dOnh1UuivaPfvSjGGjfGENqRaHzvguGCIGhopSnV8zEaQ/GlJU5wff2+81vm/SN77PPPjuM8UsvvTRaDQZNPHWxsqgtxt1nPvOZMF6b+6PtM4l/Hz2WtxKBRCARGGkIsPB7QRcLMmK/3XbbheB7a9h6660D2UVWEftSnjlZ2hxqfwC/f9bozTbbLJrPzTffPBwBOtLa39QH+Vbv1jr7rt5eBqbdpfS0uZQeBcfehT322CO22mqrcBrOm970pqDwwKHJ12cppV4JsIF3n332CXnCZccddwwuQKX05Ctuf8HRglYculGiuP102n/RXxnuW5VASrysbVqlDDrPnWvXRz7ykeASRgkQr5uA6CA2n//858OqEvJF8bnxxhvDakk7mW/Pk5Jx/PHH1/s82q3w0r7rXe+KQw45JKy02OisvkceeWScd955QSlrz6/5PXHixHjFK14RFBLk/7rrrqvfjaCfjOO+MOb6JTR5DcUnnIYin8HkoS3CYNIOVxqrkdzpEHREmaLm08lVH/vYx+Kuu+56Shnvrw7Gjf614d/qHkLuHSPGpHHY3naKhTFrn9IFF1wQxpMVOuOtU1ks9lYGPTfqKG/k35g0xrWlNR0F/kUvelFYDfU8PPe5z229/YzvFA7hGTdGwIUk/iOgE7IKiUAiMGIRyIqNUQRayX4p/RP5gcaf3bAhQgg36/dJJ50UrJIsrauttlq9eXggSpzVg89+9rPBukqZOvzww+tVo4Zwz5gxo9fmOSUJ8UO+OkVClpE4Fnok7uSTT44vfvGLgejZ5Ny++tKaB7K15pprhlUeyiwFzgoMRU86SnFrfGUJriGkCB0rL0LWXHdvMMFqBbzlNZj0g0mjzoIyufbZDyIfv33O6cCt0AvlrDrusMMO4dQqq4j67HOf+1wYU/a89FdPbXRogbFhXFMUuepZESulBKUS+W/yEd9KESLPDUc9bKbX102c1k9jzcqRcc4AgOwfddRRoQzKhvJ8Klu6Ukog/saYFUDukJ1ebqgeAqWB22Gz4qB/XJfXSAhJ/EdCL2QdEoFEIBHoB4FS+ien/WSRt8cwAqzdNgmfeuqpgWTZ0H3aaafFQQcdFJMmTeq65UjLSSedFPyZrSA5vaiUUlvZ+dLzs+/NiopQzZgxI7j5cFcq5ZljtpQSLKfKUD+W+zPPPDO81RQJayfv7RVHuCkNyKXVl75WSGxQZ51F4JA8bk8UE1ZhBLR7MtZei6g3ilNw5PPMu8NzhUUbvuqtf1ipWbr1i3YNT6nd5WpMqA93GaS8tR+5r1lts4/IKkB/OVqd4t5jrNkQb9VMGu5wVvn0K2KvTNcFx9pSctddd92gCErTqqyL0wT5ws+RuurlulU5roLveMc7wlihwMDbvSbAmTJBAWiuNZ/6hEIrDqJvjFodsLKgzyjNTdw5/ZnEf073QJafCCQCiUAfCJTS43ZSyjNJVB/J8tZchgCSg1AjzyznPrnAUAgGAgW/fKQKKUKkmrRIF7ecU045pSbuzfXWT77drOr2M7QSv9Y4viPrkydPDq5WlAunJHWyoIrbHrh9sKY69rW/d00gw+rL6ozEsdZSilh4kTIKQXv+3fxG8hA6KyJIajdphiIOAqnulDorOAjwYYcdVu+/QEiHoozB5kHRo4zBnFtYaz7uCTa6Uw5b73X6TrnjnuZMfi57rXG4+CHrVjsode6VUurN+Y7JXXrppV3qNeg7lniHH1x44YWhvq2RKbqUCL7/xkxzT90pjjbie86a681nKSXuvvvu2n3N6VzqbRXC6gEFtzcXNrgI6tXkNdyfSfwHiXAmSwQSgURguBEopYQJnQ80a66NjCPJcjTc7c/8B4cAEjEYUsuCyiqL5CBYNlAjaqzKFAsbxr3cjDW1vWZIKCsqNxzx1EFoj9f8dk9QTxbS5np/n9w4kD6kH/nvKz7XoEMPPbQ+ypYlmg+3dFYXrBYgXH2ln533YABnKwiecb8FGDX14DKD+CPG3GDgQHHac88969Ommnhz4rOUEqzt9oR4gV9rHayweIeGlSf7WFrvdfquXazn4rcrkMYk6zwSLt9O6fu6Bk8yVf6USOO7NT7FQf76wupXc4+ix5pPMXA6mj4SWtNTtCnHXgTIHYnyYv+VwwfaFVtKo304TlxzcthAFfSmXoP5TOI/GNQyTSKQCCQCEcOOAQsaP1knz7CiOq/fxDfsBWcBoxIBJJorBcsjtwsuC6yvyE43DRIXmUL6kR/p7RNgGWUBRX56ywuxQ5RsPEdY+yqvlFJv4rXZk0sE1yAkrN362p4HxYTVWx2Uw+rdHqf1NzwoI4gkAkkh8f3qq6+u9xS0xp2T3xFR7jFOTrIRVmCVtrKBIDZ1s6cA4UU2kWL9xddfP7nWxJtTn1Zy1Iu1u6mDMeGEH3272267Reu9Jk77p7FL+bSPo5RnrnQi1tx1jMf2tP39LqWEU8tset97773DOG9NY3zJm9Wfdb+5B2v3lO0Z4YrEEGMvi3oYk/rRHgOrSfYByMdeApZ/Y7fJy6cVNC5JDmFwepjDGlyfHSGJ/+xAOctIBBKBRGAQCPw/e3fPIlXSxQG8zhd40MxMQ00XAzGQERTEwFAwEM0U0UhEEfEdEQVfEQZMjBREAwMjE8FMzPwQD36L5XeHWmuut6dnpqd7esazcLZuV9WtW3XqzO7/vNQpYEUWE6DfIUuhF7O0DK1jyvnKJnEAyAU4AHVAGkj88uVLASJZKsdNC3AROvHr168C3ADMDlgCRrLpODgp7hnA17cdD8ABXCkMAFO/ve3rWX8WeGFB5mneQnCk+WTx1meIgC9roRAD/uP+FnwHiHR5nbAiIUX+ln7+/NmlYxw3z6E5bHSdOfKyOOgsvay/8wMHDhTnB6TixZP6TQDfHrHyu5RO7Lx4c5lpeFxqv80ugVxg1wFZ1mxAWTYt8fnA/Lj5Af3G0Jenqd+f8YOiw+K+1j2MiM474uyAS/j63iu8pDzzXlQrPUWWkupvQ2nPgHaXAgrj4UnCf3tDlo1tD2UBI3OUAWO26/B3tX///i5jmLMFPFBt+zSfE/hPk7s5dnIgOZAcmJAD/ifnf4CsacqIPy1gE34iX98GHCAb4oiFIgAkwhEACuDd3QxAybhlAifCSACciChCS8RNHz58uLBMyhgkvhwQasfiEWDBZO0lr23b0DOwxVovKw+ABcACQS6ZA7yG3lHHkwFECdcRcqRuJTInmWDwAX/E40vfKlyG92wIVK40XtsWESUiyiRjAK8UoEePHhUA3r6Zl5AR5yUoOTt37iz1Hzzi/WNNBozFwFMChAFaa+232SUrv32UxefNmzdl3759nfysdo5VviJicCkRS3d04MFagb8BI6Kz9PdllXfFZYY8Q7ISyeSjv7AfnhYy5OwMRdK9KOSdHDpHIiWoMDdhPTwK/nst1IzsUTr7YWkRS2e39DNufy6+Oy1K4D8tzua4yYHkQHIgOZAcmBEHXObmoCcAKY4amACQgUghCcJIxoEkAAeYEkcP1Ih3BtJ5nozLysyLIASlLotCoT9AzRJf60eVxpO+0wFk3gHzZP2kYPiOm5cpH0PvA1c8DsAxwDXUp60Tw29OxgWaWV/xBgAd5y3AKwCWB4I1tyUKhNAV7ay/Q320t3MZehbOAxjbp7Nnz3a3cOtHmYiI7jI6fFGHgETr0Q6AUu7wb8eOHctu5Na3T9ZD0TBf/F0LWZ93+2OO+m0/Wb3l4Gfxp3w6hyD+fzXj2LeIYdDvm/bTevCYp0vdpMR7wDtG+aWIAff4bFz7zGtB/ilaeK4e8QpQuL1PpuyFfaIs89B6tmfkXv95oAT+87ALa51D9k8OJAeSA8mB5EDDAYADIGqqukfWYQBbHnthNV3liH8BXJqAeKDfcyVgB+AWiy9uGfACeFis5T9v+1fAFBGdVbyOoYyIAuh6bgkYZ2kVMw1ktW2egS8WWUBP+FvfgqoP0k8sNiXG70rmB4gBpbVupdL7MhxJNcrL0ZIUpEDsjx8/ivAnv/vtvCA19nvoO8YX6iR0RAhMOy9rEDLCK9LGmddx7JPMNvhV68aV+EbRMNdXr16V1ZL0sJQT4J1SOO47/XYx/eLphTFJLUsOyU6/X/tbqNlKQNlaIqKwkkdE++q6nq3LWQn7yRu0sLCwzJMD1PM2seibW/sRiq95GKOui/zzCKCIyefXfm8jnhP4bwQXc4zkQHIgOTBjDuTnkgOVA6yUQitkKql1tQQcpbFkKdev1g+V+rJQUiCAy36fiCgAjrGAL8CYNZjlVVgKwK4Ui+5diobfwBFLL0Dr7ABQaxx9KrHEU16EuIjlr/W1FPftIDAlhmJS6/slsA1013CRfvtqfwNv5uR7Q6QNr7RRWpSV/NZuzaO+R2lyHkNfQLPth2d4wMvSKgRtn/U8s0hTmCheqyUKk3UB4hErg9gKfPtz8y17JoTs/fv3hez0+7S/zTNi6e6IoX2kNJFPcq1s313rsznbByE+J0+eLA7Z2tc6jrnaDx4Sim/7Pd4TMkm5EdYTsTJ/6pibXSbw3+wdyO8nB5IDyYHkQHJgAg6wkl+9erWwvgPh7VDAJwKmWCbbtv4zqyyQB1gBPG07gGQcZUR04I2iAcw5gCpEBzmoaiepDVIAAAjaSURBVB6AOsDkN+s4pcOBz3v37hV59bW34wN4lAHzpHi0bZ4BZdZiIGtUmI85UzKANMDbe+slc3D4U3y224FbAhCFVvE8eD516lRp2z2L7RYjHjEMBoFG/LGe3bt3L5umDEpCi4T5jAH+y95b6Ye9p0gIsTK/tZCwHXH6Lejtf4ssvHz5sly7dq3wuLTtEVEAY3OQUck+te39Z4oCD5M9JxP9dvVAP3mNGOZv/51RvymvQnycM3HmhPJrfjxblEjf5+0wHxZ8CqGx1Iv754XCm0nlzZizogT+s+J0fic5kBxIDiQHkgNT4IAsNcA6MNQHZwA2ICzOuAWRFWgD8qYUEQUAZRHWXxy7+kqADuu+38AqECeOWZ5yFutK6hxu9D4LKYDswLG5UUooAEBgf55SIZqr8BbtvtOS98T4C13au3dv29Q9W4ezBiy3x48f7+om/Zc5snT3Sb3voYgo/Xa/8SdiNCi1X8A/5aCCSfMFOr99+1YoQPYDH1nJ7Zf2Sch3zMv81kLe8e5K3+apAaCFBdmHti8+2VseHweSI37zxXrJVtvf2QUKqP2mbLZtxgDIXaLlHErbVp8jfo9f6/olflIkKa2UNHJMRvUzH54p3zF3v3mjhFbZ+9qHp8D8T58+vao0pd6bB0rgPw+7sJFzyLGSA8mB5EBy4K/iAMszyzSADTDWxQNJlIKIpcuVWEhrmzSXUnSykAM36sUvyywD+ANd6iqJc2ahZm0/ePBgd5gUEJL5h2W8kjmgiChAvGcHjFlSAXr9HUKmiNSxlbwB0pAeOnTojzMA5iekQj9pPNtQDHWAmfAjHgceCHNRP89knyhigH2dp3XYL4enhdjglzMA1g6o1n7zWFIkKHrOe0jr2s7RutyCCzRLV6rUTqZ4N6qHSB0Cssm0PdVHXSWWePH22lnga32/JDPqIv5UArQJRwPcyZPMUhRL4VXI3wR59PdjXdbDA0TuIqLYC7LKewH0U3btp+9tBUrgvxV2KeeYHEgOJAfWwIHs+ndxQIgCMAJcsZwDWsrv378XwIo1U+wy8FI541CqPPGfPn3qgEytF7oC6ABjAJaxWOrF5YvhF/YB+Nf+tQSmWLGFfLCWeg+AAqSAN+3i2XkAgCbWVMAK8BW6AYQBT8JmeBSMawwhL84KAPWAF1BobZQTY/iGfPH3798vb9++LbwBEX+CPePNE7F885Kw+ltj5TErNL7wBOCNC8dk8Blncd/stQnPcUEXZQXZI+uwh/aH7MiKc/To0U5pNF9hMi9evCg3btwovBzqELBNZoXXWD+rP/kxnrMsFAcyT5nUH/kOXpILfwd+8zKQR/LlXWPoSx4dWpZu1KFsGYekRK3kQi1eC9/3LTn2yR0lzDiUS54lHpkLFy6UvhLrG/NMCfzneXdybsmB5EByIDmQHBjDAZZ8wF5IyLNnzwrAL+5ffnHWSFlVWN/bYVjiASfvRvwGykJ9pGAU3vH06dPCKyCEA7AG2s+cOVO8147lGdDzzYsXL5a7d+8W1l/x0/KhmxOwBEgBfsDYgwcPysePH8vnz5+LuH9pQm/dulWAYSCXIgMs8g7IxS9/P8VClp1z586V8+fPd3H1wjTcbu1AL8XGHM1nFhTxm29r/Z5QFik8KQCAphSnbrjlcQGEKTX4A8gKfcGTNX5jpt3FuLvUSuYbyiHZcwmZVLL2dc+ePeXOnTuFx6hOzNqFbkXEslAZa3UB1qVLl4oLsiihFDwpaV0Ux8rOMxSxxH+AnmJ6/fr14qIw3+ONotRSZNWRL2E5+uKzOyl4FChalE4Kcku8X1XO/e0IH3v37l1Bi4uLXbaqy5cvd3Je17NVyg0D/phJq+IepG0l/b+7GTD5kHxIGUgZSBlIGZi2DIhPdrkTwPP169cCOLpMSOgF66cY7HYOctoDm6ywQHnbBnQDNUAoa633/RZOBDy1fesza+vCwkJxCRfAJQxCikRgjSUVKNIXTqCkqGPJFVIBVFEOhF1QCvQzJx4CXgkpKIEyoM948qw/efKksNY6PEw50fbhw4fuEKn3p02s9JQd3oj1fMt+sIxbnxSSwqEoMbwalR9uGWbZFoaynm/M+h08IVePHz8u9k5YDmXNfrlEjlLJA1TnxXpO6bGH5LbWK8kv5ZRHQIgZ67zxKXxCc1q+4yVFCvCncFACyZ+0s4C61KVCzPBRX2FCDpxTJgH/Pjm0S4H1d2AuZNKeOJRuHLLLS0AxMJ4+80owOTmF0f0Nog0D/hFRaOZSNmFq0j9l7njwT84p9yRlIGUgZWC7ygDgDew/fPiwAJQuG2I5HVovACMWXjnU7gIjigQgD5iynDq0O9S31hnLmCzU+iLP6lHb78iRI112n5s3b3aWe4Cx7VP7Gs841oE8q0Oeja8e+V3fm2bpMjAg8Pnz54VyNMm3jMUrc+LEiWItxsIH/KcIKNVtFTJ367ly5Urn+VG6p6Curb8O/UftmzaW/du3bxeKnsxVx44dK+r74/jdyoQxW2rf8ayNzAyRudoXY1byjrmQW3vSb6/95q2kTFOEIpa8IxsK/A0mDoobz6YnHS7Jg+RBykDKwLzJQM5n+8ok4A8YsRSzUAq9GLXf+gKtyqE+6muKwzqWuqG+tU67MfukHrX9hOSYq7GBKe2o9qllHQvoQvV3W6pH6up70yzN0yFV1viVeLyaOZiz8fCg9vcbTTp2HW+WpXn7Hv5QXJT2utZra0k9HrR19VkbMg7FaNxYxhlFxmnH1Y/MjCLttb+yvm9PPPfb9ZlH8je8a9cuEP0/2jCLPzcCF4x4LPFPSYsleZA8SBlIGUgZSBlIGUgZmDMZSHyy+HfI5OvXr4twPhi9Iv8NA/4RUcSmORDhhHPS/7qT3smH5EPKQMpAykDKQMpAykDKQMrArGUAJpclKWJKoT5Vm8hyC3Igp5wcSA4kB5IDyYHkQHIgObCtObBhFv9tzaVcXHIgOZAc+As4kEtMDiQHkgPJge3NgQT+23t/c3XJgeRAciA5kBxIDiQHVsuB7LfNOfAvAAAA//9vWObqAAAABklEQVQDALQRUbK/WcVRAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" style=\"width: 511px; height: 167.684px;\" width=\"511\" height=\"167.684\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe total color difference (ΔE) was calculated using Eq.\u0026nbsp;2, where components with subscript 2 refer to plasma-treated samples, while subscript 1 denotes control samples(Pathare et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"data:image/png;base64,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\" style=\"width: 403px; height: 39.5673px;\" width=\"403\" height=\"39.5673\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEquation 2.\u003c/b\u003e The total color difference formula.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eΔE describes the total color difference between treated and untreated wheat flour samples, 0\u0026ndash;1 values represents visually indistinguishable changes, 1\u0026ndash;3 values indicates perceptible but minor changes, 3\u0026ndash;6 values denotes substantial difference, and higher values than 6 corresponds dramatic color transformation(Carmona et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eScanning electron microscopy (SEM)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo characterize plasma-induced microstructural changes, flour samples were analyzed using SEM at 200 and 30 \u0026micro;m resolution.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAttenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR)\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eATR-FTIR spectroscopy (700\u0026ndash;4000 cm⁻\u0026sup1;) was employed to analyze plasma-induced modifications in surface molecular bonds of flour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3. Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.1. Emerged adults from eggs\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNumber of emerged adults from treated and control eggs are shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e. In the control sample, 17 adult insects were observed, whereas all plasma treatments reduced this number. Increasing the voltage from 13 to 21 kV resulted in a gradual and consistent decline in the number of adult insects in most cases, with fewer than 2 adults emerging at the highest voltage (21 kV). In higher voltages treatment, duration also played a significant roll, as extending the exposure time from 1 to 11 minutes enhanced plasma efficacy. The optimal results were achieved with combinations of prolonged durations (9 and 11 minutes) and high voltages (19 and 21 kV), demonstrating nearly a 88% reduction in adult insect counts. The linear mixed effects model analysis revealed significant main effects of plasma voltage (F(3,100)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;253.19, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and exposure time (F(5,100)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;33.85, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) on the number of adult emergence. The interaction between voltage and exposure time was significant (F(15,100)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.75, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), indicating that the effect of voltage was a function of treatment duration. Post-hoc analysis showed that the higher voltage combinations (16\u0026ndash;19 kV) at longer exposure times (5\u0026ndash;9 minutes) provided almost total inactivation of eggs, while lower voltages (10\u0026ndash;13 kV) required considerably longer exposure times to achieve the same effect.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.2. Larvae mortality\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eImmediately after treatment\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eImmediate larvae mortality percentage is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e. In the control group, no larval mortality was observed, whereas all plasma treatments significantly increased mortality rates. Gradual rise in voltage (10 to 19 kV) and exposure time (1 to 9 minutes) brought about dose-dependent increases in mortality. The highest voltage (19 kV) invariably produced approximately 80% mortality at all exposure times, while lower voltages (10 and 13 kV) were significantly less effective (20\u0026ndash;30% mortality). The optimum was achieved with 19 kV in combination with 5\u0026ndash;9 minute exposures, which produced almost 100% immediate larval mortality. Linear mixed model analysis of the statistical data indicated highly significant main effects of plasma voltage (F(3,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;196.55, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and exposure time (F(4,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16.27, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Although the interaction between voltage and exposure time was statistically non-significant (F(12,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.92, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.058), post-hoc comparisons indicated that the higher voltages (16\u0026ndash;19 kV) were consistently superior to the lower voltages (10\u0026ndash;13 kV) at all exposure times (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.01 for all comparisons).\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e7-hour post-treatment\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarvae mortality by 7 hours post-treatment is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, the highest voltage (19 kV) induced over 80% mortality across all exposure times. Lower voltages (10 and 13 kV) also showed increased efficacy compared to immediate assessments, though their impact remained significantly weaker than 19 kV. No mortality was observed in the untreated control group. Statistical tests confirmed these results, with plasma voltage (F(3,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;136.66, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and exposure time (F(4,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;13.51, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) having overall main effects on larval mortality. However, the voltage \u0026times; exposure time interaction was nonsignificant (F(12,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.01, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.46), indicating that the effect of voltage was consistent regardless of treatment duration.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e1-day post-treatment\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe lethal effects of plasma treatment persisted for 24 hours is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, with mortality rates increasing significantly post-exposure. Notably, 90% of larvae treated with 19 kV plasma for just 1 minute exhibited mortality within 24 hours.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStatistical analysis confirmed these results, with a significant effect of voltage (F(3,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;136.90, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and exposure time (F(4,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12.78, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). The effect of interaction between voltage and exposure time failed to reach the statistical significance criterion (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.095), although its marginal value suggests delayed effects for some combinations. This pattern indicates that while high voltages (19 kV) elicited rapid mortality irrespective of duration, intermediate voltages (10\u0026ndash;13 kV) required prolonged exposures (\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;5 minutes) to elicit equivalent effects, potentially through cumulative oxidative or cellular damage processes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e3-day post-treatment\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe extended three-day evaluation revealed distinct patterns in plasma treatment efficacy in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e. High-voltage applications (16\u0026ndash;19 kV) maintained consistently strong lethal effects, demonstrating mortality rates exceeding 70% regardless of exposure duration. In contrast, only half of the larvae treated at 10 kV for the maximum 9-minute exposure period succumbed within this timeframe. Intermediate voltage treatment (13 kV) showed particularly interesting dynamics, where extending the exposure duration from 1 to 3 minutes produced a marked increase in mortality from 35\u0026ndash;65%.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStatistical analysis of the 72-hour data yielded important insights. While voltage remained the dominant influence (F(3,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;105.65, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), a hitherto non-significant voltage \u0026times; exposure time interaction emerged (F(12,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.08, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.039) that was not observed in earlier assessments. This temporal evolution of treatment effects reflects the buildup of sublethal plasma-induced injury that becomes visible following extended periods. The findings particularly emphasize the rising effectiveness of medium voltages (13\u0026ndash;16 kV) on long-term exposure when looking at three-day assessments, as opposed to their relatively narrow performance in acute mortality analysis. This scale-of-time efficacy trend acts to reinforce the need for consideration of both explicit and latent effects of treatment in the optimization of plasma parameters for pest management operations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e10-day post-treatment\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 10-day post-treatment observation presented the long-term lethal effect of cold plasma against E. kuehniella larvae in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e. Mortality rates peaked at this extended timepoint, demonstrating the treatment's prolonged efficacy. Treatments with high voltages (16\u0026ndash;19 kV) caused nearly complete mortality regardless of exposure time, demonstrating their reliability for pest control. Lower voltages (10\u0026ndash;13 kV) were also proved to be more efficient compared to the earlier assessments, causing mortality rates of 50\u0026ndash;80% in most exposure times. These findings confirm that plasma treatment induces not only immediate lethality but also progressive physiological damage that culminates in complete mortality over time. Statistical comparison of the 10-day data showed voltage still maintained its position as the most important factor (F(3,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;90.686, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), although effect size fell somewhat compared with earlier timepoints, suggesting possible recovery in some low-voltage treatment groups. Although exposure time remained statistically significant (F(4,44)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6.103, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), its relative importance was lower over the period of assessment. The voltage-time interaction was of marginal significance (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.063), following a time pattern whereby synergistic effects were highest on day 3 (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.039) before gradually falling. These results collectively demonstrate that cold plasma treatment produces lasting insecticidal effects, with voltage intensity being the primary determinant of long-term mortality.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.3. Pupae mortality\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e reveals pupae mortality percentage among treated and control cases. Control groups showed approximately 33% natural mortality among \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e pupae, while plasma-treated samples exhibited voltage- and duration-dependent responses, with mortality rates increasing progressively from 30\u0026ndash;35% to over 60% as voltage increased from 18 to 24 kV and exposure time extended from 5 to 13 minutes. The most effective combination treatment (24 kV for 13 minutes) caused 65% mortality, an increase of 97% over control levels. The two main effects of voltage (F(3,84)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;141.34, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and exposure time (F(4,84)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;74.08, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) were verified by statistical analysis, as was a voltage \u0026times; exposure time interaction (F(12,84)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;3.02, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), indicating that mortality patterns differed in response to specific treatment combinations. Notably, the pupae were more resistant to plasma treatment compared to the larvae, likely due to their physical protection structure and reduced metabolic activity in this life phase. Overall, the findings suggest the necessity of optimizing voltage and exposure time for effective pest control applications across different insect life stages.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.4. Color changes\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe results for measured L*, \u003cem\u003ea*\u003c/em\u003e, b* components and calculated chromaticity, hue angle, and BI parameters of both plasma-treated and control wheat flour samples are presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003ecolor parameters of control and plasma-treated samples. all the data are expressed as mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;standard deviation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"7\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSample\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eL*\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ea*\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eb*\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eC*\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eh\u0026deg;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eBI\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTreated\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e84.41\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.75\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.18\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.06\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.43\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e7.28\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.43\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e88.58\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.48\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32.52\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.09\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003econtrol\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e84.37\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.42\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e-0.15\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.12\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e8.27\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.17\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e91.04\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.83\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\"\u0026plusmn;\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e32.69\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.04\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlasma treatment resulted in a slight reduction in chromaticity from 8.27 to 7.28 which indicates a less intense coloration of flour. The hue angle lost some value from 91.04 to 88.58 which reflects yellow-green shift to yellow red. The BI showed a slight reduction of 32.69 to 32.52.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe total color difference (ΔE), as a result of plasma treatment, was 1.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.83 (mean\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;SD), which indicates visible albeit minor changes.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.5. SEM analysis\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSEM images presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig9\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e demonstrate that plasma-treated flour particles exhibit rougher surfaces with increased porosity compared to the control, indicating physiochemical etching effects from the plasma treatment. Additionally, particle size reduction and improved particles density were observed. In comparison, the control samples displayed particles as smooth surfaced with uneven distribution. These specific morphological changes may considerably affect the functional properties of the flour, such as the ability to absorb water and the degree of solubility.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e\u003ch2\u003e3.6. ATR-FTIR spectroscopic characterization\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe ATR-FTIR spectra of both plasma-treated and control samples are presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig10\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed significant structural alterations in wheat flour components following DBD air plasma treatment. The significant increase in peak intensity at 1650 cm⁻\u0026sup1; confirms the new carbonyl groups formation which most likely resulted from amino acid side chain oxidation. In the 1000\u0026ndash;1200 cm⁻\u0026sup1; region, the spectral shifts were associated with the cleavage of glycosidic bonds in starch molecules which resulted in a lower degree of polymerization. The change in peak intensity at 3400 cm⁻\u0026sup1; which reduced suggested the destruction of the water and macromolecule hydrogen bonds networks, with a further drop in the peaks at 2900 cm⁻\u0026sup1; suggesting aliphatic groups (CH₂/CH₃) oxidation in lipids and proteins.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe comparative analysis of plasma treatment efficacy across different life stages of \u003cem\u003eE. kuehniella\u003c/em\u003e reveals distinct vulnerability patterns and mechanistic responses. Eggs and larvae exhibited the highest sensitivity to plasma exposure, with near-complete inactivation achievable at moderate voltage-time combinations (19 kV, 5\u0026ndash;9 min), suggesting that their less developed protective structures and higher metabolic activity facilitate plasma-induced damage. This finding is consistent with (Ziuzina et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) study's results on Tribolium castaneum, where eggs and larvae required shorter treatment times (0.16-1 min) for complete inactivation compared to adults, and aligns with (Los et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) study's observation that larvae of Lasioderma serricorne were the most susceptible stage to plasma treatment. The immediate mortality observed in larvae, particularly at high voltages (19\u0026ndash;21 kV), points to rapid physical disruption of cellular membranes by reactive species, while the progressive mortality over 10 days indicates additional cumulative oxidative stress mechanisms.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePupae demonstrated remarkable resistance compared to other stages, requiring substantially higher energy inputs (24 kV, 13 min) for comparable mortality effects. This resilience likely stems from their protective chitinous casing and reduced metabolic activity during diapause, which may limit both direct plasma penetration and subsequent oxidative damage accumulation. These results are in agreement with (Los et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) study where pupae of cigarette beetles showed no mortality after 20 seconds of treatment, and partially consistent with the (Ziuzina et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) study where pupae of T. castaneum required 5 minutes of direct treatment, though our required treatment duration was considerably longer. However, our findings contrast with the (Abd El-Aziz et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) study's results on Plodia interpunctella pupae, which showed mortality with just 20 pulses at short exposure times, possibly due to differences in plasma type and treatment methodology. The significant voltage-time interaction (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001) for pupae suggests their thicker exoskeleton necessitates combined physical and chemical plasma effects for effective control.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe emergence of significant voltage-time interactions at 3 days post-treatment (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.039) of larvae, followed by weakening at 10 days (p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.063), indicates that intermediate developmental stages experience complex damage accumulation processes. This delayed mortality pattern in treated larvae aligns with the (Abd El-Aziz et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) study's observation of morphological abnormalities and failed metamorphosis in treated Plodia larvae and pupae, though our study focused on direct mortality rather than developmental disruption. High voltages (16\u0026ndash;19 kV) maintained consistent larvae lethality across all timepoints, confirming their reliability for pest control, whereas lower voltages (10\u0026ndash;13 kV) showed time-dependent efficacy improvements, suggesting their potential for preventive applications where immediate kill is not required. This voltage-dependent efficacy is consistent with the (Abd El-Aziz et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) study's findings where increased pulse numbers (analogous to higher energy input) resulted in higher mortality rates.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese findings collectively underscore that plasma pest control strategies must be life-stage-adapted. Eggs and larvae can be effectively managed with moderate parameters, while pupae require more aggressive treatment. This stage-specific sensitivity pattern is broadly consistent across studies, as demonstrated in (Los et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) and (Ziuzina et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) studies, though the specific energy requirements vary with plasma type and insect species. The dominant role of voltage across all stages suggests it should be prioritized in system design, with exposure time serving as a secondary optimization parameter.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe analysis of plasma-treated wheat flour reveals a consistent pattern of structural and functional modifications mediated by synergistic physical and chemical mechanisms of cold plasma. The observed color changes, including reduced chromaticity and hue angle shift toward yellow-red tones, correlate directly with the ATR-FTRIR identified oxidative modifications. The formation of new carbonyl groups (1650 cm⁻\u0026sup1;) and oxidation of aliphatic chains (2900 cm⁻\u0026sup1;) explain the subtle but perceptible color alterations, as these chemical changes affect light absorption and scattering properties of flour components. This oxidative modification mechanism aligns with the (Sheikhi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e)study's findings of decreased C-H groups and increased carbonyl formation in plasma-treated materials. The marginal decrease in browning index contrasts with thermal processing outcomes, confirming plasma's unique, non-thermal modification pathway, which is in agreement with the (Sutar et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) study's observation of minimal color profile changes in RF plasma-treated flour.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSEM micrographs provide visual evidence supporting the spectroscopic findings. The increased surface roughness and porosity correspond to the ATR-FTIR detected breakdown of starch glycosidic bonds (1000\u0026ndash;1200 cm⁻\u0026sup1;) and protein oxidation, demonstrating how plasma-induced etching physically manifests at the microstructural level. These spectral changes are consistent with the (Sheikhi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) study's report of increased C-O and C-O-C interactions in the same wavenumber region. Simultaneously, the improved particle density observed in SEM aligns with the disruption of hydrogen bonding networks (3400 cm⁻\u0026sup1;), as modified surface chemistry enhances interparticle interactions. This finding corroborates the (Sheikhi et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e) study's observation of modified O-H groups following plasma treatment. These interconnected modifications collectively explain the enhanced functional properties - the created micro- and nano-scale surface features from plasma treatment increase accessible hydroxyl groups, while the chemical oxidation introduces more polar moieties, both contributing to improved water absorption capacity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eComprehensive multi-modal analysis demonstrates that cold plasma treatment induces modifications in wheat flour through two distinct mechanistic pathways. First, energetic particles cause surface etching, leading to characteristic micro-roughness on flour particles. Second, Plasma mediates oxidation processes, particularly affecting protein and lipid components through the generation of new functional groups. These synergistic mechanisms collectively contribute to the observed modifications in flour properties following plasma exposure. Unlike conventional processing methods that typically target either physical or chemical properties, plasma treatment simultaneously modifies both aspects, explaining its unique ability to enhance functionality while maintaining minimal visual changes. The minor but measurable color differences (ΔE\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.05) suggest plasma treatment could be particularly valuable for applications where maintaining natural flour appearance is crucial, while still achieving desired functional improvements. This subtle color modification contrasts with (Zhang et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2024\u003c/span\u003e)study's more pronounced color changes in black wheat flour (L* increase from 87.64 to 88.73 and b* increase from 9.77 to 10.29 after 6 minutes of DBD treatment) and (Menkovska et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e) study's report of \"brightly creamy color\" after 30\u0026ndash;45 minutes of treatment. However, our results are more aligned with (Chaple et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) study's findings of increased L* values and decreased a* and b* values following DBD plasma treatment of wheat flour and grains, suggesting that treatment parameters and substrate type significantly influence the extent of color modifications. These findings establish cold plasma as a versatile tool for precision modification of flour properties, with the extent of changes finely tunable through process parameter adjustment.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5. Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study demonstrates that cold plasma treatment is a dual purpose technology not only appropriate for the management of Ephestia kuehniella pests but also for the modification of wheat flour properties. As a pest control agent, its activity was stage-dependent; susceptible eggs and larvae were almost inactivated at 19 kV for 5\u0026ndash;9 minutes, while more resistant pupae required a higher treatment of 24 kV for 13 minutes. The mechanism of insect mortality involves both immediate physical damage and cumulative progressive damage.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt the same time, the plasma treatment modified the characteristics of the flour by surface etching and chemical oxidation.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe findings position cold plasma as a green, residue-free method of integrated pest management and emerging food processing technology. The study concludes that future research should focus on scaling up the technology for industrial use, conducting comprehensive nutritional assessments of the treated flour, and investigating the cellular and molecular pathways of plasma's insecticidal action to optimize its application.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eFunding Declaration\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMohamad sajad Nikouei Fard :Writing \u0026ndash; review \u0026amp; editing, Writing \u0026ndash; original draft, Supervision, Project administration, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationMahdiyeh Martami: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationMohammad Hossein Mohajer: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationMotahare Monfaredi: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curationNajmeh Ebrahimi: Resources, InvestigationHamid Ghomi: Resources, Investigation\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data sets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbd El-Aziz, M. 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Cold plasma for insect pest control: Tribolium castaneum mortality and defense mechanisms in response to treatment. \u003cem\u003ePlasma Processes and Polymers\u003c/em\u003e,\u003cem\u003e 18\u003c/em\u003e(10), 2000178. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"cold atmospheric Plasma pest control, dielectric barrier discharge, physical pest control method, Ephestia kuehniella, wheat flour, Eco-friendly pest management","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7418183/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7418183/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigated the effectiveness of cold dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment for controlling various developmental stages of \u003cem\u003eEphestia kuehniella,Zeller, 1879\u003c/em\u003e a major stored-product pest, in wheat flour substrate. The experimental setup utilized a dual-power supply DBD system. Plasma treatment parameters were systematically varied across different life stages: Eggs received treatments ranging from 13 to 21 kV for 1 to 11 minutes, last-instar larvae were treated at 10 to 19 kV for 1 to 9 minutes, and pupae were subjected to higher voltages of 18 to 24 kV for durations between 5 and 13 minutes. Each treatment condition was replicated five times. Mortality assessment revealed significant stage-dependent susceptibility to plasma treatment. In eggs, optimal treatment conditions (19\u0026ndash;21 kV, 9\u0026ndash;11 minutes) achieved approximately 88% reduction in adult emergence compared to control groups. Larvae demonstrated the highest susceptibility, with 19 kV treatments inducing nearly 100% immediate mortality at exposure times of 5\u0026ndash;9 minutes. Long-term monitoring showed sustained plasma effects, with mortality rates reaching maximum levels (nearly 100%) ten days post-treatment even at lower voltages. Pupae exhibited greater resistance, achieving maximum mortality of 65% at 24 kV for 13 minutes, compared to 33% natural mortality in controls. Analysis of plasma-treated wheat flour revealed minimal impact on quality parameters. Color analysis showed minor but perceptible changes with total color difference (ΔE) of 1.05\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;0.83, slight reduction in chromaticity from 8.27 to 7.28, and marginal decrease in browning index from 32.69 to 32.52. SEM imaging demonstrated increased surface roughness and porosity in treated flour particles, indicating physiochemical etching effects. ATR FTIR spectroscopy showed structural modification in the treated flour, including increased carbonyl groups formation (1650 cm⁻\u0026sup1;), glycosidic bond breakdown (1000\u0026ndash;1200 cm⁻\u0026sup1;), breakdown of hydrogen bonding networks (3400 cm⁻\u0026sup1;), and oxidation of aliphatic groups (2900 cm⁻\u0026sup1;).\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessment of Cold Plasma Treatment Effects at Different Voltages and Exposure Times on Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 Mortality (Eggs, Larvae, and Pupae) and Physicochemical Properties of Treated Wheat Flour","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-23 12:24:05","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7418183/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"2dded979-5ed8-47d4-b8b9-66fdb33f775f","owner":[],"postedDate":"September 23rd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":54900279,"name":"Biological sciences/Biochemistry"},{"id":54900283,"name":"Biological sciences/Plant sciences"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-12-24T12:54:31+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-09-23 12:24:05","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7418183","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7418183","identity":"rs-7418183","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}